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s 


Boston 

m 

Medical  Library 


8  THE  FENWAY 


m 


rHE  MONTHLY 


HOMCEOPATHIC    REVIEW. 

EDITED  BT 

ALFRED  C.  POPE,  M.D., 
D.  DICE  BEOWN,  M.A.,  M.D. 


VOL.  XXV. 


E.    GOULD  &    SON,    69,   MOORGATE    STREET. 

1881. 


Q^4   NiEc/ 


finv  5   V 


r  ;  I  I  •  * 


KCV    51918 


LonK>v: 

fTBAXXm  BBOS.  fr  00.«  PBUnnOSy 

85»  OAMomLB  snuT,  b.c. 


Baykm,  De&  1,  IffiL 


INDEX. 


m 


INDEX. 


A. 


PAOB 


Absoess,  PerityphilitiCtbyT.  E. 

Pnrdom,  MJ) 226 

Ahtinthe   704 

Aconite 808 

Advertiffliig,  ftofesaimud  188 

Ailantkiat  Clioieal  Notes  on, 

by  S.  H.  Blake,  Esq 283 

Alexis  St.  Martin    54 

Allopathic  Proving  of  Iodine  in 

Ooitre  881 

Allopatiiy,  a  Definition  of 62!t' 

Alpine  Flowers  and  Bntterflies  642 

Ammonia  Aeetas 283 

Anathema,  A  Priestly    190 

Anga  Persiea,  The 52 

Arnold,  Dr.  W.,  Phosphortu  in 

Pnenmonia  and  Softening  of 

the  Brain,  by 665 

Anenie  and   other   Powerful 

Drags,  On  the  Action  and 

Nainreof 127 

Anewie  in  Wall  Papers  ...446,  519 
Arsemieal  Poisoning,  A  Case 

of,  by  Dr.  Richard  Hughes  240 
Arsenical     Poisoning,    Three 

Cases  of,  by  John  H.  Clarke, 

M.D 353 

Asclepi€U,  Brief  Clinical  Notes 

on.  By  S.  H.  Blake,  Esq.  ...  283 
Asthenopia,  by  W.  H.  Winslow, 

M.D.,  Pittsburgh,  Pa 674 


B. 


Baplitia^  Dr.  D.  Brown  on   ...  658 
Bath  HomcBopathic  Hospital  754 

Batbs,  Dinner  to  Dr. 359 

Beaoonsfield,  Lord,   and  the 

Medical  Profession 804 

Belg^ton,  Homoeopathy  in 50 

Bdladanna,  A  Case  of  Poison- 
ingwith,  byProtheroe  Smith, 

M.D 685 

BsBBinoa,  E.  W.,  M.D.,  Hy- 

dzophobinom,  by 601 

JBioLEB,  W.  H.,  M.D.,  Viola 
Tricolor  in  Besema,  Infan- 
tile, by  481 

Birminghftm  Medical  Institute, 
The  124 


of  Books  will  be  found  only  under  the  word  "  Beyiews ; " 
:«nbject6  from  Extracts  from  Medical  Literature  under  the  word  "  Extracts ; " 
Societies  and  Associations  under  the  word  "  Homoeopatldc." 

PAOB 

Birmingham,  The  Mason 
Science  College   251 

Blaxje,  E.,  M.D.,  Contagious 
Impetigo,  Eczema,  and  Pso- 
riasis, by  846 

Blakb,  J.,  M.D.,  On  the  Con- 
nection of  the  Molecular 
Properties  of  Inorganic  Com- 
potmds  with  their  Action 
upon  the  Living  Animal 
Organism,  by  ....^ 688 

Blaxs,  S.  H.,  a  Clinical  Case, 
by 671 

Blakx,  8.  H.,  Clinical  Cases, 
with  Bemarks 784 

BuiKB,  S.  H.,  Brief  Clmical 
Note^  on  Ailantkus,  AteU- 
picu,  and  Ammonia  AtcetaSj 
by     283 

Blindness,  Society  for  the  Pre- 
venkion^f 188 

Bluxbbbo,  H..  M.D.,  J.P.,  The 
Connection  between  National 
Wealth  and  National  Health, 
by 228 

Boston  University  School  of 
Medicine,  Memorial  of  the 
late  President  Oarfield 697 

Bottle,  Marshairs  Patent  Sec- 
tional Feeding 441 

Bournemouth  Hahnemann 
Convalescent  Home   47 

Bovista,  6x,  A  Par-Ovarian 
Cyst  (?)  Cured  by,  by  Edward 
M.  Madden,  M.B 474 

Boycotting  HomcBopathy 186 

Brain,  On  Hyperemia  of  the, 
by  Dr.  Dyce  Brown    165 

Bram,  Phosphorus  in  Soft^i- 
ing  of,  by  Dr.  W.  Arnold  ...  665 

Bright*s  Disease,  Clinical  Cases 
of,  by  L.  E.  Williams,  Esq.  156 

Bristowe,  Dr.,  and  Homceo- 
pathy 588- 

British  Medical  Association, 
The  Medical  Press  on  the 
Addresses  of  the  Meeting  of 
the 614 

Bromide  Bash 705 

Bbown,  D.  Dtob,  Dr.,  On  I^s- 
menorrhosa    836,464 

Bbown,  D.  Dtce,  Dr.,  On  Hy- 
penemia  of  the  Brain 165 


IV 


INDEX. 


Monthly  HomoBopatitio 
Beview,  Bee.  1, 1881^ 


TAQU 


Bbown,  D.  Dxce,  Dr.  On  Bap- 
tuia 658 

Butcher,  W.  Dxane,  Esq.,  On 
Nexaral-Analyais,  by   287 

Batterflies  and  Alpine  Flowers  642 


0. 

Calf  Lymph,  Vacoination  with  262 
"Camp  Lou,'»  by  Dr.  A.  S. 

Kennedy,  Blackheath 560 

Campbell,  0.  8.,  M.D.,  The 
Belation   of    Pathology   to 

Therapenticfi,  by 598 

Carlsbad  Watev  Treatment...  640 
Case,  Glinioal,  by  S.  H.  Blase, 

Case  of  Par-Ovarian  Cyst  (?) 
by  £.  M.  Madden,  M.B 474 

Cases  of  Bright*s  Disease,  by 
Lemuel  E.  Williams,  Esq.  156 

Cases  of  Scarlatina  selected 
from  Practice,  by  John 
Drummond,  L.B.C.P.E.    ...  278 

Cases,  A  Becord  of  Twenty,  by 
John  H.  Clarke,  M.D.19,  84, 147 

Centenarians  of  Aiitiquity 707 

China,  Vaccination  in    708 

Cholera,  On  the  Prophylactic 
Action  of  Copper  in,  by  Dr. 
Jonsset 177 

Clabee,  John  H.,  M.D.,  A 
Becord  of  Twenty  Cases,  by 

19,  84, 147 

Clabee,  Johk  H.,  M.D.,  Three 
Cases  of  Arsenical  Poison- 
ing, by  858 

Clinical  Cases,  with  Bemarks, 
by  S.  H.  Blake,  Esq 784 

Oceculus  Indicus  and  Picro- 
toxin  in  Producing  and 
Curing  Epilepsy,  On,  by  Dr. 
Jousset 104 

Cod  Liver  Oil,  Disadvantages 
of ,  for  Toung  Children  704 

Congress,  IntemationflJ  Medi- 
cal, The    627 

Constipation,  Case  of  Obsti- 
nate, by  Dr.  A.  S.  Kennedy  852 

Consultations,  Medical   ...808,  821 

Contagions  Impetigo,  by  Ed- 
ward Blake,  M.D 846 

CoopEB,  BoBBBi  T.,  M.D.,  Dis- 
pensary Experiences,  by  ...  221 

OopptriD.  Cholera,  On  the  Pro- 
phylaotic  Action  of,  by  Dr. 
Jousset 177 


PAOB 


Cure  of  Diseases  by  Medicines, 
by  William   Sharp,   M.D., 

Cyclamen  Europaum,  Clinical 
Observations  on,  by  Thomas 
Shearer,  M.D 292 


D. 

Davos-PIatz,  Switzerland,  Me- 
teorological Observations  at  629' 

Dispensaiy  Experiences,  by 
Bobert  T.  Cooper,  M.D.    ...  221 

Dramatic  Performance,  Third 
Annual,  in  Aid  of  the  Funds 
of  the  London  Homosopathio 
Hospital   876 

Drams,  Morning 623 

Druggist,  A  Malicious    70&' 

Drummond,  John,  Dr.,  Cases 
of  Scarlatina  selected  from 
Practice,  by 278 

Dysmenorrhoaa,  On,  by  Dr. 
Dyoe  Brown 386^ 


E. 

Ebuby,  Lord,  Testimonial  to 

489,  515 

Eczema,  by  Edward  Blake, 
M.D.,  <fcc. 346 

Eczema,  Infantile,  Viola  Tri- 
color or  Jacea  in  the  Treat- 
ment of,  by  W.  H.  Bigler, 
M.D 421 

**  Empiricism  in  Exoelsis  "  ...  318- 

Epilepsy,  On  Coccuhu  Indicus 
and  Picrotoxin  Producing 
and  Curing,  by  Dr.  Jousset  104 

Epps  Prize,  The 700 

Euphrasia  in  Leuooma,  On,  by 
Arthur  S.  Kennedy,  L.B.O.P.    42 


F. 

FoBTEB,  B.N.,  M.D.,  Chicago, 
Sea-sickness,  its  Cause  and 
Cure,  by  678^ 

Freedom  of  Opinion  in  Medi- 
cine   .., 649 

G. 

Garfield,  Memorial  of  the  late 
President  ...^ 691 

Garfield,  General,  The  Death 
of  .^ ^ 62L 


Ssfiefw,  Dee.  t,  18S1. 


INDSX. 


PAOB 

George  nL,  Physioiaiui  to 703 

Germ  Theory,  M.  Pftstenr  on 

the 744 

German  Law   and    HomoBo- 

pathists    691 

Goitre,  Allopathic  ProTing  of 

Iodine  in  381 

Gbsshtixij),  Profeesor,  on  the 

late  Professor  Henderson  ...  757 

H. 

Hahnemann  Convalescent 
Home,  Boomemonth  ...  47,  627 

Hahnemann  Publishing  So- 
ciety   441,  518,  626,  712 

Hastings,  Medical   Officer  of 
-  Health  for 316 

Hatli,  Thomas,  M.D.,  A 
Search  after  Scientific  Medi- 
cine, by    590 

Hatls,  Thomas,  M.D., 
Thoughts  on  the  Scientific 
Application  of  the  Princi- 
ples of  Homoeopathy  in 
Practice,  by 647 

Hatwabd,  Dr.,  On  the  Prepa- 
ration of  and  Dispensing  of 
Homoeopathis  Medicines,  by    40 

Hsmophilia,  A  Case  of,  by 
T.  Snnpeon,  M.D 291 

Headaches 706 

Headaches,  by  Archibald 
xxewan,  B^mU»  ••*•••..■..••■■...  ^tt 

Health,  Medical  Officer  of,  for 
Hastings  316 

Heart  Symptoms,  by  Adrian 

Hkoxbson,  Professor  Green- 
field on  the  late  Professor...  757 

Hering  Memorial,  The  249 

HswAX,  Archibald,  MJ)., 
Headaches,  by 477 

Homoeopathic  Oonyention, 
International  126, 190,  248, 
257,  378,  382,  436, 449,  482, 

518,  517,  521,  564,  759 

Homoeopathic  Gonyention, 
Transactions  of  the  World's, 
1876   ^ 612 

Homoeopathic  International 
Oonyention,  1881,  Trans- 
actions of  the  750 

Hunnoeopathio  Dispensszy, 
Canterbory,  Medical  Officer, 
Beportof 700 

Homoeopathic  Dispensary, 
Newcastle-on-Tyne  -.. 251 

Homoeopathic  Dispensary,  The 
Hastings  and  St.  Leonaids    136 


PAca 
Homoeopathic     History     and 

Scotch  Hnmour 68 

Homoeopathic  Asylnm  for  the 

Insane,  The  New  York  184,  639 
H6moeopathioHo6pital,Bathl84,754. 
Homoeopathic   Hospital,    Bir- 
mingham      49 

Homoeopathic  Hospital,  Lon- 
don     49,  252,  376,  879,  427 

Homoeopathic  Hospital,  Mel- 

boome  618 

Homoeopathic  Hospital,  Oat- 
Patients    107 

Homoeopathic  Medicines,  On 
the   Preparation   and   Dis- 
pensing of,  by  W.  Hayward    40* 
Homoeopathic  Society,  British 
55,  126,  187,  252,  318,  381, 

441.  512,  627,  710" 
Homoeqpathists  and  German 

Law  696 

Homoeopaths,  State  Honours  to  190 
Homoeopathy    a    Distinoti?e 

Method 718. 

Homoeopathy,  An  Edinbur^^ 

Professor  on 63& 

Homoeopathy  and  Allopathy? 

What  are,  by  a  Physician  ...  211 
Homoeopathy,  and  Di.  Sidney 

Binger  49 

Homoeopathy,  end  the  British 

Medical  Association  695 

Homoeopathy,  The  Times  and  874 

Homoeopathy,  Boycotting 186 

HomoBopathy,Dr.Bri8toweand  583 
Homoeopathy,  Imaginary 

notions  regarding  311 

Homoeopathy  in  Belgium 50 

Homoe<^athyinBoston,U.S.A.  187 

Homoeopathy  in  Germany 441 

Homoeopathy  in  Halifax   53 

Homoeopathy  in  the   Isle  of 

Thanet 640 

Homoeopathy  in  Mexico,  Pro- 
gress of 51 

Homoeopathy  in  Soutii  Aus- 
tralia     65 

Homoeopathy  in  the  Colonies, 

by  J.  Murray  Moore,  M.D.  237 
Homoeopathy  in  Yellow  Feyer  695 
Homoeopathy,  The  Laiuet  on 

379, 385,  517 
Homoeopathy,    The     London 
School  of    ...    55, 182,  252, 
300,  317,  585,  646,  689,  691 
Homoeopathy,  The  Progress  of  193 
Homoeopathy,  The  True  Secret 

of  55 

Hospital,  London,  The  State 
of  the  Homoeopathic 25S 


Vl 


INDEX. 


Moathlf  HomoBopttQiIe 
Bevtow,  Dec.  1, 1861. 


PAGB 

HoBpiial,  Soath  Ansiralm, 
Beport  of  the  Adelaide  Chil- 
dren's   261 

How  to  Study  the  Materia 
Medica,  by  A.  C.  Pope,  M.D.  204 

Hydzofoephrosis,  by  P.  J. 
MoOotirt,  MJ>.  r 478 

Hydrophobinnm,  ^y  E.  W. 
Bemdge,  M.D 601 

Hygiene  and  Medieal  Exhibi- 
tion in  South  Kensington, 
The  International 616 

Hughes,  Bichord,  H.D.,  A 
Case  of  Chronic  Arsenioal 
Poisoning 240 

I. 

Indiambber 782 

Institute,  The  Birmingham 
Medical 124 

International  Medical  Con- 
gress, The    627 

Intemational  Medical  and 
Hygiene  Exhibition  in  South 
Kensington,  The 516 

Iodine^  AUopathio  Proving  of, 
In  Goitre 881 


J. 


Jaeea  or  Viola  Tricolor  in  the 
Treatment  of  Eczema  Infan- 
tile, by  W.  H.  Bigler,  M.B.  421 

JoDSBBT,  Dr.,  On  Coeculut 
Indums  and  Picrotoxin  Pro- 
ducing and  Curiog  Epilep^, 
by 104 

JouBSET,  Dr.,  On  the  Prophy- 
lactic Action  of  Copper  ia 
Cholera,  by 177 


PAOB 


K. 


Kali  Biehromicum,  Clinical 
Observations,  by  Dr.  Proell, 
of  Nice  and  0%Btein   698 

Kevnsdt,  Dr.  Abthitb,  On 
Evphratia  in  Leucoma,  by    42 

Kennedy,  Dr.  A., "  Camp  Lou  **  560 

Kidd,  Quain,  and  Jenner 266 


L. 

Lancet  The,  on  Drs.  Kidd  and 

Quain   809 

Laughing  is  Catching 624 


Lecture  on  Materia  Medica,  by 
Dr.  Pope 719 

Leucoma,  On  Euphrana  in, 
by  Dr.  Kennedy 43 


M. 

Marshall's  Patent  Sectional 
Feeding  Bottle    441 

Mason  Science  College,  Bir- 
mingham, The 251 

Materia  Medica,  How  to  Study 
the,  by  A.  C.  Pope,  MJD.  ...  204 

Materia  Medica,  Studies  in,  by 
Dr.  Dyce  Brown 658 

McCouBT,  Dr.,  A  Case  of  Hy- 
dronephrosis      478 

Medical  Acts  Commission 441 

Medical  and  Surgical  Aid 
Society,  The  Lee  and 
Blackheath  760 

Medical  Consultations* 308 

Medical  Digest,  Dr.  Neale's, 
for  1882    700 

Medical  Hypocrisy 250 

Medical  Orthodoxy  and  Medi- 
cal Bigotzy 305 

Medical  Profession  and  Lord 
Beaconsfield,  The  304 

Medical  Services,  A  New 
Method  of  Bemuneration  for  708 

Medical  Student,  The  Modem  701 

Medicine,  The  Dawn  of  Free- 
dom of  Opinion  in 649 

Medicines,  On  the  Preparation 
and  Dispensing  of  HomoBO- 
pathic,  by  Dr.  Hayward 40 

Memorial  of  the  late  President 
Garfield  at  the  Boston  Uni- 
versity School  of  Medicine, 
The  691 

Memoriid,  The  Hering 249 

Mexico,  The  Progress  of 
HomcBopathy  in 51 

Micropathy 446 

MOOBB,      J.      MUBBAT,      M.D., 

Homoeopathy  in  the  Colonies  237 

Morning  Drams  628 

Morrisson,  Dr.,  Notes  on  Nor- 
mandy, by  34,  96 


N. 

National  Wealth  and  National 
Health,  The  Conneetion 
Between,  by  Dr.  Blnmbeig  828 


Xbuaor 

Xcflew.  Dee.  1, 


INDEX. 


TU 


PAOB 

NxAUB*B,  Dr.,  Medical  Digest 
lor  1883    700 

Hearal-AnalyBis,  On,  by  W.  D. 
Butcher,  Esq 287 

JBformandj,  Notes  on,  by  Dr. 
HonijKon 84,  96 


0. 


Obstacles  in  our  Path.... 129 

Ciganon,  The 186 

•Ovaxian  Tomonr,  Two  cases  of, 

by  J.  J.  Talbot,  M.D 281 

Ovuian  Cyst,  Dr,  E.  Madden, 

on 474 

OairniLBy: — 

Dalziell,    David    Brainerd, 

M.D 710 

Laurie,  WilliamForbe8,MJ>.  190 
Leadam,  Thomas  B.,  M.D.  644 

Bobertscm,  H.,  Esq 711 

Tndge.  T.  Hale.  M.D....  7U,  763 
WilUaioas,  C,  Esq 765 


P. 


Past  Year,  The   1 

Pasteub,   M.,  on   the  (}erm 

Theory     744 

Pathology,    Belation    of,    to 

Therapeutics,     by     G.    S. 

Campbell,  M.D 693 

Perambulators 880 

Perityphilitic'Abficess,  by  T.  E. 

Pnrdom,  M.D 226 

PhoapharvM  in  Pneumonia  and 

Softening  of  the  Bndn,  by 

Br.  W.  Arnold 665 

Fhyaeians  and  Homoeopaths  818 

PttyBtciaas  to  George  m. 708 

jPofo^A,  Bichromate  of^  (hi  the. 

By  A.  0.  Pope.  M.D 6 

PhytoHacea,  On,  by  A.  C.  Pope, 

MJ) 899 

JHcrotoxin  and  Coeeoku  Indi- 

eu$f  Prodnoing  and  Cnxing 

Epilep^,  On,  by  Dr.  Jonsset  104 
^leumonia,  Phoiphofui  in,  by 

Dr.  W.  Arnold ^  666 

Pops,  Dr.,  How  to  Stu4y  the 

Materia  Medioa,  by 204 

Pora,  Dr.,  on  the  BichromaU 

tfPotoih 6 

PoPB,  Dr.,  on  PkytaUtcea 899 


PAOB 

Popx,  Dr.,  A  Beview  of  Points 
of  Besemblance  in  the  Phy- 
siological Action  and  Thera- 
peutic Uses  of  Certain  Drags  719 
Pniter  Prize  ef  Thirty  Ponnds, 

The  126 

Predisposition,  by  W.  Sharp, 

M.D.,  f.xi.D*. ..>.•••• 74,  187 

Prize  Essays    627 

Prize,  The  Prater   126 

Prize,  The  Epps 700 

Pbosll,  Dr.,  Clinical  Observa- 
tions, by  698 

Prof essional  Advertismg    188 

Preving,  Allopathic,  of  Iodine 

in  Goitre  881 

PuBDov.   T.  E.,  M.D.,  Peri- 

typhilitic  Abscess,  by 226 

Pnrgatiyes   760 


Q. 

Queen,    The,     and     Medical 
W<»nen 622 


B. 

Binger,  Dr.  Sidney,  and  Ho- 
moeopathy       49 

Bsvuews: — 

Abridged         Therapeutics, 

founded  upon    Histology 

and    Cellular   Pathology, 

with    an    Appendix,    by 

W.  H.  Schussler 247 

A  Guide  to  the  Clinical  Ex- 

amination  of  Patients    ...  687 
Dress:  Its  Sanitary  Aspect, 
bvBemard  Both,  F.B.C.S. 

Eng.  1880    

Drug  Attenuation   44 

Ecce  Medious;  or  Eic^e- 
mann  as  a  Man  and  as  a 
Physician,  by  J.  Compton 

Burnett,  M.D 182 

Entdeckungen  auf  dem 
Ctebiete  der  Natur  und  der 
Heilkunde.  Die  Chxo- 
nisohe  Erankheiten,  von 

Dr.  Ignar  Peczely  480 

Inflammation,  chiedly  of  the 
Middle  Ear,  and  other 
Diseases  of  the  Ear,  by 
Bobert  T.  Cooper,  M.D....  299 
Is  Consumption  Contagious? 
and  can  it  be  Transmitted 
by  means  of  Food?  By 
Herbert  C.  Clapp,  A.M., 
M.D 297 


Tin 


INDEX. 


IConthly  HamoBopathio- 
Beview,  Dec.  1, 1881 . 


PAOB 

Sbtibwb: — 

Materia  Medica  Para,  by 
Samnel  Hahnemazm, 
Translated  by  B.  E. 
Dudgeon,  M.D 180 

On  the  Medicinal  Treatment 
of  Diseases  of  the  Veins, 
by  J.  Gompton  Burnett, 
MJ).,  &c 

Prize  Essay  on  Diphtheria, 
By  A.  McNiel,  MJ) 425 

Sewage  Poisoning,  its  Causes 
and  Cure,  by  Edward  T. 
Blake,  MJ).,  M.B.C.S.  ...  480 

Surgical  Diseases  and  their 
Homoeopathic  Treatment, 
by  J.  C.  Gilchrist,  M.D....  128 

The  Feeding  and  Manage- 
ment of  Children,  and  tiie 
Home  Treatment  of  their 
Diseases,  by  T.  0.  Dun- 
can, M.D 296 

The  Homoeopathic  Physician, 
A  Monthly  Journal  of 
Medical  Science 618 

The  Medical  Attendance  on 
Poor  and  Bioh  in  London 
and  other  large  English 
Towns,  compared  with  the 
same  in  Puris  and  other 
Towns,  by  Dr.  Both   123 

Transactions  of  the  World's 
Homoeopathic  Convention, 
1876 612 

Transactions  of  the  Inter- 
national Homoeopa^c 
Conyention,  1881  760 

Useful  Hints  to  aid  Workers 
among  the  Poor  and  Sick  858 

Tisiting  List,  Faulkner's  •••  754 


Sanitary  Association,  Ladies  698 

Soarlatma,  Cases  Selected  from 
Practice,  by  Dr.  John 
Drommond 278 

Sea-Sickness,  by  B.  N.  Foster, 
M.D 678 

Shabpb,  William,  MJ).,F  JLS., 
The  Cure  of  Diseases  by 
Medicines,  by  458 

SHABPa,WlLLIA]f ,  M  J).,F.B.S.  , 
Predisposition,  by 74,  187 

Shsabbb,  Thokas,  M  J).,  Clin- 
ical Observations  on  Oyda- 
men  Europeum,  by 29^ 


PAOX. 

Silicated   Carbon    Begistered 

Ascension  Filters   818 

Sdcpson,  T.,  M.D.,  A  Case  of 

Hemophilia,  by 291 

Small-poz    and    Vaccination, 

Statistics  of 622. 

Smith,   Pbothebob,  M.D.,  A 

Case    of     Poisoning     with 

Bellttdormat  by    685- 

Society  for  the  -Prevention  of 

Blindness 188 

Sponges    761 

StateHonours  to  Homoeopaths  190 
Stokbs,  Adbian,  M.D.,  Heart 

Symptoms,  by 411 

Strychnia  and  Nitro-Strychnia  444 
Studies  in  the  Materia  Medica, 

by  Dr.  Dyce  Brown 658^ 


T. 

Teeth  Ertraotion,  without 
Consent    881 

Temperature,  Automatic  Begis- 
tration  of  Body   707 

Testimonial  to  Lord  Ebury  489,  515 

Therapeutics,  The  Present 
State  of 814 

Therapeutics,  The  Belation  of 
Pathology  to,  by  C.  S. 
Campbell,  MJ) 598^ 

Transactions  of  the  World*s 
Homoeopathic  Convention, 
1876 61» 

Transactions  of  the  Inter- 
national Homoeopathic 
Convention,  1881 750 

Typhoid  Fever  at  Bristol  694,  76& 


V. 

Vaccination    and    Small-poz« 

Statistics  of 622^ 

Vaccination  in  China 708 

Vaccination  with  Calf  Lymph  252 
Viola    Tricolor,     or     Jaeea, 
W.  H.  Bigler,  M.D.,  on 421 


W. 

Williams,  Lemubl  E., 
M.B.C.S.,  Eng.,  Clinical 
Cases  of  Bright's  Disease,  1^  156i 

WnfSLow,  W.  H.,  M.D., 
AjBtheaopia 674. 


'    n     ! 


THE    MONTHLY 


HOMOEOPATHIC    REVIEW. 


THE    PAST    YEAR. 

It  is  an  excellent  and  si^utaiy  thing  at  certain  great 
epochs  in  life  to  look  back  on  the  past,  consider  oar  short- 
comings  and  oar  progress,  and  from  this  stndy  to  tarn  oar 
thooghts  onward  to  the  fatare,  profiting  by  the  lessons  of 
the  past,  and  hackling  on  oar  armoor  for  work  to  come. 
The  end  of  one  year  and  the  beginning  of  the  next  forms 
one  of  the  most  fitting  seasons  for  sach  reflections.  We 
learn  to  estimate  oar  whereaboats  as  regards  oarselves  and 
oar  neighboars  at  the  end  of  an  interval  comparatively 
shorty  and  yet  safficient  in  the  race  of  life  to  jnstify  a  paase 
for  retrospect.  We,  as  it  were,  stop  and  take  a  breath 
before  proceeding  on  oar  next  stage. 

It  has  been  remarked  of  nations  that  one  is  happy  and 
piosperons  in  proportion  as  there  is  little  eventfal  to  record 
in  the  year.  So,  to  a  certain  extent,  is  this  trae  of 
individuals  and  commnnities.  Certain  years  may  be 
fraught  with  important  events,  which  caase  apheavals 
and  revelations,  and  stand  forth  in  history,  bat  for  qaiet 
progress  and  prosperity  an  aneventfal  year  is  perhaps  of 
more  real  importance,  and  may  bear  more  traly  valuable 

Ho.  1,  Yo).  25.  B 


THE   PAST  YEAE.         ^?S.^*?Pf^" 


Beyiew,  Jan.  1, 1881 . 


•and  permanent  fruits.  Snch  an  nneventfnl  year  has  been 
the  past  one  of  1880.  There  is  little  of  importance  to 
record,  either  with  regret  or  with  exultation.  Bat  none  the 
less  has  it,  we  believe,  been  one  of  steady  and  quiet 
progress.  Our  public  institutions  pursue  the  even  tenor 
of  their  way.  The  London  Homoeopathic  Hospital  is  now, 
thanks  chiefly  to  the  munificent  bequest  of  the  late  Dr. 
QuiN,  in  a  pecuniary  state  which  sets  the  mind  of 
the  Committee  of  Management  at  ease.  There  are 
schemeB  afloat  for  the  enlargement  of  the  hos- 
pital, so  that  it  shall  contain  120  beds.  We  sincerely 
trust  that  the  active  and  energetic  promoters  of  this  scheme 
will  be  successful,  but  meantime  things  go  on  very 
smoothly,  and  without  the  strain  which  existed  a  short 
time  ago,  and  perplexed  the  Board  of  Management. 
Through  the  munificence  of  one  lady,  six  beds,  called  after 
her  the  '^  Durning"  beds,  are  now  in  constant  use,  chiefly 
for  the  treatment  of  cases  requiring  a  longer  residence  in 
the  hospital  than  the  ordinary  arrangements  admit  of. 
We  should  rejoice  to  see  this  munificent  example  followed 
by  others,  of  whom  there  are  many,  to  whom  the  gift  of  a 
few  hundreds  a  year  would  be  only  a  small  item  in  their 
yearly  expenditure.  The  other  hospitals  and  dispensaries 
in  the  kingdom  are  all  flourishing  in  their  quiet  way ;  the 
Habnemann  Convalescent  Home  at  Bournemouth  is  in  full 
working  order,  and  is  productive  of  much  benefit  to  the 
poDr,  who  would  otherwise  be  unable  to  obtain  the  advan- 
tage, often  a  question  of  life  and  death,  of  a  mild  winter 
clknate. 

Before  leaving  the  subject  of  the  hospitals,  it  may  be 
well  to  draw  the  attention  of  some  of  our  confrireBt  who 
will  persist  in  Tepeating  what  had  been  remarked  in  some 
former  years  as  to  the  elass  of  oases  admitted  into  the 
London  Homoeopathic  Hospital^  to  the  actual  state  of  afiiBiirs. 


S^jSTSf^         THE   PAST  YEAE. 


'This  statement  was  that  few  cases  of  an  acate  or  serious 
nature  were  there  treated.  Whatever  of  truth  there  may 
have  been  for  this  assertion  in  some  former  years^  a  glance 
«t  the  list  of  cases  in  the  hospital  reports,  and  published 
^gain  in  a  letter  by  one  of  the  physicians  in  reply  to  a  mis- 
statement to  the  same  effect  by  Dr.  EninmDS  at  the  open- 
ing of  the  new  Temperance  Hospital,  will  show  how  untrue 
•isuch  an  accusation  is. 

The  class  of  cases  will  compare  with  that  of  any  other 
liospital,  while,  compared  with  those  treated  in  the  Tem- 
perance Hospital,  which  Dr.  Edmunds  attempted  to 
set  up  as  a  model,  the  latter  is  nowhere;  And  yet  we  find 
this  same  thing  said  by  men  of  our  own  school,  who  ought 
to  know  better,  and  who,  if  ignorant  of  the  truth,  have 
themselves  to  blame,  for  not  having  taken  the  trouble  to 
read  the  list  of  cases  appended  to  the  Annual  Beport. 
During  the  year  1880,  we  have  the  means  of  knowing 
ihat  an  unusually  interesting  and  serious  run  of  cases  has 
been  under  treatment.  And  yet  the  mortality  is  lower, 
even  by  Dr.  Edmunds'  own  admission,  than  that  of  any 
other  metropolitan  hospital;  and  this,  not  only  in  the 
year  past,  but  on  an  average  of  the  past  ten  years.  That 
this  should  be  so  is  almost  marvellous,  considefing  the 
Tery  unsatisfactory  condition  of  the  drainage  which  was  dis- 
covered to  have  existed.  Thanks  to  the  energy  of  the 
Board,  the  system  of  drainage  is  now  as  perfect  as  modern 
science  can  render  it.  The  hospital  was  closed,  to  accom- 
plish this  end,  for  a  whole  month,  entailing  a  heavy 
expense^  to  defray  which  strenuous  efforts  are  to  be 
made. 

The  London  School  of  HomoBopathy  is  working  on  in  the 
even  tenor  of  its  way,  in  spite  of  obstacles  and  many 
discouragements;  most  of  the  latter^  we  regret  to  say, 
coming  from  members  of  our  own  section  in  medicine.  Why 


4  THE   PAST   TEAB.         '^SSlL^ir'?^* 


Beriew,  Jan.  1, 1881* 


this  should  be  so,  we  are  at  a  loss  to  nnderstand*  One 
would  think  that  in  so  catholic  an  undertaking  as  a  school 
for  the  public  teaching  and  spread  of  homcBopathy,  all 
would  vie  in  lending  a  helping  hand  and  an  encouraging 
word.  Were  this  so,  the  frequent  discussions  as  to 
the  best  means  of  rendering  it  more  efficient  than  it 
is,  would  result  in  much  more  good  than,  unfortunately, 
they  do.  The  want  of  a  real,  friendly,  true,  and 
sympathetic  interest  is,  we  regret  to  say  it,  only  too  visible 
in  certain  quarters.  We  sincerely  hope  that  in  our 
retrospect  of  1881  we  shall  have  a  different  report  to  make 
in  regard  to  this  young  institution,  capable  of  being  so 
useful  in  the  spread  and  ultimate  success  of  those  doctrines 
we  all  have  at  heart.  Into  the  merits  of  the  various 
schemes  for  the  advancement  of  the  school  we  do  not  here 
enter,  as  we  have  from  time  to  time  in  our  columns 
criticised  them,  while  giving  full  scope  for  free  discussion 
on  all  sides.  We  have  this  year  to  regret  the  resigna- 
tion, by  Dr.  Bichard  Hughes,  of  his  lectureship  on 
Materia  Medica  and  Therapeutics,  owing  to  pressure  of 
private  practice.  In  his  place  the  governors  have  appointed 
Dr.  Pope.  Dr.  Hughes  has,  however,  consented  to 
give  a  summer  course  of  lectures  on  the  principles  of 
HomoBopathy.  At  the  opening  of  the  present  winter 
session  the  usual  introductory  lecture  was  replaced  by  the 
first  of  a  series  of  '^  Hahnemann  "  orations  or  lectures, 
the  Committee  of  Management  having  resolved  to  appoint 
a  **  Hahnemann  "  lecturer  each  year.  The  object  of  these 
lectures  is  to  bring  into  more  prominent  notice  the  dis- 
covery of  the  law  of  similars,  and  the  bearings  of  Hahne- 
mann's eventful  life  on  the  system  of  homoeopathy,  and  so 
to  form  a  perpetual  memento  of  his  great  genius.  Dr.  J. 
GoMPTON  Burnett,  who  was  chosen  the  lecturer  for 
the  present  year^  delivered  an  able  address,  which  was 


^BS^.fSHtH^  THE   PAST  YEAB. 


listened  to  with  nmch  interest,  and  which,  we  understand, 
is  to  appear  completed  in  the  form  of  a  book. 

The  annual  Congress  of  HomoBopathic  Practitioners  was 
held  in  September,  at  Leeds,  nnder  the  presidency  of  Dr. 
YbiiDHAIC.  The  papers  read  were  interesting  and  instrac- 
iiye,  and  gave  fall  scope  for  discussion.  The  meeting  was, 
bj  all  who  were  present,  reckoned  a  most  successful  one. 
The  Tarious  papers,  with  the  subsequent  discussions,  will 
he  found  in  our  pages  for  October  and  November. 

As  to  our  relations  with  the  old  school,  we  haye  not  much 
to  record.  Feeble  ebullitions  of  the  old  deeply-rooted  hatred 
of  homoaopaihy  have  occurred,  the  feeblest,  as  Well  as  the 
most  prominent,  beingthat  of  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons 
of  Ireland.  We  lately  noticed  this  folly  in  one  of  our 
leading  articles,  and  so  pass  it  by  with  a  smile  of  pity  and 
contempt  for  such  an  attempt  to  establish  the  tyranny  of 
a  trades-union  in  a  so-called  liberal  profession  in  the 
nineteenth  century.  On  the  other  hand,  the  pages  of  the 
old  school  journals,  every  now  and  then,  testify  to  the 
gradual  leavening  of  the  profession  by  our  doctrines,  in 
spite  of  the  openly-expressed  distaste  for  them.  Why 
certain  of  the  old  school  should  in  these  days  of  freedom  of 
opinion  allow  themselves  to  conceal,  not  to  say  vilify,  what 
they  know  to  be  true,  their  practice  showing  that  they  know 
it  to  be  true,  is  marvellous  to  us,  and  will  one  day  form  a 
curious  chapter  in  the  history  of  medicine.  Meantime  the 
leaven  is  working,  and  must  ultimately  leaven  the  **  whole 
lump." 

We  are  fortunate  in  having  during  the  past  year  a  very 
small  obituary,  although  in  it  appear -the  names  of  two 
very  eminent  Americans  —  Constantinb  HsBiNa  and 
Hbmfbl.  Both  were  very  hard  workers,  both  did  a  vast 
deal  for  homodopathy,  both  are  much  missed,  and  both 
have  written  their  names  imperishably  in  the  annals  of 


6  BICHROMATE  OF  POTASH.   ^S^wfjSf*ifi»i! 

madicine.  Now  that  they  are  gone  from  ns  we  can  look 
back  on  their  lives  with  admiration  and  veneration,  and 
hold  them  Up  as  models^  which  it  should  be  our  aim  to 
study  and  copy. 

In  our  own  country  we  have  had  only  two  deaths  to  record^ 
Dr,  Henbiqubs  and  Mr.  Tate.  They  were  both  hard-working 
practitioners,  who,  though  not  making  their  names  widely 
known  as  those  great  men  of  the  sister  country  of  America,. 
yet  labonred  successfully  in  their  daily  calling,  and  were 
beloved  by  their  patients  and  numerous  friends.  We 
sincerely  trust  that  our  next  year's  list  of  losses  by  death 
will  be  as  small.  Every  one  is  missed,  however  unobtrusive 
his  course  of  life  has  been. 


ON     THE     PHYSIOLOGICAL    ACTION 

AND  THERAPEUTIC  USES  OF 

THE     BICHROMATE     OP      POTASH.* 

By  Alfred  C.  Pope,  M.D. 

Lecturer  on  Materia  Medica  at  the  London  School  of  Homcepathy. 

Fob  the  study  of  this  drug  we  have,  perhaps,  fuller  and 
more  adequate  details  at  our  disposal  than  we  have  for 
that  of  any  other.  The  proving  of  the  Bichromate  of 
Potash,  by  Dr.  Drjsdale,  which  contains  nearly  every 
known  pathogenetic  fact  regarding  it,  is  a  model  of  what  Sr 
drug-proving  ought  to  be.  It  is  published  in  the  Hahne- 
mann Materia  Medica,  Part  I.,  and  deserves  the  careful 
study  of  every  practitioner  of  medicine.  Dr.  Drysdale  has 
here  brought  together,  in  a  thoroughly  scientific  manner^ 
the  observations  of  twenty-three  male,  and  seven  female 
voluntary  experimenters  with  this  salt,  and  a  large  number 
of  well-substantiated  and  carefully  examined  cases  of 
poisoning  by  it.  Added  to  these,  are  a  number  of  experi- 
ments on  some  of  the  lower  animals,  with  a  statement  of 
the  morbid  appearances  they  presented  after  death ;  while 
to  the  detail  of  the  symptoms  produced,  a  summary  of  tho 
physiological  action  of  the  drug,  and  a  series  of  illustrations 
of  its  therapeutic  uses  are  appended.  Had  all  the  medicines- 
now  used  been  examined  as  carefully  and  elaborately  as. 
Dr.  Drysdale  has  examined  the  bichromate  of  potash,  the 

*  A  Lecture  delivered  at  the  London  School  of  HomoBpathy  Deo.  5th» 
1880. 


iSSSfSTMa!*^  BICHROMATE  OF  POTASH.  7 

iroric  of  the  stndent  of  therapeoticB  would  be  both  plea- 
santer  and  ampler,  and  the  duties  of  a  leotnrer  on  Materia 
Medica,  very  sensibly  lightened. 

Dr.  Diysdale's  article  appeared  in  1851,  and,  together 
with  his  own  enquiries,  contained  those  of  the  Austrian 
Society.  The  article  on  this  salt  in  Allen's  Eneyclopadia 
gives  these  researches,  and,  in  addition,  a  few  observations 
and  cases  of  poisoning  that  have  been  recorded  of  late  years. 

In  the  Homoeopathic  Pharmacopoeia,  the  German  desig- 
nation of  this  salt — Kali  Bichromicum — ^is  retained. 

The  bichromate  of  potash  is  essentially,  indeed,  I  may 
say  exclusively,  a  tissue-irritant,  and  as  such,  its  action  is 
exerted  upon  the  skin,  the  mucous  surface  of  the  mouth, 
throat,  larynx,  trachea  and  bronchi,  the  oesophagus,  stomach 
and  intestinal  tube.  It  also  exercises  a  well-defined  and 
powerful  influence  upon  the  liver  and  kidneys,  as  well  as 
upon  some  of  the  joints  and  the  periosteum. 

Dr.  Drysdale  has  observed  that  its  influence  is  most 
marked  in  &t  and  &ir-haired  persons ;  and  that  many  of 
the  symptoms  it  occasions  are  most  pronounced  in  hot 
weather. 

On  the  nervous  system,  save  indirectly,  this  salt  appears 
to  have  little  influence.  The  headache,  which  accompanies 
the  gastric  and  intestinal  symptoms  characterising  its 
action,  is  a  vertigo,  followed  by  aching  across  the  forehead, 
aggravated  by  stooping  and  moving. 

Independently,  however,  of  its  action  on  other  parts  of 
the  body,  it  excites  a  well-de£ned  supra  orbital  neuralgia, 
characterised  by  violent  shooting  pains  from  the  root  of  the 
nose  along  the  left  orbital  arch  to  the  external  angle  of  the 
eye  with  dimness  of  sight.  The  pain  begins  in  the  morn- 
ing, increases  until  noon,  and  goes  away  towards  evening. 
In  each  instance,  in  which  this  kind  of  neuralgia  was  felt, 
it  was  on  the  left  side. 

The  catarrhal-like  condition  set  up  by  the  bichromate  of 
potash  is  very  well  marked  in  the  mucous  tissues  of 
the  eye  ball.  Thus,  we  find  burning  and  smarting  of  the 
eyelids,  in  the  canthi,  and  the  cmruncula  lachrymalis. 
The  conjunctiva  oculi  is  reddened,  presently  the  palpebral 
conjunctiva  becomes  so  too.  On  waking  in  the  morning 
the  eyelids  are  agglutinated,  and  yellowish  matter  accumu- 
lates at  the  angles.  Pustules,  small  white  elevations, 
surrounded  by  a  good  deal  of  redness,  form  on  the 
conjunctiva  of  the  left   eye  towards  the  inner  canthus. 


8  BICHBOMATB  OF  POTABH.  *'^^S^J.?5Sf?^** 


Beriew.  Jaa.1, 1881. 


While  these  conditions  are  present,  vision  is  dim,  and  there 
is  a  dread  of  light,  especially  towards  evening. 

These  symptoms,  which  are  very  characteristic  of  the 
action  of  liiis  salt,  indicate  it  as  a  remedy  in  catarrhal 
ophthalmia,  and  especially  as  it  appears  in  stramons  and 
syphilitic  subjects,  while  its  clinical  value  in  such  cases 
has  been  amply  and  most  satisfactorily  tested. 

The  following  case  recorded  by  Dr.  Drysdale  in  the  16th 
volume  of  The  British  Journal  of  Homoeopathy  illustrates 
one  form  of  ophthalmia  in  which  the  bichromate  is  a  very 
useful  medicine : — 

Mr.  W.,  eet.  29.  Has  been  subject  to  inflammation  of  the  eye 
from  childhood.  Has  had  syphilis  three  times ;  the  last  time 
four  years  before,  and  was  treated  with  mereury,  and  salivated. 
He  had  gonorrhoea  a  year  before.  In  the  middle  of  July  he  was 
attacked  with  inflammation  of  the  right  eye,  and  it  continued  to 
increase,  but  he  had  not  put  himself  under  any  treatment  for  fear 
of  the  bleeding  and  salivation  he  had  undergone  on  former 
occasions.  On  Uie  29th  of  August  he  came  to  me  suffering  from 
great  pain  in  the  head,  and  over  the  right  eye,  with  excessive 
flow  of  tears  and  intolerance  of  light,  so  that  it  was  difficult  to 
obtain  a  good  view  of  the  state  of  the  eye.  The  sclerotic  was 
deeply  injected  and  iris  muddy ;  the  conjunctiva  injected,  and  a 
large  white  opaque  spongy  looking  speck  in  the  middle  of  the 
cornea,  to  winch  red  vessels  ran  across  the  clear  part.  Up  to  the 
18th  September  he  got  sulphur,  belladonna^  and  then  spigeliaf 
with  some  relief  to  the  pains  in  the  head,  but  the  symptoms  of 
the  eye  remained  the  same.  He  now  got  gr.  i  of  the  first 
decimal  trituration  of  the  kali  bichrom.,  to  be  dissolved  in  fourteen 
spoonfuls  of  water,  and  one  taken  every  six  hours.  Under  this 
he  improved  rapidly,  and  to  such  a  degree  that  on  the  27th  the 
eye  was  nearly  free  from  signs  of  inflammation,  and  the  speck  and 
vessels  supplying  it  were  less.  He  got  no  medicine  till  the  2nd 
October,  and  then  the  speck  remained  the  same,  with  watering 
of  the  eye  on  attempting  to  use  it ;  he  got  hepar,  followed  in 
due  course  by  mere,  euphras,,  and  thuja,  with  progressive 
improvement  of  the  speck. 

The  same  catarrhal-like  state  is  observed  on  the  mucous 
surface  of  the  nose ;  but  here  it  seems  to  be  deeper  and  to 
disorganise  the  septum  and  nasal  bones  to  some  extent. 

We  also  notice  sneezing,  with  a  discharge  of  clear  water 
from  the  nose,  aggravated  on  going  into  the  open  air.  The 
nose  then  becomes  sore  and  red,  and  there  is  either  a  total 
loss  of  the  sense  of  smell  or  a  consciousness  of  a  foetid 
odour  &om  it.    With  this  catarrh  there  is  oppressive  head- 


rSJS^JSTmSl^  bichromate  op  potash.  9 


ache,  often  followed  by  more  or  less  profuse  epistaxis. 
After  a  time  the  nose  becomes  sore  and  dry. 

In  those  cases  where  the  inflammation  was  more  intense 
great  pain  and  tenderness  were  felt  at  the  junction  of  the 
cartilage,  and  the  septum  was  ulcerated  quite  through. 
The  nose  became  obstructed  by  the  repeated  formation  of 
bard  elastic  plugs,  called  by  workers  in  bichromate  of  potash 
^'  cUnkers." 

In  many  cases  of  ordinary  catarrh,  still  more  in  certain 
epidemics  of  influenza,  and  again  in  syphilitic  disease  of  the 
nose,  this  salt  has  been  found  of  great  value.  It  is  chiefly 
in  cases  where,  with  great  stuffiness  of  the  nose,  headache 
And  epistaxis  are  especially  prominent  that  it  will  be  pre- 
ferable to  other  drugs,  having  a  catarrh-like  action  on  the 
nasal  mucous  membrane. 

A  case  is  related  by  Dr.  Drysdale  (op.  cit)  which  is  a 
good  example  of  the  kind  of  chronic  inflammation  of  the 
Schneiderian  membrane  in  which  bichromate  of  potash  is 
remedial.     The  details  are  as  follows : — 

Mrs.  H.,  let.  50.  Had  always  been  subject  to  colds  in  the 
head,  and  determination  of  blood  to  the  head.  About  two  years 
before  she  had  a  severe  inflaenza,  and  from  that  time  she  dates 
her  present  symptoms.  The  catamenia  ceased  about  two  years 
^o  also. 

March  2l8t,  1858.  Complains  of  constant  discharge  of  thick 
jellow  matter  from  the  left  nostril,  mostly  early  in  the  morning, 
and  having  a  foetid  smell  after  any  fresh  cold.  She  has  also  a 
severe  pain  np  the  mascles  of  the  left  side  of  the  neck  to  one 
ffinall  spot  in  the  side  of  the  head,  brought  on  and  aggravated  by 
blowing  the  nose.  In  the  left  nostril,  half  way  up,  there  is  a 
severe  smarting  pain  extending  to  the  malar  bone  below  the  eye. 
There  is  little  sneezing,  and  no  perversion  of  the  sense  of  smell. 
The  general  health  is  good,  except  that  the  bowels  are  costive 
and  tongue  white. 

Ptescrip'  i. — Kali  bich.j  6,  8,  6,  2,  6,  6,  a  powder  of  each 
dilation  r  cession,  one  powder  every  second  day,  dissolved 
in  four  spoc  .  ^  of  water,  and  one  to  be  taken  night  and  morn- 
ing. There  wik.  also  given  a  lotion  composed  of  half  a  grain  of 
the  neutral  chromate  to  the  ounce  of  water,  to  be  snuffed  up  the 
nostril  twice  a  day.  On  the  5th  April  she  was  much  better  than 
for  two  years.  The  pain  was  quite  gone  for  some  days,  although 
she  had  a  slight  fresh  cold  ;  the  discharge  is  much  less  copious, 
and  is  tiun,  and  without  foatid  smell.  The  pain  in  the  neck  and 
head  and  malar  bone  gone.  The  medicine  was  repeated,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  the  second  course  she  was  well. 


10  BICHBOMATE  OF  POTASH.   "^SSJwfjSTTffii^ 

In  the  24th  yolmne  of  the  British  Journal  of  Hovfuxo- 
pathy,  Dr.  Bansford  gives  the  particulars  of  a  very  inter- 
esting case,  showing  tiie  power  of  this  salt  over  disease  of 
the  nasal  passages  having  a  malignant  aspect : — 

The  patient  was  a  gentlemen,  eighty-two  years  of  age,  who  had 
resided  for  thirty  years  in  India,  where  he  had  had  two  attacks  of 
fever  and  one  of  cholera.  Baring  the  two  years  previous  to  the 
illness  Dr.  Bansford  refers  to,  he  had  had  diarrhoea  and  bron- 
chitis on  two  or  three  occasions.  In  the  autumn  of  1864  Dr. 
Bansford  saw  him  on  account  of  a  highly  vascular,  spongy  texture 
in  the  right  nostril,  distending  it,  and  apparently  growing  upwards. 
After  a  few  weeks  it  travelled  slowly  downwards,  and  protruded 
externally.  The  left  nostril  became  affected  in  the  same  way  ; 
the  soft  parts  of  the  alas  nasi  were  involved,  but  the  bony 
structure  was  unaffected,  and  there  was  but  very  slight  and 
occasional  muco-purulent  discharge.  His  nurses  stated  that  the 
discharge  was  offensive.  Occasionally  there  were  severe  paroxysms 
of  lancinating  pain  in  the  affected  parts,  sufficiently  acute  to 
make  the  poor  man  cry  out  loudly ;  deglutition  was  unaffected, 
and  the  soft  palate  likewise,  but  by  the  continued  growth  of  the 
tumours,  and  by  their  constant  pressure,  the  neighbouring  soft 
parts  were  absorbed,  and  considerable  disfigurement  was  the 
result.  Speech  was  not  miuch  affected,  except  that  the  voice 
was  rather  hoarse.  He  was  now  seen  by  Sir  James  (then  Mr.) 
Paget,  who  simply  prescribed  cleanliness  and  a  generous  diet, 
botii  of  which  suggestions  had  been  anticipated.  He  was  also 
seen  by  Dr.  Sanderson,  formerly  of  the  Bengal  army,  who  con- 
sidered the  case  hopeless.  Up  to  this  time  the  medicine  most 
frequently  given  had  been  arsenic,  in  various  dilutions,  but 
without  any  apparent  effect  on  the  ulceration  process.  Dr. 
Bansford  now  prescribed  the  bichromate  of  potash  in  the  third 
dilution,  both  internally  and  externally,  by  means  of  a  glass 
syringe.  Most  unexpectedly,  the  progress  of  the  disease  was 
gradually  but  visibly  checked;  healthy  granulation  took  the 
place  of  phagedenic  ulceration,  which  never  recurred.  He  lived 
many  months  after  the  healing  process  was  accomplished." 

The  catarrhal-like  inflammation  extends  downwards 
to  the  larynx  and  bronchi.  Thus,  following  the  symp- 
toms of  nasal  catarrh,  we  have  in  the  larynx,  pain  in 
the  sides,  the  nape  of  the  neck,  and  left  shoulder ;  the 
throat  looks  inflamed  and  red  around  the  tonsils.  Then 
follows  cough  with  sputa,  free,  thick  and  slaty  in  colour, 
and  some  dyspnoea,  with  a  sensation  of  dryness  in  the 
bronchi.  We  find  also  great  tickling  in  the  larynx,  caus- 
ing cough  at  every  inspiration,  hoarseness,  tightness  of  the 
chest,  especially  at  the  bifurcation  of  the  trachea — ^increase 


SSSi?2rrSS^  bichkomatb  of  potash.  11 

of  cough,  with  frequent  hawking  np  of  thick,  tongh, 
yellowish,  whitish,  mncns.  In  another  case  the  laiynx  was 
still  more  affected.  A  sense  of  pressiye  aching  was 
followed  hy  tickling,  which  extended  to  the  throat  and 
ears,  and  at  night  amounted  to  burning  and  scraping  in 
the  throat,  and  upper  part  of  the  larynx. 

Among  the  workpeople,  whose  cases  were  studied  by  Dr. 
Diysdale,  the  bronchial  symptoms  were  more  marked  than 
the  laryngeal. 

Gases  of  bronchitis  have  certain  fundamental  symp- 
toms conunon  to  all  of  them,  but  you  must  not,  you 
cannot,  with  success,  base  your  prescription  upon  these. 
Because  a  drug  gives  rise  to  a  state  similar  to  bronchitis, 
it  does  not  follow  that  it  will  cure  all  cases  of  that  disease* 
It  is  only  that  kind  of  bronchitis,  that  particular  attack, 
where  the  symptoms  are  like — and  the  nearer  like  the 
better — those  a  given  drug  will  produce,  that  you  can 
expect  to  cure  with  that  drug.  It  is  from  the  want  of 
recognition  of  this  &ct  that  so  many  &ilures  occur  in 
endeavouring  to  put  the  homosopathic  theoiy  into  practice. 
It  is  from  the  same  cause  that  disappointment  so  often 
arises  in  testing  the  assertions,  frequently  met  with  now- 
a-days  in  works  on  Materia  Medica^  which  have  originally 
been  obtained  from  the  observations  of  homoeopathic 
physicians — assertions  which  are  true  enough  in  them- 
selves, but  only  true  when  applied  with  the  precision 
which  a  careful  application  of  the  law  of  similars  involves* 

To  say,  therefore,  that  bichromate  of  potash  will  cure 
bronchitis  is  true  enough,  but  it  is  only  a  half-truth — one 
that  requires  to  be  supplemented  by  a  description  of  the 
kind  of  bronchitis  of  which  it  is  remedial.  Hence,  I  will  en- 
deavour to  point  out  to  you,  with  some  degree  of  minuteness, 
the  bronchial  condition  to  which  this  salt  is  homoeopathic. 

In  the  first  place,  it  generally  commences  with  a  catarrh, 
which  has  travelled  down  the  mucous  membrane  from  the 
nose  or  throat  into  that  lining  the  bronchi  or  bronchial 
tubes.  The  cough  is  loud  and  harsh,  worse  in  the  morning 
and  attended  with  expectoration  of  i<mgh  mucus.  This 
mucus  is  in  various  stages  of  degeneration,  sometimes 
white,  at  others  dark,  even  blackish,  at  others  yellow ;  but 
it  is  invariably  tough  and  difficult  to  detach,  and  capable 
of  being  drawn  out  into  long  strings.  At  the  same  time, 
there  are  pain,  weight,  and  soreness  at  the  chest,  with 
marked  dyspnoea  and  oppression. 


12  BIOHBOMATE  OP  POTASH.    ^^S^fSTTlJSl? 

If,  at  the  same  time,  yonr  patient  presents  symptoms  of 
indigestion,  and  a  disordered  state  of  the  biliary  ftmction, 
as  indicated  by  a  tongue  thickly  coated  with  yellow  fori 
weight  at  the  epigastrium,  sour  and  flatulent  eructations 
and  constipation,  this  medicine  will  be  still  more  clearly 
indicated,  and  you  may  prescribe  it  with  the  fullest  confi- 
dence of  doing  good. 

From  this  account  you  will  see  that  it  is  mostly  in  cases 
of  sub-acute  and  chronic  bronchitis,  with  a  low  type  of 
inflammation,  tending,  as  it  were,  to  ulceration,  that  this 
salt  is  useful. 

In  laryngitis,  too,  it  is  well  indicated,  and  has 
proved  most  serviceable.  I  do  not  think  that  it  is  ordin- 
arily useful  in  croup.  At  the  same  time,  here  also,  we 
meet  with  cases  where  it  is  indicated  and  has  proved  cura- 
4dve.  Dr.  W.  E.  Payne,  an  American  physician,  writing 
some  thirty  years  ago,  described  an  epidemic  of  croup  as 
occurring  in  the  town  where  he  lived,  in  which  the  medi- 
cines he  had  commonly  found  useful,  had  utterly  failed 
liim.  A  study  of  the  pathogenesis  of  bichromate  of  potash 
led  him  to  prescribe  it,  and  with  this  alteration  in  his  pre- 
scription the  tide  turned,  and  his  patients  recovered.  As  I 
read  his  account  of  the  epidemic  now,  it  appears  to  me  to  have 
been  one  of  diphtheria,  and  not  of  that  membranous  croup 
which  is  encountered  by  aconite,  spongia,  or  iodine  and 
Jiepar.  In  this  epidemic,  the  characteristic  symptoms  of 
the  cases,  in  which  the  bichromate  was  successful,  were 
their  low  type  of  inflammation,  the  restlessness  of  the 
x^hild,  the  plugging  of  the  left  nostril  with  thick  white 
mucus,  and  the  covering  of  the  tonsils  with  a  thick  white 
tenacious  mucus.  As  I  have  said,  it  is  probable  that  they 
were  in  reality  what  we  should  call  diphtheria ;  and,  in 
.some  instances  of  this  disease  of  a  specially  low  type,  and 
iwhere  we  have  an  imperfect,  ill-developed,  false  mem- 
brane occupying  the  nares,  as  well  as  the  throat,  bichro- 
mate of  potash  has  frequently  been  useful. 

The  pharyngeal  symptoms,  produced  by  this  salt,  are  indi- 
cative of  a  low  type  of  ulceration.  Besides  the  usual  stinging 
and  sore  pains  in  the  tonsils,  we  have  objective  signs  of 
great  value.  The  uvula  is  elongated ;  on  the  fore  part  of 
the  palate  are  single  circumscribed  spots  of  the  size  of  a 
barleycorn,  coloured  red,  as  if  little  ulcers  were  about  to 
form;  a  long  continued  erythematous  blush  covered  the 


B^fj^nSn!^    BIOHBOMATB   OP  POTASH.  1» 

fauces  and  soft  palate.  In  another  case,  the  avula  and 
tonsils  became  red,  and  swollen,  and  paanfal,  and  finally 
nlcerated.  This  man,  a  workman  in  ohromate  of  potash 
works,  was  seen  by  a  surgeon,  and  his  symptoms  were  by 
him  attributed  to  syphilis.  It  is  in  syphilitic  disease  of 
the  throat  that  this  salt  has  proved  one  of  the  most  effi- 
cient of  remedies.  In  simple  catarrhal  ulceration,  and  in 
ulcers  arising  from  the  presence  of  the  syphilitic  poison 
you  may  very  frequently  obtain  the  best  results  from  it. 

In  poisoning  by  the  bichromate  of  potash,  the  diges- 
tiye  apparatus  is  thoroughly  disordered.  The  tongue  is 
thickly  coated,  posteriorly  especially,  with  a  yellowish  or 
yellowish-white  fur,  when  the  gastric  symptoms  alone  are 
present;  when  the  inflammation  proceeds  further  down, 
and  we  have  gastro-enteritis,  it  is  dry  and  dark-brown 
furred ;  when  intestinal  ulceration  has  been  set  up,  it  is 
smooth,  red  and  cracked. 

Salivation  is  also  prominent,  and  at  the  same  time 
thirsty  and  a  coppery,  sour,  bitter  taste,  especially  after 
meals.  Ulceration  of  the  buccal  membrane  and  of  the 
tongue  are  equally  marked  symptoms. 

Nausea  and  vomiting  are  constant  symptoms  of  the  dis- 
ordered state  of  the  stomach  induced ;  a  state  that  may  be  des- 
cribed as  varying  from  a  simple  catarrhal  dyspepsia,  to  abso- 
lute gastritis  and  ulceration.  The  nausea  of  the  bichromate  oi 
potash  is  worse  on  motion,  produces  a  sense  of  faintness, 
and  an  uneasy,  painful  sensation  in  the  stomach,  with  a 
sense  of  weariness.  It  was  by  several  provers  compared  to 
that  of  sea  sickness.  The  vomiting  is  attended  with  pres- 
sive^  burning  pains  in  the  stomach.  The  matter  vomited 
was  yellow,  bitter  and  bilious  in  some  instances,  in  others 
clear  and  watery,  and  in  others  bright  arterial  blood.  The 
vomiting  was  accompanied  by  giddiness,  a  burning  pain  in 
the  head,  and  cold  perspiration  on  the  hands  and  other 
parts  of  the  body. 

Taste  is  perverted,  being  metallic,  coppery,  saltish,  sour 
or  bitter.  Thirst  is  generally  considerable,  but  in  one 
instance  the  gratification  of  the  desire  for  water  was 
followed  immediately  by  an  increase  of  nausea.  Appetite 
for  food  is  generally  destroyed,  and  always  capricious.  A 
meal  is  followed  by  nausea,  eructations,  gastric  distension, 
and  increased  flow  of  saliva.  The  pain  in  the  stomach 
after  food  deserves  marked  attention.  It  comes  on  soon 
after  taking  food,  commonly  within  half-an-hour.     Its 


14  BIGHBOKATE  OF  POTASH.   "SS^^lKuiaa! 

chancter  Taries  with  the  dose  taken,  being  in  some 
inatanoes  violent  and  bnining,  in  others  resembling  a 
sense  of  diatension.  It  is  situated  oyer  the  great  cnrva- 
tnre  of  the  stomach,  some  three  inches  below  the  ensifoim 
cartilage  and,  after  its  subsidence;  there  frequently  remains 
a  soreness  on  pressore.  In  nearly  all  instances  the  pain 
is  attended  with  Tomiting. 

As  I  remarked  just  now,  these  symptoms  all  point  to 
the  power  of  bichromate  of  potash  to  give  rise  to  Tarions 
degrees  of  irritability  of  the  stomach  of  a  kind  similar  to 
thfl^  met  with  in  some  forms  of  dyspepsia  of  the  catarrhal 
order,  of  well  marked  gastritis,  and  of  erosion,  if  not  of 
actual  ulceration  of  the  stomach.  The  post  mortem  appear- 
ances obtained  from  experiments  on  the  lower  animals 
show  that  these  are  the  forms  of  disease  which  are 
produced.  Moreover,  just  as  the  symptoms  observed  in 
the  human  subject  would  suggest,  the  bulk  of  the 
mischief  is  at  the  cardiac  end  of  the  stomach.  Dr.  Drysdale, 
in  his  original  paper  on  this  drug,  published  in  an 
appendix  to  the  British  Journal  of  Homoeopathy,  says,  ''At 
the  cardiac  orifice  and  central  portions  of  the  stomach  were 
extensive  chocolate  coloured  superficial  ulcerations.  The 
pyloric  extremity  was  more  healthy." 

In  Fig.  2  of  the  plate  accompanying  this  paper,  you  will 
see  the  kind  of  destruction  wrought  by  the  bichromate  in 
the  cardiac  extremity  of  the  stomach  of  a  dog. 

Producing  little  or  no  irritation  around  the  pylorus, 
bichromate  of  potash  sets  up  considerable  irritation  in  the 
duodenum,  the  colon,  and  rectum.  In  the  duodenum,  this 
is  especially  well  marked.  Post-mortem  appearances  have 
displayed  inflammation  extending  to  ulceration.  The 
symptoms  of  provers,  likewise,  the  pain  and  tenderness  in 
the  upp^  portion  of  the  abdomen,  the  vomiting  of  exces- 
sively bilious  fluid,  and  the  diarrhoea,  suggest  the  presence 
of  irritation  in  this  part  of  the  intestinal  canal.  Duodenitis 
is  rare  as  an  idiopathic  disease,  though  not  unfrequently 
met  with  after  severe  bums ;  while  catarrhal  inflammation 
of  this  part  is  not  an  uncommon  cause  of  jaundice,  a  condi- 
tion which,  though  not  set  up  in  fall  by  this  salt,  is  one 
the  initiative  stage  of  which,  the  marked  pain  in  the  Uver 
and  the  pale  stools  produced  by  it,  hint  that  it  does  give 
rise  to.  Hence  in  the  duodenitis  following  bums,  and  in 
the  duodenal  catarrh,  which  precedes  some  cases  of  jaun- 
dieoi  the  bichrdmate  will  be  indicated  and  found  usefm. 


Jtl^SmS^       BICHROMATE  OF  POTASH.  15 


Beriav,  Jan.  1,  IBBk. 


Both  the  symptoms  observed  daring  life  and  the  pott* 
mortem  appearances  afford  evidence  of  severe  enteritis  being 
occasioned  by  the  bichromate.  Abdominal  pain  is  violenti 
pinching  and  sore ;  the  abdomen  is  sensitive  to  the  least 
pressore;  frequent  bloody  motions,  with  gnawing  pain  at 
the  navel,  and  ineffectual  straining  after  stool,  have  been 
observed;  the  tongue  is  red,  smooth,  and  cracked ;  all  these 
symptoms  point  to  enteritis  of  a  severe  type.  Associated 
with  them  we  have  a  certain  amount  of  fever.  The  skin  is 
hot  and  dry ;  heat  alternates  with  cold ;  and  in  instances 
where  the  symptoms  were  especially  painful  and  severe 
there  was  the  sweat  of  exhaustion.  In  experiments  with 
dogs,  pogt-^mortem  examination  showed  redness  of  the 
mucous  membrane  of  the  ileo-c(Bcal  valve  with  blackish 
spots  upon  it ;  the  colon  and  rectum  were  also  reddened. 

In  its  action  upon  the  colon  and  rectum,  bichromate  of 
potash  strikingly  resembles  corrosive  sublimate.  In  the 
former  the  pain  is  less  burning  than  in  the  latter ;  the 
discharges  of  blood  neither  so  frequent  or  profuse,  and  the 
prostration  is  less  considerable.  It  is  in  the  less  severe  forms 
of  dysentery  that  the  bichromate  has  been  most  frequently 
used ;  but  in  all  cases  of  that  disease  it  is  a  medicine  de- 
serving of  careful  consideration  when  prescribing. 

The  action  of  this  salt  on  the  liver  is  fairly  well  marked 
by  the  symptoms  it  produces,  but  still  more  so  in  the  posU 
mortem  appearances  that  have  been  noted. 

Thus  in'  the  Hahnemann  Materia  Medicay  Dr.  Drysdale 
gives  the  following  summary  of  the  appearances  found  in 
some  of  the  lower  animals  poisoned  by  it. 

''  In  two  the  liver  was  dark  brown,  very  friable,  and  fall  of 
blood.  In  most  the  gall  bladder  was  full  of  bile.  In  another  the 
surface  presented  the  appearance  of  alternate  very  dark  and  pale 
patches.  The  section  had  a  mottled  appearance.  Scattered 
over  both  surfaces  were  numerous  spots  of  a  whitish  yellow 
coloor  about  the  size  of  a  pea,  slightly  depressed,  and  of  a  softer 
consistence  than  the  surrounding  structure.  When  out  into  they 
were  found  to  extend  into  the  sabstance  of  the  gland  in  a  globu- 
lar form.  In  a  fourth  both  surfaces  of  the  liver  were  studded 
with  yeBowish  spots  of  a  spherical  shape,  the  size  of  large  peas, 
reaclnng  from  one  quarter  to  half  an  inch  into  the  substance  of 
the  gland.  Where  they  touch  the  sur&ce  there  is  a  slight  de« 
pression  or  indentation  showing  a  loss  of  substance.  They  are 
of  a  softer  iientisteiioe  than  ilie  sunrounding  parenchyma." 

It  maybe  diffietdt  to  recognise  such  a  condition  during 
life,  beet  it  is  foreshadowed  by  the  pain  in  the  region  of 


16  BICHROMATE  OP  POTASH.      "S^.^fifiM! 

the  liver,  an  ansBinic  cachectic  appearance,  and  the  absence 
of  bile  in  the  stools. 

When  associated  with  the  dyspeptic  symptoms  character- 
istic of  the  bichromate,  acnte  chsorder  of  the  liTor  will  often 
be  mnch  benefited  by  this  salt. 

The  bichromate  of  potash,  therefore,  yon  will  think  of 
when  yon  meet  with  cases  of  simple  catarrhal  dyspepsia, 
especially  when  the  catarrhal  inflnence  pervades  the  entire 
mncons  tract,  in  ulceration  of  the  stomach  at  the  cardiac 
end  thereof,  in  inflammation  of  the  duodenum  after  bums, 
in  gastro-enteritis  and  dysentery  as  well  as  in  some  obscure 
cases  of  hepatic  disease. 

The  congested  condition  of  the  kidney  is  sufficiently 
well  marked  by  the  symptoms  noted  in  provers,  and  is 
very  well  pronounced  in  post-mortem  examinations. 

Pain  in  the  loins,  knife-like,  and  aching,  with  frequent 
desire  to  micturate,  but  with  only  scanty,  and  in  some 
instances  no  result,  are  common  in  provers  of  large  doses. 
With  these  symptoms  of  kidney  disturbance,  we  have 
vertigo  and  other  pains  in  the  head. 

I  am  not  aware  that  albumen  has  been  found  in  the 
urine  as  the  result  of  taking  this  salt,  but  that  the  kidney 
is  congested,  and  the  secretion  of  urine  is  suppressed  by  it  is 
beyond  doubt.  Dr.  Drysdale  utilised  these  indications 
with  admirable  efTect  in  the  epidemic  of  cholera,  which 
prevailed  in  Liverpool  thirty  years  ago.  The  suppression 
of  urine,  which  occurred  in  so  many  instances  was  generally 
rapidly  relieved  by  the  bichromate. 

The  irritant  action  of  this  salt  upon  the  skin  is  espe- 
cially well  marked,  while  its  use  as  a  remedy  in  some 
forms  of  ulceration  has  been  most  encouraging.  This 
irritant  action,  be  it  observed,  is  not  merely  local,  not 
merely  the  consequence  of  direct  application  to  the  part, 
but  is  excited  when  introduced  into  the  body  by  inhalation 
or  through  the  mouth ;  while,  in  those  cases  where  it  has 
been  set  up  by  direct  contact,  the  eruption,  and  consequent 
ulceration,  is  not  confined  to  the  part  where  the  direct  con- 
tact occurred,  but  is  dififased  over  the  body.  Subjective 
symptoms  of  skin  irritation  were  frequently  noted  in  volun- 
tary provers  and,  in  one  or  two,  such  as  are  objective  also. 
Burning  and  itching  of  the  face  and  body ;  burning  on  the 
outside  of  the  leg,  are  characteristic  of  the  former.  The 
following  symptom  is  from  the  late  Dr.  Butherfurd  Bussell's 
contribution  to  Dr.  Drysdale's,  proving :  ''On  the  night  of 


aSSSr^STS^''  BIOriBOMATE  OP  P^OTASH.  17 

^e  2nd  h6  had  coniiideriEkble  itc&ing  of  the  hairy  parts  of  the 
genitals ;  it  increased  to  inflammation  of  the  skin,  and 
tiie  formation  of  about  twenty  pustules,  the  size  of  pin 
heads,  which  were  clustered  in  the  space  of  a  square  inch. 
Next  day  it  continued  till  day,  an^  was  very  troublesome, 
oauaing  him  to  scratch  constantly.  On  the  4th  and  5th 
the  pustules  formed  little  ulcers,  and  ran  together  into  one 
which  discharged  matter ;  and  there  were  serere  shootings 
in  it,  waking  him  at  night.  It  healed  up  in  five  or  six  days." 

These  symptoms  describe  a  pustular  eruption,  tending 
to  ooiEdescence,  with  rapid  destruction  of  tissue,  burning 
and  stinging  pains. 

When  the  quantity  of  the  salt  is  much  greater  than 
that  taken  by  the  voluntary  prover  the  tendency  to  ulcera* 
tion  is  proportionately  more  considerable.  It  commences  by 
apustcdar  eruption  which  is  observable  in  different  parts,  and 
cm  dther  side  of  the  body.  The  pustules  coalesce,  scab  oret, 
and  on  removal  of  the  scab  a  small  ulcer  is  revealed.  These 
ulcers  vary  in  size  from  that  of  a  pea,  to  that  of  a  half-crown, 
they  are  generally  dry,  of  an  oval  form,  with  over-hanging 
edges,  have  an  inflamed  bright  red  areola,  hardened  base, 
moveable  on  the  subjacent  tissues,  with  a  blackish  spot  in 
the  centre.  While  these  patches  of  ulceration  may,  as  I 
said  just  now,  appear  on  any  part  of  the  body,  they  do  so 
with  especial  frequency  immediately  below  the  nail,  and 
are  then  extremely  painful*  The  ulcers  most  readily  yield- 
ing to  the  bichromate  are  such  as  are  small  in  size,  occur 
in  groups,  and  are  painful  and  irritable,  especially  at  night. 

Its  use  externally  greatly  facilitates  the  cure,  but  it 
must  be  applied  with  great  caution.  A  grain  to  four 
ounces  bemg  a  solution  frdly  strong  enough  for  the 
purpose,  for  when  there  is  a  largely  denuded  surface 
anything  much  stronger  has  been  found  to  give  rise  to 
severe  pain.  In  ulcerations  under  the  nail  it  is  an  invalu- 
able remedy.  A  few  weeks  ago  I  saw  a  striking  illustration 
of  this  in  the  case  of  a  young  lady,  who  had  in  consequence 
of  such  a  sore  under  a  finger  nail,  been  prevented  from 
using  her  piano  for  two  or  thi*ee  weeks.  The  application  of 
a  weak  solution  of  the  bichromate  completely  healed  this 
troublesome  and  painful  sore  within  forty-eight  hours. 

In  some  instances  of  pustular  eruption,  where  the 
tendencv  is  to  coalescence  and  the  formation  of  a  scab,  with 
a  pus  secreting  ulcer  beneath  it  has  been  used  with  much 
success — especially  in  syphilitic  cases. 

No.  1,  Yd.  2^.  0 


18  BICHBOKATE  OF  POTABH.      ""SSSLSST?^ 


.1. 


In  ibis  reyiew  of  the  pathogenetic  action  and  thera- 

/pentic  nses  of  the  bichromate  of  potash,  you  cannot  £Ail 

to  have  noticed  how  similar  are  many  of  its  symptoms 

.  and  objectiYO   signs  to  those    characterising    secondary 

syphilis — ^the  sore  throat  which  has  been  mistaken  for  the 

..  syphilitic  form,  the  periosteal  pains,  the  rhenmatism,  and 

lastly  the  skin  emption — papular,  pustular  with  a  hard 

dark  scab  and  depressed  cicatrix  are  all  yery  similar  to  the 

phenomena   presented  by  secondary  syphilis.    In  many 

such  cases  you  will  find  it  inyaluable. 

The  following  case,  recorded  by  Dr.  Drysdale,  in  the 
British  Journal  of  HomcRopaihy  (vol.  xv.)  is  a  very  good 
example  of  the  power  of  the  ohromate  of  potash  in  the  acute 
stage  of  syphilitic  nodes — ^in  such  as  are  chronic  you  will  be 
more  likely  to  find  aurum  or  its  muriate  more  serviceable. 

' '  A  florid  red-haired  woman.  Her  husband  had  syphilis  before 
marriage  five  years  ago.  She  never  had  any  primary  sores  on 
the  genitals,  though  she  had  sore  throat  and  nicer  on  the  lips. 
The  first  two  of  her  four  children  were  prematnre  and  stiU-bom, 
the  two  last  delicate.  She  is  now  nursing  the  last  six  months* 
infant,  and  her  general  health  is  pretty  good.  For  two  months 
has  had  a  red  and  painfiil  doughy  swelling  on  the  right  shin ;  it 
is  tender  to  the  touch,  and  after  standing,  but  is  especially 
painful  at  night  when  the  gnawing  and  scraping  pain  keeps  her 
long  awake.  On  the  other  leg  there  is  a  swelling  like  a  boil. 
She  has  also  leucorrhoea  and  itching  at  the  vulva,  otherwise  well. 

**  Prescription. — One  grain  of  1st  trit.  of  kali  chrom.  three 
times  a  day.  In  eight  days  the  node  was  found  very  much 
better,  being  colourless,  small,  and  without  pain.  She  stated 
that  the  pain  and  inflammation  began  to  subside  next  day,  and 
gradually  went  ofi*,  so  that  she  had  been  able  to  sleep  wdl  and 
had  no  pain  for  the  last  five  nights.  The  itching  of  the  vulva 
was  also  nearly  gone.  The  medicines  were  continued  in  the 
.same  way,  and  in  seven  days  more  the  node  was  reduced  to  a 
slight  thickening,  quite  painless.  The  boil  on  the  other  leg  had, 
however,  increased,  and  seemed  inclined  to  suppurate.  The 
kali  chrom,  was  given  up  and  other  remedies  given." 

This  salt  has  been  used  by  difierent  practitioners  in 
various  doses.  For  my  own  part  I  prefer  the  8rd  decimal 
trituration  as  being  sufficient  for  curative  purposes,  and 
unlikely  to  excite,  save  in  very  sensitive  persons,  any  phy- 
siological action.  At  the  same  time  I  have  seen  admirable 
results  from  the  6th  dilution.  As  a  lotion  a  quarter  of  a 
grain  of  the  pure  salt  to  an  ounce  of  water  forms  a 
solution  amply  strong  enough. 


JSaj'iSTSS*^  A  RBCOW).  19 


« Jan.  1, 1861. 


A  KECOED  OF  TWENTY  CASES   TREATED  ON 

TBE  PRINCIPLE   OF  HAHNEMANN'S  LAW 

OF  SIMILARS. 

By  John  H.  Claske,  M.D. 

The  following  twenty  cases  are  examples  of  treatment 
-according  to  ttie  law  of  similars.  In  each  case  the  medi- 
-cines  the  patient  received  were  prescribed  because  they 
<were  believed  to  have  the  power  of  producing  in  a  healthy 
person  a  diseased  state  similar  to  the  state  in  which  the 
patient  was  found. 

Of  the  twenty  cases  sixteen  were  more  or  less  chronic. 
Chronic  cases  exemplify  medicinal  action  better  than  acnte 
for  several  reasons.  In  the  first  place,  there  is  less  room 
for  donbt  that  the  change  produced  is  really  due  to  the 
remedy  employed.  In  the  second  place,  more  time  is  given 
to  wait  for  the  exhaustion  of  the  action  of  one  medicine, 
before  one  is  compelled  to  exhibit  a  second,  and  thus  a 
Jbetter  chance  is  afforded  of  obtaining  a  pure  experiment. 

It  is  not  that  remedies  do  not  act  as  surely  in  acute 
Psoases  as  in  chronic,  but  that  the  difficulties  connected 
with  observing  them  are  so  much  greater,  and  the  results 
BO  much  more  open  to  question. 

In  many  acute  cases,  nevertheless,  the  action  of  reme- 
dies is  beyond  doubt. 

The  first  two  cases  I  have  to  report  are  illustrations  of 
the  action  of  nitric  acid,  in  stricture  of  the  rectum.  The 
first  was  treated  throughout  at  the  Ipswich  Homoeopathic 
Dispensary.  The  second  was  treated  at  home.  At  the 
dispensary  medicines  are  given  in  the  form  of  pilules  for 
the  sake  of  convenience ;  the  patients  visited  at  their 
homes  receive  either  tinctures  or  triturations.  In  dis- 
pensing tinctures  it  is  my  habit  to  mix  eight  to  ten  drops 
in  a  tumbler  three  parts  full  of  water,  ordering  from  one  to 
two  dessert-spoonfuls  for  a  dose. 

In  the  first  case  other  remedies  were  used,  with  some 
benefit,  before  the  exact  state  of  matters  was  ascertained 
and  the  acid  exhibited.  The  second  case  was  treated  with 
nitric  acid  firom  the  beginning,  and,  with  the  exception  of 
a  short  period,  with  it  alone  throughout. 

The  aflSnity  of  nitric  acid  for  the  rectum  is  sufficiently 
attested  in  the  provings.  Among  other  symptoms  may  be 
noted  the  following,  quoted  from  Allen : — 


20  A  KECOBD,  "SS5^=2ST;^° 


Beriew,  Jan.  U  iBBX . 


**  Bectnm  seems  inactiTe  and  unable  to  evacoate  feces.'' 

'^  Smarting^  more  in  the  reetnm  than  the  anns,  imme- 
diately  after  a  stool^  and  lasting  two  hours." 

'^  Sticking  in  the  rectumy  and  spasmodic  constriction  in 
the  anns  daring  a  stool,  lasting  many  hours." 

'<  Painfol  constipation  for  sereral  days." 
Passed,  for  the  first  time,  a  small  dark  evacnation." 


it 


Case  I. 

Constipation,  ulceration  of  the  rectum,  commencing 
strietore.    Add  niUric  4. 

March  8,  1879. — Mary  B.,  32,  single,  needlewoman ; 
medimn  size,  fairish,  naturally  florid  complexion,  hut  now 
pale  ;  she  is  thin,  delicate  looking,  and  yery  nerroos. 

Family  History, — ^Poor,  parents  both  liying  but  delicate, 
and  the  family  generally  is  weak.  Her  home  is  a  cottage 
in  a  country  Tillage. 

PrevioMS  health. — ^Never  strong ;  subject  to  attacks  like 
the  present  for  four  years. 

Present  Ulness, — Two  months  ago  she  took  cold,  and 
since  then  she  has  been  complaining  of  weakness  at  the 
chest,  and  queer  sensations  in  the  head.  She  has  dull 
headache,  drowsiness,  and  flatulence. 

Tongue  dirty  at  the  back ;  bowels  Tery  much  confined  ; 
motions  not  large  ;  much  pain  and  constriction  at  orifice. 
Catamenia  regular,  scanty,  much  pain  at  periods,  slight 
leuoorrhoea. 

The  symptoms  were  those  of  general  debility,  with  dis- 
ordered,  circulation  and  nutrition,  and  the  particular  as  well 
as  the  general  symptoms,  seemed  to  me  to  indicate  the 
medicine  I  prescribed.  Natrum  mur,  6,  pil.  i.  quater 
die. 

March  15th.  Better  generally ;  bowels  not  quite  so  con- 
fined; flatulence  better;  head  giddy,  drowsiness  the 
same.  Has  cold  feeling  like  a  lump  of  ice  at  the  left  side. 
Bepeat. 

March  22nd.  Better  generally ;  bowels  more  open ; 
hea4'  better.    Bepeat. 

March  29th.  Bowels  the  same ;  heart  "  feels  disten- 
ded." Dragging  in  the  chest  from  the  throat,  sensation 
of  lump  there ;  has  giddiness,  is  not  so  drowsy.  Ignat.  1, 
pil.  i.  quater  die. 

The  improyement  continued  for  a  short  time  and  she 
returned  on 


SS^J^nT"  A  RECORD.  21 

April  80th.  Is  not  so  giddy;  has  palpitation  had; 
howels  much  confined  again^two  motions  a  week;  has 
discharge  of  macns  with  motions.  Feels  generally  weak. 
Tongae  clean.  Has  no  congh,  bat  hawks  up  lumps  of 
fleshy  substance.    Repeat  fMtrum  mur,  6. 

May  10th.  Bowels  better ;  no  discharge  for  two  days. 
Appetite  better,  raises  the  same  substance  in  the  morning, 
there  is  a  little  blood  with  it,  also  from  nose.  Palpitation 
bad.    Bepeat, 

May  24th.    Bowels  still  confined. 

I  now  questioned  her  more  closely  as  to  this  symptom 
and  elicited  the  following : — 

She  has  not  passed  a  full-sized  motion  since  Christmas. 
The  difficulty  came  on  gradually  after  her  cold.  Has  had 
it  be&re  occasionally  with  intervals  of  regularity.  Qaite 
a  year  since  it  first  came  on,  cannot  remember  accurately. 
When  she  was  a  child,  five  yesurs  old,  she  had  a  tumour 
(fatty  ? )  removed  from  buttock,  and  she  has  never  been  so 
well  since.  At  about  the  age  of  twelve  she  had  diarrhoea 
continuously  for  twelve  months. 

She  has  a  sensation  in  the  rectum  as  if  there  was  some- 
thing to  come  that  would  not  come.  After  a  motion  there 
is  a  raw  sensation  or  a  twitching.  She  has  pain  in  the 
rectum  at  other  times^.and  in  the  supra-pubic  region. 
Catamenia  regular,  scanty.     LeucorrhcBa  at  times. 

Deeming  an  examination  of  the  rectam  necessary,  and 
having  no  convenience  for  making  it  at  the  dispensary,  1 
made  an  appointment  for  her  to  call  the  following  week  at 
my  house,  prescribing,  in  the  meantime,  a^^id  nitric  4.  pil. 
i.  quater  die. 

The  examination  was  prevented  by  the  onset  of  the 
catamenia,  but  on 

May  29th,  this  was  the  report : — 
Bowels  have  acted  much  better — ^two  motions  a  day. 
Bepeat. 

June  7ih.  Keeping  much  better ;  bowels  moved  once  a 
day,  sometimes  twice.    Bepeat. 

June  14th.  Bowels  not  so  opeUi  went  from  Tuesday  to 
Friday ;  much  white  discharge  with  motions,  which,  how^ 
«ver,  are  larger — ^large  as  two  fingers,  not  nearly  so  painfdl. 
She  has  more  of  the  dizsy  feeling,  pain  in  left  side,  and 
sensation  in  the  throat.  Catamenia  on,  only  fourteen  days 
interval^  now  nearly  over. .  Bepeat. 


22  A  BBOOBD.  »^SS&^Cf»?»!gJ- 


BflTtow,  Jan.  1,  IfiSl. 


*•••• 


July  6th.  In  my  absence  she-  reeeiyed,  for  some  leasons- 
not  registered^  ignat.  1.  pil.  i.  q.d. 

July  16th.  Bowels  confined  at  times.  Has  a  kind  o£ 
^liyer-like  matter  with  the  motions.  Before  this  appeared 
she  had  mnch  pain  in  the  sacrom,  which  left  her  when  the 
discharge  disappeared.  Also  a  bad  taste,  which  she  had, 
has  disappeared  since  this  came  on.  Appetite  better.  She 
has  slight  pain  and  a  raw  feeling  afiier  motions.  Acid  nitric^ 
4,  pil.  i.  q.  d. 

October  18th.  She  retomed,  looking  yeiy  well  and  much 
stronger  than  she  nsed  to  do,  haying  been  well,  in  all 
respects,  until  she  took  cold  a  fortnight  before.  The 
bowels  are  now  confined,  the  motions  are  normal  in  size,  and! 
haye  been  all  the  time  ;  there  is  pain  with  them.  She  has 
oppression  at  the  chest.    Bepeat  ae.  nit. 

This  concluded  the  case.  It  was  tedions,  no  donbt,  and 
the  weakness  and  tendency  to  sufiidr  in  the  rectum  were 
not  wholly  remoyed,  though  the  diseased  action  was  kept 
in  check,  and  the  patient  enabled  to  pursue  her  liyelihood 
with  a  measure  of  health  and  comfort  she  had  not  known 
before  coming  under  treatment.  But  the  yalue  of  the 
obseryations  in  this  case  are  greatly  enhanced  by  com- 
parison with  the  next  to  be  related. 

Case  n. 

Organic  stricture  of  the  rectum ;  accumulation  of  large 
quantities  of  pus,  and  discharge  by  anus,  and  yagina  through 
recto-yaginal  fistula.  Bemoyal  of  all  unpleasant  symptoms*, 
and  restoration  of  general  health,  by  nitric  add  1. 

September  26,  1879.  Mrs.  F.,  49.  Short,  sanguine, 
blue  eyes,  actiye. 

Family  history  yery  good.  Mother  died  aged  103. 
Father  still  liyes,  aged  96. 

I^ocial  history.  Was  domestic  seryant  before  marriage. 
Husband  was  in  detectiye  force,  yery  steady,  always  in  easy 
circumstances. 

Previous  health.  At  about  11  years  of  age  was  greatly 
troubled  by  lumbrici.  She  was  cured  of  them.  Witii  tha4r 
exception  she  has  had  no  illness  except  the  present  one. 
Gatameniacame  on  atll,  and  left  without  trouble  at  89. 
Always  regular.  Neyer  pregnant.  Neyer  had  headache, 
sickness,  or  biliousness.    Married  at  22. 

At  28  she  began  to  haye  a  discharge  from  the  rectum. 
At  29  she  noticed  that  she  could  not  retain  stool.    At  that 


S5SS'5?'?"aEf**  A  RBCfOBD.  28 


Btnkrw,  Jaai.  1,  IflBl. 


time  she  had  pains  in  the  rectnm  and  white  discharge. 
The  pain  then  felt  to  be  high  np  in  the  rectom,  bat  has 
giadnally  been  getting  lower. 

Foot  years  ago  was  oonfined  to  bed  for  17  weeks  with 
the  same  affection. 

Eighteen  months  ago  she  had,  on  an  occasion,  to  retain 
the  stool  for  some  time  by  an  effort,  and  then  the  dis- 
charge came  through  the  vagina.  Since  that  time 
discharge  has  always  come  that  way  when  the  other  has 
been  stopped,  and  sometimes  daring  the  night. 

She  has  been  onder  medical  treatment  on  many  occasions 
daring  the  continaance  of  her  disease,  bat  this  is  her 
first  experience  of  homoBopathy.  She  was  at  one  time 
nnder  Th.  Hilton  Fagge,  and  receired  considerable  benefit 
from  his  prescriptions,  bat  after  a  time  the  benefit  ceased, 
and  she  was  obliged  to  discontinae  the  medicine  from  the 
nnpleasant  effects  it  prodaced. 

A  few  days  before  consalting  me  she  soaght  relief  at  the 
East  Saffolk  Hospital  as  an  oat-patient,  bat  the  case  was 
rery  imperfectly  gone  into,  and  she  received  a  parging 
mixtore,  the  first  dose  of  which  made  snch  work  with  her 
that  she  had  not  the  least  inclination  to  try  a  second. 

Present  condition.  She  compbuns  of  severe  pains  in  the 
rectam,  coming  on  in  the  aftiemoon  and  lasting  into  the 
night.  She  has  three  sharp  pains  in  qaick  saccession, 
followed  by  a  copioas  white  discharge,  after  which  there  is 
a  feeling  of  relief.  Her  rest  is  mach  broken  at  night  by 
her  having  to  get  oat  of  bed  every  ten,  or  at  most  twenty, 
minntes  to  pass  discharge. 

She  passes  altogether  aboat  a  pint  of  it  in  the  twenty- 
foar  hoars. 

It  does  not  come  with  the  stool,  bat  separately,  and 
passes  partly  by  rectam  and  partly  by  the  vagina. 

The  bowels  are  regalar,  bat  the  motions  give  great  pain, 
they  are  never  as  thick  as  a  finger ;  freqaenUy  she  has  to 
go  many  times  before  she  can  get  anytlung  to  pass. 

She  cannot  walk  far,  bat  she  is  of  a  very  energetic  natare, 
and  does  all  the  work  of  her  hoase  in  spite  of  her  troable. 

The  dischai^e  consists  of  dirty  looking  pas  with  streaks 
and  flecks  of  blood. 

The  heart  and  langs  are  healthy. 

Examination. 

Per  Vaginam. — ^Uteras  high  ap ;  cervix  atrophied ;  lower 
part  of  posterior  wall  of  vagina  not  tender ;  higher  part 


24  A  BEOOBD* 


Be?iew,Jaa.  1.18B1. 


tender.  There  a  firm  mass  can  be  felt,  cylindrical  in 
shape,  and  corresponding  in  position  to  the  conrse  of  the 
rectum. 

Per  Rectum. — ^Anns  slightly  inflamed;  tightly  grasps 
finger,  which  gives  a  good  deal  of  pain.  Finger  passes 
eafflly  for  the  distance  of  an  inch  and  a  half,  and  is  then 
arrested  by  a  fibrous-feeling  mass,  in  which  a  hole  is  disc 
coYcred,  ajhnitting  easily  the  finger  tip.  The  finger  passes 
onward  abont  two  inches  when  it  reaches  what  is  apparently 
the  upper  limit  of  the  stricture,  which  is  too  narrow  to 
admit  of  further  passage.  The  constricted  portion  is  very 
tender.  The  examination  causes  great  pain.  The  walls 
feel  to  be  of  dense  fibrous  consistence. 

In  other  respects  her  health  is  sound. 

There  being  no  other  symptoms  of  prominence  than  these 
relating  to  the  rectum,  and  as  these  (Le .  the  subjection 
symptoms)  corresponded  closely  with  the  symptoms  pro* 
duced  by  nitric  acid,  I  prescribed :  Acid  niL  1,  gtt.  vi.  in  a 
tumbler  of  water.  Dessert  spoonful  to  be  taken  every  three 
hours. 

September  27. — ^Had  not  been  up  in  the  night  so  often ; 
feels  stronger  generally.  Still  has  the  pain  very  bad  at 
times.    Bepeat. 

September  29. — Has  had  better  lUghta,  but  in  the 
evenings  much  pain  and  excessive  discharge,  with  soreness 
of  body  and  anus.     Bepeat. 

October  2. — Much  better ;  not  nearly  8o  much  pain  nor 
discharge ;  slept  well ;  has  never  had  such  nights'  rests  for 
years.  She  is  quite  sore  in  the  morning,  with  lying  so  long. 
Bepeat. 

October  6th.  Much  better  in  all  respects ;  pain  not  so 
violent  nor  so  frequent ;  discharge  very  much  less,  scarcely 
any  from  vagina;  feels  much  stronger;  spirits  much 
better.    Bepeat. 

October  9th.  Had  a  bad  night  on  the  6th  (it  was  wash- 
ing day),  and  much  pain ;  more  discharge.  Better  last 
night.  There  is  a  soreness  inside  the  abdomen — a  fresh 
symptom  with  her.  She  is,  however,  much  stronger  in  her 
general  health.    Bepeat. 

October  13th.  Pain  rather  bad  on  the  night  of  the  9th ; 
walked  a  good  deal  on  the  10th ;  sinoe  then  die  has  been 
worse.  Her  general  health  is  keeping  better,  and  she  has 
had  fair  nights.  Bowels  loose;  motions  mixed  with 
matter,  and  painful ;  very  little  of  it  eomes  per  wtguMm* 


BtviBir*  Jaa.  1,  1881. 


A  BECOBD.  25 


A  quarter  of  an  hour  after  each  dose  of  the  medicine,  a 
eore,  emarting  pain  comes  on  in  the  hypogastrium. 

Taking  into  aceonnt  the  probability  of  the  latter  being  a 
physiological  action  of  the  medicine,  and  also  the  some- 
what retrograde  movement  of  the  case^  I  thought  it  advis- 
able io  stop  the  remedy,  for  a  time  at  least,  and  give  evlph* 
1  gtt.  vi.,  in  a  tnmbler  of  water  as  before. 

I  gave  mlphur  becanse  of  its  power  of  affecting  the  rec- 
tmn,  and  pzodncing  a  bloody  and  pnrnlent  discharge ;  and 
also  becanse  of  the  power  it  has  of  influencing  chronic  cases 
for  good. 

October  16th.  She  says  the  last  medicine  has  suited  her 
better  than  any.  The  motions  are  more  firm,  and  there  is 
much  less  pain  with  them.  Pain  during  the  day  very 
slight.  During  night  much  less  discharge.  Has  slept 
better,  as  long  as  two  hours  right  off.  Yesterday  morning 
felt  very  queer  on  getting  up ;  soon  after  passed  a  great 
quantity  of  dark  blood  and  matter ;  has  hardly  had  any 
pain  since.  Is  feeling  much  stronger.  The  "lump" 
inside  feels  less.    Svlph.  8  gtt.  vi.  in  the  same  way. 

(I  had  none  of  No.  1  in  my  case  or  I  should  have  re- 
peated that.) 

October  18th.  Not  quite  so  well.  Night  of  16th  had 
much  discharge  and  pain;  last  night  better.  She  has 
diarrhoea ;  she  has  it  worse  when  there  is  a  high  wind ; 
the  discharge  is  worse  then.     Stdph.  1. 

October  21st.  Bowels  have  been  very  loose  again  since 
the  19th ;  diarrhoea  comes  on  after  everything  she  takes ; 
she  had  to  leave  off  the  medicine.  On  l^e  night  of  the 
19th  two  ounces  of  quite  white  matter  passed  which  set 
like  a  jelly.    Had  a  poor  night  last  night. 

Dry  food  suits  her  best ;  she  cannot  take  eggs  or  mutton ; 
she  can  take  beef. 

The  motions  are  painful,  but  do  not  give  the  pain  they 
used  to  do.     The  ''  lump''  feels  better.    Acid  Nitric  1. 

October  28rd.  Yery  much  better  in  all  respects ;  motions 
firmer ;  better  nights  than  ever ;  medicine  seems  to  make 
her  warmer ;  no  soreness  follows  the  taking  of  the  medi- 
eine  this  time,  nor  does  she  require  to  lie  down  after  taking 
it  as  she  did  when  taking  eulph.    Bepeat. 

October  27th.  Keeping  better  in  every  way ;  has  more 
"  strength'^  in  the  bowels :  she  has  not  to  be  so  careful 
with  her  diet ;  she  can  go  longer  without  food  than  she 


26  A   BEOOBD.  B«fieir.Jai.l,18Sl! 

conldy  and  it  does  not  affect  her  as  it  used  to  do  when  she 
takes  it.    Bepeat. 

October  30th.  Better  in  all  respects;  slept  last  night 
from  9  till  1 ;  has  walked  a  good  distance  wi^oat  discom- 
fort.   Bepeat. 

NoTember  Srd.  Went  forty-eight  honrs  without  a 
motion ;  never  did  so  before  for  fifteen  years ;  no  pain ; 
motions  firm  and  a  little  larger ;  came  away  slowly,  and 
she  feels  weak  after.  Yexy  little  discharge;  none  from 
yagina.  On  the  1st  inst.  slept  all  nigJU,  and  nearly  all  last 
night.     Bepeat. 

November  6th.  Much  better ;  motions ^rm^r  and  larger. 
Can  eat  what  she  likes  without  inconvenience ;  can  walk 
as  mnch  as  she  likes,  and  very  little  discharge ;  very  litUe 
pain.  The  area  of  pain  used  to  extend  a  finger's  length 
up  the  rectum  from  the  anus,  now  it  is  only  an  inch. 
Bidpeat. 

November  13th.  Has  been  out  twice  to-day  in  a  freesdng 
north-west  gale  without  discomfort,  and  without  being 
tired.  Thinks  the  hard  substance  in  the  rectum  feels 
thinner.     Bepeat. 

November  17.  Keeping  stronger.  Last  day  or  two  has 
had  more  constipated  motions.  This  morning  passed  a 
large  one  which  gave  great  pain ;  it  is  much  larger  than 
it  used  to  be,  larger  than  her  finger.  Before  it  comes 
there  is  aching  in  the  hypogastrium  and  left  iliac  region. 
With  the  motion  came  a  few  drops  of  blood ;  very  unusual. 
There  has  been  a  very  slight  discharge  of  fluid  from  the 
vagina,  hot  (unusual)  and  almost  like  water.  She  has 
none  of  the  shooting  pain  now.  Formerly  she  never  dared 
take  food  before  undertaking  anything,  as  it  (the  food)  was 
sure  to  bring  on  a  motion.    Bepeat  gtt.  iii.  to  the  tumbler. 

November  20th.  Keeping  better.  Motions  still  fiim, 
but  not  so  painful.  The  amount  of  discharge  does  not 
exceed  an  ounce  and  a  half  in  two  days.  On  the  18th  she 
walked  two  miles,  and  felt  no  pain  or  ill  effects.     Bepeat. 

November  24.  Can  bear  cold  better  than  she  has  been 
able  to  do  for  years.    Bepeat. 

November  26.  Had  a  fit  of  ague  last  night ;  it  lasted 
half-an-hour.  It  began  in  the  left  side,  splenic  region. 
She  was  no  worse  after  it.  She  had  a  fit  many  years  ago. 
Bepeat. 

December  4th.  (Since  last  date  I  had  been  away  from 
the  town.     In  my  absence  she  had  received  the  same 


Bsfiaw,  Jan.  1, 1881 


A   BECOBD.  27 


laedieipe,  only  in  slightly  larger  doses  she  said,  as  she 
eonld  taste  it).  The  last  few  days  has  had  very  acute  pain 
and  mnch  more  discharge;  no  blood;  slight  discharge 
from  the  Tsgina. 

She  is  always  worse  in  cold  weather,  and  now  she 
cannot  get  fresh  au:  and  exercise.  The  pain  is  chiefly  at 
the  orifice,  and  is  of  a  pinching  character.  Bowels  re- 
gular; motions  firmer;  no  discharge  with  the  motions. 
She  is  troubled  at  night  sometimes.  General  health  still 
good;  appetite  good.  She  has  had  neuralgia,  but  the  ap- 
plication of  cold  removes  it  at  once ;  hot  things  aggrayated 
it.    Bepeat  gtt.  vi.  to  the  tumbler. 

December  8th.  Good  deal  better.  Pain  much  less ;  dis- 
charge much  less;  slept  well;  bowels  regular;  motions 
more  solid,  larger,  give  pain.    Repeat  gtt.  t. 

December  11.  Keeping  better.  Has  a  sensation  as  if 
there  was  a  hard  lump  just  inside  the  anus,  and  the  lump 
is  painful.  Motions  better;  general  health  better;  no 
discharge.     Bepeat  gtt.  iii. 

December  14th.  Better  in  all  respects.  I  now  made  a 
second  examination  of  the  rectum,  and  made  the  following 
report : — The  stricture  is  not  nearly  so  tight,  nor  the  walls 
so  hard.  The  examination  giyes  pain,  but  nothing  like  so 
much  as  the  former.    Bepeat  gtt.  v. 

December  18th.  Has  sufiered  much  since  the  examina- 
tion. There  has  been  much  discharge — two  pints  in  four 
days ;  some  of  it  has  come  per  vaginam.  The  motions 
are  firm,  and  give  pain.  She  has  slept  very  well.  Bepeat 
gtt.  iii. 

December  21st.  Better  generally.  Has  felt  a  sensation 
at  the  anus,  as  if  a  sharp  substance  like  a  bone  were  inside 
and  pushing  its  way  out.     Bepeat  gtt.  iv. 

December  27th.  Much  better  generally.  Went  with- 
out medicine  for  a  few  days ;  but  did  not  sleep  so  well. 
Bepeat. 

December  81st.  Keeping  much  better,  motions  much 
larger ;  very  little  pain.    Bepeat. 

January  Srd.  Took  three  doses  of  the  last  medicine ; 
after  the  first,  felt  an  aching  in  the  stomach,  after  the  third 
felt  a  forcing  down  in  the  lower  bowel.  There  was  slight 
purging  as  well  at  one  time,  and  not  the  old  pain.  No 
increase  of  discharge.  She  could  not  sleep  all  night  for 
the  forcing  pain.    When  she  left  off  the  medicine  she  was 


28  A  KECORD.  ""S^^SS"?^' 


,  Jan.  t,  18B1. 


free  from  it.  After  two  days  she  took  another  dose,  and 
the  same  thing  occurred,  and  she  dared  not  take  any  more. 
In  other  respects  she  is  better.  The  motions  are  large 
and  give  less  pain.  She  has  been  out,  and  she  feels  the 
better  for  it.  She  sleeps  well,  and  is  on  the  whole  better 
than  she  has  been  for  years. 

A  similar  thing  occurred  in  regard  to  medicine  when 
she  was  nnder  Dr.  Fagge.  He  gave  her  medicine  which 
helped  her  for  a  few  weeks,  bat  then  the  same  thing 
occnrred  which  has  happened  now,  and  she  had  to  dis- 
continue it.     To  go  without  medicine  of  any  kind. 

January  12th.  Not  nearly  so  well.  Has  great  pain, 
and  feeling  of  weight  in  lower  abdomen  and  supra-pubic 
region.  A  few  days  ago,  whilst  hanging  up  clothes  in  the 
garden,  felt  as  if  something  gave  way  in  the  inside,  and  a 
great  quantity  of  discharge  came  away — about  two  pints, 
she  says,  of  ''  corruption,"  lumps  of  ''  flesh,"  and  strings. 
Very  little  came  per  vaginam. 

Sleep  is  not  so  good.  The  bowels  are  looser.  She  is 
weaker  generally.     She  has  not  been  able  to  walk. 

This  I  consider  to  be  the  bursting  of  an  abscess  or  at 
any  rate  an  encysted  collection  of  pus  and  blood,  probably 
in  the  dilated  portion  of  the  bowel  aboTe  the  stricture.  I 
thought  it  advisable  to  continue  the  remedy.  Acid,  nit. 
1  gtt.  iii. 

January  15th.  On  the  11th  she  took  a  chill.  Since 
then  seyere  influenza  has  come  on.  She  is  quite  prostrated 
with  it,  and  feels  weak,  as  if  recoyering  from  a  severe  ill- 
ness. She  is  very  pale ;  has  aching  in  all  her  bones ; 
watery,  excoriating  discharge  from  nose. 

In  other  respects  she  is  much  better — ^no  more  discharge, 
only  one  sharp  pain,  and  that  very  slight ;  on  the  12th  no 
feeling  of  soreness  in  the  lower  abdomen. 

For  26  years  she  has  not  been  so  free  from  discharge.  It 
began  soon  after  her  marriage.  For  22  years  she  has  been 
under  doctors.  When  she  first  sought  medical  aid  her 
bowels  were  in  such  a  weak  state,  that  the  mere  raising  of 
her  arm  above  her  head  would  bring  on  diarrhoea. 

Considering  that  the  influenza  was  the  more  pressing 
disorder,  I  prescribed  araen,  2,  every  two  hours,  and  dcid. 
nit.  1.     One  dose  at  bed  time. 

January  19th.  The  cold  is  better.  She  is  better 
generally.  Sometimes  she  has  a  slight  smarting  in  the 
lower  abdomen,  and  a  feeling  as  if  something  had  gone. 


£5Si??rT'?SS*'  A   BECOBD.  29 


Seview,  Jan.  1,  iBBl. 


Since  she  has  been  taking  arsen.  she  has  lost  a  sense  of 
folnesB  which  has  troubled  her  ever  since  she  had  a  very 
heaiy  nursing  case  twelve  months  ago.    Acid,  nit. 

January  26th. — ^Very  much  better  in  every  way.  The 
cold  is  well.     Body  stronger.    No  pain.     Repeat. 

January  27th. — ^Keeping  much  better.  Only  took  one 
dose^of  the  medicine.  Slept  well  without  it.  Has  not  slept  so 
well  for  years.  After  the  medicine — ^which  usually  quiets 
the  bowels — ^the  bowels  were  disquieted,  and  there  was 
slight  pain  in  the  rectum.     To  go  without  medicine. 

February  8rd. — ^Is  very  well  indeed.  Better  than  she  has 
been  for  many  years.  Sleeps  well.  Has  no  difficulty  with 
the  bowels.  Has  taken  no  medicine.  She  thinks  she  is 
as  well  as  she  ever  will  be.  She  has  taken  long  walks 
without  feeling  pain,  only  feels  tired. 

Since  this  date  I  have  not  seen  the  patient.  From  this 
I  infer  that  there  has  been  no  retrogression,  as  she  pro- 
mised to  let  me  know  if  she  went  back  in  any  way. 

The  time  of  treatment  was  a  little  over  four  months, 
and  although  there  were  some  marked  breaks  in  the  line 
of  progress,  the  patient  never  fell  back  into  the  state  she 
was  in  before  commencing  the  treatment.  The  whole  of 
the  beneficial  effect  may  I  think  be  fairly  ascribed  to  the 
nitric  acid.  I  made  no  alteration  in  her  diet.  She  was 
a  total  abstainer  from  alcohol,  and  had  by  long  experience 
learned  what  diet  suited  her  best. 

Practically,  the  patient  was  restored  to  health  and 
comfort  such  as  she  had  not  enjoyed  for  many  years. 

Case  III. 
Strangury, — Cantharis  8. 

The  third  case  I  have  to  refer  to  is  an  illustration  of  the 
action  of  cantharis  on  the  urinary  system.  Of  its  power  of 
diminishing  the  secretion  of  urine  and  of  producing  stran- 
gury there  is  no  need  to  speak.  The  symptoms  narrated 
below  correspond  accurately  to  those  produced  in  the  prov- 
ings  of  the  drug. 

April  16th,  1879.  Miss  E.  H.,  dressmaker,  21,  dark, 
grey  eyes,  small.  Has  been  ill  five  weeks.  Has  had  pain 
.  in  left  iliac  region  for  three  years. 

Five  weeks  a^o  was  taken  ill  with  pains  all  over,  vomiting, 
difficult  micturition,  could  only  pass  a  few  drops  at  a  time; 
it  was  like  blood.    Never  had  urinary  difficulty  before. 


30  A  BEOOBD.  ""SSlfS^TSS! 


Has  still  yery  great  pain  in  passing  water.  It  comes  on 
with  aching  in  the  side  and  back  (lumbar  region),  and 
burning  and  scalding  in  the  nrethra.  The  orine  is  yellow 
and  thick.  Sometimes  she  can  pass  water  without  pain. 
Micturition  is  frequent.    She  only  passes  a  little  at  a  time. 

Tongue  dirty  at  the  back ;  bowels  confined  as  a  rule 
(they  are  open  at  present,  which  she  thinks  is  due  to  ptcba- 
tiUa,  which  she  has  been  taking  on  her  own  account). 
Oatamenia  regular,  scanty  ;  she  has  much  pain  in  the  left 
side  and  back  at  the  periods.    There  is  no  tenderness. 

This  being  a  dispensary  case  there  was  no  convenience 
for  testing  the  urine.    I  prescribed  canth.  8  pil.  1,  3ti&  h. 

April  19th.  Micturition  not  so  frequent ;  passes  more 
at  a  time,  but  there  is  more  pain  ;  urine  quite  clear  now. 

Appetite  is  very  bad.  Pain  in  the  side  and  back  is  yery 
bad ;  better  when  she  walks,  worse  when  she  lies  down. 

She  is  &int  at  times ;  never  was  so  before. 

Tongue  dirty ;  bowels  irregular ;  sleep  restless. 

Takmg  into  account  that  she  was  better  in  some  important 
points  and  not  so  well  in  others,  I  decided  not  to  change  the 
medicines,  but  to  alter  the  frequency  of  the  dose.  Bepeat 
pil.  1,  night  and  morning. 

April  23rd.  Very  much  better.  No  pain  on  micturitioUi 
and  no  difficulty.     Sleeps  much  better. 

She  stills  feels  faint,  and  has  much  pain  in  side  and  back, 
with  a  sensation  of  burning  heat  up  the  dorsal  region.  Pain 
in  the  back  comes  on  with  sickness,  and  when  she  is  sick 
she  gets  relief. 

Tongue  dirty  at  the  back ;  bowels  regular ;  appetite  back* 
Since  the  urinary  difficulty  was  quite  removed,  I  now 
paid  more  attention  to  the  general  state,  and  prescribed 
nux  vomica  1,  pil.  1 ;  3  h. 

She  did  not  again  present  herself,  although  the  time 
allowed  by  the  ticket  had  not  expired.  From  that  I  infer 
that  the  improvement  was  permanent. 

Cask  IV. 
Irritability  of  the  base  of  the  bladder. — Ferrum  Muriai.  Sx. 
The  following  case  contrasts  well  with  the  foregoing, 
showing  the  difference  between  the  action  of  cantharia  and 
that  of  ferrum  on  the  urinary  organs,  and  at  the  same 
time  illustrating  the  value  of  symptomatic  indications.  In 
Case  m.  the  symptoms  pointed  to  irritation  of  the  whole 
urinary  tract,  from  the  kidneys  to  the  urethra,  and  all 


],ISSL  ^  BEOOBD.  81 

speedily  dieappetzed  nnder  the  action  of  eantkarii.  Here 
there  was  no  oifferenoe  noticed  in  time  or  position.  In  fhe 
ease  to  be  narrated,  howeyer,  the  frequency  of  micturition 
was  only  complained  of  dwring  the  day^  showing  that  that 
part  of  the  surface  of  the  bladder  which  the  urine  fills 
during  the  recumbent  posture  was  not  in  a  state  of  irri- 
tation, but  only  that  part  in  which  it  collects  when  the 
patient  is  sitting  or  standiag  up.  Diurnal  eneurosis  is  a 
characteristic  symptom  of  the  ferrum  proyers,  and  its 
appropriateness  was  demonstrated  in  this  case.  The 
urethra  was  also  slightly  affected,  and  this  trouble  did  not 
jield  till  the  more  widely  acting  canthari$  was  resorted  to. 

March  19,  1879. — Jessie  Y.,  15,  dark,  ruddy,  well 
nourished. 

She  complains  of  difficulty  of  micturition ;  she  had  an 
attack  of  it  four  years  ago,  and  was  an  in-patient  at  the 
East  Suffolk  Hospital  in  consequence.  She  had  another 
attack  the  year  after,  and  was  again  in  the  hospital,  and 
was  at  that  time  catheterised. 

She  is  not  as  bad  at  present  as  she  was  on  the  former 
occasions,  but  her  mother  wished  it  to  be  taken  in  time. 
Hie  first  thing  she  noticed  amiss  was  a  little  pain  in 
micturating,  cutting  in  the  urethra,  and  pain  the  abdomen. 
She  now  micturates  firequentiy,  and  only  passes  small 
qi^mtities  at  a  time.  During  the  day  she  has  to  go  eyery 
half  hour ;  not  at  aU  in  the  night.  She  has  no  pain  when 
she  walks. 

Tongue  clean ;  bowels  regular ;  appetite  good  ;  sleep 
good.    Ferr.  mw.  8x.  pil.  1.  8h. 

March  26. — Scarcely  any  pain.  Does  not  micturate  so 
often,  only  four  or  fiye  times  in  the  day.    Repeat. 

April  2. — ^Much  better  generally,  but  had  slight  pain  this 
morning.    Bepeat. 

April  9. — ^No^difficulty  in  retaining  urine  now.  There 
is  slight  smartftig  in  the  urethra  whilst  it  is  passing. 
Can^.  8.  pil.  1,  8h. 

April  16. — There  is  no  smarting  in  the  urethra,  and  no 
difficulty  of  any  kind.     She  is  quite  well. 

Case  Y. 

AnsBmia,  Amenorrhoea,  Dyspepsia,  and  Hepatic  Congestion 
from  exposure  to  cold« — Ferr.  metal  6 ;  nva.  vom.  1. 
Ferr.  mur.  8x. 


82 A  MgooBD.      'Hg^fssrgsa! 

The  pzineipal  interest  of  this  case  rests  on  the  action 
of  ferrum  in  anotiier  q»here — ^thst  of  nutrition  and 
sanguification.  The  power  of  iron  to  produce  an»mia  is 
ahnost  as  widely  known  as  its  power  oif  caring  it.  The 
dyspeptic  symptoms  in  the  case  were  greatly  improyed  by 
fmXf  but  the  constipation  was  not  chimged  nntil  the  con- 
stitutionally indicated  remedy  was  given. 

Febnuuy  279 1879. — Sarah  G.,  20,  servant^  medium  size, 
dark  hair  and  eyes»  fine  skin,  cheeks  high  coloured,  the 
rest  of  face  waxy  pale. 

Fajtuly  History. — ^Mother  living  and  well.  Father  died 
at  30  of  consumption,  after  five  years  of  suffering.  He 
was  not  very  steady*    Best  of  family  healthy. 

Social  History. — ^Has  had  rather  a  heavy  place  lately. 

Farmer  Health. — ^Very  good  till  fifteen  years  of  age, 
when  she  had  '^congestion  of  the  liTer."  She  was  jaon- 
,  diced.  Has  had  no  other  severe  illnesses.  At  seventeen 
catamenia  came  on,  never  regular,  often  several  months' 
interval,  always  scanty,  always  has  pains  at  the  time  in 
right  hypochondrium  and  across  abdomen.  Has  been 
subject  to  attacks  like  the  present,  sometimes  having 
yeUowness  of  the  skin  with  them. 

Present  lUness. — ^A  fortnight  ago  she  drove  seven  miles 
into  the  country  to  a  situation.  Felt  the  cold  strike  her 
in  the  right  side.  After  that  she  had  a  drawing  pain  in 
the  right  side  of  the  chest  and  right  hypochondrium,  only 
relieved  by  bending  herself  forward.  The  pain  continued, 
and  she  was  obliged  to  return  home.  The  return  through 
the  cold  seemed  to  make  it  worse,  and  rest  and  care  at 
home  for  a  week  has  not  improved  it.  The  pain  comes 
on  in  the  morning  when  she  awakes,  and  continues  during 
the  day,  with  no  definite  relation  to  food.  She  has  much 
flatus,  which  she  cannot  pass  upwards,  and  which  compels 
her  to  loosen  her  clothes.  She  is  not  yellow  now.  She  has 
no  sickness.  At  one  time  she  used  to  vomit  in  such 
attacks.  She  has  no  headache,  though  she  has  been 
subject  to  them.  There  is  no  cough.  Pulse  84,  feeble, 
regular.  Tongue  clean.  Bowels  very  much  confined. 
Appetite  fair. 

Examination. — Pulmonary  sounds  clear.  Heart  sounds 
clear  but  feeble ;  there  .is  a  loud  bruit  heard  in  the  neck. 
Liver  dulness  extends  from  fifth  rib  4^  inches  downwards. 
There  is  a  great  tenderness  in  this  region^  also  in  epigas- 


1^  MH^  A  BBOOSD* 


tinim  and  abdmneB  genmdly.      13ie  frtemnm  is  veiy 
pmwiwi^wfcf..    siie  is  dmoBt  pigecm-farearted. 

She  ia  drowsy  all  day. 

I  considered  it  to  be  a  ease  of  gastrio  eakanh  from  oold 
niih  hepatic  oongestioa  and  I  ordered  her  to  ha^e  nouns  h- 
iMDty  £^ht  and  warm,  eiery  three  hocus,  and  pieeoribed 
Te.  nua  vom.  i.,  8  h. 

March  1. — The  pain  has  not  been  so  Bevere  except 
'OBoe  when  it  woke  her  in  the  night;  bowels  not  so 
«mfined.    Kepeat. 

March  8. — ^Better  generally ;  has  had  maoh  less  pain. 
Appetite  good ;  bowelB  still  confined.  No  catamenia  for 
fire  weeks.  As  the  acato  dyspeptic  symptoms  were 
remoTed  1  now  paid  more  attention  to  the  general  state, 
-and  preseribed,  Tc.  ftrr.  metal.  5,  8  h. 

March  5. — ^Has  had  very  little  pain.  Felt  languid 
jesterday :  was  very  yellow.  Bowels  more  open ;  motions 
^nito  easy.  Sleeps  well ;  is  not  drowsy  daring  the  day « 
JSepeat. 

March  8. — ^No  pain.  Bowels  regolar.  no  difficulty  with 
ihem.  Appetite  good ;  sleep  good ;  feels  stronger ;  no 
catamenia.    Bepeat* 

March  11. — Still  improYing,  but  the  bowels  are  confined 
again.    Bepeat. 

March  18. — ^Better,  bowels  quite  loose.    Bepeat. 

March  15. — Gaining  strength.    Bepeat. 

March  22. — Gatemenia  came  on  on  the  19th,  lasted  till 
2lBt ;  same  quantity  and  same  time  as  usual ;  two  months' 
interral.     Bepeat. 

March  26. — ^Keeping  better.  For  the  last  week  has  had 
add  risings  after  each  meal.  Is  subject  to  them  at  times. 
Bruit  in  Tessels  of  neck  the  same.    Pub.  1. 

March  28. — ^Much  better.  Very  littie  of  the  lirang  since. 
Bepeat. 

April  2. — She  came  to  the  dispensary  to  see  me^  com- 
plaining of  headache  oyer  the  right  eye — ^an  unusual  thing 
with  her — ^for  three  days,  and  more  of  the  acid  risings.  I 
ga?e  her  the  only  preparation  of  ferrum  I  had  at  hand. 
Ferrwn  mar.  8  x.,  pil.  1.,  8  h. 

April  9. — ^HeadaehOi  sickness,  acid  risings  all  dis- 
appeared. She  looks  well  and  says  she  CmIb  strong; 
bowels  much  confined ;  motions  large.    Bepeat. 

April  16. — ^No  headache ;  bowels  noeU.  Much  stronger 
and  better  generally.    Bepeat. 

No.  I,  voL    25  D 


M  NOTES  ON  NOBBIANDY.  *'SSSr^^2?JfiMl! 

April  28.— Much  better  generally.  Catamenia  have  come 
on,  only  one  month's  interval ;  same  qnantity  as  nsiial« 
Bepeat. 

April  80. — ^Keeping  much  better.    Repeat. 

That  was  the  last  time  I  saw  her.    He  health  was 
quite  restored,  and  soon  after  she  went  to  a  new  situation^ 
and  I  hear  from  her  mother  that  she  has  remained  quite 
well.     She  had  quite  lost  her  waxy  pallor,  and  no  one 
would  suspect  that  she  had  suffered  from  an»mia.     The 
largest  share  of  the  credit  is,  I  think,  fairly  attributed  to 
the  ferrmn,  the    exhibition   of    which,  whether  in  the 
higher  or  lower  attenuation,  was   followed  by  marked 
alteration  in  the  case  for  the  better.     In  the  provings  of 
ferrum  constipation  was  complained  of  by  many  of  the 
provers,   and  in  this  case  ferrum  was  more  accurately 
homoeopathic    than    nux^  which    only   gave    temporary 
renei. 


NOTES    ON    NORMANDY. 
By  Dr.  MoBHissoN. 

When  *' Autumn  comes  with  ripening  grain,"  or  some- 
what earlier,  the  active  brain-worker  should  endeavour  ta 
secure  a  mental  rest.  Physical,  also  ?  No ;  for  that  would 
generally  mean  an  unquiet  mind.  Therefore  let  your  holi- 
day arrangements  include  a  change  of  scene  for  the  mind, 
and  moderate  exertion  for  the  body. 

Keeping  this  object  in  view,  my  excursion  of  last  sum- 
mer comprised  a  trip  to  Normandy,  with  a  return  by  wa; 
of  the  Channel  Islands.  An  easy  railway  journey  tO' 
Southampton,  followed  by  a  day  passage  of  seven  hours,, 
will  land  us  at  the  picturesque  town  of 

Chebboxjrg. — Our  fellow-passengers  were  surprisingly- 
few  and  it  is  evident  this  route  is  not  yet  duly  appreciated.. 
**  That  horrid  Channel,"  some  reader  remarks.  Not  at 
all.  This  is  one  of  our  best  crossings,  with  very  fair 
steamers,  and  proper  precautions  may  do  much  toward& 
mitigating  the  ever-dreaded  sea-sickness.  Victims  of  this 
malady  should  take  a  substantial  meal  some  two  hours  or 
fu>  before  embarking,  should  lie  nearly  flat  (on  deck,  in 
suitable  weather),  should  avoid  all  stimulants,  especially 

nips  of  brandy,'*  and  should  be  provided  with  a  medici- 


i» 


S^^^T^S?****     NOTES  ON  NORMANDY.  35 


I  Beview,  Jan.  1,  IfiU. 

I 


nal  ftntidote.  Never  depend  npon  shipB*  surgeons;  they 
nsaally  know  jnst  about  as  much  of  the  qualities  of  pre- 
Tentiye  medicines  as  the  Hottentots  do  of  the  flavour  of 
champagne.  Bemember,  also,  that  for  short  trips  it 
is  advisable  to  fast,  as  &r  as  eating  is  concerned.  On 
longer  voyages,  if  the  severe  sufferer  wiU  only  force 
down  a  small  substantial  meal  (including  chicken,  or  even 
beef-steak)  as  soon  as  exhaustion  from  empty  retching  com- 
mences, the  sea-sickness  will  seldom  recur.  So  much  for 
gossip.  Meanwhile  we  have  been  nearing  our  present 
destination,  and  our  drooping  spirits  steadily  revive.  Of 
the  immense  breakwater  (4,450  yards  long),  the  forts,  the 
harbour,  and  the  arsenal  of  Cherbourg,  much  has  been 
written.  Certainly  its  fortifications  look  very  imposing, 
but  they  would  not  stand  much  chance  of  long  resisting 
the  effects  of  modem  ordnance.  I  was  not  prepared,  how- 
ever, for  such  a  favourable  impression  as  that  produced  on 
approaching  the  town  by  sea.  Standing  on  a  bold  promi- 
nence, which  dominates  the  town,  aud  forms  an  excellent 
background,  is  the  Fort  du  Boule.  Seven  forts  defend 
the  harbour;  six  lighthouses  show  forth  their  warning 
beacons,  and  nine  basins  afford  accommodation  to  vessels 
of  moderate  size.  Cherbourg  was  known  as  a  town  and 
port  in  the  time  of  the  Bomans,  under  the  name  of 
Csesarisburg.  It  was  seized  by  the  English  in  1418; 
recaptured  by  the  French  in  1450,  and  again  attacked  by 
the  English  in  1758,  suffering  much  damage.  The  town 
now  contains  some  42,000  inhabitants. 

Should  the  tide  be  low,  passengers  will  have  to  land  at 
the  granite  steps.  Be  prepared  to  name  your  hotel,  or 
destination,  as  this  will  prevent  your  being  beset  by  touters. 
Be  civil  to  the  Custom-house  officers,  and  you  wiU  receive, 
as  I  have  always  experienced  in  France,  courtesy  and 
civilify.  There  is  but  one  first-class  hotel,  in  a  first-class 
position,  and  that  is  the  Hotel  des  Bains  de  Mer.  Two  or 
three  less  expensive  might  be  mentioned,  but  they  are  not 
nearly  so  well-placed.  Unfortunately  for  our  pockets  a 
provincial  exhibition  was  taking  place,  the  existence  of 
which  formed  a  pretext  for  the  doubling  of  hotel  prices* 
While  inspecting  this  exhibition,  which  was  very  interest- 
ing, I  was  amused  at  hearing  a  iotto  voce  exclamation  of 
"  toujours  les  Anglais,"  uttered  in  a  tone  that  betokened 
the  speaker's  irritation*  It  reminded  me  of  an  incident  at 
Seville.    While  ascending  the  Giralda,  I  overtook  two 

D      2 


SC  HOnS  OR  HOBMAVmr.       bmI^  j«»  1 


Kngliahmen,  just  in  time  to  h«ff  tlie  oate  say,  ^'  Haag  it, 
there's  that  conlbimded  Seoftdunan  agaiii ;  one  cannot  go 
anywhere  without  meeting  with  a  Seotehman ;"  and  «iir^ 
enong^,  perched  on  tiie  top  of  the  tower,  we  fooiid  ''  tiiat 
eonfoimded  Seotehman/'  iriioae  accent  had  betrayed  him. 

The  Hotel  des  Bains  de  Mer  fitces  the  outer  hadbonr,  and 
is  clear  of  the  town.  This  latter  is  an  adrantage^  for  the 
writer  who  spoke  of  a  place 

*'  Where  ereiy  prospeoi  pleues, 
Ajkd  odIj  nutt  is  vile/' 

Etidently  nnderrated  the  odonrs  of  an  inner  harbonr,  eren 
of  a  coral  island,  at  ebb  tide.  In  front  of  the  Hotel  des 
Bains  are  excellent  sands,  with  every  requisite  for  sea 
bathing.  Attached  to  it  is  the  Casino.  This  hotel  has 
dean  and  comfortable  rooms,  with  good  attendance,  but 
liting  .is  ezpensiye.  The  town  has  a  mnsemn,  library, 
baths,  theatre,  college,  etc.,  with  the  nsnal  supply  of  shops 
and  cafte.  In  the  centre  of  the  Place  de  rHotel-de-YiUiB, 
is  an  equestrian  statue  of   Napoleon  I,  momited  on  a 

Kinite  pedestal,  the  granite  having  been  drawn  from  a 
al  quarry.    A  place  to  be  specially  visited,  is  the  arsenal. 

Numerous  excursions  are  mentioned  in  the  guide  books, 
but  our  outside  wanderings  extended  only  to  tiie  Chateau 
of  NacqueviUe,  a  pleasant  morning's  drive  there  and  back. 
The  Chateau  itself,  like  most  df  its  kind,  would  form  but 
a  third-rate  English  mansion ;  but  the  grounds  are  well 
worth  visiting,  and  from  various  points  therein  may  be 
obtained  charming  glimpses  of  scenery. 

With  this  imperfect  sketch  we  bid  farewell  to  Cherbourg, 
and  wend  our  wiay  to 

Baxxux,  some  two  and-a-half  to  four  hours  by  rail, 
according  to  the  train  selected.  This  sleepy  old  town  baa 
«ne  of  the  finest  cathedrals  to  be  found  in  France,  first 
hniit  by  Bishop  Odo,  half  brother  to  William  the  Con- 
queror. Like  most  ancient  monuments,  this  bnilding  is 
closely  surrounded  by  houses ;  but  these  do  not  prevent 
its  three  spires  from  being  seen  for  many  miles.  One  is 
iempted  to  linger  over  l£e  deeeription  of  this  impoeiiic 
edifice.  It  was  built  in  the  form  of  a  Latin  creos.  There 
are  said  to  be  2,976  capitals,  each  difEerently  acnlptuied. 
Two  Roman  towers  of  lofity  elevation,  dating  from  the 
12th  century,  give  an  ii>ipft^ng  aspect  to  the^ront  ^utraMe. 
This  entrance  was  richly  oraate,  but  has  been  much  mnti- 


r,*ui.l.; 


NOVBS  ON  KOBM^mr.  37 


laied.    At  the  time  of  my  mit,  Bometibiiig  was  being  done 
in  the  mty  of  ganeoral  repairs*     Entering  by  the  eoathem 

Ertal,  down  a  few  steps,  we  note  its  omamentation. 
teriorly,  the  bnilding  impresses  one  by  its  yast,  though 
exceUent  propoFtions ;  and  the  thought  arises,  what  has 
become  of  the  popnlation,  supposing  tiiis  cathedral  ever  to 
haYS  been  absolutely  vequired  ?  Instead  of  ascending  the 
third  or  oetagonal  tower,  I  entered  through  an  open  door«- 
way  leading  to  the  organ  gallery  (where  tiie  organist  was 
then  practising),  and  wended  my  way  up  a  dark  and  some* 
what  dilapidated  staircase,  nearly  to  the  top.  Peeping 
throng  its  -window-openings,  I  obtained  extensi^^e  yiews 
of  the  country  round ;  and  far  beneath  me,  and  at  what 
appeared  a  considerable  distance^  I  saw  a  group- of  yisitors 
on  the  outer  platform  of  the  central  tower.  The  sense  of 
londiness  became  oppressive ;  and  lest  the  organist  should 
forsake  his  post,  and  close  the  communicating  door,  I 
hastily  descended.  Interiorly  there  is  much  that  is  inter- 
estmg,  the  crypt  especially,  but  unlike  Mrs.  Macquoid,  the 
authoress  of  "  Through  Normandy,"  we  were  unfortunate 
enough  to  meet  witii  the  real  SacHristan,  and  not  his  sub*' 
stitute,  and  we  found  him  Tory  unwilling  to  take  any  extra 
trouble  in  imparting  information* 

The  object  of  special  interest  to  most  Tisitors  to  Bayeuxi 
is  its  tapestry,  which  may  be  found  about  five  minutes 
walk  from  the  cathedral.  The  interest  awakened  by  its 
historical  record  is  equalled  by  its  quaintness.  Bude,  and 
in  &et  ridiculous,  in  outline  as  are  the  figures,  their  im« 
port  is  usually  obvious*  Those  of  William  and  Harold 
are  readily  discernible,  though  in  the  21st  section  they 
appear  to  be  first  cousins  to  some  members  of  the  finny 
tnbe,  judging  by  their  scales.  This  tapestry  has  been 
ascribed,  with  but  slight  show  of  reason,  to  Matilda,  wife 
of  William  the  Conqueror.  With  greater  probability  it 
has  bean  supposed  to  date  from  the  11th  or  12th  century i« 

Belaming  to  the  railway  station,  we  may  find  omnibuses 
for  two  seaside  bathing  places.    We  enter  that  for 

AnBOMANaHssoXiES-BAiKS,  which  is  eight  miles  from 
Bayeox.  If  fine,  secure  an  outside  seat ;  not  that  the 
country  is  of  exceptional  interest;  it  is  generally  rather 
flat,  but  well  cultivated.  What  wiU  be  sure  to  strike  an 
Kngliflh  visitor,  is  the  smaUness  of  the  patches  .under 
cultivation.  The  only  field  of  decent  sise  which  I  saw  was 
tilled  in  patches  or  rather  strips,  first  wheat,  then  sarrasin 


88  NOTES  ON  NOBMANDT.  "^bS^^jK^Mw! 


(a  poor  Bubstitnte  for  grain),  thea  rye,  then  potatoes,  then 
barley,  and  so  on.  Bat,  after  all,  there  is  a  home-like 
appearance,  which  is  pleasant.  Orchards  abound,  and  the 
patches  (one  can  hardly  term  them  fields)  are  sniroonded 
by  real,  genuine  hedges  (though  untrimmed),  such  as  are 
scarcely  ever  seen  in  the  South  of  France.  MoreoTor,  the 
people  look  sturdy  and  Briton-like,  as  if  they  were  brought 
np  on  something  better  than  yegetable  water,  coffee,  and 
tobacco.  It  is  considered  here,  in  the  district  of  GalYados, 
the  **  correct  thing  "  to  keep  a  look  out  for  the  enormous 
cap  of  the  Ancient  Norman.  In  shape  it  may  be  com- 
pared to  a  reversed  kitchen  coal  scuttle,  backed  up  by  a 
compressed  pumpkin;  in  whiteness,  to  the  untamished 
snow ;  and  with  lappets  of  elaborate  size.  These  head- 
gears haye  almost  disappeared ;  I  only  saw  one  in  wear, 
and  that  was  not  here,  but  while  returning  to  Cherbourg 
from  the  Chateau  of  NacqueTiUe. 

We  come  within  sight  of  Arromanches,  and  observe  a 
pleasing  village,  chiefly  modem,  nestling  in  a  gently 
inclining  valley.  Its  chief  inn  is  the  former  Auberge 
Chretien,  now  the  Hotel  du  Chemin  de  Fer.  Probably  the 
latter  name  has  been  taken  because  the  omnibuses  for 
Bayeux  Station  start  from  this  establishment.  If  a  single 
recommendation  can  make  the  reputation  of  an  establish- 
ment, that  of  Mrs.  Macquoid  has  certainly  done  so  for 
this,  and  prices  have  somewhat  advanced  since  her  visit. 
Mme.  Chretien  was  much  amused  at  my  asking  for  '^des 
CBufs  sur  la  plat,"  as  she  said  aU  the  English  did  the  same. 
These  fried  eggs  are  certainly  very  nice,  but  I  prefer  our 
ordinary  eggs  and  bacon.  The  general  living  at  this  house 
was  not  so  good  as  I  expected  to  find,  and  the  wines  were 
of  inferior  quality ;  but  these  small  drawbacks  need  not 
deter  the  tourist,  for  Arromanches  is  decidedly  worth 
seeing.  Fronting  the  beach  is  a  sea-wall  from  ten  to 
twenty  feet  in  height  with  an  inclined  plane  down  the  centre, 
and  stairs  at  several  points.  Sometimes  the  waves  dash 
against  this  wall  with  considerable  force,  throwing  the 
spray  above  the  spectators.  What  strikes  English  people 
is  the  free-and-easy  way  in  which  bathing  arrangements 
are  conducted ;  bathers  don  their  costume,  throw  a  cloak 
over,  put  on  bathing  shoes,  and  walk  down  from  any  dis- 
tance ;  I  have  seen  a  gentleman  thus  attired  come  through 
the  main  streets,  quite  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  The  chief 
dressing  boxes  are  right  back  from  the  beach ;   we  used 


f^rySS^    HOTBB  ON  KOBMAHBY.  39 


those  i^taehdd  to  oar  hotel,  walking  across  the  small 
promenade,  and  down  the  steps.  Mrs.  Maoqnoid  bestows 
extravagant  praise  on  these  sands ;  they  are,  as  a  whole 
very  good,  but  one  may  happen  to  come  into  collision  with 
«  young  rook,  about  the  size  of  a  fdll-grown  tombstone, 
unless  care  be  taken.  Tents  of  yarious  hues  are  largely 
used,  but  not  by  bathers.  As  the  tide  recedes  these  are 
placed  upon  the  sands,  and  taken  possession  of  by  ladies 
«nd  children ;  while  the  former  sit  and  work,  the  latter 
play  and  wade.  These,  with  the  bathers  in  the  foreground 
and  the  promenaders  above  the  wall,  give  the  little  town 
quite  -an  animated  appearance.  Improprieties?  Never; 
not  like  at  English  balhing  places,  where  people  sit  on  the 
shore  or  cliffs,  and  scan  the  bathers  with  opera  glasses. 
And  this  fjftmily  system  gives  ladies  and  children  more  con- 
fidence, so  that  tiiey  derive  the  greater  benefit,  as  well  as 
the  greater  enjoyment. 

Amusements,  none.  This  is  essentially  a  place  for 
£amily  recreation.  There  is  a  small  fishing  populution, 
forming  a  distinct  class.  There  are  the  two  other  classes, 
those  who  are  the  residents  of  the  hotels  and  villas,  and 
the  visitors ;  and  there  are  just  enough  shops  to  supply  all 
necessities. 

Starting  one  day  after  our  late  breakfast,  we  determined 
to  pay  a  visit  to  Mademoiselle  de  FontanaiUe.  A  roaming 
walk  along  the  edge  of  cliffs  to  within  a  comparatively 
short  distance  of  Port-en-Bessin,  a  small  bathing  place 
and  port  on  the  Cherbourg  side  of  Arromanches,  brought 
into  view  a  gigantic  column,  perched  on  a  narrow  pedestal. 
This  was  our  Mademoiselle,  standing  out  prominently  in 
front  of  the  cliff,  and  with  the  base  washed  by  each  rising 
tide.  The  origin  is  obvious ;  portions  of  the  lofty  cliffs 
have  separated  and  fallen  into  the  sea,  but  this  rock-based 
segment,  crowned  with  scanty  herbage,  has  maintained  its 
position,  and  has  become  of  interest  to  object  hunters.  In 
the  distance  is  Gape  La  Hogue,  and  near  by  is  a  patch,  or 
rather  a  couple  of  patches,  of  nature's  handiwork  which  are 
termed,  locally,  the  Swiss  scenery.  Many  hundred  yards 
of  cliff  appear  to  have  fallen  simultaneously,  forming 
eminences  and  valleys.  These  segments  have  resisted  the 
further  action  of  the  waves,  miniature  lakes  have  formed, 
shrubs  and  trees  have  grown,  pathways  have  been  worn, 
and  now  there  exists  a  miniature  specimen  of  a  mountainous 
eountzy.     This  tract  of  land  interested  me  a  great  deal 


4&  Houoisosinac  lemozHSB.  '^^SS^ 


Bvnev,  Jan.  U  tm. 


move  than  did  tlie  portiiy  MadeDMiselle,  and,  indepandenUjr 
of  the  pieamM  of  an  agreeable  xambk^  well  repaid  na  for 
GOT  eight  mile  walk* 

Here,  at  Arromandbee^  I  nitfneseed  two  splendid  simBets^ 
fluch  as  ase  snppoeed  to  belong  to  tropioal  regions.  The 
one  showed  fcdly  half  the  visible  sky  of  a  wann»  bright 
red ;  the  other,  equally  effectiTe,  of  varying^  tints.  Daring 
our  short  stay,  temperature  was  warm,  with  a  dear,  dry 
atmosphere;  not  snffieientiy  hot  to  enervate,  but  snitaUa 
to  those  requiring  warmth  and  dryness  of  climate,  in  order 
to  recmit  the  physieal  frame* 

St.  Sayioor's  Boad, 
Brixton  Bise, 
August,  1880. 

fTo  he  continued  J 

\ 

ON  THE   PREPARATION  AND   DISPENSING   OF 
HOMOEOPATHIC  MEDICINES.* 

By  John  W.  Hitwabd,  M.D. 

Mb.  President  and  Gentlemen, — ^In  a  system  of  medicine 
like  homoBopathy,  which  belieyes  in  medicine  and  trusts  to 
medicine  to  cure  patients,  you  will  agree  with  me  that  it  is 
of  the  utmost  importance  that  the  medicines  which  we 
haye  to  use  shall  be  absolutely  what  they  are  supposed  to 
be. 

In  treating  a  case  of  croup  suppose  the  aco.  or  fpon.  wo 
ordered  were  not  aco-  or  epon.  what  would  become  of  the 
patient  ?  And  in  a  case  of  acute  pneumonia,  suppose  the 
hry.  or  yhoe.  we  ordered  were  not  hry.  or  phoe. ;  or  in  a 
case  of  cholera,  suppose  the  cup,  or  ver.  we  ordered  were 
not  cup,  or  ver.,  what  would  be  the  result  ?  or  suppose 
the  bottles  in  which  the  tinctures  were  made,  or  the  mor- 
tars in  which  the  triturations  were  made,  had  not  been 
cleaned,  or  had  contained  some  other  drug,  what  reliance 
ought  to  be  placed  in  the  medicines  prepared  in  them  ? 
Or  suppose  that  by  any  other  careless  preparing  or  dispens- 
ing hel.  and  opu  became  mixed  together  and  dispensed  as 
bel,^  or  mer,  and  euL,  and  dispensed  as  ml,^  what  good 
would  be  done  to  the  patient  ?  and  what  would  become  of 

*  ThiB  paper  WM  presmtodio  tibe  Homooqpatliitt  Oongreia  al  Leedf*. 
but  not  read  for  maX  of  time. 


4l»eie«Lit  of  homoBoyathy  ?  Day,  indeed,  what  would  mmd 
beoome  of  haDMBopaUiy  itidf  ?  And  these  ate  mA  merely 
imaginafy  sappoaitionB ;  for  in  a  preparation  obtained  for 
the  purpose  of  testing  nnder  the  microscope  Prof.  Wessd- 
hoeft  found  the  {Hreparation  sold  as  our.  8x  contained  no 
gold  at  all !  of  what  ase,  therefore,  would  be  the  6th,  12th9 
or  SOth,  prepared  firom  this  8x  ?  And  a  patient  for  whom 
I  selected  grp.  with  care,  and  ordered  the  6th  dil.,  not 
recovering  I  made  inquiries,  and  found  the  prescription  had 
been  dispensed  at  an  allopathic  dru^st's ;  and  on  calling 
on  him  about  it  he  assured  me  he  had  prepared  the  dilution 
himself.  An  allopathic  druggist  in  my  own  neighbour- 
hood has  quite  a  good  trade  in  so-called  homooopathic 
medicines,  but  he  hiuB  confessed  to  me  that  many  of  his 
pilules  were  simply  sugar  of  milk. 

Abaoluta  cleanliness,  scrupulous  care,  and  downright 
eonscientiouBness  are  all  required  to  be  incessantly  exer- 
cised in  the  preparation  and  dispensing  of  homoBopathic 
medicines,  necessitating,  indeed,  the  personal  superin- 
tendence of  a  properly  qualified  and  conscientious  homoBO- 
paihic  druggist,  who  himself  thoroughly  belieyes  in  ho- 
mcBopathy. 

In  the  preparation  and  dispensing  of  homoBopathic 
medicines,  there  ought  to  be  no  scepticism  about  the 
power  of  homoeopathic  medicines.  Here  there  can  be  no 
compromise  or  partnership  between  the  homoeopathic  and 
allopathic  druggist  or  druggists'  ideas.  Here  there  must 
be  nothing  slipshod,  makeshift,  uncertain,  or  substitutive ; 
all  must  be  certain,  safe,  genuine  and  positive.  Almost 
bQ  the  work  ought  to  be  done  by  adults,  and  such  as  have 
a  due  sense  of  their  responsibilities,  and  of  the  vital  im- 
portance of  their  work,  there  ought  to  be  as  few  children 
employed  as  possible :  in  fitust,  the  preparation  and  dis- 
pensing of  homoeopathic  medicines  ought  not  to  be  matters 
of  ordinary  trade  at  all.  They  are  matters  of  too  vital 
importance  to  the  public  weal  to  be  made  matters  of  mere 
trade  speeulation  or  business  profit ;  they  are  professional 
matters,  and  ought  to  be  performed  as  a  part  of  the 
honourable  and  sacred  profession  of  medicine. 

I  am  led  to  bring  this  matter  before  the  members  of 
Congress  by  a  yenoml  knowledge  of  both  carelessness  and 
dishonesty  in  both  the  preparation  and  dispensing  of  our 
medidnea,  and  of  serious  consequences  having  arisen 
therefrom;  and  because  I  think  that  not  only  should  we 


42  suFHBAfflA  nr  unjooxA. 


u  int. 


be  cxtremelj  f^r^^nW*  iiidifidoiIlT,  but  that  flonie  anttio* 
litatiTe  expression  of  opmion  should  go  forth  on  the  snb- 
jeet  from  Congress,  hmting  to  the  goienl  body  of  onr 
fftmeti&men,  and  warning  the  patknt  world  and  the  pnbHe 
ganenlly  not  to  trust  to  medirineB,  in  the  prepaiatioii  of 
whidi  there  may  possiUy  ha^e  been  any  eaielessness,  aris- 
ing from  a  want  of  the  tme  professional  leaponsihilitjy  or 
from  mere  trade  notions. 

I  will  eondnde  by  an  abstract  from  a  paper  on  the  sab- 
jeet  read  befiore  the  British  Homiwyathift  Pharmaceatieal 
Society,  1879  :— 

The  threatoied  reTofaitim  in  letafl  trade,  caused  by  the  pre- 
sent fiuhioiiable  co-opentive  syston — a  flystem  Tshnble  wh^i 
applied  to  proper  olgects,  and  if  carried  on  within  legitimate 
limits  oocmB  in  danger  of  eneroadiiiig  npon  gromid  wholly 
beyond  its  prorinee,  throng  the  HmcgKng  ^^iftter  of  the  argu- 
numium  ad  pockoum  Ms,  d,i  an  apparoit  saving  ta  Intymg  bemg 
too  mneh  regarded  as  the  one  essential,  gualUg  not  being  suffi- 
ciently considered. 

To  buy  in  the  cheapest  maiket  and  sell  in  the  dearest  is  one 
of  the  first  principles  of  political  economy,  whether  in  whcdesale 
or  retail  transactioDs,  and  in  r^ard  to  commodities  of  known 
standard  Tslne  and  qnality,  is  thoronghly  right  and  practicable. 
Bat  when  nsed  in  relation  to  sach  articles  as  drags,  whether 
allopathic  or  homoeopathic,  where  eyen  a  technical  knowledge  of 
the  sabject  (which  few  possess)  hardly  enables  the  porchaser  to 
recognise  the  valae  and  quality  of  the  goods  sold,  sach  a  maxim 
is  not  only  totaUy  impracticable,  bat  decidedly  dangeroas,  and  it 
is  here  that  **  Gonoperative"  or  "  Honsehold  Stares"  are  a  more 
serioas  sooree  of  mischief  thsn  mi^t  be  at  first  thoo^t 
sopposed. 

Liyerpool. 

ON  EUPHRASIA  IN  LEUCOMA, 

Bt  Abthub  S.  Kennedy,  L.B.G  J^,  En.,  &c. 

The  following  case  seems  to  me  of  interest,  on  accoont  of 
the  Tery  satisfactory  manner  in  which  the  drag  corresponded 
to  bat  slight  indications  from  the  prorings,  and  the  short 
time  in  which  a  serioas  opacity  cleared  np  under  a  saitable 
homcBopathic  remedy,  after  haying  withstood  the  efforts  of 
old  physic  for  a  long  time  at  one  of  the  special  hospitals. 

Mr.  D.y  ffit.  about  45,  had  for  some  months  been  suffering 
from  an  opacity  of  the  left  eyeball,  the  result  of  an  attack 
of  inflammation  brought  on  by  cold.   He  complains  that  it 


SSJ^SImSS^  EUPHRASIA  IN  LEUOOMA.  48 

interferes  with  his  sight  on  looking  at  objects  below  the 
lerel  of  the  eyes,  and  is  very  mnoh  afraid  of  losing  his 
sighty  his  employment  being  that  of  a  chief  clerk  in  the 
ciirQ  serrioe. 

On  examination,  X  found  that  there  was  a  decided  opacity 
on  the  lower  part  of  the  cornea,  encroaching  slightly  on 
the  lower  border  of  the  pupil  and  of  an  ill-defined  shape ; 
considerable  photophobia,  slight  conjnnctiYitis,  and  lachry- 
mation  on  exposure  to  cold  air. 

I  found  that  he  had  for  some  time  been  attending  at 
Moorfields  Hospital,  where  the  treatment  was  confined  to 
dropping  some  irritant  solution  into  the  eye,  the  pain  of 
which  was,  as  he  described  it,  **  simply  infernal,'*  and  the 
beneficial  result  nil.  The  only  consequence  of  this  treat- 
ment was  the  conjunctiyitis  and  photophobia  which  I  found. 

The  first  measure  which  I  adopted  was  to  exclude  light 
and  cold  air  by  a  pad  and  bandage.  This  gaye  immediate 
relief  to  the  inflammatory  symptoms,  and  was  much  assisted 
by  bathing  the  eye  with  tepid  milk  and  water. 

The  first  prescription  which  I  gave  was  tine,  cede,  carh, 
12  gtt.  ii.  ter  in  die.  This  medicine  was  to  be  taken  for  ten 
days,  and  the  eye  kept  as  much  as  possible  from  light  and 
cold  air.  At  the  end  of  this  period  I  again  examined  him, 
and  found  the  conjuncti-ntiB  better,  probably  owing  to  the 
local  measures,  but  the  opacity  just  the  same,  if  anything 
rather  larger.  This  time  I  ordered  tine,  euphrasia  Ix 
gtt.  ii.  ter  in  die. 

During  this  period  he  had  of  course  been  absent  from  all 
office  work,  aud  had  been  living  very  much  in  the  open  air. 
About  a  week  after  commencing  the  euphrasia  I  examined 
the  eye  again,  and  was  pleased  to  find  noticeable  improve- 
ment. The  area  of  the  opacity  seemed  smaller,  and  less 
dense,  than  on  the  former  occasion.  As  he  was  going 
away  from  home  I  ordered  him  to  continue  the  medicine 
for  two  or  three  weeks  longer.  After  this  I  heard  nothing 
more  of  the  case  for  two  months.  Meeting  his  wife  lately 
I  enquired  how  his  eye  was,  and  was  pleased  to  hear  that 
it  was  quite  well  and  as  strong  as  the  other.  Seeing  the 
patient  himself  some  days  after,  he  told  me  that  after 
taking  the  euphratia  for  a  fortnight  the  opacity  steadily  de- 
creased and  vanished,  much  to  his  satisfaction,  and  he  then 
discontinued  the  medicine.  On  examination  I  could  detect 
no  traces  of  the  leucoma. 


44  BBVUilB. 


The  pwmngi  of  €mpiwm§ia  point  more  to  aaaetm  super- 
ficial infiuDmatkni  than  to  the  lenofal  of  infiamwitoiy 
prednets,  but  I  fouid  in  Alkn  and  Norton^  pp.  68»  that 
''  opadtieB  of  the  eornea,  leaolting  from  repelled  attacks 
of  inflammatian,  are  i^oited  cored  by  aevetal  ofaaervers." 
Dr.  Hnghfia  aaya  that  "it  is  yery  efficarions  to  lemoYO 
apecks  on  the  cornea."  So  from  these  anthoritiea  and  the 
generalhiatoryof  the  case  I  decided  to  tiy  the  dmg;  didso 
with  TCiy  aatis&ctory  lesnlis. 

Blackheafth,  S.E., 

December  1st,  1880. 

REVIEWS. 

Drug  AtUmuOum:  lu  objects,  modes,  means,  and  limits  in 
Homtsopathie  Pharmacy  and  Posology,  By  the  Bureaa  of 
Materia  Mediea,  Fbarmaey  and  ProyingB  in  the  American 
Institate  of  Homeeopathy,  1879—1880.  J.  P.  Dixs,  M.D.» 
Chftinman.    Fhiladel^iia:  Shenaan  &  Co.     1880. 

**  Tms  volume,  as  the  title  indicates,  is  made  np  of  papers  pre- 
sented by  members  of  the  Bnreaa  of  Materia  l&dica^  Pharmacy 
and  Proyings  at  the  meetings  of  the  Institute  held  at  Lake 
Qeorge  and  Milwaukee.  Takoi  together,  they  form  a  treatise  on 
the  satjeet  of  homcBopathic  phaimacy,  especis%  npon  dmg 
attennation,  snch  as  the  profession  has  neyer  had  b^re,  and 
soch  as  cannot  fail  to  be  of  interest  to  every  student  of  the 
honuBopathic  method." 

So  commences  the  preface  to  this  work,  and  after  carefolly 
reading  the  papers  of  idiich  it  is  composed,  we  can  thoroughly 
endorse  Ijie  opinion  here  expressed.  The  important  question  of 
dose  is  considered  in  all  its  aspects,  and,  as  far  as  may  be, 
impartiaUy.  There  are  also  some  very  interesting  papers  <m 
points  of  pharmacy,  but  it  is  to  those  on  the  dose  question  that 
we  would  specially  direct  the  attention  of  our  readers.  In  the 
first  place  we  have  the  history  of  drug  attenuation  during  the 
life  of  EUbnemann,  showing  the  various  steps  by  which  he 
advanced  from  the  ordinary  doses  of  drugs  to  such  as  are 
fractional,  thence  to  infinitesimal  doses,  culminating  in  the 
thirtieth  dilution.  Next  comes  the  history  of  the  subject  since 
the  death  of  Hahnemann,  giving  a  description  of  the  various 
and  varying  processes  which  have  been  from  time  to  time 
adopted,  and  as  a  means  of  comparison,  Hahnemann's  own 
directions  for  the  attenuation  of  drugs.  **  The  Bottle  Washing 
Method,"  consisting,  apparentiy,  of  using  one  vial  for  all 
dilutions.     ''The  Cont^on  Potencies,"  which  were,  or  must 


i^imi.  BIT1XW8*  4S 


ne  sary  tte,  made  by  piaeiiig  one  mediflitod  lobule  in  a  yi$l 
oonhauaBg  a  large  xnnaber  of  namediealed  ones,  and  by  boo- 
ooflsien  impngnatuig  the  mass ;  truly  a  little  leaven  leaveneth 
iftie  ivliole  Inmp  1  '*  The  Bneeoaeion  Potencies/'  known  *  as 
*' Jenidben's/'  m  which  a  "pial  was  nsed,  withont  emptying,  and 
a  new  dfintkm  ooonted  for  every  ten  shakes.  **  !ni6  FLuxien 
Betefidnes/'  the  newest  and  most  imposing  developmeBt,  whieh 
has  reaehfld  its  present  high  state  of  perfection  nuunly  from  the 
exertions  of  Ihr.  Swan,  of  New  York,  and  Dr.  Skinner,  of 
lAverpool,  each  of  whom,  actbg  on  mneh  the  same  principle, 
daima  to  produce  the  fifteen  millionth  dyntion,  and  still  looks 
forward  to  higher  things — ^indeed,  the  latter  asserts  "  that  when 
a  f^ass  Tcssfd  has  onee  been  thoron^^  impregnated  with  a 
dn^,  Niagara  pomriog  its  torrent  into  it  for  twenfy  thousand 
years  woidd  not  wash  it  ont."  Yet  that  which  this  great  force 
fiuls  to  effect,  exposure  to  flame  for  a  few  seconds  accomphshes 
peifeetiy.  The  spirits  of  drags  must  sar^  be  evil  since  they 
dread  iksat  so  sorely. 

The  proof  of  the  presence  of  drug  material  in  the  attenuations 
is  then  examined.  First  from  the  standpoint  of  the  '*  Scientist,*' 
and  the  results  of  examinations  by  the  microscope,  chemical 
anaiysis,  and  the  spectroscope  are  gi^en — ^these  do  not  contain 
mnch  that  is  new,  bat  are  good  as  far  as  they  go.  The  micro- 
seqpieal  examinations  tend  to  throw  donbt  <m  tibe  reality  of  the 
soibdiTiBion  prodoced  by  the  triturating  process,  or  at  any  rate 
to  show  that  the  division  of  the  particles  is  not  pro^ssively 
iofsreased  beyond  a  certain  point  by  contained  trituration,  and 
that  the  prssence  of  particles  being  detected  by  the  microscope 
as  hi^  as  the  ninth  or  eleventh  decimal  is  due  to  the  fact  that 
some  of  them  escape  division.  A  very  elaborate  paper  by 
Dr.  C.  Wesselhoeft,  one  of  the  most  cautious  observers  among 
Ameriean  physicians,  passes  in  review  all  the  evidence  to  be 
gathered  from  the  latest  views  of  molecular  science,  enunciates 
the  axiom  *'  thai  the  volume  of  a  substance  when  reduced  to 
the  liquid  form  is  not  much  greater  than  the  combined  Tolume 
of  its  moleenles,"  and  from  this  deduces  the  conclusion  ''that 
from  the  eleventh  to  the  thirte^th  centesimal  dilution  would 
fspcesent  the  highest  point  to  which  the  division  of  matter  can 
be  carried  when  r^resented  by  a  fluid  of  the  density  of  water, 
and  that  therefore  the  ekvMith  centesimal  should  be  the  practical 
hndi  of  oior  method  of  attenuating  drugs. 

The  second  branch  of  the  subject  is  then  considered;  the 
evidsDoe  of  the  presence  of  drug  matter  in  the  attenuations  from 
fte  stand  point  of  therapeutist.  This  evidence  is  divided  into  two 
elasflofl,  one  derived  direcUy  from  the  consensus  of  clinical  experi- 
ense  ranging  from  Hahnemann  to  the  present  time,  as  to  the  cura^ 
tm  value  of  the  sixth,  twelftby  and  tlmrtieth  dilations,  supported 


4&  BEVIEW8. 


Bgfum,  Jan.  U  lao* 


by  iha  reeoid  of  the  ezpoimoilB  enzied  out  in  Uie  Leopoldsiadi 
l^Mpital  as  to  the  companUiTe  Tahie  of  the  thirtieth,  sixth,  and 
fifteenth  dilutions  in  the  treatment  of  pnenmonia,  and  by  cases 
of  enre  recorded  by  indindnal  practitioners — the  other  is  the 
record  of  a  series  of  experiments  made  duing  1879-80.  In 
these  experiments,  twenty-fiye  sets  of  ten  vials  each  were  pro> 
vided— one  vial  in  each  set  containing  the  thirtieth  dilation  of 
a  known  medicine,  and  the  remaining  nine  simple  alcohol — ^tha 
problem  was  for  the  experimenter  to  discover  by  physical, 
chemical,  physiological,  therapentic  or  any  other  test,  which  of 
the  vials  contained  the  drag.  Nine  selected  incorrectly,  and 
the  remainder  made  no  report 

Another  series  of  forty-eight  sets  of  two  vials  each  were 
similarly  provided,  one  vial  containing  the  thirtieth  dilution  of 
a  known  medicine,  and  the  other  alcohol  only,  and  in  one 
instance  only  was  a  correct  selection  made. 

With  the  lower  dilations  five  experiments  were  made  with 
sets  of  ten  vials,  one  containing  the  third  decimal  dilation  and 
the  remainder  dilate  alcohol ;  fi>nr  oat  of  the  five  experimenters 
reported  correctly. 

Three  similar  experiments  with  the  fifth  decimal  were  all 
snccessful ;  oat  of  seven  made  with  the  sixth  decimal  five  were 
correct ;  of  two  with  the  seventh,  one  was  correct ;  and  the 
same  result  was  obtained  with  the  eighth  and  ninth,  bat  with  the 
tenth  decimal  both  experimenters  £uled.  It  had  been  expected 
that  Dr.  T.  F.  Allen,  now  a  well  known  name  to  every 
homoeopath,  would  have  assisted  in  the  experiments  with  the 
thirtieth  dilation,  in  the  efficacy  of  which  he  announced  himself 
fr  firm  believer,  but  his  state  of  health  unfortunately  prevented 
him  from  carrying  out  his  intention. 

These  experiments  seem  to  have  been  conducted  with  great 
care  and  extreme  precautions]  to  have  been  taken  to  prevent  any 
fraud  or  collusion.  Following  this  matter  of  fact  record,  we 
have  some  essays  upholding  the  virtue  of  the  higher  and  highest 
dilutions,  the  evidence  adduced  in  their  favour  being  of  the 
character  with  which  we  have  all  been  long  familiar,  individual 
cases,  often  by  no  means  fully  or  scientifically  reported,  and 
wonderful  instances  of  extreme  susceptibility  to  drug  action,  are 
taken  as  sufficient  to  prove  things,  which  would  need  almost,  as 
one  of  the  speakers  said,  that  one  should  rise  from  the  dead  to 
convince  us  of  their  truth.  The  strong  objection  to  this  dass  of 
evidence,  is  well  put  by  Dr.  McClellaiid,  himself  a  high  dilu- 
tionist,  who  said,  *'  When  I  find  a  case  of  typhoid  fever  reported, 
and  a  most  frightful  state  of  things  existing,  the  patient 
just  at  the  last  gasp,  a  case  of  genuine  typhoid  fever — 
just  as  you  all  know,  with  certain  pathological  conditions  pro- 
duced— and  a  certain  potency  is  given,  and  very  often  a  very 


hi^  potency,  and  lo !  behold,  the  next  time  he  is  visited,  in 
twentj-fonr  hours,  the  patient  is  well.  Now  we  all  know  ttiat 
that  cannot  be.  It  cannot  be.  Yon  appeal  to  people  that  onght? 
to  be  reasoning  people  to  believe  things  that  cannot  be.  So 
we  find  tamonrs  described,  malignant  tumours,  and  a  high 
potency  is  given— ^r  a  low  potency  as  the  case  may  be,  but  I 
really  think  the  high  potency  is  oftener  mentioned.  *  A  high 
potency  was  given,*  and  under  the  influence  of  the  drug,  a  cure 
is  reported.  We  know  that  a  morbific  growth  is  a  thing  of  slow- 
growth.  It  is  something  which  is  developed  after  months 
and  months,  and  years.  When  we  hear  the  reports- 
that  one  dose  is  given,  and  lo  !  the  next  day  the  tumour 
is  gone.  Now,  I  say  that  shocks  the  faith  of  the  people- 
in  the  testimony  that  is  brought  to  bear  as  to  the  efficacy  of  high 
potencies."  It  is  not  to  be  expected  that  any  amount  of  evidence 
will  convince  the  extreme  men  of  either  party,  but  the  moderate 
dose  man,  the  man  who,  willing  to  try  anytlung,  still  prefers  to 
have  some  material  ground  for  his  practice,  will  find  much  in 
this  woric  to  interest  him  and  confirm  his  faith. 

**  The  whole  question  of  dose  wiU  never  be  settled  until  expe- 
rience includes  numerous  and  accurate  statistics  obtained  firom 
hospitals  and  private  practice.  Experience  must  be  based  on 
statistics  which  show  the  negative  as  well  as  the  positive 
results  of  treatment ;  hitherto  only  favourable  cases  have  been 
reported." 

In  conclusion,  we  would  urge  all  our  colleagues  to  get  this 
book,  as  they  wiU  find  in  it  much  food  for  thought  and  practical 
work,  more  than  we  have  had  space  to  mention. 

It  is,  in  short,  a  work  which  is  the  result  of  numerous  ei^eri- 
ments,  a  large  amoxmt  of  careful  observation  and  of  much  re- 
flection. As  such  it  is  a  very  valuable  contribution  to  a  quasUo 
vexata  of  no  mean  order.  Pretty  nearly  all  that  can  be  said  on 
the  dose  question  is  set  forth  in  the  volume  before  us,  and  as  & 
thoroughly  honest  and  scientific  expose  of  the  subject  we  com- 
mend it  to  our  readers. 


NOTABILIA. 


HAHNEMANN    CONVALESCENT    HOME, 

BOURNEMOUTH. 

A  SALB  of  work  to  pay  off  the  remaining  debt  on  this  institution 
was  held  at  the  snudl  Town  Hall,  on  Tuesday,  the  6th  ult.,  under 
the  patronage  of  the  Dowager  Countess  Feversham,  the  Countess 
Cairns,  the  Hon.  Mrs.  Qrey,  the  Hon.  Jirs.  Tighe,  Lady  White, 


48  NOTABTLTA>  bSSw^SSH 

Lady  Biwm,  Ite.  Boyle,  lira.  Hull,  Mrs.  Femriek,  Mrs.  N«w- 
man  Smith,  and  Mn.  Soell.  This  institation^  which  is  looated 
<m  the  West  Cfliff,  was  foimded  some  few  years  ago  for  the  treat- 
ment of  oonTalesoent  patients  on  konunopathie  prineiples.  The 
ionndation  stone  was  laid  on  the  4th  January,  1676,  by  Eari 
Caims,  the  then  Lord  Ohaneellor,  by  whom  the  building  was 
opened  about  a  twelvemonth  later,  at  which  time  the  sum  needed 
to  pay  for  it  had  been  raised.  A  large  expense,  Yumevtir,  had  to 
be  inoorred  for  famishing,  and  seeing  that  heavy  working  ex* 
penses  have  also  had  to  be  met,  it  is  not  surprising  that  a  por- 
tion of  this  debt  remained,  a  sum  of  about  850L  being  required, 
towards  which  it  was  decided  to  deyote  the  receipts  from  the 
baaaar.  Before  mentioning  particulars  respecting  the  bazaar 
itself  we  may  state  that  the  institation  at  the  present  time  pro- 
vides twelve  beds,  three  distinct  classes  of  patients  being  re- 
ceived, namely,  such  consumptive  patients  as  may  be  recom- 
mended to  Bonmemonth  with  a  £ur  hope  of  restoration  or  con- 
siderable improvement,  convalescent  cases  of  a  non-in£sctions 
character  from  varions  homosopathic  hospitals  and  dispensaries, 
and  any  aente  non-in£ections  cases  which  may  occur  in  the  prac- 
tice of  the  local  Homoeopathic  Dispensary,  and  may  be  recom- 
mended by  the  medical  <^c6r. 

The  bazaar,  which  was  patronised  by  a  very  large  number  of 
influential  visitors  and  residents,  opened  at  eleven  o'clock,  but 
without  any  formal  ceremony.  The  chief  stalls  were  held  by 
Mrs.  Nankivell  and  Mrs.  Hardy.  The  former  was  assisted  by 
Miss  Brury,  Miss  Bowlandson,  and  the  Misses  Hull,  the 
latter  by  the  Misses  Eindermann,  Miss  Huth,  and  Miss  Dacre. 
The  stalls  were  dressed  with  crimson  cloth,  draped  with  white 
muslin  and  wreathed  with  evergreen  and  bracken.  The  Masters 
Nankivell  kept  a  children's  stall,  and  were  assisted  by  the 
Misses  Hull.  This  stall  contained  a  number  of  articles  made 
by  the  patients  of  the  Home.  An  art  stall,  draped  with  old 
Italian  lace,  was  presided  over  by  Mrs.  Masters,  ably  assisted  by 
Miss  A.  Drury  and  Mrs.  Claude  Strachey,  and  displayed  a 
nxmiber  of  choice  pictures  and  china  plates  by  A.  H.  Davis, 
C.  D.  F.  Pritchard,  and  others,  together  with  several  objects 
of  vertu.  The  refreshments  were  under  the  direction  of 
Mrs.  Laughlin,  the  Lady  Superintendent  of  the  Home.  During 
the  day  choice  selections  of  music  were  performed  by  Mrs.  Flyter, 
Mrs.  Hutchinson,  Miss  Hull,  Miss  Levason,  Miss  Gcodwin,  the 
Misses  Dunman,  and  Miss  M.  Dmxy,  the  pianoforte  being  lent 
for  the  occasion  by  Messrs.  Price  and  Bon.  A  beautiful  collec- 
tion of  flowers  from  the  nurseries  of  Mr.  Bwaffield  completed  the 
attractions  of  the  day.  The  sum  realised  bordered  close  upon 
two  hundred  pounds. 


b^SmSS!*  notabilia.  49 


LONDON  HOMGEOPATHIC  HOSPITAL. 

Ifx  understand  that  the  Board  of  MaaagemAnt  of  this  hoepilal 
iiave  determined  on  establishing  a  special  department  for  Skin 
Diseases,  and  have  appointed  Dr.  GauuBT  Buloklky  to  the  charge 
of  it.  Dr.  Blackley  has  deyoted  considerable  care  to  the  study 
<of  this  class  of  diseases ;  on  the  treatment  of  which  he  has 
written  several  osefol  papers.  When  in  Vienna  he  was  a  pupil 
of  Hebra  and  Neumann. 

BIRMINGHAM  HOMCEOPATHIC  HOSPITAL. 

Om  Monday,  the  18th  ult.,  Mr.  Samuel  Bbamdbam  recited 
«<  ICdsummer  Night's  Dream,''  Aytonn's  '*  Execution  of  Mon- 
trose," and  a  scene  from  Sheridan's  *'RiTals,"  before  a  large 
and  highly  gratified  audience  at  the  Birmingham  Town  Hell. 
Between  the  acts  and  the  pieces  Mr.  Sfcimpson  performed  several 
pieces  on  the  magnificent  organ  which  is  so  great  an  attraction 
to  visitors  to  the  Town  Hall  of  the  metropotis  of  the  Midlands. 
Something  Hke  £&0  will,  it  is  expected,  be  realised  for  the 
benefit  of  the  hospital. 

DR.  SIDNEY  RINGER  AND  HOMCEOPATHY. 

In  The  London  Figaro  of  the  5th  ult.  appears  a  highly  etdogistic 
sketch  of  Dr.  Sidney  Ringer  as  a  physician.  Among  other 
things,  the  writer  says  :  '*  We  read  in  a  homoeopathic  pamphlet 
that  Dr.  Binger  employed  and  recommended  homoeopathic  reme- 
dies. We  know  not  if  the  statement  is  accurate,  but  assuredly 
if  there  are  homoeopathic  remedies  that  Dr.  Ringer  had  tried  and 
found  beneficial  and  curative  he  would  employ  and  recommend 
them.  .  .  .  Let  it  not  be  supposed  Dr.  Ringer  belongs  to 
no  school  of  medicine.  He  is  an  allopath ;  that  is  to  say,  a 
member  of  the  general  and  orthodox  school  of  medicine  ;  only 
his  medical  mind  is  too  free  from  sectarian  bias  to  refuse  to  con- 
sider and  use  a  remedy  because  it  was  discovered  by,  or  was  the 
leading  remedy  of  some  other  school  of  medicine." 

There  is  an  air  of  catholicity  and  liberalism  about  a  statement 
of  this  kind  very  attractive  '*  to  the  million,"  to  whom,  according 
to  Figaro y  Dr.  Ringer  '*  is  still  a  coming  man."  But  it  by  no 
means  represents  Dr.  Ringer's  position  as  it  really  is.  True,  he 
does  employ  and  recommend  homoeopathic  remedies,  and  he  is 
both  wise  and  right  in  so  doing.  We  do  so  ourselves.  But 
where  homceopathists  complain,  and  that  justly,  of  Dr.  Ringer,  is 
that  while  so  doing  he  ignores  and  ridicules  the  principle  that 
led  to  the  discovery  of  the  remedies  he  employs  and  recom- 
mends, and  refuses  ordinary  professional  courtesy  to  the  men  to 
whom  he  is  indebted  for  what  knowledge  of  these  remedies  he 
possesses.  For  example,  in  January,  1869,  Dr.  Ringer  published 

No  1,  Vol.  25.  a 


o 


60 NOTi^^miij  n  ;:^  ;.^^j^ 


;  Jsi.  1, 1B81. 


in  the  Lanest  an  essay  on  acomUf  seUing  forth  its  clinical  nses. 
It  was  reprinted  in  the  Review  in  our  ensuing  number,  with  foot 
notes  pointing  to  the  yolome  and  page  of  the  homoeopathic  works 
in  which  snular  observations  had  already  been  made.  The 
principle  wldch  led  to  these  observations  was  that  of  similia 
nmaiifrttf  curantur.  But  Dr.  Binger  never  once  mentioned  this, 
never -once  gave  so  mnch  as  a  hint  that  these  dmical  applications 
of  ucomUe  were  not  original  observations  1 

It  is  against  this  silent  repudiation  of  the  bridge  which  has 
carried  hun  to  tiie  high  place  in  the  rank  of  modem  therapeutists 
that  he«ooci^ie6,  that  we  have  always  protested.  It  is  the  want 
of  geoberoflify,  lack  of  simple  honesty  tiiat  characterises  the  pro- 
cee#tig»  that  is  so  offensive  to  our  sense  of  what  is  right  and 
hMKOurable. 

Had  Dr.  Qinger  adopted  mnch  or  little  of  homoeopathy  into 
his  praetiQe,  and  at  the  same  time  given  fiill  credit  to  those 
iriiose  work  had  afforded  him  the  means  of  doing  so,  to  the 
principleof  dn^-selection  which  had  been  the  basis  of  their  work, 
we  should  have  been  the  first  to  congratulate  him  on  his 
prescience.  As  it  is,  his  manner  of  doing  what  he  has  done  has 
been*  too  discreditable  to  him  to  enable  us  to  do  so, 

HOMGEOPATHY  IN  BELGIUM. 

Ax  a  meiAiag  of  the  Association  Gentrale  des  Homoeopathes 
Beiges,  held  at  Brussels  on  October  6th,  it  was  resolved  to  pre- 
sent tJae  following  address  to  the  Senate  and  Chamber  of 
Bopresentatives  of  Belgium : — 

<*  To  the  Presidents  and  Members  of  the  Chamber  of  Bepre- 
seatativ^s  and  the  Senate  of  Belgium  : — 

*'  The  Aiisociation  Centrale  des  Homoeopathes  Beiges,  at  the 
close  of  last  year,  had  the  honour  of  submitting  to  the  Govern- 
ment and- to  the  Legislative  Chambers  a  petition  relating  to  the 
teadung  ^f.  homoeopathy  in  the  higher  educational  establish- 
ments supported  by  the  State.  This  petition  was  the  subject  of 
an  interesting  discussion  in  the  Senate  at  the  session  of 
M^y  lOtb,,  1880. 

^^Cncouraged  by  .the  sympathy  which  was  manifested  towards 
iky  and  by  l£e  movement  of  public  opinion,  the  Association 
CeotrfJe  des  Homoeopathes  Beiges  ventures  to  come  before  you 
again  to  respectfully  ask  for  your  votes. 

^'•What  was  our  astonishment  to  hear  one  of  our  most  bigoted 
opponents  say  in  the  senate  that '  there  was  neither  homoeopathy 
np^alli^athy  1'  No  one,  however,  is  deceived  by  this,  and  why  ? 
because  the  fundamental  formulae  of  the  two  systems  are  op- 
posed ;  WiS  apply  lite  law  of  similars ;  our  adversaries  depend 
ogjjtibfrjaw  of  oiintnirMs.     The  study  of  drugs  is  carried  on  in  a 


SSrtS^SrnSr*  noxabilia.  51 


ffiforant  method  in  the  two  systems.    We  employ  small  doses, 
whilst  oar  adyennnes  have  Fecoorse  to  strong  ones. 

**  Yfefte  the  assertion  of  onr  opponents  correct,  it  wonld  form 
an  additional  reason  for  the  seientifio  explanation  of  homceopathy 
in  the  nniversities.  Those  who  look  on  it  as  an  error  wonld  then 
he  obliged  to  zeldte  it  by  other  means  than  insnlts,  witticisms,  or 
common-places. 

«<  Those  who,  like  omrsehres  and  onr  patients,  hail  it  as  an  ad* 
Tttnee  in  science  and  a  public  benefit  wonld  be  no  longer  nnpar- 
donably  hnrt  in  their  conscience  by  a  teaching  enjoying  exdnsiya 
pririlegee,  to  the  detriment  of  most  respectable  rights  and  con-' 
mictions. 

"  We  yentore,  then,  gentlemen,  to  beg  of  yon  to  lend  the 
weight  of  yonr  legitimate  influence 

**  Ist.  To  the  institntion  in  each  University  of  the  State  (for 
iiie  lenities  of  Medicine  and  Pharmacy),  and  in  the  Veterinary 
College,  of  aOhair  of  Homoeopathy  associated  with  clinical  instroo- 
iion.  Attendance  on  the  comrse  should  be  optional ;  bnt  stadents* 
who  desire  to  submit  themsdves  to  a  special  examination  on 
homoeopathy  should  be  entitled,  in  case  of  success,  to  haye  men- 
tion of  it  ei^orsed  on  their  final  diploma. 

2nd.  To  the  embodiment  of  homodopathio  drugs  in  the  official 
fharmaoopoeia.  Homoeopathic  jj^ysidans  being  obliged,  in  towns 
at  least,  to  avail  themselves  of  the  chemists,  these  ought  at 
least,  in  reciprocity,  to  be  obliged  to  prepare  our  prescriptions, 
and  to  keep  homoeopathic  remedies  in  their  shops.  This  ques- 
tion is  the  more  opportune  at  present,  as  it  will  find  its- 
natural  place  in  the  approaching  discussion  on  ihe  4ieau 
pharmaeopona. 

*'W6  pray  you,  gentlemen,  to  receive  the  honour  of  our 
respects.  Dr.  Mabtxnt,  President. 

J.  Maks,  Secretary. 

PBOQRESS  OF  HOMCEOPATHY  IN  MEXICO. 

Ok  the  IStli  of  September,  1880,  in  the  Hospital  of  La  Lave, 
at  Oriiaba,  two  wards  were  opened,  devoted  exclusively  to 
bomoeopathio  treatment.  The  opening  cenamony  was  very 
impressive;  the  governor  of  the  province^. attended  by  a  de- 
tadiment  of  troops  as  a  guard  of  honour,  presided  over  the 
eeremony.  He  made  a.  speech,  and  than,  went  in  procession 
thromi^  the  two  wards.  In  the  male  ward  was.  a  veiled  bust  of 
Hahnemann ;  the  governor  unveiled  this,  and  declared  the 
hospital  open.  Other  i^^dies  were  .delivered  by  M.  Eliezer 
Es^nosa,  M.  le  lb.  Ismael  Takvera^.snd  M.  le  I)r.  Cresencio 
OdmrOi  MaMO,.as:^iepi?esQiitalises^£iihe. Mexican. Institute  of 
IfaMisopalhy,    ^ewa^jJdMuillq^atfaio.st8ff,JDdn^AhnmadaaQd 

—2 


62  HOTABILIA. 


Joffine,  awarted  at  the  eeremanj.  Br.  Mesa  akma  noidd  naithflr 
pay  a  visit  nor  set  foci  in  the  bospitid  on  that  day. 

It  is  enlnely  doe  to  tlie  eflbrts  of  MIL  Bamon  HernandeSt 
Edward  de  Pid>loB,  inspeeior  of  lioepitals,  and  Dr.  Talavera, 
that  honuBopathy  has  been  intiodneed  into  hospital  praettce. 
The  two  wards  whieh  have  just  been  granted  to  them  oontain, 
the  one,  17  beds  for  men,  the  other  8  for  women.  M.  le  Dr. 
Talavera  is  appointed  as  physician  on  the  staff. 

We  coapratnUite  oor  Meziean  eonfriret  most  heartilyt  and 
wish  Dr.  Talavera  a  hamper  of  soeeess. 

THE  ARGA  PEBSICA. 

A  00BBB8F01IBK1IT  of  the  Poify  Ainot,  in  an  interesting  aoconnt 
of  a  jonmey  thron|^  Teheran,  pnUished  dnring  the  aatomn,  gives 
the  Allowing  aeconnt  of  the  bite  of  this  insect  Mesrah  is  in 
the  plain  which  reaches  away  by  Eesrin  to  Teheran.  He  writes, 
*'  I  had  been  warned,  on  the  peril  of  my  life,  not  to  sleep  at 
Mesrah,  becaose  there  was  to  be  fonnd  Uie  gamib-gez  (literally^ 
' bite  the  stranger.')  Theeflfect  of  the  bite  was  described  to  me 
as  being  on  the  whole  mnch  worse  than  that  of  the  black  scorpion. 
Our  horses  ooold  carry  us  no  farther,  and,  nathless  the  dread 
which  I  had  of  the  creature  described  to  me,  I  had  perforce  to 
make  a  halt  of  half  an  hour  at  the  dreaded  station. 

"  One  of  the  first  questions  which  I  aeked  of  the  stable  atten- 
dants was  whether  they  coold  show  me  a  specimen  of  the  '  bite 
the  stranger.'  After  a  few  minutes'  search,  the  man  brought  me 
oat  half  a  dozen  in  the  palm  of  his  hand.  The  largest  was  not 
over  the  third  of  an  inch  in  length,  and  resembled  in  form  what 
is  vulgarly  known  as  the  '  wood  loose '  in  England.  It  was  of 
a  silvery  grey  appearance,  -and  had,  as  I  carefully  remarked, 
eight  legs,  four  on  each  side.  I  should  at  once  have  set  it  down 
as  one  tiie  arachnoid  [or  spider  family  were  it  not  for  the  entire 
absence  of  the  dual  division  of  cephahihorax  and  abdomen  which 
distiogaish  that  family.  Notwithstanding  this,  it  may,  and 
probably  does,  belong  to  the  fiunily  in  question.  Its  sting  is 
productive  of  the  worst  results.  A  small  red  point  like  that 
produced  by  the  ordinary  flea  is  at  first  seen.  Then  follows  a 
large  black  spot,  which  subsequently  suppurates,  accompanied 
by  a  high  fever,  identical,  as  far  as  external  symptoms  go, 
with  intermittent  fever.  In  this  it  is  like  the  bite  of  Uie 
tarantula  or  phalange  of  the  Turcoman  plains.  The  only 
difierence  is,  that  ttie  fever  produced  by  the  sting  of  this 
insect,  known  scientifically  as  the  arga  Persica,  and  locally 
as  the  garrib-gez  and  Gemne,  if  neglected  for  any  length  of  time, 
is  fatal.  It  is  accompanied  by  lassitude,  loss  of  appetite,  and  in 
some  cases  delirium.  I  have  seen  it  mentioned  in  an  old  French 
book,  giving  an  account  of  the  French  embassy  to  Teheran  in 


Sff^S^^^SS"*  NOTABILU.  68 


Svfiew,  Jan.  1«  18BI. 


1806-7;  hat  the  writer  had  had  no  personal  experiences  to 
narrate.  He  called  it  the  moucfie  de  Miane.  Miana  is  a  village 
on  the  same  stream  as  Mesrah,  and  is  well  known  as  one  of  the 
kabUats  of  this  pestilent  insect.  It  is  styled  hj  the  inhabitants 
of  ^e  places  which  it  frequents  the  '  bite  the  stranger,'  for 
the  inhabitants  of  the  place  never  experience  any  inconvenience 
from  its  sting.  There  is  a  general  belief  that  once  a  person  has 
been  stung,  the  *  Persian  bng*  is  harmless  against  the  same 
individual,  and  this  would  seem  to  be  borne  out  by  flEMt ;  for  the 
people  living  in  the  village  of  Mesrah  laughed  at  my  fears  as  I 
carefully  perched  myself  on  the  top  of  a  rock  with  a  view  of 
keeping  out  of  the  way  of  the  local  bugs,  while  the  people  of  the 
place  kept  them  with  impunity  in  the  palms  of  their  hands. 
Some  Austrian  officers  going  to  Teheran  last  year,  happening  to 
stay  at  this  hamlet  of  Mesn&,  were  stung  by  tiie  garrib-gez.  All 
were  ill,  and  one  narrowly  escaped  with  his  life.  Numerous 
eases  of  death  can  be  cited  as  the  result  of  the  sting  of  the  arga 
Penica,  Speaking  on  the  question  to  a  Persian  doctor,  he 
informed  me  that  it  was  the  custom,  when  any  important  per- 
soni^  was  travelling  through  any  district  infested  by  these 
'  Persian  bugs  '  that  lus  attendants  administered  to  him  without 
his  knowledge  one  of  the  "  bugs  "  concealed  in  a  piece  of  bread 
during  the  early  morning.  Experience  has  shown  that  when  one 
has  been  bitten,  and  recovers,  he  is  for  the  future  guaranteed 
against  further  icjury.  It  is  a  kind  of  inoculation,  and  the  local 
physicians  believe  that  the  poison  taken  through  the  stomach  is 
administered  with  equal  good  effect  as  if  received  directly  into 
circulation.  A  leading  European  member  of  Teheran  Society 
informed  me  that  he  had  simultaneously  received  seventy-three 
stings  from  these  insects,  the  bites  having  been  counted  by  his 
servants.  The  result  was  an  extreme  amount  of  fever,  winding 
up  with  delirium  on  the  fifth  day.  Violent  emetics,  followed  by 
doses  of  qtdnxne,  were  given  without  effect ;  and  it  was  only  on 
takmg  large  quantities  of  tannin,  in  the  form  of  a  decoction  of 
the  rind  of  the  wild  pomegranate,  that  the  patient  recovered. 
For  a  great  part  of  my  information  on  this  snbject  I  have  to  thank 
Mr.  Sidney  Churchill,  of  Teheran,  a  young  and  rising  naturalist 
who  has  devoted  mudi  of  his  time  and  talents  to  the  entomology 
of  Persia." 

HOMCEOPATHY  AT  HAUPAX. 

The  attempt  recently  made  by  the  allopathic  sect  at  Halifax  to 
oust  Mr.  Amley  from  the  post  of  Medical  Officer  of  Health  for  that 
borough  has  failed  as  signally  and  ignominously  as  it  deserved 
to  do.  After  some  pressure  brought  to  bear  upon  the  Sanitary 
Committee  by  the  allopathic  sect,  a  Mr.  Cookson  was  appointed. 
This  the  Council  refused  to  confirm,  and  Mr.  Ainley  was  unani- 


S4 NOTABILU,  ^'SS^^STSm^ 

moBflly  elected  Medkal  Offiaerof  Health  Ibi  the  aext.ihxee 
years. 

This  victory  shews  that,  if  the  lay  fidends  of  homiBopathy,  if 
thoee  who  profit  byitilEyr  more  than  thdr  medwil  adTisecs  do,  will 
oidy  iaaut  on  fair  play  being  acoorded  to  homcBopatfaie  practi- 
tionerSy  a  doe  share  of  pnhlic  appointments  will  fedl  to  their  lot. 
It  is  not  the  oonfessioii  of  faomoBopathy  that  is  the  barrier  to  sooh 
offices  being  filled  by  homosopatUc  practitioners,  but  tho  apathy 
or  indifference  of  those  who  beheye  in  homceopi^y. 
*   t  I  ■  111  I     ^^— ^»i   111        I.  I      ■■■  .  II       II  I     ■ 

ALEXIS  ST.  MARTIN. 

"NLaxy  of  our  xeaders  will  be  surprised  to  leam  that  Alexiit  St. 
Martin,  to  whom  physiobgists  are  eternally  indebted  for  nearly 
all  the  reliable  information  they  have  acquired  about  the  pro- 
cesses of  digestion,  is  still  alive.  Every  work  on  Physiology 
recounts  the  experiments  made  by  Dr.  Beaumont  on  St.  Martin's 
perforated  stomach. 

In  a  magazine  called  The  Western  Temperance  Herald  for  last 
month  appears  a  letter  from  Mr.  T.  B.  Fox,  of  Hyde  Boad, 
Waterloo,  near  Liverpool,  who  states  that  when  on  a  visit  to 
some  friends  in  Gloucester,  he  ''  there  met  Mr,  Welford,  a  young 
medical  gentleman  from  Canada,  who  had  come  over  to  England 
to  perfect  himself  in  his  profession,  before  entering  on  a  practice 
in  the  Dominion.  In  the  course  of  a  highly  interesting  conversa- 
tion with  him,  chiefly  on  the  subject  of  the  effects  of  alcohol  on 
the  human  body,  and  its  value  or  otherwise  as  an  application  in 
medicine,  I  happened  to  ask  him  if  he  had  ever  heard  or  read  of 
the  wonderful  case  of  Alexis  St.  Martin.  '  I  have  not  only  read 
and  heard  of  him,*  said  he, '  but  I  have  seen  the  man  repeatedly, 
and  indeed  quite  recently.'  '  What,'  said  I,  '  is  he  still  living  ? 
Why  he  must  be  a  very  old  man  now.'  '  He  is  not  only  still 
living,  at  a  good  old  age,'  said  Mr.  W,,  '  but  I  am  ashamed  to 
say  he  is  living  in  obscurity  and  almost  poverty,  to  the  eternal 
disgrace  of  the  medical  profession  all  over  the  world,  who  have 
leauit  more  about  the  process  of  digestion,  the  functions  of  the 
stomach,  and  the  effects  of  different  kinds  of  food  and  drink  on 
the  body,  through  him,  than  by  any  other  means  they  h^ve  ever 
been  able  to  command.  It  is  a  great  shame  that  the  Medical 
Faculty  do  not  subscribe  and  buy  him  a  Bubstantial  [annuity, 
seeing  what  obligations  the  whole  medical  world  is  under  to  him, 
for  the  knowledge  derived  by  means  of  a  study  of  his  case."  ' 

We  should  be  very  glad  to  see  this  suggestion  acted  upon. 
Physiology  owes  St.  Martin  much  more  than  those  who  profit  by 
their  knowledge  of  it  can  ever  repay  him.  Mr.  Fox  will  be 
pleased  to  put  anyone  desiring  to  help  him  in  the  way  of  doing 
so.     St.  Martin  is  living  near  Woodstock,  in  Canada  West. 


••THE  TEOE  SECtffiT  OF  HOlK^WAlttflrtfr 

PoiMOT  0taM  it  long  agoi  ''Ho  mt»  0#tf<'Mf'  U  ti^e^ 
and  th«i  H  follows,  fts  the  night  the  d«jr^  th6«i«^ftMl%t  fiot^ilito 
b«  lake  U>  Hakfumann," — Funky  FoU», 

■  -  ■ —*■ 

BRITISH  BOMCEOPATHIC  SOQI&ISSl 

The  next  meeting  of  this  Society  will  be  hdd  oti  'tlinrs'daj,  the 
6th  inst.,  at  seyen  o*clock,  when  a  paper  will  be  read  by  Dr. 
Hu6H£3y  on  Two  Anomalous  Cases  of  Chronic  Arisntcal  Poisoning, 


nM    IT^.fllH    iKllf    lllwlH 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


THE  LONDON  SCHOOL  OF  HOMOEOMlffir.  . 

TSR  iNTBRlfATIONAI.  RBCOOMmOW  B^ttfeM. 

To  the  Editors  of  the  Monthly  Homceapathic  Benitmie 

GsNTiJBMEN, — ^The  objects  of  this  scheme  were  setTorCh  ih1;he 
paper  read  by  me  at  the  Leeds  Congress,  in  September.  BHefly 
they  are  these: — It  is  desirable  that  the  number  of  sHIled 
homoeopathic  physicians  and  surgeons  should  be  increased,  so 
that  reliable  homoeopathic  practitioners  should  be  established  in 
every  town  or  district  in  Great  Britain  containing  ltf,000  inhabi- 
tants. At  present  the  homoeopathic  clientele  is  fkr  too  large 
and  too  scattered  to  be  able  to  obtain  skilled  practitioners  of 
homoeopathy  for  all  their  ailments.  While  the  patients  are  in 
London  or  its  neighbourhood,  or  in  or  near  some  oth^r  large 
town,  they  can  readily  obtain  the  advice  they  reqtiife,  but  in  the 
country  districts  it  is  different ;  they  must  then,  in  case  of  severe 
illness,  either  send  to  London  or  some  other  gt^at  city  fot 
advice,  at  an  expense  that  none  but  the  very  wealthy  can  affbrd, 
or  they  must  trust  to  be  treated  by  correspondence  (which  is  to 
some  extent  risky,  and  always  troublesome  and  a  soutce  of 
anxiety),  or  they  must  trust  ^emselves  to  domestic  treatment 
or  treatinent  by  amateurs  ;  or,  lastly,  they  must  call  in  the  advice 
of  a  practitioner  of  the  old  school,  and,  for  a  time,  revert  to 
a  system  which  they  believe  to  be  fraught  with  dmlg^rs  and 
inconTeniences.    This  also  is  a  great  hardship. 

Therefore  we  desire  to  increase  the  present  veryisnMl  fetnflbeT 
of  skilled  homceopa^c  physicians  and  surgeons. 

There  are  three  ways  of  doing  this  which  are  openrttrttd. 

The  one,  is  represented  by  eur  London  School  of&tmtaoptxthy 
as  at  present  oonstituted,  viz.,  that  of  providing  lecttsifes  on 


66  00BBB8HMIDSHGB. 


BMiev.  Jan-UlflBL 


the  sdflQce  and  pg^tiae  of  medicine,  *^>*^^^«g  cmUf  thoupoifUM 
in  irhich  our  science  leads  os  to  differ  firom  the  ordinary  teaching 
of  the  allopathie  medical  schools.  This  mode  of  teaching  is- 
therefinre  intended  as  sopplemenlary  only  to  the  osnal  medical 
school  conraes.  There  ia  this  praekical  difficulty,  which  I  fear- 
is  insiq>erable.  The  present  aehame  of  medical  education 
demandfl  that /<ncr  years'  medical  stody  shall  be  gone  through 
before  a  diploma,  degree,  or  license  to  practise  is  granted. 
Most  students,  after  four  years'  study  at  a  uniyersity  or  college, 
are  desirous  to  enter  at  once  into  practice,  and  cannot  or  will 
not  devote  a  fifth  year  to  the  study  of  any  new  subject,  such  as 
honuBopathy.  There  are  other  reasons  and  objections  on  which 
I  need  not  enter  hero  that  they  are  potent  is  dearfiromthe  act 
that  the  som  of  homaopathic  praetiiioners  have  not,  as  a  ruUy 
attended  the  lectures  given  in  our  school,  althou|^  their  £athera 
acknoidedge  that  our  lecturers  and  teachers  are  excellent. 

The  second  course  open  to  us,  is  that  of  founding  a  complete 
new  medical  school  in  which  aU  the  usual  branches  of  neutral 
study  shall  be  taught,  and,  in  addition,  the  HomoBopathic  Materia 
Medica,  and  the  HomoDopathic  Science  and  Practice  of  Medicine 
and  Suigeiy. 

No  doubt  but  this  is  the  best  poBsible  thing  to  do,  but  there 
are  practical  difficulties.  In  the  first  place,  our  first  student 
could  not  be  fitted  to  practise  till  four  years  after  the  opening  of 
the  new  school^  and  the  new  school  itself  could  not  be  formed 
and  ready  to  work  for  some  two  or  three  years.  We  must 
enlarge  the  hospital  to  100  to  150  beds  (at  present  there  are  less 
than  70).  We  must  collect  together  a  sufficient  staff  of  teachers, 
whom  we  must  subsidise  for  some  years,  until  the  school  became 
self-supporting ;  and,  in  fact,  the  hospital  and  school  will  require 
a  stmi  of  at  least  J6100,000  before  we  could  hope  to  start  a  really 
efficient  school.  Who  will  give  us  JglOO.OOO  for  so  noble  a. 
purpose  ?  At  present,  I  fear  we  have  less  than  £8,000  collected 
or  promised  for  the  school. 

Therefore,  we  must  seek  some  other  (third)  course  whick 
will  promise  us  an  immediate  or  early  supply  of  good  homoeo- 
pathic practitioners.  To  my  own  mind  such  a  source  of  supply 
is  to  be  found  only  in  America,  and  even  there  the  practitioners 
are  not  ready  made  to  our  hands,  for  this  reason:  Our  practi- 
tioners must  be  in  every  respect  as  wdl  instructed^  both  praeticaUy 
and  theoretically  ^  as  are  those  of  the  old  school.  Now  in  America 
the  course  of  study  demanded  by  many  of  the  universities  or 
colleges  is  of  less  duration  than  our  own.  In  some  of  the 
medical  schools  two  years'  instruction  is  deemed  sufficient  ta 
allow  a  man  to  submit  himself  for  examination.  In  the  majority 
of  the  schools  three  years  is  deemed  sufficient.  Now,  as  in  this 
country  no  man  is  allowed  to  guaUfy  under  four  years,  we  could 


ISS^SHTwS!^     00BB«8P0NDBN0B.  57 

not  aak  the  Me<Koal  Coanoil  to  register  these  gentlemen  in  Eng- 
land aa  legally  qnaMed.  But  in  such  a  case  this  is  what  I 
woold  propose-'that  the  oonrse  of  education  received,  in  Amerioa^ 
should  he  admitted  as  eqoal  to  a  similar  period  passed  in  medical 
study  in  England,  and  that  a  course  of  lectures  or  hospital 
praetice  passed  throng  in  America  should  count  as  equivalent 
to  a  similar  course  in  England.  So  that  any  man  who  has 
graduated  in  America,  at  the  end  of  two  years*  course  of  study, 
shall  be  only  required  to  pass  two  years  further  in  an  Engli^ 
medical  school  or  hospital,  and  may  then  present  himself  for 
eomplete  examination,  which,  if  he  passes,  shall  allow  him  to 
register.  The  man  who  has  graduated  after  a  three  years*  course* 
in  America  being  only  expected  to  pass  one  year  longer  in 
medical  study  in  England,  &c. 

By  this  sdieme,  which  would  inyolve  our  having  an  examining 
board  connected  with  our  hospital  and  school  in  England,  we 
might  very  soon  add  a  not  unimportant  number  of  homoeopathic 
physicians  and  surgeons  to  our  present  ranks. 

But,  in  offering  ^is  recognition  to  the  graduates  of  American  uni- 
versities and  schools,  it  also  appeared  to  me  we  should  have  a  right 
to  expect  an  equivalent  recognition  from  them  for  the  student  work, 
done  at  our  own  London  School  of  Homoeopathy,  and  I  wrote 
the  following  note  accordingly,  sending  a  copy  of  it  to  the  presi- 
dent,  dean,  or  secretary  of  each  of  the  eleven  universities,  coUegeSp, 
or  medical  echooh  in  America,  enumerated  below : — 

The  University  of  Boston. 

The  University  of  Michigan. 

The  University  of  Iowa. 

The  Hahnemann  Medical  College  of  Chicago. 

The  Chicago  Homoeopathic  College. 

The  New  York  Medical  College  for  Women. 

The  Pnlte  Medical  College  of  Cincinnati. 

The  Homoeopathic  Medical  College  of  St.  Louis.* 

The  Homoepathic  Hospital  College  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

The  Hahnemann  Medical  College  of  Philadelphia. 

The  New  York  Homoeopathic  Medical  College. 

To  this  letter,  which  is  subjoined,  I  have  received  the  follow- 
ing replies.  In  addition  to  my  letter  the  authorities  of  the 
London  School  of  Homoeopathy  officially  forwarded  a  copy  of 
Dr.  Bichard  Hnghes'  new  edition  of  his  Pharmaeody7iamics,  em- 
bodying his  leetures  delivered  within  the  school.  This  volume 
was  presented  to  the  president,  dean,  or  secretary  of  each  of 
fha  medical  schools  (homoeopathic)  in  America.  A  copy  of  our 
rules,  of  our  last  report,  and  of  the  announcement  of  the  coming 
sessional  wtcnrk  was  also  sent  to  the  same  school  officials. 

^  About  to  be  called  the  St.  LooIb  College  of  HomoBopathio  Physidana 
and  Soxgeoni. 


SB  coBBBSPOfnxmcB. 


.J- 


Hie  Ifltten  wSk  wpetk  for  ttwiuwilnB,  and  dmv  a  oovAial  aad 
geanal  vpjprrmiifm  of  our  cfort  far  mutual  lawignition,  irtdehl 
hope,  and  believe,  viH  be  wannly  i»-eekoed  by  ^bt  wkmiB  hoAj 
oCoBrprofcwBnna]  faretlnai  on  tfaia  side. 

Toon  tnil^, 

Hon.  Seerelaiy  to  the  Ttfrndon  School  of  HomcBopattij^- 
81,  Hemietia  Street, 

Cayendirii  Sqnaze,  Tmwdon,  W. 

Iares  or  I>B.  Bates  to  xhb  Hbadb  op  isb  Unvmsma 
AID  Mffiwr.iT.  ScHooLB  iH  Amkbiqa: — 

0*1     TTiiMi  iM  ill  I    *^'         ' 

2SI,  xunnetta  uueei, 

Gayendidi  Sqiiaze,  London,  W. 

29th  Jnly,  18S0. 
To  Dr. 


Dean  of- 


**  Dkab  Sm, — ^At  a  meeting  of  Che  Committee  of  the  London- 
Sehool  of  Homoeopathy  held  on  Monday,  Jnly  12ih,  I  reeeiyed 
peimiflnon  to  apply  to  the  anthorities  of  your  nniyersity  (or 
eoQege^,  asking  yon  to  consider  whether  yon  wonld  incline  to 
recognise    snch    lectures    as    are    or   may   be    deliyered    at 
car  school,  as   equivalent  to  lectures  on  the  same  subjects 
delivered    in    the    school    of   your    uniyersity    (or    college), 
provided    the     courses    are     equal    in   scope   and   number  f 
We,  on  our  part,  accepting  your  lectures  as  equivalent  to  ours  of 
equal  number  and  scope.     We  haye  a  great  want  of  qualified 
practitioners    of  homoeopathy  in  Great  Britain,  both  medical 
education    and    the    granting    of   degrees   and    diplomas,    is 
at   present  wholly  in  the  hands    of   an    allopathic  monopoly, 
which    excludea    homoeopatfaie    teaching    from    all     the    re- 
cognised   schools.     But    it    has    occurred    to    me    that    we 
may  be  able  to  obtain  legal  powers  to  examine  and  grant 
diplomas  or  licenses  to  those  who  haye  obtained  American  and 
foreign  degrees  or  diplomas,  provided  their  courses  of  instruc- 
tion come  up  to  the  standard   demanded  by  the  oonstituted 
medical  authorities  at  present  existing  in  Great  Britain,  and 
further,  that  when  the  courses  of  such  American  or  foreign 
universities  or  colleges  are  shorter  and  less  complete  than  those 
required  in  Great  Britain,  we  might  obtain  powers  to  supplement 
such  deficiency  in  our  English  School  of  HomcBopathy        .    If 
an  American  diploma  or  degree  can  be  obtained  after  two  yeara' 
study,  and  if  the  English  standard  requires  four  years*  course  of 
instruction,  we  still  might  be  allowed  to  count  those  two  yesfi 
of  having  so  far  qualified  the  candidate,  and  then  proceed  to  add 
two  years'  further  study  in   this  or  some  other  country,  after 
which  (four  years  having  been  completed)  we  could  proceed  ta 


Sa^SSTS^        COBBMPOK0BNOB.  6© 

enuaine  sneh  eandidate,  and  gtsni  our  degree  or  diploma  to 
such  as  passed  satisfaetorily.  Wfami  the  American  oomne  pre* 
scribes  three  years'  courses  of  instmction,  we  should  add  one 
year's  course  in  our  school  before  proceeding  to  examine  and 
grant  the  diplonuu  Before  taking  any  further  step,  will  you 
have  the  courtesy  to  furnish  me  wi^  full  particulars  as  to  the 
course  of  study  demanded  of  the  graduates  of  your  uniyersity  or 
^oil^e,  and  belieye  me,  with  the  highest  consideration, 

My  dear  Sir,  yours  most  faithfully, 

W.  B.,  &o., 

Hon.  Seereiary,  &e. 

P.S. — You  will  kindly  understand  that  we  have,  at  present, 
no  licensing  power,  but  by  the  action  contemplated  above  we 
hope  ultimately  to  obtain  such  powers." 

The  letters  received  in  reply  to  the  foregoing,  one  and  all 
express  the  deepest  sympathy  with  the  efforts  being  made  in 
England  to  extend  the  knowledge  and  increase  an  appreciation  of 
the  homcBopathic  method.  The  acknowledgment  of  Dr.  Hughes' 
new  edition  of  his  work  on  Pharmacodymanics  is  ui  each  ac- 
companied by  a  warm  encomium  on  its  value  as  an  introduction 
to  the  study  of  Materia  Medica.  We  regret  that  our  space  pre- 
cludes our  giving  the  letters  in  extenso,  but  the  following  extracts 
will  suffice  to  show  how  thoroughly  our  American  colleagues  are 
prepared  to  co-operate  with  Dr.  Bayes  in  his  proposed  scheme. 

Dr.  DowLiNO,  Dean  of  the  New  York  Homoeopathic  Medical 
College  and  President  (elect)  of  the  American  Institute  of 
Homoeopathy,  says  :  *'  I  wiU  lay  the  matter  before  our  faculty 
on  my  return  from  my  summer  vacation.  I  can  safely  assure 
you  that  the  lectures  delivered  in  the  London  School  of  Homoeo- 
pathy win  be  recognised  by  our  school." 

Dr.  A.  B.  Thosias,  Dean  of  Hahnemann  Medical  College, 
Philadelphia,  in  promising  to  lay  the  matter  before  the  next 
meeting  of  the  faeulty,  says :  ''I  can  see  no  difficulty  or 
objeciion  in  the  plan  you  propose.*' 

Dr.  Talbot,  Dean  of  the  Medical  Faculty  of  the  University  of 
Boston,  writes  :  '*  Be  assured  that  any  plan  you  may  adopt  will 
receive  our  most  cordial  consideration  and  effort  in  bringing 
the  Transatlantic  schools  into  co-operation  that  they  may  assist 
each  other,  and  mutuaUv  benefit  and  advance  the  profession.  As 
soon  as  some  definite  pL  of  action  is  determined  npo°  I  hope 
you  will  inform  me,  and  also  in  what  way  we  can  best  aid  you." 

Dr.  HoTNB,  Registrar  of  Hahnemann  Medical  College,  Chicago, 
describes  the  course  of  study  pursued  in  the  college,  which 
appears  to  be  both  thorough  and  practical. 

Dr.  Adaiks,  secretary  of  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  College  of 
Chieago,  says  that  the  '*  college  will  be  happy  to  enter  into  some 
igement  with  the  school,"  Dr.  Bayes  represents,  ''provid* 


60  COBBBSPONBBNCB.        **^2S-^SS'?^* 


Bflview,  Jan.  1,  IBBl. 


ing  thore  is  not  too  great  a  dlTeraity  in  the  Tespectiye  sehednlefr 
of  lectures,  &c.,  to  admit  of  snch  interchange  of  eonrses. 

Dr.  Watjosb,  Dean  of  the  St.  Lotus  College  of  Homceopathic 
Physicians  and  Surgeons,  replies  that — *'  As  soon  as  your  school 
has  a  legal  organisation,  we  wiQ  no  doubt  give  you  the  full  recog- 
nition you  desire.  If  your  school,  consisting  of  a  company  of 
physicians  united  for  the  purpose  of  teaching  homoeopafiiy  and 
the  other  usual  branches,  and  yet  having  no  charter  nor  legaF 
status,  our  bye-laws  would  not  allow  us  to  recognise  it  as  a 
college.  As  soon  as  yon  can  claim  a  legal  existence  as  a  school 
of  medicine  we  will  be  glad  to  extend  to  you  the  courtesy  yon 
ask."  In  a  subsequent  letter  Dr.  Walker  expresses  his  hearty 
sympathy  in  the  movement  for  international  recognition. 

Dr.  Phillips,  registrar  of  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  College 
of  Cleveland,  writes  that  he  was  authorised  by  the  faculty  to 
state  that,  "  Provided  a  student  attend  fifty-five  lectures  upon 
the  branches  named  in  your  school,  he  will  be  accredited  with  one 
full  course  upon  the  said  subjects  upon  entering  our  college,  pro- 
vided, of  course,  he  be  otherwise  qualified.'* 

Dr.  Fbanslin,  Dean  of  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  Faculty,  in 
the  University  of  Michigan,  after  an  expression  of  interest  in  the 
London  School  of  Homoeopathy,  says : — ''  We  desire  to  maintain 
the  most  perfect  accord  and  reciprocity  in  college  education.  We 
will  recognise  all  lectures  delivered  in  your  school  as  equivalents 
to  those  delivered  in  our  department  of  the  university,  provided 
the  courses  are  equal  in  scope  and  number.  ...  If  your 
students,  after  taking  certain  courses  of  study,  wish  to  come  here 
to  obtain  their  degree,  we  will  accept  their  official  evidence  of  study 
as  equal  to  ours  as  far  as  they  go  and^  give  them  full  credit  for 
such  courses.*' 

Dr.  CowpsBTHWAiTE,  Dsau  of  the  Homoeopathic  Medical 
Faculty  in  the  University  of  Iowa,  says  that  he  is  ''pleased  to 
state  that  we  have  unanimously  decided  to  recognise  such  lectorea 
as  are  or  may  be  delivered  in  the  London  School  of  Homoeopathy 
as  equivalent  to  lectures  on  the  same  subjects  delivered  in  the 
Homoeopathic  Medical  Department  of  the  State  Universiiy  of 
Iowa." 

DR.  BERRIDGE'S  DISCLAIMER. 

To  the  Editors  of  the  Monthly  Honuzopathic  Review. 

GsKTLEifEN, — ^In  reference  to  the  disclaimer  of  Dr.  Benidgei 
in  your  November  number,  I  learn,  from  Dr.  Drysdale,  that  he 
has  no  intention  of  taking  up  the  subject  of  homoeopathic 
auxiliaries  controversially,  as  his  opinions  on  this  point  hav& 


lS^2ST5Sffl^       OOBBBSPONDENCB.  61 


been  already  pretty  folly  expressed,  and  his  time  and  attention 
are  otherwise  oecnpied.  As  Dr.  Berridge  is  Tery  much  surprised 
that  Dr.  Drysdale  should  have  included  him  in  the  general  rank 
and  file  of  homoeopathic  practitioners,  I  venture  to  make  a  sng* 
gestion  or  two  with  a  view  of  diminishing  this  evidently  painful 
feting.  Dr.  Berridge  has  posed  for  some  time  as  a  purist,  and 
has  lost  no  opportunity  of  announcing  his  creed  in  public ;  he 
has  cried  it  from  the  house-tops  with  a  most  remarkable  persever- 
ance,  and  he  may  naturally  ask  why  his  claims  to  distinction  are 
not  awarded  him.  The  answer  I  take  to  be,  judging  solely  from 
Dr.  Drysdale 's  paper,  the  same  in  principle  that  is  expressed  by 
the  legal  maxim,  "  de  minimis  non  curat  lex;'*  and,  secondly,  that 
**exceptio  probat  rs^ukan,**  Furthermore,  Dr.  Drysdale  evi- 
dently referred  to  men  practising  medicine  generally,  and  not 
sectionaUy,  and  as  Dr.  Berridge  states  that  '*  the  whole  of  his 
medical  practice  is  distinctively  homoeopathic  and  nothing  else,** 
it  is  evident  that  he  has  no  midwifery  or  surgery,  and  certainly 
would  not  undertake  to  administer  a  chemical  antidote  in  a  case 
of  poisoning.  This  is  obvious  from  the  fact  that  Dr.  Berridge 
has  not  had  to  answer  a  charge  of  malpractice  or  criminal  neglect 
in  a  court  of  law.  In  midwifery,  to  reduce  the  armamentarium 
to  the  smallest  dimensions,  a  pair  of  scissors  at  least  is  necessary, 
and  that  is  unquestionably  a  non-homoeopathic  auxiliary,  unless, 
indeed,  Dr.  Berridge  gets  the  nurse  to  do  this  doughty  deed,  anS 
so  save  his  medical  conscience.  In  any  case  requiring  the  least 
mechanical  interference  Dr.  Berridge  must  transfer  tibe  respon* 
sibility  to  someone  else,  to  save,  not  merely  his  conscience,  but 
his  privilege  of  residing  outside  a  gaol.  In  surgery,  again,  if  he 
should  fail  to  treat  a  hernia,  a  dislocation,  or  a  fracture  properly, 
the  law  would  have  something  to  say  to  him.  Again,  in  a  case 
of  poisoning  by  sugar  of  lead,  to  omit  the  sulphate  of  magnesia 
would  be  risky  to  both  patient  and  doctor.  For  a  man  to  throw 
away  the  assistance  of  enemata  in  obstruction  of  the  colon,  of 
stimulants  in  cases  of  extreme  exhaustion,  of  chloroform  in 
operations,  and  of  a  score  of  other  invaluable  auxiliaries,  would 
be  as  rational  as  for  a  mechanician  to  throw  away  the  screw,  the 
inclined  plane,  the  pulley,  and  the  wedge,  and  to  announce  to 
the  world  as  a  great  advance  in  purity  of  practical  mechanics 
that  he  was  going  in  future  to  employ  the  lever,  and  nothing  but 
the  lever,  and  that  whoever  resorted  to  other  instruments  was  a 
mongrel,  &o.  Why,  the  world  would  rightiy  set  down  such  a 
man  as  an  absolute  lunatic,  and  it  is  difficult  to  see  where  the 
analogy  fails  in  the  case  of  the  medical  man.  If  Dr.  Berridge*s 
practice  is  such  as  he  describes,  we  can  only  infer  that  he  avoids 
the  rough-and-tumble  of  the  work-a-day  world,  and  limits  his 
labours  to  the  flowery  paths  of  chronic  diseases,  in  which  the 
worst  that  happens  for  the  most  part  is  a  fall  on  the  grassy 


62  COREESPONDBNOE.         ^S£SL^5Sf^^ 


Beriefw,  Jan.  1, 1881. 


sward.  Bat  the  case  is  not  yet  folly  stated.  *'  Methinks  the 
gmUentan  doth  protest  too  maoh,"  Tliere  is  mesmexism.  That 
is  a  non-homoeopathic  auxiliary,  and  we  presume  he  emjdoys  it,  be- 
cause Halinftmann  did.  Onr  colleague's  creed  seems  to  be  inade- 
quate here  to  cover  his  practice.  Mesmerism  finds  particular  favour 
with  high  dilutionists,  most  likely  because  its  subtlety  is  supposed 
to  be  akin  to  the  super-subtiely  of  the  c.m*s  and  nun's.  But  a 
coarse  materialistic  aid,  like  a  pessary  or  a  poultice,  is  revdtiQg 
to  their  fine  sensibilities.  These  practitioners  ought  to  adopt 
the  following  annorial  bearings  : — ^a  shield,  parted  per  pcUe,  a 
varicocele,  pendent^  nfdstsr,  and  a  suspensory  bandage,  clUo 
pendent,  degker,  with  the  motto,  *'  Non  tali  auziHo."  Thus  sig- 
nificantiy  blazoned,  the  world  would  know  these  knights  for  what 
hey  are. 

Our  colleague  may  say,  in  reply,  that  he  does  not  object  to 
acyuvants  of  a  mechanical  kind,  although  his  words  are  *^  dis- 
tinctively homoeopathic  and  nothing  else.'*  If  he  should  so 
reply,  it  must  be  asked  on  what  principle  is  this  line  to  be  drawn 
at  mechanical  aids  ?  Why  not  also  thermal,  electrical,  chemical, 
dietetic,  &c.  ?  There  is  no  prerogative  attaching  to  mechanics, 
and,  providing  there  is  no  antagonism  between  the  homoeopathic 
treatment  and  the  auxiliary,  it  is  difficult  to  see  on  what  grounds 
any  kind  of  collateral  aid  is  to  be  objected  to. 

The  truth  is,  that  the  position  taken  up  by  Dr.  Berridge  involves 
a  Bhadamanthine  rigour  of  treatment.  When  nature,  in  her 
hour  of  weakness,  asks  assistance,  no  concession  is  to  be  made. 
The  homoeopathic  drug  is  to  do  the  work,  and,  as  we  know,  does 
it  well ;  but  in  the  meantime,  until  the  balance  is  adjusted  and 
strength  returns,  are  we  to  exact  the  tale  of  bricks  without  the 
necessary  straw  ?  Is  the  stomach  to  digest  the  food  of  strong 
men,  the  skin  to  bear  the  extremes  of  heat  and  cold,  the  muscular 
system  to  have  no  rest,  the  heart  and  bowels  no  assistance  ?  Dr. 
Bemdge  says,  "  No  t    No  aniiliaries  1 " 

It  has  been  said  that  in  some  sense  we  are'  all  better  than  our 
creeds,  and  our  colleague  is  probably  no  exception.  He  doubt- 
less concedes  a  great  deal  more  than  he  confesses  to :  if  not,  so 
much  the  worse  for  his  patients.  In  conclusion,  these  remarks 
have  not  been  intended  to  specify  what  and  when  auxiliaries  may 
be  employed,  but  simply  to  defend  the  principle,  that  they  not 
only  are  but  must  be  employed,  and  that  to  limit  them  to  mecha- 
nicaji  and  merely  external  appliances  is  quite  illogical,  and  not 
even  Hahnemannic.  Besides,  such  repudiation  of  them  is 
opposed  to  well-established  professional  facts,  and  caasoot  in  any 
ci^sed  community  be  practised  without  subjectiz^  the  prao- 
titioner  to  legal  penalties.    It  is  timo,  therefore,^  thttt  ve^  licard 


bSS^STiSb?**     C0BRB8P0NDBNCB.  68 

the  last  of  «aoh  profesflioiis  of  exelnsiveness,  seemg  that  they  are 
dermoid  of  all  practical  foondation,  and  have  degenerated  into  the 
cant  of  a  minute  section  of  the  homoeopathic  body. 

Yours,  &c., 

P.  Pboctob. 
17,  HamDton  Street,  Birkenhead, 
Dec.  15,  1880. 


HOMCEOPATHIO  HISTORY  AND  SCOTCH  HUMOUB. 

To  the  Editors  of  the  Monthly  Honuxopathic  Review, 

QsNTLEHXN, — ^Pniy  let  me  draw  the  attention  of  your  readers, 
and  especially  of  Dr.  Black,  to  his  letter  which  appeared  in  your 
Review  of  last  month,  in  which  he  quotes  my  assertion  **  that 
Dr.  Quin  fully  intended,  when'  the  British  Homoeopathic  Society 
was  founded,  to  ultimately  apply  for  a  charter.'* 

Dr.  Black  then  proceeds  to  state  that  he  applied  to  Dr.  Hamil- 
ton and  Mr.  Hugh  Cameron  to  controvert  my  statement. 

Dr.  Hamilton's  letter,  with  great  literary  tact,  avoids  the  ques- 
tion of  the  charter  altogether.  But  Mr.  Hugh  Cameron,  treating 
Dr.  Blaek  very  much  as  Balaam  treated  Bal^,  states  in  his  reply 
that ''  Dr.  Qmn,  in  the  early  days  of  the  Society  and  to  the  end 
of  his  life,  hoped  that  the  Society  would  ultimately  attain  such  a 
status  as  would  entitle  it  to  a  charter."  I  cordially  thank 
Mr.  Cameron.  How,  then,  does  Dr.  Black  compile  homoeopathic 
history.  Dr.  Yeldham,  Mr.  Cameron,  and  the  printed  report  of 
Dr.  Qu2n*s  views  in  the  Annals  of  the  British  HomcBopathie 
Society y  all  support  my  assertion  that  ''  Dr.  Quin  fully  intended, 
when  the  British  Homoeopathic  Society  was  founded,  to  ulti- 
mately apply  for  a  ^^harter." 

To  what  exact  purpose  the  charter  would  have  been  put  by 
Dr.  Quin  and  his  early  friends  there  is  no  documentary  evidence 
to  show.  I  am  content  with  the  evidence  that  it  was  intended 
to  apply  for  a  charter.  Whether  Dr.  Hamilton  has  exactly 
gauged  the  depth  of  wisdom  of  his  friend  Dr.  Quin's  diplo- 
matic mind,  as  he  claims  to  have  done,  I  know  not. 

Yours  truly, 

WixjJAx  Bates,  M.D. 

21,  Henrietta  Street, 
Cavendish  Square,  W. 


64  OOKBESPOliSEBTS.        "SS^^STSfMn! 

NOTICES   TO   CORRESPONDENTS. 


^\  We  etamoi  mmderiake  to  return  rejected  wmmucripti* 

Commiimeations,  Ae.  liATe  been  reeehred  from  Dr.  B^m,  Dr.  Bonr, 
Dr.  YsLDHAK,  Dr.  Gaujr  Blacklxt,  Dr.  Bsbudok,  and  Mr.  Habbis 
<LaiidoD);  Mr.  BnauBi»Bani  (Bzighton) ;  Dr.  GibbsBlaxs  (Birfnifighmn) ; 
Dr.  ExsKEDY  (BlaeUiMth);  Dr.  Hatwabd  (Lmipool);  Dr.  P&ociob 
^Ltverpool) ;  Dr.  Jbssbh  (Chieago) ;  Mr.  Wizuamb  (liverpool) ;  Dr.  Shabp 
(Bngby). 

Ebbatdv.— In  Dr.  BBBBmoB'g  '*  Olanderinnm,**  p.  558  (Sept.),  last 
line  bat  one,  lor  "  Vidva  *'  read  "  Felica." 


BOOKS  RECEIVED. 


Medicinal  Treatmefa  of  Disease  of  Verne.  J.  G.  Burnett,  M.D.  London: 
Homceopathic  PuUiahmg  Company. 

Dress :  Its  Sanitary  Aspect.  Bemazd  Both,  M J).  London :  J.  ft  A. 
Chnrchill. 

Materia  Mediea  Pura,  Hahnemann.  YoL  1.  TT^>i«A7wiMfi«  PabUahing 
Company. 

Second  Anmtal  Report  of  the  Chester  Free  Bonueopathie  Dispensary. 

First  Report  of  the  Hastings  and  St.  Leonards  Homaopathic  Dispensary. 

The  Chemist  and  Druggist.    London. 

The  Monthly  Magazine  of  Pharmacy.    London. 

The  Students^  Journal.    London. 

Homaopathic  World.    London. 

Hahnemarmian  Monthly.    Philadelphia. 

American  Bomceopath.    New  York. 

St.  Louis  Cliniccd  Review.    St  Lotiis. 

United  States  Medical  Investigator.    Chicago. 

The  Medical  Advance.    CineinoatL 

Therapeutic  Gazette.    Koyember.    Detroit. 

Bulletin  de  la  Soc.  Med.  Bonuxopathiqve.    Patia. 

L'Homaopathie  Militante.    Bmzelles. 

Bibliothtque  Bomaopathique.    Paris. 

Revue  Bomctopathique.    Bmzeiles. 

Allgemeine  Homdopathische  Rundschau.    Leipalo^ 

Allgemeine  Hom3opathisc1ie  Zeitung.    Leipsic. 

Rivista  Omiopatica.    Home. 

El  Criterio  Medico.    Madrid. 


Papers,  Dispenfaty  Beporta,  and  Books  for  Beyiew  to  be  sent  to 
Dr.  PoPB,  Lee  Boad,  London,  S.E.,  or  to  Dr.  D.  Dtcb  Bbown,  29,  Seymour 
Street,  Portman  Square,  W.  AdTertisements  and  Business  Commnni- 
4sationfi  to  le  sent  to  Messrs.  E.  Gould  &  Sck,  69,  Moorgate  Street,  E.G. 


E&ST3«!^      SOUTH  AUSTRALU.  65 


THE    MONTHLY 


HOMOEOPATHIC    REVIEW- 


HOM(EOPATHY  IN  SOUTH  AUSTRALIA. 

rnsBE  is  a  strong  bond  of  sympathy  between  the  old 
eonntry  and  her  colonies,  and  it  is  always  a  pleasure  to  ns 
here  to  learn  of  the  welfare  ef  oar  brethren  in  distant  lands, 
who  ne^er  cease  to  speak  of  the  British  Islands  as  their 
''home."  The  characteristics  of  the  British  natnre  are 
strong  in  the  new  commnnities,  as  the  existence  of  the 
sympathy  between  them  and  the  old  wonld  testify ;  but  yet 
there  are  wide  differences  at  the  same  time.  Socially,  they 
lie  half  way  between  ns  and  America.  Freed  from  many  of 
the  restraints  and  crusted  prejudices  that  lie  in  the  way 
of  progress  at  home^  they  have  not  yet  attained  to  the 
jaunty  open-mindedness  of  our  American  cousins,  who  like 
to  judge  of  men  and  things  by  what  they  look  upon  as  their 
merits,  without  consulting  "  Mrs.  Grundy,"  or  regarding 
eonyentionalities. 

We  haye  had  lying  before  us  for  some  time  a  bundle  of 
papers  and  letters  from  South  Australia,  and  now  proceed 
to  give  our  readers,  what  lack  of  opportunity  has  preyented 
US  from  giiing  hitherto,  a  glimpse  of  the  position  of 
homoBopathy  in  that  colony. 

Ho.  3,  Vol.  S5.  r 


66  SOUTH  AUSTBAIU.        "?^^!%!?J?J^ 


BevJew,fitb.  1,1081. 


Adelaide,  its  seaport  and  capital,  is  a  flonrishing  town  of 
some  80,000  inhabitants.    It  possesses  a  general  hospital, 
with  860  beds ;  and  a  children's  hospital,  which  is  also  a 
training  institution  for  nurses,  containing  60  beds.    The 
general  hospital  is  entirely  in  the  hands  of  allopaths,  though 
one  of  our  colleagues,  the  Hon.  Db.  Allan  Campbell,  is 
on  its  board  of  management,  and  works  in  that  capacity  in 
perfect  accord  with  half  a  dozen  allopathic  confreres.    The 
name  of  that  gentleman  will  not  be  unfamiliar  to  our  readers, 
it  having  been  our  pleasure  to  mention  on  a  former  occasion 
his  elevation  to  the  Upper  House  of  the  South  Australian 
Legislature,  and  also  his  connection  with  the  establishment 
of  the  Children's  Hospital.    Of  that  excellent  institution  he 
may  be  said  to  be  the  father.    But  for  his  untiring  energy 
and  devotion,  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  the  wish  for 
it,  which  was  expressed  to  him  before  he  set  to  work  to 
procure  it,  would  have  remained  a  wish  only,  though  whea 
the  project  was  once  set  on  foot,  he  was  ably  supported  by 
many  noble  helpers.    As  far  as  we  are  aware,  the  consti- 
tution of  this  hospital  differs  from  any  we  have  heard  of  in 
British  dominions.    In  accordance  therewith,  the  medical 
men  are  elected  by  the  subscribers  ''irrespective of  their 
views  of  any  particular  system  of  medicine.''    At  present, 
of  the  six  members  of  the  staff,  three  are  homcBopaths,  and 
three  are  allopaths,  their  patients  being  mixed  up  and  down 
in  the  four  wards,  and  the  members  of  the  staff  consulting 
with  one  another  inside  and  outside  the  hospital.    This  ia 
certainly  a  great  achievement,  and  reveals  to  us  possibilities 
of  professional  forbearance  we  had  not  suspected,  and  does 
infinite  credit  to  the  wise  foresight  and  large-heartedness 
of  Db.  Campbell.    It  may  be,  some  may  think  this  a  sign 
of  weakness  on  his  part,  and  not  of  liberal-mindedness,  but 
not  so  we.     There  are  more  ways  than  one  of  pushing 
homcBopathy.    If  it  can  be  done  by  toning  down  the  bitter 


att^TSiI*      80DTH  AUSTBALU. 67 

animosity  that  ezista  in  profesaional  jninds»  on  both  sidoB^ 
ao  mueh  the  better  for  homoeopathy  and  the  scienoe  of 
medieine  generally.  XJnfortonatelyy  the  world  in  this 
lespeot  is  not  composed  of  Adelaides,  nor  the  medical  pro- 
ftssion  of  sneh  as  those  who  form  the  staflf  of  the  Adelaide 
Children's  Hospital. 

A  leading  feature  in  the  condacting  of  this  institution  is 
the  training  of  nnrses  and  the  courses  of  lectures  deliYcred 
to  the  probationers  and  others  interested  in  the  work  by 
members  of  the  staff.  Dr.  Campbell  gaye  the  introductory 
lecture  of  the  course,  and  was  followed  by  one  of  the  allo- 
pathic members.  Dr.  MAOABsy,  who  occupies  a  high 
position  as  a  professional  man  in  the  colony,  is  the  other 
homcaopath  who  assists  in  this  work.  The  lectures  are 
well  reported  in  the  South  Australian  Register^  and  are  of 
a  yeiy  high  order  of  merit,  so  that  it  is  easy  to  understand 
the  great  degree  of  popularity  they  haye  attained.  In 
addition  to  these  lectures,  our  inde&tigable  colleague  has 
deliyered  other  courses  of  lectures  to  popular  audiences, 
giying  most  useful  and  necessary  instruction  in  the 
elements  of  physiology,  and  occupying  much  the  same 
ground  as  the  St.  John's  Ambulance  Association's  lectures 
do  in  this  country.  After  speaking  of  the  lectures  de- 
liyered at  the  Training  College  by  Dr.  Campbell,  the 
Sou£h  Australian  Register  says  : — 

^'  At  the  recent  meeting  of  the  subscribers  to  the  Children's 
Hospital  prominent  attention  was  drawn  to  the  &ct  that  hare  also 
Br.  Campbell  bad  payed  the  way  for  other  workers.  The  thirty 
lectures  he  has  deliyered  constitute  what  the  Chief  Justice  well 
termed  '  a  magnificent  contribution '  to  the  promotion  of  two  of 
the  chief  objects  of  the  institution — ^ihe  training  of  nurses  and 
the  diffusion  of  information  upon  matters  affecting  the  manage- 
ment and  health  of  children — and  others  may  fairly  be  expected 
(o  enter  into  his  labours.    In  another  direction  Dr.  Magarey  bat 

F— a 


68  SOOTH  AUSTRALIA.       "?2SL"S5!T^' 


Beviefw,  Feb.  1, 1881. 


been  doing  good  service  for  the  pnbfic.  His  investigations  into 
the  snbject  of  infant  mortality  have  been  most  thorough,  and  his 
dedactiojiB  therefrom,  although  not  unanswerable,  are  fall  of 
interest  for  the  stadent  of  the  most  extraordinary  and  nnsatisfac* 
tozy  feature  in  the  vital  statistics  of  South  Australia  as  compared 
with  those  of  the  other  colonies  of  Australasia.  The  f&cts  he  collates 
and  the  conclusions  at  which  he  arrives  are,  however,  too  important 
to  be  dismissed  in  a  few  sentences.  Our  only  object  in  referring 
to  his  lecture  here  is  to  call  attention  to  his  researches,  and  to  the 
freedom  with  which  he  states  his  opinions  and  unreservedly  gives 
medical  advice  to  parents,  as  affording  another  illustration  of  the 
ready  and  disinterested  way  in  which  professional  men  are 
communicating  their  knowledge  for  the  promotion  of  sanitary 
science,  and  for  the  benefit  of  the  community  at  large." 

The  annual  general  meeting  of  the  committee  of  the 
Children's  Hospital,  alluded  to  in  the  above  quotation,  was 
held  in  the  institution  on  Monday  afternoon,  June  28th 
last,  His  Honour  the  Chief  Justice  presiding.  We  are 
sure  our  readers  will  be  interested  in  the  report  read  by 
the  chairman,  and  also  in  a  part  of  the  subsequent 
proceedings. 

'<  The  Chaibican  then  gave  the  annual  report  of  the  Board, 
and  stated  that  the  late  Lady  Superintendent's  engagement 
having  terminated  on  March  25th  last,  in  the  meantime  several 
ladies  of  the  Committee  kindly  volunteered  to  take  charge  of  the 
Institution.  The  Board  advertised  for  a  suitable  matron,  referring 
the  matter  to  the  House  Committee ;  and  after  considering  the 
merits  of  the  applicants,  the  Board  adopted  the  recommendation 
of  the  House  Committee,  and  appointed  Miss  Alice  Willmott,  of 
Paramatta,  as  the  best  candidate  for  the  positions  of  matron  and 
trained  nmrse.  She  had  entered  upon  her  duties  on  May  7th  last, 
and  she  had  the  entire  confidence  of  the  Board  and  of  the  House 
Committee.  In  consequence  of  increasing  clerical  work,  and  of 
the  necessity  for  active  efforts  on  behalf  of  the  Institution  which 
the  Honorary  Secretary  was  unable  to  undertake,    the  Board 


t^SSITS^      SOUTH  AOSTBALIA. 69 

had  fish  it  necessary  io  engage  a  paid  Secretary,  and  had  appointed 
Mr.  Beed  to  that  position,  and  he  commenced  daties  on  April 
19th  last.  The  Institation  was  greatly  indebted  to  the  nntiring 
efiorts  of  Mr.  A*  T.  Magarey  while  acting  as  Honoraxy  Secretary. 
He  was  sore  a  paid  Secretary  could  not  have  done  more  in 
behalf  of  the  Hospital  than  Mr.  Magarey  had  accomplished. 
(Hear,  hear).  The  works  in  the  garden  were  still  being  proceeded 
with.  The  lawn  and  terraces  were  to  be  sown  with  conch  and 
bnfUo  grasses,  and  trees  were  to  be  planted  around  it.  The 
appearance  of  the  place  would  be  greatly  improved  when  these 
works  were  completed.  Since  the  last  general  meeting  the  Hon. 
Dr.  Campbell  had  dehvered  a  series  of  some  thirty  lectures  on 
nursing  and  practical  physiology  to  probationers  and  to  the  public. 
These  lectures  terminated  on  the  10th  inst.  This  short  statement 
recorded  most  valuable  services  rendered  on  behalf  of  the  Insti- 
tution by  Dr.  Campbell,  especially  in  the  direction  of  practical 
nnndng,  which  was  regarded  as  being  so  important  an  aim  in  the 
establishment  of  the  Children's  Hospital.  These  lectures  not  only 
represented  hard  work,  but  the  appreciation  of  the  work  was 
shown  by  the  large  and  regular  attendances  when  the  lectures 
were  delivered;  yet,  although  it  mighl  have  been  a  labour  of  love, 
the  preparation  of  the  lectures  indicated  a  large  amount  of  toil 
and  care.  (Hear,  hear).  The  Committee  would  do  well  to 
aoange  for  the  continuance  of  another  series  of  lectures  on  this 
sulgect.  Although  th^  could  not  ask  Dr.  Campbell  to  deliver 
another  series,  still  he  hoped  gome  action  would  be  taken  in  this 
direction.  At  the  reconmiendation  of  the  House  Committee  the 
Board  obtained  estimates  for  an  additional  bedroom  for  the  night 
nurse,  and  that  room  was  now  in  the  course  of  erection  at  a  cost 
of  jg78.  Considerable  inconvenience  had  been  caused  because 
of  the  necessity  of  having  to  keep  the  children  in  the  two  northern 
wards,  so  as  not  to  disturb  the  night  nurse  in  her  rest  during  the 
daytime,  and  therefore  this  room  had  been  erected.  In  con- 
se^pience  of  serious  defects  in  the  system  of  drainage,  the  Board 
appointed  a  sub-committee  on  the  subject,  and  a  large  cistern  had 
been  constructed,  with  a  force-pump  attached.    It  is  felt  that 


70  SOUTH  AUSnAUA.  jbBwmw.T^utm. 


thk  wffl  iwBfldy  ihe  dgfedg  comphhwd  or.  Ltttoty  tbe  Hospital 
IumI  been  jiroiiittMl  by  Dr.  Oimplwll  witii  £>iir  wall  map 
iBiuiraftiooa  of  oatonl  biatoty,  rallied  ai  £8,  and  witli  pidorea 
aadfliaiiuiialedteKlBtotlietaliieof  ^.  The  fDDoiriiig  donaftioin 
liadalao  been  made: — A  load  of  firewood  from  Mr.Wm.  Sotteriaiid ; 
a  beaotiful  Ametieaii  otgaa,  vahie  JM,  lliroiii^  the  ezertiona  of 
ICaa  Stodwy ;  a  fine  mnaieal  box  from  Mr.  Pei^  Green ;  a 
cUd'a  patent  awing  fimn  Mr.  George  lUBipe ;  and  booka  for 
mffaea  to  tbe  Tahie  of  £4  fe.  thioo^  Dr.  Gampbell.  In  con- 
dvkm,  without  wialiing  to  eoter  upon  any  eantroTeraial  matter, 
hend^t  be  penoutted  to  obserre  tiiat  be  was  aonryto  see  a 
atateaunt  in  a  letter  on  the  subject  of  tiie  Hoepitd  Sonday  eoHee- 
tions.  He  was  aonyto  see  a  statement  hinting  that  the  Children's 
Hoqntal  was  not  yet  in  good  walking  <Hder.  He  was  qidte 
satisfied  that  that  statement,  which  was  made  in  a  letter  poMidied 
by  ffis  Lordship  the  Bishop  of  Adelaide,  coold  not  haye  been 
made  firom  an  inspection  of  the  bnflding,  because  he  was  sure 
fliere  was  not  one  who  conld  go  OTer  the  wards  and  watch  the 
working  of  the  Hospital  without  aniTing  at  a  precisely  opposite 
eondasion  to  that  expressed  in  the  letter.  They  would  be  very 
f^  to  receive  suggestions  firom  His  Lordship  or  any  other  friend 
of  the  institotion  for  the  purpose  of  improving  the  working  of  tiie 
Hospital  in  any  degree ;  but  he  most  emphatically  protested  to  a 
statonent,  which  was  loosed  to  the  fiictB  of  the  case,  suggesting 
that  the  Hospital  was  not  in  working  order,  ffis  Lordship  must 
have  been  misinftmned  on  this  matter.  The  discipline  was  most 
perfect  under  the  management  of  Miss  Willmott,  who,  as  he 
had  stated,  had  the  entire  confidence  of  the  Board.  The  pro- 
bationers were  working  [most  enthusiastically  in  behalf  of  the 
institution,  and  the  report  in  respect  to  the  patients  showed  that 
they  had  greatiy  benefited  by  their  treatment.  He  was  sure  also 
that  the  ladies  who  had  attended  the  course  of  lectures  indicated 
in  their  regular  attendance  that  the  Hospital  had  not  only  been 
successful  in  its  primary  object,  but  successful  in  the  scarcely  less 
important  object  of  giving  instruction  in  the  work  of  practical 
nursing.     The  following  was  a  record  of  the  number  of  cases 


SlStS^FSTtt?**       SOUTH  AU8T1ULIA.  71 


treated: — *  Sineethd  last  geaeral  meeting,  on  Mar^  4,  1,878 
eases  treated  at  the  Outdoor  Dispensaiy ;  indoor  patients  at  the 
Hoepital — ^reeeired  from  Mareh  4  to  June  28,  82 ;  discharged 
86 ;  died,  1 ;  in  the  wards  on  June  28, 19/  The  Board  had  felt 
tiie  urgent  neeescdty  of  obtaining  an  increased  number  of  annual 
subscribers.  Circular  letters  are  now  being  issued  by  the 
Secretary  to  those  who  were  not  on  the  subscription  list,  and  the 
Board  earnestly  trusted  that  each  member  of  the  Committee 
wdold  personally  co-operate  in  the  effort.    (Hear,  hear.) 

"Dr.  CuBTis  seconded,  and  said  he  was  sure  misrepresentations 
had  been  made  to  His  Lordship  the  Bieluq^,  and  he  felt  certain 
if  Dr.  Short  paid  a  visit  to  the  HioBpitBl  his  mind  woald  be  set 
at  rest  regarding  its  efioteney. 

**  Mr.  G.  W.  QoTDEB  said  he  was  satisfied  the  Bishop  had  the 
WBBOSD  of  the  institution  at  heart — (Hear,  hear) — and  he  must 
have  been  under  yery  great  misconception  when  he  wrote  the 
letter. 

**  The  Hon.  Dr.  Cakfbrll  pointed  out  that  with  regard  to  the 
getting-in  of  pati^ts  into  the  institution,  most  of  those  sent  in 
were  chiefly  recommended  by  persons  directiy  connected  with  the 
Hospital.  The  medical  profession  had  the  right  of  recommendii^ 
patients  to  the  Hospital,  but  as  they  had  not  the  whole  sympathy 
<tf  the  profession  they  did  not  get  patients  which  might  be  sent 
to  them.  That  militated  against  their  receiving  so  many  children 
as  they  had  anticipated,  but  he  felt  sure  as  the  work  of  the 
infltitataon  was  earned  on,  and  the  public  appreciated  its  merits, 
they  would  have  to  provide  more  beds  in  the  wards. 
"  Report  adopted. 

**  The  Hon.  T.  Kxhb  moved — *  That  the  General  Committee  do 
eonfor  upon  the  Hon.  Dr,  Campbell  a  hfe-govemorship,  with  the 
privileges  appertaining  thereto,  in  recognition  of  the  many  valuable 
and  material  services  rendered  by  him  to  the  institution.'  He 
said  although  the  institution  had  been  suggested  by  a  lady,  yet 
Dr.  Campbell  was  to  be  credited  with  bringing  it  to  its  present 
state  of  perfection.  He  had  also  given  very  yaluable  time  in 
delivering  lectures,  and  had  taken  the  question  of  the  bazaar  up 


72 BOOTH  AP8TEALU,       ^''j^S^^SS^^St 

heart  and  Krai,  and  irith  the  aanstance  of  the  ladke  had  made  it 
the  most  saoaessfolaffyr  of  the  kind  held  in  SoathAiiatndia.  They 
were  only  giving  him  a  dnereoognxtion  of  the  aervieea  theHoepital 
owed  him  by  conferring  upon  him  this  life-goremorBhip. 

« Dr.  GuBTis  seeonded,  and  endorsed  what  Kr.  King  had 
said. 

*' Mr.  G.  W.  GoTDSB  thoni^  the  motion  was  a  step  in  the  right 

direeiion.  Ever  since  he  had  seen  the  efforts  of  three  or  foor 
persons  in  behalf  of  the  Hospital  he  had  wished  to  confer  some 
recognition  of  their  services  apon  them,  and  he  was  pleased  to 
see  that  the  committee  proposed  to  bestow  a  life-governorship 
npon  Dr.  Campbell,  who  had  done  so  much  for  the  HospitaL 
He  hoped  at  the  next  meeting  to  move  that  soma  two  or  three 
other  ladies  and  gentleman  should  have  a  nmilar  hononr  con- 
ferred npon  them. 

<<  The  motion  was  carried  nnanimonsly. 

'*  The  CHAiBiLUff  said  he  had  refrained  from  saying  anything 
on  this  subject  until  the  motion  had  been  carried,  but  he  would 
now  state  that  no  one  could  be  honoured  with  an  intimacy  with 
Dr.  Campbell  as  he  had  been  without  becoming  aware  of  the 
great  efforts  he  had  made  from  the  first  inception  of  the  institu- 
tion, not  merely  as  a  medical  officer,  but  as  a  general  worker. 
If  anything  were  required  to  be  done  in  any  department  of  the 
hospital,  Dr.  Campbell  was  appointed  to  the  committee,  and  his 
efforts  in  behalf  of  the  hospital  might  be  said  to  have  culminated 
in  his  magnificent  contribution  of  thirty  lectures.  He  had  much 
pleasure  in  asking  Dr.  Campbell  to  accept  the  governorship. 

''  The  Hon.  Dr.  Caicfbell  said  it  would  be  ungracious  for  him 
not  to  acknowledge  the  honour  they  had  conferred  upon  him,  but 
he  would  like  to  make  a  few  remarks  regarding  the  institution. 
The  Hospital  was  looked  upon,  not  only  by  the  medical  men,  but 
by  outsiders,  as  one  of  the  most  perfect  institutions  of  its  kind. 
With  regard  to  the  perfecting  of  it,  he  acknowledged  he  had  had 
something  to  do  with  it,  but  he  had  not  done  all.  Others  had 
done  their  share,  but  he  was  still  the  willing  servant  of  the  insti* 
tution.     (Hear,  hear).    He  could  not  help  referring  to  the 


g^^rySS^      BOUTH  AU8TBALU. 78 

delicacy  of  his  position  with  regard  to  the  institution,  like  those 
in  whom  the  grand  aim  was  to  do  the  children  all  the  good  they 
could  without  a  flag  or  without  a  creed.  (Hear,  hear).  It  was 
a  role  that  the  institution  should  not  recognise  medical  creed, 
and  that  heing  so,  they  could  understand  the  delicacy  of  his 
position.  If  he  had  brought  forward  his  particular  creed  it 
might  have  ii^jured  the  institution,  and  in  some  degree  frustrated 
its  primary  object ;  but  he  was  sure  they  would  agree  with  him 
that  he  had  succeeded  in  his  efforts,  and  that  there  was  now  an 
institution  in  South  Australia  which  had  no  parallel  anywhere. 
He  was  not  aware  of  any  other  hospital  where  patients  were  under 
free  medical  treatment.  He  hoped  this  would  go  on,  and  that 
they  would  never  recognise  any  medical  creeds  whatever.  He 
felt  the  honour  they  had  conferred  upon  him,  but  above  this  was 
his  sense  of  pleasure  when  he  walked  through  the  wards  and  saw 
the  expression  of  thanks  upon  the  faces  of  the  littie  ones  lying 
there.  He  did  not  know  of  anywhere  except  in  children's 
hospitals  where  children  were  under  such  good  training,  both 
morally  and  physically.  The  children  while  in  that  institution 
learnt  nothing  except  what  was  good  and  true.    (Applause). 

*'  Mrs.  Oawler  tendered  her  resignation  as  a  member  of  the 
Committee  on  account  of  her  leaving  the  colony.  It  was  decided 
to  ask  Mrs.  Gawler  to  allow  her  name  to  remain  on  the  Committee 
daring  her  absence. 

*<  Mrs.  Tarlton  and  Miss  Clark  were  appointed  to  the  Committee. 

'*  The  meeting  then  terminated." 

From  Dr.  Campbell's  comment  on  the  report  it  will  be 
seen  that,  in  spite  of  the  ''happy  family'*  arrangement^ 
amongst  the  hospital  staff  there  is  still  a  good  deal  of  the 
old  ill-feeling  left.  We  should  have  inferred  as  much  had 
he  not  said  what  he  did.  Human  nature^  in  its  narrow* 
ness,  is  much  the  same  all  the  world  over^  and  the  marvel 
is  that  the  better  part  of  it  has  gained  in  Adelaide  the 
triumph  that  it  has.  We  are  sure  homoeopathy  has  not 
secured  the  proud  position  it  occupies  in  the  colony^ 


74  FBEBUPOttlTlOir.  BBtSv^STTun 


withoai  the  exereiae  of  m  Yisi  amoant  of  energy,  wiedomy 
and  eaation»  profesnonnl  skill  and  eonrtesy  on  the  part  of 
onr  ooHeagnes  who  there  represent  ft.  To  them  we  offer 
onr  warmest  oongratolationSy  and  trnst  that  they  may  go 
on  to  still  greater  achierements.  Onr  eolleagney  Dr. 
Campbell,  we  especially  oongratnlate,  and  trnst  that  he 
may  long  be  spared  to  gire  the  world  the  benefit  of  his 
marvellons  energies.  Wonder  and  en^y  striTe  within  ns 
as  we  contemplate  a  man  who  is  at  (mee  a  bni^  practi- 
tioneTy  a  Member  of  Parliament,  medical  officer  to  one 
hosfntaly  on  the  board  of  another,  a  direetor  of  half-a- 
dosen  companies,  and  a  sneoess  genarally. 


PREDISPOSITION. 
By  William  Shakp,  M.D.,  F.B.S. 

Wb  liye  in  the  midst  of  the  works  of  CK>d.  We  call  them 
natoral  phenomena  or  appearances.  They  are  great  and 
marveUoos,  minnte  and  snbtle,  fiur  beyond  onr  compre- 
hension. Onr  strongest  conviction,  therefore,  shonld  be 
one  of  ignorance ;  and  this  conviction  shonld  habitnaUy 
pervade  onr  minds  and  teach  ns  to  "  go  softly."  We  have 
in  onr  power  two  means  of  diminishing  this  ignorance — 
thonghtfiil  observation  and  experiment.  Some  phenomena 
are  beyond  experiment,  and  are  open  to  observation  only ;  as 
those  of  astronomy  and  geology.  Others  are  stndied  mainly 
by  experiment ;  as  those  of  chemistry  and  electricity.  The 
rest  are  accessible  to  both  observation  and  experiment ; 
snch  are  medical  phenomena.  Bnt  these  are  not  subject  to 
observation  and  experiment  in  equal  proportions.  The 
natural  history  of  disease  is  learned  chiefly  by  observation ; 
we  were  first  taught  how  to  observe  by  Hippocrates,  who 
looked  at  disease,  and  wrote  down  what  he  saw.  His 
writings  have  been  called  a  meditation  on  death.  The 
results  of  illness,  first  effectually  taught  by  Morgagni,  have 
been  diligently  studied  since.  This  study  may  be  called  a 
meditation  on  disease.  These  two  kinds  of  learning  have 
been  carried  some  way  towards  perfection  in  our  day.     But 


.  1. 18BX.  PBBDI8P08ITI0N,  76 

of  cute  they  say  nothing — there  in  needed  a  meditation  on 
eme.  This  belongs  to  experiment,  and  in  this  work  small 
progiesB  has  been  made.  The  consciousness  of  onr  back- 
wardness in  this,  which  is  the  great  object  of  a 
pnrfiBBsion  of  mecUcine,  and  the  chief  reason  for  its 
existence,  has  been  present  to  me  for  many  years,  and  has 
niged  me  to  porsne  experiments  with  medicines  with  mnch 
pereeYeianee,  and  the  resolts  haye  been  given  to  my  pro- 
fiMMdon,  from  time  to  time,  with  all  the  care  and  honesty 
in  my  power.  This  labour  has  been  accompanied  by 
another  ccmsciousness  which  has  haunted  me  like  a  ghost ; 
but  about  which,  as  it  is  prudent  to  do  about  ghosts,  I 
have  hitherto  kept  silence.  The  time  has  come  for  me  to 
speak,  and  I  have  now  to  say  that,  in  experiments  with 
drugs,  there  is  an  element  in  the  problem,  hitherto  ap- 
parently unnoticed,  which  cannot  be  overlooked  without 
danger  of  fiedling  into  error — ^this  is  the  Iwi/ng  body  in 
health  and  in  disease,  on  which  the  experiments  are  made. 
Why,  then,  has  this  element  been  so  long  left  out  of 
tight  ?  Because  we  can  look  successfully  at  only  one  thing 
at  onoe.    Let  us  take  a  Uttle  time  to  think  of  this. 

It  has  often  been  remarked  that  these  works  of  God, 
these  natural  phenomena,  are  wonderfally  intertwined  one 
with  another ;  and  that  they  constitute  such  a  perfect 
whole  that  no  single  phenomenon  can  be  understood  with- 
out a  considerable  acquaintance  with  many  others  which 
surround  it,  and  which  are  intimately  connected  with  it. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  capacities  of  mind  which  God  has 
given  to  man,  though  when  looked  at  in  themselves  they 
appear  and  really  are  grandly  large,  when  viewed  relatively 
to  the  extent  and  cotnplexity  of  the  woi*ks  of  creation,  are  so 
narrow  that  unless  we  are  content  to  study  one  thing  at  a 
time,  we  are  hopelessly  lost  in  our  vast  surroundings. 

l/Hiile,  therefore,  we  are  ardently  desiring  to  view  the 
panorama  of  nature  so  as  to  see  and  admire  its  beauty  and 
wisdom,  we  are  constrained  by  the  limits  of  our  mind's 
power,  first  to  attempt  inspections  of  small  individual 
parts ;  until,  by  examining  a  succession  of  these,  and  by 
putting  together  the  ideas  which  we  have  slowly  acquired 
in  this  manner,  the  horizon  spread  out  before  us  becomes 
more  and  more  extended.  This  mental  condition  is  now 
recognised ;  for  the  first  persistent  assertion  of  it  we  are 
indebted  to  Lord  Bacon ;  and  it  has  been  acted  upon  with 
more  or  less  intelligence  since  his  time.    The  old  Greek 


76  PBBDISPOBITION.        "^'"SS???^ 


Beriew,  Feb.  1,1881. 


philosophers  would  have  been  greatly  astonished  at  the 
annonncement  of  this  truths  so  opposed  to  their  high 
thoughts  of  grasping  the  universal  first,  and  then  descend- 
ing to  particalars. 

It  is  a  great  privilege  to  us  to  have  been  made  acquainted 
with  this  state  of  things ;  but  it  reveals  to  us  a  serious 
disadvantage  with  which  it  is  unavoidably  accompanied — 
the  knowledge  we  thus  acquire  of  a  single  phenomenon, 
from  the  very  manner  in  which  we  acquire  it,  is  necessarily 
imperfect;  for,  in  order  to  learn  something  definite 
respecting  it,  we  are  compelled  to  neglect,  for  the  time,  its 
connections  with  other  phenomena,  though  these  may  be 
naturally  inseparable  from  it.  Notwithstanding  this  great 
disadvantage,  this  now  seems  to  be  the  only  way  of  learn- 
ing anything  of  natural  phenomena  which  is  worth  our 
knowing. 

These  thoughts  deserve  thinking  again.  Man's  mind 
has  great  power,  but  his  power  is  limited ;  and,  perhaps, 
nothing  is  a  more  convincing  proof  of  this  limitation  than 
the  fact  that  the  mind,  like  the  eye,  can  look  at  only  one 
side  of  a  subject  at  a  time.  As  ihe  mechanical  sloll  of 
men's  hands  is  limited,  and  hence  the  necessity  for  the 
endless  division  of  labour  in  all  mechanical  employments ; 
so  the  capacity  of  their  minds  is  restricted  to  the  contem- 

Elation  of  fragments  only  of  God's  works  at  once,  and 
ence  the  necessity  for  the  artificial  divisions  of  science,  so 
as  to  form  studies  for  many  minds  in  these  difierent 
departments ;  and  even  in  the  narrowest  subdivisions  of 
these,  parts  only  of  each  of  them  can  be  studied  at  one 
time.  So  it  is  evident  that  all  our  knowledges  are,  at  the 
best,  imperfect  and  partial,  and  such  thoughts  should  keep 
us  humble  and  modest.  At  the  same  time,  every  addi- 
tional item  of  knowledge  diminishes  this  imperfection, 
and  renders  less  partial  what  we  knew  before,  and  such 
thoughts  should  encourage  us  to  activity  and  perseverance. 
Bemembering  how  Uttle  we  can  see  at  once  we  must  be 
content  to  creep  on,  not  caring  to  look  on  either  side ;  and 
remembering  that  every  new  fact  is  a  stone  added  to  the 
temple  of  knowledge,  we  must  go  on  working  like  those 
tiny  creatures  who  have  toiled  on  from  the  ocean's  bottom 
till  they  have  raised  above  its  surface  islands  of  coral  very 
beautiful  to  look  at. 

These  considerations  will  help  to  explain  and  justify  the 
.course  pursued  in  the  investigation  of  drugs  to  which  it 


SSS^ISTS!?*^       predisposition.  77 


Baviair,  Feb.  1, 1881. 


has  been  my  happiness  to  invite  the  attention  of  my 
fellow-labonrers  in  the  work  of  healing  the  sick.  All  along 
it  will  have  been  noticed  that  the  action  of  drags  npon  the 
Hying  body  has  been  studied  as  if  living  bodies  were 
uniform  and  stable ;  whereas  everyone  knows  that  the  con- 
trary is  the  existing  condition.  There  are  not  two  bodies 
exaoily  aUke^  nor  one  which  is  not  subject  to  incessant 
changes — changes  arising  out  of  its  own  internal  working, 
and  changes  dependent,  as  the  colours  of  the  chamelion  are 
said  to  be,  upon  its  varying  surroundings. 

Those  who  have  patiently  accompanied  me  in  this 
enquiry  into  the  action  of  drugs,  have  for  a  long  time  been 
content  to  look  at  this  action  with  eyes  like  the  eyes  of 
owls,  which  see  in  the  dark,  and  which  are  set  to  look 
only  straight  forward.  But  for  a  drug  to  act  there  must  be 
a  living  body  in  which  the  action  can  take  place ;  and  the 
time  is  at  length  come — I  feared  it  would  not  come  to  me — 
when  we  may  turn  our  eyes  to  this  living  body,  and  hope 
to  learn  some  knowledge  of  value  to  tiie  sick.  While 
undertaking  this,  we  may  do  more  than  look  at  the  body 
as  acted  upon  by  drugs  ;  we  may  notice  how  it  is 
affected  by  all  the  exciting  causes  of  disease,  of  which  drugs 
are  one.  This  Essay,  then,  will  be  devoted  to  what  is 
called  Prediapontian,  but  with  special  reference  to  predis- 
position to  the  action  of  drugs; 

What  is  meant  by  predisposition  ?  That  condition  of 
the  body  which  makes  it  possible  for  any  of  the  exciting 
eauses  of  disease  so  to  act  that  by  the  conjunction  of  the 
two  caoses,  disease  is  produced.  Predisposition  and  pre» 
disposing  cause  being  taken  as  synonymous.  Predisposi- 
tion is  a  subject  often  referred  to  in  books  on  medicine^ 
but  it  has  not  yet  been  investigated  as  it  deserves.  Neither 
can  I  hope  to  accomplish  the  task ;  but  the  thoughts  I  am 
able  to  express  shall  be  gathered  up  into  nine  bundles. 
The  words  predisposition,  susceptibility,  sensitivenesSi 
tendency,  aptitude,  will  be  used  synonymously. 

I. — lAfe. 

All  the  exciting  causes  of  disease  have  to  do  with  life,  so 
also  have  all  the  predisposing  causes.  There  is  neither 
power  of  excitement  in  external  causes,  nor  predisposition 
or  sensitiveness  in  the  body,  without  life.  This  is  a 
'*  general  fact "  which  will  be  accepted  without  contention. 


78 PBEDI8P081TI0N,         '^ggS^^^ffygg! 

On  dead  organs,  however  perfect,  these  causes,  whether 
predisposing  or  exciting,  have  no  action.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  mechanical  and  chemical  actions  are  not 
now  under  our  consideration.  As  to  the  galvanic  action 
which  takes  place  soon  after  apparent  death,  it  is  evident 
that  in  the  organs  acted  upon,  Ufe  is  not  yet  quite  extinct. 
My  courteous  readers  may  also  be  reminded  that  I  agree 
with  Sir  Thomas  Watson  in  rejecting  the  term  ''  proximate 
causes."  This  expression  has  too  strong  a  taint  of  meta- 
physical subtlety  for  the  plain  sense  and  practical  utility 
aimed  at  in  these  tracts. 

We  are  now  studying  predisposition,  and  seeking 
specially  for  the  causes  of  its  variableness,  in  reference  to 
diseases  and  to  the  action  of  drugs.  Life  is  essential  to 
the  existence  of  predisposition,  and  one  of  the  causes  of  its 
variableness  is  the  absence  of  uniformity  in  life.  The  life 
of  one  man  differs  greatly  in  its  energy— its  vitality — ^from 
that  of  another  man ;  the  life  of  a  woman  differs  &om  the 
life  of  a  man ;  the  life  of  a  child  differs  from  both. 
Nay :  the  life  of  each  organ  of  the  body  is  its  own  life — ^has 
its  own  character— and  in  this  it  differs  not  only  from  the 
life  of  other  organs  in  the  same  body,  but  also  from  the 
life  of  the  corresponding  organ  in  other  bodies.  All  these 
differences  have  an  effect  upon  predisposition,  and  require 
to  be  taken  account  of  by  the  physician.  What  life  is,  or 
rather  what  it  is  not,  has  been  discussed  in  Essay  XX. 

All  this  is  true  ;  life  is  necessary  to  predisposition,  and 
yet  it  is  not  true  to  say  that  drugs,  along  with  other 
exciting  causes,  act  upon  life.  ''Vitalism,"  as  every 
medical  man  Imows,  has  been  one  of  the  prevailing 
medical  theories.  It  has  been  earnestly  advocated  by  Stahl 
and  other  eminent  men.  It  was  adopted  by  Hahnemann  in 
its  purity.  According  to  him,  life  is  a  dynamism ;  the  causes 
of  disease  are  a  dynamism,  which,  acting  upon  life,  deranges 
its  condition  ;  drugs  are  a  dynamism,  which,  acting  upon 
this  deranged  condition  of  life,  restores  it  to  its  natural 
condition,  that  is,  to  health.  What  dynamism  is,  beyond  **  a 
power,"  no  one  knows.  From  these  vague  premisses  is 
drawn  the  conclusion  that  infinitesimal  doses  of  drugs  are 
efficacious  remedies.  But  when  there  is  an  error  in  the 
premisses  there  is  commonly  a  fallacy  in  the  conclusion ;  so 
that,  should  the  conclusion  be  true,  its  truth  must  be 
proved  in  some  other  way.  These  exciting  causes  do  not 
act  upon  life,  but  upon  organised  matter  which  is  Uving. 


Life  and  organisation  must  be  combined ;  and  it  is  npon 
this  combination,  which  the  old  writers  would  cau  a 
terdum  quid,  that  dmgs  and  other  causes  of  disease  pro- 
duce their  effects.  It  is  in  this  combination  that  predis- 
position exists.  Dynamism  and  dynamic,  of  the  nature 
of  whioh  we  know  nothing,  are  words  which  I  prefer  not  to 
use ;  as  used  by  Hahnemann  they  are  erroneous ;  this  may 
be  dearly  seen  from  what  has  just  been  said.  Before  leading 
this  topic,  let  me  anticipate  a  quibble.  It  is  said  '^  drugs 
act  upon  protoplasm/'  and  it  is  the  fashion  to  speak  of 
protoplasm  as  an  unorganised  pulp,  and  of  organised 
matter  as  dead.  Be  it  so ;  then  the  tertium  quid  is  life 
and  unorganised  pulp.  But  let  it  be  remembered  that  this 
pulp,  whether  organised  or  not,  is  material — is  matter  and 
and  not   spirit — and  that  life  must  be  joined  with  it,  or 

Sredisposition  cannot  exist.    That  the  organisation  pro- 
need  by    protoplasm    is  lifeless    matter    is  simply    an 
assumption  ;  it  has  not  been  proved  to  be  a  &ct. 

n. — Idiosyncrasy. 

Peculiarity  of  individuals.  It  has  been  customary  to 
attribute  this  peculiarity  to  a  few  persons  only.  It  is  here 
taken  to  apply  without  exception  to  every  individual.  Each 
person  is  a ''  material  ens  "  in  reference  to  the  external  or 
exciting  causes  of  disease,  and  consequently  in  reference  to 
the  action  of  drugs.  It  has  been  said  that ''  face  answers 
to  face,**  and  with  truth ;  but  this  is  not  inconsistent  with 
another  truth,  that  each  face  has  its  own  distinguishing 
features.  So  is  it  of  the  susceptibility  to  the  existing 
causes  of  disease  (and  drugs  are  among  these) ;  each  person 
has  an  idiosyncrasy  of  his  own,  which  must  be  understood 
and  taken  account  of,  both  in  experiments  in  health  and  in 
prescribing  in  sickness,  if  we  would  discover  facts  in  the 
former,  and  be  successfol  in  the  latter. 

Personal  peculiarities  are  countless  in  number  and  end- 
less in  shades  of  difference.  Some  of  them  are  of  little 
importance  to  the  physician ;  others  are  of  the  highest 
value.  There  are  peculiarities  of  individuals  in  colour ; 
besides  the  white,  black,  and  copper  coloured  races  of  men, 
we  have  here  and  there  a  rufus,  an  albino,  and  a  tawny ; 
we  have  also  giants  and  dwarfs ;  we  have  a  longahanks,  a 
crookshanks,  a  brasenose;  and  we  have  hare-brained, 
choleric,  and  lion-hearted  men ;  but  the  medical  adriser 
cannot  learn  much  which  will  be  useful  to  his  patient  from 


80  PBEBMPOSITION.  'SSSt.^FSr?!^! 


saeh  peculiarities  as  these.  More  instmetiTe  are  those 
which  helong  to  tempeiameDt,  and  this  is  the  strict  meaning 
of  the  woid  idiosyncrasy;  snch  as  the  sangnine,  the 
neiTons,  the  phlegmatic,  die  bilioiis,  the  melancholic,  the 
lymphatic.  These  differences  cannot  be  passed  OTer  by  the 
physician  without  n^lecting  some  portion  of  his  duty  to 
his  patient. 

It  has  been  remarked  that  indiridnal  pecoliarities  are 
numberless,  all  that  can  be  done,  therefore,  is  to  giye 
examples  sufficient  to  make  the  meaning  of  the  word 
idiosyncragy  distinctly  intelligible.  The  following  will 
senre: — 

With  regard  to  food.  li  is  weU  known  that  the 
pecnliarities  of  people  in  the  matter  of  food  are  many  and 
great.  Some  can  digest  readily  what  will  even  kill  oUiers. 
Many  enjoy  mushrooms,  two  or  three  would  kill  me.  But 
short  of  being  killed,  many  persons  suffer  considerably 
from  food  whidi  agrees  perfectly  with  others.  Shell-fish  is 
wholesome  food  for  many,  but  not  for  all;  one  of  my 
relatiyes  could  not  take  the  smallest  quantity  without  baring 
a  fit  of  asthma ;  another  will  be  coTered  with  an  eruption 
by  cTen  a  few  shrimps.  An  eruption  is  not  an  uncommon 
effect  of  shell-fish.  No  meat  agrees  with  me  better  than 
pork,  and  in  this  I  rejoice  in  Earing  Hippocrates  on  my 
side ;  but  to  many  it  is  a  forbidden  food.  When  the  late 
Mr.  White,  of  Westminster,  was  asked  to  risit  a  patient  in 
the  eyening,  his  first  question  was,  have  you  been  eating 
pork  ?  But  pork  is  solid,  a  leg  will  weigh  much  more  than 
a  leg  of  mutton  of  equal  size ;  and  pork  is  savoury,  and 
people  are  apt  to  eat  more  of  it  than  they  are  aware  of,  and 
this  is  often  the  reason  why  it  disagrees.  Eggs  are  whole- 
some food  for  many,  but  some  cannot  take  them  with 
impunity.  Even  nulk  does  not  agree  with  all.  And  so, 
if  attention  is  given  to  the  variations  among  a  number  of 
persons  in  respect  to  food,  it  will  be  found  that  to  each  person 
belongs  some  singularity  with  which  the  physician  should 
make  himself  acquainted.  Before  leaving  the  subject  of 
food  let  me  add  two  practical  remarks.  (1)  It  is  possible  to 
cultivate  these  peculiarities  until  the  stomach  is  trained  to 
reject  everything.  I  have  met  with  sensible  people  who 
oould  eat  nothing  but  mutton  chops.  I  was  requested  to 
visit  a  lady  in  Wales  who  was  living  upon  *^  white  of 
chicken ; "  and  another  in  Rutlandshire  who  was  trying  to 
live,  but  did  not  succeed,  upon  two  teaspoonfuls  of  asses' 


JS^MTngf!^        PBBDISPOSITION, 81 

milk  in  two  ieaspoonfols  of  water  fonr  times  a  day.  (2)  It 
is  quite  possible  and  highly  desirable  to  conquer  the  fancies 
of  children  about  food.  This,  I  think,  should  be  done  by  a 
Tery  gradual  process  of  gentle  compulsion ;  for  instance 
with  respect  to  eating  the  fat  of  meat.  It  has  been  an 
unhappy  fashion  of  late  to  indulge  children  in  their  dislike 
of  fat.  This  has  led  to  the  waste  of  much  wholesome  and 
necessary  food,  and  so  has  encouraged  other  wasteful  habits, 
and  has  deprived  the  body  of  some  materials  essential  to 
healthy  life;  this  is  followed  by  emaciation  and  debility 
for  which  a  very  disagreeable  remedy — the  oil  of  the  liver  of 
fishes — has  had  to  be  largely  given. 

With  regard  to  air  and  exercUt.  It  would  be  tedious  to 
dwell  upon  such  peculiarities  as  these,  but  they  exist,  and 
must  be  noticed  by  the  physician.  They  are  very  obvious 
to  any  one  who  has  not  lost  the  power  of  observation  which 
he  had  in  childhood,  and  who  will  exercise  it.  He  will  see 
how  some  flourish  in  the  house,  and  how  many  more 
flourish  out  of  doors ;  how  some  can  walk,  and  how  others 
can  ride ;  how  some  can  travel  in  a  carriage  or  in  a  ship, 
and  how  others  are  sick  in  either  one  or  the  other,  or  both. 

With  regard  to  the  common  cwm€9  of  disease.  From 
time  to  time  it  happens  that  many  persons  are  attacked 
with  influenza ;  or  with  cholera ;  or  with  fever ;  or  with 
one  of  the  exanthemata ;  and  this  outbreak  of  sickness  is 
called  an  epidemic.  But  how  many  happily  escape  !  When 
a  child,  I  had  measles ;  when  at  Westminster  School, 
whooping-cough,  by  which  five  months  were  occupied ;  but 
during  sixty  years  of  medical  life,  and  of  frequent  exposure 
to  fierce  epidemics  of  all  kinds  except  the  plague,  I  have 
been  mercifully  preserved  from  them  all — ^the  aptitude,  the 
predisposing  cause,  being  absent. 

Again,  there  are  particular  places  in  which  certain 
diseases  are  more  or  less  constantly  present ;  these  ail- 
ments are  caUed  endemics ;  such  as  ague  ;  Boman  fever ; 
the  goitre  of  the  valleys  of  Switzerland ;  the  ozoena  of  the 
west  coast  of  Africa ;  all  these  show  varieties  of  predisposi- 
tion in  the  persons  exposed  to  them.  And  in  solitary  ill- 
nesses, which  are  called  sporadic^  how  many  are  the  differ- 
ences in  the  effects  produced  on  different  persons  by  the 
same  cause  !  Exposure  to  cold  or  to  rain  will  send  one  to 
bed  vnth  bronchitis ;  another  with  rheumatism ;  another 
with  a  sore  throat ;  another  with  a  bad  stomach ;  another 

Ko.  2,  Yd.  25.  o 


82  PREDISPOSITION,        *%S!2L^^S2°WSS" 


Beriew,  Feb.  1»  IBU. 


with  inflamed  eyes ;  another  with  face  ache ;  another  and 
another  \i/ith  something  else.  Here  the  exeiting  cause  is 
the  same  ;  the  different  effects  are  caused  by  difference  in 
predisposition. 

With  regard  to  drugs.  Susceptibility  to  the  action  of 
drugs  varies  in  two  ways : — firsti  with  respect  to  aU  drugs  ; 
and  second,  with  respect  to  partictdar  drugs.  The  action 
of  drugs  in  the  living  body  is  very  wonderful ;  we  have  had 
many  opportunities  of  seeing  this,  during  our  examination 
of  them  in  the  previous  Essays.  The  variations  in  this 
action  on  different  persons  are  scarcely  less  wonderful. 
Some  persons  are  sensitive  to  the  smallest  doses  of  all 
drugs ;  others  are  not  sensitive  even  to  large  doses,  not 
actually  poisonous.  I  have  had  patients,  e.^.,  in  one  family 
two  sisters,  in  another  the  husband  and  wife,  strikingly 
contrasted  in  this  manner.  Some  persons  who  respond  in 
the  usual  way  to  the  action  of  drugs  generally,  are  intolerant 
of  one  or  two,  even  in  very  small  doses ;  about  thirty-seven 
years  ago,  a  patient,  a  middle-aged  lady,  very  nearly  died 
from  a  furious  salivation  brought  on  by  two  grains  of 
calomel.  Others  who  respond  to  the  majority,  are  so 
tolerant  of  one  or  two  that  no  effects  are  produced  by  them ; 
some  babies  can  digest  any  amount  of  castor  oil.  The  sus- 
ceptibility to  the  action  of  drugs  is  special  to  each  organ. 
The  brain  quickly  notices  the  presence  of  opium  or  bella- 
donna,  but  pays  little  regard  to  the  presence  of  nva  vomica, 
though  the  continuation  of  the  cerebral  substance  in  the 
spinsd  cord  is,  as  all  know,  so  powerfully  affected  by  it. 
Arsenic  applied  to  any  absorbing  surface,  is  immediately 
recognised  by  the  stomach,  the  small  intestines,  and  the 
rectum,  while  the  colon,  the  intermediate  intestine,  suffers 
it  to  pass  unnoticed.  Each  of  these  facts — ^the  action  and 
the  non-action — ^is  as  wonderful  as  the  other ;  the  cause  of 
both  has  hitherto  been  hidden  from  us  ;  but  they  are  facts 
of  the  highest  value  to  us  in  the  treatment  of  the  sick. 
They  are,  doubtless,  under  the  guidance  of  laws,  the 
knowledge  of  which  would  be  very  precious  to  us.  With 
reference  to  our  present  subject  we  have  to  remember  that 
this  susceptibility  varies  in  different  individuals ;  so  that, 
in  proving  a  drug  in  health,  we  are  not  to  be  surprised  nor 
disconcerted  if,  in  different  provers,  contradictions  are  met 
with ;  nor  if,  in  prescribing  for  the  sick,  surprises  and  dis- 
appointments await  us. 


iS^SS:rX^       P&EDIBPOSITION. 83 

lEL — Influence  of  Mind. 

There  are  libraries  of  books  on  psychology,  metaphysics, 
and  Iq^e.  Some  of  these  I  have  read  with  pleasure, 
others  with  weariness.  The  volumes  I  have  enjoyed  most 
are  those  of  Sir  William  Hamilton.  But  it  seems  to  me, 
that,  after  all,  Van  Swieten  comes  nearest  the  truth  when 
he  says :  '^  The  mind  thinks,  and  this  is  all  that  we  know 
about  the  mind/'  Certainly,  we  know  nothing  of  its  nature 
or  essence.  This,  like  the  ''  nature  of  angels,"  is  far  above 
out  of  our  sight.  Of  the  thinking  of  the  mind,  however, 
we  may  learn  something  by  careful  observation  of  our  own 
and  other  people's  minds ;  and  among  the  particulars  with 
which  we  may  in  this  way  become  acquainted,  are  the 
influenoes  which  the  mind  can  exert  over  the  condition  and 
operations  of  the  different  organs  of  the  body.  The  faculty 
of  imagination,  or  the  mind  occupied  in  imagining,  has 
great  power  over  the  body.  How  it  can  quicken  the  heart's 
beats,  redden  or  pale  the  cheeks,  hurry  the  breathing,  bathe 
the  skin  in  perspiration,  disturb  the  stomach,  and,  indeed, 
idKoct  every  organ  of  the  body !  The  will  has  not  less 
power.  How  it  can  keep  tbe  limbs  working  in  spite  of 
fifctigne !  How  it  can  determine  that  the  body  shall  bear  pain  ! 

We  have  many  examples  of  another  kind,  of  the  mind's 
powef  overthebody.  Wehaveawoefuloneinhypochondriacs, 
in  whom  an  enfeebled  or  disordered  mind  ruins  what  might 
otherwise  be  a  healthy  body.  Again,  Hahnemann  gives  a 
minute  account  of  a  large  number  (many  hundreds)  of 
symptoms  produced  during  his  provings  of  the  magnet.  I 
think  it  is  shown  clearly  in  Essay  YI.,  that  these  were  pro- 
duced by  the  imagination  of  the  persons  experimented  upon. 
The  experiments  with  mesmerism ;  with  the  od  or  odylic 
force ;  and  some  of  those  with  drugs ;  may,  to  a  large 
extent,  be  safely  attributed  to  the  same  powerful  agency. 

But  men's  minds  differ  greatly ;  some  are  imaginative, 
and  some  are  practical ;  some  are  poetical,  and  some  are 
musical ;  some  are  mathematical,  and  some  are  fond  of  art ; 
ndnds  make  tbeir  possessors  become  some  orators,  some 
judges,  some  statesmen,  and  some  philosophers.  And  of 
each  of  these  there  are  many  varieties.  Minds  differ  in 
strength  and  power ;  these  differences  admit  of  measure- 
ment and  comparison.  Minds  differ  also  in  taste;  and 
taste  does  not  admit  either  of  a  scale  of  measurement,  or 
of  a  line  of  argument.  Some  minds  take  pleasure  in 
mystery ;  some  in  novelty ;  some  in  speculation  ;  some  in 

0—3 


84  A  EECOED.  "SSSl"Sr?P?S5» 


Beviow,  Feb.  1, 1881. 


matters  of  fact.  Many  value  facts  only  for  the  sake  of 
theories ;  many  value  them  for  the  use  which  may  be  made 
of  them ;  a  few  value  tHem  for  their  own  sakes.  It  follows 
that  the  works  of  genius — even  of  Shakespeare's — cannot 
be  understood  and  appreciated  by  all.  From  this  we  may 
learn  to  admire  the  love  and  condescension  of  God  in  em- 
ploying such  a  variety  of  human  instruments  while  giving 
OS,  during  fifteen  hundred  years,  a  revelation  of  Himself. 

The  influences  of  the  mind  upon  the  body,  and  especially 
the  endless  varieties  of  them  here  hinted  at,  have  always 
been  a  perplexing  difficulty  in  the  study  of  the  action  of 
drugs.  This  difficulty  compelled  me  to  make  my  first 
experiments  with  small  doses  unknown  to  the  patients. 
The  responsibility  was  not  theirs  but  mine;  and  the 
experiments,  which  without  this  precaution  would  have 
been  doubtful  and  untrustworthy,  were  satisfactory  and 
Buocessful. 

This  thinking  power,  God's  great  gift,  influences — acts 
upon  with  a  directive  or  impulsive  force — every  living  body, 
and  every  organ  in  that  living  body,  and  in  every  possible 
degree  and  manner.  If  the  features  of  a  man's  face  identify 
him,  and  distinguish  him  from  all  other  men,  the  way  in 
which  his  mind  acts  upon  his  body,  could  we  see  it  as 
easily,  would  characterise  him  still  more.  Peculiarity  in 
this  respect  is  personal  to  the  uttermost.  In  experimenting 
with  drugs  no  truthful  results  can  be  obtained  unless  this 
mental  element  is  studied  and  allowed  for.  In  my  experi- 
ments with  small  doses  this  element  was  not  forgotten. 
Again  it  has  to  be  noted  that  were  the  laws  which  govern 
these  phenomena  known,  such  knowledge  would  be  an 
amazing  gain.    We  are  ignorant  of  them  all. 

{To  he  concluded  in  our  next  number,) 

A  RECORD  OF  TWENTY  CASES    TREATED  ON 
THE  PRINCIPLE  OP  HAHNEMANN'S  LAW 

OF  SIMILARS. 

By  John  H.  Clarke,  M.D. 

^Continued  from  page  84.^ 

Case  VI. 

Mal-nutrition. — Lycopodium  6. 

This  case  offers  some  points  for  comparison  with  Case  Y. 
There  was  pain  in  the  right  hypoohondrium,  and  constipa- 


Boinew,  Eab.  1,  Iffil. 


A  B&OOEB.  d5 


tioDy  but  there  was  besides  much  flatulence,  and  a  gravelly 
sediment  in  the  nrine.  All  these  symptoms  are  prominent 
in  the  provings  of  lyeopodium,  and  were  amply  sufficient 
to  indicate  the  remedy ;  and  the  occurrence  of  all  combined 
distinguished  the  case  from  those  requiring  ferrum  on  the 
one  hand,  and  those  requiring  nux  vomica  on  the  other* 

May  6, 1879.  £.  S.  10.  Fair,  deUcate-looking.  Child 
of  missionaries.  Was  bom  in  China.  Has  been  in  this 
country  five  years. 

Soon  after  coming  from  China  she  had  rheumatic  fever. 
For  some  months  past  she  has  been  failing  in  health,  and 
the  lady  under  whose  care  she  is  at  presenti  fearing  she 
was  consumptive,  sought  medical  advice. 

For  months  she  has  complained  of  a  sharp  pain  in  the 
right  hypochondrium,  coining  regularly  every  month. 

Her  appetite  varies,  she  constantly  craves  for  something. 
The  bowels  are  constipated.  She  has  much  flatulence. 
There  is  a  gravelly  sediment  in  the  urine. 

She  has  never  suffered  from  worms.     She  has  no  cough. 

Examination  of  chest.  There  is  a  systolic  bruit  heard 
in  precordia,  loudest  in  the  pulmonary  area.  There  is  no 
dyspnosa. 

I  gave  her  two  powders  of  sac.  ladis,  each  containing 
tinct.  lycopod,  6,  gtt.  viii.  One  to  be  dissolved  in  a  tumbler 
three  parts  full  of  water,  a  dessert  spoonful  to  be  taken 
four  times  a  day.  The  second  to  be  dissolved  and  taken  in 
the  same  way  when  that  was  finished. 

May  17.  I  received  a  letter  from  her  guardian,  from 
which  I  quote  the  following :  ''  I  am  happy  to  tell  you  that 
your  little  patient  is  wonderfully  better.  The  pain  in  the 
side  is  quite  gone.  Her  appetite  has  returned,  and  she  is 
quite  bright  and  full  of  life  again.  None  of  the  other 
unpleasant  symptoms  have  returned." 

I  did  not  hear  of  her  again  until  the  following  August, 
up  to  which  time  she  remained  very  well.  Then  she  had 
a  return  of  her  ailment,  very  simila^  to  the  last,  which  was 
quickly  relieved  by  the  same  means. 

Cask  VII. 

Spasmodic  Asthma. — Nux  vomica  1. 

Amonp  the  symptoms  that  appear  in  the  provings  of 
nux  vomica  are : — 

'^  Oppression  of  the  chest." 


86  A  RECOBD.  *^2*&"iSr?^ 


Beifi6W«  'Ft^>^  1, 18B1« 


''  Asthmatic  constriction  transversely  through  the  chest, 
when  walking  and  ascending." 

"  Pain  in  the  chest,  as  if  it  were  compressed  by  a  weight 
in  the  open  air/' 
'     **  Constipation." 

March  8,  1859. — ^Arthnr  H.,  21,  printer,  fair,  nervous- 
sanguine  temperament,  rather  under-sized,  narrow-chested, 
spare. 

Family  history.  Mother  living.  Father  died  of  bron- 
chitis and  consumption.  Has  a  sister  who  suffers  from 
eczema  of  the  hands. 

He  complains  of  weakness  of  the  chest.  Until  lately  he 
has  been  working  in  a  very  close  place,  with  much  gas  burn- 
ing in  it.    Previously  to  that  he  had  enjoyed  good  health. 

He  complains  of  oppression  of  breathing  when  he  exerts 
himself,  or  when  the  weather  is  at  all  thick. 

Tongue  clean.    Bowels  rather  confined. 

He  has  a  spasmodic,  involuntary  twitching  of  the  eye- 
lids and  orbicularis  muscle  every  few  seconds. 

Examination, — Physical  signs  negative. 

The  affection  of  the  breathing  appeared  to  me  to  be 
almost  purely  spasmodic,  due  to  contraction  of  the  muscular 
fibres  of  the  minute  bronchia  on  slight  irritation.  Ntix 
vom.  1,  pil.  1,  8  h. 

March  15.  Breath  has  been  decidedly  better;  bowels 
same ;  tongue  same.     Repeat. 

March  22.  Breath  very  much  better.  Can  walk  fast 
now.  He  has  the  twitching  round  the  eyes  still,  but  he 
does  not  notice  it.  For  this  I  prescribed  agaric.  1,  pil.  1  8  h. 

March  29.  The  breathing  has  been  rather  thick.  Very 
little  twitching.    Ntix  vom.  1. 

April  5.  Breath  better  this  week.  Very  little  twitching. 
Bepeat. 

April  16.  Chest  rather  stuffed.  Bowels  confined. 
Sidph.  8,  piL  1  t.d. 

This  was  his  last  attendance.  He  has  since  remained 
perfectly  well,  but  the  twitching  of  the  orbicular  muscles 
has  never  wholly  left  him. 

Case  Vm. 

General  debility. — Nux  Vomica  1. 

May  10,  1879.  Kate  H.,  23,  single,  shoe-finisher,  sister 
of  above,  fair,  ruddy,  little.  Subject  to  eczematoua  condi- 
tion of  the  backs  of  the  hands  at  times. 


SSSj^JKrar  A  BEOORD. 87 

Was  pretty  well  ap  to  14  days  ago.  Was  then  taken 
with  pain  in  the  left  iliac  region.  Since  then  has  felt  very 
langoid  and  tired.  Fainted  two  days  ago  whilst  at  her 
work.     She  has  mnch  frontal  headache. 

Has  had  attacks  of  the  kind  before,  but  never  so  bad. 
Tongae  clean.  Bowels  confined.  Appetite  bad.  Sleep 
poor.  Gatamenia  regular,  painfal,  last  time  more  so  than 
nsnal.  There  was  much  loss,  it  was  just  over  at  the  time 
she  fainted. 

The  general  state  of  debility  with  ansBmia,  want  of  sleepi 
and  confined  8t*ate  of  the  bowels  suggested  nux  vom,  to  me, 
and  the  fact  that  the  same  medicine  had  been  of  much 
service  to  her  brother,  although  in  another  sphere^  con- 
firmed  me  in  the  choice. 

Ntuc  Vom.  1,  pU.  ly  8  h. 

May  17.  Appetite  better.  Has  not  felt  so  tired  and 
languid.  Bowels  the  same.  Has  still  a  good  deal  of  pain 
in  the  left  side.    Bepeat. 

May  24.  Much  better  generally.  Pain  in  side  better. 
Bepeat. 

May  30.    Much  better  generally.    Bepeat. 

She  remained  in  good  health  until  a  few  weeks  ago, 
when  she  again  consulted  me.  She  was  sufifering  in  much 
the  same  way.  This  time  it  was  brought  on  by  a  severe 
cold,  and  there  was  great  depression  of  spirits.  I  again 
gave  her  nux  vomica,  and  she  was  very  soon  able  to  resume 
her  work,  and  is  now  almost  well. 

Case  IX. 

Emphysema  of  the  Lungs,  with  periodic  attacks  of  Spas- 
modic Asthma. — Ntix  Vom.  1. 

The  power  of  nux  vomica  to  control  spasm  of  that 
minute  bronchi,  even  in  the  presence  of  organic  disease^ 
is  well  illustrated  in  this  case,  which  may  be  compared 
with  Oase  YH.,  in  which  the  affection  was  simple.  The 
failure  of  aidphur  and  ipecac,  to  give  permanent  relief  may 
be  due  to  the  fact  that  their  action  is  primarily  on  the 
mucous  membrane,  and  secondarily  on  the  muscular  fibres 
of  the  bronchioles,  whereas  nux  acts  directly  on  the  mus- 
cular tissues. 

October  29»  1878.  George  M.,  S.,  pale,  rather  fair, 
slightly  bloated  looking,  fuU-chested,  sternum  prominent. 


88  A  REOOHD.  ^*^^^^^^?^ 


Bevxew,  Feb.  1,1881 


Family  and  social  history.  —  Child  of  poor  parents. 
Mother  has  a  weak  chest  (see  next  ease).  She  goes  ont 
charing.  Father  healthy.  There  are  fonr  others  in  the 
family  besides  the  patient,  all  girls,  living  and  strong. 
Three  brothers  haye  died  of  the  disease  this  one  is  suffering 
from.  Two  sisters  are  also  dead,  one  of  them  dying  of 
croup.     The  mother  had  her  children  in  rapid  succession. 

History  of  the  iUness. — ^When  three  months  old  he  had 
whooping  cough,  and  his  chest  has  never  been  right  since. 
He  has  always  been  subject  to  attacks  of  difficulty  of 
breathing. 

The  attacks  come  on  suddenly  and  last  three  days.  He 
goes  a  fortnight  without  having  an  attack  on  the  average — 
less  in  winter  and  more  than  a  fortnight  in  summer.  The 
attacks  are  worse  in  winter. 

Tongue  white.  Bowels  confined.  Appetite  fair.  Per- 
spires very  much  at  night. 

Examination. — ^He  is  pigeon-breasted.  The  free  ribs 
are  drawn  in  at  every  inspiration.  There  is  a  deep  sulcus 
running  round  the  chest,  marking  the  insertion  of  the  dia- 
phragm to  the  ribs.  Breathing  largely  abdominal.  The 
upper  chest  moves  very  little. 

Loud  wheezing  sounds  heard  all  over  the  chest.  Both 
sides  hyper-resonant,  more  especially  the  right.  Cardiac 
sounds  normal. 

He  has  lately  been  attending  the  East  Suffolk  Hospital 
as  out-patient.  The  only  thing  he  got  there  that  gave  him 
any  relief  was  a  supply  of  ipecacuanha  wine,  of  which  he 
took  an  emetic  dose  when  the  attacks  came  on. 

In  view  of  the  chronic  nature  of  the  case,  of  the  power 
possessed  by  stdphur  of  causing  a  spasmodic  affection  of  the 
smaller  bronchi  with  dyspnoea,  and  of  causing  constipation, 
I  prescribed — Tinct.  sulph,  1,  8  h.,  tinct,  ipecac.  1,  at 
night  if  required, 

[As  the  attacks  were  worse  at  night  and  characteristic  of 
ipecac,  symptoms,  and  as  ipec.  had  given  him  some  relief  in 
emetic  doses,  I  prescribed  it,  in  a  low  dilution,  to  be  taken 
if  the  attacks  should  be  severe  in  spite  of  the  stUph,] 

October  80.  Breathing  much  easier.  Attacks  not  so 
frequent  or  so  severSa :  had  to  take  ipec»  on  one  or  two 
occasions  at  night«  Bowels  regular.  Appetite  much 
oetter.    Bepeat* 


SmWw.  i?^^^Ki  a  becobd.  89 


Bartow.  Feb.  1,  Ittl. 


NoTomber  16.  Has  been  keeping  better  bat  his  heart 
was  bad  again  yeterday.  Tongue  rather  dirty  at  back. 
Bowels  co]]£ned. 

I  now  thought  nux  vcm;  was  a  more  appropriate  remedy 
than  either  of  the  others,  both  for  the  state  of  the  breathing 
and  the  condition  of  the  alimentary  tract.  Tinct.  nux 
vom.  1,  3  h. 

NoTomber  19.  Chest  much  easier.  Has  slept  better* 
Bowels  regular.    Bepeat. 

November  22.    Better  generally.     Bepeat. 

November  25.     Still  improving;    Bepeat. 

November  28.     Much  bett^.    Bepeat: 

Attendance  here  ceased.  I  called  at  the  house  one  day 
in  the  following  spring  to  see  how  he  had  got  over  the 
winter.  The  boy  himself  came  to  the  door.  He  seemed 
as  well  as  he  could  hope  to  be,  and  said  he  had  passed  the 
winter,  a  very  severe  one  (78-79),  well,  and  had  only  had 
one  or  two  attacks  which  quickly  passed  over.  The  em- 
physema was,  of  course,  not  changed,  but  the  whole  aspect 
of  the  boy's  life  was  altered  for  the  better. 

Gasb  X. 

General  Debility,  Dyspepsia,  Constipation,  &c. 

Nux  vom.  1. 

February  10, 1879. — ^Mrs.  M.,  42,  mother  of  last  patient. 
Tall,  dark,  spare,  rather  wasted.  Hard-working  woman,  of 
good  fiunily  history.  Had  her  children  in  rapid  succession. 
Four  years  ago  had  twins. 

History.  Has  been  ailing  some  little  time.  Has  long 
been  subject  to  a  cough.  For  a  month  past  has  had  a 
cough,  worse  in  the  night  and  early  morning,  with  slight 
expectoration  sometimes. 

She  complains  chiefly  of  aching  through  the  chest,  and 
pain  in  the  left  ovarian  region,  The  pain  begins  with 
spasm  in  the  region  of  the  cardiac  apex.  It  is  worse  after 
taking  food,  but  does  not  leave  her.  She  turns  siok  and 
faint. 

Tongue  clean;  bowels  confined;  appetite  bad.  She 
cannot  take  fat,  it  causes  a  feeling  of  weight.  She  has 
much  flatulence.  She  sleeps  badly ;  has  a  feeling  in  the 
night  as  if  her  heart  would  stop.  She  feels  sleepy  during 
the  day. 


90  A  BscoBD.       "tss-^an^ 


Beriew.fM).!,  lau. 


She  has  dreadful  dizzy  headaches,  turning  her  blind. 
She  has  noises  in  the  ears— a  distant  humming.  She  has 
giddy  fits  in  which  things  seem  to  go  ronnd  with  her. 
Hearing,  R.  -f^f,  L.  /(f.  Perosseal  hearing  defeddye  on 
both  sides,  especially  the  right. 

Sho  has  flushes  and  chills. 

Catamenia  regular.  Much  pain  in  the  back  of  late. 
No  leucorrhoea.  Darting  pain  in  oyarian  region,  worse  at 
the  periods. 

Examination  of  chest — ^Heart  sounds  normal.  Bight 
apex  slightly  duller  than  left,  with  increased  vocal  resonance 
and  fremitus. 

In  this  case  I  concluded  that  the  lung  a£fection  was  of 
old  date  and  not  of  much  importance.  The  giddiness 
noises  in  the  head,  and  state  of  the  hearing  reminded  me 
strongly  of  the  effects  of  over-dosing  with  aaUcylate  ofsod^y 
and  suggested  the  use  of  that  drug.  But  the  most  pro- 
minent symptoms  seemed  to  be  the  general  debility  marked 
by  dyspepsia,  with  spasmodic  contraction  of  the  stomach 
and  constipation.  On  this  the  greater  number  of  the  other 
symptoms  seemed  to  me  to  depend,  and  with  the  general 
habit  of  the  patient  ntix  vom,  seemed  the  medicine  most 
called  for.  The  fiAct  that  her  boy  had  already  received 
benefit  from  it  also  made  me  the  more  ready  to  prescribe  it, 
as  in  the  case  (VllL.)  above. 

Nnx  Vomica  1,  pU  1,  8  h. 

February  17.  Appetite  better.  Bowels  regular.  Pain 
in  the  chest  much  easier.  Breath  much  easier.  Sleep 
much  better.  Ovarian  pain  much  better.  Noises  in  the 
head  better.  She  has  taken  cold :  has  a  tight  feeling  in 
the  head  and  a  good  deal  of  discharge  from  the  nose. 
Has  a  cough  and  hoarseness.  Flushes  are  the  same. 
They  come  over  her  when  she  gets  up,  and  when  she 
thinks.  She  still  turns  faint  after  food.  Has  giddy  head- 
ache, feels  sick  with  it.    Bepeat. 

She  did  not  again  report  herself,  and  I  did  not  see  her 
when  I  called  at  her  house.  She  was  so  far  recovered  as 
to  be  able  to  pursue  her  calling  with  tolerable  comfort,  and 
no  doubt  did  not  think  it  worth  while  to  apply  for  farther 
medical  aid. 


fiofiew,  1M>.  1, 1881. 


A  BEOOBD.  91 


Case  XI, 

Bight  Ingainal  Hernia,  Spasmodic  Pain,  Spasm  of  the 

Bladder. — Nva  Vomica  1. 

The  last  example  of  the  action  of  nux  vomica  I  shall  cite 
is  in  the  region  of  the  involnntary  muscle  of  the  intestines 
and  bladder.  Gases  of  bronchial  and  stomachic  spasm  have 
already  been  detailed,  and  the  pathogenetic  action  of  the 
drag  compared  with  the  curative  in  these  spheres,  and  I 
may  mention  that  I  have  found  it  no  less  applicable  to  the 
same  affection  of  voluntary  muscles — e.g.,  cramp  of  the 
calves.  In  the  present  case  spasm  of  the  bladder  was 
evinced  by  frequent  desire  to  urinate.  This  symptom  also 
ooenrs  in  the  pathogenesis  of  the  drug.  The  following  are 
firom  Allen: — 

680.     "  Cutting  colic,  with  qualmishness." 

679.  **  Sensation  of  weakness  in  abdominal  ring,  as  if 
a  hernia  would  occur.'' 

774.     '*  Urging  to  urinate," 

November  10, 1879.  Mrs.  F„  41.  Tall,  sallow,  spare, 
rather  dark. 

Family  history, — Good.  Parents  living  and  well.  Her 
own  children  are  all  delicate. 

Social  history. — ^Poor.    Has  to  work  hard  for  her  living. 

Previous  history. — ^Has  never  been  strong.  Has  a  child 
seven  months  old,  which  is  weaned.  Has  been  attending 
for  two  months  at  East  Suffolk  Hospital  but  has  received 
no  benefit.  They  have  not  told  her  the  nature  of  her 
complaint. 

History  of  present  illness. — ^For  four  or  five  years  past 
has  suffered  from  pain  in  right  groin.  Has  felt  weak  in 
this  region  since  the  birth  of  her  three  last  children,  but 
more  so  since  the  last  was  bom.  The  confinement  was 
tedious.  Very  soon  after  it  she  noticed  a  knot  at  the  seat 
of  the  pain,  the  size  of  a  walnut.  The  knot  is  not  always 
thrare,  and  she  only  has  the  pain  when  the  knot  comes. 
Just  before  the  pain  comes  there  is  urging  to  micturate. 
She  passes  a  large  quantity  of  urine  and  it  causes  much 
smarting.  The  pain  makes  her  feel  sick.  It  comes  on 
when  she  is  at  stool.  She  is  subject  to  spasms.  She  often 
comes  over  faint. 

Tongue  dirty  whitish  yellow.  Bowels  regular  (she  has 
been  taking  medicine  from  the  hospital).  Catamenia 
regular. 


92  A  BBCORD.  "M?S3?a 


Examination. — There  is  a  tumour  in  the  right  groin, 
above  the  level  of  Poupart's  ligament,  approaching  the 
pubes.  It  feels  like  a  gland.  Coughing  impulse  is  trans- 
mitted.   It  is  replaceable  by  taxis. 

She  was  ordered  to  get  a  truss,  and  in  the  meantime  to 
take  nux  vom.  1,  pil.  1,  quater  die. 

November  18.  She  has  scarcely  Iiad  any  pain — has  not 
felt  sick.  The  lump  still  comes  down,  but  not  so  often, 
and  it  does  not  get  any  bigger.  She  has  not  got  a  truss 
yet.    Bowels  confined.    Bepeat. 

In  this  case  there  occurred,  what  is  by  no  means  uncom* 
mon,  a  complete  removal  of  disagreeable  symptoms  by  a 
drug,  whilst  the  physical  condition  from  which  they  appeared 
to  spring,  remained  the  same.  In  certain  cases  the  physical 
change  follows  the  symptomatic,  at  other  times  it  is  ne- 
cessary to  bring  it  about  by  other  means;  or  again,  in 
certain  cases  there  may  be  no  need  to  interfere,  the  removal 
of  the  symptoms  being  practically  the  removal  of  the 
disease.  In  this  case  the  use  of  other  means  was  indicated 
and  prescribed. 

November  25.  Lump  rather  painful,  has  not  kept  back 
80  long.    Bepeat. 

In  considering  the  cases  of  the  poor,  and  their  difficult 
circumstances,  we  must  always  be  prepared  for  some  retro- 
gression, due  to  the  fact  that  when  they  feel  a  little  better 
ihej  are  sure  to  do  a  little  more  work,  and  use  up  their 
strength  as  they  go  along.  I  have  made  no  note  of  it  in 
this  instance,  but  if  my  memory  serves  me,  this  was  the 
cause  of  the  slight  retrogression  here. 

November  1.  Has  got  a  truss,  it  keeps  the  tumour  up. 
She  can  get  about  better.  Tongue  white.  Appetite  poor. 
Bowels  regular.  Yesterday  came  over  faint  in  the  evening, 
has  been  subject  to  this  since  last  confinement.    Bepeat. 

November  9.    Decidedly  better  on  the  whole.    Bepeat. 

November  16.  Keeping  much  better.  The  lump  has 
come  down  but  there  was  no  pain,  She  has  a  cough. 
Bepeat. 

This  was  the  last  time  she  had  any  occasion  to  attend. 

Case  Xn. 

Bronchitic  Asthma.    Arsen,  3. 

Compared  with  the  cases  of  spasm  of  the  minute  bronchi 
treated  with  nux  vomica,  and  naprated  above,  the  following 
brings  out  one  or  two  points  of  interest. 


January  22,  1879. — James  E.,  55,  labourer  at  foundry ; 
big  powerful  man,  dark,  strongly  marked  features. 

He  oame  into  the  dispensary  wheezing  badly,  almost 
gasping,  and  gave  by  degrees  the  following  account : — 

Has  been  iU  a  week.  Had  no  cough  to  speak  of  before 
a  week  ago.  Never  had  anything  of  the  kind  before  this 
winter.  Cough  comes  on  injits*  Cannot  lie  down  at  night. 
Expectoration  scanty.  Gets  ease  when  it  comes  up.  Bones 
ache.    It  came  on  first  in  the  night. 

Tongue  clean ;  bowels  regular ;  appetite  bad ;  sleep  bad. 
Bespirations  36  in  the  minute. 

He  was  in  great  distress,  and  had  had  some  difficulty  in 
getting  to  the  dispensary. 

I  diagnosed  it  to  be  irritation  of  the  bronchial  mucous 
membrane  (catarrh  sec)  from  cold,  with  spasm  of  the 
bronchials.  The  symptoms  were  very  like  those  of  the 
arsenic  provings,  and  I  was  induced  to  prescribe  that  medi- 
cine in  preference  to  any  other,  niuc  included,  by  the 
evidence  of  inflammation  as  well  as  spasm,  by  the  inability 
to  lie  down  at  night,  and  the  aching  in  the  bones.  Arsen. 
8,  pil.  1,  2h. 

This  was  on  the  Wednesday,  and  I  gave  him  orders  to 
report  himself  on  the  following  Saturday. 

January  25. — ^He  came  himself,  looking  very  different, 
and  said  that  he  was  much  better,  could  lie  down  at  night, 
but  not  for  long  at  a  time.  Breathing  easier ;  cough  not 
80  bad ;  appetite  better.    Repeat. 

January  29. — ^Much  better.    Keeps  improving.    Bepeat. 

February  12. — Called  to  say  that  he  was  quite  well. 

Case  XHI. 

Nervous  Debility. — Arsen.  3. 

This  is  an  example  of  the  action  of  the  same  medicine  in 

a  different  sphere. 

October  19,  1878.  Mrs.  H.,  40,  a  Spaniard,  dark, 
medium  size.  She  does  not  talk  English,  but  her  husband 
who  is  English  interprets.     She  is  very  nervous. 

She  complains  of  sleeplessness,  caused  by  a  sensation  of 
burning  heat  at  the  stomach,  rising  to  the  top  of  the  head. 
She  has  been  troubled  in  this  way,  more  or  less,  for  five 
years. 


94  A  BBCOBD.  "S2&^Ssf!W2? 


Boview,  VBb.  t,  tSBL 


Tongue  clean.  Appetite  bad.  Does  not  Tomit.  Bowels 
regular.     Catamenia  regular. 

It  was  evidently  a  case  of  low  nervous  power^  and  as  the 
weakness  manifested  itself  in  symptoms  like  those  produced 
by  arsenic,  I  selected  that  medicine.  Arsen.  8.  pil.  1, 
quater  die. 

October  29.  The  painful  sensation  is  much  better. 
Sleep  has  been  better  till  last  night.  Appetite  is  still 
poor.    Bepeat. 

November  8.     Same  as  last  week. 

As  there  was  no  further  improvement,  I  decided  to  try  a 
change,  and  principally  with  a  view  to  the  head  trouble,  I 
gave  belladonna  8,  pil.  1,  q.d. 

November  28.  Better.  Sleeps  much  better.  Still  has 
burning  in  the  head.     Bepeat. 

November  80.  Has  not  slept  so  well.  The  sensation  at 
the  vertex  has  come  back  again,  She  has  taken  cold.  I 
now  thought  it  advisable  to  return  to  the  former  medicine, 
as  the  action  of  lei,  as  far  as  this  case  was  concemed, 
seemed  exhausted.     Arsen,  8,  as  before. 

December  7.  Much  better.  Sleeps  better.  Burning 
pains  gone.  This  completed  the  case.  The  patient  had 
no  need  to  return.  The  more  deeply  acting  remedy  was 
most  indicated  and  appears  to  have  had  the  chief  share  in 
working  the  cure. 

Case  XIV. 

* 

Incipient  Phthisis. — Phospk.  2. 

I  have  next  to  report  a  case  of  bronchial  catarrh  with 
hsBmorrhage,  resulting  in  chronic  pneumonia  of  the  apex  of 
the  right  lung. 

The  lassitude,  the  cough,  and  the  nature  of  the  expec- 
toration, which  greatly  resembled  the  symptoms  produced 
by  phosphorus,  determined  the  selection  of  that  remedy. 
I  have  myself  seen  the  lungs  in  a  state  of  red  hepatization 
in  a  woman  poisoned  by  phosphorus. 

July  19,  1879,  Ahna  C,  21,  boiler-maker,  fair,  tall, 
well-made,  powerfully  built,  well  nourished  but  somewhat 
pale. 

Family  and  social  history, — Good. 

Previous  health — Good  until  little  more  than  twelve 
months  ago,  when  he  took  a  cold  which  has  never  left  him 


itS^Sr^^S^  A  BBOORD.  95 


n&n&Wf  SMk  It  1881. 


eiDoe.    A  congh  came  on  and  soon  he  began  to  raise  blood 
with  it.     That  ceased ;  bat  a  month  ago  it  began  again. 

Present  Ulneu. — ^He  is  still  troubled  with  the  congh  and 
bloody  expectoration.  The  blood  is  not  frothy.  It  comes 
np  every  time  he  coaghs,  in  small  qnantities,  '^  abont  as 
big  as  a  shilling/'  There  is  no  night-sweat,  bat  he  com- 
plains  of  langaor  and  faintness.  The  congh  is  worse  in 
the  morning ;  he  has  no  pain. 

Tongoe  clean.    Bowels  regular.    Sleep  good. 

Examination, — Lanynx:  not  tender,  no  pain  in  it. 
Lang  :  apices  eqnally  resonant,  in  both  expiration  is  ex- 
aggerated, wheezing  and  prolonged.  Heart:  sounds  normal. 

July  26.  Feels  about  the  same  but  does  not  get  up  so 
mnch  blood.    Bepeat. 

August  2.    Stronger.    Bepeat. 

August  9.  Much  stronger,  bleeding  nearly  stopped. 
Bepeat. 

August  16.  Has  taken  fresh  cold.  Spat  up  a  little 
blood  after  breakfast.    Bepeat. 

August  23.  No  bleeding  at  all  yesterday  and  to-day. 
First  time  he  has  gone  two  days  clear  since  it  came  on. 
Bepeat. 

October  1.  Is  keeping  very  much  better.  Has  no 
bleeding.  He  looks  quite  well,  and  says  he  feels  well,  and 
equal  to  his  work,  which  is  hard  and  tiring.  (He  was 
working  all  the  time  of  treatment,  only  taking  a  day  or 
two's  rest  occasionally.) 

I  examined  his  chest  again  and  found — a  shade  of  dul- 
ness  at  right  apex ;  inreased  vocal  resonance  and  fremitus. 

From  this  time  he  left  off  taking  medicine.  He  took 
cold  several  times  during  the  following  winter  and  came 
under  my  care  again,  with  the  same  symptoms  only  not 
so  severe.  Each  time  pkos.  2,  and  bry,  1,  when  the  morn- 
ing cough  was  troublesome,  quickly  set  him  right  and 
enabled  him  to  keep  at  his  work. 

I  advised  him  to  seek  a  warm  climate — Australia  or 
South  Africa — ^where  he  would  not  be  exposed  to  such  rapid 
changes  in  temperature,  and  where  he  would  have  a  good 
chance  of  living  to  old  age. 


96 NOTES  OH  HOBMANDY,    ^'iSlSSwf^Tm^. 

NOTES    ON    NORMANDY, 

rCantinuedJ 

By  Dr.  Mobbisson. 

Ih  dose  proximity  to  Arromanehes  is 

Asnelles-la-Belle-Piaoe,  a  small  bathing  village, 
modern^  and  with  excellent  sands.  From  Arromanches  to 
Asnelles  is  a  pleasant  walk,  at  low  water,  bnt  beware  of 
being  canght  by  the  rising  tide.  Omnibuses  meet  the 
chief  trains  at  Bayeox.  The  Guide  Croaty  recommends 
the  Hotel  Bepos. 

To  reach  onr  next  place,  either  from  Arromanches  or 
Asnelles,  it  is  necessary  to  hire  a  private  vehicle,  when  a 
drive  of  some  eight  miles  will  bring  as  to 

CouBSKXJiiLES. — ^Now  yo  lovers  of  the  delicious  bivalve, 
this  is  for  you  an  oyster  paradise.  Beds  of  oysters  border 
the  small  harbour,  and  several  millions  are  annually 
despatched  to  less  favoured  localities.  Woe  to  adven- 
turous crabs  that  are  found  in  an  oyster-bed,  for  against 
them  the  attendants  declare  "war  to  the  knife."  These 
wQy  crustaceans  are  as  fond  of  edible  bivalves  as  are  the 
spc^iking  bipeds,  and  their  method  of  obtaining  these 
dainties  is  what  our  Yankee  cousins  term  *'  cute."  Oysters 
require  air,  and  food ;  hence,  at  certain  times  of  tide  they 
open  their  capacious  mouths,  and,  like  Britishers  of  the 
'Arry  type,  imbibe  largely.  Experience  soon  teaches  even 
crabs  tiiat  the  insertion  of  a  claw  inside  the  shell  of  a 
living  bivalve  is  a  hazardous  proceeding,  so  they  coolly  cover 
their  prey  with  a  heap  of  sand.  The  oysters,  gasping  for 
air,  open  widely,  and  die.  A  sufficient  time  having  elapsed 
for  this,  the  crabs  remove  the  sand,  and  devour  their  victims 
at  leisure. 

Courseulles  would  be  a  dreary  place  for  a  lengthened 
sojourn.  There  is  no  crowd,  no  casino,  no  cathedraJ.  We 
did  not  even  hear  a  band.  Two  jetties  protect  the  entrance 
to  its  small  harbour.  An  oyster  room,  or  restaurant,  has 
been  built  over  one  of  the  oyster  beds,  so  that  visitors  may 
feast  their  appetites  in  full  view  of  futare  victims.  A  short 
walk  through  the  main  street,  past  the  old  village  church, 
and  to  the  brow  of  a  hill,  brings  into  view  an  extensive  tract 
of  agricultural  country,  with  the  small  river  winding  through 
a  fertile  tract,  and  an  old  mill  in  the  foreground.    Excur- 


iS^SSTS^  ^^'TBS  ON  NOBMANDT.  97 

sions  may  be  made  to  Baayille^  and  the  Ghateanx  of  Grenlly 
and  Fontaine-Henri,  bnt  CoaraeuUeB  is  essentially  a  quiet 
family  resort.  We  fonnd  the  Hotel  des  Etrangers  particu- 
larly comfortable. 

Here  is  the  terminus  station  of  a  branch  railway  from 
Caen,  with  its  banquette  carriages.  Englishmen  usually 
aijoy  the  noyelty  of  riding  on  the  tops  of  the  earriages, 
provided  the  weather  be  fine.  A  sheltered  comer  there 
proves  more  acceptable  than  inside  a  stuffy  compartment, 
and  as  the  rate  of  speed  about  equals  that  of  our  ordinary 
Great  Western  trains,  there  is  no  risk  of  being  blown  over. 
In  this  way  we  passed  the  closely-adjacent  stations  of 
Bemeres,  St.  Aubin,  and  Langrune,  and  arrived  at 

Lt7C-suB-])iEB,  a  village  of  1,500  inhabitants,  ten  miles 
from  Caen.  Here  the  unwashed  of  the  great  town  come  in 
flocks,  or  shoals,  or  crowds ;  and  not  without  necessity. 

Luc<sur-mer  is  sometimes  fondly  spoken  of  as  le  PeHt- 
Enfer,  the  former  inscription  of  a  local  sign-board. 
Frenchmen  are  notoriously  partial  to  such  names  as  le  Bon 
Viable  for  their  shops,  but  practically  the  quality  ascribed 
to  Luc-sur-Mer  is  a  gross  libel.  Perhaps  this  place  may 
ultimately  deserve  such  a  title,  owing  to  the  rapid  increase 
of  gambling  saloons  in  French  seaside  resorts.  At  present 
it  is  an  enticing  place  for  bathers,  with  good  hotels,  eligible 
villas,  excellent  sands,  and  a  vivacious  company.  Tourists 
wishing  to  inspect  Caen  should  stay  at  one  or  other  of 
these  seaside  places,  and  go  to  and  fro  by  rail.  Close  to 
Luc-sur-mer  is  Lion-sur-mer,  but  as  the  rail  branches  off 
at  Luc-sur-mer  we  follow  its  course,  and  in  half-an-hour 
reach  the  historically  interesting  town  of 

Caen. — This  is  essentially  a  city  of  churches,  of  quaint, 
old-fEisbioned  frontages,  of  thrift  and  industry,  and  of  dirty 
habitations.  Its  two  chief  hotels,  d'Angleterre  and 
d*Espagne,  are  nearly  side  by  side  in  the  narrow,  smelly 
Rue  Saint  Jean.  The  Grand  Hotel  de  la  Place-Boyale,  is 
in  a  more  open  situation,  but  visitors  to  any  of  these  must 
be  prepared  for  the  ordinary  inconveniences  of  an  inland 
French  town.  Were  it,  however,  a  question  of  a  short 
sojourn  or  of  missing  an  inspection  of  Caen,  I  should 
certainly  say.  Stay,  No  town  in  Normandy  is  of  greater 
historical  and  architectural  interest.  At  Bayeux,  as  at 
Coutances,  there  is  one  grand  cathedral,  at  Caen  magnifi- 
cent churches  abound.  Foremost  stands  the  Church  of 
St.    Etienne,    otherwise    called    FAbbaye-aux-Hommes, 

No.  2,  Vol  25.  H 


98  NOTES  OH  NORMANDY.  "^J£ 


,  F^  1, 1831. 


fonnded  by  William  the  Gonqneror,  in  1066.    A  marble 
Blab  in  the  centre  of  the  choir  bears  this  inscription  : — 


sepoltiuest 

inWctiBsimas  GnillelmiiB 

conqnestor  Nonnanomm  dns  et  Anglis 

xex,  hnJTiflce  domns  conditor 

qui  obiit  anno  mbczxrii. 

Beneath  this  slab  now  rests  as  many  of  the  Conqueror's 
bones  as  have  escaped  a  double  spoliation  of  his  tomb ; 
first  by  the  Calvinists,  and,  in  later  years,  by  the  Revolu- 
tionists. But  the  remark  has  been  justly  made  that  "  the 
church  itself  is  the  mighty  monarch's  best  monument." 
It  certainly  is  one  of  the  most,  if  not  the  most,  noble  of 
the  ecclesiastical  structures  of  Normandy. 

A  companion  structure,  historically  speaking,  is  the 
Church  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  or  Abbaye-aux-Dames,  on  the 
heights  of  Saint  Gilles.  This  was  founded  in  1066,  by 
Matilda,  wife  of  William  the  Conqueror,  and  is  a  fine 
edifice,  though  much  inferior  to  St.  Etienne.  The  choir  is 
screened  off.  An  inspection  of  certain  of  the  nuns  at  their 
devotions  forms  one  of  the  sights  for  visitors,  a  curtain 
being  drawn  aside  for  the  purpose.  It  is  certain  that 
these  nuns,  in  their  neat  attire,  are  as  anxious  to  see 
visitors  as  visitors  arc  to  see  them.  In  the  centre  of  the 
choir  is  the  tomb  of  Matilda,  which  is  also  seen  when  the 
curtain  is  drawn  aside.  Beneath  the  choir  is  a  crypt,  well 
woi*th  inspecting.  The  sisters  of  this  abbey  belong  to  the 
Order  of  Saint  Benoit,  and  are  drawn  from  the  highest 
Norman  families.  Their  first  abbess  was  Cecile,  daughter 
of  William  and  Matilda.  We  were  told  they  never  leave 
the  precincts  of  the  abbey,  and  their  pallid  features  bore 
witness  to  the  truth  of  this  assertion.  One  of  the  lay 
sisters  conducted  us  past  the  Hotel  Dieu,  through  the 
grounds,  and  by  a  winding  ascent  to  the  top  of  an  artificial 
mound,  from  which  there  was  a  panoramic  view  of  the 
town.  In  the  dormitories  and  elsewhere  everyone  seemed 
well-cared  for  except  the  nuns,  whose  prison  life  is  very 
detrimental  to  health. 

The  ancient  church  of  St.  Gilles,  close  to  the  Abbaye- 
aux-Dames,  is  now  tottering  to  its  fall.  Were  this  in  a 
small  town  or  village,  its  renovation  would  be  imperative  ; 
in  Caen  its  loss  will  not  be  seriously  felt. 

A  building,  over  which  a  fate  similar  to  that  of  St. 
Gilles  is  impending,  is  that  of  St.  Jean,  in  the  Bue  Saint 


JSSiS'iSbT'JSf"'     NOTES  ON  KORMANDY.  99 


Befiew,  F«b.  1,  U»l. 


Jean,  near  the  Hotel  d'Angleterre.    Alas !  for  the  rayages 
of  time. 

Unequalled  in  position,  and  magnificent  in  its  arohi- 
tectoroy  with  a  forest  of  flying  hnttresses,  stands  the 
chnreh  of  St.  Pierre.  From  its  well-proportioned  tower  an 
octagonal  stone  spire  rises  to  a  height  of  242  feet.  The 
ext^or  surpasses  the  interior.  Sunt  Begnobert,  one  of 
the  early  bishops  of  Bayeux,  commenced  the  first  stmcture 
in  the  7th  century,  bnt  the  present  building  dates  from  the 
13th  centnry.  Adjoining  the  choroh  is  the  Market  Place. 
This  is  conTonient,  for,  even  on  Sundays,  worshippers  can 
first  pay  their  devotions  and  then  pay  their  caterers,  and 
having  refreshed  the  soul,  can  refresh  the  body  without 
loss  of  time.  Visitors,  who  usually  object  to  Sunday 
trading,  can  condone  a  few  purchases  by  remarking  that 
they  are  on  foreign  soil ! 

But,  enough  of  the  churches  of  Caen.  There  are 
numerous  other  structures  of  interest,  such  as  old  and 
historic  houses.  Unfortunately  for  antiquarians,  these 
are  steadily  being  ''improved"  out  of  existence  or 
modernised.  To  enumerate  those  remaining,  however^ 
would  be  tedious.  One  spot  of  special  interest  is  No.  148, 
Rue  Saint  Jean,  the  former  site  of  the  temporary  home  of 
Charlotte  Corday,  the  heroine  who  delivered  France  from 
the  savage  doings  of  Marat  by  stabbing  him  while  he  was 
in  his  bath.  Its  place  is  now  occupied  by  a  more 
pretentious  domicile. 

Passing  through  the  Market,  beside  the  church  of  St. 
Pieire,  we  soon  come  to  the  Quay,  with  its  array  of 
shipping,  including  steamers  for  Dives  (at  the  mouth  of 
the  river)  and  Havre.  Our  object,  however,  is  the  fiuis 
jwomenades  which  border  the  river.  Along  these  we 
wander  on  and  on,  beneath  the  grateful  shade,  until  a 
steep  incline  indicates  our  return  route  over  the  hill  upon 
which  stands  the  Abbaye-aux-Dames. 

Caen  is  noted,  in  an  Epicurean  sense,  for  two  dainties, — 
tripe  and  mussels.  The  former  is  a  regular  Sunday  dish 
in  all  the  hotels  and  restaurants;  and  the  latter  are  supplied 
during  the  months  of  June,  July,  and  August.  In  other 
cities  in  Normandy  English  visitors  are  regarded  as  gastro- 
nomic barbarians,  because  they  turn  up  their  noses  at 
**  tripes  a  la  mode  de  Caen.'* 

Of  the  library,  museum,  university,  and  other  public 
buildings,  little  need  be  said,  beyond  that  there  is  much 


100  NOTBS  ON  NORMANDY,  ^"SSJSrflSTSi! 

which  is  worthy  of  inspection.  The  same  applies  to  the 
Bnrronnding  oonntry,  which  has  the  thorough  home  look 
so  characteristic  of  Norman-English  scenery.  Without, 
therefore,  pretending  to  give  anything  like  a  fall  description 
of  this  historical  city — ^the  nnvisited  monnments  of  which 
most  ever,  with  the  casual  visitor,  exceed  in  number  those 
inspected — we  wend  our  way  to  the  Paris-Cherbourg  rail- 
way station,  and  are  soon  en  route  for  '*  pastures  new." 

Shortly  after  leaving  Caen  we  notice,  to  our  right,  some 
stone  quarries.  These  are  the  quarries  from  which  most 
of  the  celebrated  Caen  stone  has  come.  The  excellent 
quality  of  this  stone  is  proved  by  the  present  well-preserved 
condition  of  Westminster  Abbey,  one  of  our  noblest  eccle- 
siastical monuments. 

Passing  the  villages  of  Bretteville  and  Andrieu,  a  journey 
of  twenty  miles  brings  us  again  to  Bayeux.  Thence,  past 
Le  Molay-Littry,  we  come  to  Lison,  where  we  change 
trains,  and,  after  passing  three  small  stations,  arrive  at  the 
ancient  town  of 

St.  Lo. — This  town  is  prettily  situated,  chiefly  on  the 
sides  of  a  steep  hill,  by  the  river  Yire.  Its  church  of  Notre 
Dame  is  on  the  summit  of  this  hill.  From  either  of  its 
twin  spires  charming  views  of  the  town  and  country  may 
be  seen,  which  gave  me  the  first  glimpse  of  anything  rurally 
enticing.  The  exterior  of  this  cathedral  is  decidedly  im- 
posing, but  its  interior  is  uninteresting.  An  early  Norman 
chnrch,  that  of  St.  Croix,  has  been  restored,  but  the  Abbey 
of  St.  Croix,  founded  by  Charlemagne,  has  been  destroyed. 
From  the  railway  station,  which  is  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  river  to  the  town,  the  general  view  reminded  me  of 
Shrewsbury,  minus  the  ''Quarry"  at  the  latter,  though 
Shrewsbury  would  carry  ofif  the  palm  for  picturesqueness. 
On  the  whole,  the  town  of  Saint  Lo  conveyed  the  impression 
of  being  a  respectable,  sleepy  old  place,  where  the  over- 
worked might  rest  in  peace  and  quietness.  To  see  St.  Lo 
sufficiently  for  purposes  of  mere  inspection,  it  is  sufficient 
to  aiTive  by  a  morning  train,  break  the  journey,  and  pro- 
ceed by  afternoon  train  to  the  next  chief  town, 

CouTANCES. — Fortunate  is  the  tourist  whose  arrange- 
ments permit  of  only  a  day  here,  unless  he  can  fare  better 
than  we  did  at  its  chief  hostelry,  the  Hotel  de  France. 
This  hotel  has  recently  been  put  into  general  repair,  for 
the  building  is  old ;  but  some  of  its  inconveniences,  such 
as  closets  in  dark  comers,  adjoining  the  bedrooms,  and 


iSriSSr^TSB?^    NOTES  ON  NORMANDY.  lOl 

devoid  of  water  supply,  have  been  carefully  retained.  In 
addition^  the  living  was  by  no  means  suited  to  English 
appetites,  and  we  could  touch  few  of  the  dishes  which 
appeared  at  tiie  breakfast  table. 

The  town  is  well  placed  on  the  summit  of  a  hill.  Two 
parts  which  pleased  us  were  the  promenade  and  the  public 
gardens.  The  latter  are  well  worth  inspecting.  From 
them  may  be  seen  a  large  tract  of  fertile  countiy,  with  a 
portion  of  Coutances  in  the  foreground,  and  the  new  Gran- 
ville railway,  with  its  embankments  and  bridges,  winding 
away  into  distance ;  but  the  great  feature  is  the  grand  old 
cathedral — to  my  mind  about  the  most  imposing,  exteriorly, 
of  any  which  we  visited.  Its  two  chief  spires  form  a  con< 
spicaous  landmark,  and  in  clear  weather  are  visible  from 
the  eastern  coast  of  Jersey.  Moreover,  its  interior  well 
repays  one  for  a  careful  study.  Its  loftiness  is  most  im- 
pressive, an  effect  heightened  by  the  sombre  gloom  and  the 
associations  and  records  of  many  centuries.  Not  less 
impressive  is  it  to  see  this  ancient  sanctuary  crowded  with 
devout  worshippers,  though  a  bassoon  accompaniment  or 
the  weird  reedy  tones  of  an  antiquated  organ  do  not  add  to 
the  impressiveness  of  the  service.  This  cathedral  is 
reputed  to  have  been  consecrated  in  the  presence  of  Duke 
WiUiam  (soon  to  be  known  as  William  the  Conqueror)  in 
1056,  though  some  writers  consider  this  hardly  probable. 

Another  old  church,  that  of  St.  Pierre,  is  worth  seeing, 
and  the  old  houses  and  old-fashioned  streets  adjoining 
should  not  be  missed.  The  interior  of  yet  another  church, 
that  of  St.  Nicholas,  seemed  particularly  well  arranged; 
and  this  church  contains  one  of  the  earliest  statues  of  the 
Madonna  and  Child — said  to  be  quite  600  years  old. 

A  four  and  a-half  hours'  ride  by  diligence  (for  the  rail- 
way was  not  quite  completed),  through  an  uninteresting 
section  of  country,  brought  us  again  to  the  sea-shore.  We 
alighted  at 

Granville,  with  a  feeling  of  relief,  conscious  that  the 
interior  towns  are  uniformly  wanting  in  cleanliness  and 
comfort.  Not  that  Granville  is  a  clean  place.  My  first 
impressions  were,  in  this  respect,  &vourable.  Alas !  for 
human  expectations.  One  has  only  to  wander  through  the 
side  streets,  to  inspect  the  old  town,  and  to  investigate 
other  than  the  chief  hotels,  to  dispel  this  illusion. 

Let  us  mount  to  the  High  Town.  Perched  upon  a  rocky 
headland,  this  part  dominates  the  whole,  and  may  be. 


102  NOTKS  ON  NORMANDY.   ^1Sfw?»Hf1«l! 

reached  either  bj  a  gradual  ascent,  across  the  bridge  by  the 
bathing  place,  or  by  a  long  flight  of  steep  stairs  adjoining 
the  market  place  and  harbour.  Once  fairly  on  the  snnunity 
and  the  vision  has  license 

**  Far  round  the  horizon's  oiyskal  ur  to  skim, 
And  trace  the  dwindled  edgings  of  its  brim," 

In  the  distance,  in  very  clear  weather,  Jersey  may  be  dis- 
tingoished;  nearer  at  hand,  the  Island  of  Ghassey ;  opposite 
Chanssey,  on  the  mainland,  the  Tillage  of  Donyille ;  in  the 
distance  the  towers  of  Contance  Cathedral ;  on  the  land 
side,  a  panorama  of  Granville ;  and  a  short  distance  south, 
the  bathing  village  of  St.  Pair ;  farther  on,  Mont  Saint 
Michel.  Close  at  hand  will  be  seen  the  Arsenal,  the 
Casernes  for  the  soldiers,  and  the  massive  musty  church  of 
Notre  Dame.  Passing  through  the  centre  of  this  part  is 
the  Hue  Notre  Dame,  the  chief  thoroughfare.  Instead  of 
returning  by  this,  let  us  wander  round  the  northern  wall, 
dirty  though  our  footway  be,  and  inhale  the  direct  sea 
odours,  even  though  diluted  by  stenches  from  around. 
ITnclean  houses  ?  Why,  yes ;  and  one  wonders  how  such 
tidy-looking  people,  as  may  be  frequently  seen,  can  come 
from  such  dirty  habitations.  Here,  absolutely  overlooking 
the  shore,  with  every  facility  for  drainage,  the  odours 
reminded  me  of  my  experiences  in  Morocco. 

Beturning  through  the  narrow  gateway  by  which  we 
entered  the  High  Town,  we  descend  to  the  bathing  place. 
This  is  quite  detached  from  the  town  itself,  having  only 
the  casino  and  a  short  promenade  as  adjuncts.'  There  is 
the  usual  tripartite  division  for  single  ladies,  families,  and 
single  gentlemen,  customary  at  French  resorts  of  the  first 
order ;  the  sands  are  excellent,  and  the  charges  only  for 
clothing  and  towels,  the  machines  being  supplied  by  the 
Corporation  of  the  town. 

In  the  Low  Town  there  are  several  good  streets,  enticing 
shops,  and  numerous  hotels.  Through  the  centre  runs  the 
small  river  Bosq,  which  is  dammed  in  for  the  washer- 
women, who  line  its  banks  by  the  score. 

The  port  has  two  basins  and  an  outer  harbour.  Gran* 
ville  is  the  commercial  depot  for  a  large  tract  of  country, 
and  is  also  a  naval  station. 

The  costumes  of  its  women  have  attracted  much  atten* 
tion,  as  here  may  be  seen  the  capot^  a  black  cloak,  with  a 
hood,  the  whole  frequently  lined  with  white  silk ;  and  large 
Norman  caps,  of  snowy  whiteness,  are  sometimes  worn. 


SSS'iw?^*?!^       NOTES   ON   NORMANDY.  103 


Bsview,  Feb.  1,  Iffii. 


Of  the  women  themselves  Michelet  has  said,  '*  they  are  the 
most  beaatifal  in  the  world."  This  may  be  taken  as  a 
proof  that  his  knowledge  of  the  human  form  was  very 
limited.  I  saw  some  very  good-looking  indeed,  and  prettily 
attired;  but  it  is  the  children  who  are  really  pretty.  Thus, 
if  we  take  the  standard  of  100  for  the  six-year-olds,  at 
eighteen  they  would  rank  at  seventy,  at  fifty  their  position 
would  be  zero,  and  at  seventy — I  should  rather  not  say. 

So  much  for  Granville.  On  the  whole  it  is  a  place  quite 
worth  visiting— 60  thoroughly  French  in  its  people  and 
manners.  Stay,  its  people  are  reputed  to  have  a  tinge  of 
Spanish  blood  to  account  for  their  supposed  comeliness. 

The  chief  town  between  Granville  and  the  border  town 
of  Pontorson  is 

AvBAKCHES. — This  is  beaubifally  situated  on  the  top  of 
a  precipitous  hill,  and  is  a  favourite  resort  of  the  English, 
both  for  residential  and  temporary  occupancy.  Over- 
looking the  Bay  of  Avranches,  and  with  some  pretty 
scenery  close  at  hand,  it  is  a  favourite  with  artists, 
especially  of  the  foreigner  admiring  typo,  the  artists  to 
whom  we  owe  the  super-laudation  of  districts  greatly 
inferior  in  actual  beauty  to  the  retired  nooks  and  rocky 
headlands  of  our  ever- verdant  isle. 

One  special  bit  of  coast  scenery — in  fact,  the  gem  of 
Normandy  —  remains  unmentioned.  But  Mont  Saint 
Michel  is  so  closely  linked  with  Breton  life,  and  so  easily 
reached  from  Saint  Male,  that  a  descriptive  reference  can 
well  be  deferred* 

In  regard  to  climate^  without  entering  into  details,  I 
may  say  that  the  air  of  the  coast  region  is  dry  and 
invigorating,  and  that  fine  seasons  are  the  rule  and  not  the 
exception.  Even  on  hot,  sunny  days,  there  is  a  freshness 
in  the  air  which  is  foreign  to  humid  climates.  Insect  life 
revels  in  the  summer  warmth.  On  the  cliffs  near  Arro- 
mancbes  butterflies  congregate  literally  by  thousands. 
Happily,  wasps  seemed  comparatively  rare. 

The  general  aspect  of  the  country  districts  visited  ia 
decidedly  enticing ;  but  the  scenery  has  certainly  been  over- 
rated. There  is  a  general  appearance  of  thrift,  the  small 
fields  beiog  mostly  fully  tilled.  Apple  orchards  abound, 
and  the  prevalence  of  hedges,  albeit  untrimmed,  impart  a 
home-like  look,  pleasing  to  both  tourist  and  invalid. 

St.  Saviour*s  Bead,  Brixton  Bise. 
September,  1880. 


104  tetlLEPBY.  "^.^"tP^gS* 


Beview,  f^b.  1,  IflBl. 


ON     COCCULUS     INDICUS     AND     PICROTOXIN 
PRODUCING  AND  CURING  EPILEPSY .♦ 

By  Db.  Jousset. 

The  therapeutic  truth  proclaimed  well-nigh  a  century  ago 
by  Samuel  Hahneman  obtrudes  itself  more  and  more  on 
contemporary  medicine. 

Hatred  and  prejudice  are  powerless  against  facts ;  the 
experimental  study  of  drugs  and  the  law  of  similars  are 
being  eyolved  more  and  more  from  the  works  of  our  adver- 
saries themselves. 

The  article  on  cocctdua  indicus,  published  in  the  Diction- 
naire  Encyclop^iqtie  des  Sciences  Medicales,  shows  that 
cocc.  indie,  ajidpicrotoxin  cause,  on  the  one  hand,  in  animals 
convulsive  movements,  recurring  spasmodically,  quite  com- 
parable to  epilepsy  and  eclampsia,  and  on  the  other  hand, 
cure  epilepsy  and  eclampsia  in  man. 

The  first  ideas  on  the  action  of  coccvlus  ind.  have  come 
to  us  from  the  use  made  of  it  in  catching  fish  by  stupefying 
them. 

Fish  which  have  eaten  bait  containing  coccvlus  are 
seized  with  gyratory  movements ;  they  describe  circles, 
diminishing  in  size ;  then  soon  float  motionless  on  the 
water ;  many  die  at  length  from  this  poisoning,  and  their 
flesh  causes  illness  in  persons  or  animals  who  partake  of  it. 

Experiments  were  made  on  animals  (cats  and  dogs)  by 
Brunner,  Orfila,  and  Goupil  (of  Nemours).  These  authors 
are  agreed  in  recognising  that  cocc.  ind,  produces  in 
animals  attacks  of  epileptiform  convulsions,  coming  on 
spasmodically,  and  separated  by  intervals  of  complete 
return  to  consciousness  and  voluntary  movement.  The 
attacks  are  more  and  more  violent ;  the  intervals  shorter 
and  shorter ;  and  the  animal  succumbs  rapidly  during  the 
convulsion  or  from  collapse. 

Picroioxin  produces  very  analogous  efiects.  Subjoined 
is  a  resume  from  Orfila,  Mortimer  Glover,  Cayrade, 
Crichton  Brown,  and  Planat  of  the  symptoms  produced  on 
animals  by  picrotoxin. 

The  incidents  of  the  poisoning  present  three  distinct 
periods. 

1st  Period. — Dejection,  restlessness,  agitation,  and 
terror ;  want  of  concord  in  action  of  movements ;  grinding 

*  Translated  from  VArt  M€dical  by  Dr.  A.  B.  Kennedy,  of  Blaokheath,  B.E. 


^^Sr'ns!^       EPILEPSY.  106 


Reviev,  Feb.  1,  U61. 


the  teeihy  salivation,  distortion  of  the  features,  general 
tremor ;  acceleration  of  pulse  and  respiration ;  alight 
elevation  of  temperature ;  occasionally  vomiting, 

2nd  Period. — ^In  dogs,  qnick  movement  of  recoil,  then 
tonic  spasms,  first  in  the  fore  paws  ;  then  opisthotonos. 

These  spasms  are  rapidly  succeeded  by  clonic  convulsions, 
which  invade  the  body  from  above  downwards. 

At  the  height  of  the  attack  the  paws  execute  a  sort  of 
galloping  movement,  which  causes  the  dog  to  turn  on  his 
axis.  During  this  period  there  are  foam  at  the  mouth, 
biting  the  tongue,  cyanosis  of  the  lips  and  the  tongue, 
involuntary  emission  of  urine  and  faeces. 

8rd  Period. — Collapse,  apparent  death,  decrease  in  the 
rapidity  of  the  respiration  and  circulation,  and  lowering  of 
temperature. 

At  the  end  of  several  minutes  the  animal  recovers  con- 
sciousness, raises  itself,  and  commences  to  walk ;  but  soon 
a  fit  stronger  than  the  first  seizes  it,  and  throws  it  to  the 
ground.  Thus  the  attacks  alternate  with  intervals  of 
amelioration. 

If  the  dose  of  poison  has  been  strong,  and  the  animal  is 
going  to  succumb,  the  convulsive  attacks  become  stronger 
and  stronger,  the  intervals  of  repose  shorter  and  shorter, 
and  the  animal  dies  asphyxiated  during  a  convulsion,  or  by 
syncope  during  collapse. 

If  the  dog  is  going  to  recover,  the  attacks  are  at  longer 
intervals,  and  diminish  in  intensity,  but  sometimes  a 
partial  paralysis  is  left  behind.  Some  symptoms  yet  remain 
to  be  noticed,  which  have  escaped  the  general  description, 
and  these  are — contraction  of  the  pupils ;  congestion  of  the 
fundus  oculi;  bloody  stools.  At  the  autopsy  the  same 
lesions  are  formed  as  in  persons  who  have  died  in  a  state 
of  epileptic  or  eclamptic  disease;  the  muscles  present  a 
considerable  elevation  of  temperature,  and  a  rapid  loss  of 
contractility. 

Following  our  usual  custom,  we  pass  in  silence  the 
numerous  and  contradictory  physiological  explanations 
which  have  been  given  of  the  action  of  picrotoxin. 

And  now,  in  what  diseases  might  we  prescribe  cocctUus 
Bud  picrotoxin  ?  What  can  these  convulsant  poisons  be 
good  for  ?  To  cure  epilepsy,  eclampsia,  tetanus,  chorea, 
and  all  convulsive  diseases.  Here  is  how  Dr.  Ernest 
LabbS  expresses  himself  with  regard  to  the  therapeutic 
application  of  jpiC9'D£oa?in ; — ''It  is  in  convulsive  neuroses 


108  EPILKPST.  ^"SlSl 


Its  vis  Vf  fnk.  1«  18M. 


above  all  that  it  shoiild  be  administered :  epilepsy, 
edampsia,  chotea,  tetanas.  See,  Already  we  know  that 
cocculus  was  an<aently  employed  in  these  maladies,  bnt 
altogether  empirically.  Nowadays,  certain  facts  of  experi- 
mental physiology  are  introduced  into  this  application, 
from  which  the  following  theoretical  ideas  are  deriyed. 
Planat  admits,  first  of  all,  with  Brown  Seqnard,  that  the 
mednlla  is  the  nodns  epilepticas,  the  epileptc^nic  focus 
par  excellence ;  then  recognising  that  pierotoxin  possesses 
an  action,  so  to  speak,  on  the  mednlla  oblongata,  he  infers 
the  possibility  of  a  fayonraUe  modification  of  the  nodus 
epilepticus  by  the  active  principle  of  cocc.  indic"  (See  p. 
828.) 

Verily !  But  then,  surely,  M.  Planat  is  a  homoeopath, 
since  he  modifies  the  epileptogenic  focus  by  a  substance 
equally  epileptogenic.  If  he  was  an  allopath  he  ought  to 
have  prescribed  an  "  epileptofugic "  drug — bromide  of 
potassium  for  instance.  It  is  true  that  then  he  would  be 
only  using  palliative  medicine,  whereas  with  picrotoxin  he 
is  employiog  a  curative  mediclDe.  But,  finally,  one  is 
either  an  allopath  or  he  is  not,  and  according  to  his  prin- 
ciples the  sick  person  ought  not  to  be  cured  by  it.  Equally 
homoeopathic  are  M.  Ernest  Labbe,  who  favours  a  similar 
doctrine,  M.  Delambre,  who  publishes  them,  and  all  the 
medical  men — ^and  they  are  already  numerous — ^who  apply 
them  clinically. 

I  know  that  you  do  not  regard  yourselves  as  homoeo- 
paths, because  you  employ  appreciable  doses;  but 
Hahnemann  himself,  during  bait'  his  career,  employed 
massive  doses ;  and  now-a-days,  even  many  physicians  of 
his  school  often  employ  massive  doses.  It  is  not  the  dose 
which  makes  homoeopathy,  but  the  experimental  study  of 
drugs  on  the  healthy  body,  and  their  application  to  the 
treatment  of  disease  according  to  the  law  of  similars — 
similia  simiiibus  curantur. 

Is  it  necessary  to  seek  for  the  physiological  explanation 
of  the  action  of  a  drug  which,  though  admitted  today,  will 
perhaps,  be  rejected  to-morrow  ? 

Stand  firm,  then,  in  positive'  therapeutics :  lake  for  the 
base  of  your  indications  that  which  is  at  the  bottom  of  all 
hypothesis  and  of  every  physiological  system — ^morbid 
phenomena,  the  totality  of  symptoms,  and  lesions  —it  is 
the  solid  and  complete  basis  of  the  domain  of  observation ; 
complcto  these  indications  by  all    known  experimental 


tv&TSS^  HOSPITAL  OUT-PATIENTS  107 

actions  of  the  drug  in  healthy  men  or  in  animals.  Have 
for  yonr  gnidanoe  in  these  provings  the  formnla  **  similia 
iimUibus  euraniur  "  when  yon  desire  to  cure.  The  formula 
**  contraria  eantrariis,*'  when  you  can  only  soothe,  when 
yon  are  reduced  to  palliation  of  a  symptom,  and  you  will  be 
disciples  of  Hahnemann ;  you  will  then  form  part  of  that 
homoBopathy,  so  much  decried  now.  But  console  yourselyes, 
yoa  will  be  the  therapeutists  of  the  future,  positive  and 
experim^ital,  which  will  be  of  more  value  than  despoiling 
homoeopaUiSy  whilst  continuing  to  rail  at  them ;  for,  know 
well,  for  more  than  sixty  years  have  homosopathists 
employed  oocc.  ind.  in  the  treatment  of  epilepsy ;  and  do 
not  imagine  that  you  will  be  able  to  clear  yourselves  of  the 
re]Mroach  of  plagiarism  by  the  physiological  explanation  of 
the  dectiye  aflSnity  of  drugs,  or  by  a  figure  of  rhetoric 
about 

•(The  lance  of  Achilles  "which  healed 
Tb»  woQndB  ^hioh  it  made." 

Hahnemann  and  his  disciples  in  studying  the  action  of 
cocculus  on  the  healthy  body  recognised  its  epileptogenic 
function,  and  did  not  hesitate  to  apply  it  in  the  treatment 
of  epilepsy.  I  will  even  say  that  cocculus  is  of  little  use 
except  in  that  form  of  epilepsy  which  comes  on  unex- 
pectedly in  the  morning,  when  the  patient  suddenly  leaves 
the  horizontal  position  to  get  up.  In  these  cases  I  have 
obtained  success  even  with  scandalously  small  doses  ! 


HOSPITAL  OUT-PATIENTS.* 

THEIR  WAITING-TIME. 

Entbakce  for  Ont-Patients.     Days,  So-and-So.     Hours, 
Sueh-and-Such.    Men,  At  This  ;  Women,  At  That. 

This  much :  with  a  painted  hand  pointing  emphatically 
in  a  downward  and  decided  direction.  And  as  comparison 
of  regulations  with  time-pieces  proved  the  time  to  be  a 
time,  and  to  be  an  opportunity  (women's  time,  and  women's 
opportunity),  the  grey  stone  stairs  were  descended,  the  grey 
stone  area  women  out-patients  had  to  cross  was  crossed,  an 
area-door,  that  seemed  likely,  was  opened,  and  there  the 
Waiting  women,  in  their  waiting-place,  were  seen. 

*  Beprinted  £ram  AU  the  Year  Bound,  Dec.  2oib,  1880. 


108  HOSPITAL  OUT-PATIENTS.  "b^^ST^mm! 

The  women  were  many,  ihe  order  excellent.  Indeed^  all 
was  80  seemly  and  so  tranquil,  there  was  a  sensation  that  a 
small  domestic  conventicle  had  been  soddenly  come  upon ; 
that  acquaintance  had  been  made  with  one  of  those  home- 
meetings  of  the  proscribed,  where  a  few  gathered  together 
in  the  hoose  of  one,  and  the  moving  of  the  spirit  was  listened 
for  eagerly.  The  reason  was  because  benches  ran  from  side 
to  side  of  the  small  room,  at  regolar  intervals ;  because  the 
benches  had  backs  and  foot-rails,  comfortably  and  con- 
siderately (seeing  that  the  patients  were  patients,  and 
would  be  sure  to  be  weak  and  weary) ;  because  the  benches 
were  all  planted  to  look  one  way  (except  that  inevitable 
single  side-row) ;  because  there  was  a  text  or  two  hung  on 
the  walls ;  because  such  women  as  were  newly  entering 
slid  themselves  between  the  benches,  and  along  the  benches 
to  the  end,  precisely  as  they  would  to  seat  themselves  for 
worship,  and  precisely  with  the  same  hush  and  strict 
propriety.  Pervading  the  place,  too,  was  a  certain  darkness 
of  the  sort  that  seems  to  fit  in  (at  any  rate,  conventionally) 
with  Puritanism,  or  other  non-conformity.  And  this  was 
because  this  waiting-place  was  below  the  level  of  the  street, 
with  its  light  a  half-light ;  that,  being  in  a  position  that 
would  be  ordinarily  the  position  of  a  London  kitchen,  it 
looked  out  on  to  paved  yards,  on  to  lime-washed  walls,  on 
to  plain  plank  doors,  on  to  grim  appliances  and  utensils, 
whilst  such  looking  out  was  spare  and  limited,  implying  a 
somewhat  difficult  looking  up,  if  a  wish  existed  to  get  the 
treat  of  undiluted  sunshine,  and  a  peep  of  open  sky. 
Furthermore,  the  small  apartment  had  a  stone  vaulted  roof; 
was  supported  by  slim  pillars — ^which  accounts  for  the 
association  of  ideas,  frilly ;  requiring  only  the  additional 
fjGfcct  that  the  general  colour  to  be  seen  was  drab ;  that  there 
was  nothing  in  the  apartment  to  spare  (barring  the  texts) ; 
nothing  to  move,  nothing  to  disarrange  ;  that  all  that  was 
there  was  orthodox,  prescribed,  administered,  was  guarded 
against  all  chance  of  straying  and  innovation  by  a  shape 
and  ruling  altogether  conservative. 

Good.  And  this  much  sketched  in,  attention  must  be 
given  to  the  women.  They  were  distinguished  by  silence, 
it  has  been  said;  by  placidity  and  composure.  So  apparent 
was  this,  that  though  the  apartment,  in  which  there  could 
have  been  seated  some  fifty  altogether,  were  there  pressurci 
was  about  three  parts  full,  there  was  no  more  whisper,  and 
no  more  murmur,  than  if  three  parts  again  of  these  had 


SSjKfrwJT'SSi?*'  HOSPITAL  OUT-PATIBNTB.  109 

— — ^  »  .  I  I       11  I  ■  .  ■  ■- 1  Ill  0 

been  tamed  oat,  and  the  women  reduced  to  three  or 
four.  Oat  of  them,  a  few  sat  quietly  knitting,  which 
changed  the  eonventicle  aspect  of  the  place,  when  there 
bad  been  time  for  it  to  be  perceived ;  out  of  them,  one  was 
attentive  to  her  book,  which  might,  by  the  way,  have  brought 
the  eonventicle  aspect  back ;  many  of  them  were  merely 
ruminating  and  contemplative ;  it  was  only  a  couple,  or  two 
or  three  couples,  who  were  exchanging  home-chat,  or  world- 
chat,  making  the  low  hushed  whisper  that  was  the  sole 
sound  that  prevailed.  Yet,  in  spite  of  the  propriety  and  the 
impressiveness  of  this,  as  the  women  sat,  looked  at  from  be- 
hind them,  in  their  straight  and  patient  rows,  a  whimsical 
thought  shot  into  the  mind.  What  was  there  of  suffering, 
it  was,  in  front  of  each  one  of  those  backs  ?  What  was 
there  on  the  other  side  of  each  of  those  woollen  garments, 
of  malady,  of  injury,  of  "  tendency,"  or  complaint  ?  Here 
are  the  hind-seamings  of  a  neat,  tight,  cloth  jacket ;  does  it 
cover  a  disordered  liver  ?  Here  is  a  looser  shawl ;  is  it  over 
a  fatty  heart  ?  Then  those  bonnets  presenting  a  back-view 
— all  "crown  "  and  "  curtain  " — entirely  without  suggestion 
or  indication  of  the  wearers  visible  from  the  front.  Under 
this,  is  it  neuralgia  ?  under  that,  deafness  ?  under  those 
others,  contusion,  enlargement,  ''  nerves "  ?  Of  course, 
oould  the  poor  women's  faces,  at  this  first  introduction  to 
them,  have  been  seen,  this  somewhat  too  pathological  and 
seemingly  unsympathetic  wonderment  never  would  have 
come.  Pallor  would  have  been  observable  in  one ;  over- 
redness  in  another ;  emaciation  in  a  third ;  in  others,  the 
distortion,  or  the  disfigurement,  or  the  distress,  that  would 
have  been  some  index  of  the  owner's  unenviable  eligibility 
for  admission,  giving  occupation  for  pity,  and  setting 
conjecture  at  rest.  But  here  there  were  straight  rows  of 
boeless  patients ;  there  were  straight  rows  of  blank  backs 
— stooping,  some  of  them,  or  upright,  or  leaning  for  support. 
There  were  emotionless  bonnet-heads;  non-elucidating  trim- 
mings across  the  napes  of  necks ;  and  there  was  evoked, 
just  for  the  moment,  a  kind  of  aggravation  of  enigma,  a 
sense  of  obstinate  withholding  of  any  knowledge  or  infor- 
mation, that  provoked  queer  speculation,  and — ^the  record 
of  the  speculation  stands. 

Little  harm,  however,  in  the  guessing,  unavailing  as  it 
was.  In  a  short  time  the  solemnity  of  things  changed. 
The  women,  growing  used  to  the  shy  presence  of  each  other, 
forgot  restraint,  and  getting  even  less  like  invaUds,  became 


110  HOSPITAL  OUT-PATIENTS.     *%!SL%!*?"?ft5* 


Emiew,  Feb.  1.  IflU. 


like  womeu  assembled  iogefcher  to  rest  pleftsanilyy  and  to 
indulge  in  chat  at  interraJs,  to  make  the  pleaanie  more. 
They  did  not  do  this  with  a  kind  of  eseape,  dl  at  onee.  It 
came  on  gradnally,  as  relaxation  always  oomes.  The  low 
hnsh  of  whisper  deepened,  say ;  then  came  half-andible  en« 
qoiry  as  to  the  time,  as  to  the  weather,  as  to  some  similar 
topic  that  coald  be  ventured  part  alond.  More  woman 
entered  also,  who  had  to  ask  leave  to  pass ;  other  women 
chafed  at  the  suspense  of  the  waiting,  and  had  to  distorb 
others  to  get  away.  A  little  girl,  sitting  by  her  mother, 
and  complaining  that  her  hands  were  cold,  and  she  could 
not  *'  tat,"  or  "  foot,"  or  drop  one,  stop  one,  slip  one,  whip 
one — or  whatever  was  the  technical  mystery  she  was  doing 
her  best  to  master — gave  at  last  the  general  touch  that 
appealed  to  every  nature,  and  proved  how  all  were  kin. 
Being  invited  to  draw  near  the  fire,  she  drew  near ;  and 
then  afterwards,  going  away  again,  she  was  spirited  up  to 
stray  outside  the  door. 

**  Mother !  "  she  ran  back  quickly  and  said,  ^*  the  outer 
room  is  nearly  full." 

Commotion  came  firom  it  all  round.  Some  women  sighed ; 
some  tapped  out  their  impatience  with  their  boot-toes  upon 
the  boarded  floor;  some  simply  folded  themselves  over 
afresh,  to  settle  to  a  long  wait  again.  One  was  nerved  up 
to  going  to  a  house-porter  she  caught  sight  of  passing,  and 
to  asking  querulously  whether  it  was  her  turn. 

*'  I'll  call  you  when  it  is,"  was  the  somewhat  rough  reply. 
*'  May  as  well  wait  till  you  hear." 

Truly,  and  she  did ;  for  was  there  an  alternative,  except 
to  go? 

There  was  a  woman  of  another  character,  though,  bent 
on  looking  on  the  inevitable  waiting  from  a  much  more 
cheery  side.  *'  Oh,  well,"  she  cried,  **  I  told  my  husband 
I  shouldn't  be  in  till  seven  ;  and  as  he  won't  be  wondering 
where  I  am,  I  have  no  need  to  care." 

Seven !  which  seven  was  yet  three  hours  and  a  half  away. 
But  such  power  has  hopefulness,  on  the  utterer  if  not  the 
listener.     The  cheery  outlook  was  not  over  yet,  nor  nearly. 

*'  You  see,"  the  woman  cried,  for  the  general  enlivening 
and  appeasement,  ''we  are  bound  to  stop  our  turns;  for 
counting  the  country  patients,  which  they  always  take  first, 
because  they  have  to  catch  trains,  and  so  can't  get  home  as 
soon  as  we  can  who  live  near ;  and  counting  the  new  patients, 
which  they  always  take  next,  it  must  be  a  long  time  before 


tS!S^!^!*UiSt^    HOSPITAL  OUT-PATIENTS.  Ill 

we  are  come  to,  and  can't  be  helped.  And,  dear  me,  if 
they  don't  see  me  soon  " — and  she  was  standing  by  now, 
witii  face  turned,  and  it  ooold  be  seen  to  be  lighted  by  a 
happy  smile — ''  I'll  just  send  upstairs,  and  ask  them  to 
make  me  up  a  bed !  " 

She  was  no  stranger  to  the  institution ;  she  was  proud  to 
let  it  be  known,  and,  proudly,  she  proceeded. 

^'  Yes,"  ahe  said,  ruminatingly,  and  looking  lovingly  up 
to  the  bore  branches  of  a  tree  or  two  that  were  just  visible 
by  turning  askew, ''  I  was  here  for  weeks  and  weeks.  When 
those  trees  were  full  of  leaves,  and  when  I  could  see  the 
leaves  moving,  and  could  hear  the  rain  dropping  on  them, 
I  was  so  comforted  ;  it  seemed  to  me  just  like  the  country* 
And  so,  you  see,  I  shouldn't  at  all  mind  coming  here  again, 
if  so  be  it  came  to  be  required." 

Another  incident  of  pleasantness  from  another  patient 
followed.  One  of  the  back-viewed  women,  who  proved  to 
be  a  young  woman,  and  a  comely  woman,  and  a  gentle  wo- 
man of  her  own  good  nature,  when  her  face  was  visible  and 
her  manner  could  be  noted,  was  being  searched  for  by  a 
friend,  a  patient  also,  and  was  recognised,  and  was  made  to 
look  round  by  a  quick  light  tap. 

^'  I  thought  I  should  find  you  I "  cried  the  brisk  new 
comer,  as  young,  and  as  comely,  and  as  gentle  as  her  friend ; 
"  I  didn't  like  to  go  without.     Are  you  better  ?  " 

"  A  good  deal,"  she  was  answered.  '^  But  "—surprised 
— "  you're  not  going,  are  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,**  came  the  reply,  with  quite  a  little  triumph, 
''I've  been  seen,  and  I  am  off,  as  quickly  as  I  can." 

*•  How  nice  for  you,"  said  the  seated  friend.  "  I'm  so 
glad  you're  so  soon.  For  myself,  I'm  afraid  the  doctors 
will  go  before  it's  my  tarn  !  " 

The  other  patient  smiled;  both  the  patients  smiled;  they 
took  pleasant  leave  of  one  another ;  and  the  one  who  was 
left  sitting  was  as  satisfied  as  the  one  who  had  gone,  with 
not  a  speck  of  malice,  envy,  or  the  least  uucharitableness, 
to  mar  her. 

They  were  being  treated  gratuitously,  it  maybe  advanced, 
as  reason  for  their  patience  and  docility.  Yes ;  but  are 
there  not  people,  and  many  people,  receiving  gift-horses 
constantly,  who  yet  look  the  gift-hors^  in  the  mouth,  from 
sunrise  till  sunset,  hungiy,  almost,  to  find  a  defect  on 
which  they  can  take  hold  ?  The  act  of  accepting,  and  the 
fact  of  giving  nothing  for  what  is  accepted,  therefore  cannot 


112  HOSPITAL  OUT-PATIENTB.     ^^Irf^!*?^! 

pass  as  cause  for  all  the  order  and  good  feeling  observable. 
Bat,  then,  can  anything  pass  as  canse,  either,  for  the  med- 
ical profession,  out  of  idl  the  professions,  giving,  at  stated 
hours,  a  large  percentage  of  its  best  skill  without  fee  or 
thought  of  it  ?  Do  lawyers  retain  so  many  hours  a  week 
on  which  they  see  gratis  clients  ?  Do  artists  take  free 
portraits,  and  present  their  pictures  to  the  impecunious, 
having  days  devoted  to  unpaid  sittings  ?  Do  singers  instruct 
periodically  and  continuously  in  vocalisation,  and  remain 
unsalaried  ?  Do  instrumentalists  ?  Do  any  ?  Tet  doctors 
devote  themselves  in  the  manner  that  all  these  levees  of 
out-patients  at  all  the  hospitals  show  they  devote  them- 
selves ;  yet  doctors  do  this  as  a  custom  of  tibeir  profession, 
from  which  no  member  of  it  shrinks.  The  end  of  which  is 
that  medicine  has  a  badge  of  nobility  possessed  by  no  other 
profession  ;  that  medicine,  if  it  had  not  too  much  modesty 
even  to  have  thought  of  itself  as  enjoying  this  uniqueness, 
might  very  well  be  proud  of  it. 

Well,  similar  small  incidents  to  those  that  have  been 
already  noted  continue  to  come.  The  little  girl,  as  it 
happens,  continues  to  bring  the  most.  She  reports,  every 
two  minutes  about,  as  to  what  it  is  o'clock ;  she  reports 
that  80  many  patients  have  walked  straight  into  the  other 
room,  that  so  many  have  been  attended  to,  and  gone  out ; 
she  invents  a  very  methodical  plan  of  meeting  her  mother 
when  they  have  both  seen  their  doctors,  and  they  will  be 
wanting  to  get  away. 

"  I  shall  go  in  to  Dr.  Comma,  you  know,"  she  arranged, 
"  and  you'll  go  in  to  Dr.  Full -Stop.  Then,  when  we  come 
out,  I'll  wait  for  you  at  Dr.  Full-Stop's  door,  and  if  you 
don't  find  me  there,  you'll  come  and  wait  at  Dr.  Comma's 
for  me.     Understand  ?  " 

It  was  a  thing  that  might  be  understood,  its  difficulties 
not  being  special.     And  this  was  smilingly  indicated. 

More  than  a  smile  was  given  after  though,  when  the 
child  made  her  next  announcement. 

''  Dr.  Hyphen-Star  has  come !  "  she  burst  back  and  cried. 
"  Mother,  Dr.  Hyphen-Star  !  " 

When  excitement  ran  round  the  whole  assembly  enjoy- 
ably,  the  patients  roused  themselves  from  their  yawning, 
or  their  passiveness,  or  their  docility,  whichever  was  their 
mode,  the  patients  became  quite  refreshed.  One  woman, 
though,  made  that  old  confession  of  her  own  obscurity  by 


bSSi^^ITSwT  hospital  out-patients,  118 


th6  old  mode  of  enquiring  dreamily  of  the  woman  next  her 
who  Dr.  Hyphen-Star  might  be. 

"Don't  you  know?"  she  was  met  with,  surprised. 
"  Never  heard  of  Dr.  Hyphen-Star  ?  Why,  he'll  soon  be 
the  leading  man  of  any,  so  they  say  !  His  priyate  practice 
is  immense !  '* 

Quite  immense!  seemed  to  be  the  improved,  though 
inaudible  chorus  from  all,  with  a  sort  of  reflected  pride. 
Business  went  on  more  briskly  at  any  rate  after  the  last 
arrival,  because  an  additional  officer  (no  matter  what  his 
ehances)  naturally  led  to  additional  expedition.  The  room, 
in  fact,  sensibly  thinned  before  long.  Into  it  there  came 
such  ories  from  time  to  time,  and  from  the  roughish  voice, 
as  "  Numbers  up  to  ten  for  Dr.  Comma!''  as  "Patients 
for  Dr.  Full-Stop  ! "  as  "  Any  other  country  patients  !  " 

Out  of  it  went  woman  after  woman,  the  familiar  and  the 
obscure,  the  child,  and  her  mother,  till  it  seemed  well  to  go 
out  also,  and  see  what  was  the  finishing  chapter  in  their 
contented  and  well-ordered  arrangement. 

A  larger  room,  that,  at  the  first  glance,  seemed  all  that 
iliere  was  of  innovation  or  variety ;  a  much  larger  room, 
and  many  more  women,  so  many  more  women  that  there 
were  not  seats  for  all ;  that  women  were  standing  in  thick 
clusters,  and  in  proper  rows,  en  queue ;  that  they  were 
moving  in  rotation,  or  selection.  But  when  the  gas  had 
been  lighted,  and  things  were  understood,  there  was  more 
difference  than  this  to  be  noted.  Certain  ends  of  the  room 
had  been  partitioned  off  as  quiet  consulting  rooms ;  there 
was  one  of  these  compartments  for  each  doctor  on  the  staff; 
each  was  closely  cut  off  and  shut  in  from  the  rest  of  the 
room,  and  from  one  another ;  each  had  the  name  of  the 
doctor  using  it,  put  prominently  on  it  for  direction  ;  each 
had  its  attendant  batch,  or  cluster,  of  patients  waiting  near 
by,  so  that  they  might  go  in  numerical  order,  the  instant 
a  seen  patient  came  out. 

''  There,  it's  your  turn  next,"  one  of  the  waiting  women, 
a  happy,  chatty  little  creature,  said  to  a  young  girl,  as  she 
pleasantly  manoeuvred  her  into  place.  ^*  You  stand  there, 
ready.  For  your  number  is  before  mine,  and  then  mine  is 
next." 

She  might  have  been  a  railway-passenger,  waiting  at  the 
pay-office  to  take  tickets  for  the  next  excursion  train,  she 
waa  so  cheery  and — apparently — well ;  she  might  have  had, 
moreover,  plenty  of  provisions  for  a  joyous  journey,  and 

No  2,  Vol.  26.  I 


114  HOSPITAL  OUT-PATIENTS,  '"B^^KbTSlttt! 

welcoming  friends  to  wait  for  her  at  the  end  of  it.  Tet 
this  woman  had  been  struck  with  fright,  or  grief,  or  some 
canse  that  had  affected  the  nerves  of  her  throat,  she  unfolded, 
when  she  was  gently  asked ;  she  had  been  struck  with  it 
so  seyerely,  it  was  tiiought  she  never  could  be  cured ;  she 
had  herself  given  herself  up  to  death,  and  her  sufferings 
had  been  intense.  She  was  not  well  yet,  as  her  presence 
there  testified ;  for  all  that,  well,  it  was  only  necessary  to 
see  her,  and  to  hear  her,  to  be  aware  of  how  she  overcame 
the  much  that  was  remaining  with  her,  and  to  be  full  of 
admiration.  It  is  only  necessary  to  add  that,  as  she  and 
the  other  women  emerged  from  the  consulting-rooms,  seen 
and  satisfied,  they  filed  up,  through  barriers,  to  the  dis- 
pensary; that  they  handed  in  their  prescriptions  and  bottles 
patientiy,  through  a  sliding  window ;  that  they  were  attended 
to,  quickly  and  compassionately,  by  a  lady  dispenser — this 
new  branch  of  skilled  female  labour  having  been  ezperi* 
mented  upon  at  this  hospital,  and  found  entirely  successful. 
That  they  then  were  told  when  they  were  to  come  again, 
and  had  only  to  pass  out,  finding  their  way  up  into  t^e 
streets  at  another  side  of  the  building,  through  another 
area-door. 

A  short  account,  now,  of  the  grey  stone  building,  belong- 
ing to  the  grey  stone  stairs,  and  to  the  grey  stone  area,  down 
and  across  which  out-patients  had  to  go.  It  is  a  building 
full  of  fascinating  historical  interest. 

When  Bolingbroke  was  sharing  with  Harley  the  honours, 
fugitive  as  they  were,  of  Queen  Aime's  expiring  govern- 
ment, with  the  Marlboroughs  to  wrangle  about  this,  and 
Mrs.  Masham  to  alternately  help  and  foil  the  whole,  profuse 
preparations  were  being  made  to  receive  a  new  ambassador, 
the  Due  d'Aumont,  from  Louis  Quatorze. 

**  We  lost  our  opportunity  to  hire  the  Earl  of  Leicester's 
house  for  you,  **  writes  Bolingbroke,  in  French,  to  this  ex- 
pected and  magnificent  official,  writing  it  on  November  11, 
1712 ;  '*  which  I  am  sorry  for,  because  it  will  be  difficult  to 
find  another  that  may  suit  you ;  however,  I  shall  not  fail  to 
contribute  my  endeavours  for  that  purpose. " 

The  end  of  the  endeavours  was  that  the  ambassador,  with 
his  retinue,  with  his  manage,  with  his  ceremonies,  his 
splendour,  his  lavish  expenditure,  his  foreign  refinements 
and  graces,  was  taken  to  the  very  spot  of  ground  where  the 
out-door  patients  have  been  seen  at  waiting-time  on  this 
women's  afternoon ;  and  that,  in  full  peruke,  and  buckram, 


BSiS^SrrSm^  hospital  out-patients.  116 

and  powder,  and  iaoe-patches,  his  excellency  held  his  costly 
court  there.  It  was  Powis  Hoase  then  ;  built  by  William 
Herbert,  Marquis  of  Powis.  This  was  the  Powis  who  was 
with  James  the  Second  in  Ireland  at  the  Battle  of  the  Boyne; 
who  was  excluded  by  name  from  the  Bill  of  Indemnity 
issued  by  William  and  Mary ;  who  was  with  the  GhevaUer 
when  big  moek-highness  was  proclaimed  king  at  Warkworth, 
Morpeth,  and  Alnwick ;  who  was,  for  all  this  work  and 
more  like  it,  in  1716  committed  to  the  Tower,  and  rendered 
unable,  eonsequently,  to  do  much  residence  at  his  own 
stately  town-mansion  in  person.  And  Powis  House  was 
worthy  of  the  choice  that  fell  upon  it  by  Bolingbroke,  un- 
doubtedlyi  Great  Ormond  Street,  where  it  stood,  and 
stands,  was  the  resort  then  of  those  who  loved  the  beautiful, 
and  who  had  the  leisure  to  go  and  seek  it.  Says  a  Critical 
Beviewer  of  the  sights  of  the  metropolis,  writing  even  as 
late  as  1784 :  '*  Onnond  Street  is  another  place  of  pleasure, 
and  that  side  of  it  next  the  fields  is,  beyond  question,  one 
of  the  most  charming  situations  about  town."  Was 
it  not  fit  for  Bolingbroke  to  fix  therein  the  elegant 
French  peer  ?  Close  by  was  Southampton  Bow,  which  the 
same  Critical  Beviewer  says  was  ''  built  for  the  sake  of  the 
prospect  before  it,  but  for  my  part,  I  should  be  uneasy  at 
residing  there,  for  want  of  shelter  from  the  wind  in  winter, 
and  the  sun  in  summer ; "  a  state  of  things  that  must  have 
given  the  ambassador  a  £Eivourable  idea  of  English  climate, 
and  bmte  kept  him  pleasantly  ignorant  of  London  fogs.  As 
for  the  house  itself,  as  it  was  when  M.  le  Due  was  driven 
up  to  it  after  Bolingbroke  had  offered  him  a  frigate  or  two 
to  convey  his  equipage  across  the  Channel,  and  the  queen's 
orders  for  two  ships  then  in  the  Downs,  it  must  have  been 
grand,  for  the  ambassador  was  a  grand  man.  ''  I  expect 
you  with  impatience,*'  wrote  Bolingbroke  to  him  from 
Whitehall,  on  September  26,  1712,  just  before  the  fiEdlure 
to  hire  Leicester  House.  *^  The  king  "  (Louis  the  Four- 
teenth) **  makes  the  Due  d'Aumont  knight  of  his  orders 
before  his  departure,"  writes  De  Toroy  from  Versailles  to 
Bolingbroke,  delightedly.  **  At  present  my  time  passes 
unpleasantly  enough,"  writes  Bolingbroke  to  the  Due  him- 
self,  a  year  after,  ''  but  I  hope  to  be  recompensed  during 
the  four  days  I  am  to  pass  with  you."'  **  From  my  stable, 
among  dogs  and  horses,  in  the  midst  of  the  most  profound 
retreat,  I  have  nothing  to  wish  for  to  make  me  completely 
happy  but  the  conversation  of  the  dear  Due  d'Aumont," 

1^2 


116  HOSPITAL  OUT-PATIENTS.    "S^fSK"?^! 

writes  Bolingbroke  to  him  again.  "  Wherever  I  am,  the 
Dnc  d'Amnont  shall  certainly  not  he  forgotten.  I  embrace 
you  a  thousand  and  a  thousand  times ;  may  I  cease  to  live 
when  I  cease  to  be  with  perfect  devotion  yours/'  and  so  forth. 
All  of  which,  of  course,  meant  riches,  and  gaiety,  superb 
entertainments,  brilliant  salons,  and  Powis  House  must 
have  been  of  the  sort  to  suit  it.  There  was  masquerading 
there — M.  le  Due's  own  novelty.  It  was  introduced  **  into 
this  city  in  our  time,"  writes  Steele  bitterly,  in  The  Free- 
thinker, *'  by  a  French  duke,  whose  chief  business  was  to 
seduce  us  by  specious  appearances,  and  to  undermine  the 
virtue  of  the  nation  by  such  methods  of  luxury."  There 
was  gaming  there — high  gaming — ^for  the  Grand  Monarque 
had  to  give  his  grand  representative  a  sum  of  one  hundred 
thousand  livres,  together  with  a  pension  of  fifty  thousand 
livres  for  four  years,  in  order  that  his  finances  might,  in 
some  way,  be  set  right  after  what  has  been  justly  called  his 
vain,  and  ostentatious,  and  ruinous  embassy.  There  was 
plotting  there — ^plots  about  the  Pretender,  and  plots  about 
the  peace,  all  of  them  so  much  identified  with  the  Due 
d'Aumont,  in  his  lace  and  flippancy,  his  perfumes  and  plush 
lappels,  that  the  anti-Stuart  party,  following  the  leadership 
of  Steele  (then  M.P.,  and  on  his  tnal  for  anti-Stuart  writings, 
and  being  voted  to  be  expelled  the  House),  became  an  anti- 
D'Aumont  party  into  the  bargain,  and  grew  enraged.  They 
sang  ballads  about  this  luxurious  French  Mounseer  they 
hated — ^ballads  in  English,  ballads  in  French,  and  scurrilous 
all ;  they  met  this  luxurious  French  Mounseer  they  hated, 
and  insulted  him  to  his  patched  face  in  the  open  streets ; 
they  wrote  anonjnnous  letters,  threatening  the  luxurious 
Mounseer  that  they  would  bum  his  hired  Powis  House  about 
his  ears ;  till  at  last  there  came  small  riotings  from  one 
small  cause  and  another  conjoined,  and  there  was  really 
heard  the  cry  of  ''Fire ! "  from  Mounseer's  splendid  residence, 
the  flames  leaped  through  it,  and  it  was  levelled  to  the 
ground. 

The  Powis  House,  therefore,  in  which  out-patients  have 
been  seen  to  sit  during  their  waiting-time,  on  this  women's 
afternoon,  is  not  the  absolute  Powis  House  to  which 
Bolingbroke,  and  Harley,  and  the  Abbe  Gualtier,  and 
Mesnager,  and  a  throng  of  gay  others,  were  carried,  in  sedan 
chairs  and  gilt  coaches,  during  the  occupancy  of  the  Due 
d'Aumont.  This  present  Powis  House  is  the  one  that  was 
rebuilt  after  the  fire ;  and  touching  the  rebuilding  there  is 


faSS^^^b^TSS^    HOSPITAL  OtT-PATlBNtS.  117 

-  ■—  ,       I.       I  i  f 

told  a  pretty  story.  It  is  said  that  Louis  Qaatorze,  desiring 
to  be  beholden  to  no  fire-insurance  company  for  salvage 
money,  or  restitution  money,  or  the  like,  and  not  conceiving 
it  politic  to  adopt  the  suggestion  that  his  ambassador's 
residence  had  been  burnt  of  intent,  insisted  upon  doing 
the  rebuilding  at  his  own  cost.  It  is  possible.  It  is  said, 
though,  that  Louis  Quatorze,  in  rebuilding,  rebuilt  to  hit 
his  ambassador's  requirements.  One  of  these  was  that  his 
excellency  should  fish ;  and  the  king,  it  is  asserted,  had  the 
new  roof  constructed  so  that  it  should  hold  an  artificial 
pond,  artificially  stocked ;  by  the  side  of  which  M.  le  Duo 
could  hold  his  rod  and  lines,  soothed  by  the  charming  pros- 
pect, and  benefited  by  the  fine  air,  and  could  angle,  and 
could  angle,  and — ^be  amused.  It  will  not  hold.  For  M. 
le  Due  d'Aumont  only  held  office  for  a  year.  Powis  House 
could  not  have  been  inhabited  by  him,  and  burnt,  and  re- 
planned,  and  rebuilt,  in  such  an  insignificant  space  of  time ; 
and — that  part  of  the  pretty  little  story  goed. 

The  matter  now  left  to  be  mentioned  is  confined  to  very 
small  dimensions.  In  1734,  the  Critical  Beviewer  men- 
tions the  rebuilt  edifice  thus :  **  Powis  House  is  a  building  of 
much  beauty  and  elegance,  the  lower  part  of  it,  in  par- 
ticular, has  a  very  good  claim  to  applause,  but  then  the  attio 
storey  is  monstrous,  out  of  proportion,  and  no  way  akin  to 
taste.  To  this  we  may  add  that  the  house  itself  is  pent  up 
for  want  of  room,  and  stands  greatly  in  need  of  wings  to 
make  it  perfect  and  complete.  "  The  house  itself,  at  the 
present  day,  being  not  nearly  so  much  pent  up  for  want  of 
room,  seeing  that  it  has  been  mach  enlarged,  stands  only 
in  need  of  being  better  known  to  make  it  perfect  and  com- 
plete. It  is  the  Homoeopathic  Hospital  for  General  Cases 
— for  children  as  well  as  women  and  men — lying  quite  half 
a  mile  away  from  any  other  hospital  applied  to  the  same 
purposes,  and  whilst  allowing  for  the  wide  difference  of 
judgment  that  exists  as  to  the  advisability  of  homoBopathio 
treatment — a  question  for  discussion  in  medical  journals, 
not  in  this — there  can  be  no  two  thoughts  about  the 
advantage  of  instant  application  of  skilful  surgery  the 
moment  it  is  required ;  and  as  the  difference  between  con- 
veying an  injured  person  to  rest  and  relief  near  at  hand, 
and  conveying  him  over  another  half-mile  of  ground  to  get 
it,  might  prove  to  be  the  exact  difference  between  life  and 
death,  it  is  well  it  should  be  remembered  that  there  is  this 
extra  haven  in  Great  Ormond  Street,  and  that,  exactly  likq 


118 BEYIEWB. ^'S^jiBrgiSS! 

similar  insiitationBy  it  has  its  doors  hospitably  open  night 
and  day. 

Whilst  the  question  of  receiving  paying  patients  in 
hospitals,  too,  is  secoring  mnoh  public  attention,  the  com- 
mittee in  Great  Ormond  Street  are  quietly  taking  paying 
patients  in,  and  will  be  able  in  due  time  to  report  as  to 
results. 


REVIEWS. 

Surgical  Disecues  and  their  Homoeopathic  Therapeutics.  By 
J.  G.  GiLCBBiST,  M.D.  8rd  edition.  Re-written.  Chicago. 
Duncan  Brothers.    1880. 

Thb  scope  of  this  work  is  thus  defined  by  Dr.  Gilchrist  in  his 
preface :  "All  true  homoeopaths  will  gladly  lend  their  aid  to 
hasten  the  time  when  a  surgical  operation,  for  the  cure  of  a 
morbid  affection,  will  be  justly  considered  a  confession  of 
ignorance  and  incapacity.  Tlie  present  work,"  the  writer  hopes, 
«  will  have  some  little  influence  in  this  direction." 

The  author  was  lecturer  to  the  Homoeopathic  College  of  the 
University  of  Michigan;  and  the  lectures  he  deliyered  in  that 
capacity  form  the  ground-work  of  the  present  volume.  In  the 
preface  to  the  first  edition,  dated  1878,  he  claims  to  be  the  first 
to  give  a  systematic  treatise  on  the  apphcation  of  homoeopathic 
therapeutics  to  the  treatment  of  surgical  diseases.  His  work,  he 
says,  is  ''a  Pioneer  Work." 

He  starts  with  the  principle  that  there  is  no  such  thing  as  load 
disease.  Tumours,  ulcers,  and  abnormal  growths  are  but  peri- 
pheral symptoms  of  a  generally  diseased  organism  ;  and  surgical 
differ  from  other  diseases,  merely  in  the  fact  that  the  former  are 
chiefly  recognised  through  objective  symptoms.  There  is,  how- 
ever, a  difficulty  in  finding  a  true  simillimum  in  such  cases ;  for 
it  is  but  rarely  that  a  prover  has  been  able  to  produce  sudi 
manifest  objective  symptoms,  e.g,,  a  tumour  or  an  ulcer,  in  the^ 
course  of  his  experimental  provings.  Indeed,  it  is  among  the 
clinical  symptoms  of  a  drug  that  we  most  often  find  an  indication 
for  its  use  in  surgical  cases.  This  work  then  is  a  guide  to 
these  clinical  symptoms  more  especially^  It  indicates,  for  instaooe, 
what  drugs  have  apparently  cured  cataract, — ^it  is  for  the  student 
to  search  in  the  symptomatology  of  these  indicated  drugs,  for  a 
remedy  which  shall  be  a  true  simillimum,  taking  into  considera- 
tion Uie  subjective  symptoms,  the  constitution,  diathesis,  and 
mental  peculiarities  of  the  patient. 

In  the  introduction,  we  find  an  enquiry  into  the  nature  and 
causation  of  disease.  **  Before  an  organ  can  become  diseased 
there  must  be  some  chtmgo  ih  the  coihbimttion  of  its  atoms. 


' 


fi^&Tia!"'  BBVUWS. 119 

This  change  may  be  one  of  motion^  of  proportion  or  of  quality. 
Diseases  commence  on  the  atomic  plane,  thej  are  at  first  merdj 
functional,  and  proceed  from  changes  in  vital ^harmony.*'  This 
tbeoxj  eoconrages  the  author  to  maintain  tlie  curability  of  the 
most  formidable  surgical  diseases,  and  gives  additional  ground 
for  bdief  in  the  efficacy  of  attenuated  remedies.  For  if  disease 
be  caused  only  by  molecular  and  atomic  changes,  its  removal 
must  likewise  be  afected  by  promoting  an  alteration  in  atomic 
production,  motion,  or  combination.  And  if  disease  is  a  pheno- 
menon of  motion  merely,  the  quantity  of  the  remedial  agent  can 
have  but  little  to  do  with  the  result. 

"Thus,"  says  our  author,  <*we  must  treat  the  individual, 
rather  than  ibe  disease,  and  in  true  HahTiemanian  manner  address 
ourselves  to  the  totality  of  symptoms." 

Coming  to  the  practical  portion  of  the  book,  we  find  the  first 
chapter  treats  of  Inflammation.  In  describing  the  pathology 
of  inflammation,  the  author  quotes  largely  from  Holmes* 
System  of  Surgery.  In  the  matter  of  treatment  he  lays  great 
stress  on  the  exclusion  of  air,  and  the  sparing  application  of 
water. 

The  second  chapter  is  on  Erysipelas.  In  its  treatment  Dr. 
Gilchrist  rigorously  forbids  the  use  of  alcohol,  even  in  the  worst 
cases  of  phlegmonous  erysipelas;  this  he  does  in  view  of  its 
secondary  depressant  effect.  Arsenic  is  indicated  in  cases  of 
sqptic  poisoning.  SiUca  also  has  in  its  pathogenesis  a  picture 
of  the  worst  forms  of  phlegmonous  erysipelas,  with  a  tendency  to 
eitand  in  depth ;  whereas  in,  rhus  tox»  the  tendency  is  to  super- 
ficial extension  with  typhoid  symptoms.  Lachesis  and  belladonna 
are  also  useful,  the  latter  when  the  heat  is  pungent  and  radi- 
ating; the  fonnerwhen  the  suppuration  occurs  in  spots,  drying 
into  cheesy  masses  from  which  the  skin  peels  off. 

The  cluster  on  Suppuration  and  Abscess  follows.  The  remedies 
indicated  are  distinguished  by  the  character  of  the  discharge, 
thns :-— .^TMiea,  for  hnmorrhagio  effusion;  arsenicup'.f  putrid, 
copious,  bloody  discharge ;  baryta  c,  lymphatic  abscess ;  bellch 
donna,  offensive,  scanty  pus,  thick  and  yellow ;  calcarea  carb.^ 
pus  copious  or  scanty ;  calendula,  landible  pus  but  too  profuse  ; 
carbo,  veg,,  bloody  and  ichorous ;  hepar  «.,  for  encouraging  sup- 
puration ;  iodiiMj  hectic  discharge,  very  profrise ;  mercurius,  to 
arrest  formation  of  pus  in  a  threatened  abscess;  phosphorus^ 
copious,  yellow ;  Pulsatilla^  green ;  rhus,  serous  corroding ; 
Mm,  brown,  gelatinous  or  thin ;  sulphur,  thin  black  and  putrid 
pus,  &c. 

In  discussing  the  cause  and  nature  of  pyeemia,  Dr.  Gilchrist' 
describes  it  as  a  veritable  toxcemia.  In  any  case,  the  germ 
theory  finds  but  little  favour  in  his  eyes.  Arsenicum  is  here  the 
sheet  apchor.    The  great  depression  and  prostration  are  very 


1^0  REVIEWS*  Rmvmw.  PaH.  1.  IflBl. 


Bariew.  Fel».  1,  UBL 


\ 


characteristic  of  that  drag.  Paerperal  septicsemia,  under  his 
treatment,  seldom  has  a  faXal  resolt ;  and  here  he  relies  on  the 
same  medicine,  with  the  addition  of  rhus  and  siUeay  &c. 

In  the  treatment  of  nlcers  all  local  applications  are  rigor- 
onslj  forbidden,  except  in  yaricose  nlcers,  however,  where  a 
plain  bandage  is  admissible.  The  remedy  is  to  be  exhibited  in 
a  high  dilation,  not  below  the  SOth.  Nearly  every  remedy  in 
the  JMateria  Mediea  may,  according  to  Dr.  Gilchrist,  be  consnlted* 
HamameUs  virginica  is  espedaDy  praised  as  a  specific  in  cases  of 
varicose  nicer,  although  its  use  is  confessed  to  be  merely  em- 
pirical. Indolent  nlcers  are  treated  by  a  constant  galvanie 
corrent,  thus : — *'  A  piece  of  silver  foil  is  cut  the  exact  size  of 
the  nicer,  and  connected  by  six  inches  of  copper  wire  to  a  zinc 
plate  the  same  size.  The  silver  is  applied  to  the  nicer,  and  the 
zinc  to  the  skin ;  a  piece  of  kid,  wet  with  vinegar,  being  between 
it  and  the  skin."  We  have  fonnd  Martin's  solid  indOa-mbber 
bandage  applied  direct  to  the  ulcer  very  efficacious  in  the  most 
inveterate  and  obstinate  ulcerations  of  all  varieties.  There  are 
four  cases  detailed,  in  which  carbo.  veg,^  80,  sarsap,^  puis.,  12, 
and  sempervivum  Uct,  Ix.,  are  credited  with  the  cure. 

In  the  different  varieties  of  mortification,  arseme  is  indicated 
in  cases  of  senile  gangrene ;  lachesis  where  the  disease  is  confined 
to  the  skin;  secalecor.f  80,  in  chronic  gangrene.  In  the  treat- 
ment of  bed  sores,  where,  it  should  be  remembered,  spinal 
irritation  plays  an  important  role,  artetiicum  is  the  principal 
remedy. 

In  cases  of  carbuncle,  the  homoeopathic  treatment  is  very 
satisfactory.  Anmic  here,  too,  is  the  main  remedy.  Severe  pain 
may  be  reUeved  instantly  by  inserting  a  bit  of  caustic  potash  into 
one  of  the  apertures.  No  crucial  incisions  are  necessary. 
Belladonna  is  indicated  if  brain  symptoms  predominate,  and 
lachesis  when  the  ulceration  spreads  with  much  discoloration 
around. 

Boils  may  sometimes  be  aborted  by  arnica  internally,  and 
whitlow  by  the  external  application  of  iris  versicolor — so  says 
Br.  Gilchnst. 

The  first  part,  that  treating  of  general  surgical  diseases,  con- 
eludes  with  the  chapter  on  Tumours.  The  author  has  paid  a 
good  deal  of  attention  to  this  subject,  and  has  ahready  published 
a  treatise  entitied  Tumours  ;  their  Etiology  and  Curability. 

With  regard  to  operation,  he  says:  "A  tumour  is  only  the 
symptom  of  the  disease,  and  not  the  disease  itself.  It  would  be 
just  as  rational  to  cut  out  the  pocks  in  small-pox,  as  to  cut  out  a 
tumour  and  expect  therefrom  a  cure."  His  arguments  for  delay 
in  resorting  to  operative  measures  are  weighty.  His  experience 
appears  to  have  been  considerable,  and  therefore  he  spe^  with 
authority.    He  has  seen  <*  latent  morbid  processes  at  a  distance 


Sa^J£T«?^  BBvmws.  121 


Beflew,  Feb.  1,  ISU. 


ezeited  into  ftcUvity  by  remoTing  a  tamoar ;  *'  as  in  the  case  of 
Blight's  disease  following  the  ablation  of  sebaceous  tmnours.  He 
advises  the  surgeon  at  all  events  to  wait  till  a  tomonr  has 
attained  its  full  development,  when  it  ceases  to  grow,  and  the 
morbid  process  is  extinct.  He  adduces  instances  of  the  heredi- 
tary nature  of  sebaceons  tnmonrs,  and  of  fatty  and  other  benign 
tomotffs ;  of  the  transference  of  the  morbid  process  from  one 
place  to  another  after  excision.  He  therefore  strongly  urges 
perseverance  in  the  exhibition  of  well-chosen  remedies,  for  a 
protracted  period,  in  all  cases,  even  where  it  appears  hopeless  to 
expect  any  result  except  from  an  operation. 

The  signs  of  approaching  cure  are  thus  enumerated :  "  In,  from 
one  to  six  months  the  growth  of  the  tumour  will  be  stayed,  and 
this  period  of  quiescence  will  be  followed  by  softening  of  the 
whole  tumour.  The  skin  will  begin  to  itch  and  bite,  the  lym- 
phatics will  be  readily  traced  and  somewhat  enlarged,  the  gbmds 
will  be  slightly  tumefied,  but  there  will  be  no  real  increase  of  pain, 
and  the  general  health  will  improve.  If  such  a  result  follow 
treatment,  you  may  congratulate  your  patient  and  yourself  on 
having  made  a  cure  on  scientific  principles,  tfnd  you  need  have 
no  fear  of  recurrence.'* 

In  the  treatment  of  cystic  tumours,  the  author  speaks  highly 
of  the  results  of  electrolysis,  and  cases  of  cure  are  related  by 
eolocynth  200,  by  apis  1,  platin.,  graphites,  calcarea  carb,,  and 
Judibrcm. 

The  results  of  treatment  in  cases  of  epithelioma  are  very  satis- 
factory. The  principal  remedies  are  carbolic  add,  hydrasUSf 
kreosoUy  phosphorus^  auruntj  thuja,  sulphur. 

Then  follows  a  very  interesting  list  of  cases  of  true  malignant 
disease  which  have  been  cured.  The  list  is  long  and  exhaustive, 
and  is  accompanied  by  full  reference  to  the  authorities  quoted. 
In  Dr.  GHlchrist's  own  practice,  apis  met.  is  credited  with  the 
eura  of  cancerous  ulceration  and  of  semi-malignant  growths  and 
small  ulcers,  with  grey  sloughs,  deep,  and  running  into  one 
another,  with  erysipelatous  inflammation  of  the  skin.  Arsenicum 
iod,  seems  better  fitted  than  ars,  alb.  to  cure  easily  bleeding  foul 
destructive  ulcers,  characterised  by  pain  deep  in  the  interior  of 
the  tumour.  It  is  also  indicated  in  cases  of  lupus.  Baryta  earb. 
has  been  found  useful  in  the  glandular  and  atheromatous  tumours 
of  old  people,  and  in  cases  of  lipoma.  Silica^  however,  in  a 
high  potency  k  our  anthor's  favourite  remedy,  and  in  his  hands 
has  cured  more  tumours  than  any  other.  He  also  uses  it, 
together  with  sulphur ,  to  complete  the  amelioration  begun  by 
other  remedies. 

Time  and  spaee  forbid  us  to  follow  our  author  through  the 
seeoud  part  of  his  book.    We  wotdd  especially  commend  the 


122  RBvmwB.  "^J^^SKTSS* 


B«Tkir,EUi.  l,18tt. 


chapter  on  aneurism,  that  on  bone  disease,  and  the  conclnding 
one  on  syphilis. 

With  regard  to  the  question  of  dose,  Dr.  Gilchrist  asserts  on- 
phatically  that,  at  least  in  bone  diseases,  the  80th  centewmiil 
dilution  is  the  lowest  that  he  has  found  really  useful.  In  acute 
cases  it  is  his  practice  to  give  a  dose  evexy  hour ;  in  chronic 
cases,  one  dose  a  day  until  some  impression  is  made,  and  then 
the  remedy  is  discontinued  as  long  as  any  medicinal  action 
continues. 

Although  a  systematic  work  on  surgery,  and  originally  delivered 
to  a  class  of  students  at  the  Michigan  University,  it  ondia  all 
notice  of  operative  procedures.  It  would  have  been  a  great  boon 
to  the  English  practitioner,  at  least,  if  it  could  have  been  still 
farther  abbreviated  by  the  omission  of  much  of  the  pathology 
and  the  descriptive  and  theoretical  matter,  and  had  been  devoted 
exclusively,  as  its  title  indicates,  to  the  homoeopathic  therapeutics 
of  surgical  diseases.  There  is  a  good  deal  of  matter  extracted 
from  Holmes*  System  of  Surgery,  and  elsewhere,  which  is  not 
improved  by  the  process  of  transplantatioQ.  Indeed  the  author's 
English,  or  rather  American,  is  sometimes  rather  involved, 
and  his  meaning  not  very  clear.  Certain  inelegancies  of  diction 
too  crop  up  frequently.  * '  Morbus  hightii ' '  looks  uncanny ;  and  so 
does  '*  Emu-genesis.'*  The  latter,  we  should  say,  is  the  title  of  a 
work  Dr.  Gilchristhas  passing  through  the  press,  entitled  Surgical 
Emu-genesis  and  Accidents,  However,  it  is  evident  the  author 
writes  from  a  thorough  knowledge  and  wide  experience  of  his 
subject,  and  possesses  a  robust  faith  in  the  efficacy  of  homceo- 
pathic  remedies,  which  must  prove  invigorating  and  refreshing  to 
aD  who  consult  his  pages. 

We  feel  sure  that  the  sympathetic  reader  will  rise  from  a 
careful  perusal,  with  the  conviction  that  there  is  no  surgical 
disease,  however  formidable,  which  is  wholly  outside  the  Fange 
of  homoeopathic  therapeutic  treatment.  It  will  have  done  a  really 
good  work  if  it  encourages  homoeopathic  practitioners  to  persevere 
steadily  in  the  use  of  remedies,  even  when  a  case  ^ipears  well- 
nigh  hopeless.  '*  More  than  once,**  says  Dr.  Qilchrist,  *.^  I  have 
been  on  the  point  of  giving  up.trsaibnent  and  xesortiDg  to  tf- 
tirpation,  when  the  tumour  has  suddenly  commenced  to .  dis- 
appear.'* We  have  ourselves  recently  seen  two  wdL-marked 
cases  of  epithelioma  cured  by  homoeopathic  treatment,  after  tboy 
had  been  pronounced  incurable  by  surgeons  of  eminence.  Both 
made  a  complete  recovery,  although  both  were  condemned  to  the 
knife,  and  one  had  already  recuired  after  operation. 

We  fear  that  the  homceopathic  practitioner,. in  this  country  at 
least,  is  far  too  ready  to  transfer  the  cure  of  surgical  patients 
into  the  hands  of  the  orthodox  specialist.  No  m^ter  how  serious 
or  how  slight  the  case,  we  believe  that  «  homoeopath  baa  no  right 


thus  to  deprive  his  patient  of  all  therapeutic  aid  in  the  treatment 
of  surgical  disease.  For  onr  most  noted  surgeons,  those  of  whom 
we  are  most  proud,  and  justly  proud,  seem  to  nourish  a  sovereign 
contempt  for  therapeutic  means.  **  Give  me  Mercury  and  Iodide 
of  Potash,"  says  one  of  the  most  learned  and  doquent  of  these, 
«  give  me  Opium  and  Quinine,  and  you  may  throw  the  rest  of  the 
physic  to  the  dogs." 

It  is  with  a  feeling  of  mixed  shame  and  indignation  that  one 
looks  along  the  crowded  wards  of  our  magnificent  hospitals  and 
sees  the  amount  of  preventihle  suffering  and  disease.  What 
splendid  fields  for  enlightened  therapeutic  practice,  lying  waste 
or  Mow;  what  harvests  of  clinical  experience  ungathered. 
When  one  thinks  of  the  thousand  suppurations  without  kepar  to 
quicken,  or  n2tca  to  check,  of  the  fevers  without  acomte  or 
heUadannaf  of  the  bruises  all  anuca-lesB,  the  bone  diseases  without 
nUea,  the  caiicers  without  arsenic^  and  the  strumous  diseases 
without  calcar&a,  shall  we  not  register  a  vow  that  England  shall 
no  longer  remain  so  &x  behind  her  American  cousins,  and  that 
homcBopathy  whdU  ere  long  be  adequately  represented  in  the 
surgical  hospitals  of  Great  Britain. 


Tkt  Medical  Attendance  on  Poor  and  Rich  in  London  and  other 
large  English  Toicns,  compared  with  the  same  in  Paris  and 
other  Toums,  A  suggestion  for  the  introduction  of  Br.  Passant*s 
plan  into  England.  By  Dr,  Both.  Bailliere  &  Co.,  London. 
1880. 

This  pamphlet  is  a  reprint,  with  a  few  additions,  of  the  essay  by 
Br.  Both,  which  sppeared  in  our  Becember  number.  I%e  im* 
portsnce  of  the  topic  discussed  it  is  impossible  to  exaggerate. 
'J%e  necessity  for  making  provision  for  sudden  attacks  of  illness, 
and  for  aoddente  ooenrring  at  night,  is  a  duty  imperative  upon 
all  municipal  bodies.  A  notion  prevails  that  medical  men  are 
bound  to  obey  every  summons  to  attend  a  sibk  person,  at  what* 
ever  inconvenience  or  risk  to  themselves,  and  with,  however, 
little  probahilify  of  any  remuneration  for  their,  services.  No  such 
oUigation  rests  upon  them.  It  is  true  that  few,  if  any,  would 
ne^^t  to  respond  to  such  a  call,  but  it  is  fully  time  that  «ome 
soeh  arrangements  as  those  described  by  Br.  Both  should  be 
made.  Were  they  earned  out  here  as  they  are  in  large  Continental 
and  some  American  cities,  only  those  medical  practitioners  would 
be  disturbed  who  were  prepared  to  undertake  such  duty,  and  they 
would  be  ensured  some  sort  of-  emolument.  The  British  Medical 
AssociatioB  has  taken  the  matter  up,  and  we  trust  that  they  will 
be  able  to  cany  Br.  Both's  views  into  practical  operation. 


124 KOTABILU,  ^"S^^ggySL 

Dress:  Its  Sanitary  Aspect.       By  Bebkabo    Both,   F.B.C.S. 
Eng.    London :  I.  and  A.  Churchill.     1880. 

In  this  Tory  well  written  and  thoroughly  practical  essays  Mr. 
Both  points  out  the  mischieyous  efiEects  which  arise  from  Uie  use 
of  clothing  made  to  square  with  the  notions  of  milliners  and 
bootmakers,  rather  than  with  the  requirements  of  nature.  He 
shows  clearly  and  fully  that  dress  to  be  perfect,  from  a  sanitary 
point  of  view,  should  be  so  arranged  as  neither  to  overheai  or 
leave  unprotected  from  cold  any  part  of  the  body ;  it  should  be 
adapted  to  the  sudden  changes  of  temperature  to  which  our 
climate  is  liable — and,  for  this  reason,  flannel  should,  if  possible, 
be  worn  next  to  the  skin  ;  it  should  not  interfere  with  the  circu- 
lation of  any  part,  nor  with  the  free  use  of  the  limbs,  and  the 
respiratory  movements  of  the  chest  and  abdomen ;  lastly,  it 
should  not  produce  deformity,  but  should  everywhere  follow 
instead  the  natural  lines  of  the  human  body. 

Mr.  Both  illustrates  the  principles  he  enforces  by  some  useful 
plates. 

We  strongly  recommend  the  careful  perusal  of  this  essay  to 
everyone,  and  especially  to  ladies,  and  feel  sure  that  if  they  will 
adopt  its  teachings  they  will  be  more  comfortable  and  more 
healthy. 


NOTABILIA. 


THE  BIBMINGHAM  MEDICAL  INSTITUTE. 

It  will  be  within  the  recollection  of  our  readers  that  at  the  for- 
mation of  this  Institute  a  strenuous  effort  was  made  to  exclude 
from  its  membership  all  medical  men  known  to  practise  homoeo- 
pathically.  This  attempt  met  with  the  fate  it  deserved.  It  was 
amply  frustrated.  By  an  ingenious  mancBUvre,  however,  the 
bye-law  relating  to  the  mode  of  admitting  members  was  so  fr^ed 
as  practically  to  place  the  election  in  i^e  hands  of  a  few.  By 
this  arrangement  no  notice  was  given  to  the  candidate,  or  the 
members  generally,  of  an  approaching  election,  but  at  any  time 
that  the  Committee  saw  fit  a  ballot  box  was  placed  in  the  library 
for  a  certain  period  prior  to  each  committee  meeting,  and  black 
balls  to  the  extent  of  a  third  excluded  a  candidate.  In  April  last 
Dr.  Huxley,  of  Birmingham,  presented  himself  for  election.  Ten 
members  only  out  of  the  hundred  and  seventy  voted,  and  of 
these,  four  being  opposed,  Dr.  Huxley  was  refused  admission. 
Again  in  December  he  applied.  On  this  occasion  twelve  voted, 
but  he  still  did  not  obtain  the  requisite  two-thirds.  In  con- 
sequence of  this  Drs.  Greene,  Carter  and  Malins  requested  the 
President  to  call  a  meeting  to  consider  the  law  of  election.    At 


JSK^STmm^  notabilu.  126 


the  meeting  seventj-fonr  were  present,  and  after  a  stormy  dis- 
eoflflion  a  motion  proposed  bj  Dr.  Johnston  to  the  effect  that  any 
duly  ^[oalified  medical  man  residing  within  fifty  miles  of  Birming- 
ham should  be  eligible  for  membership  of  the  Institute  on  pro- 
ducing a  certificate  signed  by  six  members — three  of  them  being 
members  of  the  committee— declaring  the  candidate  to  be  a 
fit  and  proper  person  to  eiyoy  the  privileges  of  the  Institute,  was 
earried  by  57  to  17.  At  a  subsequent  meeting  held  to  confirm 
this  decision,  no  opposition  presented  itself.  Early  in  December 
Dr.  Huxley's  certificate  of  fitness  was  presented,  and  he  is  now  a 
member  of  the  Institute.  We  congratulate  our  Birmingham 
firiends  on  the  victory  they  have  obtamed  over  the  narrow  and 
persecuting  spirit  of  a  smi^  allopathic  faction. 


THE  BASTINaS  AND  ST.  LEONARDS  HOMCEOPATHIC 

DISPENSARY. 

Fbok  the  report  of  this  Institution,  a  portion  of  which  is  sub- 
joined,  we  are  glad  to  leam^lst,  that  the  two  dispensaries 
hitherto  existing  have  been  united,  the  medical  officers  being 
Dr.  Croucher  and  Mr.  G.  Enox  Shaw,  M.B.G.S.  Eng. ;  2nd,  we 
observe  vrith  pleasure  that  Hastings  is  not  to  be  outdone  by 
Bournemouth,  but  that  the  energy  and  zeal  which  have  borne 
such  admirable  fruit  in  the  one  town  are  coining  into  play  in  the 
other,  and  that  ere  long  a  "Home"  will  be  established  in 
Hastings  for  invalids  and  convalescents  among  the  poorer 
members  of  society. 

The  following  extracts  irom  the  report  will  be  found 
interesting: — 

"  During  the  year  716  patients  presented  themselves  at  the 
Dispensary  for  relief,  and  the  total  number  of  attendances 
recorded  is  2,621,  making  an  average  weekly  attendance  of  about 
«2  patients.  *  *  * 

"  The  benefits  conferred  by  the  Dispensary  could  be  largely 
inereased  by  the  opening  of  a  Home  in  connection  with  it,  for 
the  reception  of  severe  cases  of  illness  and  for  those  patients  who 
may  have  to  undergo  operations. 

'*A  lady  has  most  generously  given  a  donation  of  Two 
Hundred  Poirnds  towards  a  fond  for  this  Home,  and  further  aid 
is  promised  from  others.  It  is  proposed  at  first  to  hire  a  few 
rooms,  or,  should  the  funds  allow  it,  to  take  a  small  house  for 
file  purpose. 

**  Subscriptions  and  donations  for  <  The  Home  Fund  '  will  be 
^adly  received  by  E.  0.  Wollaston,  Esq.,  44,  Pevensey  Bead,  or 
any  member  of  the  Committee.  Gifts  of  linen,  blankets, 
bedding,  &c.,  will  be  of  great  service  and  thankfully  received." 


126 


VOTABILU. 


Bewtev,  N).  1,  lai. 


PBIZE  OF  THIBTY  FOUNDS. 

Db.  Prateb,  whose  generous  gift  of  a  prize  in  1879  for  the  best 
collection  of  clinical  cases,  produced  sach  excellent  results, 
again  offers  a  prize  of  iSdO  for  the  best  collection  of  cases 
obtained  from  the  yarions  allopathic  jonmals  for  the  last  20  years, 
in  which  the  treatment  employed  for  the  cure  or  relief  of  nea- 
ralgia  and  bronchitis  was  prodactive  of  harm  instead  of  good.  If 
in  any  of  the  cases  past  mortem  appearances  have  any  hairing  on 
the  question,  these  are  to  be  noticed.  Comments  on  the  cases, 
and  the  injurious  e£bcts  of  the  medicines,  are  expected. 

Candidates  to  send  in  their  essays  on  or  before  October  Slst, 
1881,  to  Dr.  Dyce  Brown,  29,  Seymour  Street,  Portman  Square, 
W.  The  adjudicators  of  the  prize  to  be  Drs.  Bayes,  Hughes, 
Pope,  and  Dyce  Brown. 

INTERNATIONAL  HOMCEOPATfflC  CONTENTION. 


ADDITIONAL   BTTBSCBIPTIONS. 


George  Norman,  Esq.  ... 
Dr.  Tnthill  Massy 

E.  R.B.  Beynolds... 

P.  Proctor       

Wielobycki     

Samnel  Brown 

Washington  Epps ... 

DiyCO  ...       ...       ••. 

Bcniran 

T.  Mdlwraith... 

J.  M.  Galloway 


£   s.  d. 


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Dr.  Prater     ... 

„  F.  Black  ... 

„  Eabnloa  Williams... 

„  Clarke 

„  Pnllar 
H.  HarriB,  Esq. 


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0 
0 
0 
0 
0 


17  17    0 

Pteriously  annoonoed  ...  46    4    0 


Total 


...£64    1    0 


l%e  above  represents  the  snbsciiptionB  from  58  physicians 
and  surgeons  practising  homoeopaUiy.  The  Homaopathic 
Directory  contains  the  names  of  about  800  practitioners  of 
homoeopathy.  It  is  hoped  that  the  240  or  more  who  have  not 
yet  sent  in  their  subscriptions  will  shortly  do  so,  as  it  is 
impossible  to  make  arrangements  for  the  coming  Convention 
until  the  sum  likely  to  be  contributed  is  definitely  known. 

William  Baixb,  MJ)., 
21,  Henrietta  Street,  Treamrer. 

Cavendish  Square,  London,  W. 
16th  January,  1881. 

BBmSH  fiOMCEOPATHIC  SOCIETY. 

The  next  meeting  of  this  Society  will  take  place  on  the  8rd  inst., 
at  seven  o'clock,  when  Dr.  Both  will  read  a  paper  on  Bick^ — 
a  subject  to  which  he  has  devoted  much  attention.  Additional 
interest  attaches  to  rickets  just  now,  as  it  is  a  disease  which  has 
very  recently  been  elaborately,  if  not  profitably,  discussed  at  the 
Pathological  Society. 


SSS^MTTiSS?**       COBBBSPONBBHOB.  127 


JbBfkaWf  P^eb.  1, 18B1. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


ON  THE  NATUBE  OP  THE  ACTION  OF  AKSENIC 
AND  OTHER  POWERFUL  DRUGS. 

To  tk$  Editon  of  the  Monthly  Honueopathie  lUvimo. 

Gentlemen, — The  late  Sir  John  Forbes  in  his  work  entitled 
Nature  and  Art  in  Dieeaee  calls  homoeopathy  a  do-nothing 
system.  Bat  in  this  assertion  he  forgets  that  it  uses  arsenic  and 
other  poweifbl  agents.  I  think  that  it  would  be  useful  to  give 
some  experiments  in  detail  of  the  effects  of  arsenic  when  giyen  in 
the  smallest  proportions.  Forbes  forgot  too  *'  catalytic  action." 
Long  ago  Berzelius  proved  the  wondeifol  power  of  this,  and  it  is 
no  doubt  often  much  concerned  in  fermentation  and  putrefaction 
(and  hence  in  vital  forces)  in  a  way  which  we  do  not  well  under- 
stand. Nay,  the  chances  are,  that  it  is  far  oftener  concerned 
in  vital  than  in  merely  physical  processes.  Not  only  are  we 
taught  by  the  skin  the  wonderful  power  of  mere  contact,  bat 
even  by  the  eye,  when  any  person  is  within  the  range  of  vision. 
As  we  know  so  little  even  yet  of  the  real  nature  of  life,  I  hold 
therefore  that  artemc  and  some  other  agents  may  possibly  act  by 
catalytic  action  only,  but  of  course  experiment  should  be  brought 
to  our  aid  on  this  point.  The  reflections  of  Dr.  Whytt  on 
'  instinct  and  involuntary  motion  have  induced  me  to  come  to  the 
:  eonelnaion  that  ttus  force  is  not  only  fiar  more  sensitive  than  that 
which  causes  involuntary  motion,  but  almost  an  unconscious  power, 
except  when  extraneous  matter  either  touches  or  threatens  it,  i.e,, 
when  dust  gets  into  the  eyes ;  secondly,  when  a  person  seems 
going  to  sti^e  them,  and  causes  winking  instantly,  however  much 
we  (^e  voluntary  power)  may  try  to  prevent  it.  In  Dr.  Beale's 
Protoplasm  (1874)  are  some  facts  tending  to  the  support  of  this 
opinion,  in  which  there  is  a  section  on  **  Contact  Force  "  (p.  62). 

Granting,  then,  that  the  involuntary  force  is  far  more  sensitive 
to  minute  quantities  of  matter  (as  homoeopathic  preparations),  we 
may  also,  I  think,  further  add  that  it  is  a  power  different  in  its 
likes  and  dislikes  from  our  voluntary  conscious  power.  Hence 
homoeopathic  medicines  may  do  this  power  good,  though  we  may 
&ncy,  from  tasting  the  pilules,  that  it  could  not  do  so,  as  we 
find  nothing  but  a  sweet  taste  in  them.  How  often  do  drugs  or 
food  tend  to  make  us  sick,  though  we  like  the  taste  of  them ! 
The  sensitive  non-reflecting  involuntary  power  is  then  affected  by 
minute  doses  as  if  they  were  poisons,  and  yet  these  may  not 
iiritate  us  (the  voluntary  power)  at  all.  Experiment  can  alone 
decide- sa  to  the  powers  of  homoeopathy,  and  not  mere  intwested 
dSee  of  ''linpossible  "  and  low  abuse. 

I  am,  Gentlemen,  yours,  Ac, 

H,  PBiLTXH,  M.D. 


128  C0BBE8P0NDENT8.         ^'^SL^f'?^' 


Bevieir.Bbb.  1,1881. 


NOTICES   TO   CORRESPONDENTS. 

«%  We  earniot  undertake  to  return  rejected  mamueripte. 

Mr.  Williams'b  paper  on  "  Bright's  Disease  "  is  in  type,  bat  we  re^xet 
haying  been  obliged  to  postpone  its  publication  until  next  month.  Out 
re?iew  of  Dr.  Buenbtt's  new  work  on  **  Diseases  of  the  Veins  "  we  are 
also  compelled  to  defer. 

Commnnications,  Ac.  have  been  reoeived  from  Dr.  BiTXS,  Dr.  Boxe, 
Dr.  CiiABEa,  and  Mr.  0.  Digxshs  (London);  Mr.  Butghbb  (Beading); 
Dr.  Shabp  (Bogby) ;  Dr.  Buavmn  (London) ;  Dr.  Gnrmmox  (London)  ; 
Dr.  OoopsB  (LoncUm) ;  ftc. 

BOOKS  RECEIVED. 

The  Lowe  of  TherapeuUes,  By  J.  Kidd,  MJ).  3nd  Edition.  London: 
C.  Kegan  A  Co.    1881. 

Abridged  TherapeutUs,  Founded  upon  Hittology  amd  CeUuUnr  Pathology. 
By  W.  H.  Sehiissler,  MJ).  Translated  by  Ml  D.  Walker.  London : 
Elliot  Stock  &  Co.    1880. 

Biliary  Calculi^  Perineorraphy,  Hotpital  Gangrene,  dte.  By  C.  H. 
Ton  Tagen,  M.D.    New  Toric :  Boericke  &  Tafel.    1881. 

Nephrectomy.  By  J.  H.  M'CleUand,  MJ).  Philadelphia :  Sherman 
and  Co.    1880. 

Sammhmg  WietenschafUicher  Abhandlungen  atu  dem  Oehiete  der 
Hom&qpathie,  Herawgegehen.  Yon  Dr.  Carl  Heinigke.  Leipsic :  Sdhwabe. 
1881. 

Bow  to  U$e  the  Foreepe^  de.  By  H.  G.  Landis,  A.M.,  MJ).  New  Tork : 
S.B.  Treat.    1880. 

TrameaetAone  of  the  Horn,  Med.  Soe.  of  the  State  of  Pemuylvama,  1880. 

Britiih  Journal  of  Hometopathy. 

Homctopathie  World.    London. 

The  Students*  Journal.    London. 

Th4  ChenUtt  and  Druggist.    London. 

Burgoyne*s  Monthly  Journal  of  Pharmacy.    London. 

Medieo-Chirurgical  Quarterly.    New  York. 

Homaopathic  Times.    New  York. 

Medical  Record.    New  York. 

American  Homcsopath.    New  York. 

Hahnemannian  Monthly.    Philadelphia. 

United  States  Medical  Investigator.    Chieago. 

Therapeutic  Gazette.    December.    Detroit. 

5(.  Louis  Clinical  Review.    St.  Louis. 

Homosopathic  News.    St.  Louis. 

VArtMidical.    Paris. 

BibUotKtque  Homcuipathique.    Paris. 

Ref9ue  Homaopatkique  Beige.    Bmxelles. 

AUgemeine  HomSopathische  Zeitung.    Leipsie, 

m  Criteria  Medico.    Madrid. 

La  Reforma  Medico.    Mexioo. 

Papers,  Dispensaxy  Beports,  and  Books  for  Beview  to  be  sent  to 
Dr.  Popx,  Lee  Boad,  London,  S.E.,  or  to  Dr.  D.  Dtcb  Bbown,  2d,  Seymour 
Street,  Portman  Square,  W.  Advertisements  and  Business  Conmiuni- 
eations  to  be  sent  to  Messrs.  E.  Gould  A  Son,  69,  Moorgate  Street,  B.C. 


SSS^fi^TS^  OBSTACLES  IK    OlTB  PATH.  129 


Bsnew,  Hkr.  1, 18SI. 


THE    MONTHLY 


HOMCEOPATHIC    REYIEW- 


OBSTACLES  IN  OUR  PATH. 

The  mle  of  progress  is  nniyersal;  nothing  is  stationary. 
ETerything  in  creation  is  either  progressing  or  retrograding, 
for  in  the  processes  of  nature  the  cessation  of  progress  is 
the  commencement  of  decay.  In  religion  the  aspiration 
after  progress  to  higher  and  better  things  is  one  of  the 
great  levers  for  the  elevation  of  mankind.  That  church  or 
sect  which  is  content  with  standing  still  with  folded  hands 
is  that  which  is  most  easily  disintegrated  by  schisms  or 
controTersies. 

In  art,  progress  is  marked  by  the  greater  refinement  and 
the  higher  coltnre  which  characterise  the  works  of  its 
votaries. 

Science,  too,  is,  by  the  discoveries  and  observations  of 
many  noble  intellects,  being  steadily  raised  from  the  misty 
uncertainty  of  conjecture  to  the  clear  light  of  &ct|  while 
the  way  is  being  pointed  to  yet  more  brilliant  achievements 
in  the  near  future. 

New  methods,  new  means,  new  appliances,  new  in- 
dustries,  indicate  the  steady  progress  of  civilisation  and 
culture  in  the  world. 

No.  8,  Vol.  25.  z 


180  0B8TAGLB8  IH  ODE  PATH.  ^^f^^ESTTuBi! 

Medicine  has  shared  in  the  wave  of  progression,  aknost, 
it  might  be  said,  in  spite  of  its  professors.  Discoyeries 
on  discoveries  have  been  forced  on  the  attention  of  the 
medical  world,  and  although  at  first  derided,  or,  yet  worse, 
persecuted  as  dangerous  innovations,  have  at  length  been 
adopted,  and  been  belauded  to  the  skies  by  those  who  were 
their  principal  opponents. 

We  might  pass  in  review  the  long  procession  of  bene- 
factors to  the  healing  art,  Huntkb,  Hahnexakn,  Jksixer, 
MuBCHisoN,  Simpson,  Liston,  and  many  others,  and  see 
their  discoveries  gradnaUy  assimilated  into  the  practice  of 
the  time.  Pre-eminent  amongst  them  stands  out  the 
patriarch  Hahnemann — ^revolutionist  in  the  truest  sense  of 
the  word.  The  more  the  world  reviles  a  scientist,  or 
rather  the  more  his  fellows  revile  him,  the  more  should 
the  true  thinker  be  inclined  to  believe  that  there  is  truth 
in  the  theory  which  he  advanced. 

So  has  it  been  with  that  new  gospel  of  medicine  pro- 
mulgated by  Hahnemann  nearly  a  century  ago.  Deep 
thinking,  earnest  men,  after  divesting  their  minds  of  the 
frozen  crust  of  bigotry,  have  inquired  into  and  carefdlly 
weighed  the  theory  of  homoBc^thy,  and  have  boldly 
announced  their  acceptance  of  its  tenets.  As  the  centuiy. 
has  worn  on,  this  little  band  has  grown,  never  faltering, 
never  wavering,  always  aiming  at  progress  in  the  art  of 
scientific  healing.  During  the  present  year  the  Inter- 
national Convention  will  meet  in  London,  and  mark,  as  it 
were,  the  height  to  which  the  tide  of  progress  in 
homoeopathy  has  reached,  showing,  in  so  doing,  to  the  world 
at  large  that  homoeopathy  is  not  the  defunct  or  even 
moribund  delusion  which  many  of  its  opponents  would 
fain  delude  themselves  and  others  into  believing  that  it  is. 
This  will  be  a  kind  of  awakening  such  as  awaits  the  ostrich 
after  the  temporary  seclusion  of  its  head  in  a  bush ! 


iSSS^STm^**   OB8TACLB8   IK  OUB  PATH.  131 

Having  legard  to  the  near  approach  of  this  Convention, 
a  little  introspection  will  be  good»  shomog  ns  what  obstacles 
to  oar  advance  must  be  removed  in  order  that  the  good 
ship  may  glide  smoothly  on  with  fiavooring  gales  over  the 
limitless  ocean  of  progress. 

Looking  back  throng  the  records  of  homcdopathic 
literature  we  find  in  the  earlier  volnmes  of  this  and  other 
joomals  indications  of  that  fervid  spirit  of  enthnsiasm 
which  all  disciples  of  a  new  doctrine  evince  on  their  first 
conversion.  Gnres  were  eagerly  recorded,  the  properties 
of  medicines  discussed,  associations  formed,  dispensaries 
established,  the  whole  constituting  a  pleasing  picture  of 
progress.  Is  that  progress  extinct  now?  Assuredly 
it  is  not.  The  novelty  of  homoeopathy  has  worn  ofi*, 
and  it  has  been  quietly  accepted  by  multitudes  of  people 
who  use  its  medicines  as  a  matter  of  course,  without 
calling  any  special  attention  to  the  fact  or  considering  that 
they  are  doing  anything  unusual.  There  is  a  river  in 
Yorkshire  which  takes  its  rise  in  a  lovely  tarn  among  the 
hills,  and  which,  after  a  short  course,  vanishes  from  sight 
into  a  chasm  of  the  earth,  only  to  burst  forth  again  at  the 
base  of  a  clifiT  with  increased  volume.  Although  lost  to  sight 
DO  one  would  be  foolish  enough  to  assert  that  it  did  not 
exist.  So  is  it  with  homoeopathy.  Although  perhaps  not 
80  prominently  brought  into  notice  as  formerly,  it  steadily 
grows  Hke  the  river,  and  will  ere  long  burst  forth  with 
renewed  vigour  and  ever  extending  influence.  The  obstacles 
to  more  rapid  progress  in  the  meantime  are  both  external 
and  internal.  We  will  first  glance  at  those  of  external 
origin ;  the  chief  of  these  are  professional  bigotry,  public 
ignorance,  and  legislative  inactivity. 

Professional  bigotry  is  as  bitter  to-day  as  it  was  in  the 
beginning,  and  although  we  deplore  its  existence  we  see 
but  few  signs  of  its  near  subsidence.      And  yet  there 


132  OBSTACLES   IN  OUB  PATH.    ^SSSSrSS^TiM^ 

is  some  slight  change  in  its  nature.  Many  of  oar  opponents 
assert  that  they  object  not  so  much  to  the  essence  of 
homcBopathy  as  to  the  name,  and  to  the  &ct  of  onr 
identifying  oorselves  with  that  name.  Looking  aronnd  the 
range  of  modem  therapeatics  one  may  recognise  many  of 
the  remedies  advocated  by  Hahnemann  and  his  disciples, 
adopted  into  the  practice  of  modem  physic,  used  empiri- 
cally, no  doabt,  bat  still  none  the  less  used,  and  admittedly 
used,  beneficially.  Yet  although  some  learned  professors 
gladly  avail  themselves  of  any  hint  of  certainty  in  medicine, 
they  woold  angrily  repudiate  the  fact  that  they  were  in  any 
way  teaching  or  encouraging  what  a  certain  body  of  "  wise 
and  reverend  signiors  '*  term  "  the  deception  called  hom<BO- 
pathy." 

There  are  now,  as  there  alivays  have  been,  some  few 
striking  exceptions  to  this  rule;  men  who  have  large 
minds,  and  who  can  recognise  the  fact,  that  it  is  possible 
we  may  be  right,  although  perhaps  we  may  not  always 
think  or  act  in  accord  with  them.  The  bigotry  of  our 
opponents  delights  to  find  expression  in  ridicule,  and,  for- 
getful of  the  fact  that  '*  abuse  is  not  argument,"  endeavours 
to  scold  homoBpathists  out  of  the  assurances  experience  has 
given  them,  like  naughty  children.  The  medical  press, 
although  the  mouthpiece  of  a  so-called  liberal  profession, 
either  wilfully  perverts  facts,  or  steadily  represses  any 
attempt  at  honest  controversy  on  homoBopathy.  The  e£fort 
to  smother  it,  however,  has  been  happily  frustrated  by  the 
enterprise  and  public  spirit  of  the  first  founders  of  our 
journals  ;  so  that,  in  place  of  being  silenced,  we  have  four 
periodicals,  throuj^  which  is  spread  the  knowledge  of  our 
doctrines. 

The  second  external  obstacle  is  less  serious.  We  allude 
to  the  ignorance  of  the  public.  A  body  which  has  all  to 
gain  and  nothing  to  lose  is  g^enerally  pretty  soon  convinced 


iS^rSTiS^  OBSTACLES   IN  OUR  PATH.  183 

by  anything  which  will  benefit  it.     The  cares  wroaght  by 
homoBopathy  before  their  own  eyes  are  doing  more  to  dissi* 
pate  the  mists  of  pnblic  ignorance  than  any  amount  of 
emdite  controyersies  or  pugilistic  polemics.     Much  of  the 
half-comical  ignorance  abroad  in  onr  midst  is  due  to  the 
absurd  definitions  given  of  our  law  by  our  opponents.    But 
this  is  an  age  of  inquiry,  and  people  no  longer  take  anything 
as  gospel  on  the  word  of  a  priest,  whether  of  religion  or 
modicme.     They  are  beginmng  to  reason  for   themselves, 
and  assuredly  when  a  man  begins  to  reason  on  a  subject, 
the  truth  breaks  through  the  clouds  which  may   hitherto 
have  enveloped  it.    Homoeopathy,  in  spite  of  the  active 
and  passive  opposition  of  aUopathic  practitioners,  is  steadily 
permeating  all  ranks  of  society,  and  lightening  the  lesser 
ills  of  countless  families  throughout  the  land,  whilst   their 
so-called  orthodox  medical  attendants  remain  in  many  cases 
in  blissful  ignorance  of  the  fact.      It  is  in  this  way  that 
homcsopathyjis  at  present  principally  spreading ;  every  family 
medicine-chest  becomes,  as  it  were,  a  centre  or  focus  of 
proselytism.    The  good  seed  is  thus  being  sown  far  and 
mde ;  and  even  now  there  is  a  field  for  labour  far  too  large 
for  the  reapers.    Many  of  these  svib  rosd  homoeopaths  are 
forced  through  pressure  of  circumstances  to  avail   them- 
selves of  the  services  of  their  old  allopathic  attendant  in 
case  of  serious  illness  arising,  because  they  are  out  of  the 
reach  of  a  good  homoeopath,  or,  forsooth,  because  they   are 
tender  of  the  feelings  of  their  family  physician.  Be  all  this 
as  it  may,  the  field  of  homoeopathy  is  steadily   widening, 
and  public  opinion  is  being  educated  to  understand  its 
enlightened  practice  and  therapeutics.    It  is  by  the.  soften- 
ing influence  of  time,  and  the  warm  air  of  personal   experi- 
ence, that  the  iceberg  of  public  ignorance  must  be  thawed. 
The  third  external  obstacle   is    legislative    inactivity. 
England  is  one  of  the  very  few  countries  of  note  where 


184  OBSTACLES   IK   OUB   PATH.  *^^^S?2ttS! 

homoBopathy  is  not  legally  and  officially  recognised.  We 
might  point  to  Austria,  with  its  Leopoldstadt  Hospital,  to 
France,  to  Spain,  to  Mexico,  to  the  United  States  of  America, 
as  countries  in  which  it  has  been  fully  recognised  already, 
New  York  State  is  possessed  of  asylums,  hospitals, 
orphanages,  supported  by  State  funds  and  goyemed  medi- 
caUy  by  homoBopaths,  under  whose  direction  they  are  dis- 
playing  the  benefits  of  the  therapeutic  system  of 
Hahnemann.  Colleges  and  licensing  bodies,  recognised  by 
State  Legislatures,  and  a  body  of  practitioners,  number- 
ing well  nigh  6,000  members,  bearing  themselves  nobly  in 
the  fray,  all  ranged  under  the  flag  of  **9imUia  gimilibtts 
cvrantur.*'  If  homoBopathy  is  a  deception,  then  all  these 
various  governments  are  deceived  in  extending  to  it  tolera^ 
tion  or  encouragement. 

Look  at  our  own  colonies,  in  this  matter  bx  in  advance 
of  their  mother  isle.  South  Australia,  with  its  homoaopathic 
hospital,  its  mixed  hospital,  and  one  of  its  practitioners 
high  in  municipal  and  legislative  honour.  Look  at  Victoria, 
with  its  governor  attended  by  a  homoeopathic  physician, 
many  of  the  members  of  parliament,  and  a  majority  of  the 
judges!  Are  these  men  likely  to  be  ensnared  by  a 
'*  deception  *'  ?  Melbourne  has  a  good  hospital^  and  only 
recently  the  legislative  body,  without  dissent,  voted  a  plot 
of  land  and  £600  towards  the  erection  of  a  better  building 
for  the  practice  of  homoBopathy.  Turning  homewards,  we 
find,  with  sorrow,  that  England,  which  we  Britons  pride 
ourselves  is  the  capital,  intellectual  and  political,  of  the 
world,  still  obstinately  refuses  to  recognise  officially  the 
truth  of  the  law  of  Hahnehann.  LidividuaUy  many  of 
our  senators  and  legislators  have  experienced,  and  know 
well  the  blessings  of  homodopathy,  but,  collectively,  the 
nation  has  hitherto  hardened  its  heart  against  us.  Whether 
it  continues  to  do  so  in  the  future  rests  in  no  small  measure 


iSSyiKTS?*^  OBSTACLES   IN  OUR  PATH.  185 

with  onrselyes*  Torn  we  now  from  these  broad  questions 
to  the  more  delieate  ones  of  obstacles  to  our  progress^ 
arising  from  causes  within  our  own  control.  We  may  be 
blamed  perhaps  for  probing  thus  the  wounds  of  our  body. 
We  aim  but  at  those  blemishes  which  injure  the  frame, 
like  the  skilfnl  operator  who  uses  the  knife  only  in  kindness 
to  his  patient. 

Looking  round  our  ranks  in  the  present  day  we  find  a 
want,  vdlde  deflenAus^  of  that  kindly  esprit  de  corps  which 
distinguished  the  fathers  of  the  faith ;  there  is  a  lack  of 
that  chivalrouB  defence  of  our  opinions  which  was  ready  to 
step  into  the  breach  whenever  occasion  offered,  forgetful  of 
self,  position,  or  aggrandisement.  There  is  a  reluctance  to 
work  for  the  cause  at  the  cost  perhaps  of  a  little  extra 
personal  exertion,  thus  throwing  a  heavy  strain  on  a  few, 
which,  if  all  were  to  bear  a  little,  might  be  greatly  lightened, 
and  advantageously  distributed.  Under  this  head,  too,  we 
might,  en  passant,  allude  to  the  guerilla  warfare  raged 
between  the  high  and  low  dilutionists.  Without  expressing 
any  opinion  as  to  the  respective  value  of  any  special  dose, 
we  should  try  to  bear  in  mind  the  fact  that  the  law  of 
similars  is  very  wide  in  its  application,  catholic  in  its 
scope,  and  very  far  from  having  reached  the  limit  of  perfect 
completion  in  its  medical  application.  We  can  reap  our 
fill  of  slander  and  vilification  in  the  aUopathic  journals, 
and  should  always  try  to  approach  these  and  other  vexed 
questions  in  that  spirit  of  calm  inquiry  which  is  ever  dis- 
played by  seekers  after  truth.  Let  us  at  least  show  a 
united  front  to  the  foe,  and  give  him  no  crevice  in  our 
armour  wherein  to  plant  his  darts. 

Another  obstacle  to  our  progress  consists  in  an 
insufficient  education  in  homceopathy.  This  will  some 
day,  we  hope,  be  removed.  The  means  at  present  in  use, 
the  School,  the  Hospital,  and  the  British  Homoeopathic 


186  OBSTACLES  IN  OUR   PATH. ''^J^^g^^?^^ 


Society  deserve  all  the  sapport  we  can  give  them.  We  do 
not  intend  to  enter  here  into  the  relatiye  value  of  our 
educational  appliances.  If  each  one  of  ns  individually 
would  use  his  influence  to  help  our  institutions  forward  we 
should  do  much  to  remove  this  obstacle  from  our  path. 
Some  there  are  who  appear  to  make  State  recognition  a 
sine  qud  non  of  any  effort  to  publicly  teach  homcBopathy. 
But  think  what  we  have  to  recognise !  We  are  not^  as 
in  America,  6,000  strong;  we  have  not  yet,  as  in  some 
colonies,  the  bulk  of  public  opinion  at  our  back.  When 
we  can  point  to  a  large  hospital  overflowing  with  patients, 
and  supported  by  the  influence  and  clientele  of  every 
homoeopathic  practitioner  throughout  the  land;  when  we 
can  show  flourishing  dispensaries  in  all  our  large  towns ; 
when  we  can  draw  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  School  of 
Homoeopathy  is  honestly  approved  by  all  our  confreres  as 
the  best  mode  of  teaching  homoeopathy ;  when  the  public 
of  England  are  as  well  acquainted  with  our  practice  as  they 
are  with  that  of  our  adversaries,  then  the  time  will  have 
come  when  we  can  demand  recognition  and  with  reason 
expect  to  obtain  it.  The  want  of  recognition  is,  we  deem, 
one  of  the  lesser  obstacles  in  our  path,  one  which  will 
doubtless  be  removed,  but  one  which  we  can  bear  longer 
than  any  other.  The  spread  of  unanimity  and  bon 
camaraderie  in  our  ranks  should  be  our  immediate  care, 
and  at  a  time  like  the  present,  especially  in  view  of  the 
approaching  International  Congress,  we  should  try  to 
divert  our  thoughts  from  minor  differences,  and  to  devote 
all  our  energies  to  the  spread  of  modem  scientific 
therapeutics. 


^l^wS^lSS^      PREWBPOBITION.  187 

PREDISPOSITION. 

By  William  Shabp,  M.D.,F.R,S. 

(Conoluded  from  page  84.) 

IV.— Force  of  Habit 

Habits  of  life  differ  in  nnmberlesB  partioulaiB,  and  to 
extremea  which  would  be  incredible,  if  they  were  not  facts. 
Watch  the  sedentary  man  and  the  fox-hnnter ;  the  literary 
man  and  the  billiard  player ;  the  statesman  and  the  cot- 
tager ;  the  worker  and  the  idler ;  the  temperate  man  and 
the  drinker ;  watch  shades  of  character  and  modes  of  life 
as  only  a  physician  can  watch  them,  and  snch  an  impres* 
flion  of  yariety  and  contrast  will  be  made  npon  the  mind 
as  almost  to  bewilder  it  with  conflicting  emotions.  Now, 
all  these  habits  haye  force,  some  of  them  irrestible  force 
oyer  the  man  who  is  addicted  to  them  ;  they  cannot,  there- 
fore, but  haye  relations  of  importance  with  the  canses  of 
disease ;  they  cannot  bat  greatly  influence  predisposition. 
This  influence,  indeed,  will  often  be  in  opposite  directions  ; 
it  will  sometimes  greatly  increase  the  susceptibility  to  the 
action  of  the  exciting  causes  of  disease ;  it  will  sometimes 
BO  strengthen  the  resisting  power  of  life  as  to  preyent  their 
action  altogether.  And  as  of  other  causes,  so  of  drugs ; 
some  persons  become  increasingly  sensitiye  to  the  action 
of  a  drug  till  they  can  take  it  no  longer,  which  is  called 
intolerance;  while  others  by  habit  can  take  eyen  poisonous 
doses  of  drugs,  as  of  opium  or  arseiiic,  without  exi)eriencing 
their  usual  effects,  which  is  called  tolerance. 

Habits  may  belong  to  the  mind,  or  to  the  body.  (1)  Mental 
habits,  where  excessiye,  increase  predisposition  to  disease. 
These  excesses  may  be  in  opposite  directions.  Only  a  few 
examples  can  be  giyen,  or  this  Essay  will  be  too  long. 
Excessiye  intellectual  work  depriyes  the  important  organs 
of  the  body  of  the  amount  of  yital  energy  necessary  for 
the  performance  of  their  respectiye  duties :  the  stomach 
eannot  digest  food  properly ;  the  assimilation  of  this  im- 
perfectly digested  food  is  impeded;  the  blood  is  im- 
poverished, and  as  a  consequence,  almost  eyery  part  of  the 
body  Buffers.  On  the  other  hand,  mental  indolence  is  in 
other  ways  not  less  injurious.  The  habit  of  yielding  to 
irritability  of  temper,  or  passionate  excitement  of  any 
kind,  does  much  bodily  harm ;  slow  suicides  of  this  kind 
are  not  uncommoni  and  injurious  effects  also  follow  the 


188  PREDiBPOSinoN.      'SSSL^SSTIffi" 


Bsriew,  Kar.  1, 18B1. 


contrary  habit  of  stolid  indifference.  Imperturbable  peace 
is  a  rich  blessing;  cold  insensibility  is  a  sore  calamity, 
(2)  Bodily  habits,  if  extreme  in  any  direction,  are  exciting 
causes  of  some  diseases,  and  predisposing  canses  of  many 
more.  Too  much  eating  or  too  much  drinking,  or  too 
little  of  either.  Too  much  muscular  exertion  in  either 
work,  or  play,  or  too  little.  Too  much  sleep,  or  too  little. 
Even  the  greatest  and  most  lawful  of  all  pleasures  is  not 
exempt  from  the  eyils  of  excess.  How  life  is  shortened 
by  some  of  these  bodily  habits  is  too  well  known,  and  such 
bad  habits  cannot  be  sufficiently  deplored. 

Great  mischief  also  arises  from  irregularity  and  mis- 
timing of  meals,  sleep,  and  excercise.  '^  Take  food  a  little 
and  often,"  is  a  favourite  piece  of  advice  with  many  doctors. 
It  is  surprising  that  they  do  not  see  how  much  harm  is 
done  when  this  advice  is  followed.  EspeciaUy  is  it  given 
to  debilitated  persons.  How  wrong  this  is  would  be  seen, 
if  it  were  considered  that  the  stomach  is  weak,  as  well  as 
the  legs ;  and  that  we  might  as  well  tell  a  weak  man  to  be 
always  walking,  as  to  be  always  taking  food.  Does  not  the 
stomach  require  time  to  rest  and  recruit  its  strength  after 
the  labour  of  digesting  a  meal  (whether  a  large  or  a  small 
one)  as  much  as  the  legs  need  a  chair  after  a  walk,  and 
before  taking  another  ?  It  seems  to  me  to  be  great 
thoughtlessness  to  overlook  this.  Yet,  how  common  the 
advice  is,  and  to  what  an  extreme  it  is  pushed  in  illnesses, 
such  as  fever!  Dr.  Graves,  of  Dublin,  wished  it  to  be 
inscribed  on  his  tomb,  that  he  had  ''fed  fevers."  His 
beginning  was  good,  but  now  a  poor  creature  who  is  ex- 
hausted to  the  uttermost,  is  fed  with  strong  beef-tea  or 
jelly  every  half  hour,  till  he  is  poisoned  with  food  and 
dies !  This  is  the  re-action  from  the  opposite  extreme 
of  sixty  years  ago,  when  patients  in  fever  were  starved 
to  death.  Dr.  Curie,  of  London,  having  so  treated 
patients,  honestly  treated  himself  in  this  way,  and  died. 
In  the  same  manner,  mistiming  sleep  is  injurious,  late 
hours  being  almost  as  bad  as  short  hours.  Exercise  im- 
mediately after  a  meal  is  bad,  though  young  people  suffer 
much  less  from  this  than  old  ones  do.  So  also  fitful 
exercise,  as  on  one  day  a  week,  is  hurtful.  Irregularities 
as  well  as  extremes  are  bad,  and  every  habit  has  a  natural 
tendency  to  grow  into  an  extreme.  I  remember  a  patient 
at  Bradford  fifty  years  ago  who  was  dangerously  iU,  and  to 
whom,  as  he  was  not  improving,  my  unole  wnd,  "  Tou  are 


nSSS^SaamS^      pbbdibposition.  189 


Berumr,  Kw.  1,  IflBl. 


taking  too  mach  brandy — Cleave  it  off/'  A  few  days  later, 
there  being  yet  no  improyement,  he  said,  **  You  are  still 
taking  brandy."  "No/*  replied  the  dok  man,  ''I  have 
not  taken  a  drop  since  you  forbade  it ;  bnt,  Mr.  Sharp,  you 
said  nothing  about  rum ! "  On  the  other  side,  the  late 
excellent  Joseph  Sturge  died  suddenly  of  a  weak  heart 
because  he  could  not  conscientiously  take  one  glass  of 
wine, 

V. — Age. 

The  susceptibility  to  disease  of  the  same  individual 
varies  in  early,  mature,  and  declining  life.  The  predis- 
positions of  children  are  singularly  characteristic :  their 
intense  vitality ;  their  comparatively  large  development  of 
brain ;  the  rapid  progression  of  everything  connected  with 
infan<7.  Hence  tiieir  common  diseases,  cerebral,  nervous, 
and  inflammatory;  as  hydrocephalus,  convulsions,  diarrhcsa, 
fever.  The  liability  of  children  to  some  diseases  is  so  great 
that  they  are  commonly  called  the  diseases  of  childhood, 
such  as  measles,  whooping-cough,  and  scarlet  fever,  of  which 
so  many  thousand  children  die.  With  these  diseases  is 
coupled  another  suiprising  fact — ^the  exemption  from  them 
in  after  life,  when  they  have  once  been  passed  through. 
All  these  are  facts  of  diuly  observation ;  but  of  their  causes 
and  nature,  how  they  are  taken,  and  how  they  are  after- 
wards avoided,  we  know  nothing  as  yet.  Another  pecu- 
liarity in  the  predisposition  of  children  is  seen  in  the 
remarkably  powerful  action  of  minute  doses  of  some  drugs 
commonly  supposed  to  have,  as  medicines,  little  or  no 
action  at  all,  as  silica,  carbonate  of  lime,  sulphur ;  and  the 
opposite  of  this  in  the  comparatively  slight  action  of  other 
drugs  known  to  have  energetic  power  over  adults,  as 
calomel. 

Predisposition  to  disease  in  mature  life  is  characterised 
by  diminished  force,  or  it  is  better  to  say,  the  resisting 
power  of  the  living  body  in  middle  life  is  in  its  highest 
stage,  though  even  now  there  are  warnings  around  us  suf- 
ficient to  subdue  presumption.  In  "the  Visions  of 
Mirza,"  looking  at  the  great  bridge  of  seventy  arches, 
he  says:  ''I  saw  several  of  the  passengers  dropping 
through  the  bridge  into  the  great  tide  that  flowed  under- 
neath it,  and  upon  further  examination,  perceived  there 
were  innumerable  trap-doors  that  lay  concealed  in  the 
bridge,  which  the  passengers  no  sooner  trod  upon  but  they 


140  PBEDIBPOSraON.         "feS^^^S?^ 


Beriew,  Mir.  1,1881. 


fell  through  them  into  the  tide,  and  immediately  dis- 
appeared. These  hidden  pit-&lls  were  set  verytluck  at 
the  entrance  of  the  bridge,  so  that  throngs  of  people  no 
sooner  broke  through  the  doad  but  many  of  them  fell  into 
them.     They  grew  thinner  towards  the  nUddle" 

The  tendencies  of  old  age  are  as  strongly  marked  as 
those  of  childhood,  bat  in  a  very  different  direction. 
Feebleness  of  heart,  ossification  of  arteries,  failure  of 
muscles  and  the  consequences  of  this,  stifihess  of  joints, 
impaired  digestion,  loss  of  sight,  hearing,  and  other  senses, 
the  ''lean  and  slippered  pantaloon.*'  Especially  is  the 
beneficial  action  of  medicines  more  difficult.  ''Old  material 
is  not  so  soon  repaired  as  new,  and  do  what  we  may  it  will 
wear  out."  The  hidden  pit-£Edls  were  "multiplied  and 
lay  closer  together  towards  the  end  of  the  arches  that  were 
entire.  There  were,  indeed,  some  persons,  but  their 
number  was  yery  small,  that  continued  a  kind  of  hobbling 
march  on  the  broken  arches,  but  fell  through  one  after 
another,  being  qvite  tired  and  spent  toith  so  long  a  walk.'' 
In  this  sad  picture  of  the  infirmities  of  age  there  are  not 
unfrequently  three  redeeming  features:  one  intellectual, 
one  moral,  and  one  religious.  Of  the  mental  condition  I 
haye  just  now  read  this,  in  a  letter  of  a  man  aged  eighty- 
three  :  "  I  am  the  old  man  .  .  .  but,  with  the  exceptiou 
of  great  dea&ess,  haye  all  my  fiiculties  as  before.  Indeed, 
I  can  enter  into  what  I  read  better  than  I  eyer  did,  see 
into  the  pros  and  cons  of  an  argument,  and  the  abundant 
fallacies  and  misleadings  of  much  popular  writing."  Of 
the  moral  character,  it  is  sufficient  to  quote  the  sacred 
words:  "  The  hoary  head  is  a  crown  of  glory,  if  it  be  found 
in  the  way  of  righteousness."  And  of  the  Christian's  hope, 
that  his  body  of  weakness  and  humiliation,  though  like  a 
grain  of  wheat,  "  it  is  sown  in  dishonour,  it  will  be  raised 
in  glory." 

Tl.—Sex. 

"  So  God  created  man  in  His  own  image ;  male  and 
fsmale  created  He  them.  And  God  blessed  tiiem."  For  it 
was  not  good  for  man  to  be  alone,  eyen  in  paradise ;  but 
it  is  good  for  man  to  be  manly,  and  for  woman  to  be 
womanly,  all  the  world  oyer.  There  is  no  interchange  pos- 
sible between  the  strength  to  labour  in  the  one,  and  the 
beauty  to  charm  in  ihe  other.  They  are  bound  together  by 
loye.    They  can  neyer  be  set  up  together  on  a  pedestal  of 


SSS^S^Tia^         PBEDI8P08ITION.  141 

imifonnity  and  equality.  All  such  schemes  have  upon  their 
fore-front  the  impress  of  folly,  and  carry  with  them  the 
necessity  of  fiEdlare.  It  is  obvioas  that  these  physical  dif- 
ferences between  men  and  women  must  be  accompanied  by 
differences  in  their  predisposition  to  diseases.  An  obser- 
yant  physician  soon  becomes  aware  of  these  distinctions,  and 
of  their  importance  to  him  in  practice.  There  are  ailments 
common  to  both  sexes,  as  those  of  the  respiratory,  digestiye, 
and  locomotive  organs ;  there  are  some  pecnllar  to  men ; 
and  there  are  many  peculiar  to  women.  It  mnst  suffice 
here  to  remark  that  there  is  scarcely  any  ailment  of  woman 
oyer  which  her  feminine  nature  does  not  exercise  an 
influence,  which  can  never  be  safely  overlooked  by  her 
physician.  When  diseases  do  come,  men  are  much  more 
nervous  about  them  than  women,  and  women  have  much 
more  endurance  of  them  than  men ;  so  that  a  disease 
which  will  kill  a  man  in  a  few  weeks  will  often  be  borne 
by  a  woman  for  months  or  years.  Some  medical  men 
think  that  there  are  drugs  specially  adapted  to  the  diseases 
of  men,  and  others  to  those  of  women  ;  certainly  there  are 
many  drugs  admirably  fitted  to  cure  the  ailments  peculiar 
to  women.  It  is  not  wise  to  try  to  ignore  or  to  level, 
either  in  health  or  in  sickness — ^in  proving  drugs  in  health, 
or  in  prescribing  them  in  disease— the  distinctions  between 
the  sexes*  Man  and  woman  are  each  superior  in  their  own 
situation,  and  their  only  rivalry  should  be  that  of  affection, 
and  devotion  to  their  respective  duties,  which  are  different 
and  often  quite  distinct.  We  cannot  wish  for  our  fellow- 
creatures  any  happiness  in  this  life  greater  than  that  every 
man  should  have  his  own  wife,  and  every  woman  her  own 
husband,  and  that  they  should  fear  Grod  and  love  one 
another.  Marriage  makes  them  one :  but  for  our  present 
purpose  they  are  widely  separated. 

Vn. — Previous  Diaeoies, 

We  are  very  ignorant.  The  influence  which  diseases 
have  upon  predisposition  is  very  great;  but  in  such 
different  directions  that  we  are  made  to  feel  our  ignorance 
of  its  manner  of  acting  very  impressively.  Illnesses  such 
as  measles,  scarlet-fever,  small-pox,  whooping  cough,  leave 
sn  immunity  behind  them  so  well  established  that  it  is 
known  that  subsequent  exposure  to  their  causes  seldom 
takes  effeet^  •  On  the  eontrary^  attacks  of  such  diseases  as 
ague,  and  the  various  kinds  of  inflammation,  leave  an- 


142  PBBDisposmoN.      ^'feSSr^EfWS* 


BfBTisv,  Mir.  1*  18B1. 


incieafied  liability  to  fresh  attacks  from  exposiue  to  their 
caases.  A^psin,  there  are  other  diseases^  as  typhoid  feyer, 
which,  irithont  leaying  the  snflbrer  more  liable  to  a  second 
attack,  often  gire  his  constitotion  a  shook  from  which  it 
does  not  thoronghly  reooyer.  He  is  reduced  to  a  lerel  of 
life's  energy  lower  than  that  on  which  he  stood  before  this 
first  attack.  These  bets  are  important.  That  they  are 
not  tamed  to  more  practical  aoconnt  than  they  are,  arises 
from  our  ignorance.  We  know  nothing  of  their  caases,  nor 
of  their  connection  with  the  phenomena  to  which  they  are 
fonnd  attached.  Whooping  congh  and  bronchitis  touch 
each  other  on  more  than  one  side ;  their  seat  must  be  yery 
much  the  same;  their  kind,  as  iiu  as  we  know  this, 
seems  to  be  similar,  though  differing  in  regard  to  the  presence 
or  absence  of  spasm ;  and  yet  the  first  belongs  to  the  class 
of  diseases  which  proye  protectiye  from  further  recurrences, 
while  the  second  belongs  to  the  class  in  which  the  predis- 
position to  repetitions  of  similar  attacks  is  intensified.  We 
consider  a  child  who  has  had  scarlet-fey^,  or  measles,  or 
whooping  cough,  safe  fiiom  a  repetition  of  these,  though 
liying  in  their  presence.  We  say  that  an  old  man,  who 
has  had  his  first  attack  of  bronchitis,  ought  to  be  more 
careful  than  before,  not  to  expose  himself  to  the  causes  of 
it :  but  as  yet  we  haye  learned  scarcely  anything  besides 
from  these  fi&cts.  There  is  much  room  for  further  obser- 
yation,  experiment,  and  discoyeiy,  here. 

The  most  serious  heritage  left  us  by  a  former  illness  is 
a  morbid  change  in  the  structure  of  the  organs  in  which 
the  ailment  has  been  seated,  and  which  we  call  organic 
disease.  For  example  :  It  frequently  happens  that  rheu'^ 
matic  feyer  leayes  behind  it  disease  of  the  heart ;  this  adds 
seriously  to  the  danger  and  difficulty  of  cure  of  a  sub- 
sequent attack  of  rheumatism.  The  legacy  bequeathed  by 
some  illnesses  consists  in  an  unhealthy  condition  of  the 
blood.  Typhoid  feyer  is  an  example  of  this  formidable 
eyil.  To  Imow  that  titanivm  is  a  good  remedy  for  this 
condition  of  the  blood  is  something  to  be  thaukfol  for. 

The  study  of  preyious  disease  leads  to  the  examination 
of  indiyidual  organs.  This,  again,  reminds  us  that  each 
organ  has  its  own  mode  of  Ufe,  its  own  kind  of  inflamma- 
tion, its  own  manner  of  healing,  and  its  own  predisposi- 
tions. This  is  a  yast  subject,  and  would  reward-  tha 
deyotion  of  a  life  to  its  elucidation.  It  cannot  be  entered 
upon  further  in  this  Essay. 


itSii^SST^^        PBBDISPOSITION.  143 


.1* 


VJJI. — Previmis  Medication. 

The  time  is  still  in  my  memory  when  patients  were  so 
saturated  with  dmgs  that  these  would  mi^e  their  way  out 
of  them  throogh  the  skin ;  when  guineas  and  gold  watches 
would  be  ooatod  with  mercury  and  take  on  a  hue  which 
suggested  that  a  oonjuror  had  been  reyersing  the  dreams  of 
tiie  alchymists ;  when  wet  sheets  wrapped  round  the  body 
would  show,  on  being  taken  off,  many  of  the  colours  of  the 
rainbow.  Notwithstanding  the  remonstrances  of  Syden- 
ham, patients  have  continued  to  suffer  grieyously  from  the 
prodi^dity  with  which  medicines  have  been  given  them. 
It  may  be  hoped,  but  it  is  not  to  be  expected,  that  such 
destructive  treatment  has  been  discarded  for  ever.  Indeed, 
exoessiye  treatment  with  drugs  is  still,  to  some  extent, 
going  on,  and  predisposition  is  affected  by  their  presence 
in  the  body.  A  few  years  ago  Dr.  Butherford  Bussell  told 
me  of  some  eases  he  had  had  in  whom  salivation  had  been 
produced  by  exceedingly  small  doses  of  mercury.  I  sug- 
gested to  Mm  that  this  effect  might  have  been  caused  by 
meieury  previously  taken  in  large  doses.  He  said :  ''I 
have  never  thought  of  that."  Drugs  may  be  taken  till  the 
organs  on  which  they  act  become  intolerant  of  them,  so 
that  very  small  doses  will  produce  an  exaggerated  effect. 
On  the  otiier  hand,  others  may  be  taken  till  they  have 
scarcely  any  effect.  In  the  old  school  it  is  well  known 
that  opiates  cease  to  procure  sleep,  stomachics  to  keep  up 
the  appetite,  purgatives  to  open  the  bowels,  tonics  to  give 
strength.  And  in  the  new  school  it  is  found  that  those 
who  take  medicines  in  small  doses  too  frequently  blunt 
their  edges,  so  that  the  good  effects  at  first  experienced 
can  no  longer  be  obtained.  This  is  specially  the  case  with 
domestic  treatment,  where  medicines  are  spoilt  by  being 
taken  too  often,  and  by  several  being  taken  quickly  one 
after  another.  Some  years  ago  a  lady  called  upon  me  for 
advidB.  She  told  me  her  story,  the  latter  part  of  it  being 
a  triumphant  narrative  of  all  the  remedies  she  had  given 
herself.  She  had  taken  her  box  of  medicines  three  times 
round.  I  said :  ''I  am  very  sorry,  but  I  am  not  able  to 
preseribe  for  you."  The  lady  rose  up  in  great  indignation. 
"  What  do  you  mean ?  Am  I  going  to  die ?  "  '^No,  you 
are  not  going  to  die ;  you  have  taken  the  medicine  which  I 
think  would  have  cured  you,  and  you  have  so  blunted  its 
edge  by  mixing  it  with  others  that  if  I  gave  you  it  now  it 


144  PBEDifflposmoK.        *fei2S.lK"??±' 


Beriew,  Mv.  1,  IflBl. 


would  fail,  and  we  both  should  be  disappointed."  When 
care  is  taken  not  to  abuse  a  medicine  in  this  manner,  it 
seems  never  to  lose  its  effect.  My  first  experiments  in 
homoeopathy  were  upon  myself.  I  had  suffered  for  many 
years,  as  many  medical  men  do,  firom  indigestion.  PuUor 
UUa  benefited  me  surprisingly,  and  it  has  continued  to  do 
so,  whenever  it  has  been  needed,  for  thirty  years ;  it  seems 
to  be  as  efficacious  now  as  it  was  at  first.  Previous  medi- 
cation, then,  is  a  matter  to  be  inquired  into  in  the  exami- 
nation of  patients,  if  we  would,  as  fiir  as  possible,  escape 
disappointment. 

IX. — Present  Disease. 

Enough  has  now  been  said  on  the  patient  and  his  pre- 
dispositions to  render  it  possible  to  draw  some  conclusions; 
but  before  doing  this  it  seems  necessary  to  say  a  few  words 
on  the  patient's  present  disease.  When  any  one  consults 
a  physician,  he  expects  to  receive  an  answer  to  three 
questions :  First,  he  wishes  to  know  what  his  ailment  is? 
Next,  to  know  what  are  the  probabilities  of  his  recovery  ? 
And  then,  what  can  be  done  to  cure  him  ?  The  thoughts 
which  have  been  gathered  up  in  this  Essay  are  the  preUmi- 
nary  information ;  the  physician  must  now  proceed  to  the 
present  position  of  the  case  before  him ;  he  has  to  make 
his  diagnosis. 

The  older  method  has  been  to  discover,  if  possible,  the 
internal  morbid  condition,  as  well  as  to  notice  the  outward 
expression  of  this  condition  by  symptoms.  When  we  have 
Hahnemann  and  his  followers  to  deal  with,  we  are  at  once 
brought  face  to  feuse  with  a  great  contradiction.  They  say 
the  symptoms  are  sufficient,  we  have  only  to  make  a  correct 
inventory  of  them ;  and  when  we  have  found  a  corresponding 
inventory  of  symptoms  in  the  provings  of  a  drug,  we  have 
the  remedy.  This  difficulty  has  been  considered  in  former 
Essays,  but  it  continues,  and  deserves  notice  again.  (1) 
If  a  comparison  of  the  symptoms  of  disease  and  of  drug  is 
all  that  is  required,  there  is  no  need  for  a  medical  profession; 
a  layman  by  taking  pains  may  leam  to  do  this  quite  as  well 
as  a  doctor.  (2)  Ajiswers  to  two  of  the  patient's  questions 
cannot  be  given,  for  neither  diagnosis  nor  prognogis  are 
possible.  (8)  To  escape  this  dilemma  it  is  now  allowed 
l^at,  pathology  is  necessary.  ''I  fully  agree,"  says 
I>r«  Harmar  Smith,.the. latest  advocate  of  Hahnemann's 


JS^fSSTBo!^        PBBDIBPOSITION.  146 

methody ''  with  Dr.  Yeldliam  as  to  the  valae  of  pathology  in 
regard  to  diagnosis  and  prognosis ;  without  it  they  wonld 
not  haye  a  leg  to  stand  npon."  Then,  if  it  is  the  only 
basis  of  these  two  essential  parts  of  medical  knowledge, 
there  is  a  manifest  fallacy  in  a  ''  protest  against  the  nndue 
place  giren  to  pathology  in  its  being  recognised  as  the  true 
basis  of  therapeutics."  *  (4.)  It  is  contended  that  onr 
present  knowledge  of  pathology  is  too  imperfect  to 
constitute  this  basis.  In  former  Essays  it  has  been  replied, 
that  this  is  an  argument  for  seeking  to  imj^roYe  our 
knowledge,  not  for  refusing  to  use  the  knowledge  we  have ; 
and  if  our  knowledge  is  sufficient  as  a  foundation  for 
diagnosis  and  prognosis,  it  ought  to  be  useful  for 
therapeutics.  Until  our  pathological  knowledge  is  more 
perfiact,  it  may  be  remembered  that  an  anatomical 
basis  of  therapeutics  has  been  recommended.  If  there 
are  morbid  actions  of  which  we  do  not  yet  know  the 
nature,  we  may  generally  find  out  where  they  are  going  on. 
(5)  May  I  point  out  that  there  are  two  things  which  should 
always  be  distinguished — ^pathological  theory  and  patho* 
logical  fact.  (6)  Homooopathists,  who  try  to  be  patho- 
logists, are  placed  in  a  great  dilemma — Hahnemann's 
provingB  of  drugs  are  simply  a  record  of  symptoms.  Such 
proTings  are  well  adapted  to  his  plan  of  comparing  the 
symptoms  of  the  patient  with  those  of  the  drug ;  but  they 
&il  to  help  the  pathologist.  It  is  not  possible  to  learn  the 
pathological  action  of  drugs  from  these  provings.  Even 
the  anatomical  seat  of  drug  action  cannot  be  learned  with 
any  certainty  from  them.  For  five  years  I  tried  to  learn 
this,  but  could  not.  (7)  These  facts  show  that  the  pro- 
posal made  by  Dr.  Yeldham  in  his  Presidential  Address  at 
the  Leeds  Congress  (1880),  for  a  committee  to  be  appointed 
to  purge  the  Mai^eria  Medica  of  Hahnemann  of  useless 
symptoms  would  be  a  great  mistake ;  it  is  not  practicable, 
and  even  if,  by  immense  labour,  it  could  be  done,  it  would 
be  a  failure.  Dr.  Yeldham  insists  upon  the  necessity  of 
pathology;  while  making  his  proposition  he  must  have 
forgotten  that  the  symptoms  in  Hahnemann's  Materia 
Mediea,  so  far  from  being  connected  with  the  pathological 
conditions  which  cause  them,  are  of  set  purpose  detached 
from  them.  In  another  sense,  also,  the  eflort  would  be  a 
failure — the  symptoms,  as  given  in  the  provings,  are  not 

*  MojUMh  Homaopatlik  lUvUw  for  Deoomber,  1880* 
Ko.  3,  YoL  25.  i. 


146  PBEM8P081TI0N.  "SS&^iKJTSS' 


BeriBW,  Mar.  1,  IflBL 


connected  wiih  doses ;  and  so  the  contraiy  action  of  larger 
and  smaller  doses  wonld  neither  be  illnstrated  nor  refuted. 
Neither  Organopathy  nor  Antipraxy  can  rest  for  their  sup- 
port upon  the  provings  of  Hahnenuum.  (8)  It  follows 
that  new  proTings  are  a  pressing  necessity — who  will 
undertake  them?  Experiments  on  living  animals  can 
neyer  be  successfully  substituted  for  them.  Besides  other 
weighty  objections  to  these  experiments,  the  considerations 
which  occupy  this  Essay  reveal  an  insurmountable  diffi- 
culty. If  the  variations  in  predisposition  are  such  an 
important  element  in  the  study  of  the  action  of  drugs,  as 
we  have  now  seen  them  to  be,  the  enormous  differences  in 
the  anatomy,  physiology,  and  habits  of  life  of  dogs,  cats, 
rabbits  and  frogs,  as  compared  with  ourselves,  must  throw 
the  whole  subject  of  experiments  with  animals  into  inex- 
tricable and  hopeless  confusion. 

The  best  knowledge  we  can  get  of  the  patient  himself, 
his  antecedents  and  predispositions,  both  as  to  the  structure 
and  functions  of  the  various  organs  of  his  body,  and  also  of 
the  state  of  his  mind ;  and  then  of  his  present  malady, 
should  be  sought  by  us.  To  this  should  be  added  our 
knowledge  of  remedies ;  and  all  this  knowledge  should  be 
turned  to  account  in  the  replies  given  to  the  three  questions 
our  patient  wishes  to  ask  us. 


Conclu9ians. 

From  the  data  given  in  this  paper  several  important  con- 
clusions may  be  drawn;  among  them  are  the  following: — 

1.  Predisposition  can  exist  only  when  life  is  added  to 
an  organised  body.  This  necessity  is  universal.  Life 
varies  in  energy;  hence  the  first  cause  of  the  variety 
of  predispositions. 

2.  Predisposition  can  exist  only  when  an  organised 
body  is  added  to  life.  Organization  varies  in  each 
individual;  hence  the  second  cause  of  the  variety  of 
predispositions. 

8.  Predisposition  is  universal;  i.e.,  common  to  the 
human  fiEunily.  It  may  be  recognised  in  each  person 
as  the  same  property;  nevertheless,  it  differs  in  each 
individual. 

4.  Predisposition  is  local ;  i.e.,  each  organ  has  its  own 
predispositions ;  and  each  has  its  own  variations.     To  the 


SsS^STH?"  a  bboobd.  147 


Bifimr.lfar.  1,1881. 


science  of  the  anatomy  of  each  organ,  and. to  the  sciences 
of  Hs  physiology  and  pathology,  mast  be  added  the  science 
of  its  predispositions. 

5.  Predisposition  is  one  cause  of  the  local  action  of  the 
exciting  causes  of  disease.  The  varions  ailments  produced 
in  different  persons  by  exposure  to  the  same  degree  of  cold, 
B8  noticed  in  an  early  part  of  this  paper,  is  a  sufficient 
illustration, 

6.  Predisposition  is  one  cause  of  the  heal  action  of 
drugs.  For  example :  belladonna  will  give  one  person  a 
headache,  another  inflamed  eyes,  another  a  sore  throat, 
another  a  scarlet  rash.  It  is  often  said  that  the  provings  of 
a  drug  by  one  person  will  not  give  its  entire  action ;  the 
reason  is  that  the  exciting  cause  may  remain  the  same,  but 
if  the  predisposing  causes  vary,  the  results  wiU  differ.  The 
cause  of  the  local  action  is  not  inherent  in  the  drug  alone, 
but  is  shared  by  the  predisposition. 

Rugby, 
Dec.  80, 1880. 

A  RECORD  OP  TWENTY  CASES   TREATED  ON 
THE  PBINCIPLE  OF  HAHNEMANN'S  LAW 

OF  SIMILARS. 

By  John  H.  Clarke,  M.D. 

CConchtdedfrom  page  95.  J 
Case  XV. 

Cardiac  Disease.    Aneurism  (?) — Spigelia  8. 

In  this  case  the  symptoms  pointing  to  the  presence  of 
thoracic  aneurism  induced  me  to  give  baryta  carbonica  in 
the  first  instance,  as  Dr.  Flint's  case  had  been  recently 
published,  although  I  did  not  follow  him  in  the  preparation 
used. 

As  this  failed  to  give  relief,  nux  vom.  was  prescribed  as 
corresponding  to  the  general  state.  This,  however,  failed 
also  to  reach  the  root  of  the  disease  ;  and  then  spigelia  was 
given  with  inunediate  and  marked  benefit.  The  giddiness 
on  motion,  palpitation  on  exertion,  with  breathlessness  and 
choking   sensation,  depending  on  deficient  innervation  of 


148  A  BBcoBD.      "^^fsarss. 

1 1 — ■-  -  —  -  -  .  ■  BB^       ■         I  M^         ■  .  I- 

the  heart,  the  pain  at  the  heart,  and  nombness  of  the  left 
side,  were  the  chief  indications  for  the  remedy.  Compare 
the  following  from  Allen  : — 

"  Q-reat  weakness  of  the  body  after  walking.*'  "  Sleep- 
lessness.'' *'When  walking  he  becomes  dizzy."  ''Tearing 
constriction  in  the  lower  part  of  the  chest,  above  the  pit  of 
the  stomach,  with  oppression;  afterwards,  also,  beneath 
the  pit  of  the  throat  with  palpitation."  ''  Palpitation  and 
anxious  oppression  of  the  chest."  ''  Violent  stitch  in  the 
left  side,  just  beneath  the  heart." 

Aug.  18, 1879.  J.  B.,  87,  single ;  lath-render ;  fair,  florid^ 
shiny  weather-beaten-looking  complexion ;  middle  size. 

Family  history, — Father  and  brother  asthmatical. 

Social  history. — Has  been  a  hard  drinker,  but  not  of  late. 
Is  at  present  a  total  abstainer. 

Previous  health. — Good  up  till  17  months  ago.  Says  he 
was  taken  ill  suddenly  '*  like  a  corpse."  He  was  at  that 
time  exceedingly  nervous,  and  afraid  above  everything  to  go 
to  sleep. 

Present  iUness. — Dates  from  12  months  ago.  It  came  on 
gradually.  For  18  weeks  past  he  has  been  attending  the  East 
Suffolk  Hospital  as  an  out-patient,  but  received  no  benefit. 
He  was  discharged,  and  ''  relieved  "  was  put  on  his  dis- 
charge-paper. This  so  angered  him  that  it  brought  on  an 
attack  of  palpitation  and  breathlessness,  which  compelled 
him  to  sit  down  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour  before  he  was  able 
to  proceed  home. 

He  complains  of  a  choking  sensation  at  the  throat,  and 
a  smarting  pain  at  the  heart.  It  is  worse  some  days  than 
others.  He  has  giddiness,  headache,  and  noises  in  the  ears. 
There  is  a  constant  gnawing  pain  in  the  left  side  of  the 
chest,  and  weakness  of  the  left  shoulder  and  arm.  He  has 
palpitation  and  shortness  of  breath. 

Tongue  clean ;  bowels  confined ;  appetite  poor ;  sleep 
bad;  pulse  feebler  right  side  than  left;  pupils  equal; 
sight  the  same  in  each  eye. 

Suspecting  aneurism,  but  having  no  time  to  make  a 
thorough  examination,  I  prescribed  baryt,  earb.  6  pil.  8  h. 

Aug.  20.  Not  so  well.  Giddiness  and  choking  very  bad. 
The  only  pain  he  complains  of  is  a  dull  achmg  in  the 
precordia. 

Ea^mination. — ^Both  sides  of  chest  resonant ;  inspiration 
jerky  on  the  right  side ;  heart  sounds  somewhat  muffled. 


£5*?SfrSS*  A  BBOOBD.  149 


B«fi0w,  Har.  U  USl. 


bat  otherwise  nonnal ;  left  ladiaJ  pulse  stronger  than  right. 
Tongae  clean ;  bowels  confined.  He  has  nnmbness  of  the 
left  aim* 

Nux  vom.  If  pil.  1,  8  h. 

Ang.  27.  Same.  Left  pupil  larger  than  right.  Spigelian. 

Sept.  8.  Has  been  a  good  deal  better  until  to-day. 
Took  milk  for  supper  last  night*  To-day  breath  is  short, 
and  he  feels  choked ;  bowels  regular ;  appetite  has  been 
better.     To  have  gruel  for  supper.     Bepeat. 

Sept.  10.  (In  my  absence  he  had  an  attack  of  diarrhoeai 
for  which  he  received  china  8.) 

Sept.  24.  Choking  the  same ;  palpitation  better ;  can 
work  much  better ;  he  is  not  so  giddy. 

Examination*  Bight  interscapular  space  is  shade  duller 
than  left.  Breath  sounds  same  as  before ;  also  cardiae 
sounds ;  the  first  is  muffled.     Spigelia  S,  as  before. 

Oct.  1.  Better.  Has  only  had  pain  once.  Breath  still 
short  on  extra  exertion.  He  is  much  stronger  than  he 
was ;  appetite  very  good.  He  can  stay  at  work  all  day, 
which  he  has  not  been  able  to  do  for  a  long  time.     Bepeat. 

Oct.  8.     Improving.     Bepeat. 

Oct.  16.  Has  no  pain ;  slight  attack  of  giddiness  to- 
day ;  breath  is  short.  He  has  been  working  harder.  There 
is  very  little  of  the  choking  sensation  now.  Pulses 
stronger ;  pupils  nearly  equal.     Bepeat. 

He  continued  to  take  spigelia  till  the  beginning  of  this  year 
(1880),  keeping  at  work  all  the  time,  and  living  a  life  of  com- 
fort, '*  enjoying  his  meals  "  as  he  had  not  done  for  months. 
He  went  away  for  a  holiday  at  Christmas  time,  and  came 
back  none  the  better  for  it.  The  fogs  tried  h;m,  and  any 
mental  excitement,  more  especially  anger,  was  sure  to 
throw  him  back.  I  have  not  seem  him  since  the  20th  of 
January,  so  I  presume  he  has  not  required  attention.  At 
any  rate  this  much  is  certain,  that  from  the  27th  of  August 
until  the  middle  of  the  next  January  a  steady  improvement 
in  all  respect  took  place,  attributable  only  to  the  action  of 
tpigelia  8,  and  that  from  life  being  a  burden  to  him,  and 
work  always  a  trouble,  and  often  broken  in  upon,  he  was 
enabled  to  enjoy  life  and  work  his  full  time. 

Case  XVL 

Neuralgia. — Spigelia  8. 

The  next  case  is  an  example  of  (he  action  of  spigelia  on 
the  sensory  nenres. 


160 A   RECOBD,  '^BgSSrfjS^Ttgg! 

April  80,  1879.— A.  I.,  75,  sailor.  Has  had  neuralgia 
a  fortnight*  The  pain  is  all  down  the  right  side  of  the 
face,  affecting  the  eye.    It  is  worse  hy  eating. 

Tongue  clean ;  appetite  good ;  bowels  regolar ;  mouth 
dry  in  the  morning.    SpigMa  9,  pil  i.,  8  h. 

May  7.  Sent  word  to  say  that  he  was  greatly  relieved, 
and  was  so  much  better  that  he  had  no  need  to  return. 

May  21.  Has  had  a  little  return  of  the  pain.  It  still 
affects  the  eye,  but  eating  makes  no  difference  to  it  now. 
Bepeat. 

He  did  not  return,  but  I  hear  he  has  since  been  quite 
well. 

Case  XVH. 

Axillary  abscess.      Absorbed  without  incision  or  breaking. 

Hepar  stdph:  6. 

Feb.  22,  1879.  Mrs.  W.,  37,  hawker.  Dark  olive 
complexion ;  thin  hair. 

She  complains  of  a  lump  in  right  arm-pit,  which  has 
been  there  since  the  beginning  of  the  winter.  It  eamc 
with  the  first  frost. 

Tongue  clean.    Bowels  regular.     Gatamenia  regular. 

She  had  one  child  15  years  ago;  has  had  none  since. 
Her  hair  fell  off  when  the  child  was  bom.  It  only  lived  a 
few  minutes.  Her  husband  has  a  fistula.  She  is  always 
cold ;  suffers  from  cold  feet. 

There  is  a  gland  the  size  of  a  pigeon's  egg  in  the 
axilla,  hard,  tender  to  the  touch,  with  cord-Uke  ducts 
proceeding  from  it  upwards  and  downwards. 

Considering  the  probable  syphilitic  history,  I  chose,  in 
preference  to  other  medicines  that  specially  affecting 
glands,  mere,  iod,  6,  pil.,  8  h. 

Mar.  1.  Gland  is  larger,  more  painful,  softer.  She  has 
no  appetite.    Sleeps  badly. 

As  there  was  evidently  suppuration  going  on,  and  as  the 
mere.  iod.  had  had  no  appreciable  beneficial  effect,  I 
resolved  to  give  hepar.  One  of  the  symptoms  of  the  latter, 
given  in  Allen,  is  **  The  glands  in  tihe  axilla  suppurate." 
Hepar  sulplu  6,  pil.  1,  8  h. 

March  8.  Gland  larger  and  softer.  Fluctuation  dis- 
tinct. Not  nearly  so  tender.  Can  move  arm  much  more 
freely.  I  advised  her  to  have  it  opened,  but  she  was  quite 
pleased  with  it  as  it  was^  and  refusied.    Bepeat. 


S^lSrS^  A  BBOOBD.  151 


B0vieir»Mv.  l,iast. 


March  16.  Oland  much  smaller.  Very  little  pain  or 
tenderoess.    Softer.    Bepeat. 

Mareh  22.  No  fluctuation.  In  place  of  a  single  swelling 
three  separate  glands  can  be  felt.  There  is  no  tenderness. 
Appetite  poor.    Bowels  confined.    Bepeat. 

March  29.     The  lump  has  nearly  all  gone.    Bepeat. 

She  had  no  occasion  to  return.  Of  the  presence  of  pus 
in  the  swelling  I  have  not  the  slightest  doubt.  The 
pain  soon  left  after  the  hepar  was  given,  and  the  resolution 
and  absorption  of  the  swelling  quickly  followed. 

Case  XVm. 

Helminthiasis  with  fever,  simulating  pneumonia — 

Cina  1. 

The  following  is  an  acute  case,  and  it  might  be  objected 
that  it  was  merely  a  case  of  ephemeral  fever  which  would 
have  subsided  of  its  own  accord  without  medicine  of  any 
kind*  This,  however,  I  do  not  think  probable.  The  symp- 
toms of  the  presence  of  the  parasites  were  very  marked, 
even  though  the  chief  one — seeing  them — ^was  wanting. 
This,  coupled  with  the  speedy  disappearance  of  all  the 
symptoms  under  cina,  to  the  pathogenesis  of  which  they 
correspond  most  closely,  confirms  me  in  the  belief  that  the 
case  is  a  good  e^cample  of  medicinal  action. 

Oct.  4,  1879.  Wm.  M.,  7.  Thin,  dark,  grey  eyes  ; 
restless.  A  very  active  boy.  Subject  to  bilious  feverish 
attacks. 

Family  history. — ^Father  healthy,  but  not  a  strong  man, 
mother  delicate,  suffers  from  chronic  bronchitis. 

Social  histoi-y, — Working  people,  but  decently  comfort- 
able. 

History  of  attack. — ^Has  been  ailing  a  week.  Went  to 
school  yesterday,  not  feeling  well;  came  home  ready  for 
his  dinner  ;  went  again  in  the  afternoon,  and  came  home 
crying  with  pain  in  his  side.  He  was  sick  in  the  evening. 
His  mother  gave  bim  senna.  Bowels  moved  twice.  He 
was  feverish  all  night,  and  cried  with  pain  in  his  side. 

I  fonnd  him  complaining  of  pain  in  the  left  side  of  the 
chest  round  to  the  back,  pain  in  the  left  iliac,  and  lumbar 
regions.  There  is  no  abdominal  tenderness.  He  can 
extend  his  legs  without  pain.     He  has  a  dry  cough. 

Tongue  dirty  white.  No  appetite.  He  is  veiy  thirsty. 
Pulse  186,  temp.  102.4.,  reap.  66. 


162 A  MSCOKD.  "g^faSni^ 

Examination  of  chesU — ^Bight  side  is  slightly  bulged. 
There  is  no  dulness  either  side  anteriorly.  Posteriorly  the 
lowest  fourth  of  the  left  lung  is  dtQler  &an  the  right,  but 
there  are  no  moist  sounds.  The  breathing  is  feeble; 
cardiac  sounds  normal. 

I  diagnosed  pneumonia  in  the  earliest  stage>  and  gave  tine. 
pho8.  2,  1  h. 

Oct.  6.  Much  the  same ;  pulse  182,  temp.  102.6|  resp. 
64. 

Had  a  very  bad  night;  coughing  and  screaming;  referring 
the  pain  to  several  places,  principally  to  the  left  haunch,  and 
angles  of  the  lower  left  ribs.  He  cannot  lie  on  the  left  side. 
The  only  physical  sign  is  the  dullish  patch  at  the  left  base, 
where  the  breathing  is  extremely  feeble.  There  is  no 
friction. 

His  nose  has  bled  freely  this  morning.  He  was  deliiious 
in  the  night. 

Tongue  white,  dry ;  bowels  not  moved. 

I  now  learned  from  his  mother  the  following  additional 
facts.  For  some  time  past  he  has  been  excessively  ravenous 
for  food.  It  has  not  been  possible  to  satisfy  him.  His 
sleep  has  been  very  restless ;  he  grinds  his  teeth.  He 
picks  his  nose  and  bites  his  finger  nails,  which  are  all 
painfully  short.  The  bowels  are  very  loose  as  a  rule.  His 
mother  has  never  seen  any  worms,  but  has  never  had  an 
opportunity. 

Tinct.  Cina  1,  1  h. 

Oct.  6.  Very  much  better.  Pulse  80.  Bespiration 
quiet  and  easy.  Was  better  yesterday  about  6  p.m. 
Remained  the  same  up  till  then.  Had  a  good  night*  Has 
very  little  pain.     The  skin  is  cool. 

Examination. — ^No  difference  in  resonance  of  the  two 
sides  of  the  chest  can  be  discovered,  and  the  breathing  is 
alike  in  both.  Bowels  moved  yesterday  in  the  evening. 
Bepeat. 

Oct.  7*  Good  night.  He  still  coughs,  and  has  pains  in 
the  side  when  he  does  so.  Tongue  clean.  Bowels  open. 
No  worms.     Physical  signs  negative.    Bepeat. 

Oct.  8.     Very  much  better  in  all  respect.    Bepeat. 

Oct.  10.    Well. 

Case  XIX. 

Ulceration  of  the  mouth,  salivation,  swelling  of  tongue 

(after  measles)* — Merc.  cor.  6. 


SS^STSff*  A  BBOOBD,  158 


.1. 


Case  XX. 

Croup,  with  ulceration  of  the  monthi  &c.  (afker  meaBles). 

Spongia  1.  and  afterwards  mere,  eor.  6. 

These  two  cases,  which  I  have  bracketed,  were  in  children, 
the  two  youngest — ^8  years,  and  16  months  respectively — of  a 
large  &mily,  the  parents  being  very  poor. 

Before  narrating  the  cases  I  wUl  make  a  few  extracts 
from  the  pathogeneses  of  the  two  principal  medicines 
employed. 

Mercuritis  eorr* 

"  Onms  swollen  and  spongy."  "  Tongue  white,  and  so 
much  swollen  that  he  could  not  protrude  it.**  '*  Swelling 
of  the  Ups,  tongue,  and  throat."  ''  Severe  inflammation 
of  the  mouth  and  gums,  with  constant  flow  of  clear  water 
from  the  same."  "  Ulceration  of  the  mouth."  "  Copious 
salivation."  "Lips  greatly  swollen."  "Lower  lip  consider- 
ably swollen,  and  a  smaJl  blister  on  the  inside  of  it." 
"  Lips  dry  and  cracked."     "  Stiffiiess  of  the  jaws." 

Spongia* 
"  Hoarseness."  "Hoarseness  increasing  so  that  she  can 
only  speak  with  difficulty."  "  Cough  and  coiyza  very 
violent."  "Difficult  respiration,  as  if  a  plug  were  sticking 
in  the  larynx,  and  the  breath  could  not  get  through  on 
account  of  the  constriction  of  the  larynx."  "  The  eyes 
suppurate."  "  Gums  swollen  and  painful."  "Accumulation 
of  saliva." 

Case  XIX. 

Oct.  25,  1879.  Frank  D.,  3.  Fair  hair,  blue  eyes. 
Has  had  measles.  Has  been  free  from  the  rash  a  fort- 
night. It  left  him  with  ulcerated  mouth,  which  has 
gradually  been  getting  worse. 

He  received  the  usual  domestic  treatment  of  dosing  with 
"  safiron  tea." 

I  foond  him  sitting  in  a  chair,  a  pitiable  object  to  look 
upon.  Face  swollen  and  pale,  and  wet  with  tears  and 
saliva,  which  are  flowing  copiously.  Comers  of  the  mouth 
ulcerated ;  also  gums.  There  is  a  deep  crack  in  the  fold 
of  the  chin.  There  is  great  foetor  from  the  mouth.  The 
eyes  are  sore  and  bleared  looking.    He  has  a  cough. 

Suspecting  cancrum  oris,  I  gave  tinct  mere.  9oL  6  and 
timet,  hepar  9ulph.  6  in  alternations,  the  latter  more 
eqpedallj  with  a  view  to  contiolliiig  the  bronebial 
iniiation. 


164  A  BBCOBD.  "te2?I?iE'?S5' 


Bevlew,  Mar.  1,  IflBt. 


Oct.  26.  Much  the  same.  Still  salivated.  Takes  milk 
well.    Bepeat. 

Oct.  27.  Is  very  irritable.  Lips  swollen.  Angles  of 
mouth  deeply  fissured,  the  cracks  having  thick  white 
edges.  Saliva  continues  to  run  from  the  mouth.  Chin 
excoriated;  under  lip  ulcerated.  Tongue  so  swollen  he 
cannot  put  it  out  to  be  examined.  No  hard  spot  to  be  felt 
in  the  cheek. 

I  now  changed  the  prescription  to  mere,  cor.,  which  I 
thought  more  closely  allied  in  its  action  to  the  nature  of 
the  diseasci  as  both  the  elements  of  the  drug  have  a 
specific  affinity  for  the  buccal  mucous  membrane,  and  organs 
of  the  mouth.  Tinct.  mere.  cor.  6,  2  h.  A  wash  of  solu* 
tion  of  borax  for  the  mouth. 

Oct.  28.  Rather  better.  Not  so  much  salivation. 
Chin  healing.  Can  see  into  the  mouth.  Inside  of  lips 
ulcerated,  but  not  deeply.  Glands  in  neck  enlarged.  Not 
so  feverish.  Is  very  cross.  Takes  milk  well  and  beef-tea. 
Bepeat. 

Oct.  29.  Had  a  very  good  night.  He  can  eat  this 
morning.    Bepeat. 

Oct  80.  From  this  time  he  progressed  very  rapidly, 
receiving  no  other  medicine,  and  he  required  no  fiirther 
treatment  after  Nov.  1. 

Case  XX. 

Oct.  25,  1879.— Walter  D.,  16  months,  fair. 

Was  attacked  by  measles  eight  days  ago.  Had  a  sore 
lip  before  it  came  on.  It  left  him  with  sore  eyes — one  is 
now  completely  closed — with  croupy  cough,  sore  mouth  and 
throat,  making  swallowing  very  difficult ;  salivation  and 
nasal  catarrh ;  face  swollen  and  pale. 

I  prescribed  for  him  as  for  his  brother,  tine.  mere. 
$oL  6,  and  tine,  hep,  9ulph.  6, 2  h.,  alt. 

Oct.  26.  Cough  not  so  bad ;  no  choking  at  night ;  not 
80  oroupy ;  mouUi  the  same ;  much  foBtor.     Bepeat. 

Oct.  27.  Not  so  well.  Had  a  bad  night  with  cough  and 
choking ;  mouth  the  same ;  lips  more  swollen ;  very  fret- 
ful;  Ids  ory  and  cough  are  husky ;  he  has  no  proper 
voice. 

Considering  the  croup  symptoms  to  be  now  the  most 
ui^eent,  I  gave  tine,  wpongia  1,  2  h.j  borax  wash. 

Oct.  28.  Rather  better.  Salivation  better ;  breathing 
better ;  cough  not  bo  hud^ ;  he  was  nearly  sufibcated  in 


jsst^srrssr      a  record.  us 

the  night ;  he  could  not  get  his  breath ;  is  not  so  peevish ; 
takes  nulk  well.    Repeat. 

Oct.  29.  Had  a  good  deal  of  choking  in  the  night.  Is 
sleeping  well  this  merning.    Repeat. 

Oct.  80.    A  little  better.     Repeat. 

Oct.  31.  Better.  Not  so  choked ;  much  clear  stringy 
phlegm  has  come  up ;  mouth  much  better ;  lips  not  so 
swollen.    Repeat. 

Not.  1.  Had  a  very  good  night.  Is  yery  much  better 
generally.    Repeat. 

Nov.  8.  Very  much  better.  Oough  not  so  bad ;  sleeps 
well;  takes  food  better;  begins  to  notice  his  brothers; 
month  still  sore.    Repeat. 

Nov.  5.  Better.  He  can  cough  now  (vocally),  though 
still  rather  hoarse ;  right  eye  still  inflamed ;  mouth  still 
sore.    Repeat. 

Nov.  7.  Much  better.  Voice  has  returned,  both  in  cough- 
ing and  crying.  He  is  still  salivated,  and  the  mouth  is 
still  ulcerated.     Tinct  mere.  cor.  6,  8  h. 

Nov.  10.  Very  much  better.  Mouth  nearly  well.  His  mother 
finds  that  he  has  cut  a  tooth  since  he  has  been  ill.   Repeat. 

Nov.  15.  Mouth  quite  well ;  appetite  better ;  bowels 
much  confined ;  otherwise  quite  well.  For  the  constipa- 
tion I  gave  him  tinet.  kali  bieh.  6  t.  d. 

I  have  cited  these  two  cases  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  in 
the  first  instance  more  than  one  remedy  at  a  time  was 
given,  as  it  is  only  for  the  action  of  the  single  remedies  that 
I  wish  them  to  stand. 

When  I  first  saw  the  children  there  seemed  little  hope 
of  their  recovery,  at  any  rate  without  permanent  disfigure- 
ment, and  the  case  of  the  younger  was  almost  desperate. 
The  remedies  to  which  the  disease  in  the  two  cases  re- 
sponded so  weU,  as  will  be  seen  by  comparison  with  the 
pathogenesis  quoted  above,  was  accurately  homcBopathic. 
It  may  be  objected  in  the  case  of  the  elder  that  the  borax 
wash  may  have  had  more  to  do  with  the  cure  than  the 
mere,  cor,,  but  this,  I  think,  is  answered  by  the  fact  that 
the  same  thing  did  not  happen  in  the  case  of  the  younger 
who  was  having  the  borax  wash  used  at  the  same  time,  and 
who  continued  to  be  salivated  and  suffer  from  sore  mouth 
in  spite  of  it,  until  the  mere.  cor.  was  given  when  the 
symptoms  speedily  disappeared. 

16,  St.  George's  Terrace, 

aioncester  Road,  S.W. 


166  BRIGHT'8  disease.     "S^SS^ifififfl! 

■       »  ■■  II  I  I      ■     ■■  ■  ,  I 

CLINICAL  CASES  OP  BRIGHT'S  DISEASE  » 

By  Lbm¥el  E.  Williams,  M.B.O.S.  Eng. 

Gentlemen, — In  choosing  Bright' s  disease  for  the  subject 
of  my  paper  to-night,  I  was  influenced  more  by  a  desire  to 
open  a  discussion  and  to  canvass  treatment  of  this  impor- 
tant class  of  maladies,  than  by  a  conviction  that  the  cases 
I  have  collected  present  any  exceptional  or  novel  character. 
It  would  indeed  be  difficult  to  exaggerate  the  importance  of 
the  persistent  presence  of  albumen  in  the  urine  to  the 
system  at  large.  It  may  be  said  to  involve  the  issue  of 
life  or  death  from  its  first  appearance,  and  even  in  the  later 
stages  the  permanent  well-being  of  the  patient,  the  vital 
integrity  of  almost  every  organ,  the  due  performance  of 
every  physiological  process  of  the  economy,  and  the  very 
nature  of  its  component  tissues,  I  pass  over  its  mere 
transient  manifestations  to  consider  albuminuria  proper — 
i.e.,  an  initial  pathological  change  in  the  structure  of  the 
kidney.  It  is  to  Bright  that  we  owe  most  of  our  knowledge 
of  this  organ,  for  where  foimerly  doubt  and  chaos  reigned, 
we  see  it  now  occupying  a  definite  and  distinct  position  in 
organic  disease.  Later  still,  by  the  aid  of  the  microscope, 
the  viile  et  dvlce  of  diagnostic  research,  we  are  enabled  to 
gain  and  maintain  important  information  of  its  successive 
structural  changes. 

The  first  case  that  I  have  to  bring  to  your  notice  is  one 
of  the  acute  inflammatory  form — desquamative  nephritiSi 
a  scarlatinal  sequela.  A.  E.,  aged  9,  one  of  four  cases  of 
scarlet  fever,  exhibited  on  the  twelfth  day  dropsical  symp- 
toms. At  tiiis  time  the  patient  was  extremely  emaciated 
and  anaemic,  with  a  scrofulous  family  history,  and  unlike 
the  others,  which  made  rapid  recoveries,  remained  in  this 
debilitated  condition.  The  skin  was  harsh,  dry,  and 
rough,  persistent  and  severe  frontal  headache,  no  rigors  or 
chilliness.  Tongue  dry  and  cracked,  but  clean,  Appetite 
poor.  Extreme  thirst  at  times — temp.  101,  pulse  180, 
quick,  hard,  and  small.  Severe  shaking  cough,  with 
greenish  lumpy  expectoration.  Occasional  nausea  and 
vomiting.  Physical  examination  showed  thick  rales  at  both 
bases,  and  dry  harsh  breathing  at  the  apices.  Bespiration 
embarrassed,  no  dulness.  Heart  sounds  quick,  sharp  and 
somewhat  weak,  but  otherwise  normal.     There  is  great 

*  Bead  before  the  Liverpool  Homceopatliic  Medioo*OfainB8ieal  Bodefy. 


ifeS^S??^    bbiott's  disease.  157 

pnffineBS  of  fiuse,  obliterating  entirely  the  facial  character, 
and  pitting  of  extremities  on  pressare.  No  irregalar  abdo- 
minal dnlnessy  considerable  distension,  Complains  of  pain 
in  the  loins.  The  nrine  is  very  scanty,  passing  abont  4  oz. 
throagh  the  night — dark  smoky  colonr  with  a  considerable 
red  sandy  sediment ;  sp.  gray.  1029 — acid.  Heavy  smell 
and  almost  solidifies  on  boiling.  Microscope  reveals 
numerous  blood  and  epithelial  cells  and  casts,  with  some 
crystals  of  nric  acid. 

Ordered  arsen.  3x.  2  drops  every  two  hours.  Patient  to 
be  put  between  blankets  and  to  have  the  familiar  vapour 
bath.  Diet  exclusively  milk-  Next  morning  the  patient 
was  considerably  worse.  Her  appearance  was  duU,  heavy, 
and  apathetic,  and  she  was  inclined  to  delirium  at  night. 
Has  passed  no  urine  for  the  last  ten  hours,  altogether  in 
the  24  hours  only  2  oz.  Some  dulness  over  sides  of 
abdomen.  Skin  burning  and  dry.  Pulse  140,  respiration 
much  quickened.  Breath  sounds  at  base  much  fainter 
and  weaker,  and  there  is  evidently  less  than  the  normal 
resonance  on  percussion.  She  is  exceedingly  prostrate, 
inclined  to  faint  on  being  raised,  with  severe  attacks  of 
retching  after  food. 

Ordered  tereb,  1, 2  drops,  and  canth.  Ix.,  2  drops  every  two 
hours  in  alternation.  Poultices  to  loins,  and  the  vapour 
bath,  if  fainting  do  not  supervene  on  being  raised. 

On  the  following  day  she  was  manifestly  improved. 
Less  drowsy  and  heavy  in  appearance.  Breathing  easier 
and  slower,  and  stronger  on  auscultation.  Within  four 
hours  of  taking  the  medicine  she  passed  6  oz.  of  urine, 
and  altogether  has  passed  10  oz.  The  same  medicines 
were  continued  to  the  sixth  day,  when  the  excretion  of 
urine  was  almost  normal,  but  it  still  retained  the  same 
microscopic  character  and  a  great  quantity  of  albumen, 
considering  the  increased  amount  of  urine  voided.  Ar$en. 
8x.  was  then  substituted,  with  milk  and  meat  broth  diet. 
The  nrine  continued  in  excess  of  the  normal  amount  for 
some  days,  the  commencing  basic  pneumonic  symptoms 
clearing  np,  and  the  urine  evidencing  not  the  slightest 
trace  of  albumen  on  the  twelfth  day,  leaving,  I  may  thus 
presmne,  the  kidney  intact,  and  probably  no  more  than 
ordinarily  liable  to  disease. 

The  next  case  was  similar  to  the  foregoing  in  its  first 
stage,  but  unlike  it  in  that  albumen  was  present  in  the  urine 


158  bright's  disease.     ^SSS^.^S^TSS! 

for  two  monUiSi  thus  endangering  its  integrity  by  threaten- 
ing to  deyelope  into  the  large  white  kidney.  The  orine  at 
this  time  exhibited  signs  that  this  change  had  actoally 
commenced,  the  epithelial  casts  being  replaced  by  granular 
ones  in  some  cases,  and  in  addition  there  was  distinct  and 
increasing  ascites,  the  patient  having  more  than  one  attack 
of  bronchitis,  and  developing  an  obstinate  train  of  dyspeptic 
symptoms.  Her  general  condition  indicating  a  grave 
prognosis.  The  nsual  remedies  were  tried,  but  failed  to 
diminish  the  albumen,  or  improve  the  general  state  of  the 
patient.  Fer.  mv/r,  B.P.  tinct  8  drops  every  3  hours  was 
prescribed,  and  soon  after  there  was  rapid  improvment. 
The  mucous  tissues  losing  their  aneemic  pallor.  Patient 
gaining  in  strength  and  weight,  and  the  albumen  disappear- 
ing entirely  from  the  urine,  leaving,  as  far  as  was  then 
ascertainable,  the  heart  unaffected. 

I  cannot  say  that  the  iron  was  given  from  a  conviction 
as  to  its  homoBopathicity,  but  more  as  an  empirical  remedy, 
though  remembering  that  the  condition  of  the  blood  is  one 
of  the  principal  determining  and  perpetuating  causes  of 
albuminuria,  and  the  extremely  ansamic  state  of  thepatienti 
there  may  still  remain  justification  for  the  treatment  pur- 
sued. 

With  respect  to  the  medicines  for  the  treatment  of 
scarlatinal  Bright's  disease,  arsenicum  is  generally  cre- 
dited, I  believe,  with  being  the  foremost,  though  I  am 
inclined  to  think  that  terebinih,  or  terebinth  and  cantkarie 
are  superior  to  it  in  the  acute  condition,  when  we  have  the 
function  of  the  Malpighian  bodies,  t.^.,  the  excretion  of  the 
watery  part  of  the  urine,  held  in  abeyance,  and  the  tubuli 
uriniferi  choked  with  proliferated  epithelial  cells— condi- 
tions fraught  with  evil  consequences  to  the  system  at  large. 
It  is  here  that  terebinth  is  best  calculated  to  do  the  one 
thing  needful  for  the  safety  of  the  patient — restore  the 
excretory  power  of  the  kidney.  In  estimating,  too,  the 
relative  value  of  arsen.,  tereb,  and  canth.  the  time  that  each 
takes  to  affect  the  kidney  is  a  point  of  some  importance, 
and  it  will  be  found  that,  whilst  the  two  latter  act  immedi- 
ately and  specifically  on  the  kidneyi  arsen.  seems  to  act 
somewhat  doubtfully  at  first,  at  one  time  producing  excessive 
urination,  at  another  diminution,  or  even  in  rarer  cases  not 
affecting  it  at  all  until  near  death,  yet  nevertheless  in  the 
later  stages  of  slow  poisoning  producing  a  condition  closely 
resembling  chronic  Bright's  disease ;  furthermore,  hsema- 


SSSSJfiKTiS^    bmght'b  disease,  169 

tnria  and  a  state  of  stnpor  are  commonly  oTidenced  after 
terebintii,  whilst  the  mind  generally  remains  clear  in  arse- 
nical poisoning  almost  to  death,  and  hsBmaturia  is  only 
occasionally  indnced.  If  we  compare  the  symptoms, 
which  may  be  said  to  be  an  index,  as  it  were,  of  the  diseased 
state  of  the  kidney,  we  shonld  still  find  that  the  symptom- 
atology of  terebinth  closely  resembles  an  acute  attack  of 
Bright's. 

One  other  remedy,  apis,  greatly  praised  by  some  for  its 
good  effects,  I  have  found  somewhat  uncertain  in  its  action 
where  scarlatina  has  been  the  predisposing  cause  of  the 
nephritis,  though  in  an  attack  after  measles,  where  the 
subject  was  a  flabby,  transparent-skinned  boy,  and  where 
the  urine  was  diminished  but  not  suppressed,  I  have  seen 
it  act  well. 

My  next  case  is  one  of  acute  Bright's  disease,  resulting 
from  exposure  and  wet.  I  was  called  in  to  see  the  patient 
in  the  evening  and  found  the  pulse  120,  temp.  102,  and 
complaining  of  great  chilliness.  He  had  had  a  thorough 
wetting  the  previous  day  whilst  driving  a  van.  He  seemed 
a  fairly  nourished  and  healthy  man,  about  85,  and  as  far  as 
I  could  ascertain  not  addicted  to  drinking.  There  is  one 
point  in  connection  with  these  cases  resulting  from  cold  of 
some  interest,  viz.,  the  well-marked  rigors,  or  at  least  series 
of  chills  that  distinguish  the  invasive  stage,  whereas  in 
post-scarlatinal  dropsy  I  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  the 
history  of  a  rigor,  and  at  most  have  not  noticed  more  than 
a  slight  chilly  the  patient  seeming  to  lapse  suddenly  from  a 
state  of  debility  to  one  of  dropsy,  evidenced  at  first  by  a 
smoky  tint  of  the  urine,  or  perhaps  a  slight  puffiness  of  the 
Hds  or  legs ;  and  herein  we  may  possibly  search  for  an 
explanation  of  those  cases  where  Bright's  disease  has 
succeeded  scarlet  fever,  when  there  was  no  possibility  of 
patient  having  taken  cold,  the  kidney  condition  being  more 
or  less  an  integral  part  of  the  fever,  and  due  directiy  to  the 
infective  process  of  the  disease  itself* 

To  resume  the  patient's  present  state.  The  skin  was 
dry  and  hot.  Tongue  clean  and  cracked,  with  desire  for 
cooling  drinks.  Severe  pain  in  forehead.  Appetite  poor, 
with  occasional  nausea.  No  abdominal  dropsy  or  tender- 
ness. Mind  quite  conscious.  Physical  examination  of  the 
chest  revealed  dry  harsh  breathing,  reminding  one  of  Stoke's 
stage  of  pneumonia.  Breathing  laboured  and  quickened  but 


160  bbight'b  wsbasb.     ^feSfe.^SE?'?^! 


BtffiBW,  Jfar.  1,  lan. 


no  pain  or  congh.  Heart  sonnds  qnick  bot  healthy.  No 
abnormal  cardiac  duhiess.  Urine  was  scanty  with  thick 
sediment,  but  no  decided  signs  of  blood — complains  of  no 
pain  in  back.  The  fsMse  has  a  natural  appearance,  with, 
perhaps,  some  pnffiness  of  the  lids,  and  the  areolar  tissue 
generally  does  not  show  signs  of  pitting  on  pressure.  I 
was  doubtful  as  to  the  further  deyelopment  of  the  case,  but 
decided  to  giye  aconite  1,  every  two  hours,  and  to  examine 
the  urine,  me  clear  supernatant  part  of  which  I  found  to 
have  a  smoky  tint,  and  on  boiling  to  deposit  a  considerable 
sediment  of  albumen.  At  next  moming*s  visit  patient  had 
passed  a  &irly  comfortable  night,  but  showed  decided 
dropsical  signs  about  the  face  and  body  generally.  He  now 
complained  of  great  heat  and  thirst,  and  the  urine,  voided 
more  frequently,  has  still  the  same  character:  less  sediment, 
but  darker  in  colour.  Ordered  an  exclusively  milk  diet, 
poultices  to  loins,  and  terebinth  1  in  alternation  with  the 
aconite,  every  two  hours.  Continued  thus  to  the  third  day, 
when  the  aconite  was  dropped.  On  the  eighth  day  pulse 
had  fallen  to  100,  temp,  to  99.  Excretion  of  urine  has  in- 
creased to  normal,  but  is  still  highly  albuminous.  Intellect 
continues  clear,  and  dropsical  state  greatly  decreased. 
There  is  loose  cough,  with  moist  rales  at  both  bases. 
Gave  areen,  3x  every  three  hours.  He  continued  improving 
till  the  nineteenth  day,  when  the  albumen  had  disappeared 
from  the  urine  entirely,  and  only  ansemia  and  debility 
remained,  the  heart  being  then  intact. 

I  have  next  to  record  one  other  case  of  acute  Bright's 
disease  occurring  in  a  young  mau,  aged  21 — John  C. 
Patient  is  a  stout,  flabby  subject,  the  tissues  nevertheless 
being  very  anaemic.  There  is  general  dropsy  of  the  areolar 
tissues,  with  pitting  on  pressure  over  the  whole  surface, 
and  in  addition  considerable  ascites.  Great  dyspnoea. 
Tongue  dried  and  furred,  white  at  the  edges.  Severe 
shalang  cough,  with  tough  yellow  expectoration.  Increased 
thirst.  No  appetite.  Great  debility  and  depression  of 
spirits,  with  palpitation.  Mind  lethargic.  Physical  ex- 
amination— heart,  distinctly  hypertrophic,  having  the 
peculiar  upheaving  action,  and  increased  area  of  dnlness 
and  impulse.  First  sound  at  the  apex  disguised  by 
murmur.  Second  well  accentuated.  At  aorta  first  sound 
is  sharp.  Lungs  markedly  emphysematous.  Thick  r&les 
over  whole  chest  area.  Urine,  less  than  normal  quantity, 
acidi  sp.  gr.  10.18,  clear,   albuminous,   with  epithelial 


ti^y^TS^  bbight's  disease.  161 

and  £atty  casts.  Arsen.  8x.  was  given  for  seven  days, 
with  milk  diet  and  vapour  baths.  The  bronchitis  then 
became  so  severe  as  to  demand  exclusive  treatment, 
and  kali  bic.  8x.  was  prescribed  with  slight  benefit. 
Patient's  state  continuing  critical,  on  consultation  iodium  1 
and  beli,  1  were  substituted,  the  condition  of  the  throat 
demanding  the  latter  remedy.  These  were  continued  till 
the  bronchitis  had  almost  cleared  up,  and  at  a  further 
consultation  terebinth  1  was  administered  with  a  view  of 
treating  the  dropsical  condition.  There  was  slight  general 
improvement  after  this  medicine  had  been  given  for  three 
weeks,  more  as  regards  the  dropsy  than  the  kidney  itself. 
He  soon,  however,  relapsed  into  a  worse  state  —  the 
bronchitis  returning  with  orthopnoBa,  the  legs  becoming 
infiltrated  and  inflamed^  and  the  heart  causing  great  distress. 
Arsen,  was  again  given,  with  phoa.,  kali  bick,  and  kreos.  as 
intercurrent  remedies,  for  chest  and  dyspeptic  symptoms, 
and  he  again  rallied  a  littie,  but  it  soon  became  a  hopeless 
struggle  against  the  secondary  complications  of  the  malady, 
patient  succumbing  at  the  end  of  four  months  from  an 
attack  of  apoplexy. 

The  previous  history  of  the  case  points  to  an  acute  attack 
of  Bright's  disease,  sinking  into  a  chronic  state,  and  the 
danger  of  another  acute  attack  supervening,  when  the  heart 
is  hypertrophied,  the  lungs  emphysematous,  the  blood  in  a 
watery  and  ansemic  state,  and  the  function  and  structure  of 
the  Udney  so  much  embarrassed  and  altered.  It  points, 
too,  a  moral  at  the  mischief  that  may  accrue  from  neglect 
to  clear  up  an  acute  attack,  patient  undoubtedly  being  one  of 
those  cases  where  a  latent  disease  of  the  kidney  had  con- 
tinued for  three  years  unsuspected  and  undetected. 

My  next  case  is  one  of  chronic  desquamative  Bright's 
disease.  There  were  a  variety  of  complaints  preceding  this, 
but  it  will  be  sufficient  if  I  describe  his  condition  at  the 
onset  of  the  Bright's  disease. 

George  W.,  aged  55,  much  exposed  on  the  river  as  a 
superintendent  of  mail  steamers.  His  proportions  are  very 
bulky,  weighing  nearly  19  stone.  Has  a  somewhat  pale 
appearance  with  occasional  epistaxis.  Complains  of  severe 
dyspncea,  prsdcordial  pain,  palpitation,  and  cardiac  anxiety. 
Severe  shaking  cough — exciting  the  heart  violentiy,  with 
greenish  purulent  expectoration.  Tongue  furred,  yellow  at 
back,  clew  in  front.    Vomiting  at  times,  especially  after 

No.  S,  Vol  25.  u 


162  bbiott's  dibbasb.     ^^^^JS!TSt. 

cough.  No  great  thirst.  Abdomen  almost  pendulous, 
with  exceeding  tenderness  over  the  whole  area.  Bowels 
irregular,  mostly  costive,  but  occasionally  the  stools  are 
dark,  loose,  and  billons.  The  face  is  pnffed  at  times, 
mostly  limited  to  eyelids.  Legs  are  swoUen,  with  skin 
erythematous  and  intensely  burning.  Complains  of  seyere 
shooting  pains  in  both  limbs.  In  this  case  as  in  theotiiers 
the  eye  and  sight  were  unaflfected.  There  is  no  chest  dul- 
ness.  Expiration  much  prolonged.  Inspiration  is  slow 
and  laboured,  owing  in  some  measure  to  abdominal  en- 
largement. No  increased  area  of  dulness  of  the  liyer  is 
discernible.  Numerous  moist  bubbling  rales  over  the 
whole  thoracic  region.  The  heart's  impulse  is  seen  over 
a  large  area,  extending  outside  the  nipple  line.  Distinct 
systolic  thrill  at  the  apex.  Dulness  increased  with  violent 
upheaving  action  at  times.  Sounds  at  the  apex  flapping  and 
valvular — murmur  with  the  first.  Every  fourth  beat  inter- 
mits. Aortic  first  sound  has  distinct  murmur,  second 
sound  sharp  and  accentuated.  Urine,  sp.  gr.  10.18,  less 
than  the  normal  quantity,  acid,  albuminous,  and  showing 
granular  and  waxy  casts  under  the  microscope. 

Are.  3x.  and  digiU  Ix.,  every  three  hours  alternately, 
were  given.  Some  relief  of  dyspncea  followed,  but  the 
patient  is  still  unable  to  lie  down.  Condition  otherwise 
is  unchanged.  Twenty  days  later,  in  consultation,  ordered 
tereb>  1  and  phos.  3x-  every  three  hours  in  alternation. 
These  were  continued  for  several  weeks  but  patient  con- 
tinued to  get  worse:  The  bronchitis  with  orthopnoea  still 
persisted,  the  pains  in  the  limbs  at  times  seemed  agonising, 
the  legs  became  infiltrated  with  serum,  with  deep  pitting 
on  pressure  as  high  as  the  loins  and  abdomen. 

Infm.  digit.  B.P.  5  i  and  kali  hydriod.  iii  grs*  every  three 
hours,  in  alternation,  were  prescribed  in  consultation. 
Great  relief  to  heart  and  pains  immediately  followed  these 
remedies,  and  in  three  days  the  inflammation  and  dropsy 
completely  collapsed,  culminating  and  focussing,  as  it 
seemed,  in  upwards  of  twelve  large  abscesses  about  the 
legs  and  buttocks  which  continued  to  discharge  pus  for 
many  weeks  afterwards.  One  other  circumstance  was  re- 
markable, viz. :  that  whereas  patient  was  not  able  to  lie 
down  for  three  months,  he  could  now  lie  in  bed  without 
complaining  of  the  extreme  dyspnoea.  The  heart's  action 
was  much  more  decided,  and  the  lungs  were  almost  free 
of  rales.    Sleep,  which  had  been  short  and  broken,  was 


ISS^iSnfMw!*'   bright's  disease.  168 

now  heavy  and  contintions,  the  breathing  at  times  being 
almost  stertorous.  Great  debility,  and  a  sallow  dnsl^ 
appearance  of  the  skin.  Appetite  poor.  Tongne  has  a 
£rty  white  for.    Depression  and  torpor  of  mind. 

Ordered  morph.  aeet.  8x.  every  three  hours,  a  pint  of 
Borgondy  and  milk  and  meat  broth  ad  libitufriy  and  char- 
coal ponltices  to  the  abscesses.  I  may  mention  that  for 
the  previous  forty  days  he  had  taken  nothing  but  skim 
mOk  and  hard  biscuits.  He  gradually  gained  strength, 
and  after  a  further  course  of  mere,  eor.,  arsen,,  tereb.,  and 
acid,  nitf  there  only  remained  a  slight  trace  of  albumen. 

The  last  type  of  Bright's  disease  to  which  I  have  to  refer 
is  the  granular  kidney.  It  has  been  and  is  still  a  subject 
of  dispute  as  to  its  nature.  By  Johnson  it  is  said  to  begin 
in  the  epithelial  cells  of  the  tubes.  By  others  to  be  the 
ultimate  development  of  the  large  white  kidney,  but  the 
most  received  opinion  is  that  it  is  a  disease  aui  generis^ 
consisting  at  first  of  a  prolification  of  the  interstitial  fibrous 
tissues,  and  its  subsequent  contraction,  being  thus  analogous 
to  cirrhosis  of  the  liver.  With  regard  to  its  causation  we 
have  it  occurring  under  different  circumstances.  At  one 
time  as  a  degenerative  change  in  gout  or  lead-poisoning,  at 
another  secondary  to  some  heart  affection,  and  at  another 
beginning  as  a  primary  disease  in  the  kidney  itself. 

Mrs.  F.,  the  case  under  consideration,  consulted  me  for 
dyspepsia  of  tbree  months'  standing.  She  is  40  years  of 
age,  with  menses  irregular  as  to  time  and  quantity^  Has 
a  peculiar  sallow  complexion  not  at  all  like  the  pasty 
appearance  of  a  common  Bright's  case.  Considerable 
wasting  of  flesh,  but  the  most  prominent  symptoms  for 
which  she  seeks  relief  are  extreme  debility,  nausea  and 
vomiting,  complete  loss  of  appetite,  severe  frontal  headache, 
pain  and  weight  over  liver,  and  fulness  at  epigastrium  after 
food.  Abdomen  distended  with  flatus ;  tongue  clean  and 
bright ;  dryness  of  mouth ;  great  depression  of  spirits ; 
dyspnoea  and  palpitation  on  the  slightest  exertion.  No 
history  of  gout  or  intemperate  habits.  Not  the  slightest 
trace  of  dropsy  of  areolar  tissue.  Was  thrown  from  a  cab 
three  months  before,  and  dates  her  illness  from  this  time. 
Physical  examination  reveals  no  heart  hypertrophy  or 
murmurs,  but  sounds  are  sharp,  weak,  and  quick.  No  liver 
enlargement.  Respiratory  organs  fairly  healthy.  No  cough 
or  sputum.    Vision  and  retina  were  not  affected  at  this 


164  bmght'b  disbasb-     ^ft^.^c^??!«! 

period.  I  at  first  thought  I  had  to  do  with  a  case  of  atonic 
dyspepsia,  and  a  train  of  climacteric  tronbles,  bat  on 
examining  the  urine  I  found  it  albuminous,  copious,  acid^ 
10.14,  with  a  few  epithelial  cells,  but  no  casts  under  the 
microscope.  Gave  acid  nit.  1  x  every  three  hours.  Patient 
was  somewhat  better  of  the  dyspeptic  symptoms  at  the  end 
of  ten  days,  and  arsen.  8  x  was  then  given  for  the  increasing 
exhaustion,  and  continued  for  three  weeks,  with  some  im- 
provement, but  recognising  the  incurability  of  the  case,  and 
the  supposed  benefit  of  change  of  air,  I  advised  her  to  go 
away.  She  continued  better  for  awhile,  but  I  hear  has 
lately  died.  Important  points  in  these  cases  are  their 
insidious  nature,  and  the  predominance  of  misleading 
symptoms.  Barely  is  there  any  dropsy  present,  and  albu- 
men sometimes  is  not  present  in  the  urine,  especially  in 
the  later  stages,  patient  usually  first  complaining  of  dys- 
peptic symptoms,  though,  on  the  other  hand,  these  symp- 
toms may  obtain  only  in  the  later  stages. 

Exception  will  probably  be  taken  to  the  strength  of  the 
medicines  used  in  these  cases.  They  were  giyen  with  a 
preconception  that  such  pronounced  pathological  states 
required  more  or  less  material  dosage,  and  with  the  con- 
viction that  they  were  capable  of  reproducing  similar  states. 
Action  and  reaction  may  be  said  to  be  convertible  forces, 
and  although  I  have  had  no  experience  with  remotely 
reduced  remedies,  I  question  their  curative  reactionary 
influence  over  a  congested  or  large  white  kidney,  for  it 
could  only  be  by  some  species  of  divine  afflatus — something 
savouring  of  supernaturalism.  It  is  not,  I  think,  by  the 
administration  of  medicines  fearfully  and  wonderfally  made, 
not  by  treating  varying  mental  foibles — ^miscalled  symptoms, 
not  by  formulating  theories,  of  which  there  is  no  analogy 
in  nature,  either  in  the  heaven*  above,  or  in  the  earth 
beneath,  but  by  the  relative  recognition  of  subjective  and 
objective  signs  and  states,  by  the  assimilation  and  utilisa- 
tion of  allied  sciences,  that  we  are  to  look  for  the  more 
intelligent  advancement  of  homceopathy. 

In  concluding  this  recital  of  clinical  cases,  I  have  to 
claim  your  indulgence  for  the  manifold  imperfections  of  my 
first  essay  at  paper  writing,  and  can  only  trust  that,  like 
the  hone,  it  may  give  an  edge  to  the  discussion,  though  it 
has  none  itself. 

54,  Boscommon  Street,  Liverpool. 


R^SS'f^M^   HYPBRiEMIA  OF  BRAW.  165 


ON  HYPEREMIA  OP  THE  BRAIN.* 

By  D.  Dtge  Bbown,  M^A.,  M.D.,  one  of  the  Physidans  to 
,  the  London  Homodopathio  Hospital. 

Gentismen, — ^In  commencing  the  study  of  [disuses  of 
the  brain  and  nerves,  the  subject  which  naturally  comes 
first  for  consideration  is  hypersBmia  of  the  brain,  and  its 
opposite  state,  anaemia.  I  shall  first  take  up  the  former, 
hyperemia. 

In  former  days,  it  was  supposed  that  such  conditions  as 
hypersBmia  and  anaBmia  could  not  exist ;  that  from  the  fact 
of  the  brain  being  enclosed  in  an  air-tight  incompressible 
case,  any  excess  or  defect  in  the  quantity  of  the  blood 
flowing  to  and  through  the  brain  was  a  physical  impossi- 
bility. 

I  do  not  waste  time  by  recounting  the  arguments  for  this 
belief.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  it  has  of  late  years  been 
amply  proved  to  demonstration  that  the  conclusions  referred 
to  were  mistaken,  and  that  the  braiu,  as  well  as  any  other 
organ  in  the  body,  may  suffer  from  excess  or  diminution  in 
the  quantity  of  blood  in  it,  and  supplying  it. 

Here  I  may  premise  that,  when  I  speak  of  hyperaamia,  I 
do  not  intend  this  to  be  understood  as  synonymous  with 
inflammation,  which  will  be  treated  of  afterwards.  The 
condition  now  to  be  spoken  of  is  one  where  for  various 
reasons  there  is  an  excess  of  blood-flow  over  the  normal 
quantity,  producing  symptoms  which  often  give  rise  to 
anxiety,  and  even  danger,  but  are  yet  not  inflammatory. 
There  are  two  varieties  of  hypersBmia  of  the  brain:  1, 
active  or  arterial  congestion  ;  and  2,  passive  or  venous  con- 
gestion. 

According  to  the  plan  I  have  for  some  time  pursued,  in 
order  to  save  time  and  get  over  the  whole  ground  of  this 
course,  I  refer  you  to  any  good  book  on  practice  of  medicine, 
for  the  causes  of  hypereBmia,  for  the  anatomical  appearances, 
and  for  the  symptoms  which  are  usually  present  in  such 
cases,  confining  myself  here  to  the  homoBopathic  treatment. 

It  is,  however,  important,  and  most  interesting,  from  a 
therapeutic  point  of  view,  to  remember  that  the  symptoms 
of  hyperasmia  and  those  of  anaemia  have  a  remarkable  simi- 
larity to  one  another,  as  you  will  see  clearly  if  you  study  a 

*  Being  part  of  a  conrseof  leotores  on  *'  Practice  of  Medicine/*  delivered 
al  the  Iioiidon  S^ool  of  Homooopathy. 


166  HYPBRiEMIA  OF  BKAIN.   ^'SSSrjE??^! 

description  of  ihe  symptoms  of  each  state  in,  for  example, 
Niemeyer.  He  says  :  **  It  is  often  asserted  that  the  symp- 
toms of  cerebral  hypenamia  are  very  similar  to,  or  identical 
with  those  of  cerebral  aniemia ;  this  is  tme  in  regard  to 
congestive  hyperemia  and  anaemia,  and  the  explanation  of 
the  correspondence  is  easy.  In  both  cases  the  brain  lacks 
its  new  snpply  of  arterial  blood.  To  explain  the  symptoms 
of  paralysis  (of  brain  fdnction)  occurring  in  fluxionary  (or 
congestive)  hypersemia  also,  we  must  take  the  hypothesis 
that,  during  its  course,  there  is  a  secondary  oedema  of  the 
brain,  as  a  result  of  which  we  have  capiUary  anaemia,  a  con- 
dition directly  opposite  to  the  original  hypersemia." 

Wo  find  then,  in  practice,  that  this  similarity  of  symp- 
toms between  the  two  opposite  conditions  renders  it,  in 
certain  cases,  by  no  means  easy  to  say  positively  that  the 
symptoms  depend  on  the  one  or  the  other  condition,  and 
we  can  only  make  a  diagnosis,  with  anything  like  certainty, 
by  observing  the  whole  condition  of  the  symptoms  of  the 
patient. 

For  this  reason,  then,  it  is  unsafe  to  prescribe  on  our 
theory  of  the  case  being  one  of  hyperaemia  or  anaemia ;  but 
we  must  select  a  medicine  which  corresponds  to  the  totality 
of  symptoms  presented  by  the  case,  or  to  the  patient's  con- 
dition as  a  whole,  and  not  with  reference  solely  to  the 
brain-symptoms: 

These  remarks  will  account  for  my  speaking  occasionally 
of  hyperaemia  of  the  brain,  ''or  what  we  believe  to  be 
such." 

The  first  medicine  which  will  occur  to  us  in  the  treat- 
ment of  cases  of  hyperaemia  of  the  brain  is  Aconite.  My 
remarks  in  former  lectures  as  to  the  value  of  €u:onite  in 
active  hyperaemia  occurring  in  almost  every  organ  of  the 
body,  will  lead  you  at  once  to  suppose  that  it  pre-eminently 
meets  those  cases  of  hyperaemia  of  the  brain  where,  from 
the  symptoms  present,  there  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  the 
diagnosis.  Let  us  first  look  at  the  cerebral  symptoms  of 
this  medicine.  The  prover  feels  a  confused,  muddled 
feeling,  with  vertigo  and  sensation  as  if  he  would  fall,  with 
severe  nausea  accompanying  this,  and  occasionally  black- 
ness appearing  before  the  eyes.  The  vertigo  is  worse  on 
stooping.  The  head  feels  hot,  heavy,  as  if  bound  tightly, 
or  going  to  burst, — or  full  and  throbbing.  This  may  be 
felt  all  over  the  head,  or  only  in  the  forehead,  or  even 
more  in  one  or  other  side.    Black  spots  are  seen  before 


B^flSTTSa!^    HTPBB-BMIA  OF  BBAIN.  167 

ihe  eyes,  vision  beoomes  indistinot,  and  the  light  is 
disagzeeable.  The  face  feels  hot — all  in  a  glow,  and  the 
skin  is  flashed ;  there  are  noises  or  roaring  in  the  ears, 
and  senaitiTenesB  to  noise. 

The  mental  symptoms  vary — ^with  oonfasion  of  thought, 
mnddled  feeling,  general  restlessness  and  uneasiness, 
firetfol  irritability  or  anxiety,  and  pre-eminently  with  fear 
of  deatli.  There  is  marked  variability  in  the  mental  mood, 
which  passes  from  one  state  to  the  opposite. 

We  find  thirst,  coating  of  the  tongae,  headache,  &;c., 
worse  after  a  fiill  meal,  and  after  stimulants ;  the  heart 
beats  loudly  and  tumultuously,  thumping  on  the  chest 
walls;  the  pulse  is  full,  tense,  and  quick,  or  easily 
quickened.  The  bowels  may  or  may  not  be  costive,  the 
former  usually.  At  night  ike  same  reeUesinesB  ia  present. 
The  feeling  of  heat  and  feverish  fulness  in  head  and  body 
causes  difficulty  in  getting  to  sleep,  and  a  restless  state  of 
tossing  about ;  and  when  sleep  comes  it  is  dreamful  and 
uneasy.  Very  often  there  is  twitching  or  starting  during 
sleep. 

Such  a  condition  points  unmistakably  to  decided 
hypersamia  of  the  brain,  and  aconite  consequently  is  of 
great  service  in  this  state,  as  when  it  arises,  for  example, 
from  heart  disease,  when  the  hypertrophy  is  more  than 
compensatory.  It  is  less  indicated,  but  still  is  of  use,  in 
certain  cases  of  hypertrophy  of  the  right  heart  and  its 
consequences ;  but,  as  I  say,  less  frequently  in  this  form 
than  in  hypertrophy  of  the  left  heart.  Then,  again,  in 
cases  of  so-called  plethoric  states  of  body,  fulness  of 
habit,  especially  when  kept  up  by  over  eating,  and  drinkiDg 
of  stimulants.  It  is  very  useful  also  in  the  results  of  over- 
worked brain,  where  these  symptoms  are  more  or  less 
present,  and  in  which  the  exact  condition  of  the  brain 
— ^anasmic  or  hypersBmio — is  not  quite  clear.  Likewise  in 
the  congestion  of  the  head  in  women,  in  whom  the  cata- 
menia  have  suddenly  ceased,  or  failed  to  appear,  or  at  the 
menopause. 

In  such  cases  the  higher  as  well  as  the  lower  dilutions 
act  well.  Excellent  results  are  obtained  by  the  12tb,  the 
8rd,  or  the  let.  It  is  not  necessary,  or  perhaps  even 
desirable,  to  go  lower  than  the  1st  centesimal.  You  will 
see  that  it  is  in  active  hypersBmia,  rather  than  in  passive, 
that  aconite  is  indicated ;  restlessness  at  night,  and  fear  of 
death,  being  prominent  indications. 


168  HTPEB£HIA  OP  BBAIK.   ^'a^jSS^ifMw! 

Our  sext  medicine  in  point  of  importance  is  BeUadanna^ 

Perhaps  no  medicine  in  the  PharmacopcBia  has  such  a 
marked  power  of  cansing  cerebral  hypersBmia  as  belladonna^ 
and  consequently  it  is  tiie  medicine  next  to  aconite,  or  oy^i 
before  aconite,  which  is  most  used  in  such  cases* 

In  the  pathogenesis,  we  find  much  heat  and  fnhiess  of 
the  head ;  a  feeling  as  of  rash  of  blood  to  the  head,  with 
vertigo,  and  great  headache:  The  headaidie  may  be  all 
oyer  the  head^  or  in  the  forehead,  or  in  both  temples,  and 
feels  throbbing  or  bursting,  or  as  if  the  contents  of  the  skull 
would  be  forced  out  of  the  forehead,  or  as  if  it  were  bound 
tightly.  The  face  is  flushed,  the  eyes  are  congested,  or  feel 
sandy;  they  ache  and  throb,  aud  are  painful  to  touch. 
Light  and  sound  are  especially  painful.  The  pupils  are 
either  dilated  or  contracted ;  in  well-marked  active 
hyperflemia,  they  are  contracted,  while  in  depressed  nervous 
conditions,  exhibiting  similar  symptoms,  they  are  dilated. 

There  is  an  excitable,  restless  state  of  mind,  the  excite- 
ment may  be  even  so  great  as  almost  to  approach  to  mania, 
with  hallucinations  or  illusions  of  the  senses.  The  mood 
is  irritable  as  well  as  excitable ;  the  prover  feels  cross,  and 
easily  put  out,  and  there  is  confusion  of  thought,  and  ina- 
bility to  follow  one  train  of  ideas. 

Usually  there  is  palpitation,  with  full  and  quick  pulse,  and 
throbbing  is  felt  all  over  the  body.  The  tongue  is  dry  and 
red,  or  coated  with  red  papillaB  showing  through  it ;  with 
thirst,  and  dryness  of  mouth  and  throat,  loss  of  appetite, 
and  constipation.  At  night  the  prover  feels  a  drowsy  sen- 
sation (which  is  also  present  by  day),  with  inability  to  sleep, 
&om  a  restless,  hot,  feverish,  or  excited  feeling.  When 
sleep  occurs,  it  is  restless,  uneasy,  dreamful  (the  dreams 
being  frightful),  and  unrefreshing.  He  starts  at  night, 
wakes  in  a  fright,  or  with  a  start,  and  seems  unconscious 
for  a  few  minutes,  or  talks  in  his  sleep.  These  last  symp- 
toms are  very  common  in  children. 

You  will  thus  see  that  like  aconite,  beUadonnu  is 
markedly  indicated  in  those  cases  of  active  hyperffimia 
where  the  general  appearance  and  symptoms  of  the  patient 
leave  no  doubt  as  to  the  nature  of  the  case,  whether  pro- 
duced by  mental  excitement,  heart  disease,  acute  amenor- 
rhoBa,  or  at  the  menopause.  It  is  also  as  clearly  indicated  in 
cases  where  the  exact  pathological  condition  is  not  so 
evident,  but  where  such  symptoms  as  have  been  described 
are  present.     Thus  in  many  febrile  disorders,  arising  from 


tS!S^^TS^  HYPBRiEMIA  OP  BBAIN*  169 

general  nervoas  distturbance  or  depression,  or  in  an  unstable 
state  of  the  nervous  system,  whether  arising  from  uterine 
disturbance,  or  from  oyer- work  of  the  brain  in  children , 
there  is  perhaps  no  medicine  so  generally  useful,  in  all 
cases  presenting  the  most  or  the  chief  of  the  symptoms 
described,  as  belladonna. 

I  must  here  remind  you  again,  as  I  have  often  done 
when  speaking  of  other  diseases,  that  it  is  by  no  means 
necessary  for  a  medicine  to  be  indicated,  that  we  should 
find  the  whole  train  of  symptoms  which  I  describe  as 
pathogenetic  of  it,  present  in  any  case.  We  may  have  a 
very  severe  case,  producing  an  exact  picture  of  the  drug  in 
all  points,  and  we  may  have  a  mild  one,  when  the  same 
medicine  is  equally  indicated.  As  with  diseases,  so  with 
drags,  there  are  all  grades  of  severity,  down  to  the  mildest 
possible  form.  All  we  have  to  ascertain  is  that,  in  general 
type,  or  in  the  main  features,  however  slightly  marked, 
we  have  a  ghnUe  between  the  drug  and  the  disease. 

Belladonna  is  best  given  from  the  Srd  centesimal  down 
to  the  2  X.  Higher  dilutions  often  do  admirably — lower 
are  seldom  needed,  and  in  many  cases  of  sensitive  nervous 
organisations  may  aggravate. 

The  doses  may  be  given  every  three  or  four  hours,  or 
oftener,  according  to  the  urgency  of  the  symptoms. 

After  odsomte  and  heUadonna^  we  naturally  think  of  Vero" 
irwnviride. 

Verairum  viride  seems  to  resemble  aconite,  belladonnaj 
and  gdseminum  in  several  points,  while  differing  from  them 
as  a  whole. 

The  general  action  of  veratrum  viride  may  be  shortly 
described  as,  in  full  doses,  producing  marked  depression 
of  the  heart's  action,  with  nausea,  vomiting,  general 
depression,  prostration,  and  cold  sweats.  In  smaller  doses, 
a  dull  frontal  headache  is  produced,  with  vertigo,  dimness 
of  vision,  and  dilated  pupils.  The  headache  often  seems 
to  come  from  the  nape  of  the  neck.  There  is  a  feeling 
of  heaviness  in  the  head,  the  frontal  headache  is  often 
very  severe,  though  as  often  dull  and  heavy.  There  is 
restiiesB  sleep,  witii  frightful  dreams.  The  pulse  becomes 
slow  and  feeble,  afterwards  becomes  quick,  and  again  slow 
before  death.  From  large  doses,  marked  convulsions 
of  eerebro-spinal  origin  are  present,  opisthotonous  very 
frequently ;  while  from  smaller  doses,  spasmodic  twitching 
ftnd  oonvnlsive  movements  occur.  .  The  great  vascular 


170  HTPE&25MU  OF  BBAIN.    '^SfL 


B0vi8v,lUr.l,  IBU. 


depressioii  oocnrs  from  large  doaeSy  while  from  smaller 
ones  the  febrile  reaction  ensnes,  as  in  the  case  of  ctconite. 
I  shall  have  again  to  speak  of  veratrum  viride  when 
treating  of  inflammation  of  the  brainy  bat  in  simple 
hyperasmia  it  is  most  nsefoly  in  cases  very  similar  to  those 
calling  for  aconite  or  beUadanna.  Veratrum  viride  is 
usually  given  in  the  lower  dilutions,  as  the  8rd  to  the  1st 
decimal,  according  to  the  susceptibility  of  the  patient,  or 
the  urgency  of  the  symptoms. 

After  these  three  medicines,  Oelsemtntun  properly  comes 
in  for  notice.  Its  action  is  somewhat  akin  to  both  aconite 
and  belladonna,  but  the  type  of  febrile  disturbance  diffiBrs 
from  the  former  in  showing  the  remittent  type,  being 
eyident  or  increased  markedly  at  night. 

The  type  of  cerebral  disturbance  is  less  active  than  that 
of  belladonna,  and  though  with  the  latter  it  is  of  service  in 
active  hypersBmia  of  the  brain,  it  is  still  more  so  in  the 
passive  form,  or  what  we  believe  to  be  of  the  passive  type. 
It  produces  an  irritable  state  of  mind,  going  on  to  depression. 
There  is  dizziness  and  confusion  of  thought.  Tlie  head- 
ache is  a  full,  heavy  one,  or  with  a  feeling  of  full  tightness 
all  over  the  head,  but  more  especially  in  the  forehead, 
temples,  and  occiput.  The  eyesight  is  confused,  with  even 
double  vision.  Palpitation  is  complained  of,  with  quick 
pulse  and  feverish  feeling  coming  on  at  night.  By  day  there 
is  a  drowsy  state,  and  at  night  a  restiess,  fever^  state  of 
sleeplessness. 

OeUeminum,  then,  is  indicated  in  states  of  brain  hypene- 
mia  arising  from  over- work  of  brain  or  body,  or  from  wony 
and  anxiety,  when  the  headache  is  such  as  I  have  described, 
with  confusion  of  mind,  and  disordered  vision,  and  with 
feverish  sleepnessness  at  night.  For  dose,  I  should  advise 
from  the  8rd  to  the  1st  decimal. 

We  now  come  to  a  medicine  of  great  importance. 

Nux  vomica. — The  symptoms  of  what  is  believed  generally 
to  be  the  result  of  hypenemia  of  the  brain,  are  very 
markedly  displayed  in  the  pathogenesis  of  nux^  and 
from  these,  and  from  what  I  shall  have  to  say  of 
the  general  class  of  case  indicating  nux,  you  will 
perceive  that  it  will  be  one  of  the  drugs  most  frequently 
employed  in  this  complaint.  1.  As  to  the  mental, 
emoti<mal,  or  psychical  spheres,  we  find  the  prover 
of  nux  irascible,  irritable,  peevish,  and  quarrelsome;  at 
other  times  anxious,  despondent,  and  tacitum ;  there  are 


^t^SSn^  HTOBRfiMIA  OP  BBAIN.  171 


BflVJev,  Mv.  1, 1881. 


no  aetnal  illnsionB  or  hallacmations.  Along  with  this 
Btaie^  he  heoomes  morbidly  nensitiYe  to  light,  and  Bound, 
and  eren  smell.  There  is  a  state  of  excitable,  irritated 
nervons  function,  and  an  inability  to  settle  to  work  of 
thought.  He  suffers  from  confdsion,  marked  dizziness,  or 
vertigo,  even  going  the  length  of  producing  reeling  and 
staggering,  as  if  drunk;  The  vertigo  is  often  wqrse  after 
dinner*  Secondly,  we  note  that  headache  is  a  very 
prominent  symptom.  The  marked  feature  of  it  is  a 
heavy,  pressive,  or  tensive,  dull  headache  all  over  the  head, 
or  very  often  in  the  forehead  and  temples,  giving  a  stupid 
feeling,  as  if  one  had  not  slept  enough,  incapacitating 
for  thought,  and  aggravated  by  mental  efforts,  by  eating, 
and  also  in  the  morning.  With  these  headaches  there  is  a 
Cseling  of  fulness  in  the  head,  as  if  too  much  blood  were  in 
it,  and  this  also  is  worse  after  food  and  in  the  morning. 
The  face  is  often  flushed  or  suffused  looking,  though 
sometimes  pale.  The  muscles  of  the  face  are  apt  to 
twitoh.  He  starts  easily  at  the  least  noise,  or  even  on 
a  sudden  touch ;  such  startings  being  akin  to  twitches, 
or  convulsive  movements,  which  latter  constantly  occur  in 
aggravated  cases.  Sparks  or  flashes  of  light  are  seen.  He 
is  very  sleepy  in  the  afternoon,  after  dinner ;  sleeps  badly 
at  night ;  &lls  asleep  in  the  first  part  of  the  night,  then 
wakes  up  at  2  or  8  o'clock ;  lies  wide  awake  for  two  or 
three  or  four  hours,  and  then  drops  off  into  a  heavy  sleep 
when  it  is  nearly  time  to  get  up.  He  wakes  tired  and 
unrefreshed,  with  his  headache  and  feeling  of  conftision. 

Such  are  the  general  cerebral  and  nervous  symptoms  pro- 
duced by  nux,  and  indicating  it  as  a  medicine.  But  where 
it  is  indicated  strongly,  you  will  find  usually  other  symp- 
toms which  are  very  important  to  notice,  and  the  presence 
of  which  aid  yen  materially  in  selecting  nux  in  preference 
to  other  medicines.  First,  you  will  notice  as  important, 
one  of  Hahnemann's  masterly  generalisations,  which  has 
been  corroborated  by  every  one  since  his  time,  viz.,  the 
tjpe  of  patient  for  whom  ntix  is  specially  useful.  Ton 
win  find  certain  persons  tell  you  that  nux  **  always  suits  " 
them,  and  almost  always  puts  them  right  from  any  disorder, 
while  others  will  find  from  experience  that  nux  never  does 
than  much  good.  This  is  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  nux 
suits  specially  a  certain  type  of  body.  It  is  not  the  easy, 
gentle,  soft  disposition,  with  blonde  complexion  and  tail  hair, 
which  we  see  so  decidedly  in  females,  but  rather  the  vigorous. 


172  HWBRaSMIA  OF  BBAIN.  "S^^S^TS^ 

quick,  irascible  nature,  of  dry  and  firm  habit,  with  dark 
hair,  and  sallow  or  brunette  complexion ;  also  the  literary 
man,  or  the  business  man,  who  has  much  mental  work  and 
anxiety,  combined  with  a  sedentary  life,  and  those  also 
addicted  to  good  feeding,  the  use  of  much  wine  or  other 
alcoholic  stimulant,  and  much  coffee. 

Next,  jou  find  that  the  symptoms  are  almost  invariably 
worse  in  the  morning.  After  the  peculiar  form  of  sleep- 
lessness already  mentioned,  the  proyer  wakes  from  sleep, 
tired,  and  languid,  and  with  all  the  uncomfortable  symp- 
toms of  such  a  case,  headache,  &c.,  and  with  no  appetite 
for  breakfast,  or  energy  for  anything. 

Lastly,  there  is  a  distinct  form  of  dyspepsia.  This  I  fcilly 
described  when  treating  of  dyspepsia.  Here  I  simply 
remind  you  of  it.  The  tongue  is  coated  yeUow-white  at 
the  posterior  half,  while  tolerably  clean  in  the  front  half. 
There  is  bad  taste,  bitter  or  foul.  There  is  loss  of  appetite, 
fulness,  distension,  and  heaviness  after  food,  as  if  he  had 
eaten  too  much ;  acid  risings,  flatulence,  heartburn,  and 
sickness  or  nausea.  The  bowels  are  constipated,  with  a 
feeling  of  desire  for  stool,  but  inability  to  perform  the 
function,  and  tendency  to  piles. 

With  such  general  symptoms  present,  along  with  the 
head  symptoms  of  irritation  and  congestion,  or  hypercemia, 
you  will  find  nux  clearly  en  rapport,  and  it  will  quickly 
produce  improvement  and  cure.  Perhaps  the  moat 
generally  useful  dose  of  nux  vomica  in  this  condition 
is  the  8rd  centesimal.  In  sensitive  patients,  it  is  often 
better  to  go  higher,  up  to  the  SOth,  or  occasionally  even  to 
the  200th ;  wlule  in  others  better  results  are  obtained  from 
the  2nd  or  1st  decimal.  Nux  vomica  is  a  medicine  which, 
I  have  often  remarked  to  you,  acts  well  in  all  dilutions, 
and  one  has  to  make  use  of  the  whole  range  of  the  scale, 
according  to  the  susceptibility  of  the  patient,  in  order  to 
procure  its  fidl  effects. 

You  will  observe  that  the  class  of  case  calling  for  mix 
is  quite  distinct  from  the  type  of  case  requiring  aconite, 
beliadonna,  &c.  It  is  one  where  the  state  of  the  digestive 
organs  has  evidently  largely  to  do  with  the  hypersBmio 
condition  of  the  brain. 

Allied  to  ntuc  vomica  in  several  points  is  Sulphur. 
From  my  remarks  in  former  lectures,  you  will  remember 
that  perhaps  the  main  feature  of  the  sulpkur  action  is 
its    tendency   to    chronioity,    and    its   passive    venous 


J&Si^MKMB?^  HTPBR^MIA  OP  BRAIN.  178 

congestions,  with  the  symptoms  resulting  therefrom.  It 
is  thus  specially  in  cases  of  passive  hypersBmia  of  the 
brain,  and  particularly  when  of  considerable  standing,  that 
sulphur  will  be  of  use. 

It  produces  a  condition  of  mental  dulness,  and  apathy, 
combined  with  peevish  irritability,  and  disinclination 
for  mental  or  physical  exertion.  The  head  feels  fuU  and 
congested,  as  if  too  full  of  blood ;  there  is  headache  of 
the  same  type,  a  hot,  heavy,  full,  tensive  or  pressive 
headache,  all  over,  or  in  the  forehead  and  temples,  with 
vertigo,  especially  in  morning.  You  find  a  general  slug- 
gishness of  the  whole  system.  The  appetite  is  poor, 
digestion  is  slow,  with  fulness  after  eating.  The  action  of 
the  liver  is  sluggish,  constipation  is  present  with 
tendency  to  pale  stools  and  hsBmorrhoids.  The  latter  are 
due  partly  to  the  liver  engorgement,  and  partly  to  the 
constipation.  Bheumatic  pains  are  complained  of,  and 
there  is  tendency  to  mucous  catarrh ;  sleep  is  restless  and 
uneasy,  the  pains  are  worse  at  night,  and  in  the  heat  of 
the  bed,  and  the  patient  wakes  tired,  and  languid  in  the 
morning.  Tou  will  very  probably  also  find  a  tendency  at 
the  time,  or  at  some  former  time,  to  skin  irritation, 
itching,  and  eruptions. 

You  will  thus  observe  that,  as  with  ntix' vomica,  the 
hypersemia  of  the  brain  is  not  pure,  but  largely  dependent 
on  disorder  of  the  general  health,  especially  of  the  digestive 
organs.  From  the  many  points  of  similarity  between  the 
nux  and  the  stdphtir  conditions,  you  frequently  meet  with 
cases  where  both  seem  indicated,  and  you  will  often  find  it 
of  manifest  benefit  to  prescribe  one  dose  of  sulphur  in  the 
mornings  or  in  certain  circumstances  at  night,  while  you 
give  nvx  during  the  day.  This  is  a  practice  which  has  the 
sanction  of  most  practitioners,  and  one  that  you  will  find 
yield  excellent  results — often  better  than  when  either 
medicine  is  given  alone. 

As  to  the  dose  of  sulphury  you  must,  as  with  nua,  employ 
all  dilutions,  according  to  the  condition  or  susceptibility  of 
your  patient.  The  Srd  centesimal  is  a  fair  average,  or 
generally  useful  dilution,  while  in  some  cases  you  must  use 
the  6th,  12th,  or  80th,  and  in  others  better  results  are 
obtained  from  a  pilule  of  the  saturated  tincture,  generally 
spoken  of  as  the  mother-tincture,  but  more  correctly  as  the 
tmcL  sulph.fort.  The  pilule  is  a  better  form  to  administer 
the  latter,  ks  in  water  it  forms  a  fine  milky  precipitate. 


174  HTPBILEMU  OP  BBAIN.    ^^SJ&^^SS^wi! 

A  completely  dififerent  type  of  oerebral  hypenemiay  from 
any  that  I  have  yet  described,  is  met  by  Ojpium^ 

It  is  almost  unnecessary  to  give  yon  a  sketch  of  the 
pathogenesis  of  opium,  as  the  action  of  this  medicine  is  so 
well  known.  I  may  jost  state  that  the  symptoms  specially 
indicating  it  are  a  general  torpor  of  the  brain  and  nerre 
functions,  great  and  constant  sleepiness,  inability  or  dis- 
inclination for  any  exertion,  difficulty  of  rousing  oneself  for 
anything,  stupor  of  mental  functions,  irritability  of  temper 
when  roused  from  this  heavy  state,  with  flushed  dusky  com- 
plexion, or  sometimes  the  reverse,  a  pale  face,  contracted 
pupils,  and  a  dnll,  heavy,  oppressive  headache,  as  if  the 
brain  were  loaded.  The  appetite  is  sluggish,  and  the  bowels 
costive. 

Ton  will  observe  that  here  we  have  no  active  or  arterial 
hypenemia,  but  a  passive  engorgement,  with  a  state  of 
torpor  of  iJie  mental  and  other  Amctions,  and  in  fitct  the 
condition  produced  by  opium  poisoning. 

The  dose  of  opium  which  I  have  mostly  used  is  the  2nd 
decimal,  or  in  some  cases  the  8rd  centesimal. 

Qhnoine  is  often  of  marked  service  in  cases  of  hypersemia 
of  the  brain,  coming  on  acutely,  to  relieve  specially  the 
severe  headache,  such  as  occurs  in  sunstroke,  or  sudden 
hypersemia  from  any  cause.  It  is  allied  in  action,  as  far 
as  the  headache,  &c.,  is  concerned,  to  beUadonna.  The 
headache,  in  fact,  is  the  special  feature  of  the  ghnoine 
action. 

The  prover  suffers  from  a  state  of  agitation  (mental), 
anxiety,  and  apprehension.  There  is  mental  confusion, 
he  hardly  knows  where  he  is,  and  can  with  difficulty 
recognise  the  objects  surrounding  him.  Oreat  and  intetise 
headache  is  felt.  The  head  feels  too  large,  or  as  if  the  skull 
were  too  small  for  its  contents.  There  is  painful,  throb- 
bing felt  in  the  head — synchronous  with  the  pulse — ^feeling 
as  if  all  the  blood  had  mounted  to  the  head.  The  head- 
ache is  felt  all  through  the  head,  but  chiefly  in  forehead 
and  temples.  It  is  worse  on  movement,  and  on  bending 
down.  The  temporal  arteries  visibly  throb.  Vertigo  also 
is  very  marked  along  with  the  headache.  The  eyes  are 
staring,  and  congested,  and  the  face  flushed.  The  pulso 
is  quick  and  full,  the  heart  beats  violently,  and  with  much 
palpitation.  Heavy  restless  sleep  is  produced,  or  sleep- 
lessness. 


fXSS^mlShvSS^   HYMMBMU  OP  BBAIM.  176 

It  is,  therefore,  specially  celled  for  in  any  sudden  and 
Beveie  attack  with  symptoms  as  above,  whether  arising 
from  menstnial  sappresdon,  exoessive  heat,  or  otherwise. 

The  dose  I  nsnally  employ  and  recommend  to  yon  is  the 
8rd  decimal. 

In  many  points  resembling  ^Zonoin^,  and  also  beliadonnay 
is  that  interesting  medicine  of  recent  introduction,  the 

Amyl  nitrite. — On  inhaling  this  drug,  very  soon  the  face 
feels  snfFdsed  and  flushes  visibly,  the  head  feels  full  of 
blood,  and  throbs  violently.  The  prover  feels  confused 
and  giddy,  with  confusion  also  of  sight.  The  pulso 
becomes  quick  and  full,  and  the  heart  throbs  quickly 
and  violently.  It  is  believed  that  general  arterial  dilatation 
and  hypersemia  is  produced. 

This  sketch  of  its  effects  will  show  you  in  what  cases  it 
will  relieve.  It  is  in  acute  arterial  hypenemia,  arising 
from  any  cause,  and  one  frequently  finds  such  a  state 
produced  in  women  by  sudden  suppression  of  the  menses, 
and  at  the  menopause.  It  may  be  used  by  inhalation 
carefully^  or  by  the  internal  administration  of  the  2x  or  Sx 
dilutions. 

Arnica  is  useful  in  certain  cases,  as  in  those  of  active 
congestion,  threatening  apoplexy,  in  old  people,  in  hyper- 
iemia  from  fisdls  or  concussion^  or  shock,  and  in  cases  alter- 
nating  with  and  relieved  by  epistaxis.  It  causes  a  full, 
pressive  headache,  with  feeling  of  fulness  of  blood,  and 
vertigo,  with  confusion  of  mind  and  senses.  The  head- 
ache is  chiefly  in  the  forehead  and  temples,  though  it  may 
be  ftlt  all  through  the  head.  There  is  often  in  such  a  state 
sleeplessness  at  night.    Dose  8,  or  8x. 

BryomaiB  sometimes  of  service  in  mild  cases  of  hypenemia. 
The  form  of  headache  of  bryonia  is  a  full,  heavy,  pressive 
pam,  as  if  the  head  were  too  full  of  blood.  It  is  chiefly  felt 
in  the  forehead  and  temples,  is  worse  on  movement,  and 
with  a  feeling  as  if  the  contents  of  the  skull  would  fall  out 
at  the  forehead,  especially  on  stooping.  Vertigo,  and  con- 
fosed  feeling,  are  also  present.  This  and  the  headache  are 
worse  on  first  waking  in  the  morning.  Along  with  this 
state,  the  tongue  is  furred,  there  is  fulness  or  feeling  as  of 
a  load  or  weight  in  the  stomach  after  food.  Uneasiness  in 
region  of  liver,  with  sluggish  action  of  it,  and  constipation. 
You  often  find  also  a  tendency  to  rheumatic  pains,  or  the 
presence  of  the  rheumatic  diathesis.    AU  then  symptoms 


176  HYPBaaiMIA  OP  BRAIN.    'a!SS^5S?JfiS! 

are  worse  on  motion.  Bryonia  is  thus  suited  to  mild  cases, 
where  there  is  disorder  of  the  stomach  and  liver^  with  rheu- 
matic tendency,  and  where  the  headache  and  vertigo  are 
as  aboTe  described. 

The  dose  of  hryonia  I  should  recommend  is  from  the  3rd 
centesimal  to  8rd  decimal  dilutions. 

Cuprum  is  valuable  in  hypersBmia  of  the  brain  arising 
from  non-developed  or  retroceding  eruption  of  measles  or 
scarlet  fever.  We  have  then  a  dull,  oppressed  condition  of 
venous  or  passive  hypersBmia,  and  a  tendency  to  convulsions, 
or  the  actual  presence  of  them.  I  spoke  of  this  fully  when 
lecturing  on  these  fevers. 

Lastly,  AUanthus  Glandvlosua,  which  I  spoke  of  also  in  a 
former  lecture  on  measles  and  scarlet  fever,  has  a  patho- 
genesis which  points  strongly  to  its  use  in  passive 
hyperaemia  of  the  brain,  resembling  the  action  of  opium 
rather  than  that  of  beUadonna.  The  prover  becomes  dull, 
languid,  depressed,  and  indifferent  to  his  own  state,  or 
may  be  anxious  and  restless.  He  feels  languid  all  over, 
incapacitated  for  any  mental  effort,  has  to  read  over  several 
times  what  he  is  reading  before  he  can  comprehend  it,  or 
has  to  count  figures  over  and  over  again  before  he  can  get 
them  right.  In  advanced  stages  there  may  be  insensibility, 
with  low,  muttering  delirium,  not  the  active,  excited 
delirium  of  belladonna.  He  complains  much  of  vertigo, 
which  prevents  him  walking  straight,  and  objects  seem  to 
move  before  him.  There  is  also  a  dull,  oppressed,  fall, 
and  congestive  headache,  felt  all  over  the  head  or  in  the 
forehead.  Along  with  this  headache  there  is  marked 
vertigo,  producing  sympathetic  nausea  and  vomiting, 
without  any  gastric  symptoms  to  account  for  it.  Loss 
of  memory  also  occurs.  Then  we  have  other  symptoms 
of  nervous  disturbance  and  passive  congestion — as  a 
constricted  feeling  in  the  chest,  as  if  it  were  strapped ; 
a  similar  feeling  of  constriction  in  the  abdomen;  pains 
all  up  and  down  the  spinal  column,  numbness  and 
tingling  in  the  arms  and  legs,  with  heaviness  in  the 
legs,  and  pains  in  the  feet.  There  is  sleepiness  by  day, 
and  unrefi^shing  disturbed  sleep  at  night. 

This  pathogenesis  indicates  ailanthus  in  states  of  passive 
or  venous  hypera)mia — a  state  of  oppressed  brain  and 
general  nerve  function,  such  as  precedes  or  forewarns 
an  attack  of  apoplexy.  Also  in  general  passive  brain 
congestion,  not  of  gastric  origin,  but  such  as  one  sees 


JSSi^SSrnSn?*"  CJOPPBB  IN  CHOLBKA.  177 

prodaced  by  over-work  or  brain-fiEkg.  It  is  likewise 
indicated,  as  I  stated  in  a  former  lecture,  in  the  hypersemia 
of  the  brain  occurring  in  cases-  of  measles  and  scarlet  fever, 
from  sappressed  eraptions.  I  know  of  no  recorded  cases  of 
brain-hypenemia  treated  by  ailanthtUf  except  those  in 
scarlet  fever,  bat  I  coald  not  consider  my  subject  complete, 
without  pointing  out  this  medicine  as  one  likely  to  be 
found  of  value  in  the  states  I  have  indicated.  I  should 
give  it  in  a  low  dilution,  the  8rd  or  Ist  decimal. 

Such,  Oentlemen,  are  the  chief  remedies  useful  in 
cerebral  hypernmia,  or  in  cases  where  we  beUeve,  from  the 
symptoms,  that  such  a  state  exists.  I  might,  perhaps,  have 
included  actaa,  but  this  and  other  medicines  will  come  in 
better  when  I  come  to  speak  of  headache  and  its  treat- 
ment. 


ON    THE    PROPHYLACTIC  ACTION   OF  COPPER 

IN  CHOLERA.* 

By  Dr.  Joussbt. 

Aftbb  the  appearance  of  cholera  in  Europe,  in  1829, 
Hahnemann  and  the  earlier  homoeopathists  pointed  out 
veratrum,  anenic,  and  copper  as  the  three  principal  drugs 
for  this  new  malady,  and  prescribed  these  three  substances, 
not  only  as  curative  drugs,  but  also  as  prophylactics.  Some 
of  them  added  to  this  practice,  the  habit  of  wearing  small 
plates  of  copper  in  contact  with  the  skin.  Drs.  Mares  and 
Schmit,  in  particular,  insisted  on  these  prophylactic 
measures ;  and  I  myself,  during  the  epidemic  which  raged 
at  Charroux  (Vienna)  in  1852,  employed  plates  of  copper 
veiy  extensively,  and  obtained  very  good  results. 

But  it  was  principally  Dr.  Burq,  whose  studies  in  metal- 
lotherapy  had  acquainted  him  with  the  action  of  copper  in 
the  cramps  of  cholera,  who  predicted  that  the  application  of 
plates  of  metallic  copper  would  prove  prophylactic  against 
cholera. 

This  honest  and  modest  physician,  to  whom  the  Homodo- 
pathic  Medical  Society  of  France  rendered  full  justice  forty 
years  before  the  Academy  of  Medicine  would  consent  to 
examine  his  works,  had  made  considerable  researches  in 
public  hygiene,  and  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  workers 

•  Traoalafted  from  VAH  UidicaU  by  I>r.  A.  8.  EMiiMdbr,  of  BkoUMath. 
Ko  8,  YoL  96.  H 


178  COPPEB  IN  CHOLERA.       ^ffS^L^^S"?^ 


BoTiew,  Xtf.  1. 18SI. 


in  copper  were  completely  preserved  from  cholera  when  ihay 
remained  exposed  to  the  emanations  of  copper  dust  during 
an  epidemic.  Did  Dr.  Barq  imbibe  his  first  idea  of  the 
preservatiye  yirtnes  of  copper  from  his  acquaintance  with 
homoeopathic  physicians,  or  did  he  arriye  directly  at  this 
idea? 

Dr.  Secretain,  at  the  time  of  Burq's  publications,  always 
claimed  the  priority  in  this  observation  for  Hahnemann, 
and  since  that  time  that  priority  has  been  inoontestably 
established.  Hence  it  was  not  without  surprise  that  we 
lately  read  that  a  Dr.  Mailhet,  of  Japan,  had  just  dis- 
covered the  prophylactic  action  of  copper  in  cholera,  he 
having  obtained  the  greatest  possible  success  by  its  employ- 
ment !  Here  is  the  passage  from  the  Qcusette  des  Hopitaux 
which  reports  this  so-called  discovery,  appending  thereto 
an  ingenious  explanation  from  Dr.  Mailhet : — 

''  In  1877  I  had  dreamed  of  a  prophylactic  which  I  had 
not  put  into  practice,  having  haii  but  few  cases  in  the 
locality  where  I  live.  This  year  the  epidemic  having 
reached  us,  I  have  been  able  to  test  my  experiment,  and  I 
send  you  the  result.  I  8tai*ted  with  these  facts,  that 
persons  who  work  in  copper  enjoy  a  great  immunity  from 
cholera ;  that,  according  to  the  experiments  carried  on  by 
the  Society  of  Biology,  metallic  applications  act  by  develop- 
ing a  feeble  current  of  electricity. 

''  Besides,  I  said  to  myself,  the  cholera  should  attack  by 
preference  those  who  offered  to  it  least  resistance,  namely, 
those  whose  digestive  tract  was  in  an  unhealthy  state. 

"Hence  it  follows  that  the  application  of  plates  of 
copper  should  cause  a  slight  excitement  in  the  subjacent 
organs,  and  increase  their  resistance  to  the  invasion  of 
cholera.  I  know  not  what  may  be  Hie  value  of  these  con* 
siderations,  I  only  give  them  as  the  outcome  of  the  asso^ 
ciatlon  of  ideas  which  led  me  to  try  the  me  of  a  copper  girdle 
as  a  preventive  against  cholera. 

"  I  then  first  cut  some  plates  of  red  and  yellow  copper 
of  the  size  of  a  two-franc  piece  in  the  middle ;  I  fixed  a 
little  tongue  through  which  I  passed  a  narrow  ribbon, 
which  passed  through  all  the  little  plates  one  after  another, 
arranged  by  placing  first  a  plate  of  red  copper,  then  one  of 
yellow,  then  red,  and  so  on. 

'*  I  made  quite  easily  one  of  Dr.  Burq's  girdles.  But 
this  girdle  has  the  inconvenience  of  pinching  and  wounding 
the  skin  in  the  movements  of  the  body. 


^t^£!TxS^   COPPER  IN  OHOLEBA.  179 

**  At  the  oommeneement  of  the  epidemic  I  advised  the 
use  of  a  girdle  like  this^  and  soon  more  than  600  persons 
were  provided  with  them,  not  counting  those  who,  from 
laek  of  means,  only  carried  one  or  two  plates  in  their 
girdleSy  and  the  innumerable  number  who  made  themselves 
amulets  of  copper,  without  taking  the  trouble  to  put  them 
in  contact  witii  the  body. 

**We  had  forty-five  severe  cases  of  cholera,  of  which 
thirty  died ;  and  more  than  fifty  slight  cases,  and  cases  of 
cholerine. 

*'  Out  of  this  number  I  did  not  see  a  single  wearer  of  the 
girdle.  It  would  be  a  very  singular  coincidence  that  not 
one  of  my  girdle-wearers  should  be  found  amongst  the 
hundred  cases  of  cholera  which  I  had,  if  the  copper  girdle 
had  not  had  some  'prophylactic  virtue/  " 

So  Dr.  Mailhet  has  found  out,  after  Hahnemann,  afber 
all  the  homoeopaths  who  have  studied  and  treated  cholera 
since  1829,  after  Dr.  Burq,  that  copper  applied  to  the  skin 
is  a  good  prophylactic  against  cholera !  He  has  verified 
this  prophylactic  virtue  of  copper  after  a  hundred,  after  a 
thousand  other  physicians ;  he  has  confirmed  an  important 
fact  in  practical  medicine,  one  even  yet  contested  by  some 
contentious  and  retrograde  spirits ;  and  in  doing  that  he 
has  certainly  done  a  useful  task,  and  one  worthy  of  praise. 

But  why  not  relate  honestly  the  facts  ?  Why  not  say 
that  Hahnemann,  haviog  ascertained  experimentally  that 
copper  produced  vomiting,  diarrhcda,  cramps,  and  an  entirety 
of  symptoms  analogous  to  cholera,  advised  this  drug  in  the 
treatment  of  this  malady,  when  the  cramps  are  extreme 
and  the  sickness  aggravated  ?  His  disciples  have  verified 
luB  suggestion  ;  and  the  curative  properties  of  copper  led 
to  its  administration  as  a  preservative  against  the  disease 
which  it  cured. 

The  knowledge  of  the  immunity  against  cholera  enjoyed 
by  labourers  in  copper  mines,  had  suggested  the  employ- 
ment of  plates  of  copper  worn  on  the  skin  as  a  preservative 
from  cholera.  Then  came  Burq,  with  bis  enquiry  into  the 
immunity  of  copper- workers  against  cholera ;  and  the  use 
of  copper  plates  became  generid  amongst  those  physicians 
who  kept  pace  with  the  new  therapeutics. 

These  are  the  true  reasons  why  Dr.  Mailhet  employed 
copper  in  the  prophylaxis  of  cholera.  But  these  reasons 
are  tainted  witib  homcBopathy ;  they  smell  of  heresy  ;  and 
he  has  first  been  obliged,  on  the  one  hand,  to  say  nothing 


1^0 tasviEws.  ''^^^SSTS^. 

« 

of  those  physicians,  who  first  proposed  copper  in  the  treat- 
ment of  cholera,  which  is  dishonest,  and  then  to  invent  a 
physiological  theory  to  explain  the  discovery  of  Dr.  Mailhet ! 
So  it  is  not  because  copper  produces  in  the  healthy  body  a 
state  similar  to  cholera,  that  it  cures  it,  and  he  prescribes 
it,  but  because  **  the  application  of  plates  of  copper  causes 
a  slight  excitement  of  subjacent  organs  (the  intestines),  and 
increases  their  resistance  of  the  invasion  of  cholera." 

What  a  lovely  explanation  1  Thus  it  is  the  electricity 
which  preserves  from  cholera,  and  not  the  absorption  of 
copper  by  the  skin.  Then  what  preserves  the  workers  in 
copper,  who  absorb  the  dust  of  the  metal,  and  in  whom  you 
cannot  claim  electric  action  ?  The  fear  of  appearing  to  have 
imbibed  anything  from  the  Great  Beformer  of  medicine 
crazes  the  men  who  live  by  these  thefts,  and  the  absurd 
theories  which  they  are  obliged  to  put  forward  are  the  just 
punishment  of  their  plagiarism. 


REVIEWS. 

Matetia  Medica  Pura.  By  Samubl  Hahmbmamn.  Translated 
from  the  latest  German  editions,  by  B.  E.  Dudgeon,  M.D. 
With  Annotations  by  Bichard  Hughes,  L.B.C.P.  Edin. 
Vol.  I.  Aconitum — Ipecacuanha.  Hahnemann  Publishing 
Society.     1880. 

The  work  before  us  is  a  translation  of  one  on  Materia  Medica 
the  first  edition  of  which  appeared  some  sixty  or  seventy  years 
ago  t  Where  is  there  another  work  on  the  same  subject  published 
at  the  date  at  which  this  was,  which  those  who  practise  medicine 
withoat  a  therapeutic  principle,  would  regard  as  worth  the  trouble 
of  translating  now,  and  translating,  too,  in  precisely  the  same 
form  in  which  it  appeared  ?  There  is  not  such  an  one.  That 
Hahnemann's  Materia  Medica  Pwra  is  still  valuable,  is  yet 
capable  of  assisting  a  physician  in  prescribing  for  his  patients,  is 
owing  to  its  consisting  of  an  assemblage  of  facts,  of  observations, 
of  experiments — to  its  being  entirely  devoid  of  theoretical  specu- 
lations as  to  the  action  of  drugs,  and  of  theoretical  suggestions 
for  their  prescription  in  disease.  Facts  live — theories  disappear, 
as  increasing  knowledge  tends  to  cast  deubt  upon  their  valicUty. 

The  translation  of  Hahnemann's  Materia  Medica  has  be«Di 
done  by  Dr.  Dudgeon.  As  a  guarantee  of  accuracy,  of  fidelity 
to  the  original,  it  is  quite  needless  for  us  to  say  more.  For  forty 
years  a  student  of  the  author's  writings,  the  elegant  translator 
of  his  Organon  of  the  HeaUng  Art  and  of  many  of  his  essays, 


£iSSS*5rj"«f*  RBV1BW8.  181 


B^/nsw,  Xar.  1, 18B1. 


Dr.  Dudgeon  bronght  to  bear  upon  his  task  a  familiarity  with  his 
style  which  few,  if  any,  possess  beside  him ;  while  his  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  language  rendered  easy  to  him  what  many, 
whose  acquaintance  with  it  might  be  regarded  as  above  the 
average,  would  have  found  difficult. 

Dr.  Hughes  has  performed  his  share  of  the  work  by  revising 
from  their  originals  the  observations  Hahnemann  collected  from 
the  writings  of  previous  observers. 

We  have  thus  before  us  a  translation  of  Hahnemann's  great 
work,  the  like  of  which  has  never  previously  appeared.  It  is  as 
perfect  as  it  can  be  made. 

Most  cordially  do  we  thank  the  translator  and  his  colleague 
and  the  Hahnemann  Publishing  Society  for  having  provided 
this  very  important  aid  to  the  better  performance  of  our  daily 
work.  We  trust  that  every  homodopathic  physician  will  procure 
it  and  use  it. 


On  the  Medicinal  Treatment  of  Diseasee  of  the  Veins.  By 
J.  GoMPTON  BuBMXTT,  M.D.,  &c,  Loudou :  HomoBopathic 
Publishing  Company,  1881,  pp.  166. 

Ik  this  powerfully-written,  deeply-interesting  and  suggestive 
Httle  book  Dr.  Burnett  argues,  illustrates,  and  enforces  the 
thesis  "  that  atonic  dilated  veins  may,  in  many  instances,  be 
made  to  shrink  to  their  original  size  by  the  proper  use  of 
medicines  administered  internally  and  aided  by  certain  ausdl- 
iaries — ^in  other  words,  varicosis,  hsdmorrhoids,  varicocele,  and 
varices  are  amenable  to  drug  treatment,  and  therefore  surgery, 
in  this  department  of  diseases  of  the  veins,  is  to  be  superseded 
by  medicines  "  (p.  6).  The  best  of  surgery  in  the  treatment  of 
diseases  termed  '*  surgical "  is  but  tide  inevitable  result  of 
imperfect  medicinal  therapeutics.  Were  the  art  of  medicine 
perfect,  a  large  number  of  operations  ingeniously  devised  and 
skilfully  performed  would  become  needless.  Life  may  be,  and 
often  is,  saved  by  the  amputation  of  a  thigh,  in  a  case  where  the 
knee  joint  has  become  destroyed  by  disease ;  but  the  patient 
can  scarcely  be  said  to  have  been  cured  by  the  operation.  Had 
medidne  been  perfect,  the  disease  in  the  joint  would  have  been 
cured  before  the  destruction  of  tissue  had  proceeded  so  far  as  to 
endanger  life.  So  in  hemorrhoids,  to  cut  off  a  mass  of  piles 
protruding  from  the  rectum  does  not  cure  piles ;  it  removes  that 
which  has  by  its  grovrth  become  a  source  of  danger  to  the 
individual. 

Dr.  Burnett  shows  that  by  judicious  local,  medicinal,  and 
hygienic  treatment,  the  worst  cases  may  be  really  cured ;  that 
the  sufierer  may  be  restored  to  health  without  having  any  tissue 
lemored  by  the  knife  or  the  cautery^ 


182  NOTABUJA.  "^SL^SKf^^S? 


BOTiew,  Mv.  1,  ISM. 


The  prmeiples  he  emmciaics  are  soiind  bejimd  ea^iL  That 
thej  can  be  saccessfblly  canied  out  in  praotiee  ia  prored  by  the 
▼ery  strikiiig  cases  he  records.  At  the  same  time  the  canyiDg 
of  them  into  practice  is  well  calculated  to  try  the  courage  and 
determination  of  the  most  plneky  and  resolate  of  both  physacians 
and  patients.  The  two  cases  related  on  pages  83-99  are  among 
the  trophies  of  medicine.  Nothing  short  <^  indomitable  pluck 
and  confidence  could  have  saTed  ^ese  cases  from  the  knife  of 
the  surgeon — and  the  knife  of  the  surgeon  would  never  have 
restored  health  as  completely  as  did  Dt,  Burnett's  "  homoeo- 
pathic, postural,  and  dietetic  treatment/'  We  earnestly  commend 
the  perusal  of  this  small  but  important  treatise  to  ail  our 
medical  brethren,  feeling  assured  that  it  will  tend  greatiy  to 
strengthen  their  faith  in  the  art  of  medicine. 


Ecce  Medicus;  or^  Hahnemann  as  a  Man  and  as  a  Physieian, 
and  tiie  Lessons  of  his  Life,  Being  the  first  Hahnemann 
Lecture^  1880.  By  J.  Compton  Bubmstt,  MJ).  London : 
Homceopathic  Publishing  Company.     1881.    Pp.  164. 

This  brilliant  little  book,  appropriately  dedicated  to  Dr.  Bayes, 
forms  by  far  the  fullest  record  of  the  life  of  Hahnemann,  as  it 
gives  also  the  best  estimate  of  his  character,  and  of  his  work 
with  which  we  are  acquainted. 

Barely,  if  ever,  hive  we  met  with  a  more  sparkling,  more 
attractive  piece  of  reading.  Few,  if  any,  could,  we  think,  com- 
mence it  without  finishing  it  before  laying  it  down.  It  is  the 
work  of  a  master  in  literature. 

It  is  needless  to  make  extracts  here,  for  we  are  sure  tiiat 
everyone  who  feels  an  interest  in  homoeopathy  will  obtain,  read, 
and  ei^joy  it. 

NOTABILIA, 


THE  LONDON  SCHOOL  OF  HOMOEOPATHY. 

The  4lBt  monthly  meeting  of  the  Committee  was  held  on  the 
14th  ult.,  John  Boodle,  Esq.,  in  the  chair.  The  Committee 
have  appointed  Dr.  Riohakd  Hughes  to  deliver  the  Hahnemann 
Address  in  October  of  the  present  year.  The  annual  meeting  of 
the  School  is  appointed  to  be  held  on  Tuesday,  April  12th,  at 
4  p.m.  It  is  particularly  requested  that  our  subscribers  and 
governors  will  attend  this  meeting.  Important  business  con- 
nected with  the  future  working  of  the  School  will  then  be  dis- 
cussed and  arranged.  It  is  not  usual  to  answer  anonymous 
communications,  but  the  Hon.  Secretary  having  received  an 
anonymous  note  professing  to  correct  his  statement  Uiat  there 
are  about  800  practitioners  of  homoeopathy  in  Qreat  Britalii,  by 


iSgyJSTSff^  KOTABILU. 183 

Mjmg  that  the  Homooopathio  Direetory  eontains  the  names  of  only 
275,  ]>r.  Bajee  would  ioform  the  writer  that,  in  addition  to  these 
276  avowed  practitioners  of  homoBopathy,  there  are  many  who 
practise  homoeopathy  exclusively,  hat  ohject  to  their  names 
appearing  in  a  directory  as  homoeopaths,  on  account  of  the 
miworthy  persecution  which  might  follow  such  an  avowaL  A 
eonsiderable  number  of  such  physicians  are  known  to  Dr.  Bayes. 
The  School  entered  upon  its  fifth  year  on  the  15th  December, 
1880,  the  period  for  which  the  Si^ool  was  constituted,  as  at 
jvesent  organised.  Gentlemen  desiring  to  suggest  changes  in 
the  working  of  the  School  are  requested  to  communicate  their 
views  to  Dr.  Bayes,  as  succinctly  as  possible.  Suggestions  thus 
made  will  be  submitted  to  the  next  Committee  meeting,  and  shall 
have  every  consideration  given  them  at  the  annual  meeting.  One 
suggestion  of  a  practical  nature  is  before  the  Committee,  viz. : 
To  fond  the  surplus  moneys  and  add  them  to  the  sum  already 
invested.  To  extinguish  the  annual  subsidies  now  paid  to  the 
lecturers,  and  the  salaries.  Of  the  income  that  will  be  produced, 
to  set  apart  £50  annually  as  an  endowment  for  a  clinical  lecture- 
ship at  the  London  Homceopathic  Hospital — ^to  be  held  for  two 
years  by  the  appointed  lecturer  (who  may  be  eligible  for  re- 
election)— ^the  surplus  to  be  used  for  the  payment  of  the  rent  of 
the  lecture  room,  and  for  the  endowment  of  a  Hahnemann 
lectureship.  The  lecturer  to  be  elected  annually.  The  surplus 
to  accumulate  until  a  sufficient  sum  is  available  to  enable  the 
trustees  for  the  fund  to  propose  farther  endowments.  It  will  be 
needful  that  certain  changes  shall  be  made  in  the  constitution  of 
the  executive  of  the  School,  in  order  to  simplify  its  working. 
The  course  above  indicated  is  one  which  would  provide  per- 
manence for  the  most  essential  lectureship.*  A  scheme  is  also 
provided  for  the  encouragement  of  farther  lectureships,  sub- 
sidising them  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  pupils  receiving 
instruction  at  their  hands.  The  above  propositions  will,  if 
carried  out,  form  a  nucleus  easily  expanded  into  a  new  medical 
school  when  sufficient  funds  have  accumulated. — William  Bayes, 
Hon.  Sec.,  21,  Henrietta  Street,  Cavendish  Square,  W. 

SOCIETY  FOR  THE  PREVENTION  OF  BLINDNESS. 

This  Society,  which  owes  its  existence,  we  believe,  chiefly,  if 
not  entirely,  to  the  efforts  of  our  friend  Dr.  Roth,  has  just 
issued  the  first  report  of  its  proceedings.   From  this  we  find  that 

• «« In  order  to  make  any  real  improvement  in  training  our  students  as 
praotitionen,  it  is  neoessary,  to  a  large  extent,  to  substitute  tutorial  and 
bedside  teachings  for  the  long  ooorses  of  lectiues  now  delivered  on  Medi- 
cine and  Bnrgery." — ^Beport  of  the  Committee  of  Coundl  of  the  British 
Medical  Association  on  Medical  Bduoation,  January,  lS81. 


184  NOTABUJA.  "SSai^KWSS* 


.1. 


Dr.  Both  has,  from  TarioHs  eaoBes,  been  compelled  to  perfona 
the  duties  of  treasurer,  seeretary,  and  committee  ahnoet  un- 
aided. He  hopes  that  during  Uie  current  year  others  may 
become  sofficiently  interested  in  helping  the  blind  to  rehere  him 
of  some,  at  any  rate,  of  the  duties  now  devolving  upon  him. 

The  report,  which  is  descriptiye  of  the  work  of  the  Society — 
perhaps  we  should  be  more  accurate  were  we  to  say  the  work  of 
Dr.  Both — is  a  somewhat  lengthy  one,  but  exceedingly  interest- 
ing, and  displays  that  restless  energy  in  doing  good  to  the  he^- 
less,  and  in  endeavouring  to  prevent  others,  now  in  health, 
becoming,  through  illness,  dependent  on  their  friends,  which  are 
characteristic  of  Dr.  Both. 

We  shall  probably  return  to  the  consideration  of  the  work  of 
this  Society  on  a  futore  occasion,  meanwhile  we  would  advise  all 
to  obtain  a  copy  of  this  report  from  Dr.  Both  (48,  Wimpole 
Street),  and  give  him  generous  aid  in  extending  the  usefulness 
of  the  Society. 


THE  BATH  HOMCEOPATHIC  HOSPITAL. 

Thb  Beport  of  this  Institution  for  the  past  year  shows,  we  are 
glad  to  find,  evidence  of  its  increasing  usefulness.  Forty-six 
in-patients — mostly  acute  cases — ^have  been  admitted,  against 
thirty-two  in  1879.  Of  out-patients  8,800  have  been  received. 
Mr.  Norman  and  Dr.  Holland  are  the  Medical  Officers,  Dr. 
Newman  being  the  Consulting  Physician.  A  Bazaar  is  to  be 
held  during  the  autumn  in  aid  of  the  Hospital  funds,  which  will, 
we  trust,  meet  with  large  and  liberal  support. 


THE  NEW  YOBK  STATE  HOMCEOPATHIC  ASYLUM 

FOB  THE  INSANE. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  trustees  of  this  institution  was  held 
in  December  last.  From  the  report  of  the  proceedings  in  the 
St.  Louis  Clinical  Review  we  make  the  following  extracts  : — 

**  The  report  of  medical  superintendent  Dr.  Selden  H.  Talcott, 
showed  that  the  rate  of  recoveries  of  the  insane  was  larger  last 
year  than  ever  before  in  the  history  of  the  institution,  and  the 
death  rate  lower.  The  rate  of  cures  was  46.56  per  cent.,  and  of 
deaths  4.18  per  cent.  In  all  811  different  patients  were  treated 
during  the  year,  of  whom  164  were  in  the  asylum  at  the 
beginning,  and  180  at  the  close,  October  1st,  1880.  The  number 
admitted  was  147.  The  number  discharged  cured  was  61, 
improved  24,  unimproved  88,  deaths  18.  The  largest  number 
present  at  any  one  time  was  199. 


^tSS^SSTSS^  NOTABILU.  186 


«<  The  means  employed  to  eflB»et  onrefl  were  tlie  same  as  hare 
herotolbre  been  used  in  the  institation.  First,  every  effort  is 
made  to  restore  patients  to  bodily  health  and  strength,  which  is^ 
in  most  cases,  a  necessity.  Rest,  qniet,  exercise,  employment, 
amusement  are  each  and  sdl  used  where  they  will  be  beneficial  in 
the  work  of  restoring  the  insane  to  mental  and  bodily  health. 
Homoeopathic  treatment,  of  course,  is  the  role  where  medicine  is 
necessary.  Good  nonrishing  food  is  one  of  the  main  reliances  of 
the  management.  The  male  patients  have  been  employed  mostly 
in  gardening  and  other  light  work  on  the  grounds,  while  the 
women  have  done  most  of  the  plain  sewing  of  the  institution. 

'*The  superintendent  discusses  at  considerable  length,  and 
very  fairly  and  sensibly,  the  much  mooted  question  of  restraint 
or  non-restraint.  While  condemning  it  as  a  general  treatment 
he  regards  it  as  a  necessity  in  exceptional  cases,  and  then  he 
prefers  restraint  to  the  use  of  stupifying  methods  that  are  used 
in  its  stead  in  some  institutions.  He  mentions  one  case  where  an 
insane  woman  was  only  prevented  from  sticking  herself  with  pins 
and  needles  by  covering  her  hands  with  light  canvas  until  the  mania 
passed  away.  A  male  patient  was  treated  in  the  same  way  to  pre* 
vent  him  from  pushing  his  thumbs  into  his  eye  sockets,  which  he 
said  the  Lord  commanded  him  to  do.  Another  patient  had  to  be 
put  into  restraint  to  defeat  the  most  persistent  and  varied  attempts 
at  suicide  that  oould  be  imagined.  Restraint  is  used  only  to 
prevent  suicide  and  mutilation,  and  then  with  the  greatest  care." 

ANOTHER  ALLOPATHIC  NOYELTY! 

TsE  following  paragraph  appears  in  the  Monthly  Magazine  of 
Pharmacy  f  Chemistry ,  and  Medicine^  entitled — 

"A  New  Remedy." 

*'  For  violent  griping  caused  by  excessive  peristaltic  action  of 
the  stomach,  an  occasional  teaspoonful  dose  is  recommended  of 
a  solution  made  by  adding  a  tincture  of  colocynth  to  water  in 
sufficient  quantity  to  render  it  bitter.  The  homoeopathic  dose  so 
given  is  said  by  the  Chicago  Medical  Jotimal  to  have  an  excellent 
sedative  effect.  If  this  be  correct,  it  affords  another  instance  of 
the  faet  that  some  medicines  when  given  in  minute  doses  produce 
exactly  opposite  effects  to  those  following  their  administration  in 
large  quantities.  Experiment  with  regard  to  this,  particularly  if 
made  with  some  of  the  more  potent  drugs,  might  reveal  some 
very  nsefrd  remedies." 

Li  1821 — or  sixty  years  ago — Hahnemann  published  the  record 
of  his  experiments  with  colocynth.  In  the  pre&ce  thereto  he 
wrote  :  '*  Many  of  the  most  violent  colics  may  be  often  very 
rapidly  cured,  when  at  the  same  time  the  other  characteristic 


186  NOTABILU.  ""SSSL^SS?^* 


Bemw,  Xw.  1,  IML. 


BymptofDB  of  the  diaeMA,  w  a  poriion  of  them,  are  to  be  fbtind  in 
nmilarity  aznong  the  symptonui  of  cohcynth.'*  MaUria  Mediea 
Pura^  vol.  1,  p.  612  (Hahnemaim  Piiblialiixig  Society's  edition). 
A  litUe  reseajreh  into  Hahnemann' 9  Materia  Medioa^  or  Hugket* 
Pharmacodynamics^  will  saTe  the  neoessity  of  **  experiment  1 " 

^^M^i^W^»^— ^^W—     ■   MMMM    11 ■  ■  I     ■      I  111  ■  „  ■  ■  ■  I  M    ■    ^»      ■■■»■■  .^  I  ■■       ^        M  ■■   ■  —     1^ 

BOYCOTTING  -HOMCEOPATHY, 

Db.  Hatwabd,  the  eminent  and  respected  homodopathic  physician, 
has  onr  sincere  sympathies.  He  has  been  **  Boycotted."  He  is 
not  an  Irish  landlord,  it  is  trae,  but  nevertheless  on  the  anthoiify 
of  his  professional  colleague,  I)r.  Drysdale,  whose  witness  sorely 
is  troe,  he — that  is  Dr.  Hayward — ^has  been  Boycotted.  He  has 
been  Boycotted  by  his  profession,  for  the  offence  of  being  a 
homoeopath.  This  is  terrible.  The  fearfol  example  set  by  those 
Irish  rascals  appears  to  be  spreading  in  all  directions.  We  have 
heard  of  people  of  divers  sorts  and  conditions  being  Boycotted, 
from  clergymen  to  costermongers,  from  noblemen  to  nobodies : 
even  Col.  Stebie  and  Mr.  Willuum  Simpson  have  been  named  as 
recent  victims  of  this  new  social  ostracism  which  was  heard  of 
nnder  its  modem  designation  on  the  shores  of  Lough  Mask,  and 
is  now  permeating  idl  ranks  and  circles  of  men.  But  we  had 
thought  that  physicians,  men  of  science,  iovans,  and  philosophers 
would  have  been  exempt  from  this  new  foible  of  disorganised 
society.  Yet  Dr.  Hayward,  so  his  friend  Dr.  Drysdale  states, 
has  been  Boycotted.  The  principal  act  of  the  Boycotting  con- 
sists in  the  fact  that  the  advertisement  of  a  new  Materia  Medica 
which  Dr.  Hayward  is  editing  has  been  refused  admission  to  the 
columns  of  the  Lancet,  the  leading  organ  of  the  medical  {wofession. 
This  was  stated  by  Dr.  Drysdale  yesterday  at  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  Liverpool  Homoeopathic  Dispensaries,  and  moreover,  one 
or  two  other  speakers  bore  witness  to  the  Boycotting  of  physicians 
suspected  of  tiie  homoeopathic  heresy  being  a  common  practice  in 
the  profession.  Alas !  then  it  would  seem  that  even  medical  men 
are  afflicted  with  the  ordinary  filings  of  humanity,  and  subject 
to  fits  of  spleen  and  jealousy  just  like  ordinary  mortals.  After 
the  pretensions  to  infallibility  which  leading  members  of  the 
medical  profession  have  so  often  put  forward  on  certain  subjects, 
it  is  a  terrible  revelation  to  have  this  confession  for  one  of  ttiem- 
selves.*' — The  Liberal  Bevteto  (Liverpool),  Jan.  22. 

"THE  ORGANON." 

We  do  not  refer  to  Hahnemann's  great  work  by  this  title,  but  to 
the  Anglo-American  journal  called  The  Organon.  We  have 
heard  that  it  has  ceased  to  appear,  and  that  there  is  no  pro- 
bability of  its  revival.    Bequieeeat  in  pace* 


B.H«r.  lUr.  1.  UU.  HOTABIUA.  187 

BKITZSH  HOM<EOPATHIG  SOCIETY. 

Thb  next  meetmg  of  this  Society  will  ^ake  place  on  Thnrsdaj 
erening,  the  8rd  inst,  at  the  Hospital,  Great  Ormond  Street,  at 
seven  o'clock,  when  Dr.  BiLTss  will  read  a  paper  On  the  Means 
existing  in  England  for  teaching  Homceopathtj — the  Britiah 
Homctopathie  Society,  the  London  Homcfopathic  Hospital,  and 
the  London  School  of  Hoinaopathy — showing  the  aims  and  scope 
of  these  Institutions^  with  suggestions  for  increasing  thdr  efficiency, 
and  for  drawing  them  into  nearer  and  closer  relation  to  one 
another. 

The  snhjeot  to  be  presented  for  discnssion  by  Dr.  BiLTBS  is 
one  of  sneh  vital  importance  to  the  progress  and  development  of 
Homoeopathy  that  we  tmst  a  large  number  of  members  will  be 
present  to  join  in  it.  About  the  duty  of  supporting  and  extend- 
ing the  influence  of  our  Society,  Hospital,  and  School,  there 
ought  to  be  no  difference  of  opinion.  As  to  the  best  means  for 
doing  so  there  is  ample  room  for  discussion.  Out  of  that 
which  win  take  place  on  Thursday  evening  next  we  hope  that 
much  advantage  will  accrue  to  each  Institution. 

HOMGBOPATHY  IN  BOSTON,  U.S,A. 

Tbb  following  gratifying  information  comes  to  us  from 
Boston : — 

**  It  is  desired  to  enlarge  the  hospital  building,  and  to  add  to 
its  facilities  for  serving  the  community.  For  this  purpose  at 
least  50,000  dollars  should  be  now  raised. 

**  The  work  of  the  hospital  has  been  steadily  increasing  since 
its  foundation  in  1871.  During  the  past  year  a  larger  number 
of  persons  than  ever  before  have  been  received  into  tibe  building, 
and  the  demand  for  the  treatment  of  free  patients  is  now  more 
presnng  than  at  any  previous  time. 

**  The  need  of  larger  accommodations  for  the  various  depart- 
ments is  very  great.  It  is  deemed  by  the  trustees  to  be  a  matter 
of  absolute  necessity  to  add  to  the  hospital  building  a  surgical 
ward,  a  lying-in  ward,  and  a  children's  ward ;  and  fimds  are  also 
imperatively  needed  to  maintain  the  work  at  its  present  point  of 
efficiency  and  success." 

The  existing  hospital  in  Boston  is  very  pretty,  very  weU 
arranged,  and  tiie  accommodation  everything  that  could  be  desired 
— so  far  as  it  goes.  But  the  building  is  much  too  small  for  the 
purposes  of  clinical  teaching.  It  is  as  impossible  to  impart  a 
knowledge  of  disease,  to  teach  diagnosis,  and  to  enable  a  student 
to  be  accurate  in  prognosis,  without  a  large  and  well-Med 
hoqiital,  as  it  is  to  make  bricks  without  straw.  Fifty  thousand 
dollars  will  go  a  long  way  towards  accomplishing  what  it  is  so  desir- 
able,  especially  in  the  interests  of  the  large  and  efficiently-offieered 


188  NOTABILU.  "SSS&^S:??^ 


Bfltriev,  Mv.  1,  tB8L 


medical  department  of  the  UniYenify,  shonld  be  accompliahed — 
bat  five  himdred  thonBand  dollars  wonld  be  nearer  the  mark.  For 
besidea  bnildingg,  an  endowment  fond  is  essential  to  enable  the 
trostees  to  place  free  beds  at  the  disposal  of  the  staff.  As  it  is, 
the  income  of  the  hospital  is  famished,  to  too  large  an  extent,  bj 
paying  patients—by  persons  who,  because  they  pay  five,  ten, 
or  fifteen  dollars  for  attendance,  nnrsing,  and  comforts,  which  in 
their  homes  they  could  not  obtain  for  treble  these  sums — object 
to  having  their  cases  studied  by  students  !  To  be  of  service  to 
the  medical  department,  the  patients  received  must  be  numerous, 
and  all  regarded  as  material  for  clinical  study ;  just  as  they  are 
in  the  City  and  Massachusetts  General  Hospitals.  Without  these 
large  institutions  Harvard  would  be  as  ill  provided  with  clinical 
instruction  as  Boston  is  now. 

Further,  we  would  urge  our  friends  in  Boston  to  content  them- 
selves wiUi  medical  and  surgical  wards,  leaving  the  lying-in 
ward  for  a  distant  future.  Lying-in  wards,  especially  in  a  general 
hospital,  are  often  more  dangerous  to  their  inmates,  more  pro- 
ductive of  puerperal  diseases  than  they  are  beneficiaL  Yfhil^ 
students  can  study  practical  midwifery  quite  well  in  the  houses 
of  the  poor. 

Trade  has  largely  increased  in  the  United  States  during  the 
last  two  years,  the  value  of  property  of  all  kinds  has  been  enor* 
mously  enhanced.  Is  there  no  one  who  has  profited  by  all  this 
prosperity  prepared  to  earn  the  gratitude  of  this  and  future  gene- 
rations by  munificently  endowing  the  Boston  Homoaopathie 
Hospital? 

PBOFESSIONAL  ADYERTISINQ. 

The  physicians  of  Boston,  United  States,  have  inaugurated  a 
measure  of  internal  reform  which  the  medical  profession  in 
England  would  do  wisely  to  imitate  forthwith.  They  have  for- 
mulated a  provision  of  tiieir  ethical  code  to  the  effect  that  "  a 
physician  should  not  append  his  name,  or  permit  it  to  be 
appended,  to  certificates  in  laudation  of  speculative  health 
resorts,  health  excursions,  nutritive  or  dietetic  preparations,  pro- 
prietary formulae,  wines,  mineral  waters,  beverages  of  real  or 
supposed  medical  efficiency,  or  other  hygienic  materials."  This 
is  a  sweeping  and  practical,  but  highly  necessary,  act  of  self- 
purgation  that  the  body  to  which  we  belong,  and  in  the  name  of 
which  we  claim  to  speak,  sorely  needs,  and  which  would  sensibly 
enhance  its  social  and  scientific  status.  The  growing  practice  of 
attaching  the  names  of  members  of  our  cloth  to  articles  sold  to 
the  pubhc  has  reflected  no  little  discredit  on  the  profession  in 
general,  and  on  the  individuals  who  have  lent  themselves  to  the 
more  than  equivocal  practice  at  which  this  timely  lesolutbn  has 


SSSS'feTS?^  NOTABILU.  189 


BcfTiew,  Max.  1,  ISBl. 


been  aimed.  It  is  not  important  to  inquire  whether  we  in 
England  or  our  brethren  in  America  or  on  the  Continent  are  the 
greatest  offenders ;  let  it  suffice  to  recognise  that  the  procedure 
IS  an  offence.  There  can  be  no  room  to  question  what  tiie  giving 
or  lending  of  names,  colourably  to  accredit  the  places,  remedies, 
and  appliances  with  which  they  are  connected,  really  means,  and 
to  what  it  amounts.  The  name  of  the  person  is  more  in 
request  and  estimation  than  the  name  of  the  locality  or  article 
to  which  it  is  prefixed  or  appended.  When  a  physician  allows 
himself  or  others  to  affix  lus  imprimatur  to  anything  which  is 
destined  to  be  advertised,  he  is  plainly  permitting  himself  to  be 
advertised.  It  is  useless  to  mince  matters.  This  is  the  long 
and  short  of  the  proceeding.  Unless,  therefore,  the  medical 
profession  is  prepared  to  place  itself  on  the  footing  of  a 
fraternity  of  tradesmen,  advertised  and  recommended  by  the 
goods  they  sell,  a  stop  must,  in  some  way,  be  put  to  this  form  of 
touting. 

We  are  not  disposed  to  adopt  impracticable  views  of  the  pro- 
fessional life  and  its  permanent  interests.  It  may  be  assumed 
that  physicians  must  live,  and  live  by  their  calling ;  but  there  are 
two  totally  distinct  and  divergent  ways  of  seeking  prosperity. 
The  practitioner  may  strive  to  make  good  his  reputation  by  the 
diligence  and  excellence  of  his  work,  or  he  may  resort  to  forced 
and  artificial  means  of  acquiring  publicity.  Practically  there  is 
little,  if  any,  difference  between  allowing  a  name  to  be  embla- 
zoned on  ^e  label  of  proprietary  medicine,  or  printed  at  the 
foot  of  a  testimonial  to  the  excellence  of  some  article  of  com- 
meroe,  or  inserted  in  the  pages  of  a  guide-book,  and  displaying 
it  on  handbills  to  be  distributed  in  the  street.  We  will  not  hesi- 
tate to  say  that  when,  as  happens  nearly  every  week,  we  are 
asked  to  denounce  the  **  unprofessional  conduct ''  of  some 
struggling  practitioner  who,  perhaps,  touts  for  patients  by  the 
distribution  of  printed  cards  or  handbills,  we  are  bound  to 
remember  that  some  of  the  best  known  names  in  the  profession 
are  advertised  in  a  fashion  not  one  whit  less  objectionable.  It 
may  seem  more  respectable  to  advertise  indirectly  and  under 
cover  of  giving  a  guarantee  to  the  value  or  purity  of  some  drug 
or  dietetic  compound,  than  to  vaunt  the  skill  of  an  individual 
directly,  but  the  practical  question  involved  is  at  the  most  only 
one  of  method.  The  deed  done  is  the  same  under  all  its  various 
forms  and  disguises.  We  do  not  find  barristers  courting  pub- 
licity in  this  way.  Why  should  physicians  and  surgeons,  and  the 
practitioners  of  medicine  generally,  be  less  jealous  of  the  dignity 
of  their  calling  than  those  who  practise  in  the  law  ?  It  is  time 
to  look  this  question  of  internal  reform  feurly  in  the  face,  to 
recognise  this  artifice  in  its  true  character,  and  to  reform  it 
alto^ther. — Lancet. 


1^0  OBMUAEY.  *%l!&^Sff'!»?Sg* 


Barisw,  Mar.  1»  VBBL. 


STATE  HONOURS  TO   HOMCEOPATHS. 

Wb  learn  from  a  statement  in  the  Times  of  the  5th  nit.  that  Dr« 
Love,  of  Paris,  the  president  of  one  of  the  French  Homoeopathic 
Medical  Societies,  has  received  the  Legion  of  Honour.  A  mark 
of  distinction  which,  the  Times  correspondent  says,  is  *'  a  trinmph 
for  homooopathy,  which  has  created  no  little  irritation  in  tiie 
opposite  camp."  Dr.  Love,  who  is  of  English  extraction,  has 
for  many  years  exgoyed  a  large  and  fashionable  practice,  and 
occupied  a  leading  position  in  Parisian  society. 

A  similar  honour  has,  we  are  informed  by  BibUotheque  Uomao- 
patliique^  been  conferred  upon  another  French  colleague,  M.  le 
Dr.  Partenay. 

A  PRIESTLY  ANATHEMA  ! 

The  Echo  is  responsible  for  the  following  singular  statemeat : — 
'<  The  parish  priest  of  Sandonie,in  the  diocese  of  Eerida,Spai2i,ha8 
declared  from  the  pulpit  that  the  last  absolution,  extreme  unction 
and  Christian  burial  ^nll  henceforth  be  refused  to  any  parishioner 
who  allows  himself,  or  wiiose  kindred  allow  him  to  be  treated  by 
any  but  duly  qualified  medical  practitioners.  All  men,  women, 
or  children  who  are  treated  homoaopatiucally  will  be  deprived 
of  the  rites  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  and  treated  as  Moors 
or  Jews."  Has  not  this  thorough-going  partisan  of  traditional 
medicine  earned  a  special  vote  of  thanks  from  the  Irish  College 
of  Surgeons  for  thus  '^  Boycotting  "  the  dead  ? 

OBITUARY, 

WILLIAM  FORBES  LAURIE,  M.D. 

Db.  Lauioe,  who  has  for  many  years  past  practised  homoeo- 
pathically  in  Dunstable  and  its  neighbourhood,  died  suddenly  on 
hxe  8rd  of  last  October.  He  was  bom  at  Budleigh  Saiterton, 
nearly  seventy  years  ago.  He  received  his  earlier  education  at 
Mill  HiU  Grammar  School,  and  subsequentiy  studied  at  Trinity 
College,  Dublin,  and  afterwards  at  the  University  of  Edinburgh, 
where  he  graduated  in  1888. 

During  the  last  two  years  of  his  life  he  officiated  as  physician 
to  St.  Saviour's  Cancer  Hospital,  Osnaburg  Street,  an  institution 
in  which  he  took  much  interest. 

CORRESPONDENCE. 

INTERNATIONAL  HOMCEOPATHIC  CONVENTION. 

To  the  Editors  of  the  Monthly  Uomceopathic  Review. 

GiBNTLBHXN, — ^I  shall  be  much  obliged  if  you  will  allow  ma, 
through  your  pages,  to  bring  before  our  colleagues  the  following 
outline  of  the  probable  business  of  the  approaching  gathering :— 


MSSS'ST!^      COBBESPOHDBNCnE.  19l 


B«vi0V,  Mv.  1.  IffiL 


On  Tuesdajy  July  12th,  after  the  President's  address,  the 
reports  horn  the  different  countries  as  to  the  history  of  homoeo- 
pathy for  the  last  five  years,  and  its  present  condition  therein, 
will  be  before  the  meeting,  and  discussion  will  be  held  on  the 
best  modes  of  improving  our  position  and  farthering  onr  cause. 

On  Wednesday,  the  18th,  the  Institutes  of  Homoeopathy  and 
Materia  Medica  form  the  subject  of  the  day ;  on  Thursday,  the 
14th,  Praotieal  Medicine  and  GynsMology ;  on  Friday,  the  15th, 
Surgical  Therapeutics,  Ophthalmology,  and  Otiatrics.  From  the 
papers  under  these  headings,  received  or  promised,  the  following 
topics  present  themselves  for  discussion,  and  have  been 
(provisionally)  adopted  as  a  programme  : — 

Wednesday. 

1.  The  selection  of  the  remedy,  with  especial  reference  to 
individuaUsation  and  generalisation. 

2.  Alternation. 

8.  The  relative  value  of  clinical  and  extra-clinical  evidence 
as  to  the  efficiency  of  infinitesimal  doses. 

Thttbsday. 

1 .  Homoeopathy  in  hyper-acute  diseases— dysentery,  cholera, 
yellow  fever,  and  in  hyper-pyrexia, 

2.  The  possibilities  of  medicine  in  cancer. 

8.    The  treatment  of  affections  of  the  os  and  cervix  uteri. 

Fbidat. 
1. 

2.    The  treatment  of  iritis,  simple  and  syphilitic. 
8.     The  place  of  homoeopathic  medication  in  ear  disease. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  subject  for  discussion  under  the 
head  of  Surgical  Therapeutics  remains  a  blank,  Upon  this 
branch  of  our  science  we  want  papers.  It  is  not  so  with  the 
others.  We  should  not  refuse  fresh  essays,  if  they  were  worth 
acceptance ;  but  we  have  no  need  to  invite  them.  Our  object 
in  publishing  the  above  information  is  to  invite  debaters  on  the 
various  topics.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the  essays  are  not 
to  be  read  at  the  meetings,  but  printed  beforehand,  and  furnished 
to  anyone  who  applies  for  them  with  the  intention  of  taking  part 
in  the  discussion  on  their  sulijects.  I  shall  be  glad  to  receive 
the  names  of  all  such  as  soon  as  may  be  convenient,  and  will  see 
that  they  receive  in  good  time  the  papers  belonging  to  the 
matter  they  select. 

I  am,  Gentiemen, 

Yours  very  faithfully 
(For  the  Officers  of  the  Oonvention), 

HTffw^^^  HuaBis* 
86,  Sillwood  Boad,  Brighton. 
Feb.  5th,  1881. 


192  COMtBSPONDBNTB.        "^Sn^^STifttK 

NOTICES   TO   CORRESPONDENTS. 

,%  We  cannot  undertake  to  return  rejected  manuteripte. 
Dr.  Blukbibo'b  paper  is  in  type,  and  vriH  appear  in  onr  next  number. 

INTEBNATIONAL   HOMCEOPATHIG   CONVENTION. 

Dr.  Bates  requoBts  as  to  acknowledge  subscriptions  of  a  gninea  each 
from  Dr.  A.  Btokbs,  Dr.  WooneAns,  Dr.  SRXPBmiu),  Dr.  Pubdox, 
Dr.  Stilxs,  Dr.  Samdbbbo,  and  Dr.  Ebhkxdt  (Newcastle). 

Gommonications,  Ac,  haye  been  received  from  Dr.  Batxs,  Dr.  Both, 
Dr.  GuTTEBiDaE,  Gapt.  Matoocx  (London);  Major  Yaughah  Moroah, 
Dr.  HuoHBS  (Brighton) ;  Dr.  Hatward  (Liverpool) ;  Mr.  Nobmah  (Bath) ; 
Dr.  GuiNKEss  (Oxford) ;  Dr.  Goopxb  (London). 

books  received. 


Report  of  tJie  Bath  Bom(eopatkie  HoepitaL 

Report  of  the  Oxford  Homaopathh  Diepemary, 

Homaopathie  World.    London. 

The  Chemist  and  DruggUt.    London. 

The  Students*  Jowmal  and  Hospital  GazetU^ 

The  American  Homaopathie  Observer.    Detroit. 

HomoMpathic  Times,    New  York. 

The  Medical  Call,    Quincey,  Illinois. 

The  Homesopathic  Expositor.    Ithaca,  New  York. 

The  New  England  Medical  Gazette,    Boston. 

Hahnemannian  Monthly.    Philadelphia. 

United  States  Medical  InoestigtUor.    Ghioago. 

Homaopctthic  News.    St.  Loois. 

BuUetin  de  la  Soc,  Med.  Horn,  de  France.    Paris. 

BUdiothtque  HomoBopathique  de  France. 

Revue  Homaopathigue  Beige.    Broxelles. 

AUgemeine  Homdopathische  Zeitung,    Leipsic 

HomHopathisehe  Rundschau,    Leipsic. 

Rivista  Omiopatica.    Borne. 

SI  Criteria  Medico.    Madrid. 

Bolitino  Clinico.    Madrid. 


Papers,  Dispensaiy  Beports,  and  Books  for  Beview  to  be  sent  to 
Dr.  PoFS,  Lee  Boad,  London,  8JE.,  or  to  Dr.  D.  Dtcx  Bbown,  29,  Seymour 
Streety^  Portman  Sqnare,  W.  Advertisements  and  Business  Gommuni- 
oations  to  be  sent  to  Messrs.  E.  Gouu>  A  Son,  69,  Moorgate  Street,  E.G. 


iSiSJrSSnaw^''  PEOGBBgfl  or  HOMCEOPATHT.  198 


THE    MONTHLY 


HOMOEOPATHIC    REVIEW. 


THE  PROGRESS  OF  HOMOEOPATHY. 

That  homoBopaUiy  presents  the  physician  with  a  means  of 
selecting  drag-remedies^  snch  as  no  other  basis  of  pre- 
scribing will  afford  him,  is  the  experience  of  all  who  have 
tested  it  and  other  methods.  That  homoeopathy  is  still 
protested  against  as  absurd,  denounced  as  qnaokery,  and 
regarded  as  A  deception  by  a  large  number  of  medical  men, 
is  well  known.  It  is,  however,  equally  true  that  not  a  few 
who  **  pooh-pooh  "  it  in  an  affectedly  contemptuous  manner, 
prescribe  homosopathically  eveiy  day  of  their  lives,  and 
obtain  their  power  so  to  do  from  works  on  homoBopathic 
Materia  Medica  and  practical  medicine !  Practitioners  of 
this  class  are,  probably,  in  at  least  one  way,  doing  a  greater 
injury  to  the  spread  of  a  knowledge  of  homoaopathy  than 
are  those  who  loudly  and  ignorantly  declaim  against  it. 
They  are  doing  so,  because  their  mode  of  practice  is 
supposed  to  be  what  it  is  not.  They  are  believed  by  the 
public,  and  by  their  medical  brethren,  to  be  opposed  to 
homceopathy ;  and,  so  far  from  being  supposed  to  practise 
homcBopatbicaUy>  are  understood  to  be  prescribing  on  the 
lines  of  traditional  medicine. 

No.  4,  Vol.  25.  0 


194  PBOORBSS  OP  HOMCBOPATHY.  "bSS^SSS?^ 

That  these  persons  do  a  great  deal  of  good  to  their 
patients,  is  unquestionable.  That  such  a  svb  rosd  modo  of 
practising  homceopathy  should  be  an  inevitable  step  in  its 
progress,  may  be  admitted.  But  nevertheless,  we  cannot 
ignore  the  fact  that,  through  it,  results  are  obtained  which 
are  due  to  causes  widely  differing  from  those  to  which  they 
are  ascribed.  Such  an  error  as  this  does  much,  we  may  be 
sure,  to  sustain  the  reputation  of  the  therapeutics  of  the 
schools ;  while,  in  proportion  as  it  does  so,  is  the  progress 
of  homcBopathy  hindered.  It  proves  a  difficulty  in  our 
onward  movement  which  was  scarcely  contemplated  five 
and  twenty  years  ago.  It  is  a  difficulty  which  we  can  only 
meet  by  making  homoeopathy  more  clearly  known,  more 
fully  understood.  The  kind  of  practice  to  which  we  have 
referred  is,  after  all,  only  a  phase  of  empiricism ;  there  is 
nothing  scientific,  nothing  rational  about  it,  and  hence 
there  is  no  real  life  in  it. 

Empiricism  has  its  foundation  in  individual  observation, 
A  physician  has,  for  example,  heard  that  ipecaciuiniM  is  a 
good  thing  in  vomiting.  He  is  startled  by  the  statement, 
doubtless,  for  he  has  always  regarded  this  drug  as  an 
emetic.  Bat  he  tries  it  in  a  case  that  has  given  him  a 
great  deal  of  trouble,  and  that  to  very  little  purpose.  The 
ipecacuanlM  at  once  cures  his  patient.  Forthwith,  it  is 
heralded  forth  as  a  remedy  in  vomiting,  without  the 
slightest  notion  of  a  reason  why  it  should  be  so,  but  simply 
because  some  one  had  seen  a  certain  number  of  persons,  in 
whom  vomiting  was  a  prominent  symptom,  recover  after 
taking  it!  As,  however,  vomiting  arises  from  several 
morbid  states,  and  as  ipecacuanlia  will  not,  and  does  not 
relieve  this  symptom  under  any  and  all  circumstances,  it 
fails  to  do  good  in  a  proportion  of  instances.  Where  it  will 
do  good,  and  where  it  will  not,  empiricism  cannot  predict. 
Homcaopathy  can. 


S^rJS5i!!ww?*   PBOaBBBS  OF  HOMOBOPATHT,  196 

Ipecaeiianlta  is  perfectly  homoeopathio  to  some  eases, 
to  others  it  is  not  so  at  all.  It  is  of  this  homoBopathic 
relationship  of  the  drug  to  the  disorder,  that  the  mere 
empiricist  is  ignorant,  it  is  his  ignorance  of  this  that 
restricts  his  success  in  the  use  of  the  drug.  He  is  sue- 
eesaful  occasionally  he  knows  not  why ;  he  fails  now  and 
again,  and  cannot  account  for  his  failure.  Precisely  the 
same  may  be  said  of  a  constantly  increasing  number 
of  medicines,  such  as  puUatiUa,  bryonia,  nux  vomicuy  and 
many  others,  [whose  remedial  actions  have  been  learned 
from  the  writings  of  homceopathic  practitioners. 

To  direct  attention  to  the  missing  link  in  the  empirical 
chain  is  now  the  great  duty  of  the  homoeopathic  physician. 
He,  and  he  alone,  can  do  so  efifectively.  The  responsi-* 
bility  of  extending  a  knowledge  of  the  truth  which  under- 
lies the  selection  of  medicines  as  remedies  in  disease  rests 
upon  him.  Just  in  proportion  as  he  is  active  in  making 
this  truth  known,  wherever  and  however  he  can,  will  be 
the  length  of  time  ere  the  prevalent  empiricism,  which  has 
its  origin  in  homoBopathy,  is  converted  into  a  scientific  and 
rational  therapeusis. 

How  this  can  best  be  accomplished  is  a  question  which 
ought  to  engage  the  earnest  consideration  of  all  who  desire 
to  see  their  profession  become  more  useful,  and  the  treat- 
ment of  disease  everywhere  based  upon  the  solid  rock  of 
Boience. 

Every  means  should  be  employed  to  induce  medical  men 
to  study  homoeopathy,  to  understand  what  it  really  is,  and 
to  see  the  connection  which  exists  between  some  of  the 
curative  properties  of  some  of  the  most  approved  remedies 
and  the  diseases  they  are  known  to  cure. 

In  London  two  Institutions  exist,  the  chief  object  of  the 
one  and  the  sole  purpose  of  the  other  being  to  supply 

9— ^ 


196  PROGRBBS  OP  HOMCEOPATHY.  ^USS^^^^ulm, 

opportimities  for  affording  the  very  information  we  desire 
to  disseminate. 

We  claim  for  the  London  Hom(eopathio  Hospital  and  the 
London  School  of  Hom(eopatht  the  hearty  support  of  all 
who  desire  the  extension  of  a  knowledge  of  homoBopathy — 
and  we  feel  sore  that  we  shall  have  it.  There  may  he  those 
who  would  wish  that  some  things  were  differently  managed 
in  hoth.  There  is  probably  room  for  improvement  in  each. 
Bat  we  maintain  that  in  these  institutions  the  time, 
thought,  and  energy  of  men  who  are  abundantly  worthy 
of  confidence,  have  long  been,  and  still  are,  deyoted  to 
rendering  them  serviceable  in  promoting  a  knowledge  of 
homoeopathy.  When  we  have  good  reason  to  know  that 
such  is  the  case,  when  we  are  also  assured  that  any  prac- 
ticable suggestions  for  increasing  their  efiSciency  will  be 
heartily  welcomed  and  fully  consideredy  surely  we  ought  to 
sustain  the  hands  of  those  who  direct  them  in  every  way 
in  our  power ! 

Never  before  was  our  Hospital  in  such  good  condition  as 
it  is  now ;  never  were  its  wards  better  supplied  with  cases 
suitable  as  material  for  clinical  instruction  than  they  are 
to-day.  An  attempt  made  some  time  back  to  account  for 
its  low  rate  of  mortality,  on  the  hypothesis  that  the  cases 
admitted  were  not  of  a  serious  order,  met  with  a  refutation 
which  was  unanswerable.  Endeavours  (which,  we  regret 
to  say,  some  homoeopathic  practitioners  have  been  found 
capable  of  making)  to  depreciate  the  value  of  our  hospital 
on  these  very  grounds,  have  proved  equally  futile.  True, 
a  few  years  ago,  the  cases  admitted  were  small  in  number, 
mostly  chronic  in  their  nature,  and  devoid  of  interest  from 
a  clinical  point  of  view.  But  it  is  far  otherwise  now.  An 
average  of  forty-five  occupied  beds  is  maintained,  and  the 
patients  exhibit  nearly  every  form  of  acute,  non-contagious 


S^r^twS?*  raOGRBSS  OF  HOBKEOPATHY.  197 

disease;    thus  affording  ample  scope  for  the  study  of 
homoeopathic  therapeutics. 

To  the  Bustentation,  the  extension  and  the  utilisation, 
for  clinical  teaching,  of  this  important  and  well-ordered 
charity,  we  must  deyote  ourselyes  with  eyer  increasing 
energy.  It  is  not,  as  we  haye  frequently  remarked  in  these 
pages,  a  merely  local  charity  about  which  we  haye  to  concern 
ourselyes,  but  one  of  proportions  much  more  far-reaching ; 
it  is  a  national  institution.  It  is  the  only  hospital  in  the 
country  which  offers  facilities  for  the  clinical  study  of 
homoeopathy;  the  only  one  in  which  arrangements  are 
made  for  this  purpose. 

Just  in  proportion  as  our  desire  that  our  allopathic 
medical  brethren  should  enquii*e  into  the  merits  of  homoeo- 
pathy is  a  real  anxiety,  and  not  a  merely  sentimental  wish, 
will  be  the  degree  of  actiye  interest  we  take  in  the  pros- 
perity of  the  London  Homoeopathic  Hospital. 

Equally  entitled  to  our  support,  haying  equal  claims 
upon  us  to  do  all  in  our  power  to  extend  its  sphere  of 
usefulness,  is  the  London  School  of  Homceopathy.  The 
period  of  fiye  years,  during  which  it  was  originally  intended 
that  it  should  remain  in  operation  under  the  constitution 
then  framed  for  it,  expires  in  the  ensuing  winter,  and 
we  haye  heard  that  the  committee  intend  to  propose  that 
some  alterations  shall  now  be  made  in  this  respect. 

The  idea  that  the  late  Dr.  Quin  had  when  he  founded 
the  hospital  was  that  from  it  a  medical  school  should  be 
deyeloped.  Many  years  ago  an  effort  was  made  in  this 
direction*  From  some  cause  or  other — ^it  would  be  useless 
now  to  enquire  too  closely  as  to  what  that  cause  was — ^the 
attempt  failed.  When  a  determined  effort  to  resuscitate 
the  public  teaching  of  homoeopathy  was  made  fiye  or  sis 
years  ago  by  Dr.  Bayes,  and  fully  discussed  at  the  Clifton 


198  FB0OBE88  OF  HOMCEOPATHT.  ^'^L^!:!S?^^ 


aeviev,  ApdL  1.  IflBl. 


Congress  in  1876,  a  large  majority  of  the  members  present 
recommended  that  it  should  be  kept  separate  and  distinet 
from  the  hospital.  The  feeling  of  want  of  confidence  in 
the  hospital,  which  was  so  painfully  obyious  thronghout 
the  meetings  of  that  day,  rendered  it  impossible  to  nnite 
the  two  institutions  without  imperilling  the  safety  of  both. 
Consequently  a  separate  committee  and  a  separate  staff  of 
officials  haye  managed  each.  The  increased  expense  and 
labour  thus  inyolyed  have  been  considerable,  and  it  has 
been  obvious  for  some  time  that,  if  possible,  it  would  be 
most  desirable  that  the  work  of  both  hospital  and  school 
should  be  directed  by  one  board.  This,  which  was  im- 
possible five  years  ago,  is  perfectly  practicable  now.  Much 
greater  confidence  is  felt  by  homoeopathic  practitioners  in 
the  hospital  than  was  the  case  then,  and  we  believe  that, 
were  our  colleagues  in  the  country  to  visit  the  hospital  and 
inspect  the  work  done  there,  this  confidence  would  be  yet 
greater  still.  And,  further,  there  is  no  doubt  at  all  in 
the  minds  of  those  who  have  watched  the  progress  of  the 
hospital  recently  that  it  has  been  greatly  benefited  by  the 
influence  the  school  has  had  upon  it.  We  do  not  assert 
that  it  is  perfect — that  it  is  in  every  respect  all  we  could 
desire  that  it  should  be.  Nothing  of  human  contrivance 
is.  Probably  a  carping,  cynical,  perpetually  fault-finding 
critic  might  be  able  to  discover  opportunities  therein  for 
the  display  of  powers  of  mischief-making ;  but  that  it  is 
doing  a  really  useful  work,  that  with  simple  fair  play  it  has 
within  it  the  power  to  do  much  more,  and  that  it  is  fully 
entitled  to  the  confidence  of  all  who  feel  a  genuine 
interest  in  the  progress  and  development  of  homceopathy, 
is  incontestable. 

Such  being  the  case,  we  can  see  no  objection  to  a 
proposal,  should  such  an  one  be  made,  to  unite  the 
hospital  and  school  under  one  management,  provided  (as 


iS^5Sn«*?*    PB0GBBS8  OP  HOM(BOPATHT.  199 

we  believe  it  is  intended  shoold  be  the  case)  that  the  funds 
are  kept  separate. 

Farther,  there  appears  to  be  some  likelihood  that  a 
coarse  of  leotnres  on  Clinical  Medicine  will  be  sabstitnted 
for  that  on  Systematic  Medicine,  which  has  been  deliyered 
by  Dr.  Dygb  Bbown  daring  the  last  fire  years.  This,  and 
the  oonrse  on  Materia  Medica,  would  in  that  case  form  the 
medical  school  department  of  the  London  Homceopathic 
Hospital* 

The  lecturer  on  Clinical  Medicine  must  of  coarse  be  one 
of  the  physicians  to  the  hospital,  and  should  be  selected 
from  among  the  staff  by  the  medical  governors  of  the  school. 

For  the  lectureship  on  Materia  Medica,  all  homceopathic 
practitioners,  whether  attached  to  the  staff  of  the  hospital 
or  not,  ought  to  be  eligible,  and  should  be  chosen  by  the 
same  constituency. 

An  arrangement  of  this  kind  will,  we  think,  meet  the 
views  of  all  who  ace  prepared  to  rest  content  with  a  scheme 
for  the  public  teaching  of  homoeopathy  that  is  practicable. 
Others,  whose  aspirations  are  of  a  more  Utopian  order,  who 
would  have  us  desist  from  such  teaching  until  we  can  obtain 
for  our  lectures  the  recognition  of  one  or  more  of  the 
licensing  boards,  will  of  course  not  be  satisfied.  This  we 
regret,  but  cannot  very  well  avoid. 

Neither  can  we  look  for  the  sympathy  of  the  few,  and 
they  are  happily  very  few,  who  deprecate  the  public  teaching 
of  homoeopathy  in  any  way.    This  of  course  is  hopeless. 

Nevertheless,  we  feel  sure  that,  if  all  those  medical  men 
who,  practising  homoeopathy,  desire  above  most  things  to 
take  an  active  part  in  hastening  the  adoption  and  practice 
of  homoeopathy  by  the  entire  profession  of  medicine,  will 
but  exert  themselves  to  bring  before  allopathic  medical  men 
and  students  of  medicine,  the  importance  of  enquiring  into 
homoeopathy,  and  the  advantages  offered  to  them  by  the 


200  PROaBESS  OF  HOM<EOPATHT.  ^^S^^jgSuw^. 

hospital  and  sohool,  there  ia  a  large  field  of  asefol  work 
still  in  store  for  both. 

It  is  interesting,  and  encouraging  also,  to  remember  that 
in  his  efforts  to  establish  the  London  HomoBopathic 
Hospital,  the  late  Dr.  Qum  encountered  no  small  measure 
of  opposition,  one  he  described  as  **  violent  and  unpro- 
Yoked."  That  opposition  the  hospital  has  now  completely 
surmounted.  No  one,  we  believe,  can  be  said  to  wish  it 
anything  but  prosperity,  and  if  all  will  but  exert  themselTes 
to  promote  its  interests,  its  prosperity  is  assured. 

The  London  School  of  Homodopathy  during  the  five 
years  of  its  existence  has  had  to  go  through  much  ihe 
same  experience  as  did  the  hospital.  It  has  been  the 
subject  of  much  '^  violent  and  unprovoked  opposition." 
And,  like  the  hospital,  it  has  not  succumbed  to  detractors. 
It  has  not  succeeded  in  accomplishing  its  purpose  so  fully 
as  its  friends  hoped  that  it  would  have  done,  and  have 
earnestly  laboured  that  it  should  do.  Such  lack  of  success 
as  it  has  endured  has,  however,  been  entirely  due  to  its 
detraction  by  a  few  who  profess  to  desire  that  homceopathy 
should  be  better  understood  and  more  generally  known  1 
Albeit,  some  of  the  most  active  and  bitter  of  these  gentle- 
men have  rarely,  if  ever,  done  anything  calculated  to  give 
practical  shape  to  their  wishes.  Hard  words,  it  is  saidf 
break  no  bones ;  but  the  persevering  application  of  con« 
temptuouB  epithets  to  an  institution  by  men«  whose  pro- 
fessions would  lead  most  to  suppose  that  it  was  one  that 
would  have  their  hearty  support,  is  well  calculated  to  retard 
its  progress  and  hinder  its  usefulness.  For  such  persons 
to  speak  in  terms  of  ridicule  of  an  institution  designed  to 
teach  homoeopathy  is  certain  to  render  the  best  efforts  to 
promote  its  efficiency  nugatory  to  some  extent. 

To  describe  the  school  as  a  ''  farce,*'  a  **  sham,"  and  a 
''  so-called  **  school  might  be  expected  from  bitter  oppo- 


lSSS?5SrSw!^  PB0GBB8S  OF  HOMCBOPATHY.  201 

nentfl  of  homcBopathy.  It  is  not  from  suoh,  however^  that 
we  have  heard  these  UDJUBt,  contemptuous  and  oppro- 
brious epithets ;  but  from  a  few  who  haye  long  professed 
to  belieye  in  homoeopathji  who  have  ever  expressed  their 
desire  for  its  propagation,  from  some  who  owe  eyeiythingt 
position,  reputation,  power  to  control  disease,  to  homoB- 
opathy,  but  at  the  same  time — as  might  perhaps  be 
expected — ^men  to  whom  the  present  position  of  homos* 
opathy  in  this  country  owes  but  little,  and  its  practical 
development  still  less. 

From  other  quarters  a  certain  amount  of  opposition, 
bat  of  a  totally  different  order,  has  come,  though  it  has, 
nnibrtunately,  rather  assisted  than  counteracted  such  as 
that  we  have  just  described.  Some  have  thought  that  we 
have  not  auned  high  enough,  that  we  should  be  satisfied 
with  nothing  less  than  the  recognition  of  our  lectures  as 
port  of  the  medical  curriculum  by  the  licensing  boards. 
We  have  shown  oyer  and  over  again  that  anything  of  this 
kind  is,  in  the  meantime,  impracticable  and  impossible. 
We  must  mount  the  lower  steps  of  the  ladder  before  we 
can  reach  the  highest.  Opponents  of  this  type  do,  we 
know,  not  only  profess,  but  really  desire,  the  extension  of 
homoeopathy ;  and  we  feel  that  the  school  has  a  right  to 
their  full  support  if  only  on  the  ground  that  the  method 
porsued  by  it  at  present  is  the  only  one  that  is  at  the 
moment  practicable.  While,  if  we  can  make  the  present 
method  of  teaching  successful,  there  is  a  reasonable  hope 
that  the  plan  which  they  desire  to  see  in  operation  may  in 
the  end  be  carried  out» 

In  spite,  however,  of  all  the  opposition  that  the  school 
has  encountered,  the  foundations  of  an  institution  for 
teaching  practical  homosopathy  have,  during  the  last  five 
years,  been  securely  laid.  A  sum  of  money  has  been 
obtained,  the  suitable  investment  of  which  will  go  some 


a02  FBOOfiESS  OF  HOU<EOPATHT.  ^g^.^SiTtm! 


Beiiew,  April  1, 1881. 


way  towards  defrayiiig  the  fdtiire  expenses  of  a  sdiooL 
This  sum  has  been  derived,  not  firom  annual  sabscriptions 
(which  haye  been  expended  as  they  have  been  receiyed), 
bat  from  donations  of  £10  and  upwards.  It  now  amounts 
to  about  £2,000.  The  interest  of  this,  together  with  the 
annual  subscriptions  that  will  be  continued  and,  it  is 
hoped,  added  to,  will  suffice  to  pay  the  rent  of  the  lectoxe 
room,  salary  of  the  lecturer  on  GUnical  Medicine,  the 
honorarium  to  the  Hahnemann  lecturer,  and  the  general 
expenses  incidental  to  carrying  on  a  public  institution. 

We  have,  then,  good  reason  for  asserting  that  the 
foundations  of  the  school  have  been  securely  laid,  and^ 
provided  that  all  who  desire  the  progress  of  homceopathy 
will  give  it  their  countenance  and  support,  it  will  in  a  few 
years  become  an  institution  exerting  a  wide  and  beneficial 
influence. 

The  work  of  initiating  the  school  was  no  small  one, 
while  that  of  carrying  it  on  in  spite  of  much  unkindly  and 
ungenerous  censure,  regardless  of  the  imputation  of  sinister 
motives,  and  tmdeterred  by  efforts  (which  we  will  not 
qualify)  to  render  the  school  a  failure,  would  have  tried  the 
courage  and  constancy  of  most  of  us.  Few,  we  think, 
would,  from  a  simple  and  sincere  desire  to  extend  the 
advantages  of  homoeopathy,  have  gone  through  so  much 
laboar,  have  borne  with  so  much  obloquy  as  Dr.  Bates 
has  done  in  founding  and  carrying  into  effective  operation 
the  London  School  of  Homoeopathy.  He  has,  we  know, 
felt  fully  assured  that  in  this  work  he  has,  save  in  a  few 
matters  of  detail,  had  the  complete^  confidence  and  hearty 
support  of  the  large  majority  of  his  homoeopathic  brethren. 
Men  who  are  thoroughly  in  earnest  in  pursuing  a  useful 
object,  are  apt  at  all  times  to  go  a-head  a  little  too  fast. 
But  in  pressing  forward  and  in  carrying  out  a  well  defined 
and  perfectly  practicable  scheme  for  the  public  teaching  of 


S!5SSf  SSTi^  PB0GRB8S  OP  HOM<BOPATHY.  1208 

homoBopathy,  Dr.BAYEshaBhad,  and  that  most  deBerTedly, 
the  support  of  hy  far  the  larger  proportion  of  his  homos  o* 
pathic  medical  brethren. 

The  work  he  has  done  has  been  accomplished  in  as 
thoronghly  disinterested  a  manner  as  any  could  have  been 
done.  By  undertaking  the  conduct  of  this  moyementi 
Dr.  Bates  had  nothing  whatever  to  gain,  save  the 
consciousness  that  he  was  doing  good,  that  he  was  doing  that 
which  was  calculated  to  extend  a  knowledge  of  homoeopathy. 

That  work  of  this  kind  should  pass  unacknowledged, 
unrecognised,  would  be  discreditable  indeed  to  those  the 
fulfilment  of  whose  desire  it  has  been  designed  to  accom- 
plish.   We  are  happy  to  know  that  it  will  not  so  pass. 

Dr.  Bayes  being  about  to  retire  from  London  practicOi 
the  opportunity  has  been  deemed  a  fitting  one  for  his 
medical  brethren  to  express  to  him,  in  a  public  manner, 
their  sense  of  the  services  he  has  rendered  to  homoBopathy, 
not  only  in  establishing  the  London  School  of  Homodo- 
pathy,  but  in  devoting  much  time  and  thought  to  the 
sustentation  of  our  hospital.  That  this  recognition  of  the 
efforts  he  has  put  forth  may  be  made  as  effectively  as 
possible,  forty  homoDopathic  practitioners  have  invited  him 
to  a  dinner  to  be  given  in  his  honour  at  the  Grosvenor 
Oallery,  in  Bond  Street,  on  Wednesday,  the  27th  of  this 
month.  We  trust  that  there  will  be  on  that  occasion  a 
large  gathering  of  homoeopathic  practitioners,  both  from 
London  and  the  country,  to  join  in  this  demonstration  of 
gratitude  to  Dr.  Bates.  Several  gentlemen,  unconnected 
with  the  medical  profession,  who,  having  warmly  supported 
Dr.  Bates  in  his  efforts  to  promote  homoeopathy,  have 
expressed  not  only  their  hearty  concurrence  in  this  step, 
but  their  desire  to  take  part  in  it,  will  also  be  present. 

Wo  trust  that  the  occasion  will  be  one  which  will  stimu- 
late all  who  are  interested  in  the  progress  of  homoeopathy 
to  more  thorough  co-operation,  more  real  unity  of  action, 
in  the  development  of  institutions  whose  sole  aim  is  to 
extend  a  knowledge  of  homoeopathy,  and  to  make  its 
practical  advantages  more  widely  felt. 


204 MATEBIA  MEDICA.         '^gj&Sff^. 

HOW  TO  STUDY  THE  MATERIA  MEDICA.* 
By  ALrBED  C.  Pope,  M.D., 

Leetarer  ob  Materia  Mediea  at  the  Lcmdon  School  of  Homisopathy. 


In  concluding  my  lectures  for  this  session,  I  must  express 
my  regret  that  I  have  not  heen  ahle  to  bring  before  you  the 
actions  and  uses  of  a  larger  number  of  drugs  than  I  haye 
done.  My  aim,  howeyer,  has  been,  as  I  stated  that  it 
would  be  in  my  introductory  discourse,  ''  to  bring  under 
your  notice  as  many  of  those  drugs  which  haye  receiyed  a 
fall  experimental  inyestigation,  as  our  time  will  allow  me 
to  do,  with  some  approach  to  thoroughness."  I  am  quite 
aware  that  I  have  but  barely  succeeded  in  making  an 
approach  to  thoroughness,  in  my  survey  of  each  drug*8 
action,  but  I  trust  that,  so  far  as  I  have  gone»  I  may  have 
been  of  some  help  to  you  in  your  further  study  of  homoBO- 
pathy. 

My  endeavour  has  been  rather  to  show  you  how  you 
may,  as  I  think  most  advantageously,  study  the  Materia 
Mediea  for  yourselves,  than  to  go  cursorily  through  a  large 
number  of  drugs.  To  have  brought  under  your  notice  the 
entire  series  of  medicines  which,  having  been  experimented 
with  on  the  healthy  body,  have  beeir  rendered  available  for 
the  use  of  the  homoeopathic  practitioner,  would  have  been 
impossible.  Hence,  it  appeared  to  me  that  it  would  be 
more  useful  to  you,  were  I  to  describe  the  properties  of 
some  of  the  most  important,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  give 
you  an  idea  of  the  way  in  which  all  should  be  studied. 

The  great  secret  of  scientific  success  in  medicine  lies  in 
"  precision." 

Precision  in  diagnosis  will  prevent  you  making  many 
mortifying  blunders.  Precision  in  the  selection  of  medicines 
will  enable  you  to  make  many  gratifying  cures.  This 
precision  can,  in  the  latter  instance,  only  be  secured  by  a 
careful  individualisation  of  each  case,  and  of  each  remedy. 
I  have  repeatedly  impressed  this  upon  you  during  the  last 
six  months,  and  most  earnestly  do  I  desire  that  you  should 
leave  this  lecture  room  with  that  word  individuaUsatian 
ringing  in  your  ears. 

*  The  condading  portion  of  the  final  lecture  on  Materia  Mediea,  at  the 
London  School  ol  Homoaopathy,  March  Uth,1881. 


S^JS«rS^      MATERIA  MBDICA.  205 


B0vlev,  April  1, 1831. 


Remembering  this  word,  and  ever  acting  npon  its  fall 
meaning,  yon  will  become  accnrate  prescribers  of  medicines, 
and  being  so  will  be  snocessfal  practitioners. 

Study  then  your  cases,  and  examine  your  Materia  Medica 
with  the  object  of  indiyidualising.  When  you  have  formed 
a  clear  conception  of  the  nature  of  your  patient's  ailments, 
you  will,  from  the  knowledge  you  haye  already  acquired, 
and  by  further  reading  may  presently  acquire,  readily  recog- 
nise the  group  of  meddcines,  the  patiiogeneses  of  which  will 
most  probably  correspond  to  the  condition  you  are  anxious 
to  cure.  Take  then  that  group  of  medicines,  and  compare 
the  symptoms  each  produces  with  those  presented  by  the 
case  before  you. 

Do  this  repeatedly,  do  this  as  often  as  you  can,  and, 
belieye  me,  you  will  obtain  a  knowledge  of  Materia  Medica, 
a  facility  in  handling  remedies,  and  a  success  in  the  treats 
ment  of  disease,  which  will  far  more  than  reward  you  for 
the  trouble  you  haye  taken  in  endeayouring  to  secure  it. 

This  kind  of  work  must  be  pursued  perseyeringly. 
Directly  a  homoaopathic  physician  comes  to  the  conclusion 
that  his  knowledge  of  Materia  Medica  is  sufficient  for  ^'  all 
practical  purposes '' — as  the  phrase  goes — and  forthwith 
allows  his  Materia  Medica  and  Repertory  to  become  dusty 
from  disuse,  then  and  there  does  his  success  in  the  treat- 
ment of  disease  begin  to  wane.  The  number  of  patients 
cured  will  become  smaller,  in  proportion  to  those  prescribed 
for,  than  they  were  wont  to  be ;  he  will  gradually  lapse  into 
the  occasioned,  and  then  the  frequent  use  of  palliatiyes,  and, 
disappointed  that  his  cases  do  not  turn  out  so  well  as  they 
did  preyiously,  he  will  presently  resort  to  gross  doses  of 
empirically  chosen  drugs,  until  the  difference  between  his 
prescriptions,  and  also  between  his  success,  and  the  pre- 
scriptions and  success  of  his  allopathic  neighbours,  will  be 
but  eomparatiyely  slight. 

I  remember  an  exceedingly  well  informed  homoeopathio 
physician,  who  died  a  few  years  ago,  saying  to  me  on  one 
occasion  that  he  did  not  then  make  such  good  cures  as 
when  he  first  began  to  practise  homoeopathy,  and  the  reason 
he  gaye  was,  that  his  early  success  had  brought  him  so 
large  a  practice,  that  he  had  not  then  time  to  study  his 
cases,  by  the  light  of  the  Materia  Medica,  so  thoroughly 
as  he  did  when  his  success  in  treatment  was  greater.  *'  In 
the  early  days,"  he  said,  *'  we  went  to  the  Materia  Medica 
for  eyery  case.    Now  when  do  we  go  ?  *' 


a06  MATBRIA  MBDIOA.        ^'S^^iSS^wn. 

Then,  gentlemeiiy  I  mge  yon  once  mote,  while  yon  htye 
yet  time,  while  pttiento  are  oompantiYely  few,  I  mrge  yoa 
to  examine  the  Materia  Medioa  in  yonr  aeueh  for  each 
medicme  yon  pieseriba.  Compare  tiie  symptoms  of  the 
disease,  with  those  provoked  by  the  dmg  in  health,  and 
pieseribe  that  whicb  eonesponds  most  closely  to  yonr 
patient's  case. 

Allen's  Encydopadia  of  Materia  Mediea  is  a  stnpen* 
dons  work,  one  that  has  an  oyerwhelming  appearance. 
Bnt,  after  all,  it  is  not,  as  the  yonng  lady  of  the  period 
Tery  commonly  observes,  so  *'  awfdlly  awfnl "  as  it  looks. 
It  is  an  expensive  work,  bnt  it  will  repay  the  practitioner 
who  possesses  it  over  and  over  again  in  a  very  short  time. 
It  is  the  only  collection  of  drag  pathogeneses  extant  from 
which  yon  can  gather  a  conception  of  the  valne  of  the 
symptoms  recorded.  I  need  hardly  say  that,  in  snch  a 
Tast  store-honse,  the  grains  of  wheat  are  not  all  of  eqnal 
valne ;  some  are  yeiy  small,  some  are  monldy,  others  are 
imperfectly  formed.  Bnt  by  a  reference  to  the  sonrce  of  a 
symptom — and  all  snch  sonrces  are  there  given — yon  can 
learn  whether  it  was  taken  from  a  case  of  poisoning,  or 
from  a  Tolnntaiy  proving,  or  from  a  case  of  disease  in 
which  the  dmg  prescribed  was  held  accountable  for  its  pro- 
dnction.  Yon  also  learn  the  dose  which  was  used  in  most 
instances ;  and,  farther,  yon  know  the  name  of  the  physi- 
cian who  is  responsible  for  the  record.  These  facts  enable 
yon  to  gather  some  idea  of  the  valne  of  each. 

Of  the  great  ntility  of  this  Eneyclopadia^  and  of  the 
feasibility  of  studyiog  it,  as  a  work  of  reference,  I  am  con- 
stantly feeling  more  and  more  assured.  None,  that  I 
know  of,  equals  it ;  nay,  more,  none  approaches  it  in  its 
value. 

I  have  spoken  so  far  of  the  Encyclopedia  as  a  work  of 
reference ;  I  must,  however,  make  a  remark  or  two  on, 
what  appears  to  me  to  be,  the  best  way  for  a  student  of 
Materia  Mediea  to  study  it. 

Take,  for  example,  the  list  of  medicines  in  Dr.  Hughes' 
Pharmacodynamics,  and  endeavour  to  fEuniliarise  yourselves 
with  their  differentue  in  the  following  manner.  Bead 
a  chapter  in  Dr.  Hughes'  work  on  one  of  these  drugs,  say, 
for  example,  phosphortis.  Dr.  Hughes  gives  yon  an 
admirable  account  of  the  uses,  and  probable  mode  of 
action  of  this  drug.  What  more,  you  will  p^haps  say, 
then,  do  we  want?    Yon  want,  I  reply,  not   only  an 


SSi^SSftl^       MATBWA  MBDICA.  207 

Mqnaintanoe  with  the  names  of  the  diseases  to  which 
phosphorus  is  homoBopathic,  and  the  post  mortem 
appearances  present  in  persons  poisoned  by  it,  with 
the  interpretations^  physiology^  and  pathology,  ad  at 
present  considered,  supply ;  bat  yon  want  to  know  what 
are  the  spedal  symptoms  produced  by  phosphorus  on  the 
healthy  body,  which  haye  led  to  its  being  successfully 
piesoribed  in  the  diseases  named.  This  you  can  only 
disoover  by  reading  the  symptoms  recorded  in  the  proving, 
and  comparing  them  with  those  that  mark  the  disease  it  is 
known  to  cure.  Take,  for  example,  the  symptoms  generally 
marking  the  course  of  a  case  of  pneumonia,  and  see  how 
far  and  to  what  kind,  what  variety  of  pneumonia,  the 
symptoms  excited  by  phosphorus  on  the  circulation,  the 
air  passages,  and  the  lungs  correspond.  In  what  degree, 
and  in  what  sense,  they  are  like  them. 

Endeavour  also,  from  studying  groups  of  symptoms  and 
cases  of  slight  poisoning,  or  well  reported  provings,  to 
ascertain  the  kind  of  alteration  in  the  general  condition  of 
a  person's  health  a  given  drug  will  produce.  See  to  what 
this  leads  up.  Notice  especially  the  symptoms  most 
frequently  recurring  in  the  pathogenesis  of  a  drug.  These 
you  will  generally  find  to  be  those  which  are  the  most 
characteristic  of  its  action.  For  example,  in  the  instance 
of  ptdsatiUa,  of  which  I  gave  you  some  account  ten  days 
ago,  you  will  find  that  a  certain  form  of  dyspepsia  attended 
nearly  every  morbid  state  simulated  by  the  action  of  the 
drug:  The  symptoms  of  headache,  catarrh,  amennorrhoea, 
leucorrhosa,  gout,  and  rheumatism,  which  have  indicated  it 
M  a  medicine  in  these  disorders,  have  all  been  attended  by 
more  or  less  dyspepsia  of  the  kind  produced  by  pvlsatUla. 

On  the  other  hand,  you  will  meet  with  drugs,  such  as 
svlphuTy  caicarea,  &e.,  which  seem  to  have  a  decided  in- 
fluence over  every  organ  and  tissue  of  the  body.  The 
difficulty  of  finding  a  primitive  action,  out  of  which  all  the 
rest  are  dedudble,  is  well-nigh  impossible  in  these  sub- 
stances,— or  rather,  I  should  say,  has  been  found  to  be  so, 
so  fEur, — ^for  nothing  would  appear  to  be  impossible  to  the 
future. 

Thus,  if  you  will  study  the  Materia  Medica  from  a 
clinical  point  of  view,  and  also  each  drug  as  a  whole  in 
reference  to  the  phases  of  disease  which  it  has  been  known 
to  cure,  you  willy  I  am  sure,  in  time  gain  a  mastery  of  the 
Bubject---one,  second  in  importance  to  none  in  the  sue- 


208  MATBMA  MBDIOA,      ^g^  ^giSTwi! 

oessfal  practice  of  the  art  of  medicine ;  a  mastery  which 
yon  will  find  to  be  of  incalculable  advantage  to  you. 

Pathology  is  an  inyaluable,  but  still  an  imperfect  science. 
Upon  it  you  must  base  your  diagnosis  of  disease,  and  upon 
it,  conjointly  with  what  you  know  of  the  effects  of  remedies, 
will  your  prognosis  be  formed.  From  it,  likewise,  will  you 
obtain  the  knowledge  which  will  enable  you  to  form  groups 
of  medicines  in  reference  to  particular  forms  of  disease. 
But  no  known  pathological  facts  will  enable  you  to  distin- 
guish between  the  pneumonia  curable  by  pho$phorti$,  that 
requiring  hryonioy  and  that  which  alone  will  yield  to  taariar 
emetic.  A  study  of  the  symptoms  and  physical' signs  of 
pneumonia  will  inform  you  that  an  inflammatory  process  is 
going  on  in  the  air  cells  of  the  lungs.  A  study  of  tihe  action 
of  these  three  drugs  will  also  lead  you  to  believe  that  a 
similar  condition  will  be  set  up  by  them.  But  there  are 
no  known  pathological  facts  which  will  enable  you  to  ascer- 
tain which  of  these  drugs  will  cure  a  given  case  of  that 
disease,  and  which  will  not.  This  question  can  only  be 
answered  by  a  careful  comparison  of  the  symptoms  pro- 
duced by  each  with  that  presented  by  the  case  before  you. 

And  if  this  be  true  of  so  well  understood  a  disease  as 
pneumonia,  how  much  more  true  is  it  of  those  complex 
cases  of  chronic  disease  that  ever  and  anon  come  under 
our  notice,  cases  on  which  pathology  has  as  yet  shed  but 
little  light — cases  where  anything  like  a  diagnosis  at  once 
comprehensive  and  accurate  is  well  nigh  impossible? 
Here,  most  assuredly,  the  only  way  in  which  you  can  find 
a  drug-remedy  is  by  a  comparison  of  the  symptoms  of 
disease  with  Uiose  of  a  drug.  Happily,  it  is  not  merely 
the  only  way,  but  this  only  way  is,  when  carefully  carried 
out,  a  safe,  and  in  very  many  cases,  a  sure  way. 

Such,  then,  is  the  etatm  prasene.  What  the  future 
may  have  in  store  for  us  I,  of  course,  cannot  say.  It 
would  be  a  matter  for  great  rejoicing  could  we  give  a 
rational  interpretation  of  every  phenomenon  occurring  in 
disease  and  in  drug  action.  This  is  the  goal  towards 
which  all  scientific  investigations  in  the  realm  of  practical 
medicine  are  pressing,  but  it  is  far  distant  yet.  Mean- 
while, however,  people  get  ill  and  require  to  be  cured  to 
the  best  of  our  existing  ability ;  and  therefore,  meanwhile, 
we  must,  to  a  very  large  extent  —one  sufficiently  humbling 
to  our  pride — ^take  our  cue  from  the  objective  and  sub- 
jective symptoms  of  a  patient  in  selecting,  from  a  group  or 


S!S5^SSTSSS!"      MATEBU  MBDIOA,  209 

series  of  medicines,  that  which  produces  a  condition  most 
nearly  resembling  the  one  before  ns. 

That  the  labour  of  acquiring  a  satis&ctory  knowledge  of 
Materia  Medica  is  irksome  and  tedious,  I  know  fall  well 
— but  I  am  equally  sure  that  it  is  obtainable,  and  that  too 
from  the  prorings  as  presented  in  Hahnemann's  manner — 
objectionable  as  I  admit  that  it  is.  Therefore  do  not  be  dis- 
couraged. Oo  to  your  Materia  Medica  determined  to 
master  it — resolved  that  you  will  master  it — and  you  will 
succeed.  The  difficulties,  you  will  feel^  have  been  felt  by 
all  of  us,  and  just  in  proportion  as  we  have  been  successful 
in  the  treatment  of  disease  have  they  been  overcome  by  us. 

The  late  Dr.  Wurmb,  of  Vienna,  than  whom  few,  if  any, 
have  ranked  higher  as  successful  physicians,  few,  if  any, 
have  worked  harder,  or  with  better  results,  in  the  develop- 
ment of  homoeopathy,  has  said,  ''  I  am  not  ashamed  to 
acknowledge,  that  if,  when  I  commenced  the  study  of 
homoeopathy,  I  had  not  had  the  most  intimate  conviction 
of  the  truth  and  excellence  of  the  homoeopathic  funda- 
mental law,  such  were  the  difficulties  in  the  study  of  the 
Materia  Medica,  that  they  would  have  been  near  repelling 
me  from  it  altogether."  * 

We  must  yield  then  to  the  necessity  imposed  upon  us, 
and  yield  earnestly  too.  And  let  us  remember,  that,  diffi- 
cult as  may  be  our  work  in  this  department  of  medicine 
when  performed,  as  it  ought  to  be  performed,  Wurmb  and 
those  who,  like  him,  have  most  keenly  felt  the  difficulties 
involved  in  wading  through,  and  obtaining  a  clear  concep- 
tion of  the  meaning  of  the  many  thousandis  of  indicationes 
morbi  contained  in  the  provings  of  Hahnemann  and  his 
early  disciples,  are  the  very  men  who  of  all  others  most 
clearly  understand  the  actions  of  the  drugs  comprising  our 
Materia  Medica. 

When  then  you  are  told,  as  you  perhaps  will  be  told  by 
some,  that  the  Homoeopathic  Materia  Medica,  as  it  stands, 
is  impossible  of  comprehension,  do  not  credit  the  statement. 
It  is  not  true.  Rather  believe  that ''  what  man  has  done, 
man  can  do." 

Therefore  do  it. 

And  now,  Gentlemen,  I  must  bid  you  farewell,  sincerely 
trusting  that  a  very  prosperous  future  may  be  in  store  for 
each  of  you. 

*  (Eest  ZeiU  fUr  Hom!^,,  Bd.  I.,  Hft.  3,  a.  27. 
Ko.  4,  Vol.  2S.  p 


210 MATEBU  MKDICA,      'S^^^^gg^gg 

The  class  this  jear  has  been  bat  a  small  one.  There 
are,  however,  great  difficnlties,  as  yon  all  know,  in  the  way 
of  indacing  medical  men  and  medical  students  to  stndy 
homoeopathy.  And,  nnfortonately,  there  are  other  diffi- 
culties in  the  way  of  the  pnblic  teaching  of  homcBopathy, 
which  have  been  raised  by  a  few  homceopathic  practi- 
tioners ;  and,  I  fear,  that  of  the  two  sets  of  difficulties,  the 
latter  are  the  more  serious,  as  they  certainly  are  the  more 
disheartening. 

But  I  firmly  believe  that  patient  perseverance  in  well 
doing  will  enable  us  to  surmount  them  all,  and  that,  in 
the  near  future,  the  London  HomcDopathic  Hospital  and 
Medical  School  may  attract  to  its  waids  and  lecture  room 
a  considerable  number  of  earnest  enquirers  into  the 
principles  and  practice  of  homoeopathy.  To  that  end,  I 
and  my  coUeagues  who  lecture  here,  will,  you  may  rely  upon 
it,  spare  no  trouble,  evade  no  labour. 

It  only  remains  ifbr  me  to  announce  that  Dr.  Richabd 
Hughes  intends  to  commence  a  course  of  lectures  here,  on 
the  8rd  of  May,  upon  Hahnemann's  Organon  of  Medicine, 
a  work  with  which  all  medical  men  ought  to  be  thoroughly 
familiar.  One  which,  inasmuch  as  it  is  not  easy  to  be 
understood,  requires  to  be  read  for  the  first  time  with  an 
experienced  commentator,  and  sure  I  am  that  no  one  is 
better  qualified  for  this  task  than  Dr:  Hughes. 

It  is  a  work,  the  effect  of  which  upon  the  mind  has  often 
reminded  me  of  the  Falls  of  Niagara.  At  the  first  sight  of 
the  stupendous  cataracts,  the  observer  fsdls  to  see  much ; 
he  is,  in  fact,  somewhat  disappointed,  they  do  not  come  up 
to  his  expectation — ^but  the  longer  he  gazes  upon  them,  the 
more  does  his  sense  of  their  magnitude  increase ;  while,  as 
he  takes  different  points  of  vantage-ground  from  whence  to 
view  them,  he  comes  to  feel  himself  in  the  presence  of  one 
of  the  grandest  of  nature's  works. 

So  it  is  with  the  Organon  of  the  Healing  Art,  by  Samuel 
Hahnemann. 

When  read  for  the  first  time,  its  apparently  exaggerated 
denunciation  of  traditional  therapeutics,  its  necessarily 
antiquated  physiology  and  pathology,  and  above  all  its  dog- 
matic style,  render  it  repulsive ;  but  the  oftener  you  read  it 
the  more  clearly  you  understand  it,  and  the  more  will  you 
admire  the  profound  learning  it  reveals,  the  prescience  and 
ingenuity  it  displays.  Hahnemann  was  greatly  in  advance  of 
the  day  in  which  he  lived,  and  nowhere  is  his  position  in 


JSSlSfigSnStt^  HOMCEOPATHY  AND  ALLOPATHY.        211 

this  respect  rendered  more  diBiinctly  than  it  is  in  the 
Organan, 

All  this,  and  much  more  to  your  advantage,  you  will 
have  an  opportunity  of  learning  from  Dr.  Hughes,  who  is, 
as  we  aH  know,  singularly  well  qualified  for  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  task  he  has,  at  so  much  personal  incon- 
venience and  labour,  undertaken  to  perform.  I  trust  that 
he  will  be  rewarded  by  a  full  class  room,  and  I  hope  that 
you  will  use  what  influence  you  may  possess  to  induce 
others  to  avail  themselves  of  this  opportunity  of  rightly 
understanding  and  correctly  appreciating  the  great  work  of 
the  greatest  physician  of  this  century. 

I  hope  to  be  able  to  resume  my  lectures  on  Materia 
Medica  here  on  the  6th  of  October. 


WHAT  ARE  HOMCEOPATHY  AND  ALLOPATHY. 

By  a  Physioun, 

^^^  • 

Who  has  practised  Homoiopathically  for  a  quarter  of  a 

century. 

What  are  homoeopathy  and  allopathy  ?  They  are  the  two 
principal  modes  of  medical  practice.  Allopathy  is  the  old, 
and  homoeopathy  is  the  new  mode  of  practice.  The  old 
method  professes  to  be  based  on  the  "  Traditions  of  the 
Fathers ; ''  and  the  new  to  be  based  upon  a  **  Law  of 
Nature." 

Both  ''  schools ''  use,  or  enforce  the  use  of,  drugs  or 
medicines,  and  hygiene  or  sanitary  rules  and  appliances ; 
and  of  surgical  means.  In  the  use  of  surgical  means  and 
hygiene  both  schools  are  on  a  par.  All  surgical  and 
hygienic  means  and  appliances  are  common  to  both  schools, 
and  both  have  an  equal  right  to  use  them ;  and  the  use  and 
employment  of  surgical  and  hygienic  means  does  not  differ 
materially  in  the  two  schools.  What  difference  there  is, 
is  that  the  old  school  has  carried  the  use  of  surgical  means, 
and  the  new  school  the  use  of  hygienic  means,  to  the 
greater  perfection. 

In  what,  then,  do  the  two  schools  differ  ?  And  what  is 
the  distinguishing  characteristic  of  each  ?  They  differ  in 
the  use  they  make  of  drugs — in  the  manner  of  using  drugs, 
and  the  quantity  of  the  drug  they  introduce  into  the 
patient's  body. 


F-« 


I 


212        HOM(EOPATHT  ASD  ALLOPATHT.  *S^,^SS?im! 

But  what  are  drags  ?  Drugs  are  sabstances  which,  when 
introdnced  into  the  healthy  body,  derange  it — ^make  it 
unhealthy,  that  is,  increase  or  diminish,  or  pervert  some  of 
the  natond  actions  of  the  body,  or  the  action  of  some  of 
its  parts.  In  order  to  be  a  drog,  a  substance  must  possess 
the  power  to  derange  or  make  unhealthy  some  of  the 
healthy  actions  of  the  body ;  that  is,  it  must  be  more  or 
less  a  poison.  This  is  the  essential  nature  of  a  drug; 
namely,  that  it  is  less  or  more  a  poison.  Drugs  differ, 
however,  in  the  degree  and  kind  of  their  poisonous  powers ; 
each  deranges  or  destroys  the  healthy  action  of  the  body  or 
mind  in  its  own  peculiar  way,  and  with  its  own  peculiar 
degree  of  rapidity  or  slowness.  Of  prussic  ctcid,  for 
instance,  one  drop  will  kill  an  adult  within  a  few  minutes ; 
of  arsenic,  a  few  grains  in  solution  will  kill  within  a  few 
hours  or  days;  of  mercury  (corrosiye  sublimate)  a  few 
scruples  will  produce  death  within  a  few  days,  or  weeks ; 
and  so  on  with  other  drugs.  Some  drugs,  as  tartar  emetic 
and  ipecacuanha,  will  pervert  the  action  of  che  stomach  of 
a  healthy  man,  and  msJce  him  vomit ;  others,  as  jalap  and 
senna,  will  pervert  the  action  of  the  bowels  and  produce 
diarrhoea ;  others,  as  opium  and  belladonna,  will  pervert  the 
action  of  the  brain,  some  in  one  way,  some  in  another ; 
belladonna  to  produce  delirium;  opium,  sleep;  tea  and 
coffee,  wakefulness;  and  others,  as  Indian  hemp,  will 
pervert  the  mind. 

Now  all  these  drug  effects  are  poisonous,  and  if  continued 
long,  or  greatly  increased,  might  induce  veiy  disastrous 
results. 

But  why  does  ipecacuanha  produce  vomiting,  and  jalap 
purging ;  and  why  does  opium  produce  sleep  and  belladonna 
delirium  ?  We  cannot  tell  why ;  we  only  know  that  they  do 
so ;  and  we  only  find  this  out  by  experience — ^by  their  being 
taken  either  accidentally  or  purposely. 

And  why  does  it  take  scruples  of  corrosive  sublimate  to 
kill,  and  that  not  more  rapidly  than  in  a  few  weeks  or  days, 
when  a  few  grains  of  arsenic  will  kill  within  a  few  days  or 
hours,  and  a  drop  of  prussic  add  will  kill  in  a  few  minutes  ? 
We  cannot  tell  why,  and  only  know  that  these  things  are 
so;  and  that  only  by  accident  or  experience,  or  by  the 
testimony  of  others.  No  examination  of  their  structure  will 
reveal  the  reason,  and  no  amount  or  subtilty  of  analysing 
of  them  can  find  out.  To  the  most  expert  chemist  or 
physiologist  one  would  be  quite  as  likely  as  the  other,  and 


bL^S^jSSTmm!^  HOM(E0PATHy  AND  ALLOPATHY.        213 

quite  as  unlikely.  To  experience,  and  to  experience  only, 
mnst  we  appeal.  It  is,  in  fact,  to  common  experience  we 
are  indebted  for  most  of  the  drugs  known  up  to  very  recent 
times.  Experiments  purposely  made — scientific  experi- 
menting for  the  discovery  of  the  powers  of  drugs  and 
medicines — is  of  very  modem  date ;  it  was,  in  fact,  utterly 
unknown  until  Hahnemann  inaugurated  it. 

In  the  infancy  of  our  race,  common  experience  revealed 
to  mankind  that  certain  herbs  and  other  substances  acted 
injuriously  if  eaten  or  drunk  when  they  themselves  were 
healthy ;  and  these  substances  were  thenceforward  avoided 
or  shunned,  and  named  poisons  and  drugs.  But  common 
experience,  or  accident,  also  taught  our  ancestors  that 
certain  herbs  and  other  substances  acted  beneficially  when 
taken  during  sickness ;  that,  indeed,  the  same  substances 
which  were  poisons  to  them  when  they  were  well,  were 
medicines  to  them  when  they  were  sick !  Which  knowledge 
Shakspeare  has  made  immortal  in  the  following  lines  : — 

"  In  poison  there  is  physic ;  and  these  news, 
Having  been  well,  that  wonld  have  made  me  sick, 
Being  sick,  have  in  some  measure  made  me  well." 

And  as  to  illness,  common  experience  taught  our  fore- 
fathers that  they  were  liable  to  upsets  of  the  stomach  by 
taking  improper  food ;  to  taking  cold  by  exposure ;  and  to 
fevers  and  inflammations  and  various  painful  diseases. 
And  as  to  the  curative  powers  of  drugs,  the  same  common 
experience,  or  accident,  taught  them  that  the  herbs  or 
drugs  that  produce  vomiting  of  the  dangerous  articles  of 
food  give  relief  of  stomach-attacks  brought  on  by  offending 
articles  of  diet ;  also,  that  afber  these  articles  of  food  had 
passed  into  the  bowels,  and  there  produced  pain,  herbs  and 
drugs  that  purge  them  out  give  relief  thereby ;  also,  that 
in  fever,  herbs  and  drugs  that  produce  sweating  tend  to 
relieve  the  fever;  also,  that  headaches,  backaches,  and 
other  painfal  diseases  not  unfrequently  subside  after  free 
vomiting,  purging,  or  sweating ;  and,  iiideed,  that  the  very 
same  substance  that  would  produce  vomiting,  or  purging, 
or  sweating,  &c.,  when  they  were  well,  also  would  not  un- 
frequently  cure  these  diseases  when  they  had  been  brought 
on  by  some  other  cause. 

These  observations,  discoveries,  and  experiences  were 
not  lost  on  our  forefathers,  but  were  treasured  up  and 
transmitted  from  father  to  son,  from  one  generation  to 
another,  so  as  gradually  to  accumulate  ana  make  up  a 


214    HOMCEOFATHY  AND  ALLOPATHY.  'S^.^SSifSi! 

goodly  store  of  *'  traditions  of  the  fathers,"  and  form  a 
kind  of ''  traditional "  medical  system  ;  so  that  by  the  time 
of  Hippocrates  [bom  b.c.  460],  styled  "the  &ther  of 
medicine/'  they  afforded  sufficient  data  to  enable  him  to 
make  two  grand  generalisations  as  to  the  action  of  medi- 
cines, namely,  that  in  some  cases  they  act  as  contrarieSi 
and  in  some  cases  as  similars.  "He  makes,"  says  his 
translator,  the  learned  allopathic  physician.  Dr.  Adams, 
**  the  important  remark  that,  although  the  general  rale  of 
treatment  be  '  contraria  contrariis  curantur/  the  opposite 
rale  also  holds  good  in  some  cases,  namely,  ^  gimiUa 
simUibm  curantur^  It  thus  appears  that  the  principles 
of  both  allopathy  and  homcBopathy  were  recognised  by  the 
author  of  this  treatise." 

Now,  these  two  principles  of  allopathy  and  homoeopathy 
have  become  the  names  of  the  two  main  divisions  of  the 
medical  profession.  Allopathy  means  using  drugs  that  act 
oppositely  or  diffierently,  and  homoeopathy  means  using 
drugs  that  act  similarly ;  that  is,  that  in  the  treatment  of 
disease  allopathic  practitioners  use  drugs  that  act  either  on 
other  parts  of  the  body  than  those  that  are  affected,  or,  if 
on  the  same  parts,  act  in  a  different  way,  or  opposite  way ; 
whilst  homoeopathic  practitioners  use  those  drugs  that  not 
only  act  upon  the  same  parts,  but  act  in  a  similar  way  to 
the  disease  itself.    For  instance  : — 

I.  AUopatky, — If  a  patient  has  had  some  anxiety  or 
over-mental  work  which  has  produced  headache,  instead  of 
giving  him  a  drug  that  acts  directly  or  specifically  on  the 
brain  or  its  vessels  which  have  been  exhausted  or  dilated 
by  the  anxiety  or  over- work,  allopathic  practitioners  give 
him  a  drug  that  acts  on  the  bowels — a  purgative — ^which 
gives  him  a  temporary  diarrhoea  into  the  bargain.^ 

If  an  infant,  by  taking  cold,  gets  croup,  instead  of 
administering  a  drug  that  acts  on  the  windpipe  (which  is 
the  part  inflamed),  allopathic  practitioners  give  emetics, 
which  act  on  the  stomach  and  produce  vomiting !  If  by 
taking  cold  an  adult  gets  inflammation  of  the  kidneys, 
instead  of  giving  him  a  drug  that  acts  on  the  kidneys  they 

*  In  the  report,  in  TJte  Lancet,  of  Nov.  27th,  1880,  of  a  case  treated 
in  the  Leeds  Infirmary,  by  one  of  tiie  leading  surgeons — a  case  of 
concussion  of  the  brain,  resulting  from  a  kidk  on  &e  head  by  a  horse,  and 
which  was  so  severe  that  the  patient  was  unoonscioas — the  reporter 
boasts  that,  *'  rest  in  bed,  low  diet,  and  free  purgation,  was  the  only 
treatment." 


B^f^SftwS^  HOM(EOPATHt  AND  ALLOPATHY.   216 

give  him  purgatives,  which  give  him  diarrhoea  as  well ;  or 
sndorifics,  wluch  indnce  excessive  or  morbid  action  of  the 
skin — sweating ! 

The  theory  is,  that  by  producing  these  medicinal  diseases, 
that  is,  setting  up  disease  in  other  parts,  they  divert  the 
natural  disease  to  less  vital  parts — ^veritable  allopathy; 
aUo8 — other.  The  power  of  drugs  to  produce  disease; 
that  is,  to  morbidly  force  on,  suppress,  or  pervert  the 
natural  actions  of  the  body,  is  that  for  which  allopathic 
practitioners  use  them*  And  for  this  purpose  they  classify 
drugs  according  to  the  morbid  action  they  produce — as 
stimulants  (forcers),  astringents  (suppressors),  alteratives 
(pervertors),  emetics,  purgatives,  narcotics,  and  so  on- 

If  a  patient  complains  of  severe  pain,  such  as  neuralgia, 
cramp,  spasm,  &c.,  instead  of  administering  a  medicine  to 
cure  the  disease  which  is  causing  the  pain,  they  suppress 
the  natural  function  of  the  nerves  of  the  part — ^benumb 
them — ^with  morphia  or  opium  /  And  if  nature  has  not  of 
herself  cured  the  disease  by  the  time  the  effect  of  the  dose 
has  gone  off,  they  inject  a  fresh  dose  of  morphia,  or  give 
another  dose  of  opium,  •and  again  wait  on  natm*e !  Even 
painful  acute  inflammations,  such  as  pleurisy,  peritonitis 
and  rheumatic  fever,  are  treated  much  in  the  same  way ; 
that  is,  by  opium  fomentation  in  the  day ;  with  morphia 
injection,  or  chloral  at  night !  If  a  patient  complains  of 
constipation,  instead  of  giving  him  a  medicine  to  cure  the 
cause  of  the  constipation,  they  give  a  purgative  to  produce 
the  opposite  disease,  namely,  diarrhoea !  If  a  patient  has 
diarrhoea,  instead  of  giving  him  a  medicine  to  cure  the 
cause  of  the  diarrhoea,  they  give  an  astringent,  such  as 
opium,  acetate  of  lead,  or  pomegranate,  to  suppress  not  only 
ttie  morbid,  but  also  the  natural  secretion  of  the  bowels, 
and  produce  constipation  ! — Contraria  contrariis  curantur. 

The  best  apology  that  can  be  given  for  such  roundabout, 
rough  and  ready,  unscientific,  uncertain  practice,  is,  that  in 
some  instances  it  does  appear  to  substitute  a  more  tempo- 
rary or  less  dangerous  medicinal  disease  for  perhaps  a  more 
permanent  or  more  dangerous  natural  disease,  whilst  nature 
herself  performs  the  cure  of  the  original  disease. 

IL  HomoRopathy* — Homoeopathic  practitioners,  on  the 
contrary,  make  no  interference  whatever  with  those  parts 
or  actions  of  the  body  that  remain  healthy,  but  direct  their 
attention  solely  to  the  part  that  is  diseased,  and  simply  give 
a  medicine  that  acts  on  the  part  diseased,  and  acts  in  a 


216       HOM<EOPATHT  AND  ALLOPATHY.   "^g^.^SIKBML 

similar  way  to  that  in  which  the  disease  itself  is  acting ; 
knowing  well,  that  snch  a  medicine  will  at  least  act  on  the 
part  that  is  diseased,  and  will  not  derange  or  pervert  the 
action  of  any  healthy  part- 
To  use  the  same  illustrations  as  before : — If  a  patient 
has  had  some  anxiety  or  oyer  mental  work  which  has 
produced  headache,  instead  of  giving  him  a  purgative  to 
act  on  the  bowels,  homoeopathic  practitioners  administer  a 
medicine  that  they  know  acts  on  the  brain,  and  on  the 
same  part  of  the  brain  that  is  suffering,  and.  in  a  similar 
way  to  that  in  which  the  disease  is  acting ;  in  fact,  a  drug 
that  is  known  to  have  produced  a  similar  headache  in  a 
healthy  person.  And  so  in  a  case  of  croup,  homoBopathic 
practitioners  administer  no  emetics  or  purgatives,  but  give 
a  medicine  that  is  known  to  have  inflamed  the  windpipe — 
in  fact,  to  have  produced  a  kind  of  croup.  And  again,  in 
a  case  of  inflammation  of  the  kidneys,  homoeopathic  practi- 
tioners administer  no  purgatives  or  sudorifics,  but  give  a 
medicine  that  goes  straight  to  the  part  affected ;  one,  in 
fact,  that  has  been  known  to  produce  inflammation  of 
kidneys.  And  so,  again,  in  a  case  of  neuralgia,  cramp,  or 
spasm,  they  do  not  attempt  to  annihilate  the  power  of 
sensation  of  the  part,  but  they  administer  a  remedy  that 
acts  on  the  same  part  in  a  similar  way.  The  result  is  that 
experience  justifies  the  practice,  showing  that,  if  the  proper 
dose  be  selected,  cure  follows  rapidly,  safely  and  pleasantly. 
It  will,  of  course,  be  admitted  that  a  drug  that  acts  on 
any  part  of  the  body  in  persons  in  health,  will  go  to  the 
same  part  and  tend  to  act  in  the  same  way  in  persons  in 
whom  that  part  is  not  in  health. 

In  homoeopathy  the  theory  is  that  when  given  in  small 
doses  a  drug  will  cure  similar  diseases  in  the  sick  to  those 
that  it  will  produce  when  given  in  large  doses  to  the 
healthy — simUia  similibus  curantur.  Hippocrates,  the 
father  of  medicine,  said  such  was  the  case ;  and  so  did 
many  other  physicians  after  him ;  and  Hahnemann,  seeing 
not  only  the  wisdom  and  philosophy  of  this  action  of  drugs, 
but  that  recoveries  thus  brought  about  were  not  merely 
diversions  of  the  disease  to  another  part,  but  were  red 
cures,  direct  and  positive,  safe,  radical  and  permanent,  set 
himself  to  the  work  of  finding  out  whether  such  cures  were 
only  isolated  instances,  or  were  results  of  the  operation  of 
a  rule  in  nature.  He  looked  up  the  literature  of  the  subject, 
and  tested  by  this  rule  all  reputed  specifics, — i.e.,  all  drugs 


it^jSSTvmf^  HOMCEOPATHY  AND  ALLOPATHY.       217 

that  were  repnte<1  to  cure  some  particular  disease — and  as 
the  result  of  much  prolonged  and  painstaking  investigation 
he  found  that  the  rule  held  good  not  "  in  some  cases  "  only, 
but  in  all  cases.  He  then  set  himself  about  finding  out 
what  diseased  states  drugs  would  produce,  in  order  that 
they  might  be  used  to  cure  similar  states  when  met  with 
in  practice.  He  and  his  friends  then  used  these  drug- 
effects  as  indications  when  to  use  these  particular  drugs. 
The  practice  thus  inaugurated  he  named  Homceopatht. 
And  this  mode  of  practice  has  now  been  adopted  by 
hundreds  of  physicians  in  this  country,  hundreds  on  the 
continent,  and  thousands  in  America.  And  it  has  been 
proved — ^in,both  private  and  hospital  practice— that  under 
homcBopathic  treatment  all  the  severe  acute  diseases,  such 
as  cholera,  dysentery,  scarlet  fever,  typhus  fever,  typhoid 
fever,  yellow  fever,  diphtheria,  inflammation  of  the  lungs, 
bronchitis,  inflammation  of  the  brain,  convulsions,  insanity, 
&c.,  &c.,  the  disease  lasts  a  much  shorter  time,  and  presents 
a  much  less  proportion  of  deaths,  than  under  aUopathio 
treatment ;  and  that  in  chronic  diseases,  such  as  jaundice, 
ague,  scrofula,  syphilis,  goitre,  dysentery,  &c.,  which  only 
recover  after  ''years  "  of  old-school  treatment,  with  ''  change 
of  air  and  mineral  waters,"  cod  liver  oil,  Turkish  batlui, 
hydropathy,  &c.,  &c.,  are  frequently  cured  in  ''months," 
or  even  weeks,  under  homoeopathy ;  and  that  many  of  those 
chronic  diseases  that  are  absolutely  incurable  under  old- 
school  medical  treatment,  such  as  constitutional  cancer, 
consumption,  syphilis,  hydrocephalus,  tumours,  &c.,  are  not 
unfrequently  radically  cured  under  homceopathic  treatment. 
Every  large  town  and  city  in  the  kingdom  has  now  its 
homoeopathic  dispensary;  and  several  have  also  their 
homoeopathic  hospital.  And  a  recent  comparison  of  statistics 
between  the  London  Temperance  Hospital  and  the  London 
Homceopathic  Hospital,  has  shown  conclusively  that  the 
homoeopathic  hospital  has  considerable  advantage,  in  both 
economy  and  in  success  of  treatment,  over  the  temperance 
hospital,  as  the  latter  has  over  the  non-temperance  hospitals. 
Whilst  another  testimony,  in  the  same  direction,  is  afforded 
by  the  immense  number  of  the  poor  who  seek  help  at  the 
homoeopathic  dispensaries  in  preference  to  the  allopathic, 
though  they  are  further  from  their  homes.  By  a  report  of 
the  Liverpool  homoeopathic  dispensary,  which  has  just 
fallen  into  our  hands,  we  find  that  there  were  49,289  in- 
door attendances,  i.e.,  about  160  every  day ;  and  10,001 


218       HOV<E0PATHT  AHD  ALLOPATHT*    "ulSJj 


Bmew,  i^ofl  1,  IflBl. 


patients  visited  at  their  own  homes,  i.e.,  about  82  every 
day,  during  1880 !  Shortness  of  illness,  and  rapidity  of 
convalescence,  are  facts  that  the  poor  can  appreciate. 

So  much  for  the  philosophy  of  allopathy  and  homooopathy . 
Now  for  the  dose : — 

One  of  the  mcfst  characteristic  of  the  properties  of  vital" 
actions — ^the  actions  of  living  bodies — ^is  to  keep  themselves 
going  for  the  allotted  term  of  the  life  of  the  individual : 
and  not  only  to  keep  going,  but  to  go  on  in  the  natural, 
normal,  or  right  direction  or  manner ;  just  like  the  works 
of  a  watch  under  the  influence  of  a  spring.  It  is  this 
property — ^this  tendency  to  go  on  in  a  normal  manner — 
that  is  the  cause  of  the  frequent  recoveries  that  occur  after 
injuries  and  diseases  without  any  medical  or  surgical  help 
at  all — ^nature  rectifies  herself;  and  not  only  without  h6lp» 
but  even  in  spite  of  the  wrongly-directed  attempts  at  help — 
the  injurious  interference  with  her  efforts — ^by  incompetent 
and  mistaken  practitioners.  This  power  of  natural  recovery 
has  received  the  name  of  vis  medicatrix  natura — ^the 
healing  power  of  nature.  This  healing  power  of  nature  ia 
stronger  in  some  persons  than  others,  as  the  spring  is 
stronger  in  some  watches  than  others ;  but  strong  or  weak 
(until  nearly  worn  out)  it  is  always  resisting  the  influences 
that  would  derange  the  actions  of  the  body — ^the  causes  of 
disease — ^whether  these  be  infections,  atmospheric  influences, 
or  drugs.  Hence,  in  order  to  produce  their  effects  in  the 
body — ^to  derange  the  natural  actions  of  the  body,  to  thwart 
nature  (having  nature  against  them) — drugs  must  be  exhi- 
bited in  considerable  quantity — in  large  doses ;  differing,  of 
course,  with  the  virulence  of  the  drug:  requiring,  of 
strychnmef  ^th  of  a  grain,  of  corrosive  sii>Umate,  ^tb  of  a 
grain,  of  tartar  emetic,  1  grain,  of  calomely  5  grains,  of 
ipecacuanha^  10  grains,  of  rhubarb,  20  grains,  of  jalap,  SO 
grains,  and  of  Epsom  salts,  half  an  ounce :  the  dose  required 
being  with  each  drug  simply  a  matter  of  experience.  This 
dose — ^this  poisonous  dose — differs  also  in  different  indi- 
viduals, according  to  the  power  of  natural  resistance- 
according  to  the  power  of  the  vis  medicatrix  natura  of  the 
individual,  and  according  to  the  resisting  power  of  tiie 
organ  on  which  the  particular  drug  acts. 

This  is  the  reason  why  the  allopathic  dose  must  be  large 
— ^it  must  be  enough  to  overcome  the  natural  conservative 
power  of  the  organ,  whose  action  it  is  intended  to  derange. 


l^^SSTmi!^  HOMEOPATHY  AND  ALLOPATHY.        219 

And  the  reason  why  the  (allopathic)  dose  has  to  be 
contmoaUy  inoreaBed^  if  the  nse  of  the  drug  has  to  be 
continued  long,  is  because  the  vis  medicatrix  natura 
gradually  acquires  power  of  resistance. 

No  wonder,  then,  that  (allopathic)  experience  engenders 
dislike  to  the  use  of  drugs,  or  that  the  older  and  more 
experienced  practitioners  prescribe  so  few  drugs — often 
none  at  all. 

The  reason  why  the  dose  of  an  allopathically-acting 
drag  has  to  be  large  is  because  its  work  is  to  produce 
disease; — ^to  derange  the  natural  action  of  the  body, 
to  change  the  current  of  natural  action,  to  oppose  and 
divert  the  stream  of  nature,  and  nature's  torrent  is 
against  it ;  it  has  to  overcome  the  natural  health-preserving 
tendency  of  the  via  medicatrix  natv/ray  and  nature  is 
arrayed  against  it. 

The  dose  of  a  homoeopathically-acting  drag  on  the 
eontraiy,  has  nothing  of  ^ese  forcings  to  do,  and  has 
none  of  these  oppositions  to  meet ;  it  simply  extends 
a  helping  hand  to  struggling  nature.  Nature  is  herself 
all  the  time  struggling  to  rectify  the  perverted  action — ^to 
calm  the  excited,  diminish  the  stimulated,  increase  the 
sluggish,  and  restore  the  arrested  action — and  a  homoeo- 
patiiically-acting  drug  goes  to  her  assistance;  and,  as  a 
very  smdl  magnet  skilfully  applied  attracts  from  amongst 
the  works  of  a  watch  the  speck  of  metal  that  is  preventing 
the  wheels  from  acting  in  obedience  to  the  efforts  of  the 
spring,  so  the  small  dose  of  a  homoeopathically-acting  drug 
attracts  the  offending  particle  or  atom  that  is  interfering 
with  the  healthy  action  of  the  parts  diseased.  A  very  small 
dose  is  sufSoient  for  this  purpose — an  infinitesimal  dose. 
All  nature's  operations  in  the  animal  body  are  carried  on 
with  infinitesimals,  absolute  infinitesimals  ;  not  only  micro- 
scopic cells,  or  nuclei,  or  even  nucleoli,  of  cells,  but  with 
ultimate  particles  of  organic  compounds,  nay  perhaps  indeed 
ultimate  atoms  of  matter,  far  away  out  of  the  reach  of  our 
most  powerful  microscopes,  or  any  of  our  means  of  detec- 
tion. And  here  it  is,  in  the  recesses  of  nature's  laboratory, 
where  she  works  with  ultimate  atoms,  that  all  the  vital 
changes  of  health  and  disease  and  cure  take  place,  and 
hither  must  be  brought,  dissolved  in  the  blood,  the  particles 
or  atoms  of  medicines,  if  they  must  take  part  in  the  opera- 
tions of  health  and  disease.  No  drachms,  scraples,  grains. 


220        HOMEOPATHY  AND  ALLOPATHY.    ^SSS^.^SniflS* 


',  April  1, 18B1. 


or  half  grains,  or  eyen  quarter  grains,  are  admitted  here. 
Nor  any  of  the  snrface-scoaring  doses  of  insoluble  drags 
sometimes  poured  into  the  stomach ;  these  only  irritate  the 
surface,  and  are  washed  away  as  a  particte  of  sand  is  from 
the  eye. 

This,  than,  is  the  philosophy  of  the  small  dose  of  homcBO- 
pathy,  as  the  former  is  the  explanation  of  the  large  dose  of 
allopathy.  In  the  one  case  the  dose  has  to  produce  disease, 
and  in  the  other  to  cure  disease ;  in  the  one  case  nature 
opposes,  in  the  other  nature  assists. 

The  allopathic  medicine  for  constipation,  that  is,  to 
produce  purging,  may  be  rhvharb  or  jaiap ;  and  for  the 
purpose  twenty  grains  of  the  former  or  thirty  grains  of  the 
latter  would  have  to  be  giyen ;  one  grain  of  the  former  or 
two  grains  of  the  latter  would  not  answer  the  purpose.  The 
allopathic  medicine  for  purging,  that  is,  to  produce  con- 
stipation, may  be  opium,  aromatic  confectiony  or  chalk 
mixture ;  and  for  the  purpose  one  grain  of  the  first,  thirty 
grains  of  the  second,  or  half  an  ounce  of  the  third  would 
haye  to  be  given  ;  a  fraction  of  a  grain  of  the  first,  a  grain 
of  the  second,  or  a  scruple  of  the  tiiiri  would  not  serve  the 
purpose. 

The  homoeopathic  medicine  for  vomiting  may  be  tartar 
emetic  or  ipeca^manha,  but  who  would  venture  to  give  the 
ordinary  grain  dose  of  tartar  emetic,  or  the  ten  grain  dose 
of  ipecacuanha  in  such  cases  ?  The  homoeopathic  medicine 
for  purging  may  be  rhubarb,  ov  jalap,  or  Epsom  salts  ;  but 
who  would  venture  to  give  the  ordinary  twenty  grain  dose 
of  the  first,  the  thirty  grain  dose  of  the  second,  or  the  half 
ounce  dose  of  the  third  in  such  cases  ? 

In  allopathy  the  dose  must  be  large ;  in  homoeopathy  it 
MUST  be  smali.  But  how  large,  and  how  small,  are,  and 
must  be,  matters  of  mere  experience  in  each  case.  Ab  the 
allopath  does  not  know  beforehand  how  large  a  dose  of  any 
particular  drug  will  be  required  to  produce  disease,  so 
neither  does  the  homoeopath  know  from  mere  theory  how 
small  the  dose  of  medicine  will  require  to  be  made  to  cure 
disease,  without  aggravation.  No  mere  theorising  will 
serve  here ;  to  experience  must  the  appeal  be  made. 

*'  Experientia  doceU^' 


M^^Lt!^   DIBPBNSABY  EXPBBIENOES.  221 

DISPENSARY  EXPERIENCES, 

[Continued  from  p.  754,  vol.  24,  No,  12.) 

By  Robert  T.  Coopeb,  M.D., 

Phyaieian  (DlieasM  of  Ear),  London  HomoBopaihic  Hospital. 

That  homceopathy  as  a  system  of  medicine  can  and  must 
be  simplified  in  its  application  to  every  fonn  of  disease  is 
what  I  haye  all  along  insisted  upon,  and  what  every  day's 
experience  teaches  me;  but  this  improvement  is  to  be 
effected  only  by  a  close  and  patient  study  of  the  physio- 
logical actions  of  our  drags,  the  rongh  effects  they 
produce,  and  the  class  of  diseases  over  which  they  exercise 
a  sway. 

Unlefls  the  practitioner  has  succeeded  in  acquiring 
this  preliminary  knowledge,  his  search  after  "pure 
symptoms  "  will  be  disheartening  and  tedious  for  himself, 
and  uncertain  in  result  for  his  patient.  First  let  us 
understand  the  more  material  effects  wrought  by  drugs,  and 
then  work  out  their  finer  shades  of  differences. 

A  gentlemen  once  told  me  he  objected  to  homoeopathy  as, 
after  frequent  and  firuitless  visits  to  one  of  its  practitioners, 
the  only  consolation  he  received  was  the  information 
that  homoeopathy  had  a  remedy  to  cure  him,  only  it 
was  impossible  to  find  it ! 

And  how  many  of  us,  when  we  first  commenced  the 
practice  of  homoeopathy,  have  felt  this  difficulty  keenly,  and 
have  almost  been  driven  like  our  colleague  to  excuse  our 
sjrstem  at  the  expense  of  ourselves  ?  And  is  it  not  a  fact  that 
as  years  roll  by  we  learn  to  apply  our  remedies  with  greater 
precision,  and  with  fieur  less  inconvenience  and  labour 
to  ourselves  than  when  we  began  ?  the  reason  being  that 
we  have  become  more  iiEimiliar,  not  with  mere  isolated 
symptoms,  but  with  the  general  disposition  to  disease  that 
is  characteristic  of  the  remedy.  This  being  universally 
admitted,  does  it  not  follow  that  if  our  more  experienced 
practitioners  would  exert  themselves,  and  report  more 
of  their  cases,  and  point  out  the  indications  that  led  them 
to  select  the  remedies,  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of 
successful  homoeopathic  practice  would  disappear,  or  would 
at  all  events  be  very  much  modified,  and  the  beginner 
would  be  correspondingly  encouraged  to  pursue  his 
investigationB  ?    As  it  is,  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of 


222  BISPENaABT  EXPEBIENC£8.  ^^S^  ^SSTTIm 


Bflvi0W,AiiDll,18BL 


a  snccessfnl  pursiuuiice  of  the  homcBopathic  art  are  siinply 
immense,  notwithstanding  the  increase  of  volaminoas 
tomes  with  which  we  have  to  weigh  down  onr  book-shelyea. 
The  best  and  simplest  way  of  all  to  commence  the  study  of 
bomodopathy  is  for  the  student  to  read  carefully  well  reported 
cases  of  provings  in  homoBopathic  literature,  and  of 
poisonings  in  allopathic,  and  from  these  to  infer  what  are 
the  directions  taken  by  the  medicine  while  coursing 
through  the  system.  But  we  are  not  dependent  for  our 
knowledge  upon  either  proyings  or  poisonings ;  we  can 
gather  Tery  useful  information  from  carefully  observing  the 
way  in  which  susceptible  patients  are  a^ected  by  the 
medicines  we  administer  to  them,  and  with  ordinary 
precautions  can  distinguish  the  truly  medicinal  effects  from 
the  natural  influences  peculiar  to  the  disorders  with  which 
they  are  afiiicted.  To  acquire  the  art  of  doing  this  should 
be  the  first  care  of  every  practitioner,  an  art  to  be  learned 
only  by  studying  the  Materia  Medica  side  by  side  with  the 
reports  of  our  cases. 

The  soda  chlorata  is  a  remedy  I  have  often  placed  before 
the  readers  of  our  journals,  and  it  affords  an  example  of 
very  useful  knowledge  being  acquired  without  there  being 
instituted  any  formal  proving. 

Take,  for  example,  this  case,  in  some  respects  as  purely 
a  homceopathic  case  as  if  it  had  fallen  from  the  pen  of 
Hahnemann  himself,  in  others  falling  far  short  of  Hahne- 
mannian  requirements. 

Mrs.  L.,  a  woman  of  86,  prescribed  for  the  7th 
December,  1880,  this  being  the  statement  of  her  ease : — 
Six  years  ago  had  a  fright  a  month  before  a  confinement, 
which  completely  prostrated  her,  and  had  to  keep  her  bed 
till  the  confinement  came  on,  and  after  the  confinement  a 
fit  seized  her,  which  seemed  to  cause  arrest  of  the  flow  of 
milk;  then  her  left  leg  became  swollen,  painful  and  tender, 
and  from  that  time  she  has  suffered  from  ''white-leg" 
{Phlegmasia  dolens).  Over  eleven  months  ago  had  a  mis- 
carriage, and  since  then  her  feet  and  legs  feel  weak,  and 
there  is  a  tingling  soreness,  an  indescribable  feeling  with 
pain  in  the  feet  as  if  they  were  about  to  quit  connection 
with  the  rest  of  the  body.  Ever  since  the  bad  confinement 
six  years  ago  her  left  leg  and  thigh  have  been  swollen  with 
redness  of  the^^Jower  leg  and  a  white  ansBmic  appearance 
about  the  knee.  This  leg  pains  her  horribly,  especially 
for  a  week  after  each  monthly  illness,  a  burning  pain  last- 


mS^.SST'^B^   DIBPENSABT  EXPERIENCES.  223 


ing  all  day — of  late  it  has  been  much  worse.  Then  she 
has  peMc  bearing  down,  and  very  often  the  womb  pro- 
tmdes  and  remains  out  for  some  hours.  There  is  much 
lencorrhoBa,  and  tlie  monthly  illness,  though  regular,  only 
shows  itself  by  the  discharge  of  black  clots. 

Her  sleep  is  ''  a  dead,  heavy,  unrefreshing  sleep,"  her 
bowels  are  regular,  but  her  appetite  is  very  bad,  and  she 
feels  very  weak,  and  is  losing  flesh. 

For  these  symptoms,  or  rather  for  the  condition  por- 
trayed by  them,  I  prescribed  soda  chlorata,  three  drops  to 
go  OTer  a  week.  From  the  first  she  felt  sick  after  each 
dose,  and  was  no  better  until  on  the  3rd  night  (Thursday, 
the  first  dose  having  been  taken  on  Tuesday  at  bed-time), 
■he  was  seized  with  an  attack  of  bilious  vomiting,  and  has 
felt  much  relieved  since  then.  The  numbness  in  the  feet 
is  better,  the  left  leg  is  not  nearly  so  painful,  sleep  is  much 
better;  the  leucorrhoea  and  the  bearing-down  sensation 
remain,  but  the  womb  is  not  protruding ;  altogether  she 
feels  better  than  she  has  done  for  twelve  months. 

The  attack  of  sickness  on  the  Thursday  night  I  took  to 
be  an  aggravation,  or  rather  a  disturbance  of  the  system 
eansed  by  the  soda  chlor.,  and  hence  I  now  gave  a  drop 
three  times  a  day  of  the  third  decimal  solution. 

On  28th  December,  1880,  a  sense  oftinglingandwantof 
sensation  in  the  feet,  more  pronounced  than  before.  The 
left  leg,  however,  is  much  easier.  Through  the  week  her 
teeth  hftve  been  quite  loose,  and  feel  as  if  they  would  fall 
out.  The  womb  has  been  coming  down  very  much,  and 
has  been  having  bloodless  piles  (rectal  protrusion?),  an 
altogether  unusual  occurrence. 

From  the  combined  improvement  and  exacerbation,  I 
coneluded  a  medicinal  influence,  and  for  this  reason  gave 
saeeh.  lactis  pilules  for  the  following  week.  At  the  end  of 
it  (Ist  Januaiy,  1881),  complained  of  being  light-headed,  as 
if  aU  her  senses  were  going,  and  yesterday  and  to-day  had 
eold  shivers,  continuing  day  and  night,  and  accompanied 
by  increase  of  heat,  redness,  and  pain  of  the  leg ;  seems 
to  have  caught  cold ;  pulse  weak,  tongue  natural. 

To  have  soda  chUir.,  a  drop  for  the  next  week. 

11th  January,  1881.  In  every  possible  way  improved, 
feeling  altogether  different  from  what  she  did  before  seeking 
tieatment ;  the  size  of  the  left  leg  is  very  much  gone  down ; 
she  sleeps  and  eats  well,  her  spirits  are  much  better,  and 
there  is  now  no  bearing-down  whatever. 


224       DISPENSABY  BXPEBIENCES.  'gj^.A^?^! 

There  was  no  opportunity  ajQforded  for  instituting  a  local 
examination,  bnt  the  symptoms  are  significant  enough  by 
themselves  to  carry  great  weight.  Studied  along  with  the 
papers  on  soda  chlor.,  published  by  me  in  the  British 
Journal  of  Homoeopathy,  it  throws  considerable  light  upon 
the  action  of  the  hypochlorite  oj  soda. 

As  a  companion  case,  this  will  come  in  well. 

Mrs.  E.,  aged  85.  Five  years  ago  was  delivered  with 
instruments,  and  has  never  been  well  since.  EEas  been 
married  ten  years,  and  has  had  four  children.  Three  weeks 
ago  was  seized  with  unusually  violent  attacks  of  vomiting 
and  diarrhoea,  and  they  keep  coming  on  every  second  day. 
She  gets  bilious  during  the  night,  and  then  when  morning 
comes  she  is  seized  with  diarrhcBa  and  inability  to  retain 
food  on  the  stomach.  She  suffers  with  backache  (low 
down),  especially  if  she  attempts  to  lie  on  either  side. 

Before  this  attack  the  bowels  acted  naturally,  but  now 
great  qnantities  of  blood  pass  away  ivithout  warning. 

Prescribed  12  drops  of  mezereum  p  for  a  week  on 
15th  October,  1880,  and  by  the  22nd  she  could  keep  food 
down,  and  felt  better  in  every  way,  though  a  certain  loose- 
ness of  the  bowels  remained,  and  the  backache  was  better. 
No  blood  passing. 

To  have  another  week's  medicine.  Seen  again  14th 
December,  1880 ;  report,  perfectly  well. 

Hsematuria  is  among  the  symptoms  of  mezereunif  but 
rectal  bleeding  {'procth<emorrhagia)  is  not  a  recorded  effect 
of  it,  hence  the  interest  attendant  upon  the  above  case. 
Those  who  wish  to  study  the  action  of  mezereum  may  also 
like  to  read  this  case : — 

Mrs.  L.,  a  woman  of  52,  came  to  me  with  pains  of  the 
right  side  of  the  face  and  head,  with  soreness  and  tender- 
ness on  pressure,  a  bursting  pain  in  the  ear  going  to  the 
face  and  head ;  the  pains  continue  day  and  night ;  has  had 
it  for  a  week.  After  last  Christmas  had  an  attack  which 
continued  for  three  months. 

She  feels  puffy  all  over ;  otherwise  well. 

Prescribed  28rd  April,  1880,  mezereum  ^  2  drops  for  the 
week. 

May  4th.  Face  has  been  very  much  better,  but  yester- 
day and  to-day  was  very  bad.  (Pour  days  without 
medicine). 

Continue  medicine. 


J^jSSS'h^  DJSPEN8ABT  BXPEBIEN0B8.  226 

May  11th,  1880.  Veiy  much  better,  only  feels  very  sleepy 
and  has  no  energy  for  work. 

This  patient  has  remained  perfectly  well  ever  since ;  I 
have  had  freqnent  opportonities  of  seeing  her. 

The  key-note  to  the  case  was  '^  bursting  sensation  in  the 
ear/'  which  I  have  fonnd  mezereum  to  produce.  The 
proving  has  *'  tingling  of  the  ears  with  great  drowsiness/' 
and  it  may  be  that  the  drowsiness  complained  of  was 
medicinal.  The  great  tenderness  of  the  parts  affected  is 
characteristic  of  mezereum  pains,  especially  of  its  bone- 
pains.  The  case  was  really  one  of  ear-ache,  of  a  kind  that 
18  very  often  followed  by  otorrhcea;  the  symptoms  are 
given  as  described  by  the  patient ;  there  was  no  oppor* 
tonity  afforded  of  examining  the  ear. 

The  action  of  mezereum  should  be  studied  along  with 
that  of  manganum  ;  these  remedies  have  much  in  common, 
especially  in  their  ear-symptoms. 

The  next  case  which  illustrates  the  action  of  both  soda 
ehlorata  and  mezereum  will  come  in  well  here,  the  more 
80  as  the  subject  of  it  is  the  daughter  of  the  last  patient. 

Louisa  L.,  aged  20,  a  tall,  well-nourished  girl,  came 
10th  February,  1880,  with  general  debility,  with  which 
for  the  last  three  years  she  has  suffered  at  the  fall  of  the 
year  (i.e.,  from  November  to  spring-time) ;  has  much  pain 
in  the  apex  of  the  left  lung ;  her  appetite  is  bad,  bowels 
confined,  and  sleep  restless,  and  for  the  last  three  or 
four  months  has  fainted  at  the  monthly  illness,  which  is 
attended  with  a  great  deal  of  bearing-down ;  is  subject 
to  back-ache. 

Prescribed  soda  chlor.  0,  gtt.  v.,  for  a  week. 

17th  February.  Feels  better  and  stronger,  but  has  very 
much  pain  in  the  left  lung,  and  her  appetite  is  bad  and 
bowels  confined.    Continue  gtt.  x. 

I  may  mention  that  there  was  no  percussion  dulness 
present  in  the  left  lung,  though  the  breathing  was  rather 
rough.  The  family  history  did  not  point  to  phthisis.  She 
went  on  with  the  soda  ehlorata  till  2nd  of  March,  and 
improved  steadily ;  the  chest  pain  went,  she  felt  stronger, 
and  slightly  better ;  but  the  bowels,  in  spite  of  half-grain 
doses  o(  podophyllum,  given  at  bed-time,  remained  confined. 
I  then  gave  ten  drops  of  mezer,  0  to  go  over  the  week,  and 
on  9th  March  she  reports  considerable  improvement ;  and 
the  bowels,  although  confined,  act  better. 

To  have  gtt.  xiv.  for  a  week. 

No.  4,  Vol  25.  q 


226  PEBITTPHUTIC  ABSCESS.     '^^.^^Il^ 

March  16th.  Is  veiy  mnch  better,  bnt  has  been  haying 
face-ache  veiy  mnch  on  the  right  side — a  doll  pain,  worse 
at  night  (aggravation  ?).    Bowels  all  right. 

No  back-ache ;  monthly  illness  came  on  last  week,  and 
fait  much  better  during  it  than  she  had  been  for  three 
months ;  no  tendency  to  either  fainting  or  soffering.  For 
the  next  week  sacch,  laetis  was  given,  and  for  the  week 
following  this  mezereum  again. 

On  the  6th  April,  1880,  reported  herself  qiiite  well,  and 
I  can  testify  to  her  having  remained  so  ever  since. 

These  cases  teach  the  value  to  be  set  upon  soda  cJdorata 
and  npon  mezereum  in  cases  of  pelvic  congestion,  and  also 
in  neuralgia,  where  the  condition  of  system  corresponds  to 
the  remedy. 

"  PEBITYPHLITIC    ABSCESS." 
By  T.  E.  PuRDOM,  M.D. 

Miss  H.,  aged  18.     Struma  in  family. 

Dec.  18,  1880.  After  long  exposure  to  cold,  she  had 
partial  rigors,  with  malaise.  This  was  followed  by  pain  in 
the  right  side,  under  the  ribs,  extending  down  to  the  iliac 
region.  There  is  great  tenderness  on  palpation,  and  pain 
on  movement.  The  right  side  of  the  abdomen  is  more 
resistant  than  the  left,  especially  towards  the  lower  part. 
Gatamenia  have  been  regular,  and  the  last  period  was  not 
checked.    Pulse  100,  weak;  temp.,  100*2*^;  bowels  costive. 

Diagnosis, — Inflammation ;  probably  perityphlitic,  with 
slight  peritonitis. 

Bry.  alb*  1,  and  riierc  sol.  1,  were  given  alternately  every 
hour.  The  same  evening  I  changed  the  latter  to  mere, 
eorr.  3  x. ;  enema  to  open  bowels ;  milk  diet.  Tongue 
yellow,  moist  coating,  posterior  two-thirds,  with  red  and 
irritable  tip. 

20th.  There  had  been  no  history  of  indigestion  nor 
constipation,  nor  of  swallowing  fruit  stones,  &c.  In  statu 
quo.    Gontin.  med. 

21st.  Shooting  pains,  with  flatulence  and  colic;  leg 
inclined  to  bend  up.  Pain  has  spread  towards  umbilicus 
— ^more  across  the  bowels.  Temp.  102*4®.  Merc.  corr.  8x; 
eoloc.  3  X. 

22nd.    Bepeat. 

23rd.  Pulse  100;  temp.  100-4®.  Large  and  painful 
swelling  in  right  iliac  fossa,  extending  close  to  Poupart's 


iS^-SSiTM^  PBRITYPHLITIO  ABSCESS,  227 

ligament ;  less  towards  the  ribs,  across  towards  nmbilicns, 
and  bnlging  baokwards  towards  the  loins.  Constant  pain, 
worse  at  times  specially  from  movement.  No  shooting 
pains  nor  colic.    No  throbbing.     Merc.  corr.  3 ;  hry,  8. 

25th.  Suspicion  of  suppuration.  Hep.  milph.  8  x; 
mere.  corr.  8  x. 

29th.  Diarrhcea;  four  or  five  pea-soup-like  motions, 
showing  involvement  of  mucous  surface.  Ars.  aJh*  8  x ; 
hep.  mSpK  2  X. 

Slst.  Diarrhoea;  readily  controlled.  From  this  time 
suppuration  was  evident,  and  a  large  abscess  was  expected. 

The  patient  was  kept  steadily  on  hep.  sulph.  8  x,  with  a 
change  to  Mieea  8,  and  chin.  1,  in  alternation  for  a  day  or 
two. 

Jan.  6th.  An.  aVb.  8  x,  was  again  given  for  diarrhoea, 
and  checked  it  at  once.  The  matter  was  now  rapidly 
pointing  towards  Poupart's  ligament.  Poultices  (made 
with  water  in  which  poppy  heads  had  been  boiled)  were 
applied,  £  may  say,  from  the  first.  BeUadonna  ointment 
was  also  smeared  over  the  most  painful  part  for  a  few 
days. 

Jan.  12th.  As  the  abscess  was  on  the  point  of  bursting, 
and  as  I  had  an  antiseptic  spray  and  gauze  ready,  I  lanced 
it  quite  superficially  under  the  carbolic  spray.  The  first 
discharge  was  rather  offensive,  which  an  earlier  opening 
might  have  avoided.  However,  the  pus  was  quite  bland 
on  the  removal  of  the  dressing  the  same  night. 

14th.  Dressed  twice  daily  under  spray,  and  with  car- 
boUsed  gauze  carefully  applied  and  fixed,  with  broad 
bandage  of  the  same  round  iJie  abdomen  and  thigh. 

19th.  Since  the  14th  it  has  only  been  dressed  once  a 
day.  After  this  date,  only  every  second  day.  Wound 
rapidly  closing ;  looks  clean  and  healthy.  Patient  up  on 
sofa,  just  a  month  after  the  beginning  of  the  attack. 
China  0,  and  nlic.  8  have  been  given  since  the  abscess 
was  opened. 

21st.  Boracic  ointment  was  applied  to  the  raw  surface. 
SUieea  6  was  given  alone  for  a  time.  Then  again  silicea  3 
and  sulphwr  to  finish  up  with.  As  there  was  some  proud 
flesh,  powdered  loaf  sugar  was  applied.  Calendula  ointment 
was  substituted  for  the  boracic  for  a  few  days.  My  notes 
end  here,  as  though  the  case  was  under  observation  longer, 
there  was  just  a  small  granulating  surface  left,  dressed 
with  the  last-named  ointment;    the  rag  being  merely 

0— J| 


228  PBBITTPHLITIC  ABSCESS.  ^S^. AkQum! 

stained  with  discharge.  The  diet  was  principally  milk  at 
first ;  soups,  &c.,  being  added  as  the  case  went  on.  The 
patient  stooped  to  the  right  side  on  walking  for  a  few  days, 
but  soon  conld  keep  straight  np.  She  gained  flesh  rapidly; 
the  emaciation  having  be^  considerable. 

I  have  thought  this  case  worth  recording,  because  of  its 
serious  nature ;  also  as  occurring  in  such  a  young  subject. 
The  action  of  the  different  medicines  were  pretty  dear,  in 
spite  of  the  alternation.  The  cohcynth  relieyed  the 
shooting  and  colicky  pains  rapidly.  The  arsenic  controlled 
the  enteritis  and  diarrhoBa.  The  mere.  eorr.  and  bry.  alb. 
seemed  to  keep  the  peritonitic  mischief  in  check;  the 
temperature  only  once  rising  to  102^  at  night. 

The  soothing  poultices  and  belladonna  ointment  were 
useful  adjuncts  to  moderate  pain,  which  was  often  very 
severe.  (I  am  not  myself  satisfied  that  you  can  dispense 
with  opium  altogether,  where  the  peritoneum  itself  is  more 
involved).  A  water  bed  added  much  to  patient's  comfort. 
The  hep.  sviph.  undoubtedly  hastened  the  maturation  of 
the  abscess,  and  shows  how  such  a  serious  case  may  be 
safely  terminated  by  medicines.  The  practice,  now-a-days, 
is  to  operate  very  early  by  the  aspirateur  or  antiseptioally. 
In  the  former,  of  course,  the  puncture  might  have  to  be 
repeated  several  times.  In  the  latter  to  cut  down  upon 
the  abscess  as  soon  as  the  presence  of  matter  is  ascertained 
may  succeed  very  quickly ;  but  the  operation  itself  is  more 
serious.  Not  being  much  of  a  surgeon,  I  was  glad  to  see 
the  case  end  as  well  as  it  did.  Then,  again,  the  antiseptic 
dressing  saved  much  poulticing,  and  a  prolonged  drain  of 
pus  probably,  considering  the  strumous  tendency. 

THE  CONNECTION  BETWEEN  NATIONAL 
WEALTH  AND  NATIONAL  HEALTH.* 

By  H.  BLuifBBBay  M.D.,  J.P. 

Gentlemen  :  The  object  of  my  paper  is  to  trace  and  to 
elucidate  the  connection  which  necessarily  exists  between 
the  wealth  of  nations  and  the  health  of  the  individual  citi- 
zens. My  object  is  not  to  prove  that  national  health  promotes 
national  wealth — that  is  too  obvious ;  but  vice  versa,  that 
national  wealth  is  one  of  the  great — nay,  the  greatest, 
elements  of  national  health.    Before  beginning,  I  must  draw 

*^ead  before  the  ^utbport  lateziuy  and  Philosophioal  Societj,  Dec  3, 1880. 


S!Si!SS^U^   WEALTH  AND  HEALTH.  229 

yonr  attention  to  the  difficnity  of  the  task,  by  no  means  in 
order  to  enhance  the  praise  for  haying  undertaken  it,  but 
rather  to  palliate  or  excuse  my  obyions  shortcomings.  Yon 
will  notice  that  my  reasoning  will  have  to  be  often  deductive ; 
not  only  because  the  subject  somewhat  demands  it,  but  on 
account  of  the  insufficient  data  which  statisticians  appear 
to  have  proyided  in  that  direction.  Take,  for  instance, 
public  health.  I  have  ransacked  a  good  many  books,  and 
my  acquaintance  with  the  principal  languages  of  Europe 
has  helped  me  a  good  deal;  but  still  I  had  in  most  instances 
to  fall  back  on  the  tables  of  mortality  as  a  criterion.  But 
it  is  obvious  that  the  annual  mortality  of  a  place  or  of  a 
country  is  by  no  means  an  infallible  guide  in  estimating  the 
health  of  the  inhabitants.  There  may  be  a  large  number 
of  invalids  not  well  enough  to  live  and  not  ill  enough  to 
die ;  but  we  have  no  data  except  the  general  remarks  of 
travellers  to  judge  apart  from  the  tables  of  mortality  of  the 
health  of  Afferent  nations.  It  requires  consideration 
whether  provision  should  not  be  made  for  that  object  in  the 
decennial  census.  A  man  might  object  to  state  his  religious 
persuasion ;  but  I  doubt  whether  anyone  would  object  to 
state  whether  he  is  suffering  from  any  complaint.  As  re- 
gards the  wealth  of  nations,  the  difficulty  is  even  greater. 
We  have  the  most  divergent  estimates  from  different  writers. 
Some  are  simply  ignorant  of  the  law  of  evidence ;  others 
are  led  by  vanity,  or  sometimes  by  political  motives,  to  ex- 
aggerate the  wealth  of  their  own  country  and  to  diminish 
that  of  other  people's*  Some  criterion,  no  doubt,  is  the 
state  of  public  credit.  Catena  parilms,  a  nation  which  can 
borrow  at  three  per  cent,  must  be  doubly  as  wealthy  as  a 
nation  which  must  pay  six.  I  have  tried  to  be  guided  only 
by  trustworthy  writers,  and  in  other  cases  have  drawn  a 
probable  mean  which  I  believe  will  be  near  the  truth. 

Having  said  this  by  way  of  preface,  I  invite  you  to  ac- 
company me  to  a  country  on  our  earth  which  we  shall  name 
A,  a  town  in  A  called  B,  a  street  in  B  called  C,  and  a  house 
in  C  called  D,  in  which  we  suppose  at  this  moment  a  baby 
to  be  bom  called  J.  Let  us  suppose  also  that  as  we  are  mem- 
bers of  a  philosophical  society,  we  are  tempted  to  ask  a 
question — What  average  chance  of  health  and  length  of  life, 
wealth  and  happiness  is  in  store  for  this  baby  J  ?  As 
regards  his  or  her  share  of  haQpiness  I  cannot  tell  you  any- 
thing. It  is  only  likely  that  it  will  have  its  proper  quantum 
of  tears  and  laughter;  but  I  can  pretty  confidently  tell  you 


230  ^ALTH  AND  HEALTH.   '^^^JSTSn. 

-  *         -  ■         - 

that  its  average  chance  of  life  is  abont  thirty-three  years 
and  eight  months,  bat  its  chance  of  wealth  as  taken  on  the 
average  we  shall  see  by-and«by.  Is  there  any  practical 
good  to  be  gained  by  such  a  specolation  or  such  cdcidations? 
— ^Yes;  I  firmly  believe  that  the  result  of  such  calcolations 
— and  I  am  the  first  who  ever  made  them — wonld,  if 
sufficiently  published  and  acted  upon,  dispel  many  errors 
which  are  at  the  root  of  the  doctrines  of  Socialists, 
Communists,  and  Nihilists.  For  the  sake  of  argument, 
therefore,  we  shall  suppose  that  every  being  has  an  innate 
right  to  his  or  her  fur  share  in  this  globe  of  ours.  Then 
come,  of  course,  two  questions  which  must  be  answered  be- 
fore a  solution  is  possible.  First,  how  much  is  our  globe, 
with  everything  it  contains  except  men,  worth?  and, 
secondly,  how  many  human  beings  are  we  at  present  to 
divide  it  between  us  ?  Let  us  take  the  second  question 
first.  Even  so  short  a  time  as  twenty  years  ago  it  would 
have  been  most  difficult  to  state  with  approximate  proba- 
bility the  number  of  inhabitants  on  this  fair  planet ;  but 
now,  thanks  to  the  labour  of  many  statisticians  of  many 
nationalities,  and  also  thanks  to  the  census  introduced  into 
so  many  countries,  we  can  safely  assume  the  population  of 
the  globe  in  this  year  of  our  Lord  to  be  about  fourteen 
hundred  millions.  The  second  question — ^How  much  this 
planet  is  worth  ?  is  fieur  more  difficult  to  answer ;  and  even 
the  closest  calculation  vnll  of  course  be  very  hypothetical. 
There  is  no  stock  exchange  for  the  stars,  though  there  is  a 
rise  and  a  fall  in  them.  Nor  can  we  imagine  any  being 
who  would  bid  for  even  the  smallest  asteroid.  The  only 
way  is  to  sub-divide  the  globe  into  many  hundred  parts  and 
states,  and  then  to  value  each  separately.  The  guides  to 
such  valuation  will  be,  first  the  extent  of  territory,  secondly 
the  fertility  of  the  soil,  thirdly  the  number  of  cities  and 
towns,  fourth  the  state  of  the  national  trade  and  industry, 
£fth  the  estimated  income  of  the  inhabitants.  All  these 
present  great  difficulties,  but  they  are  not  quite  insurmount- 
able. Let  us  try.  Let  us  take,  for  instance,  England  and 
Greece.  I  mean  Greece  as  at  present,  and  not  as  it  will  be 
shortly.  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  contain  6,776  geogra- 
phical square  miles.  We  know  that  about  three-fifths  of 
its  soil  is  very  fertile  and  highly  cultivated.  We  know 
that  it  excels  all  other  cquntries  of  the  earth  with  the 
exception  of  Belgium  in  the  density  of  its  population,  and 
with  no  exception  at  all  in  the  extent  of  its  trade  and 


tS^SSTS^   WEALTH  AND  HEALTH.  281 

mannfaetares.  We  know,  or  we  calculate  with  great 
probability,  that  the  income  of  every  English  man,  woman 
and  child  is  about  thirty-two  pounds,  which  would  make  the 
general  income  of  all  the  inhabitants  eleven  hundred  mil- 
lions of  pounds.  From  these  and  other  premises  we  draw 
the  conclusion  that  the  capital  value  of  the  United 
Kingdom  of  England  and  Ireland  is  about  ten  thousand 
million  of  pounds.  Take  Greece  now  as  a  contrast.  The 
kingdom  of  Greece  is  about  960  square  geographical  miles. 
It  contains  about  three-fourths  of  mountainous,  arid 
regions ;  one  fourth  is  exceedingly  fertile,  but  badly  culti- 
vated. There  are  no  great  wealthy  cities,  their  trade  is 
pretty  well  developed,  but  their  manu£EU^ures  are  in  their 
infancy.  The  average  income  of  the  1,SOO,000  inhabitants 
is  hardly  £10  a-piece,  or  fifteen  millions  a  year  altogether. 
I  doubt,  therefore,  that  all  Greece — ^barring,  of  course,  its 
claims  on  Turkey — would  go  higher  under  the  auctioneer's 
hammer  than  one  hundred  and  twenty  millions  of  pounds. 
By  that  process  we  come  to  estimate  the  capital  value  of 
aU  countries  which  are  civilised,  and  allowing  a  certain 
amount  for  the  unknown,  we  come  to  the  grand  total  of 
sixty  thousand  millions  of  pounds,  which  is  made  up  as 
follows  in  millions  of  pounds  : — 

England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland 10,000 

France      ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  6,000 

Germany ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  4,000 

Austria     ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  2,400 

Bossia  in  Europe            2,200 

XmUV  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  JLyOvrv 

Spain        880 

Turkey  in  Europe           800 

Belgium   ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  750 

Holland 800 

Denmark 200 

Sweden  and  Norway        200 

Switzerland          200 

Portugal 200 

vTreeco      ...         ...          *••         ...         ...  x  avI 


Total 80,000 

America   ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  16,000 

Africa       ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  2,000 

Austraha  ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  1,000 

Afiia         11,000 

Total 60,000 


232  WEALTH  AND  HEALTH.   ^^w.WTmm! 

Let  ns  now  go  back  to  the  poor  baby  which  we  left  in 
the  street  D,  crying  probably  most  bitterly  because  we  have 
left  unanswered  his  question  as  to  how  much  capital  he  is 
entitled  to  during  all  his  future  earthly  existence.  We  are 
now  able  to  tell  him  or  her,  that  if  he  or  she  works  like  average 
persons,  his  or  her  share  of  this  money  value  of  the  earth  will 
be  60,000  millions,  divided  by  1,400  millions,  or  in  other 
words,  £42  17s.  6d.  This  revelation  will  be  cheerful  news 
perhaps  for  the  baby,  but  a  heavy  blow  to  the  great  expecta- 
tions of  the  Communists,  whose  idea  is  that  by  sharing 
every  one  will  at  once  become  well  to  do.  It  reminds  one 
of  an  anecdote  about  the  late  Baron  James  Rothschild. 
During  the  revolutionary  days  of  1848  he  was  accosted  in 
the  s^eet  by  a  beggar,  who  said :  **  Citizen  Rothschild, 
you  know  dl  men  are  brothers;  now  give  your  poor 
brother  something."  The  Baron,  who,  though  immensely 
rich,  was  also  very  miserly,  gave  him  deux  sous — a  penny. 
''  Is  that  all  ?"  exclaimed  the  indignant  beggar.  ''  Yes," 
said  the  Baron ;  ''and  if  I  were  to  give  to  every  brother  of 
mine  as  much,  I  should  be  bankrupt." 

Yes,  gentlemen,  this  is  all — £42  17s.  6d.  This  is  the 
capital.  And  mind  you  this  is  the  product  of  human 
work.  Without  it,  without  the  thought  which  invents,  the 
senses  which  measure,  or  the  muscles  which  act — ^without 
them  this  globe  would  be  what  they  call  a  drug  in  the 
market,  a  wQdemess  of  monkeys,  for  which  even  Jessica 
would  not  give  the  smallest  gem.  Man  has  found  this 
earth  barren,  and  has  made  it  fruitful.  He  has  found  a 
white  sheet  of  paper,  and  has  written  a  valuable  cheque  of 
60,000  millions  of  pounds  upon  it.  The  earth  is  like  the 
mother  of  the  Gracchi — she  finds  her  most  precious  jewels 
in  her  children. 

Now,  it  is  obvious  that  man's  principal  endowment  for 
the  attainment  of  wealth,  either  for  himself  or  his  family, 
or  his  nation,  is  good  health.  Health  is  the  proper  balance 
of  all  physical  functions.  It  is  a  duet  between  mind  and 
body  in  which  there  occurs  no  false  note.  There  is  no 
doubt  that  the  physical  conformation  of  the  soil  and  the 
climate  have  some  influence  on  the  health  of  different 
nations,  but  by  no  means  to  the  extent  to  which  it  is 
generally  supposed.  Man  is  the  most  adaptable  of  all 
animals,  he  can  flourish  in  the  icebound  islands  near  the 
Pole,  as  well  as  in  the  heat  of  the  Tropics.  We  shall 
therefore  dismiss  the  consideration  of  climate  from  our 


^^JSST^  wealth  and  health,  288 

ealcnlation.  The  race  is  also  an  index  to  the  state  of  a 
nation's  health,  bat  only  a  poor  and  &lUble  one-  English- 
men,  for  instance,  are  of  a  large,  sturdy  race ;  Sicilians, 
of  a  small  and  apparently  weak  race,  but  I  firmly  believe 
that  there  would  be  no  difference  either  in  their  longevity 
or  in  their  share  of  health,  bat  that  the  latter  either  ignore 
the  sanitary  laws  or  for  want  of  means  are  unable  to  give 
them  play.  The  fact  is,  health  travels  in  the  same  carriage 
with  eivihsation,  and  the  latter  again  is  rarely  to  be  found 
separated  from  the  company  of  wealth.  I  speak,  of  course, 
of  nations.  Individuals  may  and  do  ruin  their  health  not 
only  though,  but  because  they  are  rich,  but  in  nations 
wealth  naturally  leads  to  improvement  in  dwellings,  in 
clothing,  in  feeding,  in  all  public  sanitary  measures, 
diminJBhing  of  course  sickness  and  mortality.  Well  may 
not  only  the  sentimental  philanthropist,  but  also  the 
practical  philosopher  or  statesman,  exclaim,  with  Sterne : 
"  O  !  blessed  health,  thou  art  above  all  gold  and  treasure. 
'Tis  thou  who  enlargest  the  soul,  and  openeth  all  its  powers 
to  receive  instruction  and  to  relish  virtue.  He  that  has 
thee  has  Uttle  more  to  wish  for,  and  he  that  is  so  wretched 
as  to  want  thee  wants  everything  with  thee."  I  could 
enlarge  upon  this  theme,  but  my  object  is  not  to  prove 
that  health  is  wealth ;  no,  I  want  to  complete  the  circle, 
and  to  prove  that  wealth — ^national  wealth  I  mean,  is  con- 
ducive to  national  health.  We  shall  therefore  now  examine, 
if  you  allow  me,  the  sanitary  condition  of  the  nations,  and 
compare  them  with  their  financial  position. 

It  is  true  that  even  the  wealthiest  and  most  civilised 
nations  spend  a  hxmdred  times  as  much  on  their  engines 
of  destruction,  on  their  army  and  navy,  as  on  the  means 
of  preserving  life  or  enhancing  the  bodily  welfare  of  their 
citizens ;  but  the  difference  between  rich  and  poor  nations 
is  that  in  the  latter  there  remains  not  even  a  modicum  for 
health  after  paying  for  all  war  implements  and  warriors. 
I  wanted  to  take  each  individual  country  and  compare  the 
wealth  of  its  inhabitants,  the  state  of  the  national  finances, 
and  the  percentage  of  taxation  on  the  income ;  but,  on 
second  consideration,  and  for  fear  of  being  tedious,  I  drew 
the  accompanying  maps  of  Europe,  which  will  sufficiently 
illustrate,  and  I  hope  prove,  my  argument.  The  one 
represents  the  financial  state  of  the  different  countries 
which  is  the  better  the  lighter  they  are  painted,  and  the 
other  the  mortality  of  the  same  countries  which  is  the 


234  WEALTH  AND  HEALTH.   ^bSSt.^SSu^ 


heavier  tibe  darker  they  are  drawn.  Ton  will  notice  on 
examination  that  with  two  or  three  slight  exceptions  the 
different  shades  are  eqoal  on  both  maps.  To  illustrate  my 
idea  still  further,  I  have  inserted  in  the  one  map  the  per- 
centage of  taxation  on  the  probable  income  of  the  inhabit- 
ants, on  the  other  the  different  rates  of  annual  mortality 
for  a  number  of  years  in  the  different  countries.  Miet 
looking  at  these  maps  attentively  you  will  agree  with  me 
that  a  full  exchequer  has  something  to  do  witib  promoting 
strength  and  long  life.  Unfortunately,  as  I  mentioned 
before,  the  unhappy  differences  between  peoples  seem  to 
require  that  the  best  part  of  a  nation's  wealth  should  be 
spent  in  measures  of  safety.  What  would  you  say  to  a 
city  that  spent  a  hundred  times  as  much  on  its  policemen 
as  on  its  streets,  parks,  or  schools ;  or  a  paterfiunilias  who 
would  feed  his  watch-dogs  on  beefsteaks,  and  his  children 
on  potatoes  ?  Let  us  hope  !  Perhaps  the  time  is  not  bo 
far  distant  when,  as  Tennyson  sings,— 

The  oommon  sense  of  most  shall  hold  a  fretful  realm  in  awe. 
And  the  kindly  earth  shall  slnmher,  wrapped  in  universal  law ; 
When  the.war  dram  throbs  no  longer,  and  the  battle-flag's  untexled, 
Li  the  Parliament  of  Man,  the  federation  of  the  World  1 

But  even  before  that  auspicioas  day  we  could  do  a  great 
deal.  The  wealth  of  England  is  enormous,  .and  it  increases 
every  day.  I  am  sorry  to  say  health  has  not  kept  pace 
with  it.  A  mortality  of  22  in  a  thousand  is  still  too  high 
for  so  rich  a  country.  Some  measures  not  too  difficult  or 
costly  to  carry  out  would,  I  believe,  diminish  materially 
that  figure.  I  will,  as  the  practical  aim  and  the  consum- 
mation of  my  lecture,  enumerate  in  detail  the  measures 
which  I  would  like,  either  by  the  initiative  of  Government, 
municipalities,  or  private  individuals  to  be  carried  into 
effect.  It  is  but  right  to  acknowledge  that  sanitary  science 
is  a  plant  of  recent  growth,  come,  as  it  were,  in  the  train 
of  that  great  revolution  in  medicine  which  marks  our 
present  century.  But  the  teachings  of  that  science,  though 
she  be  young  as  yet,  ought  to  be  taken  more  to  heart. 
Let  us  notice  some  shortcomings  in  our  great  and  pre- 
eminently wealthy  country.  1.  There  is  compulsory 
mental  education  for  the  young,  but  very  litUe  is  done  for 
the  physical  education  of  the  two  million  or  more  of  school 
children.  My  friend.  Dr.  Both,  of  London,  has  shown 
this  fact  clearly  in  his  admirable  pamphlet  on  the  neglect 
of  sdentific  Physical  Education  and  Hygiene  by  Parlia- 


E^JSSTS^  WEALTH  AND  HEALTH.  286 

ment  and  the  Edacational  Department.  2.  Let  us  take 
sach  apparently  small  affairs  as  the  chairs  and  benches  on 
which  the  school  children  sit,  or  the  desks  on  which  they 
work,  and  the  best  authorities  will  tell  yon  that  they  are 
ill  adapted,  as  a  rale,  for  the  health  of  boys  and  girls,  and 
lead  often  to  cnrratares  of  the  spine  and  short  sight. 
S.  The  absolute  want  of  proper  knowledge  of  the  laws  of 
health  or  of  physical  education  among  the  working  classes. 
It  is  satisfactory  to  obserre  that  lately  there  has  been  a 
morement  both  in  London  and  in  Manchester  to  dissemi- 
nate tracts  bearing  on  health  among  the  poorer  classes  of 
our  large  towns.  4.  The  neglect  of  the  proper  super- 
vision by  civic  authorities  of  the  building  of  houses.  In 
England,  unfortunately,  unlike  in  that  to  other  countries, 
house  building  is  mostly  a  speculative  affair,  the  object,  of 
course,  being  to  build  as  cheaply  and  to  sell  as  quickly  and 
dearly  as  possible.  Something  has  been  done  in  the  direc- 
tion of  supervision  lately,  but  not  much.  I  maintain  that 
there  is  no  house  in  this  district — built  on  speculation  that 
is — ^built  according  to  all  the  desiderata  of  sanitary  science* 
5.  The  rapid  growth  of  our  great  centres  of  commerce  and 
manufacture,  and  the  insufficiency  often  in  consequence  of 
either  good  drainage,  or  of  breathing  apparatus  in  the 
shape  of  open  places  and  parks.  6.  The  adulteration  of 
food  and  the  perfect  impotency  of  the  feeble  laws  against 
it.  We  read  in  the  ArMan  Nights  how  the  Grand  Visier 
ordered  a  man  who  sold  bread  with  false  weights  to  have 
both  his  ears  cut  off.  Should  not  the  man  have  even  a 
stronger  punishment  who  sells  instead  of  wholesome  food 
a  mixture  of  rotten  flour  and  alum.  As  regards  the 
adulteration  or  the  dilution  of  milk  I  intended  to  send  the 
following  letter  to  a  member  of  Parliament  whom  I  have 
the  honour  of  knowing,  but  on  consideration  I  think  it 
best  to  read  it  here,  as  publicity  is  all  I  wish  for  in  the 
matter* 

''  My  Dear  Sir, — ^Many  circumstances  during  the  last 
twelve  months  have  led  my  attention  to  the  question  whether 
some  more  effectual  means  might  not  be  found  to  check  the 
supply  of  adulterated  or  vitiated  milk  to  the  public.  There 
is  no  article  of  food  of  so  high  an  importance  for  the  national 
health  as  milk.  Recent  researches  have  conclusively  proved 
that  milk  from  tuberculous  cows  can  produce  tuberculous 
consumption  in  man.  On  the  quaUty  of  the  milk,  I  main- 
tain,  depends  to  the  greatest  extent  the  physicid,  and  to 


286  WEALTH  AHB  HEALTH.  "SSJ,  A^IffifttS 

some  extent  the  mental  character  of  a  nation.  It  is  the  food 
of  the  child,  and  the  child  is  father  to  the  man.  A  child 
bronght  ap  on  watery  milk  will  be  ricketty,  scrofdlons, 
idiotic.  If  it  grows  np,  it  will  probably  become  an  inmate 
of  onr  hospitdSy  workhonses,  or  prisons,  for  muddy  blood 
produces  muddy  thoughts,  and  there  is  no  great  step  from 
the  latter  to  crime.  But  even  among  the  adult  population 
milk  enters  largely  into  their  daily  &re.  The  number  of 
partial  or  total  abstainers  from  spirituous  drinks  is  rapidly 
increasing ;  they  must  fall  back  upon  pure  milk,  or  cocoa, 
coffee,  or  tea,  all  with  a  mixture  of  milk.  Surely,  if  the 
Legislature  takes  such  care,  and  rightly  so,  to  restrict  and 
superintend  the  liquor  traffic,  they  ought  also  to  pay  some 
attention  to  the  great  substitute — ^milk.  The  present  laws 
are  perfectly  insufficient  to  protect  the  public.  A  milk 
dealer  is  occasionally  fined  five  or  ten  pounds  for  mixing 
water  with  his  nulk,  but  he  often  makes  ten  times  that  amount 
by  his  adulteration  in  three  months !  Besides,  how  few 
people  take  the  trouble,  or  do  not  shrink  from  the  expense 
of  having  the  milk  analysed.  There  is  another  and  as 
serious  side  to  this  question.  Now  and  then  an  epidemic 
of  typhoid  £Bver  brefdcs  out  in  one  or  the  other  of  our  popu- 
lous towns.  It  is  clearly  traced  to  milk  poisoned  by  the 
admixture  of  impure  water.  Are  the  men  who  sold  such 
milk  punished  ?  Not  at  all.  The  law  has  but  an  imperfect 
hold  on  them  though  they  have  perhaps  murdered  a  dosen 
people.  And  how  many  cases  of  ill-health  are  attributable  to 
the  same  cause,  though  the  cause  remains  unknown.  My  pro- 
posal to  remedy  this  abnormal  state  of  things  is  the  following, 
which  I  submit  to  you  to  bring,  if  you  think  fit,  to  the  notice 
of  Parliament.  I  would  introduce  an  act  by  which  the  milk 
trade  would  be  regulated  in  the  same  way  as  at  present  the 
liquor  trade  is.  1.  Every  farmer  who  sells  milk,  every 
cowkeeper  and  milkdealer  would  have  to  be  licensed.  2. 
The  licensing  fee  ought  to  be  very  low,  say  10s.  a  year,  so 
as  not  to  interfere  with  the  trade.  8.  The  licenses  ought 
to  be  granted  by  the  Justices  of  Peace  in  the  same  manner 
as  is  now  done  with  public-houses.  4.  The  premises  of 
every  such  licensed  person  ought  to  be  inspected  at  least 
twice  a  year  by  a  competent  officer  who  would  be  paid  by  the 
licensing  fees.  6.  He  would  report  at  stated  times  to  the 
magistrates,  and  they  would  be  empowered  to  cancel  at  once 
the  license  if  the  cows  were  not  kept  in  a  proper  place  and 
manner  or  if  the  wells  were  contaminated  with  sewage  or 


SSS^^STmS"*  homosopathy  in  the  colonies.     287 

ofanoxioas  matter.  6.  Eveiy  farmer,  oowkeeper,  and  milk 
dealer  has  to  report  at  once  any  case  of  serioas  illness  on 
his  premises  to  the  inspecting  officers.  7.  The  dealer  who 
is  fonnd  oat  to  have  sold  adulterated  milk  is  first  to  be  fined 
as  now.  The  second  time  his  fine  ought  to  be  tenfold.  The 
third  time  he  ought  to  lose  his  license.  This  proposal  is 
dearly  in  favour  of  the  honest  farmer,  as  their  cows'  milk 
will  not  haye  to  fear  the  competition  of  water.  It  will,  if 
carried  out,  be  the  greatest  boon  for  the  rising  generation. 
The  only  persons  adversely  affected  by  it  would  be  unsoru* 
pulous  milk  dealers,  who  have  hitherto  played  with  the  lives 
of  their  fellow  citizens,  and  profited  largely  by  the  care* 
lessness  of  consumers  and  by  the  laxity  of  the  law. — ^I  remain 
my  dear  sir,  yours  truly, 

"Hy.  Bluubbbo." 
These  are  the  six  subjects  in  which,  in  my  opinion,  a 
reform  is  necessary  and  easily  effected.  England  stands 
foremost  among  nations  in  civilisation  and  wealth.  Let 
her  always  be  idso  foremost  in  advocating  and  carrying  out 
all  measures  for  increasing  the  health  and  strength  of  her 
citizens,  not  forgetful  of  the  fine  lines  of  Goldsmith, — 

*<  HI  fares  the  land,  to  hastening  ills  a  prey, 
Where  wealth  aocnmolates,  bat  men  deoay." 

I  hope  I  have  proved  to  your  satisfaction — firstly,  that  the 
theories  of  Communists,  if  carried  out,  would  disappoint 
their  very  authors;  and  secondly,  that  a  nation's  wealth 
cannot  be  better  employed  than  in  promoting  the  nation's 
health,  and  I  have  only  to  thank  you,  gentlemen,  for 
listening  with  patience  and  indulgence  to  an  essay  written 
under  the  disadvantage  of  a  busy  professional  life. 

A  vote  of  thanks  to  Dr.  Blumberg  was  proposed  by 
Aid.  Nicholson,  J.P.,  and  seconded  by  Bev.  T.  Holland, 
imd  carried  unanimously. 


HOM(EOPATHY  IN   THE   COLONIES. 

By  J.  MuBiUY  MooBB,  M.D. 

V. — HomoBopathy  in  New  Zealand. 

Ak  enterprising  and  progressive  branch  of  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  race  at  the  present  day  demands  the  advantages  of 
the  latest  improvements  in  the  art  of  healing,  as  in  all 
other  arts  and  sciences.    Therefore   New  Zealand,  the 


288       HOMOBOPATHY  IN  THE  COLOHIBS-  *^^,  aSS^w! 

**  Britain  of  the  South/'  a  mixed  yet  homogeneous  com- 
mnnity  of  450,000,  has  rapidly  appreciated  the  yalne  of 
homoBopathy.  In  die  year  1853  Dr.  G.  F.  Fischer  settled 
in  Auckland,  then  the  capital  of  New  Zealand,  and  opened 
a  pharma<r^,  at  first  conducted  by  Mens.  Delatre,  and 
afterwards  by  Mr.  J.  A.  Pond,  the  present  proprietor. 
After  the  usual  struggle  against  the  bitterest  allopathic 
opposition,  even  extending  to  an  action  for  malpractice, 
Dr.  Fischer  firmly  establie^ed  this  system  in  Auckland. 
A  man  of  varied  talent,  of  fluency  almost  amounting  to 
eloquence,  of  restless  energy  and  contagious  enthusiasm, 
he  founded  a  homodopathio  hospital,  gave  public  lectures, 
brought  out  a  monthly  popular  medical  journal,  the  Echo^ 
the  twehe  numbers  of  which  formed  a  complete  little 
domestic  manual,  and  industriously  worked  up  a  very  large 
and  arduous  practice.  His  cures  even  made  two  profes* 
sional  converts,  Massrs.  A.  G.  Purchas  and  A.  Macdonald, 
who  practise  homoeopathy!  still  in  this  city.  Sighing  for 
*'  more  worlds  to  conquer  "  Dr.  Fischer  removed  in  1870 
to  the  larger  field  of  Sydney,  where  he  is  now  in  practice. 
Meanwhile,  about  1869,  Dr.  Irvine  had  settled  in  Nelson, 
and  in  1868  Dr.  Deck  JibA  commenced  practice  in  Inver- 
cargill.  About  1878  Dr.  Deck  removed  to  Dunedin,  the 
commercial  capital  of  the  colony,  where  he  succeeded 
admirably,  relinquishing  his  excellent  practice  there  only 
in  consequence  of  Dr.  Fischer's  urgent  invitation  in  1877 
to  take  charge  of  his  own  Sydney  practice  during  his 
intended  three  years'  absence  in  Europe.  After  an 
interval  of  about  eighteen  months  Dr.  Wanless  settled  in 
^  Dunedin. 

In  January,  1871,  the  Auckland  practice  was  taken  up 
by  Dr.  F.  Hartmann,  formerly  of  Norwich,  a  learned, 
skilful  and  kindly  physician,  who  consolidated  and  extended 
the  practice  for  seven  years.  His  death  from  diabetes  in 
May,  1878,  was  very  much  lamented,  and  his  place  in  the 
afiections  of  his  patients  will  be  difficult  to  fill.  While  on 
a  tour  through  Europe  Mr.  Pond  invited  the  present 
writer,  who  was  in  ill-health  and  meditated  a  change  of 
climate,  to  settle  in  Auckland,  and  in  January,  1880, 
Dr.  J.  Murray  Moore  resumed  practice  here.  Judging  by 
results,  both  practitioner  and  practice  seem  to  suit  each 
other,  and  the  excellent  efiiBCts  of  this  climate  on  the 
health  of  the  former  is  most  gratefully  acknowledged. 
The  pharmacy  in  Queen  Street  is  large  and  completely 


iS^^Sti^  HOMCBOPATHY  IN  THE  COLONIES.      289 

eqaipped,  and  would  do  credit  to  London  or  New  York. 
Mr.  Pond  has  established  agencies  in  all  the  chief  towns 
and  country  districts,  the  sale  of  domestic  books  and 
medicine-chests  being  very  large  for  the  population,  and  on 
the  increase.  The  shrewd  colonists  are  quick  to  descry 
the  yaluable  self-help  afforded  in  emergencies  by  these 
simple,  portable  and  effective  remedies.  All  the  druggists 
and  general  stores  up  the  country  keep  the  medicines. 
Seveial  clergymen,  such  as  Archdeacon  Williams,  the 
Beys.  Sam.  Williams  and  J.  S.  Hill  are  warm  adherents 
of  homoeopathy,  and  do  much  good  work  among  the 
settlers  and  Maories. 

In  the  pretty  little  city  of  Nelson,  on  the  north  coast  of 
the  Middle  Island,  Dr.  Irvine,  formerly  of  Leeds,  has 
practised  and  farmed  land  for  about  twenty  years.  In  that 
garden  of  New  Zealand,  famous  for  its  fruits  and  flowers, 
be  holds  a  high  social  position,  and  is  warmly  spoken  of  by 
all  who  know  him.  So  wide-spread  is  the  appreciation  of 
our  system,  that  young  medical  men  (allopathic)  who  come 
out  here  to  settle,  sometimes  assume  a  practical  knowledge 
of  homoeopathy  in  order  to  ingratiate  themselves  with 
those  who  favour  that  system.  It  must  be  a  comfort  to 
immigrants  who  have  been  accustomed  to  homoeopathy  in 
England  to  know  that  now,  in  at  least  five  of  the  chief 
towns,  ihey  have  this  want  provided  for  in  a  most  satis- 
factory manner.  But  nowhere  has  such  a  strong  and 
deeply-rooted  hold  of  the  people  been  achieved  as  in  this 
city  of  Auckland,  and  no  other  city  is  so  fully  supplied  with 
practitioners.  The  beauty  of  its  scenery,  the  uniformity 
and  mildness  of  its  climate,  and  its  capacious  deep-water 
harbour — ^the  best  in  New  Zealand — and  its  comparative 

J>roximity  to  the  Hot  Lake  district  assure  for  it  a  great 
iiture.  The  following  list  of  qualified  and  registered 
homoeopathic  practitioners  in  the  colony  is  as  correct  as 
can  be  made  from  accessible  sources  of  information  ;  and 
perhaps  Messrs.  Thompson  and  Capper  might  find  it 
useful  towards  a  Colonial  Appendix  to  their  Directory. 

Auckland,  pop.  24,770.  —  Messrs.  A.  G.  J?urchas, 
A.  Macdonald,  Dr.  Moore. 

Christchurch,  pop.  26,600. — Dr.  James  Irving. 
Dunedin,  pop.  3S,000. — Dr.  Wanless. 
Hokitika,  pop.  8,000. — Dr.  Giles,  E.M.  (now  retired 
from  practice). 


240  ABBENICAL  POISONING.    *SSSJ,  aJSTJiw! 

Nelson,  pop.  6,600. — ^Dr.  Irvine. 
Wanganoiy  pop.  2|600. — ^Dr.  Wilkin. 

Wellington,  the  political  metropolis  of  the  'colony,  with 
ft  population  of  about  19,000,  has  thus  fjEur  had  no  homoeo* 
pathio  practitioner. 

Auckland,  New  Zealand, 
February  Istj  1881. 


A  CASE  OP  CHRONIC  ARSENICAL  POISONING.* 

By  Ds.  R.  Huohes. 

At  the  beginning  of  November  last,  I  was  consulted  by 
letter  relative  to  the  case  of  an  English  nobleman,  then 
wintering  in  Italy,  suffering  from  pemphigus.  The  account 
given  of  it  by  the  writer.  Lady  C— ,  is  so  full  and  minute 
that  I  cannot  do  better  tlian  quote  her  words : — 

**  I  must  in  the  first  place  tell  you  that  Lord  C —  has 
been  suffering  from  this  illness  now  between  three  and  four 
months,  and  as  for  as  I  can  judge  as  to  the  eruption  itself, 
it  seems  almost  as  far  from  cure  as  it  was  at  the  beginning. 
The  illness  has  been  most  severe  and  persevering,  and  the 
whole  body,  without  one  single  exception,  has  been  coyered 
with  it.  At  times  it  dies  away  in  one  part  and  is  more 
severe  in  another;  in  fact,  it  seems  edways  to  vary  in 
severity  from  one  part  of  the  body  to  another.  The  red- 
ness which  precedes  the  blisters  is  dtill  very  general  all 
over  the  body ;  the  blisters,  however,  I  should  say  are  less 
numerous  than  they  used  to  be,  though  larger.  There  is 
much  less  irritation,  much  less  or  almost  no  heat,  and  the 
blisters  do  not  fill  over  and  over  again  as  they  did,  but 
after  being  once  or  perhaps  twice  punctured  they  do  not 
rise  again,  which  is  certainly  an  improvement.**  The 
letter  then  went  on  to  describe  the  difficulty  experienced 
in  protecting  those  parts  of  the  body  exposed  to  chafing, 
so  that  new  cuticle  should  form  on  the  denuded  surfaces — 
which,  if  let  alone,  it  seemed  ready  enough  to  do.  **  One 
characteristic  of  this  illness  of  Lord  C — *s  has  been  that 
during  the  whole  of  the  worst  time  there  never  was  any 
fever ;  the  pulse,  though  quick,  had  the  quickness  of  irri- 

*  Reprinted  from  the  Annalt  of  the  British  HomaopathiB  SocUty^ 
Febmaiy,  1881. 


S^SSTS^  ABBENICAL  POISONING.  241 

tation  rather  than  feyer,  and  the  temperature — tested  con- 
tinaally — ^wae  ahnost  myariably  normal.  The  appetite 
remained  excellent,  and  the  sleep — ^notwithstanding  the 
extreme  irritation  during  the  earlier  part  of  the  illness — 
was  wonderful.  In  fact,  the  general  health,  notwithstand- 
ing that  he  was  covered  from  the  crown  of  the  head  to  the 
sole  of  the  foot  with  this  terrible  eruption,  accompanied  by 
the  most  distressing  and  painful  oedema,  so  that  the  body 
was  nearly  twice  the  natural  size,  and  the  same  with  arms, 
legs,  hands  and  feet,  and  even  neck  and  head — notwith- 
standing all  this,  as  I  said  before,  the  general  health  has 
been  maintained  throughout.  The  actions  of  the  bowels 
were  perfectly  regular  and  perfectly  healthy;  the  urine, 
tested  by  the  most  skilful  chemists,  pronounced  on  each 
occasion  to  be  that  of  a  person  in  perfect  health.  This 
swelling  gradually  diminished ;  the  china  and  fcrrum 
given  seemed  to  affect  it,  and  the  constant  application  of 
lotions  of  salicylate  of  soda,  with  lettuce  decoction,  or  of 
solutions  of  quinine,  has  been  most  useful.  They  were 
ordered  by  the  allopathic  doctor  C — ,  a  very  clever  man, 
who  has  been  attending  him  all  along,  and  has  allowed  me 
to  give  the  medicines  prescribed  by  letter  and  telegi-aph  by 
Dr.  — ,  who  had  seen  Lord  C —  before  he  left  England, 
and  knows  his  constitution.  When  the  swelling  dimi- 
nished there  set  in  a  most  obstinate  diarrhoBa,  which  lasted 
without  intermission  for  about  two  months,  and  at  times 
was  very  troublesome.  It  never  disturbed  digestion, 
though  the  actions  were  at  times  perfectly  liquid,  and  as 
frequent  as  fifteen  or  sixteen  in  the  twenty-four  hours. 
The  appetite  remained  excellent,  the  strength  wonderfully 
little  diminished,  no  sickness  nor  taste  in  the  mouth,  the 
tongue,  though  rather  red  at  the  tip,  never  white.  This 
diarrhoea  in  some  respects  seemed  of  a  salutary  nature,  for 
the  swelling  rapidly  diminished  and  then  disappeared, 
leaving  Lord  G—  very  thin,  though  not  emaciated.  No 
medicines  seemed  to  have  much  effect  upon  it,  but  what 
did  him  most  good  was  a  change  of  air,  bringing  him  from 
the  city  to  this  place  among  the  hills,  which  seems  to  have 
been  "very  beneficial.  He  is  now  very  decidedly  better  in 
all  respects  except  the  continual  recurrence,  or  rather  the 
non-cessation,  of  the  eruption.  The  diarrhoea  is  gone, 
the  strength  much  recovered,  the  appetite  most  excellent, 
in  fact,  he  cannot  do  without  very  frequent  food  and  wine. 
We  give  him  Bordeaux,  and  he  who  never  drank  wine  at 

Ko  4,  Vol.  25.  a 


242  ABSENIOAL  POISONING.       ^"SS^, WfiSS! 

all  now  craves  for  it,  and  finds  the  greatest  support  in 
drinking  it.    He  has  about  three  bottles  in  two  days.'* 

The  letter  went  on  to  state  that  Lord  G —  (with  whom 
I  was  not  personally  acquainted,  though  I  had  attended  his 
father  and  brothers)  was  sixty  years  of  age,  of  regular  and 
abstemious  habits,  and  of  a  general  health  unvaryingly 
good ;  that  he  had  passed  the  previous  winter  on  the  NUe, 
but  with  every  wonted  comfort  about  him,  so  there  seemed 
no  appreciable  cause  for  such  an  attack.  It  further  men- 
tioned that  the  new  skin  was  (as  might  be  supposed)  very 
soft  and  sensitive,  and  in  a  continual  slight  perspiration, 
which  on  any  provocation  became  considerable* 

Now  the  first  thought  aroused  in  my  mind  by  this  narra- 
tive was — ^how  came  this  strange  attack  about  ?  Pemphigus, 
in  this  acute  and  generalised  form,  is  well-nigh  unknown  in 
adults ;  nor  was  there  anything  in  the  present  patient  to 
account  for  his  proving  an  exception  to  the  rule.  In 
default  of  an  adequate  internal  cause,  I  could  but  look  for 
one  of  external  origin  ;  and  thinking  over  the  possibilities 
of  the  case,  my  suspicions  were  strongly  directed  to  arsenic. 
It  alone  of  all  known  poisons  has  sufficient  action  on  the 
skin  to  account  for  the  development  of  such  an  eruption 
as  pemphigus,  and  the  oedema,  diarrhcBa  and  red-tipped 
tongue  were  all  familiar  arsenical  symptoms.  I  wrote 
accordingly,  expressing  my  views,  and  urging  inquiry.  At 
the  same  time,  I  counselled  a  radical  change  in  the  local 
treatment  of  the  eruption.  All  wet  applications  were  to  be 
discontinued,  and  the  whole  body  to  be  anointed  daily  with 
the  best  olive  oil.  The  blisters  were  not  to  be  punctured, 
but  supported  with  rags  smeared  with  spermaceti  ointment, 
and  their  contents  allowed  to  dry  up.  The  nutriments  and 
stimulants  were  to  be  continued,  and  a  grain  of  antitnonium 
tartaricum  1  to  be  taken  thrice  daily,  to  improve  the 
nutrition  of  the  skin. 

A  second  letter,  dated  November  9th,  at  once  confirmed 
the  justice  of  my  suspicions.  '*  Your  letter,"  it  said, "  has 
made  me  think  that  it  is  possible  that  the  cause  you  speak 
of  may  explain  what  seems  so  inexplicable  an  illness." 
After  mentioning  facts  about  the  Nile  boat  in  which  the 
winter,  and  the  Italian  villa  in  which  the  summer  had  been 
spent,  which  seemed  to  exclude  the  possibility  of  arsenic 
being  present  in  either,  it  went  on  to  state  that  for  some 
considerable  time  Lord  C —  had  had  a  slight  but  very  irri- 
table affection  of  the  skin  of  the  pit  of  the  throat  and  the 


JKiSlr^A^Sr^   AB8EKICAL  POISONING.  248 

bend  of  the  arms.  There  was  little  to  be  seen,  but  great 
itching.  A  homoBopatbic  physician  of  Paris  had  prescribed 
arsenicum  for  this, — ^ten  grains  of  the  first  trituration  to 
be  dissolved  in  four  spoonfuls  of  water,  and  one  taken 
night  and  morning.  "  I  had  always  noticed,"  the  writer 
went  on,  "  that  Lord  C —  was  very  susceptible  to  arseni- 
cum^ and  I  did  not  give  the  medicine  for  several  months ; 
but  about  three  weeks  or  a  month  before  coming  to  the 
end  of  our  Nile  voyage,  finding  that  the  irritation  had  been 
somewhat  increased  by  the  great  heat,  I  determined  to  give 
it  a  fair  trial ;  and  accordingly  most  regularly  gave  ^m, 
for  three  weeks,  twice  a  day,  the  powders  that  I  had 
brought  with  me.  At  the  end  of  that  time  Lord  C — 
complained  of  his  tongue  being  so  dry  and  his  thirst  so 
great  that  it  made  him  quite  ill.  This  increased,  and  the 
tongue  became  hot  and  dry  like  a  parrot's,  and  he  had  chilly 
fits,  and  got  very  pale,  his  jGace  white  and  pinched,  and  his 
pulse  we«^  and  quick,  and  at  times  very  irregular  and  small, 
with  extreme  prostration.  The  eyelids  were  swelled  and 
puffy,  especially  the  right  eye.  I  looked  for  the  symptoms, 
and  finding  them  in  my  Jahr^  I  said  jokingly  to  my 
daughters,  '  I  do  think  I  must  be  poisoning  your  father  by 
small  doses  of  arsenic.^  I  at  once  stopped  the  medicine, 
and  he  got  rapidly  better.  Most  profuse  perspiration  for 
a  few  days  seemed  to  relieve  the  system,  and  we  thought 
no  more  about  it,  as  he  got  quite  well,  and  the  irritation 
in  the  neck  had  certainly  improved.  About  five  weeks 
later,  when  we  had  returned  to  Italy,  the  skin  irritation 
began  to  return  more  distressingly,  and  over  a  larger  sur- 
fiaGe,  being  rather  down  on  the  shoulders.  I  bethought  me 
again  of  my  arsenic,  and  gave  him  the  powders  again ;  but 
in  about  a  week  the  symptoms  of  dry  mouth,  chilliness,  and 
swelled  eyelids  returned,  and  I  again  stopped ;  but  about  a 
fortnight  after  this  the  illness  began,  first  attacking  the 
feet  and  arms,  and  then  the  back,  and  then  suddenly  de- 
veloping at  once  into  a  violent  condition  of  crimson  eruption, 
followed  by  thousands  of  small  blisters  and  a  red  and  shiny 
skiuy  as  in  erysipelas;  and  then  came  the  dreadful  swelling 
all  over  the  body." 

The  mystery  now  seemed  solved ;  and,  though  the  dose 
of  the  drug  was  by  no  means  excessive  (equalling  only  about 
three  minims  of  Fowler's  solution),  the  sensitiveness  to  it 
previously  noted  was  sufficient  to  account  for  the  poisonous 
effects.     That  these  occurred  in  the  system  at  large  under 


244  ABSBNICAL  POIBONINa.  "^£9^.%???^! 


Berlew,  Apifl  1, 18B1. 


its  QBe  was  imdoabted,  and  the  pemphigas  appeared  only 
the  ultimate  expression  of  the  intoxication.    The  interest 
of  the  case  was  now  mainly  therapentical.     The  next  letter, 
dated  November  24th,  said,  ^'I  have  been  strictly  following 
the  treatment  since  I  received  your  first  letter,  and  I  think 
with  very  marked  success.     We  have  entirely  stopped  all 
wet  applications,  and  the  skin  is  certainly  gaining  strength 
and  finnness ;  we  have  also  left  off  priclung  all  the  larger 
blisters,  and  have  done  as  yon  advised,  supporting  them 
with  lint  and  a  little  sperm  ointment.    I  think  I  may  say 
this  has  been  perfectly  successful  so  far.     We  began  the 
experiment  on  the  legs,  which  have  been  very  troublesome 
for  some  time,  and  have  constantly  formed  large  blisters 
which  had  to  be  pricked  over  and  over  again,  and  in  many 
cases  have  continued  unhealed  and  inclined  to  become  sore 
for  several  weeks.     They  were  just  in  the  condition  to  make 
the  experiment  fairly,  as  there  were  several  new  large  ones. 
One  we  pricked  as  usual,  and  two  or  three  we  left.  -  Those 
that  were  not  pricked  the  next  day  had  increased  in  size, 
and  also  in  number,  and  looked  quite  alarming  to  our 
eyes,  not  that  the  skin  was  red  round  about,  but  pale,  and 
neither  hot  nor  angry.     The  pricked  one  was  hot  and  red, 
as  was  usual.     The  number  of  large  blisters  increased  in  a 
very  marked  manner,  but  we  left  them  alone,  only  sup- 
porting them,  leaving  a  large  hole  in  the  middle,  and  by 
degrees  they  got  softer,  and  most  of  them  went  down  quite 
flat  without  any  trouble  in  a  couple  of  days.     Some  of 
course  were  a  Uttle  longer.     Some,  when  the  loose  skin 
came  off  of  its  own  accord  were  quite  healed  below  it,  but 
some  have  been  a  little  longer  in  healing.     .     .     .     The 
legs  are  now  getting  distinctly  better.     He  is  oiled  from 
head  to  foot  after  his  bath,  and  when  he  goes  to  bed  every 
night,  and,  as  I  said  before,  the  skin  looks  much  stronger 
and  firmer.     ...    A  very  curious  thing  is  that  all  the 
nails  are  coming  off,  the  new  ones  are  in  fact  nearly  half 
grown  up ;  again,  I  was  looking  at  arsenic  symptoms,  and 
find  that  this  is  one.     .     .     .     One  thing  still  remains  to 
be  mentioned,  and  that  is  that  he  is  inclined  to  sleep  a 
great  deal  during  the  day,  and  when  he  wakes  he  is  raUier 
conftised  and  ti^es  a  few  minutes  to  gather  himself  up. 
He  is    also    very  liable  to  a  sort  of   half  vision,  half 
dreaming,  which  bothers  him,  as  it  is  between   waking 
and  sleeping,  and  it  keeps  him  from  good  sound  night's 
rest." 


B^^^flT^!^  ARSENICAL  POISONING.  24u 

In  a  postscript,  dated  the  next  day,  Lady  C —  mentioned 
two  points  that  she  had  previously  omitted.  One  was  that 
the  pnlse  was  extremely  intermittent :  this  had  come  on 
since  he  had  hegon  to  get  better  of  the  eruption.  The 
other  was  that  his  mouth  was  very  sore,  and  had  been  so 
for  more  than  three  months.  *'  The  tongue  has  many 
places  in  it  hke  aphthsB,  not  white  like  that,  but  the  form 
is  the  same.  They  begin  like  clear  blisters,  as  on  the 
body.  The  edges  haye  a  little  blackish  fringe  around 
them,  and  the  middle  of  the  tongue  has  spots  that  are  of 
a  blackish  colour.  •  .  .  One  of  these  places  was  quite 
deep*  Sometimes  it  is  the  tip  and  sometimes  the  sides 
that  are  sore,  and  sometimes  the  blisters  even  come  on  the 
palate  and  gums."*  Her  ladyship  added  that  the  heart 
had  several  times  been  examined  with  the  stethoscope,  and 
pronounced  healthy  and  sound. 

I  advised  borax  for  the  mouth  ;  but  said  that  both  it 
and  the  intermittent  pulse  were  parts  of  the  arsenical 
malady.  If  the  heart  had  not  been  examined  quite  lately, 
I  added,  I  should  recommend  this  being  done. 

I  could  have  wished  the  story  to  have  ended  here ;  but 
it  was  destined  to  have  a  sadder  close,  and  to  show  its  evil 
agent,  the  arsenic^  in  yet  another  character.  On  December 
9th  Lady  C —  wrote : 

**  We  have  returned  from  the  hills  now,  and  a  strong 
confirmation  of  the  truth  of  your  theory  of  the  arsenic  has, 
I  am  sorry  to  say,  shown  itself  since  our  return.  For, 
having  put  Lord  G —  into  the  same  room  he  occupied 
during  all  the  first  part  of  the  time  we  were  here  before 
his  ilhiess  declared  itself,  he  has  again  experienced  a  very 
decided  return  of  the  eruption  which  was  dying  away  so 
satisiiaotorily,  and  he  has  not  been  neai-ly  so  well  the  last 
week  as  he  was.  I  thought  that  there  might  be  some 
arsenic  in  the  walls,  though  painted — as  I  think  I  told  you 
— ^with  firesco  paint,  and,  as  I  supposed,  at  least  fifty  years 
old.  But  when  I  had  a  bit  of  the  wall  scraped  and  sent 
for  analysis,  I  received  the  answer  that  it  was  full  of 
arsenic  /  The  only  two  rooms  in  the  house  in  fact  that  are 
painted  in  this  way  are  the  rooms  which  he  occupied.  Of 
course,  before  I  got  the  answer  I  had  removed  him  to  other 

*  Dr.  Oftlley  Bladdey  some  time  ago  reported  to  the  Society  iAtmaU^  ix, 
143)  a  cue  of  aoate  pemphigas  in  whidi  the  mouth  and  throat  were 
involved.  The  causation  in  his  patient  was  very  ohsooxe;  ooTild  arsenic 
have  heen  at  work  there  ? 


246  ARSENICAL  POISONIKG.  "jffi.^^Jfl^nSi! 

rooms,  bat  he  slept  four  nights  in  this  room,  and  it  seems 
to  have  brought  back  the  old  suffering.  I  want  very  much 
for  you  to  suggest  something  fresh  for  the  sore  mouth, 
which  is  very  distressing  to  him.  It  is  curious  how  the 
inside  of  his  mouth  looks  as  if  he  had  been  eating  charcoal  ; 
and  even  the  saliva  has  a  black  colour,  as  if  mixed  with 
charcoal,  for  it  is  not  slimy,  but  clear,  with  little  grains  of 
black  in  it.  The  tongue  looks  sodden^  and  many  of  the 
papillsB  are  hard  and  blackish,  the  tip  and  edges  are  red 
and  very  sore,  and  he  has  a  good  deal  of  saliva  at  times, 
which  the  soreness  of  his  mouth  prevents  his  being  able  to 
manage.  The  blackness  had  quite  gone,  and  only  came 
back  when  we  returned  here.  ...  He  complains  of 
feeling  weak  and  shaky,  and  he  certainly  is  very  much  less 
strong  the  last  few  days.  .  .  .  The  inside  of  his 
mouth,  I  forgot  to  say,  is  so  curiously  cold.  I  put  my 
finger  in  to  feel  the  back  of  the  tongue,  and  it  was  like  a 
cold  wet  place,  instead  of  warm  like  my  own." 

I  received  this  letter  on  Sunday,  the  12th,  and  tele- 
graphed immediately  to  give  mercurim.  Since  its  despatch, 
however.  Lord  C —  (as  I  subsequently  learned)  had  taken 
cold.  His  medical  attendants  said  that  there  was  nothing 
alarming,  as  the  catarrh  did  not  extend  below  the  throat. 
On  Monday  morning,  however,  he  seemed  to  have  difficulty 
in  swallowing.  The  inspiration  was  comparatively  free,  but 
the  expiration  was  difficult.  As  he  was  taking  some  soup, 
suddenly  his  eyes  closed  and  his  head  drooped  forward,  a 
dark  flush  passed  for  one  instant  over  the  face,  but  there 
was  not  even  a  gasp.     His  death  was  instantaneous. 

I  fear  I  may  have  wearied  you  with  this  long  narrative ; 
but  it  seemed  to  me  too  instructive  to  be  curtailed.  I 
would  again  invite  your  judgment  as  to  the  arsenical  factor 
of  the  case.  I  think  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  its  having 
been  the  one  cau^a  mali  throughout ;  but  the  question  is 
of  the  relative  part  taken  by  the  internal  administration 
and  the  external  exposure  to  its  influence.  I  should  be 
inclined  to  say  that,  as  in  the  former  case,  the  presence  of 
its  emanations  rendered  the  system  intolerant  of  its  medi- 
cinal use,  so  here  saturation  with  it  as  a  remedy  made  the 
patient  an  easy  prey  to  it  as  a  wall-paint,  and  that  the 
pemphigus  was  due  immediately  to  the  latter.  Any  way, 
the  history  is  of  deep  practical  importance.  It  confirms 
the  doctrine  we  have  always  maintained,  that  any  good 
wrought  by  arsenic  as  a  remedy  in  cutaneous  disease  is  an 


SSJi'SsrS^''  REVIEW.  247 


Bamir,  A|iril  1, 1881. 


example  of  the  working  of  the  law  of  similars ;  and  adds 
to  the  forms  of  skin-diisorder  it  can  cause  one  in  which  it 
is  esteemed  especially  efifective  as  a  remedy.  It  farther 
makes  as  the  more  alert  in  watching  for  the  possible 
existence  of  this  insidious  poison  in  obscure  cases  of 
illness,  and  adds  another  argument  in  favour  of  legislative 
measures  being  taken  to  restrain  or  forbid  the  use  of  such 
a  noxious  agent  for  domestic  ornamentation. 


REVIEW. 

Abridged  TherapeutieSt  founded  upon  Histology  and  Cellular 
PtUhology,  vnth  an  Appendix,  Special  Indications  for  the 
Application  of  the  Inorganic  Tissue  Formers,  By  W.  H. 
BcHiJssiiEB,  Dr.  Med.  et  Chir.  Authorised  translation  by 
M.  Doceti  Walker.  London :  Eliot  Stock,  Paternoster  Bow. 
Pp.91. 

Within  the  compass  of  91  small  pages,  printed  in  large  type, 
Dr.  Schiissler  purports  to  give  aU  the  knowledge  of  drugs 
requisite  for  the  successful  practice  of  physic !  He  describes  it 
as  '*  a  sharply  defined  system  of  therapeutics !  " 

His  explanation  of  his  plan  is  not  very  clearly  made ;  but,  so 
far  as  we  can  understand  it,  he  assumes  that  in  disease  one  or 
other  of  the  organic  or  inorganic  constituents  of  the  body  is 
deficient ;  that  the  business  of  the  physician  is  to  ascertain  which 
of  these  constituents  it  is  that  is  lacking,  and  then  to  supply  it, 
every  two  or  three  hours,  in  the  6th  centesimal  trituration.  By 
so  doing.  Dr.  Schiissler's  "  conviction,  gained  in  a  large  practice,'* 
is,  that  he  will  '<  cure,  in  the  shortest  way,  all  diseases  that,  on 
the  whole,  are  curable.'* 

The  twelve  substances  that  alone  are  necessary  for  the  practice 
of  medicine,  after  the  manner  of  Dr.  Schiissler,  are  cole,  phos.^ 
cole,  sulph,,  cah  fluorica,  ferr,  phos,y  kali  mur.,  kali  phos,,  kali 
sulph.,  magnes,  phos.i  not.  mur,,  not,  phot,,  nat,  sulph,,  and  silicea. 

Among  these  are  several  that,  in  the  hands  of  homoeopathic 
physicians,  who  have  derived  their  information  concerning 
them  from  experiments  made  upon  the  healthy,  and  applied 
them  in  disease  in  harmony  with  the  law  of  similars,  have 
proved  to  be  of  great  value.  In  some  instances  Dr.  Schiiss- 
ler's theory  seems  to  endorse  homoeopathic  experience,  and  this 
is  so  fJEur  satisfactory  for  the  theory.  But  when  it  directs  us  to 
reject  our  well  tested  aconite  in  favour  of  femitn  phosphoricum^ 
we  must  decline  to  follow  him. 

Dr.  Schiissler's  explanation  of  his  views  are  all  too  brief  to  be 
clear.     What  of  practical  importance  his  book  contains,  that  is 


248  KOTABiLU.         lte2^=/S5m2S' 


:BeTieir,  April  1,  IflSt. 


new,  is,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  doubtfolly  true ;  and  what  has 
been  ascertained  to  be  true  is  certainly  not  new. 

There  is  nothing  in  these  91  pages  calculated  to  indnce  us  to 
transfer  our  confidence  from  the  law  of  similars  and  the  Materia 
Medica  Para  to  the  hypothetical  pathology  and  abridged  thera- 
peutics of  Dr.  Schiissler. 

NOTABILIA, 

INTERNATIONAL  HOMCEOPATHIC  CONVENTION. 

We  are  informed  that  Dr.  Hamilton,  who  was  elected  at  the 
Congress,  at  Leeds,  to  preside  over  the  approaching  Homceo- 
paihic  Conyention,  has  sent  a  letter  to  the  committee  appointed 
to  make  the  arraugements  announcing  his  resignation.  An 
endeavour  was  made  to  induce  Dr.  Hamilton  to  withdraw  his 
resignation,  but  without  avail.  Such  being  the  case,  the  com- 
mittee were  compelled  to  accept  it,  and  the  vice-president,  Dr. 
Hughes,  will  now  fill  the  office  of  president. 

Much  as  Dr.  Hamilton's  resignation  is  to  be  regretted,  on 
every  ground,  we  feel  sure  that  the  position  will  be  filled,  with 
honour  to  himself  and  credit  to  British  homoeopathy,  by  no  one 
more  completely  than  by  Dr.  Hughes. 

•  We  are  requested  to  state  that  the  office  of  treasurer  has  also 
been  vacated  by  Dr.  Bayes  in  consequence  of  his  intended 
removal  from  London.  The  position  he  has  occupied  will,  we 
are  gratified  to  hear,  be  filled  by  Dr.  Black,  of  88,  Kensington 
Grardens  Square,  W.,  to  whom  aU  subscriptions  should  in  future 
be  sent.  

The  following  subscriptions  towards  the  International  Homceo- 
pathic  Convention  have  been  received  since  28rd  February : — 

£   8,  d. 
Amount  already  announoed    . . . 

Dr.  Ussher        

Dr.  A.  £.  Hawkes        ...        ...        ... 

Dr.  A.  Guinness  

Dr.  Drysdale     ...        ... 

Dr.  Bodman      ...        ...        ...        ... 

The  Hon.  Dr.  Allan  Campbell 

Dr.  J.  Morrisson  

Dr.  F.  Flint       ...        ...        ...        ... 

Dr.  Edward  Blake        

Dr.  H.  Buck      ...        ...        ...        ... 

Br.  Wm.  Boche ,    ... 

Dr.  Wm.  Scott ... 

Dr.  A.  C.  Chalmers      ...        ...        ... 


As  it  is  necessary  that  the  Committee  should  make  arrange- 
ments for  the  meetings  at  once,  it  is  desirable  that  those  who 
have  not  yet  paid  their  subscriptions  should  do  so  without  delay. 


...  72 

9 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

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0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

£87 

3 

0 

tSS^^STfS^  NOTABILU.  24d 


Berisw,  April  1,1881. 


In  order  to  entertain  our  foreign  guests  appropriately,  it  is 
requested  that  those  of  our  confreres  who  incline  should  offer 
sums  of  £5  and  upwards  to  form  a  guarantee  fund.  Seyeral 
members  have  intimated  their  willingness  to  do  so,  provided  from 
£100  to  dS200  be  so  guaranteed. — ^Williajc  Bates,  Treasurer. 


THE  HEBINa  MEMORIAL. 

Thb  attention  of  our  readers  is  called  to  the  following  circular 
letter,  recently  issued.  The  object  is  one  that  will  commend 
itself  to  the  active  co-operation  of  all  the  friends  of  homceopathy : 

Philadelphia,  January  Ist^  1881. 

Dear  Doctor, — ^At  the  <'  Hering  Memorial  Meeting,"  held  in 
Philadelphia  on  the  10th  day  of  last  October,  at  the  same  hour 
that  similar  memorial  meetings  were  held  in  the  chief  cities  of 
the  United  States  and  of  Europe,  it  was  unanimously  resolved 
to  collect  the  various  speeches  and  eulogies  delivered  at  these 
meetings  into  a  volume,  under  the  tiUe  of  ''The  Hering 
MemoniBJ,**  which  should  serve,  not  only  as  an  expression  of  the 
veneration  and  affection  in  which  we  hold  the  memory  of  our 
great  jcolleague,  but  also  as  a  monument  to  his  surpassing 
excellence  as  a  man  and  physician,  more  enduring  than  any 
structure  in  bronze  or  stone,  and  one  which,  we  are  sure,  would 
be  more  in  accord  with  his  own  wishes. 

The  undersigned,  literary  executors  of  Dr.  Hering,  were 
appointed  to  edit  this  memorial  volume,  for  which  the  materials 
are  already  in  hand,  and  are  merely  awaiting  the  necessary  frmds 
for  publication. 

^e  Bev.  Dr.  Fumess  has  kindly  consented  to  write  a  short 
memoir  of  his  old  friend,  and  this,  with  the  material  before- 
mentioned,  and  various  papers  furnished  by  eminent  physicians 
and  by  personal  friends,  will  make  a  volume  of  several  hundred 
pages  which  cannot  but  prove  of  great  professional  and  historical 
value,  and  at  the  same  tune  its  contents  will  be  sufficiently  varied 
to  prove  attractive  to  general  readers,  even  for  the  few  minutes 
they  are  awaiting  attention  in  the  physician's  office.  The  book 
will  be  handsomely  bound  and  illustrated. 

In  order  to  accomplish  thid  object,  you  are  asked  to  send  to 
any  one  of  the  undersigned  whatever  sum  you  may  find  it  a 
pleasure  to  give  towards  the  publication  of  this  book,  in  memory 
of  one  who  gave  freely  of  all  he  had  to  his  beloved  homoeopathy. 

To  all  contributors  to  the  publication  fund  a  copy  of  the  book 
will  be  sent. 

Messrs.  Boericke  k  Tafel,  the  well-known  publishers,  have 
kindly  consented  to  attend,  without  remuneration,  to  the  distri- 
bution of  the  volumes ;  the  artist  furnishes  the  drawings  as  his 


^60  HOTABILIA.  "feSS^SSTftSS" 


Beriew,  April  1, 1881. 


eontribaiion ;  there  remains,  therefore,  as  the  sole  expense  of 
the  book,  the  cost  of  paper.  engraTing,  printing,  and  binding. 
Whatever  sum  remains,  after  paying  these  fonr  items,  ynH  be 
presented  to  Mrs.  Hering,  in  the  name  of  all  the  subscribers,  of 
whose  names  a  printed  list  will  accompany  each  volmne. 

Yours  respectfully, 

G.  G.  lUus,  M.D.,  121,  North  Tenth  Street. 
C.  B.  Enebb,  M.D.,  112,  North  Twelfth  Street. 
G.  MoHB,  M.D.,  555,  North  Sixteenth  Street 


MEDICAL  HYPOCRISY. 

The  man  who  in  his  teachings  marks  out  a  law  from  which  there 
is  to  be  no  departure,  and  himself  disregards  that  law  in  his 
daily  practice,  is  a  medical  hypocrite.  The  braye  man  stands 
boldly  before  his  colleagues,  with  nothing  to  conceal.  He  is  not 
afraid  of  discussing  the  great  theories  of  the  day,  not  in  the 
spirit  of  one  who  believes  that  the  Ultima  ThuU  of  all  science 
has  been  reached  and  that  there  is  nothing  more  to  be  learned, 
but  in  that  broader  spirit  which  looks  upon  science  as  pro- 
gressive. It  is  not  always  easy  to  be  honest,  but  it  is  always 
contemptible  to  be  a  cowaurd ;  and  that  man  is  the  meanest  of 
aU  cowards,  be  he  either  theologian  or  physician,  who  places 
himself  in  any  position  where  he  cannot  act  in  accordance  with 
an  enlightened  judgment,  or,  so  acting,  is  afraid  to  show  it 
openly.  Practise  what  you  teach  and  teach  what  you  practise, 
giving  a  reason  for  your  work,  but  no  apology  and  no  excuse. 
The  public  soon  learn  to  respect  such  men,  because  they  can 
always  believe  in  their  honesty  and  sincerity.  The  profession  is 
full  of  hypocrites  and  cowards — men  who  dare  not  speak  out 
what  they  think  ;  who  dare  not  act  according  to  the  instincts  of 
gentlemen,  lest  they  o£fend  professional  bigots,  who  will  turn 
against  them  some  weapon  from  a  wonderful  code  of  ethics  or 
dethrone  them  from  their  position  as  professional  leaders. 

In  a  profession  claiming  to  be  learned,  scientific,  and  com- 
posed of  gentlemen,  there  is  more  actual  cowardice,  more 
contemptible  meanness  and  hypocrisy  in  the  medical  profession 
than  in  any  other — always  excepting  the  theological.  We  do 
not  say  there  are  no  noble  men  in  bo&i,  for  both  are  full  of  the 
brightest  examples  of  noble,  honest,  Ck)d-fearing  men,  whose 
self-denying  work  and  bright  example  should  bring  a  blush  of 
shame  to  the  miserable  time-server,  whose  god  is  his  pocket  and 
whose  life  is  centred  in  self.  K  there  were  fewer  faint  hearts  in 
our  profession,  a  little  more  honesty,  a  little  less  hypocrisy  and 


IS^KST^SSf^  NOTABltlA.  HSi 


Beriew,  April  1, 18S1. 


cowardice,  and  a  great  deal  more  rising  above  every  selfish  con- 
sideration in  our  studies  and  in  our  professional  labours,  what 
tremendous  strides  humanity  in  its  highest  and  noblest  attributes 
would  make  in  its  great  work  of  regeneration ! — Homaopathic 
Times  (New  York). 

THE  MASON  SCIENCE  COLLEGE,  BIBMINaHAM. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Trustees  of  this  College,  held  on 
the  2drd  February — &e  86th  birthday  of  its  munificent  founder 
— ^Dr.  Gibbs  Blake  was  elected  Chairman  for  the  year. 

Sir  Josiah  Mason  celebrated  his  birthday  by  making  a  further 
endowment  of  £20,000  to  enable  the  trustees  to  include  in  the 
College  range  of  study  all  subjects  required  to  enable  students  to 
take  degrees  in  arts.  Since  tiie  date  of  this  meeting,  Sir  Josiah 
has  Ibeen  seriously  ill,  but  we  are  glad  to  be  able  to  state  that  he 
is  now  convalescent. 


NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE    HOMOEOPATHIC  DISPENSARY. 

We  have  received  from  Drs.  Purdom  and  Kennedy  the  following 
report  of  the  work  done  at  this  institution  during  1880  : — 

"  The  number  of  patients  entered  during  1880  was  885, 
which  is  nearly  double  the  number  in  the  last  report  (1878). 
The  increase  in  the  attendance,  the  numbers  either  relieved  or 
cured,  together  with  a  longer  list  of  subscribers,  affords  ample 
encouragement  that  the  institution  is  doing  good  work,  and  that 
its  usefulness  is  extending." 

FOURTH    ANNUAL    REPORT    OF    THE  ADELAIDE 

CHILDREN'S  HOSPITAL,  SOUTH  AUSTRALU. 

We  are  much  pleased  to  observe  the  flourishing  state  of  this 
institution,  which,  as  we  have  had  already  occasion  to  notioe, 
was  mainly  established  by  our  esteemed  coUeague,  the  Hon. 
Dr.  Allan  CampbeU.  There  are  six  medical  officers,  three  of 
whom  are  homoeopaths  and  three  allopaths. 

The  hospital  building  was  only  ready  for  the  reception  of 
patients  about  two  months  before  the  last  annual  meeting. 
During  the  past  year  168  sick  children  have  been  admitted. 
Eighty-seven  have  been  discharged  cured,  thirty-eight  improved, 
and  four  unrelieved.  There  have  been  eight  deaths,  and  thirty- 
one  patients  were  in  the  wards  at  the  date  of  the  report.  In  the 
out-patient  department  there  were  6,226  cases  prescribed  for. 
The  hospital  is  also  used  as  a  training  school  for  nurses.  The 
lectures  detivered  in  connection  with  this  hospital  we  lately  took 
notice  of,  of  which  Dr.  Allan  Campbell  delivered  thirty.  The 
Board  specially  state  their    appreciation  of   Dr.    Campbell's 


252  CORRESPONDENCE.       ^,ff*Hi^f!!!S??':Sl" 


BaTlew,  April  1, 1881. 


services,  not  only  in  this,  but  in  many  other  ways,  and  have 
appointed  him  life  goyernorJ 

It  is  very  gratifying  to  receive  such  a  report,  and  to  see  how 
steadily  homoaopatiiy  is  progressing  and  its  value  appreciated  in 
South  Australia  under  the  energetic  guidance  of  Dr.  CampbeU 
and  his  colleagues.    We  vdsh  them  God-speed. 

THE  LONDON  SCHOOL  OP  HOMCEOPATHY. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  Governors  of  this  Listitution  will  be 
held  in  the  lecture  room  at  the  London  Homoeopathic  Hospital 
on  Tuesday,  the  12th  inst.,  at  4  o'clock. 

BRITISH  HOMOEOPATHIC  SOCIETY. 

The  next  meeting  of  this  Society  will  take  place  on  Thursday 
next,  the  7th  inst.,  at  7  o'clock,  when  a  paper  will  be  read  by 
Dr.  Hawkes,  of  Liverpool,  on  Fatty  Degeneration  of  the  Heart 
and  Pericarditu. 

THE  LONDON  HOMCEOPATHIC  HOSPITAL. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  Governors  and  Subscribers  of  this 
Charity  will  be  held  in  the  Board  Room  of  the  Hospital,  on  the 
28th  inst.,  at  8  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The  Right  Hon.  Lord 
Ebury  will  occupy  the  chair. 

CORRESPONDENCE, 

VACCINATION  WITH  CALF  LYMPH. 
To  the  Editors  of  the  Monthly  Homoeopathie  Beview* 

Gentlemen, — ^During  the  last  month  I  have  been  vaccinating 
with  calf  lymph  at  the  London  Homoeopathic  Hospital  eveiy 
Friday  at  half-past  two  o'clock. 

As  I  cannot  now  procure  calf  lymph  for  less  than  ninepenee 
each  point,  and  as  the  Board  of  Management  decided  to  charge 
only  one  shilling  for  vaccination  at  our  hospital,  I  determined  to 
try  whether  I  could  not  vaccinate  each  child  effectually  with  one 
point  instead  of  two,  as  I  have  hitherto  advocated. 

Necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention,  and  I  now  find  I  can 
produce  the  recommended  number  {two  perfect  vesicles)  with 
one  point. 

This  is  an  important  discovery,  as  the  demand  for  calf  lymph 
during  my  two  years'  experience  in  its  distribution  to  the  pro- 
fession, almost  always  exceeded  the  supply. 

Yours,  &e.f 

Geo.  Wild,  M.D. 

12,  Great  Cumberland  Plaea,  Hyde  Park. 
March  8th,  1881. 


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GOBBESPONDENCE. 


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Beriew,  April  i;UBL 


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256  COBBEBPONDBHTB.         '^^^SST^I' 


Beriew,  Apxil  I,  IfBl 


NOTICES   TO   CORRESPONDENTS. 


«%  W0  eaimot  undertake  to  return  r^eeted  manuseripte. 

Commnnliratiomi,  fte.,  have  been  recdyed  from  Dr.  Batss,  Dr.  Botb, 
Mr.  Habxis  (London) ;  Dr.  Gibbs  Blaks  (Birmingliaai) ;  Dr.  DBUioccnio 
(Manchester) ;  Mr.  Mabchamt  (Bristol) ;  Dr.  Hatwabd  (liTeipool) ;  Dr. 
MuBBAT  Moobb  (Auckland,  New  Zealand);  Mr.  Butcheb  (Beading); 
Dr.  Simpson  (Waterloo) ;  Dr.  Bebbidoe  (Lcmdon). 


BOOKS  RECEIVED. 


A  Critieal  Revision  of  the  Encyelopadia  of  Materia  Medica,    By  T.  F. 
Allen,  M.D.    New  Tork. 

Annalt  of  the  British  Homaopathie  Society.    London. 

The  Homoeopathic  World.    London. 

The  New  England  Medical  Gazette.    Boston. 

The  American  Observer.    Detroit. 

The  North  American  Journal  of  HomaoptUhy.    New  Tork. 

The  United  States  Medical  Investigator.    Chicago. 

The  HomcBopathic  Times.    New  York. 

The  Homaopathic  Courier.    St.  Louis. 

The  Medical  Advance.    Cincinnati. 

The  St.  Louis  Clinical  Review. 

American  HomoBopath.    New  York. 

Hahnemannian  Monthly.    Philadelphia. 

The  Medical  Herald.    St.  Louis. 

Homoeopathic  Journal  of  Obstetrics.    New  York. 

Therapeutic  Gctzette.    Detroit. 

Bulletin  de  la  Soc.  Mid.  Horn,  de  France.    Paris. 

Bibliothlque  Homotopathique.    Paris. 

VArt  Medical.    Paris. 

Revue  HomoBopathique  Beige.    Brussels. 

AUgemeine  HomUqpathische  Zeitung.    Leipsic. 

HomJSopathische  Rundschau.    Leipsic. 

El  Criterio  Medico.    Madrid. 

Boletino  Clinico.    Madrid. 

La  Reforma  Medica.    Mexico. 


Papers,  Dispensary  Beports,  and  Books  for  Beview  to  be  sent  to 
Dr.  Pope,  Lee  Boad,  London,  S.E.,  or  to  Dr.  D.  Dtcb  Bbowm,  29,  Seymour 
Street,  Fortman  Square,  W.  Advertisements  and  Business  Commimi- 
nations  to  be  sent  to  Messrs.  E.  Gould  &  Son,  59,  Moorgate  Street,  B.C. 


B^SS!^2?tS^   IKTERNATIONAL  CONVENTION.     267 


THE    MONTHLY 


HOMOEOPATHIC    REVIEW- 


THE  INTERNATIONAL  HOMOEOPATHIC 

CONVENtlON. 

Five  years  ago  there  assembled  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia 
a  meeting  of  homoeopathic  practitioners  from  well  nigh 
every  part  of  the  world.  The  President  on  the  occasion 
was  the  late  Dr.  Cabroll  Dunham — a  man  whose  name  is 
held  in  the  greatest  respect  by  aU  who  are  familiar  with  his 
writings,  one  whose  memory  is  loved  and  reverenced  by  all 
among  whom  he  lived  and  practised  the  profession  of  which 
he  was  so  bright  aoi  ornament.  The  gathering  was  snc* 
cessfaly  the  work  brought  forward  interesting  and  instruc- 
tive, and  the  social  intercourse  of  the  week  full  of  pleasure 
and  advantage  to  all  concerned. 

The  desire  that  after  an  interval  of  five  years  a  similar 
reunion  should  be  held  in  some  other  part  of  the  world, 
was  but  the  expression  of  the  interest  diat  had  been  excited. 
Within  three  months  from  the  conclusion  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  this  convention,  British  homoeopathic  practitioners 
at  the  Congress  held  at  Clifton  resolved  to  invite  homoeo- 
pathic practitioners  from  all  parts  of  the  world  to  meet 

No.  5,  Vol.  35.  s 


268  INTERNATIONAL  CONVENTION.   ^eS£i?S??M8i! 

together  in  London  dnring  this  present  year  of  1881.  The 
time  is  rapidly  approaching  when  this  most  important 
meeting  will  take  place.  We  therefore  desire  to  draw  to 
it  the  attention  of  all  medical  men  practising  homoeopathy 
in  this  conntry,  to  enlist  their  sympathies  in  promoting  its 
snccess,  and  to  nrge  npon  them  the  dnty  as  well  as  the 
advantage  of  taking  a  personal  part  in  its  proceedings. 

The  reports  which  have  been  receiyed  from  abroad  give 
ns  every  reason  for  hoping  that  the  assemblage  will  be 
thoronghly  cosmopolitan.  A  very  lively  interest  in  the 
Convention  has  been  excited  both  in  America  and  through- 
out the  Continent  of  Europe.  In  the  United  States  a 
committee  has  been  formed  for  the  purpose  of  giving  to  the 
homoeopathic  practitioners  throughout  the  country  every 
information  they  can  require.  The  holding  of  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  American  Institute  of  Homoeopathy  has 
been  so  timed,  and  the  locality  so  chosen,  as  to  afford 
special  facilities  for  arriving  in  England  a  little  before  the 
day  when  the  Convention  will  assemble.  Special  rates  have 
been  quoted  by  first-class  steamship  companies  as  a  further 
inducement  to  onr  coUeagues  to  visit  the  old  conntry. 

So  anxious  are  our  American  friends  to  be  on  British 
soil  as  soon  as  possible,  that  they  are,  we  hear,  going  to 
sail  from  Quebec !  How  many  we  may  expect  to  have  the 
pleasure  of  welcoming,  it  is  of  course  impossible  to  foresee. 
But  we  hope  that  fully  one  hundred  may  be  able  to  come, 
while  we  are  well  assured  that  a  great  many  hundreds  will 
sincerely  desire  to  do  so.  All  we  can  say  is,  that  the  larger 
the  company  the  more  gratified  shall  we  be. 

France  and  Belgium,  where  homoeopathy  is  so  well  and 
powerfully  represented,  and  Germany,  the  Yaterland  of 
Hahnemann,  will,  we  have  reason  to  believe,  each  be  well 
represented.    From  Italy  and  Spain,  it  is  anticipated  that 


l£S^£Ti?3M!^  INTERNATIONAL  CONVENTION.     269 

several  arrivals  may  also  be  expected.  A  thoronghly  hearty 
welcome  may  assuredly  be  predicted  for  our  Continental 
brethren. 

To  render  the  visit  of  our  American  and  Continental 
guests  as  full  of  enjoyment  and  satisfaction  to  them  as  may 
be  in  our  power,  must  be  our  first  consideration.  To  the 
complete  fulfilment  of  this  duty  we  call  upon  all  British 
homoeopathic  practitioners  to  lend  not  only  a  willing  hand, 
but  an  anxious  and  earnest  heart. 

By  those  of  us  who  reside  in  and  around  the  metropolis, 
the  privileges  of  extending  hospitality  will  be  monopolised, 
and  will,  we  trust,  be  largely  exercised.  We  may  here 
remind  those  who  have  not  yet  replied  to  Dr.  Bubnett's 
circular,  asking  what  hospitality  they  may  be  able  to  ofier, 
that  the  local  Secretary  for  London  will  be  glad  to  hear 
firom  them  as  early  as  possible,  in  order  that  our  friends 
may  meet  with  a  suitable  reception  immediately  on  their 
arrival  in  town. 

While  our  colleagues  in  the  country  will  necessarily  be 
precluded  from  opening  their  houses,  they  will  by  their 
presence  in  London  aid  most  materially  in  enabling  those 
who  reside  here  to  render  the  visit  of  our  foreign  guests 
pleasurable  one.  We  trust  then  that  they  will  come 
amongst  us  in  considerable  numbers,  taking  an  active  part 
in  the  work  of  the  meetings  and  in  the  entertainment  of 
those  firom  distant  lands. 

The  President  is,  as  we  announced  in  our  last  number. 
Dr.  BicHABD  Hughes,  a  physician  than  whom  no  one 
amongst  us  is  more  highly  regarded  both  for  the  excellent 
work  he  has  accomplished  in  the  cultivation  of  homoeopathy, 
and  for  his  personal  qualities.  The  Vice-Presidency,  bein^ 
vacant,  will  be  fiUed  up  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  Con- 
vention. Dr.  GiBBS  BlaeE)  of  Harboume  Bead,  Edgbastoc^ 
Birmingham,  is  the  General  Secretary ;  Dr.  Bubnett,  of 


260  INTSBNATIOKAL  CONVEOTION.   ^SSIJ^Tiro! 

5y  Holies  Street,  Cavendish-  Square,  Local  Secretary  for 
London ;  Dr.  Hatwabd,  of  Grove  Street,  Liverpool,  the 
Local  Secretary  for  the  west  side  of  the  conntiy;  and 
Dr.  Black,  of  83,  Kensington  Gardens  Square,  is  the 
Treasnrer.  Either  of  these  gentlemen  will  afford  any  infor- 
mation regarding  the  arrangements  of  the  meetings  that 
may  be  desired.  Dr.  Black  will  be  especially  gratified  by 
a  rapid  increase  in  the  nimiber  of  subscriptions.  It  is  of 
considerable  importance  that  all  contributions  to  the  funds 
of  the  Convention  should  be  paid  in  as  early  as  possible  in 
order  that  the  Committee  may  be  able  to  conclude  the 
necessary  arrangements  at  once. 

The  opening  meeting  on  Monday  evening,  the  11th  of 
July — ^the  President's  reception — ^will  be  of  a  purely  social 
character.  It  will  be  held  at  the  rooms  engaged  for  the 
meetings  of  the  week,  those  of  the  Dilettante  Society  in 
Argyll  Street,  Regent  Street.  The  invitations  to  this 
meeting  will  include  all  the  members  of  the  Convention, 
together  with  the  ladies  of  their  fiomilies.  Its  chief  object 
is  to  bring  the  members  together  for  mutual  intercourse, 
the  inspection  of  objects  of  artistic  and  scientific  interest, 
and  to  enjoy  some  good  music. 

On  Tuesday,  at  2.80  p.m.,  the  first  general  meeting  will 
be  held>  and  the  Convention  be  opened  by  an  address  £rom 
the  President.  At  its  conclusion  the  reports  of  the  progress 
of  homoeopathy  in  different  parts  of  the  world  will  be  pre- 
sented, and  a  summary  of  them  read  from  the  chair.  These 
reports  will  be  fbmished — ^for  Great  Britain  and  her  Colo- 
nies, by  Dr.  Pope  ;  for  the  United  States,  by  Dr.  Taiaot  ; 
for  France,  by  Dr.  Claude  ;  for  Germany  and  Austria,  by 
Dr.  H.  GouLLON,  jun. ;  for  Belgium,  by  Dr.  Mabtiny  ;  for 
Italy,  by  Dr.  Bernard  Arnulpht  ;  for  Russia,  by  Dr. 
BojANus;  for  Canada,  by  Dr.  Nichoi*;  for  India,  by  Dr. 
Sircab.    These  reports  will  form  the  basis  of  a  discussiiw 


B^^STSn?^  INTERNATIONAL  X50NVENTI0N.  261 


on  the  present  state  and  fdtore  prospects  of  homoBopathy 
thronghoat  the  world,  and  the  best  methods  of  making  it 
still  more  generally  known.  Dr.  Bayes,  Dr.  Talbot  (Bos- 
ton),  and  Dr.  Claude  (Paris)  will  open  the  discussion,  so 
that  the  subject  may  be  examined  from  the  several  points 
of  view  of  England,  the  United  States  of  America,  and  the 
Continent  of  Europe.  Doubtless  many  other  speakers  will 
assist  in  promoting  the  thorough  ventilation  of  a  subject  at 
once  so  important  and  so  interesting. 

The  further  details  of  the  programme  of  the  week  we 
will  give  in  the  words  of  the  British  Journal  of  Hoinoso- 
pathy  (April,  p.  106) : — 

*<  On  the  Wednesday  afternoon,  at  the  same  hour,  we  shall 
begin  our  more  strictly  scientific  work.  The  subject  of  the  day 
will  be  the  Institutes — or  general  principles — of  Homoeopathy, 
and  Materia  Medica.  Of  the  essays  sent  in  or  promised  in  this 
department  those  of  the  earlier  division  have  lent  themselves 
more  readily  to  discussion ;  though  some  of  the  latter  kind 
furnished  by  Drs.  Allen,  E.  M.  Hale,  Heber  Smith,  and  Burnett, 
will  adorn  the  transactions  of  the  Convention.  The  first  sabject 
of  discussion  will  be,  as  announced, '  The  selection  of  the  remedy 
with  especial  reference  to  individualisation  and  generalisation.' 
This  originally  grew  out  of  the  offer  of  a  paper  on  the  part  of 
Dr.  Berridge, '  On  the  selection  of  the  remedy.*  Feeling  sure 
that  extreme  views  as  to  individualisation  would  herein  be  main- 
tained. Dr.  Hughes  undertook  to  prepare  a  contribution  setting 
forth  the  other  side  of  the  truth,  and  Dr.  Hayle,  of  Bochdale, 
was  asked — as  occupying  somewhat  of  intermediate  ground — to 
express  his  views  on  the  subject.  This  he  has  done,  in  a  paper 
exhibiting  all  the  qualities  of  thought  and  style  which  distinguish 
him,  entitled  <  Thoughts  on  the  Scientific  Application  of  the 
Principle  of  Homoeopathy  to  Practice.'  It  rejects  the  extreme 
Habnemannian  method  of  selection  per  enuvierationem  simpUcem^ 
and  advocates  a  more  philosophical  symptomatology  as  our  basis 
ibr  prescribing.     Dr.  Beiridge  has  since  withdrawn  his  offer ; 


262     INTEBNATIONAL  CONVENTION.  ^B^L^SSS^sf?^ 

and  Dr.  Fenion  Cameron,  another  representative  of  the  same 
school,  has  declined  to  supply  his  place.  An  application  to 
Dr.  Hawkes,  of  Chicago,  has  been  more  successful ;  and,  from 
what  we  know  of  his  writings,  there  is  every  reason  to  expect 
that  individualisation  and  prescribing  by  '  characteristics  *  will  be 
both  ably  an^  fairly  justified.  These  three  papers,  then,  by 
Drs.  Hayle,  Hawkes,  and  Hughes,  will  form  the  basis  of  the 
discussion  on  '  the  selection  of  the  remedy ;  *  and  Dr.  Drysdale 
is  expected  to  be  its  opener. 

**  An  elaborate  essay  on  Alternation,  by  two  of  our  most 
eminent  Belgian  colleagues.  Dr.  Martihy  of  Brussels  and  Dr. 
Bernard  of  Mons,  furnishes  the  next  subject  for  debate.  They 
urge,  both  on  theoretical  and  on  practical  grounds,  a  wide 
adoption  of  the  practice  ;  and  it  is  hoped  that  someone  who  is 
opposed  to  it  will  come  forward  to  take  up  the  gage  they  have 
thrown  down  so  boldly  and  well.  Dr.  Hayward  has  expressed 
his  intention  of  taking  part  in  the  discussion,  but  rather  on 
their  side. 

'<  The  next  subject  is  that  without  discussing  which  no 
gathering  of  homoeopaths  could  depart  satisfied — the  vexed 
question  of  dose.  Some  novelty,  however,  wiU  be  imported  into 
it  by  the  point  of  view  from  which  mainly  it  will  be  presented 
by  those  who  handle  it.  In  the  articles  on  '  Triturations  '  and 
*  Dilutions  *  in  our  two  last  numbers,  we  have  sketched  somo  of 
the  thought  and  work  lately  expended  in  America  on  the 
scientific  aspect  of  infinitesimal  quantities  and  their  effects. 
Dr.  J.  P.  Dake,  under' whose  headship  the  Materia  Medica 
Bureau  of  the  American  Institute  of  Homoeopathy  has  for  two 
years  worked  at  this  subject,  wiU  sum  up  their  labours  for  as ; 
and  Dr.  Conrad  Wesselhoeft,  to  whose  researches  we  have  made 
such  ample  reference,  will  discuss  the  relative  value  of  such 
evidence  as  compared  with  that  resulting  from  practice.  Hence 
will  arise  the  third  subject  of  debate  for  the  day.  Those  who 
desire  to  take  part  in  it,  however,  will  receive  another  essay  as 
bearing  on  the  question,  though  covering  a  much  wider  range. 
It  is  by  Dr.  Cretin,  of  Paris,  and  entitled  *  The  question  of  dose : 


iSriSJfj^'nSf^    INTEBNATIONAL  CONVENTION.  263 


Hahnemanziiamsm  and  Homoeopathy.'  Coming  from  bis  pen,  it 
may  be  well  expected  to  be  a  vigorous  exposition  of  the  rational 
and  anti-mystio  way  of  regarding  onr  system  of  practice. 

'*  We  come  now  to  Thursday's  work,  which  is  to  be  deyoted  to 
Practical  Medicine,  and  that  special  branch  of  it  now  called 
Gynsecology.  In  the  former  category  a  good  many  of  our 
^ontribations  will  find  place.  Those  among  them  which  have 
furnished  the  first  subject  for  discussion  are  papers  by 
Dr.  Holcombe,  of  New  Orleans,  on  yellow  fever,  by  Dr.  Sircar* 
of  Calcutta,  on  the  results  of  his  experience  in  cholera  and  other 
■acute  diseases  occurring  in  his  sphere  of  practice,  and  by 
Dr.  Carter,  now  of  Sydney,  on  dysentery  as  seen  by  him  while 
in  India.  These  have  suggested  <  homoeopathy  in  hyper-acute 
diseases  '  as  a  topic  on  which  all  who  practise  in  the  tropics  or 
tbeir  neighbourhood  can  enlarge  with  advantage  to  their 
colleagues.  The  addition  of '  hyperpyrexia '  to  the  definite  forms 
of  disorder  already  named  will  give  those  of  us  who  live  in  less 
4u:dent  climates  an  opportunity  of  contributing  to  the  discussion, 
ibs  the  feature  in  question  is  not  uncommonly  seen  in  acute 
disease  everywhere,  and  its  treatment  urgently  demands  con- 
aderation. 

'<Dr.  Gutteridge,  who  has  devoted  a  good  deal  of  attention  to 
■cancer,  has  favoured  us  with  a  paper  on  its  etiology  and  treat- 
ment, which  will  be  read  with  much  interest ;  and  '  the  possi- 
l}ilitie8  of  medicine  '  (as  distinct  from  surgery)  in  this  terrible 
•disease  will  next  occupy  the  attention  of  the  meeting.  Mr.  Clifton 
will  open  the  discussion  on  the  subject,  and  Dr.  Bnmett  will  take 
^art  in  it. 

*'  Oynsecology  will  then  be  in  order ;  and  we  have  '  the 
treatment  of  affections  of  the  os  and  cervix  uteri '  as  the  special 
point  for  consideration.  The  question  how  far  these  maladies,  so 
-common  in  the  weaker  sex,  are  amenable  to  the  internal  medication 
4uid  gentle  local  appliances  with  which  we  treat  other  diseases  is  a 
moot  one,  and  of  no  little  importance.  We  have  secured  the 
.services  of  three  of  our  London  practitioners,  who  are  known  to 
have  cultivated  this  fieldj  as  essayists,  on  the  subject ;  we  speak 


264     INTERNATIONAL  CONVENTION.  ^^g^JlL^SSJ?^^ 


Behev,  Hay  %  ISBl. 


of  Drs.  Djce  Brown,  Edward  Blake,  and  Carfiite.  Another^ 
Dr.  Matheson,  will  take  part  in  thi^  discussion,  which  is  to  be 
opened  by  no  less  a  person  than  Dr.  Ludlam,  of  Chicago. 

**  On  Friday,  we  are  to  be  occupied  with  Surgical  Therapeutics^ 
Ophthalmology,  and  Otiatrics.  We  are  unable  as  yet  to  fix  the 
subject  for  discussion  in  the  first  of  these  spheres.  We  h&Te 
succeeded  in  securing  but  few  promises  of  essays,  and  of  those 
which  are  forthcoming  we  do  not  as  yet  know  even  the  names. 
This  blank  we  hope  ere  long  to  fill.  The  diseases  of  the  eye 
and  ear  are  better  supplied.  The  very  important  question 
of  the  treatment  of  iritis,  especially  in  the  syphilitic  form,  will 
come  before  the  ophthalmologists.  It  wiU  be  handled  in  essays 
by  Dr.  Vilas,  of  Chicago,  Dr.  Campbell,  of  St.  Louis,  and 
probably  Dr.  Dekeersmaecker,  of  Brussels ;  and,  as  the  disease 
not  unfrequently  comes  before  us  all  in  daily  practice,  it  is 
sure  to  find  speakers  ready  to  communicate  their  experience 
in  its  management.  In  ear  disease,  no  single  point  has  be^ 
selected  for  discussion,  as  the  only  paper  in  this  department 
on  which  we  can  at  present  count  is  one  from  our 
own  Dr.  Cooper,  which  is  a  series  of  notes  upon  the  use 
of  homoeopathic  remedies  in  aural  practice.  The  general  question 
however  as  to  what  place  homoeopathy  occupies  in  otiatrics,  a& 
compared  with  the  local  and  mechanical  measures  in  vogue  in 
the  old  school,  is  one  which  may  well  be  thoroughly  ventilated. 

"  The  meeting  of  Saturday  wiU  be  held  half  an  hour  earlier,  to 
enable  country  members  to  leave  for  home  by  the  afternoon 
trains.  The  business  will  be  of  a  supplementary  and  misceUaneoos 
kind ;  but  there  is  sure  to  be  a  good  deal  remaining  over  to  be 
talked  about  after  the  fixed  programme  of  the  previous  days  has 
been  got  through,  and  those  who  attend  on  Saturday  will  not  be 
unrewarded  for  their  presence. 

'<  Besides  the  general  meetings  of  the  Convention  now 
sketched,  the  hall  of  assembly  will  be  free  in  the  forenoons  for 
such  special  and  sectional  gatherings  as  may  be  organised  among 
the  members  themselves.  One  of  these  to  be  occupied  with  the 
subject  of  hygiene  is  ah^eady  being  planned  and  prepared  for  by 


bSSJJTiST?^  ™>»»  QUAIN,  AND  JENNER.  fi66 

onrindefatigabla  ooUeagaeDr.  Both ;  and  Dr.  Duncan,  of  Chicago^ 
will  probably  call  together  on  one  of  the  forenoons  his  brother 
piedologists." 

With  such  a  "  bill  of  fare  "  before  us,  we  have  indeed 
a  light  to  expect  a  thoronghly  saceessfal  gathering  daring 
ihe  second  week  of  July.  Our  readers  will,  on  reading  it^ 
feel  at  once  that  such  a  programme  as  this  has  not  been 
completed  without  a  very  great  amount  of  care,  of  thought^ 
and  of  sheer  hard  work.  When  they  reflect  upon  this  we 
would  have  them  remember  that  this  care,  this  thought, 
this  work  has  proceeded  from  Dr.  Bighabd  Hugheb.  It  is 
true  that  Committees  have  been  appointed  to  develop  the 
scheme,  but  it  is  equally  true  that  they  have  throughout 
supported  rather  than  aided  Dr.  Hughes.  Nearly,  if  not 
quite,  every  arrangement,  every  suggestion,  has  been  ini- 
tiated by  him ;  and  we  should  not  err  if  we  added  thai 
nearly  every  letter  in  the  vast  correspondence  that  has  been 
necessary  has  been  written  by  him.  To  him,  then,  our 
heartiest  thanks  are  due — thanks  which  we  trust  will  be 
rendered  not  only  in  words,  but  by  giving  to  him  our  most 
cordial  support  as  our  President,  and  by  aiding  by  our 
presence  at  the  meetings  to  render  the  occasion  as 
brilliantly  successful  as  it  is  in  the  power  of  British 
homcBopathists  to  do. 


KIDD,  QUAIN,  AND  JENNER. 

The  anxiety  which  has  been  naturally  felt  during  the 
.fatal  illness  of  the  illustrious  statesman,  towards  whose 
sick  chamber  all  eyes  have  lately  been  turned,  has  been 
tinged  with  disgust  at  the  unseemly  behaviour  of  two 
physicians  of  high  standing,  whose  assistance  in  the  efforts 
Ibeing  made  to  save  his  life  was  requested. 


266  KIDD,  QUAIN,  AND  JENNEB.    "SS^fSSJ^fm! 

It  is  well  known  that  Dr.  Kidd  has  for  some  years  been 
the  medical  attendant  of  the  late  Lord  Beaconsfield* 
It  is  equally  well  known  that  Dr.  Kidd  is  commonly 
regarded  as  a  homceopathic  physician,  and  it  is  also  true 
that  in  a  greater  or  less  degree  Dr.  Ktdd  does  practise 
homoBopathically — ^to  what  extent  he  does  so  his  book, 
entitled  The  Laws  of  Therapeutics,  sets  forth  quite 
xslearly. 

Some  weeks  ago  it  was  announced  that  the  Earl  of 
Beaconsfield  was  ''  slightly  indisposed,"  and  that  his 
medical  attendant  recommended  him  to  keep  the  house  for 
a  few  days.  Presently,  announcements  of  this  type  became 
more  serious.  The  illness  of  the  noble  lord  did  not  yield, 
to  the  measures  adopted.  Then  came,  from  Boyal  and 
other  quarters,  an  urgent  demand  for  further  advice.  Upon 
this,  Dr.  Kidd  wrote  to  Sir  William  Jenneb,  asking  him 
to  help  him.  Sir  William  point  blank  dech'ned  to  do  any- 
thing of  the  kind.  Dr.  Quain  was  also  appealed  to  by 
Lord  Barbington,  and  after  a  certain  amount  of  hesitation, 
s  written  assurance  from  Dr.  Kidd  that  he  had  not  treated 
Lord  Beaconsfield  homcsopathically — a  statement  which 
the  unchecked  progress  of  the  noble  Earl's  illness  testified 
to  the  truth  of — ^that  he  would  do  for  Lord  Beaconsfield 
whatever  Dr.  Quain  directed  him  to  do,  and  having  been 
flatisfied  by  Sir  Thomas  Watson,  Sir  Risdon  Bennett,  and 
Sir  James  Paget,  that  there  was  no  harm  in  his  meeting 
Dr.  EiDD  under  the  circumstances — he  went.  All  that 
Dr.  EiDD  had  done  for  the  patient  met  with  Dr.  Quain's 
approval.  It  had  been  lamentably  unsuccessful,  it  is  true, 
lut  so,  as  a  rule,  is  all  allopathic  treatment  in  such  cases ; 
BO  that  Dr.  Quain  had  nothing  to  object  to  on  that  score. 

Sir  William  Jenneb  on  one  occasion  saw  Lord  Beacons- 
field with  Dr.  QtJAiN — ^Dr.  Eidd  being  out  of  the  room. 
At  another  time  Sir   William  saw  Lord  Beaconsfield 


S^^Sjt^Sf"     KIDD,  QUAIN,  AND  JENNEB.  267 

when  Dr.  EIidd  was  present,  bat  at  a  sufficient  distance 
firom  him  to  prevent  his  presence  having  any  prejudicial 
influence  upon  the  chances  of  Sir  Wiluam's  being  elected 
President  of  the  College  of  Physicians  during  the  following 
week !  This  little  bit  of  bye-play  was  got  up  because  Lord 
Beagonsfield  had,  on  the  first  occasion  when  Sir  Williah 
Jenneb  saw  him^  remarked  on  the  absence  of  Dr.  Eidd 
from  the  room ;  and  his  lordship  was  too  weak  the  second 
time  to  allow  Sir  William  Jenneb  to  run  the  risk  of 
insulting  his  trusted  medical  attendant  to  his  face.  Hence 
he  did  so  by  arrangement ! 

Sir  William  Jenneb  in  his  note  to  Dr.  Eidd  gives  as 
his  reason  for  refusing  to  meet  him,  that  he  does  ''  not 
think  that  Lord  Beaconsfield's  interest  could  in  any  way 
be  served  by  our  meeting;  on  the  contrary  it  could  not 
be  without  risk  to  him."  There  would  have  been  a 
much  more  obvious  amount  of  truth  in  this  passage  if 
in  place  of  '^  Lord  Beaconsfield's  "  interest  it  had  read  ' 
Sir  William  Jenneb's  ! 

The  great  object  that  Dr.  Quain,  Sir  William  Jenneb, 
and  Sir  William  Gull — ^who  was  consulted  by  Sir  William 
Jenneb — ^appear  to  have  had  in  view  was  obtaining  Dr. 
Kmn's  dismissal  from  the  noble  earl's  service,  and  their 
own  instalment.  In  this  they  have  failed,  as  they  deserved 
to  fidl.  They  have,  however,  not  been  without  their 
revenge !  The  position  into  which  they  have  forced 
Dr.  Ktdd  was  undoubtedly  a  most  humiliating  one. 

At  the  Comitia  Majora  of  the  College  of  Physicians, 
when  Dr.  QuAm  went  to  confession,  he  had  the  imperti* 
nence  to  state  that  on  consulting  the  Medical  Directory  he 
found  that  Dr.  Eidd  was  a  qualified  practitioner.  To 
suppose  that  he  was  otherwise  was  a  piece  of  afiiectation, 
fln  assumption  of  ignorance  which  could  have  had  no  other 
object  than  to  offer  an  insult  to  a  physician  who  is  well 


268  KIDD,  QUAIN,  AND  JENNER.   ^1L*^w^l£??lw! 

known  thronghont  the  whole  of  London  as  possessing  a 
larger  share  of  public  confidence  than  any  other  medical 
man  of  the  day — Dr.  Quain  himself  not  excepted ! 

Then  again,  in  order  to  persuade  these  big  wigs  of  the 
College  of  Physicians  to  let  him  off  as  easily  as  might  be, 
Drs  £n>D  has  been  tempted  into  print,  and  left  on  record 
two  statements  that  coming  from  most  people  would  be 
regarded  as  contradictory.  ''Like  other  practitioners/' 
he  writes  to  the  Lancet,  ''  I  use  the  drags  of  the  British 
Pharmacoposiay  but  in  many  cases  I  have  learned  from 
experience  that  what  are  called  homoeopathic  remedies 
may  be  usefully  prescribed; "  while  in  a  letter,  dated  three 
days  later,  so  great  is  his  attachment  to  homoeopathy  that 
he  exclaims,  ''  I  cling,  with  strong  purpose  of  heart  and 
conscience,  to  the  law  of  homoeopathy,  only  because  I 
believe  it  to  be  true,  and  find  it,  every  day  of  my 
life,  to  be  the  most  invaluable  help  in  curing  my 
patients."  Again,  he  vnrites,  ''  The  allopathic  doctor's 
inability  to  cure  many  diseases  is  because  he  ignores 
the  help  of  the  homoeopathic  law,  of  which  I  am  not 
ashamed.  Deprive  me  of  its  help  and  I  should  retire 
from  practice  altogether." 

As  we  have  said.  Dr.  Ejdd  has  clearly  defined  his  thera- 
peutic faith  in  his  book.  He  there  shows  that  in  acute  dis- 
ease no  remedies  act  curatively  with  so  much  promptitude 
as  do  such  as  are  homoeopathic :  while  in  chronic  disease, 
he  seems  to  think  that  palliatives  alone  are  available,  and 
consequently  in  such  he  relies  upon  allopathy.  Whether 
Dr.  KiDD  is  right  in  so  limiting  the  advantages  of  homoeo- 
pathy is  a  question  of  experience ;  and  we  will  venture  to 
say  that  all  homoeopathic  physicians,  who,  when  face  to 
face  with  a  case  of  complex  chronic  disease,  have  carefully 
referred,  in  their  study  of  it,  to  the  Materia  Medica,  and 
have  prescribed  accordingly,  will  unhesitatingly  assert  that 


tert^^STvS!^''    ^^^i  QUAIN  AND  JBNNBB.  269 


Br.  EiDD  is  wrong.  That  antipathic  palliatives  do  give 
immediate  relief  very  fineqnentiy  we  all  know,  bat  there  is 
the  reaction,  the  inevitable  reaction,  which  too  often  leaves 
the  disorder  worse  than  it  was  before.  The  difficulty  of 
finding  a  troly  h<mioeopathic  specific  in  snch  cases  is,  we 
admit,  very  generally  great.  Bat  that  it  can  be  done,  has 
been  done  over  and  over  again,  is  certain. 

Dr.  EmD  is  correctly  described  as  a  ^'repated  homoeo* 
path."  We  are  glad  to  have  the  acknowledgment  his  ex< 
tensive  experience  compels  him  to  give  that  homoeopathy  is 
invaluable  in  acate  disease ;  bat  the  general  public  suppose 
that  he  regards  it  as  of  equal  importance  in  chronic  dis- 
orders— and  go  to  him  accordingly ;  they  go  to  avoid  the 
necessity  of  antipathic  palliatives,  of  which  in  many  in- 
stances they  have  had  too  many  already.  The  results  of 
such  measures  are  not  one  whit  better  in  the  hands  of 
(me  physician  than  they  are  in  those  of  another;  but, 
when  they  are  provided  by  Dr.  Eidd,  they  are  supposed  to 
be  homceopathic;  and  failure  to  afford  relief  is  at  once  attri- 
buted to  a  failure  of  homoeopathy  !  This  is  certainly  not  as 
it  ought  to  be. 

That  his  practice  may  be  known  'to  be  but  partially 
homoeopathic  Dr.  Kibd  has  withdrawn  from  the  Council  of 
the  London  Homoeopathic  Hospital  and  from  the  British 
Homoeopathic  Society.  More  recently,  within  the  last  three 
weeks  (a  somewhat  ominous  date  by  the  way),  he  has  with- 
drawn from  the  Council  of  the  London  School  of  Homoeo- 
pathy. 

The  retrospect  of  the  case  in  which  Dr.  Kidd  has 
performed  so  conspicuous  and  important  part  is  not  a 
pleasant  one.  How  far  homoeopathy,  properly  applied  at 
the  outset,  might  have  checked  the  inroad  of  disease  before 
fatal  mischief  had  been  set  up,  it  is  of  course  impos- 
sible for  us  to  say.    But  we  are  sure  that  all  homoeopathic 


270  KIPD,  QUAIH,  AHP  JKNNEB,   ^'^^^^. 

experience  will  corroboimte  ns  when  we  assert  that  an 
accurately  selected,  a  truly  homcBopathic  specific,  when 
given  early  and  with  judgment,  very  generally  checks  the 
course  of  disease  with  a  degree  of  rapidity  that  would 
surprise  all  who  have  never  tested  the  value  of  a  remedy 
of  the  kind  under  similar  circumstances. 

It  shows  us  also  the  determination  which  still  exists  on 
ihe'part  of  leading  allopathic  physicians  to  refuse  all  aid 
to  sick  persons  under  the  care  of  such  medical  men  as 
know  firom  experience  the  value  of  homceopathically  chosen 
remedies.  This,  which  was  always  inexcusable,  is  now 
much  more  so  than  it  was  thirty  years  ago.  Then  it  was 
said  that  homoeopathy  was  ''  opposed  to  the  experience  of 
the  profession."  Now  that  Ringer,  Phillips,  Bartholow, 
and  Horatio  Wood  are  accepted  authorities  in  therapeutics, 
this  cannot  be  alleged.  A  very  large  proportion  of  their 
recommendations  are  but  the  outcome  of  practical  homoeo- 
pathy ! 

It  further  shows  that  when  a  series  of  circumstances 
arise  in  an  individual  case,  involving  in  such  refusal  an 
amount  of  unpopularity  it  would  be  hazardous  to  en- 
counter, the  position  is  accepted  with  a  set  resolve  to 
render  it  as  humiliating  to  the  '^reputed  homoeopath." 
as  it  is  possible  to  make  it. 

Dr.  EiDD  in  standing  by  Lord  Beaconsfield  in  spite  of 
eveiything  calculated  to  induce  him  to  withdraw,  has  un- 
questionably made  great  sacrifices,  sacrifices  which  seem 
to  us  scarcely  consistent  with  self-respect.  His  attention, 
his  unwearying  attention  night  and  day  for  so  long  a  time, 
must  command  admiration,  and  whatever  therapeutic 
views  he  may  hold,  whatever  means  he  may  have  adopted 
to  relieve  his  patient,  he  has,  and  is  entitled  to  have,  the 
sympathy  of  the  country. 


SSSSJfjaT^TJSf!^   KIDD,  QUAIN  AND  JENNER.  271 

Of  the  conduct  of  Sir  William  Jbnnbb  and  Dr.  Quain 
we  need  say  little.  It  has  already  received  almost  nniyersal 
eondemnation  from  the  general  press.  The  Lancet  rejoices 
oyer  the  adamantine  character  of  Sir  William  Jenkeb'b 
decision,  and  deplores  the  laxity  of  Dr.  Qtiain!    The  other 

« 

medical  papers  seem  to  think  that  ''under  the  circum- 
stances "  Dr.  Qfain  could  not  very  well  have  acted  otherwise 
than  as  he  did. 

The  Scotsman  in  a  trenchant  article  on  the  situation 
referring  to  the  announcement  in  the  Lancet  that 
Sir  William  Jenkeb  had  ''not  met  Dr.  Einb  in  con- 
Bultation/'  says : — 

"  A  load  must  have  been  lifted  from  the  breast  of  the  faculty 
on  receiying  the  assurance  quoted  above,  that  the  rumours  of 
Sir  William  Jenner  having  been  more  humane  than  punctilious 
were  entirely  false.  To  the  finely  stnmg  professional  mind  the 
idea  was,  of  course,  shocking  and  intolerable  that  Sir  William 
Jenner  could  have  so  far  forgotten  what  was  due  to  the  profession 
as  to  have  gone  to  the  help  of  Lord  Beaconsfield  when  he  was 
believed  to  be  dying.  '  What  communion  hath  light  with  dark- 
ness, or  the  Queen's  physician  with  a  '  reputed  homoeopath !  * 
Sir  William,  then,  did  not  consult  with  Dr.  Eidd ;  on  the  con- 
trary, he  expressly  declined  to  do  so '  and  therein  he  showed 
proper  spirit  and  self-respect.  Lord  Beaconsfield  might  have 
died ;  but  that,  it  would  have  been  said,  was  the  natural  result  of 
having  entrusted  his  life  to  the  care  of  a  '  reputed  homoeopath ; ' 
and  those  who  are  so  foolish  as  to  do  so  must  take  the  conse- 
quences." 

Of  Dr.  Quain  the  writer  of  this  article  says  with  much 
point  that  "Listead  of  hastening  to  relieve  distress,  he  went 
about  making  sure  of  his  own  position  and  reputation." 

The  lessons  to  be  learnt  from  all  this  unseemly  wrangling 
beside  the  death-bed  of  an  aged  and  illustrious  statesman, 
the  editor  of  the  Scotsman  sums  up  as  follows : — 


272  KIDD,  QUAIN,  AND  JSNHEB.  'SSJl.^SSTiM. 


"  The  loss  that  ib  faeiiig  made  over  this  aspect  of  the  ease, 
vithin  the  medical  prafessioiiy  snggeiis  some  reflections  that  aie 
not  quite  satis&etoiy  from  the  point  of  view  of  the  public 
interest.     The  excessiTe  care  taken  by  Dr.  Qoain  to  make  sore 
of  his  position  before  joining  Dr.  Eidd,  and  still  more,  the 
manner  of  his  elaborate  explanation  addressed  to  the  Boyal 
College  of  Physicians  on  Monday  evening,  seem  to  indicate  a 
dread  of  terrible  consequences  in  the  event  of  the  profession  not 
faa\'ing  been  satisfied  of  the  propriety  of  his  conduct.    The 
qnestion  which  called  for  that  explanation  distinctly  implied 
censure  of  what  Br.  Quain  was  supposed  to  have  done,  and  if 
his  statement  had  not  been  satis&ctory,  certainly  censure,  and 
probably  more  serious  results,  would  have  followed.      This 
suggests  that  the  rules  of  what  aie  called  professional  etiquette 
do  not  difier  materiaUy  <Hr  practically  from  the  roles  of  trade 
unionism.    The  anxiety  of  Dr.  Quain  to  conform  to  profesoonal 
rule  indicates  a  kind  of  terrorism,  different  in  degree  perhiffl^ 
but  certainly  not  different  in  kind   from    that  produced  by 
*  rattening '  at  Sheffield.    In  his  studied  ignoring  of  Dr.  Kidd, 
even  when  the  latter  was  in  his  company,  Sir  William  Jenner 
betrayed  precisely  the  same  feeling.     This  conduct  would  be 
childish,  if  it  did  not  imply  the  existence  of  a  very  unhealthy 
condition  of  things.      That  condition  of  things    has   also  a 
serious  side  for  the  public.    If  it  means,  as  it  seems  to  mean, 
that  an  allopath  who  consults  with  a  '  reputed  homoeopath  '  loses 
caste  and  exposes  himself  to  *  rattening,'  that  is  bad  enou^. 
But  if  it  means,  as  it  also  seems  to  do,  that  patients  who  prefer 
homoeopathy  will  be  *  boycotted '  by  the  allopaths,  the  case  is  still 
worse.     Sir  William  Jenner's  conduct  and  Dr  Quain's  defence 
are,  in  fact,  an  intimation  to  the  public  that  anyone  who  is 
foolish  enough  to  employ  a  homoeopathic  physician  need  not  apply 
to  them  in  time  of  sorest  need.     That  being  so,  it  may  be 
necessary  for  the  public  to  take  measures  for  its  own  protection 
against  an  outrageous  monopoly." 


^t^^^^n^'  SCABLATINA.  273 


BeTiew,  IffftyS,  1881. 


CASES    OF    SCARLATINA  SELECTED  FROM 

PRACTICE. 

By  John  Drummond,  L.R.C.P.E.,  M.R.C.S.  Eng. 

I  HAVE  selected  the  following  cases  from  a  large  number  of 
patients,  who,  during  a  recent  and  wide-spread  epidemic  of 
scarlet  fever,  have  been  under  my  care.  They  are  interest- 
ing and  instructive,  because  they  illustrate  some  of  the 
manifold  phases  of  the  disease  which  we  are  constantly 
seeing  in  the  sick  chamber.  No  disease  presents  a  greater 
diversity  of  type.  During  a  single  epidemic,  or  even  in  a 
batch  of  cases  occurring  in  the  same  family,  we  meet  with 
cases  of  fearful  malignancy  running  side  by  side  with  others 
of  a  perfectly  benign  character.  In  its  worst  form  the 
patient  is  prostrated  by  the  potency  of  the  poison,  and  often 
dies  before  any  of  the  ordinary  phenomena  of  the  disease 
are  developed.  In  the  month  of  July,  1878,  such  a  case 
came  under  my  notice.  The  patient,  a  little  girl  aged  7, 
returned  from  school  in  the  afternoon,  complaining  of  great 
lassitude  and  sore  throat.  Her  mother,  thinking  she  was 
feverish,  gave  her  a  warm  bath,  put  her  to  bed,  and 
administered  aconite  and  helladonna  every  hour.  She 
vomited  soon  afterwards,  and  was  sick  many  times  before 
midnight,  when  she  fell  into  a  fitful  slumber,  with  inco- 
herent muttering  and  delirium,  and  twitchings  of  the 
extremities.  These  subsided,  and  the  child  appeared  to 
pass  into  a  heavy  slumber,  perspiring  freely,  and  the  mother 
watched  hour  by  hour,  hoping  she  would  awake  and  be 
better.  At  six  in  the  morning  she  sent  for  me.  I  found 
the  child  lying  in  a  state  of  stupor,  bathed  in  perspiration ; 
pulse  so  rapid  and  weak  that  I  could  not  count  it ;  tempera- 
ture 106.4  ;  pupils  insensible  to  the  stimulus  of  light,  and 
dilated ;  and  the  breathing  short  and  stertorous.  I  had  the 
child  wrapped  in  a  blanket  wrung  out  of  hot  water  and 
mustard,  and  administered  half  an  ounce  of  brandy  in  thin 
arrowroot  by  enema.  No  attempt  to  rally  was  made,  and 
the  child  died  within  twelve  hours  of  the  first  serious 
symptom  of  vomiting  at  eight  on  the  previous  evening. 
I  expressed  an  opinion  that  the  disease  was  scarlet  fever, 
but  as  the  symptoms  were  so  obscure,  I  gave  an  open 
certificate  as  to  the  cause  of  death — *'  Fever  with  delirium." 
Within  a  week  other  cases  of  scarlet  fever  occurred  in  the 
same  household. 

Ko.  5,  YoL  U.  T 


OT^  a/1  A  AT  A  firm  a  Mooliily  HoDMBOptflilc 


BefiBW,  May  2,  ISBl. 


In  July  of  the  following  year  I  had  the  misfortune  to 
lose  three  cases  in  one  fiunilyy  almost  identical  in  type. 
Constance  C,  aged  17  months,  was  taken  ont  hy  the  nurse 
daring  the  morning  of  Jnly  IStiii,  1879.   She  soon  returned, 
as  the  child  appeared  poorly.     Whilst  the  mother  was  nn- 
dressing  it,  the  child  vomited,  and  immediately  afterwards 
had  a  convulsion.    I  was  attending  a  very  simple  case  of 
scarlet  fever  in  the  fiimily,  and  call^  just  at  the  time  this 
happened.    I  placed  the  little  patient  in  a  warm  bath,  and 
afterwards  had  it  enveloped  in  a  blanket  wrung  out  of  hot 
water  and  mustard,  and  appUed  a  spirit  lotion  to  the  head. 
After  the  convulsion  had  passed  away,  as  the  circulation 
seemed  in  a  state  of  collapse,  I  administered  brandy  and 
vroter  in  repeated  doses,  and  left  belladonna  A  and  cuprum 
acet.  1  to  be  given  in  ^  drop  doses  evety  fifteen  minutes  for 
four  doseSy  and  then  every  half  hour,   llie  stomach  rejected 
everything  that  was  given,  and  several  slight  convulsions 
recurred  during   the  aft^oon.     In  the  evening  coma 
supervened,  the  temperature  ran  up  to  105.3  ;  the  skin  was 
in  a  bath  of  perspiration;   the  breathing  became  more 
hurried  and  stertorous :  the  sphincters  relaxed ;  and  death 
released  the  little  sufiTerer  thirteen  hours  after  its  first 
seizure. 

Jessie  C,  aged  4,  was  taken  ill  on  the  17th  July,  with 
violent  sickness,  and  I  saw  her  within  two  hours.  The 
skin  was  hot ;  temperature  102.1 ;  pulse  108 ;  great  pallor, 
with  dark  circles  around  the  eyes.  She  complained  of  sore 
throat,  and  I  found  the  tonsils  tumid  and  covered  with  an 
ashy  diptheritic  deposit.  The  child  had  appeared  well  on 
the  previous  day,  had  passed  a  perfectly  tranquil  night,  and 
had  made  a  gooid  breakfast  on  the  morning  when  she  was 
taken  ill.  I  ordered  a  hot  blanket  pack,  and  gave  aconite 
and  belladonna  every  half  hour.  In  four  hours  the 
temperature  ran  up  to  104,  and  the  pulse  to  120,  and  the 
cervical  glands  were  swollen.  The  child  was  apathetic, 
and  appeared  quite  heedless  as  to  what  was  done  to  her.  She 
drank  water  and  weak  brandy  and  water  quite  greedily,  but 
was  sure  to  vomit  it  immediately  afterwards.  Upon  re- 
moving the  blanket  the  skin  seemed  reddened,  and  there 
was  a  distinct  rash  about  the  axilla  and  groins.  In  the 
evening  the  symptoms  were  graver,  the  temperature  had 
increased  to  105.1 ;  diarrhoea  had  set  in ;  about  midnight 
there  was  no  trace  of  the  rash,  and  the  skin  was  bathed  in 
perspiration,  which  stood  in  large  beads  on  the  forehead 


ISwiS^^r^^X.*""  SCARLATINA.  275 


,  Vaj  S,  16B1. 


and  face ;  there  was  constant  twitching  of  the  extremities^ 
and  the  child  was  quite  comatose.  Death  ensaed  the 
following  morning,  after  an  illness  of  sixteen  hours. 

Beatrice  MarjG.,  aged  three  years,  on  the  same  morning 
was  taken  from  her  bed  by  the  nurse  and  dressed  as  usual, 
nothing  attracting  her  attention.   She  refused  her  breakfast, 
and  Yery  shortly  afterwards  began  to  vomit.   The  distracted 
mother  sent  for  me  at  once,  and  I  saw  her  within  half  an 
hour,  but  she  was  then  in  a  state  of  complete  collapse,  from 
which   she   never  rallied,  and  died  ten   hours   after  the 
beginning  of  her  illness.   These  cases  illustrate  the  terrible 
nudignancy  of  this  disease  in  its  most  virulent  form.     The 
nervous  system  is  paralysed  from  the  onset,  and  the  vital 
forces  succumb,  without  any  efibrt  to  react,  consequently 
there  is  no  development  of  the  usual  symptoms  of  the 
disease,  and  it  is  only  by  the  surrounding  conditions  that 
we  can  actually  be  certain  scarlatina  poison  has  been  the 
destroying  agent.     Trousseau  impressively  guards  us  in 
the  following  way :  "  During  an  epidemic  of  scarlatina,  par- 
ticularly when  the  disease  has  already  attacked  persons  in 
immedmte  communication  with  your  patient,  you  should  be 
very  guarded  in  your  diagnosis,  if  the  case  present  cerebral 
symptoms.    Be  specially  guarded  if  such  symptoms  declare 
themselves  at  the  beginning  of  the  illness,  as  they  then 
idmost  always  announce  that  the  malady  is  malignant 
scarlatina,  which,  with  very  few  exceptions,  proves  rapidly 
fatal.    I  must  insist  upon  this  point,  as  inattention  to  it 
will  cause  serious  errors  of  diagnosis,  and  give  rise  to 
mistakes  in  prognosis  exceedingly  injurious  to  the  reputa- 
tion of  the  physician.     People  forgive  us  more  easily  for 
allowing  our  patients  to  die,  than  for  having  made  a 
mistake  as  to  the  issue  of  an  illness."    Many  years  ago, 
perhaps  eighteen,  I  was  severely  censured  by  the  father  of  a 
family,  whose  children  were  under  my  care  for  scarlet  fever, 
because,  when  I  was  consulted  about  one  of  them,  who 
appeared  to  be  sickening  as  the    others    had  done,   I 
prescribed   without    foretelling    anything    more    serious. 
When  I  paid  my  next  visit  the  following  morning,  the  child 
was  dead,  and  I  had  been  superseded  by  another  practi- 
tioner,  who  unhesitatingly  assured  the  parents,  *'  the  child 
had  not  had  scarlet  fever  at  all,  but  had  died  from  inflam- 
mation of  the  membranes  of  the  brain  with  rapid  efTusion, 
and  if  he  had  seen  the  child  a  few  hours  earlier,  he  could 
have  saved  its  life/' 

T— 2 


276  SCARLATINA.  "ISSL^S??^ 


Rerfew,  Hay  9,  ISBl. 


Malignant  cases  which  recover  present  symptomB  of 
great  severity,  of  a  marked  typhoid  type.  The  nurse  who 
had  attended  to  the  cases  jnst  described  may  be  cited  aa 
an  example. 

A.  P.,  a  strong,  healthy  woman,  in  her  twenty-fonrth 
year,  having  lost  much  rest,  and  suffered  extreme  anguish 
of  mind,  was  seized  with  severe  rigors  on  the  19th  July, 
1879.  She  complained  of  faintness,  intense  headache, 
with  vertigo  when  she  attempted  to  rise  from  the  pillow, 
and  the  sound  of  machinery  buzzing  in  her  head ;  she 
frequently  vomited,  and  expressed  a  certainty  she  was 
dying ;  pulse  115,  temperature  103.1 ;  sore  throat  and 
great  weakness,  so  great  that  she  got  to  bed  with  difficulty 
an  hour  after  the  commencement  of  her  sickness,  every 
effort  to  undress  bringing  on  renewed  vomiting.  BelL  lx» 
Aconite  Ix. 

20th.  Bad  night,  some  delirium,  mouth  dry  and 
parched ;  pulse  120 ;  temperature  104  ;  tonsils  and  cervical 
glands  swollen,  diphtheritic  patches  on  each  tonsil.  Repeat 
bell,  and  acanitef  and  give  gr.  ij.  mere,  biniod.  every  third 
hour. 

21st.  Tongue  brown  and  dry,  teeth  covered  with  sordes, 
pulse  120 ;  temperature,  morning,  108.2 ;  evening,  104.8. 
Continue  medicines.  A  gargle  of  permanganate  of  potash 
(gr.  j.  to  the  5j.)  to  be  used  every  three  hours,  brandy, 
beef  tea  and  nutnents  to  be  taken  as  freely  as  possible. 

22nd.  Extreme  exhaustion,  trembling  of  extremities, 
very  little  sleep,  and  what  there  is  very  disturbed ;  the 
throat  is  very  bad,  and  the  exudation  has  extended  over  the 
soft  palate  and  uvula.  The  skin  for  the  first  time  is  fairly 
covered  with  rash,  which  is  of  a  dark  reddish  colour. 
Bowels  relaxed  twice  during  the  night;  breath  very  foetid. 
Arsen.  1,  bell,  Ix. 

2Srd.  Had  a  better  night,  and  is  taking  more  nourish- 
ment.    Continue  the  medicines. 

25th.  Decided  improvement.  The  throat  clear  from 
exudation,  and  she  wishes  to  leave  off  the  gargle,  which 
makes  her  feel  sicklv.  Substituted  one  of  chlorate  of 
potash  eight  grains  to  ounce.  During  the  following  week 
she  went  on  satisfactorily,  the  skin  is  peeling  from  the 
neck,  axillsB,  and  bends  of  the  knees. 

August  2nd.  She  complains  of  pain  in  the  knee  joints, 
which  prevents  her  bearing  any  weight  upon  them,  and 
although  up  yesterday,  she  is  compelled  to  remain  in  bed 


gfrSS***  SCABLATINA.  277 


Benriev^lCsy  1,1081. 


to-day.  There  is  a  little  pnffiness  aronnd  the  patellie,  with 
tenderness  upon  pressure.  To  be  wrapped  in  carded  wool, 
and  to  take  brypnia  and  rhus  alternately. 

8rd.  The  wrists,  ankles,  and  hips  are  painftiL  Slight 
feyer,  pnlse  100,  temperature  101.1 ;  urine  scanty,  free 
from  albumen,  acid  reaction  and  sediment  after  standing. 
Aconite  Ix,  hryonia  Ix. 

5th.  Perspired  freely  yesterday,  and  during  the  night, 
and  feels  better.    Bryonia  Ix,  rhus  Ix. 

After  this  date  convalescence  slowly  advanced  without 
further  drawback,  and  she  went  to  the  country  five  weeks 
after  the  commencement  of  her  illness. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1880,  I  attended  a  very 
instructive  case,  of  a  malignant  type,  in  a  boy  aged  twelve, 
living  in  Culcheth  Lane,  Newton  Heath.  On  New-year's 
day  he  had  been  to  a  school  tea-party,  and  the  day  following 
he  was  languid  and  complained  of  his  head,  and  would  not 
go  away  from  the  fire-side.  On  the  third,  he  vomited 
several  times,  still  complained  of  his  head,  and  his  mother 
put  his  feet  in  hot  water  and  mus.tard  before  putting  him  to 
hed.  During  the  night,  he  screamed  out  several  times 
''  Oh !  my  head,"  was  sick  twice,  and  in  the  early  morning 
had  a  slight  convulsion,  after  which  his  mother  says,  ''  she 
could  make  no  sense  of  him,"  so  she  sent  for  me. 

Jan.  4th.  He  is  lying  in  a  semi-comatose  state,  from 
which  he  can  be  aroused  for  a  moment,  when  he  resists 
the  effort  made  to  awaken  him,  says  ''  Don't,"  turns  over, 
and  is  asleep  again.  The  pupils  sensitive  to  light ;  bowels 
have  been  freely  relieved  after  a  dose  of  oil ;  pulse  125, 
temperature  104.1.  Ordered  cold  applications  to  the  head, 
the  extremities  to  be  kept  warm  by  means  of  hot  flannels. 
Oave  (icon.  A  and  heU.  A  every  hour.  Evening  condition 
very  similar.  He  has  taken  his  medicine  and  drank  water, 
but  has  scarcely  been  conscious  all  day.  The  glands  of 
the  neck  on  each  side  are  swollen,  and  there  appeared  to 
be  some  difficulty  in  swallowing,  as  there  was  a  marked 
effort  in  doing  so  at  least.  With  some  trouble  I  examined 
bis  throat,  found  an  efflorescent  blush  on  the  palate,  the 
tonsils  inflamed  and  studded  with  white  follicles ;  tempera- 
ture 104.     Change  heU.  Ix  to  cwpri  aeet,  1. 

5th.  Very  restless,  distressed  night,  calling  out,  tossing 
about,  and  seeming  to  know  no  one,  and  to  resist  all  efforts 
to  pacify  him.    The  body  is  covered  this  morning  with 


278  SCARLATINA.  ^S^fSS^^lS! 

searlatina  rash,  the  pulse  120,  the  temperature  103.3,  and 

.  he-eeems  more  rational. 

6th.  Is  well  covered  with  the  rash,  especially  the  handa 
and  feet,  which  are  swollen,  and  as  red  as  boiled  lobsters. 
As  the  rash  has  developed,  the  other  symptoms  have  sub- 
sided, and  the  drowsiness  has  quite  disappeared.  The 
throat  is  very  sore,  and  the  submaxillary  glands  are  greatly 
swollen.  Bell.  Ix,  cupri  a<:et.  1,  and  mere.  Inniodide  1,  every 
two  hours  in  rotation. 

7th.  A  thin  acrid  discharge  from  each  nostril,  with 
some  excoriation  of  the  alse  nasi  and  upper  lip.  Put  kali 
bichrom.  1  in  the  place  of  the  cupri  acet.  The  case  pro- 
gressed slowly  but  favourably  to  the  fifteenth,  and  desqua- 
mation was  rapidly  progressing.  During  the  night  of  thai 
date  he  cried  out  again  and  again  about  his  head.  He 
described  the  pain  as  most  severe  over  the  left  eye  and  in 
the  temple,  and  when  I  pressed  the  temple  and  supra* 
orbital  ridge  he  cried  out  that  I  hurt  him.  I  gave  him 
coloc.  Ix  and  arsenicum  1,  believing  the  pain  to  be  of  a 
neuralgic  character. 

17th.  The  pain  is  better,  but  the  whole  of  the  left  side 
of  the  face  is  inflamed  with  small  blisters  studding  ita 
surface.  Arsen.  1,  rkm  Ix.  This  eruption  ran  the  usual 
course  of  herpes,  and  dried  into  a  disgusting  scab,  which 
often  from  irritation  discharged  blood  and  serum.  Hia 
health,  however,  gradually  improved,  and  about  the  middle 
of  the  next  month  he  was  quite  well,  with  the  exception  of 
a  deep  red  stain,  where  the  herpes  had  been,  which  of 
course  has  since  passed  away.  Dr.  Hutchinson  says,  "  that 
special  conditions  of  the  blood  may  so  irritate  the  roots  of 
the  sensory  nerve  trunks  as  to  induce  those  trunks  to  cause 
at  the  periphery  herpetic  inflammation ;  "  and  the  eruption 
in  this  lad,  following  severe  neuralgic  pain  in  the  snpra- 
orbital  and  temporal  nerves,  is  an  interesting  example  of 
the  coincidence  of  the  one  and  the  other.  The  neuralgic 
pun  of  herpes-zoster  is  by  far  the  most  distressing  fieatuie 
of  the  disease,   I  have  known  it.  to  persist  for  months 

•  after  the  eruption  had  quite  disappeared. 

At  the  latter  end  of  July,  1878,  within  a  fortnight  of  the 

~ death  of  F.  A.,  whose  case  is  the  first  one  referred  to  in 
this  series  of  cases,  A.  A.,  a  bright  girl  in  her  fifth  year, 

;  was  taken  ill  with  scarlet  fever.    The  fever  ran  very  high, 
the  temperature  on  the  second  day  reaching  a  ^»cti(« 

: libove/ l€i5 ;  the  throat  ezceedijogly  sore,  with  patches,  of 


SSSfigS;?5Sr*  BCABLATINA.  279 

m  l__^^M^^M      ■  I  '  -B-l       ■  -I  Jl  I 

tenacious  mtiooas  clinging  to  the  tonsils,  tongue  dry  and 
red  with  prominent  papill®,  rash  well  out  over  the  whole 
body,  the  submaxillary  and  cervical  glands  large  and  tender. 
During  the  following  night,  there  was  great  wakefulness, 
with  delirium  and  fretfulness ;  aconite  and  belladonna,  with 
an  occasional  dose  of  hyoscyamm,  helped  to  soothe,  and 
daring  the  following  three  days  the  symptoms  became  con- 
siderably ameliorated,  the  child  brightened  and  took  an 
interest  in  passing  eyents,  asked  for  picture  books,  and  to 
have  nursery  rhymes  repeated  to  her.  She  was  quite  ready 
for  the  food,  chiefly  milk,  beef  tea,  or  chicken  soup,  which 
were  given  to  her.  She  progressed  satisfactorily  to  the 
middle  of  the  second  week.  She  then  began  to  droop,  and 
an  acrid  discharge  from  the  nostrils  gave  her  much  dis- 
comfort by  the  excoriations  which  it  occasioned. 

Aug.  8rd.  During  the  night  she  has  shrieked  at  times 
in  the  most  distressing  way,  with  pain  in  the  left  ear,  the 
glands  on  that  side  are  enlarging  again,  and  with  some 
redness ;  there  is  great  tenderness  when  touched,  and  she 
holds  her  head  stifiSy  and  bent  towards  the  shoulder.  Bell* 
A  and  mere,  binioduli  1  were  given,  cotton  wool  moistened 
with  laudanum  placed  in  the  ear,  and  a  warm  linseed 
poultice  applied  over  it. 

4th.  The  pain  is  less,  there  has  been  free  discharge  of 
pas  from  the  ear.  The  child,  however,  is  seriously  worse, 
quick  weakened  pulse,  the  lips  dry  and  cracked,  great  thirst, 
and  the  glands  from  the  ear  to  the  claviele  are  very  much 
swollen.  The  urine  is  scanty,  and  contains  albumen. 
Temperature,  104.8.  Arsen.  1,  Jiepar,  aulph.  1  gr.  i.  alter- 
nately. 

6th.  The  swelling  in  the  neck  has  increased,  and  is 
quite  even  with  the  lower  jaw;  it  has  a  peculiar  hard, 
brawny  feel,  a  deep  dusky  colour,  but  there  is  no  fluctua- 
tion. It  is  most  difficult  to  get  the  child  to  take  nourish- 
ment. 

6th.  A  large  blister  formed  under  the  ear,  from  which 
an  ill-smelling,  ichorous  discharge  escaped  when  opened. 
The  neck  feels  softer,  and  is  boggy  and  oddematous,  but  I 
can  make  out  no  fluctuation.  The  child  is  much  weaker, 
takes  very  little  notice  of  what  is  done,  and  makes  no 
resistance  when  the  nurse  is  re-applying  the  poultice,  as 
she  did  yesterday.  Carbolic  acid  lotion  is  used  under  each 
poultice. 


280  8CABLATINA.  ^"^S^^STT^. 


Berifliw,  May  2, 18B1. 


7th.  A  large  ashy  slongh  formed  on  the  site  of  the 
blister,  with  ill-formed  ichorous  pns  welling  np  npon 
pressure.  Lower  down  near  the  clayicle  another  bulla  has 
formed,  containing  fluid  like  the  one  opened  yesterday. 
The  whole  side  of  the  neck  is  gangrenous.  Pulse  150 ; 
temperature  106.1. 

9th.  The  destructiye  sloughiug  went  on  rapidly  yester- . 
day,  the  discharge  being  horribly  foetid  in  spite  of  charcoal 
poultices  and  carbolic  acid  lotion,  and  this  morning  the 
child  died  suddenly,  immediately  after  the  nurse  had 
dressed  the  wound,  and  whilst  she  was  giving  some  brandy 
and  water. 

Mrs.  A.,  the  mother  of  this  child,  during  the  earlier 
stages  of  its  illnesSi  took  sole  charge  of  her,  and  isolated 
herself  entirely  in  a  room  at  the  top  of  the  house.  While 
cleaning  about  the  window,  she  knocked  the  skin  off  the 
first  phalangeal  joint  of  the  second  finger^  and  of  course 
treated  it  as  a  very  trivial  accident.  The  wound  began  to 
suppurate,  and  became  exceedingly  painful,  and  she  showed 
it  to  me  on  the  first  of  August.  I  advised  carbolic  acid 
lotion  to  be  applied  constantly.  The  next  day  a  blush  of 
inflammation  extended  to  the  knuckle,  and  she  complained 
of  pain  and  tenderness  on  the  back  of  the  hand,  which  was 
swollen.  A  linseed  poultice  was  applied,  and  hepar,  8ulph.j 
and  bclL  given  every  hour.  She  had  several  rigors  during 
the  night,  and  complains  of  great  prostration,  headache, 
and  suffering  in  the  hand.  A  secondary  abscess  is  forming 
on  the  back  of  the  hand,  and  the  lymphatics  can  be  traced 
up  the  forearm  as  reddened  streaks.  There  is  tenderness 
upon  pressure  in  the  axilla,  and  the  glands  are  distinctly 
felt  there.  Poulticing  and  hot  fomentations  were  continued, 
and  my  patient  was  obliged  to  keep  her  bed. 

Aug.  4th.  Opened  the  abscess  on  the  back  of  the  hand. 
My  patient  complains  of  sore  throat  and  great  weakness. 
Temperature  102.4  ;  pulse  108. 

5th.  The  body  is  well  covered  with  the  ordinary  scarlet 
fever  rash,  and  my  patient  on  the  whole  appears  better,  but 
is  very  low  and  desponding,  partly  in  consequence  of  the 
very  critical  condition  of  her  child,  who  is  lying  in  an 
adjoining  bed.  There  has  been  a  free  discharge  from  the 
hand,  and  it  is  not  so  painful,  except  when  she  bends  the 
finger,  which  causes  agony.  I  put  a  small  splint  on  the 
palmar  surface  of  the  finger  and  hand>  which  I  thought 
would  be  a  help  to  her,  and  which  gave  her  much  relief. 


l^^^^rrS^       OVARIAN   TUMOUR.  281 


Bevi0W,  May  t,  ISBl. 


She  went  on  very  satisfactorily  until  the  third  week,  when 
there  was  some  retnm  of  the  fever,  and  a  slight  trace  of 
albnmen  in  the  nrine.  Aconite,  apis,  and  terebinth  were 
given  with  perfectly  satisfactory  results,  and  convalescence 
set  in  afresh,  the  wound  healed  on  the  back  of  the  hand, 
and  she  left  her  home  for  the  south  at  the  end  of  the  sixth 
week  of  her  illness.  The  disease  in  this  case  appears  to 
have  been  taken  through  the  wound.  Symptoms  of  blood 
poisoning  set  in  before  the  child's  neck  suppurated,  and 
previous  to  the  purulent  discharge  from  its  ear,  but  it  is 
quite  possible  some  of  the  mucus  from  the  nose  may  have 
come  in  contact  with  the  abraded  surface  on  the  finger. 
Coincident  with  the  redness  of  the  lymphatics,  and  the 
tenderness  of  the  axillary  glands,  constitutional  symptoms, 
with  sore  throat  and  the  subsequent  development  of  the 
rash,  showed  the  patient  to  be  suffering  from  scarlet  fever, 
and  the  local  mischief  then  seemed  arrested.  In  ordinary 
blood  poisoning  from  a  wound,  a  progressive  series  of 
glandular  troubles  would  have  followed.  This  is  an 
interesting  feature  in  the  case. 

These  examples  are  selected  from  a  large  number  of 
perfectly  benign  cases,  which  might  be  treated  with  soap- 
suds and  oil,  as  so  enthusiastically  extolled  by  Mrs.  Jacob 
Bright  in  the  columns  of  the  Times,  to  show  what  a  terrible 
scourge  scarlet  fever  may  be,  and  how  essential  it  is  to  use 
all  our  efforts  to  arrest  its  spread  when  at  any  time  it 
proclaims  its  presence.  At  a  future  date  I  hope  to  publish 
some  cases  of  scarlet  fever  dropsy,  and  other  sequelte  left 
by  the  disease. 

Manchester,  April,  1881. 

TWO  CASES  OF  OVARIAN  TUMOUR. 
By  J.  T.  Talbot,  M.D., 

Professor  of  Surgery  in  the  University  of  Boston,  Surgeon 
to  the  Boston  Homoeopathic  Hospital. 

Thb  first  case.  Miss  J.,  aged  41,  entered  the  hospital 
July  26th.  She  first  noticed  a  swelling  in  the  left  side 
about  a  year  ago.  In  March  last  her  menses,  which  had 
been  quite  regular  up  to  that  time,  ceased.  The  tumour 
rapidly  increased  in  size,  was  hard,  fiim,  knobbed,  and 
immovable,  with  pain  and  soreness  over  the  entire  surface 
of  the  abdomen.     She  kept  about  her  work  till  June  6th, 


282  ovAEiAM  TUMOUR.    »5!aL=?K:r?^ 


Beriflfv,  Maj%,  1881. 


since  which  time  she  has  been  obliged  to  remain  in  bed. 
By  the  aspirator,  abont  four  ounces  of  oyarian  fluid  were 
withdrawn,  requiring  the  puncture  of  several  cysts.  It 
was  diagnosed  as  multilocular  ovarian  tumour,  with  exten- 
sive adhesions.  The  case  was  not  deemed  a  favourable 
one  for  operation,  and  the  patient  remained  in  the  hospital 
two  months  under  treatment,  and  though  made  comfort- 
able in  many  ways,  still  the  tumour  increased  in  size  and 
impeded  the  various  functions.  The  urine  was  scanty, 
bowels  rarely  moved,  appetite  wanting,  the  Kmbs  became 
swollen  and  hardly  movable,  and  general  strength  rapidly 
diminished.  Death  was  inmiinent,  and  at  the  urgent 
request  of  the  patient  and  her  friends,  the  operation  was 
made  on  September  25th  under  carbolic  acid  spray,  and 
later,  antiseptic  dressing.  On  making  the  incision  along 
the  median  line  from  umbilicus  to  near  symphysis  pubis, 
the  tumour  was  found  to  be  quite  firmly  adherent  to  the 
peritoneum  in  front  and  on  both  sides,  requiring  much 
force  to  separate  it ;  also  above  to  the  stomach,  mesentery, 
spleen,  and  posteriorly  to  the  intestines.  It  was  found  to 
be  impossible  to  reduce  the  size  much  by  pxmcturing  the 
cysts,  and  it  was  found  necessary  to  enlarge  the  incision  to 
some  four  inches  above  the  umbilicus*  On  removing  the 
tumour  from  the  abdominal  cavity,  the  pedicle  was  found 
to  be  about  six  inches  in  width.  This  was  secured  by  the 
carbolated  catgut  ligature,  and  severed  by  the  thermo- 
cautery. The  bowels  were  carefully  restored  to  their 
place,  and  the  wound  brought  together  by  twelve  silver 
sutures.  The  tumour  weighed  something  more  than 
twenty  pounds,  was  multilocular,  of  the  endogenous 
variety,  every  cyst  being  lined  with  innumerable  smaller 
ones,  and  the  contents  varying  greatly  in  colour  and 
density.  The  incision  healed  by  first  intention,  and  the 
patient  did  remarkably  well.  The  pulse  was  at  its  highest 
on  the  third  day,  at  124,  and  the  temperature  101|.  The 
urine  became  free  and  copious,  but  heavily  laden  with 
phosphates.  The  oedema  in  limbs  rapidly  diminished; 
flatus  passed  on  the  third  day ;  the  patient  was  moved  to 
another  bed  on  the  eighth  day ;  and  the  bowels  moved  on 
the  tenth  day.  Her  appetite  improved  and  her  health  was 
fully  restored. 

The  second  case,  Mrs.  M.,  aged  37,  was  admitted 
November  6th  for  treatment  of  an  abdominal  swelling. 
Six  months  previously  she  had  had  severe  cutting  pain  in 


^^!S^%!S^   BKIEF   CLINICAL   NOTES.  288 

the  nmbilical  region,  and  her  abdomen  soon  began  to 
enlarge^  and  measured  thirty-five  inches  aronnd  the  umbili- 
CQB.  Fluctuation  was  perceptible,  and  forty^five  ounces  of 
OTarian  fluid  were  drawn  off  by  the  aspirator.  In  the 
upper  part  of  the  swelling  in  the  region  of  the  spleen  a 
hard  tumour  was  perceptible,  quite  movable,  and  of  the 
size  of  a  child's  head.  Although  the  pedicle  could  not  be 
detected,  a  monocystic  ovarian  tumour  was  diagnosed  and 
its  removal  recommended.  The  operation  was  performed 
on  December  23rd.  A  linear  incision  exhibited  a  tamour 
of  left  ovavy  adherent  slightly  to  the  peritoneum  of  left 
side.  Its  contents  were  easUy  evacuated,  and  a  pedicle 
was  exhibited  about  five  and  one  half  inches  in  width. 
This  was  secured  by  carbolised  catgut  thrust  through  the 
centre,  divided,  and  the  two  ligatures,  linked  together  like 
a  chain,  passed  around  the  whole,  which  was  thus  doubly 
secured  and  reduced  to  its  smallest  possible  space,  not 
larger  than  the  little  finger.  The  tumour  was  then 
separated  by  the  thermo-cautery.  The  wound  healed  by 
first  intention,  and  no  untoward  symptoms  occurred. 
The  pulse  was  only  for  a  little  time  above  72,  and  the 
temperature  did  not  reach  100.  The  flatulence  which 
usually  follows  the  operation  was  relieved,  as  in  the  first 
case,  by  carbo  veg.  A  full  evacuation  occurred  on  the 
twelfth  day.  The  urine  was  free,  but  contained  succes- 
sively large  quantities  of  albumen,  phosphates,  uric  and 
hippuric  acids,  oxalate  of  lime  and  sugar,  but  in  two  weeks 
became  perfectly  normal.  At  the  end  of  three  weeks  the 
patient  was  quite  recovered,  appetite  enormous,  and  rapidly 
gaining  strength. — New  England  Medical  Oazette. 

BKIEF  CLINICAL  NOTES  ON  AILANTHUS, 
ASCLEPIAS,  AND  AMMONITE  AGETAS. 

By  S.  H.  Blake,  Esq. 

In  a  recent  article  in  the  Homoeopathic  Review,  Dr.  Dyce 
Brown,  when  discussing  the  treatment  of  cerebral  hyper- 
nemia,  refers  to  ailanthus  as  suitable  to  a  certain  variety  of 
that  pathological  condition.  He  remarks  upon  the  relation 
of  the  medicine  to  the  head  symptoms  of  certain  fevers,  and 
goes  on  to  say  that  there  are  not,  so  far  as  he  is  aware,  any 
DQcorded  instances  hitherto  of  the  use  of  aUanthvs  in 
ceiebral  diseases  other  than  those  connected  with  these 


284  BBIBF  CLINICAL  HOTEB.    ^''SSS^MS%1m. 

fevers.  It  may,  therefore,  be  interesting  to  briefly  record 
three  instances  in  which,  since  the  appearance  of  his 
lecture  in  the  Review^  I  hare  put  this  drug  to  the  test  with 
decided  saccess.  As  soon  as  the  symptomatic  relationship 
between  the  action  of  a  dmg  and  the  occurrence  of  its  symp- 
toms in  a  disease  or  in  a  pathological  condition  has  been 
clearly  pointed  ont,  there  is  very  little  difBcolty  in  render- 
ing the  information  practicaUy  nsefol.  The  thing  is,  as  it 
were,  no  sooner  said  than  done.  As  Dr.  Dyce  Brown 
suggests,  the  ailantkus  becomes  a  grand  remedy  for  a 
certain  form  of  headache.  The  first  instance  I  will  record 
is  that  of  a  woman  approaching  the  climacteric,  of  dark 
hair,  eyes  and  complexion  sallow,  and  of  bilions  tempera- 
ment. She  is  insufficiently  supplied  with  good  food,  and 
is  constantly  indoors.  She  has  every  day  dull  continuous 
frontal  headache*  Her  mental  state  is  depressed.  Bryonia 
has  not  done  her  much  good. 

On  March  29th  she  had  ailanthua  glanduloms  1st  cent, 
ter  quo  die. 

April  5th.  The  headaches  cured;  since  taking  the 
medicine  very  little  of  the  morning  headaches ;  they  were 
soon  relieved.  She  feels  ''  a  great  deal  better,  though  still 
weak."  No  headache  during  the  past  few  days.  Her  only 
complaint  now  is  pain  in  flesh  of  the  breast,  just  where  it 
joins  the  chest  under  the  left  axilla.  This  pain  has  been 
troublesome,  and  worse  when  she  '*  catches  cold."  Bry.  1, 
6  tis.  horis. 

The  following  case  is  that  of  a  man  sixty  years  of  age, 
who  has  suflered  from  a  cerebral  lesion  for  several  vears. 
At  times  he  has  had  very  severe  headaches,  localised  and 
Associated  with  cerebral  disease.     With  the  paroxysms  of 
headache  there  have  also  been  neuralgic  pains  in  various 
parts.     At  a  time  when  these  symptoms  had  passed  away, 
he  suffered  from  a  troublesome  drowsiness  throujghout  the 
day,  notwithstanding  that  he  slept  well  at  nights.     There 
was  also  a  dull  and  confused  state  of  mind,  and  marked 
mental  depression  at  times.     The  drowsiness  had  lasted 
for  several  weeks,  but  ailanthus  cm*ed  it  in  a  week,  making 
the  head  feel  much  better  at  the  same  time.     Once  on  a 
former  occasion  mezereon  </>  had  been  given  for  severe  pain 
of  the  vertex  and  tenderness  of  the  scalp,  and  had  produced 
such  decided  drowsiness  and  deep  night  sleep,  that  the 
patient  enquired  if  he  had  taken  an  opiatel    Before  the 
tnezereon  had  been  used  he  was  sleepless  with  the  severe 


^^f^STS?^*   ^^^^^   CLINICAL   NOTES*  285 

pain  on  the  left  side  of  the  vertex.  This  symptom  is  noted 
as  pathogenetic  by  Dr.  Cooper,  in  a  case  treated  by  him  in 
the  last  month's  issue  of  this  Review,  and  his  remarks 
there  coincide  with  the  present  observation.  The  drowsi- 
ness of  the  cerebral  hyperaemia  in  fevers  and  headaches,  and 
low  delirium  for  which  ailanthus  is  so  useful,  bear  an 
interesting  comparison  with  the  dull  and  drowsy  conditions 
likewise  removed  by  this  medicine  in  instances  such  as 
those  here  recorded. 

In  another  instance,  a  woman  of  sixty-five  had  signs  of 
cardiac  degeneration  and  dilatation,  with  venous  turgescence 
of  the  face  (digltulis  has  done  much  good  for  her).  She  was 
also  subject  to  cerebral  congestion,  with  dull  headache, 
general  and  occipital.  This  headache  has  been  repeatedly 
relieved  by  a  copious  nosebleed  during  the  attack.  On  one 
occasion,  nose  bleeding  occurred  and  relieved  the  vertex 
headache  to  a  considerable  extent,  but  there  was  left  after- 
wards a  dull,  stupified,  and  very  drowsy  state,  continuing 
even  during  the  day,  with  dull  sub-occipital  pain.  Ailan- 
thus  1st  cent,  cured  this  state  of  the  head  in  twelve  hours, 
giving  very  great  relief,  and  making  the  head  feel  lighter 
and  clearer,  but  it  left  the  occipital  pain^  for  which  gelsem, 
Ix  was  given  with  success. 

Arnica  for  the  headache  with  nosebleed,  which  occurred 
under  very  similar  conditions  on  a  former  occasion  had  been 
employed  with  success  for  the  person  just  referred  to,  when 
ailanthus  was  now  used  in  iJiis  latter  instance  with  so 
gratifying  a  result.  Subsequently  the  phosphate  of  iron  waa 
given,  and  this  has  been  followed  by  the  most  permanent 
relief  to  both  nose-bleeding  and  cervico-occipital  congestion. 

Asclepias  Syriaca. 

An  infant,  six  months  old,  suffered  from  dropsical  effusion 
into  the  lower  extremities,  hands  and  face,  and  besides 
this  the  child  had  slight  cough  and  frequent  convulsions. 
The  urine  was  scanty,  of  strong  smell,  and  stained  the 
linen  of  a  dark  colour.  Asclepias  cent,  speedily  cured  the 
dropsical  symptoms  which  had  lasted  for  a  fortnight,  and 
at  the  same  time  the  urine  became  healthy  and  the  con- 
Tulsions  with  drowsiness  disappeared.  In  this  infant  the 
lower  extremities  pitted  deeply  on  pressure,  the  skin  was 
of  a  pale  transparent  and  puffy  appearance,  and  the  child 
somewhat  ansBmic.  Within  twenty-four  hours  the  most 
marked  amendment  took  place  after  this  medicine  was 


286  BRIEF   CLIKICAL   NOTES.    "B^fSHJ^SS! 

commenced,  so  that  in  about  two  days  the  dropsy  may  be  said 
to  haTe  been  cared.  I  haTe  not  snfficient  eyidence  to  state 
the  pathological  conditions  at  the  root  of  these  symptoms. 
In  another  instance,  a  girl,  aged  three  years,  had  had 
scarlatina.  A  few  days  after  the  rash  and  fever  had  abated 
and  the  patient  was  thonght  to  be  getting  well,  extensire 
oedema  set  in  affecting  the  extremities  and  face  (eyelids 
very  pn%),  urine  scanty,  and  it  deposits  with  heat  (also 
with  heat  and  nitric  acid)  a  thick  brownish  flock,  qnite  unlike 
the  copious  whitish  coagolnm  of  albuminuria  as  it  usually 
occurs.  There  was  therefore  albumen  but  not  a  great  quantity, 
and  the  tint  of  it  when  coagulated  was  fawn  colour.  This 
child  was  pale,  waxy  skinned,  and  somewhat  ansBmic. 
The  colour  of  the  urine  was  like  that  of  strong  tea.  This 
has  been  said  by  a  writer  of  an  account  of  this  medicine  to 
be  one  of  the  indications  for  api$.  Apis,  8  x.  was  given, 
and  effected  only  slight  improvement  if  any  at  all,  as  the 
dropsy  continued,  so  also  did  the  state  of  urine.  Asclepias 
Syriaca  speedily  restored  the  case  to  health.  The  dropsy 
soon  dispersed,  under  its  administration  amendment  set 
in  at  once,  and  there  has  been  no  trouble  since.  She  was 
up  and  about  within  a  week,  whereas  hitherto  she  had  been 
lying  in  bed  in  a  very  drowsy,  weak,  and  low  condition,  in 
fact,  I  hardly  expected  her  recovery  at  all.  This  appearance 
of  the  urine,  which  resembles  a  strong  infusion  of  tea,  wonld 
seem  to  be  found  to  be  present  in  more  than  one  variety  of 
pathological  condition  of  the  kidney.  For  one  of  these 
states  apis  is  acknowledged  to  be  a  specific  medicine. 

Ammcn.  Acet. 

A  young  man  of  twenty  presented  the  symptoms  of 
diabetes,  hunger,  excessive  iliirst,  and  frequent  profose 
urination,  with  debility.  Having  seen  in  Allen's  work 
that  ammon.  acet,  is  credited  with  the  symptom  **  sugar  in 
the  urine"  I  ventured  on  that  medicine,  a  dose  of  No.  1 
three  times  a-day  for  a  week.  I  regret  not  being  able  to 
state  whether  there  was  any  sugar  in  the  urine,  for  though 
he  was  requested  to  return  and  bring  his  urine  for  exami- 
nation ;  he  failed  to  do  so.  He  has  not  been  seen  since 
by  me,  but  many  weeks  after  his  visit  his  mother  appeared 
for  treatment  for  herself,  and  reported  that  as  the  medicine 
had  cured  him  or  at  least  as  he  got  quite  well  soon  after 
taking  it  he  did  not  think  it  needful  to  report  himself  again. 
It  may  be  of  interest  to  remember  in  this  connection  that 


Mcmftly^nuBapjtliic         NEUBAL- ANALYSIS.  287 


,Xay9,lfl81. 


certain  lesions  of  tlie  pons  varolii  may  produce  either 
of  three  nrinal  conditions,  (a)  Polynria  with  sugar,  or  (6) 
Polyoria  alone,  or  (c)  Albuminaria.  Thus  three  different 
states  are  brought  as  to  causation  into  close  proximity  in  one 
locality  at  the  nerre  centres.  The  case  referred  to,  in  which 
the  diabetic  symptoms  were  removed,  can  of  course  be  taken 
only  for  what  it  is  worth.  These  cases  are  but  small  ones, 
but  when  it  is  remembered  that  by  the  addition  of  small 
thin^,  greater  ones  result  there  appears  to  be  a  considerable 
use  in  not  omitting  to  record  them.  Moreover,  when  we 
consider  the  vast  number  of  seemingly  trivial  cases  which  go 
to  make  up  the  mass  of  work  of  every  day  experiences,  and 
the  frequency  with  which  apparently  small  diseases  become 
worse  and  end  badly,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  the 
individual  satisfaction  of  each  practitioner  often  depends 
more  upon  the  success  with  which  he  encounters  the  mass 
of  minor  ailments  than  upon  the  occasional  great  hit  or 
cure  of  some  exceptionally  severe  disease.  Further,  as  the 
leading  medical  journals  have  for  the  most  part  for  a  long 
number  of  years  disdained  to  discuss  the  treatment  of  slight 
and  common  diseases  or  refer  only  briefly  to  these  as 
compared  with  the  elaborate  dissertations  upon  extensive 
surgical  operations  and  the  pathology  of  medical  cases  to 
the  neglect  of  therapeutics,  it  does  not  seem  unbecoming 
for  US  to  refer  to  the  treatment  afresh  of  the  most  ordinary 
and  trivial  cases  which  day  by  day  are  treated  successfully 
with  medicines  used  upon  the  homoeopathic  principle. 
Liverpool. 

ON  NEURAL-ANALYSIS. 

By  W.  Deane  Butcher,  Esq. 

Some  months  ago,  news  came  from  Germany  that,  at  last, 
there  had  been  discovered  a  method  of  detecting  and 
comparing  the  action  of  the  higher  attenuations  of  homceo- 
pathic  remedies,  and  that  in  the  most  exact  manner,  by 
the  aid  of  machinery. 

The  news  was  received  with  suspicion,  and  it  was  thought 
by  most  to  be  highly  improbable  or,  at  best,  exaggerated. 

At  last  details  of  the  invention  have  arrived,  which 
prove  to  be  of  the  very  deepest  interest. 

Professor  Dr.  Gustav  Jaeger,  of  Stuttgart,  is  not  a 
homoeopathic  practitioner,  but  merely  a  man  of  science,  a 
professor  of  zoology,  and  an  able  exponent  of  Uio 
Darwinian  theory. 


288  NEDRAL-ANALYSIS.       ^^^SS^fJS?^! 


His  previous  work,  Die  Entdeckung  der  Seele,  details 
those  inyestigations  on  the  sense  of  smell,  and  the  iofluenee 
of  odoors  on  the  nervous  system,  which  first  directed  Mb 
attention  to  the  critical  examination  of  potentized  remedies. 

EUs  hook  on  Neural-analysis  has  heen  just  published, 
and  it  is  from  its  pages  that  the  following  brief  account  of 
his  experiments  has  been  extracted. 

Neural-analysis  is,  in  short,  the  determination  of  what 
astronomers  call  the  "  personal  equation  "  of  an  observer, 
and  the  effect  on  that  equation  of  various  remedies  when 
inhaled. 

In  his  experiments  Dr.  Jaeger  makes  use  of  the  Hipps* 
chronoscope.  This  is  a  very  delicate  and  accurate  clock, 
the  hand  of  which  can  be  started  and  arrested  by  touching 
an  electric  key.  This  stop-watch  or  clock  has  a  band 
which  turns  round  once  in  the  tenth  of  a  second.  Each 
division  on  the  dial  represents  one-thousandth  of  a  second 
(one  mille-second).  The  observer  touches  a  key  and 
starts  the  hand.  The  instant  he  notices  the  movement  of 
the  hand  he  releases  the  key  and  stops  the  clock.  Suppose 
the  hand  stops  at  the  86th  division  on  the  dial,  this  tells 
him  that  it  has  taken  him  8  6- thousandths  of  a  second 
(i.e.,  36  mille-seconds)  to  notice  the  fact  that  the  hand 
has  begun  to  move  and  to  arrest  the  motion.  86  mille- 
seconds  is  the  measure  of  his  '^personal  equation,"  i.e.,  it 
is  a  measure  of  his  quickness  of  perception  and  motion — 
in  other  words  it  is  the  measure  of  his  nervous  excitability. 

Two  processes  have  gone  on  during  this  int-erval  of 
86  mille-seconds.  A  wave  of  sensation  has  travelled 
from  the  observer's  retina  to  his  brain,  there  to  be 
translated  into  a  motor  impulse.  That  is  the  first  process. 
The  second  event  is  the  transmission  of  a  motor  impulse 
along  the  nerves  to  the  finger,  there  to  be  translated  into 
motion  by  the  muscles.  Now,  it  is  found  that  the  first 
process  may  be  much  abbreviated.  By  constant  repetition 
of  associated  sensations  and  actions,  the  acts  become 
automatic,  and  thus  the  time  is  saved  which  would  be 
required  to  rouse  the  will  and  to  translate  sensation  into 
voluntary  motion.  There  still,  however,  remains  the 
interval  during  which  the  wave  of  excitation  is  travelling 
along  the  course  of  the  optic  nerve,  through  the  brain  and 
motor  nerves.  This  period  differs  considerably  in  different 
individuals.  It  is  the  measure  of  this  interval  which 
constitutes  the  personal  equation.      Astronomers    have 


It^SST^^     NEtTRAL-ANALYSIS.  289 


B0Ti«w,  May  2, 1881. 


long  known  it,  and  in  an  observatory  each  asBistant  has 
the  measurement  of  his  personal  equation  measured  and 
noted,  in  order  to  afford  a  necessary  correction  in  his 
transit-observations,  &c.  Professor  Jaeger,  however,  dis- 
covered that  this  equation  was  not  only  a  matter 
of  personal  idiosyncracy,  but  was  affected  by  states  bf 
health  and  fatigue,  and  that,  moreover,  the  inhalation  of 
various  drugs  had  a  marked  and  definite  action  on  it. 

To  investigate  this  matter  he  has  spared  neither  time 
nor  pains.  At  the  request  of  Herr  Zoppritz,  the  secretary 
of  '*  The  Hahnemannia,"  he  undertook  the  systematic 
proving  of  the  potencies  of  a  certain  number  of  drugs. 

His  pamphlet  of  some  seventy  pages  details  very  fully 
this  series  of  experiments  which  have  been  carried  out  by 
himself  and  four  of  his  pupils.  It  is  illustrated  by  charts 
of  the  osmographs  or  curves,  set  out  somewhat  like  a 
temperature  chart. 

The  experiments  are  conducted  in  the  following  manner : 

Each  morning  the  observer  starts  and  stops  his  watch 
and  notices  the  inter\'al.  This  he  repeats  one  hundred 
times,  and  carefully  notes  the  mean  of  his  measurements 
on  a  chart. 

He  then  inhales  pure  alcohol,  and  notes  the  measure- 
ments made  under  its  influence.  The  next  step  is  to 
repeat  the  experiment  while  inhaling  the  vapour  of  the 
drug  under  examination.  In  most  cases  he  is  able  to 
stop  his  watch  quicker  while  inhaling  alcohol,  showing 
that  it  increases  the  nervous  excitability. 

The  drugs  hitherto  examined  are  aconite,  thuja,  natrum 
muriaticum,  and  auriim.  We  have  no  space  in  this  paper 
to  do  more  than  briefly  examine  one  of  these  provings, 
viz.,  aconite.  The  mother  tincture  caused  a  diminution  of 
14  p.c.  in  the  nerve-excitability,  and  a  lengthening  of  the 
personal  equation  or  nerve-interval.  Thus,  while  he  could 
stop  the  watch  ordinarily  in,  say  100  mille-seconds,  it  took 
him  114  mille-seconds  to  stop  it  while  he  was  inhaling  the 
tincture  of  aconite  0. 

On  the  other  hand,  in  thd  higher  potencies  aconite  in- 
creased the  nervous  excitability,  and  diminished  the  nerve- 
interval. 

Thus  the  5th  potency   increased  the    excitability   + 

10  p.c. ;  the  10th  potency  increased  it  +  40  p.c. ;  and  the 

15th  potency  +  47  p.c.     Above  this  point  the  effect  of 

higher  potencies  was  not  so  great,  for  the  20th  potency  in- 

No.  6,  Vol  25.  u 


290  NEUBIL-ANALYBIS.         "'SM^TwU- 

creased  the  excitability  only   +   89  p.o.>  and  the  80th 
potency  only  +  25  p.c. 

The  100th  potency  was  examined  on  three  different 
occasions,  and  from  different  pharmacies.  The  result  was 
an  increase  of  +  28  p.c,  +  22  p.c,  and  +  29  p.c.  re- 
spectively. The  150th  potency  showed  another  maximum^ 
for  it  caused  an  increase  of  nerve-excitability  of  over 
85  p.c. 

There  is  very  much  more  of  interest  in  the  character  of 
the  osmogrammes  or  curves  showing  the  particular 
manner  in  which  the  nervous  excitability  is  altered  in 
each  case,  but  we  bavc  said  enough  to  point  out  the  vast 
importance  of  the  method. 

If  it  be  true,  that  by  this  means  three  samples  of  the 
100th  potency  of  a  drug  such  as  aconite  can  be  compared 
with  such  definite  results,  that  these  effects  can  be 
measured  by  machinery  with  such  exactness  that  the 
results  only  differ  as  in  this  case  is  exhibited  by  the 
figures  23*4,  22*3,  and  29.8  p.c,  it  is  manifest  a  new 
era  has  opened  for  homoeopathic  pharmacy. 

At  all  events  we  may  venture  to  say  that  henceforth  no 
proving  of  a  drug  will  be  complete  without  its  effect  on 
the  nervous  system  being  measured  quantitatively  by  this 
process  of  neural-analysis. 

Indeed,  if  it  be  found  that  these  experiments  are 
capable  of  being  repeated  and  extended,  and  we  see  no 
reason  to  doubt  the  care  and  conscientiousness  with  which 
they  have  been  carried  out  and  described  by  Dr.  Jaeger, 
its  results  can  hardly  be  over-estimated. 

For  it  must  not  be  forgotten,  that  it  was  and  is  the 
small  dose  which  is  the  burning  question  between  the  old 
and  the  new  school.  It  is  that  which  bulks  largest  in 
the  public  mind,  when  they  hear  the  word  homceopathy. 
It  is  this  which  has  destroyed  our  reputation  for  veracity 
and  sanity  with  our  colleagues;  and  it  will  be  of  the 
highest  importance  for  us,  if  we  can  bring  into  court  the 
evidence  of  experiments  such  as  these,  controlled  by 
machinery  and  verified  by  figures;  for  as  the  motto  on 
Dr.  Jaeger's  pamphlet  tells  us  **  Zahlen  beweisen."  Proof 
lies  in  numbers. 

We  hope  on  a  future  occasion  to  pursue  this  subject. 

Reading,  April  18th,  1881. 


^^SSS!u^ttS^    A  CASE  OF  H«!MOPHILIA.  291 

A  CASE   OP  HiEMOPHILIA. 

By  T.  Simpson,  M.D. 

HAYiNa  recently  witnessed  the  disastrous  results  which. 
may  follow  trifling  losses  of  blood  in  persons  of  a  hsemorr- 
hagic  diathesis,  I  am  anxious  to  report  the  particulars  of  a 
case,  which  I  think  peculiarly  instructive  to  my  professional 
confreres,  illustrating  as  it  does  the  importance  of 
ascertaining  the  existence  of  this  fatal  tendency  in  any  who 
may  propose  to  submit  to  an  operation  which  may  involve 
loss  of  blood. 

My  patient  was  a  lady,  sdt.  85,  with  the  characteristic 
blonde  hair,  blue  eyes,  fair  skin,  with  the  blood-vessels 
shining  through,  which  so  often  indicate  the  pre- 
disposition. 

She  had  five  teeth  extracted  on  March  5th  at  8  p.m. 
The  teeth  being  brittle  it  was  found  necessary  to  press  the 
forceps  well  down  into  the  gum,  and  they  were  conse- 
sequently  much  lacerated  during  the  operation. 

Th&  subsequent  oozing  of  blood  was  slight,  until  the 
following  evening,  when  it  increased,  and  continued  during 
the  night,  so'as  to  induce  faintness. 

A  medical  gentleman  who  was  summoned  to  her  aid 
applied  liq.  ferri  pernit  freely  to  the  bleeding  cavities, 
which  he  afberwards  plugged  with  cotton  wool,  but  to 
no  purpose,  the  hemorrhage  continuing  profuse. 

I  saw  her  thirty-six  hours  after  the  operation  in  the 
following  condition.  Face  pale  and  swollen,  with  diffuse 
eochymosis  around  the  mouth  and  eyes,  and  on  abdomen 
and  extremities ;  pulse  140,  almost  imperceptible,  very 
foetid  odour  from  mouth,  which  was  with  difficulty  opened. 
The  gums  being  swollen,  spongy,  and  bleeding.  Every 
attempt  to  arrest  the  haemorrhage  by  local  applications 
having  failed,  and  her  life  appearing  to  be  in  jeopardy,  I  at 
once  gave  phosphorus  12  cent.,  one  drop  every  quarter  of 
an  hour. 

Within  one  hour  signs  of  reaction  set  in.  The  passive 
hfemorrhage  from  gums  ceased.  The  urine  which  passed 
three  hours  after  contained  much  less  blood,  and  the  stool 
passed  eleven  hours  after  showed  a  diminution  in  the 
quantity  of  blood ;  twenty-four  hours  after  first  dose 
of  medicine,  pulse  perceptibly  stronger,  124.  She  con- 
tinued to  improve  so  rapidly,  that  on  the  fifth  day  after  the 

u-2 


292  CLINICAL  OBSERVATIONS.  ^R^fSHj^^H^. 

operation  all  her  symptoms  indicated  a  speedy  return 
to  healthy  and  eight  days  after  the  extraction  she  was 
so  well  as  to  need  no  fartiier  attendance. 

The  ahove  facts  impress  me  with  the  paramount  im* 
portance  of  trusting  to  the  administration  of  a  single 
remedy,  which  is  the  true  simillimum  to  every  case, 
independently  of  external  applications,  which  in  this 
instance  promised  so  much  and  proved  so  entirely  useless. 

Waterloo,  Liverpool,  March  1881. 

CLINICAL   OBSERVATIONS  ON    CYCLAMEN 

EUROPJEUM* 

By  Thomas  Sheareb,  M.D.,  Baltimobe,  MD. 

(Bead  before  the  Maiyland   HomoBopathic  Medical  Sodetj.) 

The  Cyclamen  Europaumy  or  sow-hread^  is  a  native  of  the 
South  of  Europe  and  Tartary,  and  is  cultivated  in  gardens. 
The  leaves  are  radical,  angular,  somewhat  heart-shaped 
three  inches  long,  of  a  deep-green  colour  above,  and  a 
reddish-purple  underneath;  flowers  drooping,  purplish, 
sweet-scented.  After  the  flowers  have  fallen  off  the 
flower-stalks  curl  spirally,  inclosing  the  germ  in  the 
centre,  and  lowering  it  to  the  earth,  repose  on  the  surfiEUse 
of  the  soil  till  the  seeds  are  ready  to  escape.  The  foot, 
which  is  gathered  i)i  the  fall,  contains  the  active  principle 
and  yields  a  brownish  tincture.  This  drug,  says  Hempel, 
from  whose  work  on  Materia  Medica  the  above  description 
has  been  derived,  is  a  violent  drastic  irritant.  Bulliard, 
in  his  history  of  the  poisonous  herbs  of  France,  states 
that  the  fresh  root,  in  a  dose  of  two  drachms,  in  a  decoc- 
tion of  half  a  glass  of  water,  caused  violent  vomiting  and 
purging  in  a  robust  man.  In  the  northern  parts  of  France, 
where  this  plant  is  abundant,  it  is  employed  frequently  as 
a  purge,  but  is  often  followed  by  violent  vomiting,  some- 
times of  blood,  with  cold  sweets,  singing  in  the  ears, 
swimming  of  the  head,  and  convulsive  movements.  The 
original  proving  is  in  the  Materia  Medica  Pura.  "  The 
only  constant  and  remarkable  actions  of  cydamen,*'  says 
Hughes,  ''are  upon  the  head  and  eyes  and  upon  the 
female  sexual  organs,  in  this  respect  very  closely  re- 
sembling putsatiUa.'*    But  in  his  Characteristic  Materia 

*  Beprinted  from  the  HahnemanHian  Monthly. 


tlSSif^i^S^    CLINICAL  OBSERVATIONS.  293 

Medica  he  classes  cyclamen  among  the  cerebro-spinal 
irritants.  Through  it  the  female  sexual  organs  and 
gastro-intestinal  canal  are  especially  affected.  On  the 
head  it  produces  sadden  stupefaction,  severe  vertigo,  dull 
pressing  headache,  obstruction  of  sight,  and  dilatation  of 
the  pupils.  On  the  generative  organs  of  women  it  causes 
profuse  menstruation,  blood  black  and  lumpy,  and  attended 
with  severe  labour-like  pains. 

Guernsey  gives  as  characteristics :  Menorrhagia,  with 
stupefaction  of  the  whole  head  and  obscuration  of  sight, 
as  if  a  fog  were  before  the  eyes.  Scanty,  painful  or  sup- 
pressed menstruation,  with  headache,  vertigo,  swollen 
eyelids,  pale  face,  lips,  and  gums,  loss  of  appetite,  no 
thirst,  and  palpitation  of  the  heart.  Suppression  of  the 
menses,  with  melancholy,  dizziness  and  headache,  desire 
to  be  alone ;  weeping  does  her  good ;  swelling  of  her  eye- 
lids, lips  ptje,  violent  action  of  the  heart,  loss  of  appetite 
and  constipation.  It  is  impossible  to  read  these  symptoms 
without  biding  struck  with  the  close  resemblance  of 
this  remedy  to  pvisatiUa,  of  which  it  is  a  congener. 
Dr.  Bidherr,  in  the  North  American  Journal  of  Homce- 
opathy,  vol.  X,  p.  118,  in  an  article  on  the  therapeutic 
properties  of  cyclamen,  says  that  he  found  it  very  effica- 
cious with  blonde,  leucophlegmatic  subjects,  in  whom, 
besides  retarded,  suppressed,  or  scanty  menstruation,  or 
complete  chlorosis,  there  were  disinclination  for  any  kind 
of  labour,  fatigue  from  slight  causes,  continued  sleepiness, 
and  chilliness  aU  over  the  body,  which  no  amount  of 
covering  would  relieve,  but  with  this  chilliness  a  constant 
desire  for  fresh  air. 

I  have  thought  it  well,  even  at  the  risk  of  being  tedious, 
to  point  out  the  close  resemblance  of  these  twin  reme- 
dies, and  to  remark  that  in  many  cases  of  chlorosis, 
characterised  by  symptoms  similar  to  those  we  have  jast 
enumerated,  and  where  pulsatiUa  is  strongly  indicated, 
but  fails  to  relieve,  as  it  has  often  done  in  my  hands, 
although  given  in  both  high  and  low  dilutions,  we  will 
find  the  cyclamen  a  most  reliable  remedy.  I  have  always 
obtained  good  results  from  the  dOth.  Before  dismissing 
this  subject  of  comparison  I  would  add  that  although  pre- 
scribing pulsatiUa  every  day  for  the  various  conditions 
and  disturbances  for  which  it  is  recommended,  I  am  com- 
pelled to  acknowledge  that  no  remedy  has  given  me  less 
satisfaction,  and  I  shall  be  happy  to  hear  the  opinions  and 


294  CLINICAL  OBSERVATIONS.   ^^bSSoS^SmS* 

experiences  of  others  in  regard  to  it.  In  yertigo  arising 
from  gastric  distorbance  in  thin,  pale,  anemic  subjects, 
with  constipation,  with  or  without  menstrual  irregularity, 
cyclamen  claims  the  yeiy  front  rank,  and  may  be  depended 
upon. 

In  catarrhal  headaches  I  have  found  it  exceedingly  effica- 
cious, making  a  decided  change  also  in  the  character  of  the 
secretion.  Several  cases,  indeed,  haye  been  entirely  cured 
by  it,  when  giyen  persistently  in  the  SOth  dilution.  But 
in  these  cases  I  consider  the  presence  of  yertigo  as  an  im- 
portant indication  for  the  remedy,  and  neyer  prescribe  it  if 
that  symptom  is  absent.  A  glance  at  the  proving  of 
cyclamen  will  show  at  once  its  power  to  irritate  the 
cerebrum.  In  Allen^s  Materia  Medica  we  find  under 
Head, — confusion  and  vertigo,  confusion  of  the  head  and 
obscuration  of  vision,  great  confusion  of  the  head  in  the 
evening  with  vertigo.  Vertigo  as  if  she  were  going  down 
a  mountain ;  vertigo  :  if  on  standing  still  he  lean  against 
anything,  it  seems  as  if  the  brain  were  moving  in  the 
head,  or  as  though  he  were  riding  in  a  wagon  with  his  eyes 
closed,  etc.  We  might  go  on  giving  page  after  page  to 
show  its  power  to  produce  vertigo,  but  the  above  must 
suffice. 

The  following  case  is  interesting  as  demonstrating  the 
curative  action  of  cyclamen. 

Mr.  H.,  aged  twenty-eight,  5  feet  10  inches  high,  with 
fair  skin  and  auburn  hair,  and  weighing  158  pounds,  came 
to  my  office,  January  8th,  1880,  to  consult  me  in  refer- 
ence to  his  eyes.  He  complained  of  not  being  able  to  see 
at  night,  although  his  sight  was  perfect  during  the  day. 
As  soon  as  it  began  to  grow  dark  his  power  of  vision  dimin- 
ished with  the  light,  compelling  him  to  huriy  home,  and 
on  more  than  one  occasion,  when  unavoidably  detained, 
he  experienced  great  difficulty  in  finding  his  way. 
Hemeralopia  or  night-blindness  is  characterised  by  a 
state  of  vision  in  which  the  patient  sees  well  during  the 
early  part  of  the  day,  or  when  objects  are  brightly 
illuminated,  but  imperfectly  towards  night.  Dr.  Ajogell 
remarks  that  it  is  a  purely  frmctional  disease  of  the  retina, 
in  which  no  changes  are  observable  with  the  ophthalmoscope. 
The  distinguishing  characteristic  of  the  disease  is  a  torpor 
of  the  retina,  so  that  a  bright  light  is  required  in  order  to 
stimulate  it  sufficiently  to  receive  distinct  impressions  of 
objects ;  hence  by  night  the  patient's  sight  is  unusually 


^^J^T^^    CLINICAL  OBSERVATIONS,  295 

bad.  In  high  grades  of  the  affection,  the  patient  is  unable 
to  distingoish  even  large  objects  towards  the  close  of  the 
day.  The  time  of  the  day  has  no  significance,  as  the  name 
of  the  affection  would  indicate ;  for  by  a  bright  artificial 
light  he  sees  as  well  by  night  as  if  no  affection  of  the  eye 
were  present.  Hemeralopia  is  not  always  equally  deyeloped 
in  both  eyes,  the  patient  being  able  sometimes  to  discern 
objects  with  one  eye  and  not  with  the  other.  The  chief 
predisposing  cause  of  this  affection  is  an  impoverished 
state  of  the  blood,  in  consequence  of  which  the  nerre 
elements  of  the  retina  are  insufficiently  nourished.  The 
exciting  cause  is  prolonged  exposure  to  intense  and  un- 
accustomed light.  Both  of  these  conditions  are  present 
with  our  soldiers  and  sailors  in  warm  latitudes. 

We  also  find  that  the  greatest  number  of  hemeralopes 
are  individuals  whose  constitutions  have  become  impaired 
by  severe  illness,  or  whose  general  constitution  has  become 
debilitated.  It  is  often  met  with  in  conjunction  with 
malarial  fevers,  and  the  ill-fed  and  badly-housed  peasants 
in  the  South  of  Europe  and  Central  America  arc  subject 
to  it.  Sailors  affected  with  scurvy  are  often  subjects  of 
it.  The  treatment  consists  in  rest,  protection  of  the  eyes 
from  bright  light,  and  such  constitutional  remedies  as  are 
necessary  for  the  restoration  of  the  general  health.  My 
patient  was  subjected  to  a  most  rigid  examination  in  order 
to  discover  some  cause  for  his  troublesome  affection.  He 
had  not  been  exposed  to  bright  light,  as  it  first  showed 
itself  in  December ;  his  general  health  was  perfect, — never 
felt  better  in  his  life,  to  use  his  own  language.  Several 
remedies  were  prescribed  for  him  without  benefit.  BeUo' 
donna  6,  gehem.  80,  each  prescription  lasting  two  weeks, 
as  the  patient  lived  some  distance  in  the  country  and  oould 
not  make  it  convenient  to  come  offcener.  On  the  fourth 
visit  he  reported  himself  no  better,  but  if  anything  worse, 
for,  in  addition  to  being  as  blind  as  a  bat  at  night,  he  now 
complained  of  distressing  vertigo,  which  came  on  as  soon 
as  it  became  dark. 

I  determined  at  once  to  prescribe  cyclamen^  feeling  sure 
that  it  would  remove  the  giddiness,  should  it  do  nothing 
more.  I  gave  a  two-drachm  vial  of  No.  80  pellets,  satu- 
rated with  the  80th  of  the  remedy, — six  pellets  to  be  taken 
three  times  a  day, — to  report  in  two  weeks.  On  his  next 
visit  he  reported  the  Vertigo  relieved  after  six  doses  of  the 
medicine;  and  although  there  was  no  marked  improve- 


296 BBViEWB.  "Ig^^SfyS! 

ment  in  the  night-blindnesB,  if  there  was  any  change  it 
was  for  the  better.  In  the  meantime  a  chronic  catarrhal 
discharge,  which  he  had  had  in  a  mild  form,  became  Teiy 
much  aggravated,  and  a  copious  discharge  of  thick  yellow 
mncons  flowed  from  his  nose;  but,  as  I  had  relieyed 
similar  cases  with  cyclamen,  I  did  not  think  it  necessaiy 
to  change ;  moreoyer,  I  rather  suspected  that  he  was  suffer- 
ing from  cyclamen  catarrh,  instead  of  the  bad  cold  of 
which  he  complained.  The  medicine  was  requested  to  be 
taken  twice  daily  until  finished.  In  about  four  weeks  he 
reported  great  improvement  in  his  sight.  Another  pre- 
scription, to  be  taken  once  daily,  was  all  that  was  required,, 
for  on  his  next  visit  he  assured  me  he  could  see  quite  aa 
well  at  night  as  he  ever  could.  I  have  seen  him  several 
times  since,  and  he  continues  to  have  the  full  use  of  his. 
eyes  on  all  occasions. 

The  case  is  an  anomalous  one,  from  the  entire  absence 
of  any  known  predisposing  or  exciting  cause,  and  its  entire 
relief  by  cyclamen,  a  remedy  I  have  never  seen  recom- 
mended for  that  purpose. 


REVIEWS. 

Hie  Feeding  and  Management  of  Children,  and  the  Horns  Treat- 
ment of  their  Dieeases.  By  T.  C.  Duncan,  M.D.  Chicago : 
Duncan  Brothers.     1880. 

Tms  work  does  great  credit  to  its  publishers.  It  is  well  got  up, 
clearly  printed,  on  good  paper,  with  numerous  illustrations,  which 
are  certainly  attractive  and  entertaining,  possibly  useful,  if  not 
of  very  high  artistic  merit.  The  preface  tells  us  "  it  is  a  collection 
of  facts  relating  to  the  study,  feeding,  and  management  of 
children,  woven  together  by  the  author  as  replies  to  many 
questions  that  occur  to  mothers  in  the  case  of  their  little  ones." 

Unfortunately  the  weaving  process  is  not  very  successful.  The 
sturdy  and  trenchant  Americano-English  of  the  warp  does  not 
unite  well  with  a  woof,  which  is  decidedly  of  British  origin.  Fop 
Dr.  Ruddock's  book  on  children  furnishes  not  only  a  motto  for 
the  title  page,  but  also  a  large  proportion  of  the  second  part, 
which  is  devoted  to  the  treatment  of  disease.  We  need  say  no 
more  on  this  subject,  but  it  is  abundantly  evident  there  is  no 
copyright  law  in  America,  and  every  publisher  does  that  which 
is  right  in  his  own  eyes. 

There  is  much  entertaining  and  useful  information  in  the  first 
part,  as  in  the  chapters  describing  the  points  of  a  thorough-bred 


fSS^^rrS^  RBVIEWB.  297 


Iteview,  Hay  S,  IbSl. 


baby  and  those  of  a  good  nurse.  The  author  divides  all  babj- 
kind  into  two  classes,  the  acid  and  the  alkaline.  This  is  simple 
enough,  but  embarrassing  to  the  ordinary  intelligence  of  the 
"  noble  mothers  *'  for  whom  the  work  is  written.  A  large  stomach 
is  the  cause  and  the  sign  of  acidity,  a  large  liver  on  the  other 
hand  causes  alkalinity.  Further,  "  alkaiinity  is  necessary  to* 
health,  while  acidity  means  death.'* 

The  question  of  the  proper  food  for  Ameacan  children  is- 
treated  at  great  length  ;  but  the  dietary  would,  we  fear,  hardly 
agree  with  infantile  stomachs  on  this  side  the  Atlantic. 

The  author's  style  is  generally  obscure  and  involved,  but  his> 
directions  are  often  short,  clear,  and  decisive.  *'  Feed  the  child 
some. — It  gags, — they  all  do, — stuff  it  down."  Again,  words  of 
wisdom  drop  from  his  lips,  which  do  equal  honour  to  his  head 
and  heart.  **  Do  not  wash  a  thin  child,  it  dissolves  out  the  fat."* 
"  To  some  a  whisky-sling  is  a  sovereign  remedy,"  though  he 
regards  it  as  pernicious ;  we  must,  however,  take  exception  to 
his  opinion  that  '*  a  small  thin  child  will  cry  very  much  till  it 
becomes  fleshy." 

On  the  whole  we  see  no  reason  greatly  to  regret  that  this  work 
is  "  sold  only  by  subscription." 

Books  on  domestic  medicine  are  the  cause  of  much  mal- 
treatment and  mismanagement.  Who  is  responsible  for  the 
hard  and^fast  rule,  copied  again  and  again  into  manuals  of  infant, 
treatment,  that  cow's  milk  should  be  diluted  with  an  equal  bulk 
of  water.  There  are  numerous  other  such  rules  which  indirectly 
produce  a  vast  amount  of  suffering.  The  ideal  '*  Mother's  Yade 
Mecum  *'  is  yet  to  be  written.  It  should  be  printed  and  published 
and  illustrated  as  this  is — but  in  the  author's  department  we 
would  suggest  a  few  improvements.  It  should  be  a  handy  dic- 
tionary of  disease  and  treatment,  to  be  easily  and  quickly  con- 
sulted on  an  emergency.  It  should  be  portable,  and  therefore 
contain  the  smallest  possible  amount  of  paidding.  In  the  clearest 
and  briefest  terms,  it  should  describe  the  disease,  and  give 
positive  instructions  for  treatment.  Its  directions  for  diet  and 
management  should  admit  of  no  possibility  of  misconception,  no 
loophole  for  error.  The  malignant  perversity  with  which 
nurses  and  mothers  misread  and  misunderstand  the  plainest 
directions  is  wonderful.  Lastly,  the  writer  of  the  model  book 
should  exclude  with  jealous  care  all  airing  of  pet  theories,  and 
exercising  of  hobby  horses  therein.     Who  will  write  us  such  a 

book?  

li  Cimsumption  Contagious  ?  and  can  it  he  TranmutUd  by  Means 

of  Food?    By  Hebbebt  C.  Clapp,  A.M.,  M.D.    Boston: 

Clapp  &  Son.     1881. 

That  the  question  which  forms  the  title  of  this  work  is  an  im- 
portant one,  will  be  admitted  by  every  physician.     It  is  a  ques- 


298  BEViEws.  "^SS:=S?!^ 


Beview.MftyS,  1881. 


L 


tion  that  has  often  been  asked  and  often  answered  both  negatiTely 
and  affirmatively.  Dr.  Clapp  commences  his  essay  with  a  brief 
but  exhaustive  history  of  the  matter,  he  shows  that  up  to  one 
hundred  years  ago,  medical  opinion  was  almost  unanimous  in 
giving  an  affirmative  reply  to  the  question,  but  that  soon  after 
that  date,  there  came  a  reaction,  the  pendulum  took  a  swing  to 
the  other  extreme,  and  the  idea  of  the  contagiousness  of 
phthisis  was  nearly  abandoned.  Within  the  last  few  years, 
however,  there  has  been  a  revival  of  the  belief,  and  Dr.  Clapp 
avows  himself  an  earnest  supporter  of  the  theory.  In  consider- 
ing his  collection  of  facts  and  cases,  and  his  comments  upon 
them,  it  must  therefore  always  be  borne  in  mind  that  they  come 
from  a  strong  believer,  though  it  will  be  admitted  that  there  is  no 
undue  use  of  the  facts  which  support  his  view  of  the  matter,  to 
be  found  in  the  book.  Dr.  Clapp  arranges  his  evidence  some- 
what in  this  fashion — ^he  brings  first  cases,  mostly  derived  from 
French  sources,  of  contagion  amongst  cattle,  showing  that  a 
consumptive  cow  may  so  contaminate  a  stall,  that  successive 
healthy  occupants  fall  victims  to  the  same  disease.  Next  he  relates 
typical  cases  of  the  communicability  of  consumption  in  the  human 
being,  and  startling  enough  some  of  the  cases  are — so  startling, 
that  it  must  be  rare  indeed  for  a  physician  to  be  able  to  chronicle 
that  a  phthisical  man  married  successively  four  wives  who  all 
died  of  phthisis,  he  afterwards  succumbing  in  his  turn.  Dr.  Clapp 
is  evidently  quite  awake  to  all  the  objections  that  may  be  raised 
to  this  class  of  evidence,  for  he  meets  them  in  advance,  arguing 
forcibly  that  neither  heredity,  bad  hygienic  surroundings,  etc., 
will  explain  away  his  illustrative  cases.  He  then  passes  on  to 
consider  how  the  contagium  is  conveyed,  and  discusses  it  under 
the  three  heads  of,  by  food,  by  inoculation,  and  by  inhalation. 
Under  the  first  head  he  cites  experiments  made  of  feeding 
healthy  animals  with  tubercular  products,  with  the  result  of 
setting  up  in  them  tubercular  disease,  and  he  deduces  the  in- 
ference that  milk  and  flesh  from  a  tubercular  animal  may  set  up 
tubercular  disease  in  the  human  being  using  them  for  food,  but 
he  gives  this  comfort,  thorough  cooking  has  always  been  found 
to  completely  destroy  the  poison.  The  inoculability  of  tubercle 
is  next  considered,  and  the  experiments  and  their  results  given — 
as  is  well  known,  these  results  vary,  one  set  of  experimenters 
found  that  by  inoculating  true  tubercle,  they  produced  tubercular 
deposits  in  the  animals  experimented  upon.  Another  set  failed 
to  obtain  such  results,  whilst  a  third  set  succeeded  in  producing 
deposits  at  any  rate  allied  to  tubercle  by  inoculating  indifferently 
with  some  foreign  matter,  such  as  cuttle  fish  powder,  sand,  etc. 
Some  very  interesting  experiments  are  given  of  animals  caused 
to  inhale  vapourised  tubercle,  with  the  almost  unfailing  result  of 
causing  them  to  become  tuberculous ;  the  evidence  under  this 


iSriSSrlSW^  REVIEWS.  299 


head  is  certainly  the  most  convincing^  as  to  the  mode  in  which 
phthisis  is  commonicated,  if  it  be  contagious  at  all.  There  is 
one  curious  and  suggestive  fact  in  all  the  experiments,  which  is, 
that  whilst  the  vegetarian  animals  nearly  without  exception  con- 
tracted  the  disease,  the  camivora  for  the  great  part  escaped. 
Probably  the  decision  of  the  reader  on  the  question  will  be 
materially  influenced  by  his  personal  experience — ^the  question 
of  heredity — the  great  prevalence  of  the  disease  (itself  only  a 
form  of  the  almost  universal  scrofula)  the  length  of  incubation 
claimed  for  the  contagium — the  negative  evidence  of  persons 
nursing  consumptives  and  not  contracting  the  disease — all  open 
doors  of  doubt  and  leave  room  for  difference  of  opinion ;  but 
anyone  interested  in  the  matter  and  who  wishes  to  hear  the 
evidence  on  both  sides  of  the  question, '  cannot  do  better  than 
read  this  masterly  essay  of  Dr.  Glapp. 


Inflammation,  chiefly  of  the  Middle  Ear,  and  other  Diseases  of 
the  Ear.  Being  a  Course  of  Lectures  delivered  to  the  Students 
attending  the  Class  of  the  London  School  of  Hamttopathy 
during  the  Winter  Session  of  1877-8.  Second  Edition,  with 
Additional  Cases.  By  Bobbrt  T.  Ooopeb,  A.B.,  M.D., 
Trin.  Col.,  Dublin :  Physician  (Diseases  of  the  Ear)  London 
Homceopathic  Hospital.  London  :  Homoeopathic  Publishing 
Company.     1880. 

So  recently  as  in  our  number  for  March,  1879,  we  gave  a  some- 
what full  account  of  this  useful  endeavour  to  point  out  the 
homoeopathic  treatment  of  diseases  of  the  ear.  We  are  glad  to 
find  that  it  has  reached  a  second  edition.  The  principles 
enunciated  by  Dr.  Cooper,  are  well  illustrated  by  cases  both 
from  private  and  hospital  practice.  Tempting  as  surgical 
measures  always  are  in  diseases  of  the  ear.  Dr.  Cooper  assures 
us  that  every  day's  experience  serves  to  convince  him  *'  more  and 
more  that  we  must  look  to  homoeopathy  if  we  wish  to  obtain 
anything  like  success  in  the  affections  that  give  rise  to  chronic 
deafiaess  and  other  ear  symptoms.*'  This  we  should  all  a  priori 
expect  at  the  same  time  it  is  gratifying  to  see  a  surgeon  laying 
aside  the  more  facile,  more  popularly  striking  use  of  measures 
always  more  or  less  defective,  and  very  generally  of  a  temporary 
value,  for  the  far  more  difficult,  but  at  the  same  time  more  per- 
manently satisfactory  plan  of  finding  out  and  prescribing  a 
medicine  capable  in  the  healthy  of  producing  a  similar  state  of 
health. 


300  MEETINGS  OP  SOCIETIES.  ''SSSL^SJ^ISI 


,  ICay  2,  Iffil 


MEETINGS   OF   SOCIETIES. 


FOURTH  ANNUAL  GENERAL  MEETING  OF  THE 
GOVERNORS   AND    SUBSCRIBERS    OF    THE    LONDON 

SCHOOL  OF  HOMCEOPATHY. 

The  annnal  meeting  of  the  Governors  and  Subscribers  of  the 
London  School  of  Homoeopathy,  was  held  on  Tuesday,  April  12th, 
1881,  in  the  lecture  room  of  the  London  Homoeopathic  Hospital. 
Rt.  Hon.  Lord  Ebuby,  being  unable  to  preside  owing  to  ill- 
health,  sent  a  telegram  expressing  his  regret,  the  Chair  was 
therefore  taken  by  Major  Vaughan  Morgan. 

Present :  Drs.  Yeldham,  Bates,  Bbown,  Pope,  Hughes, 
LucKEY,  Matheson,  Baykes,  Jaoielbki.  Messrs.  Williahs, 
F.  RosHEB,  GuBNEY,  Chambbb,  Boodle,  Pite,  Mrs.  Dbew,  and 
Miss  Cabuan^  The  notice  convening  the  me«ting  was  read  by 
the  Secretary,  Mr.  F.  Maycock,  the  balance  sheet  was  sab- 
mitted.     The  Report  was  read  by  the  Hon.  Sec,  Dr.  Bates. 

The  report  opened  by  describing  t«he  year  as  haying  been  one  of 
quiet  and  steady  progress  in  forming  and  consolidating  the 
foundation  upon  which  a  useful  and  practical  Medical  School, 
where  the  science  and  practice  of  Homoeopathy  would  continue 
to  be  taught  in  connection  with  the  London  Homoeopathic 
Hospital.  The  necessity  of  well-educated  physicians  instructed 
in  homoeopathy,  increasing  in  proportion  to  the  number  of 
persons  seeking  homoeopathic  aid,  and  the  consequent  im- 
portance of  increasing  the  size  of  the  Hospital  until  it  contained 
at  least  100  to  150  beds,  were  insisted  on,  in  order  that  full 
clinical  instruction  may  be  supplied.  To  this  end  an  appeal  to 
the  public  for  je70,000  is  advocated. 

The  financial  statement  is  eminently  satisfactory — the 
income  of  the  School  having  increased  and  the  expenses  being 
diminished. 

During  the  summer  session  of  1880,  seven  students  were 
entered  ;  during  the  winter  session,  eleven. 

On  Materia  Medica  and  Therapeutics,  Dr.  Hughes  delivered 
47  lectures,  and  Dr.  Pope  21,  during  1880. 

On  the  Principles  and  Practice  of  Medicine,  Dr.  Dyce-Brown 
delivered  70  lectures  during  the  year. 

Dr.  Dyce-Brown,  Dr.  Galley  Blackley,  and  Mr.  Thorold  Wood, 
have  given  clinical  instruction  in  the  wards ;  and  Drs.  Brown, 
Blackley,  Cooper,  and  Tuckey,  and  Mr.  Thorold  Wood,  have 
done  80  in  the  out-patient  department, 


SS^fl^jSIS^  MEETINGS  OP  SOCIETIES.  801 

Dr.  Hngbes'  resignation  of  the  office  of  Lecturer  on  Materia 
Medica  is  mentioned  with  much  and  deserved  regret,  and  his 
offer  to  deliver  a  course  of  lectures  during  the  summer  session 
on  the  Institutes  of  Homoeopathy  and  General  Pharmacody* 
namics  is.  gratefully  acknowledged. 

Dr.  Pope's  appointment  to  the  office  vacated  hy  Dr.  Hughes 
is  announced,  and  its  confirmation  by  the  meeting  requested. 

The  Institution  of  the  Hahnemann  Lectureship  and  the 
delivery  of  the  first  by  Dr.  Burnett  are  alluded  to,  and 
appointment  of  Dr.  Hughes  to  give  one  in  October  is 
mentioned. 

The  Prizemen  of  last  year,  Dr.  Cox  and  Dr.  Shannon  are 
named. 

The  report  proposes  the  abolition  of  the  salary  attached  to 
the  Curatorship  of  the  Library  and  Museum  and  the  appoint- 
ment of  an  Honorary  Ourator,  and  in  doing  so  refers  to  the 
completion  of  both  under  the  care  and  skilful  attention  of 
Dr.  Galley  Blackley,  who  it  proposes  to  ask  to  take  the  honorary 
post. 

After  noticing  the  presentation  by  the  school  of  copies  of 
Dr.  Hughes  work  on  Pharmacodynamics  to  the  President  of  the 
School  and  to  various  Universities  and  Colleges  in  the  United 
States  in  which  homoeopathy  is  taught,  to  a  correspondence  into 
which  the  honorary  secretary,  at  the  suggestion  of  the  com- 
mittee, entered  with  the  United  States  Colleges  relative  to  the 
recognition  of  the  School  lectures  as  forming  a  part  of  the 
curriculum  for  their  degrees  and  the  various  donations  of  the 
year,  the  report  proceeds  to  consider  the  means  which  seem  to 
the  committee  best  adapted  to  continue  the  work  of  the  School 
at  the  expiration  of  the  five  years  for  which  subscriptions  to  it 
were  guaranteed. 

Its  more  close  connection  with  the  Hospital,  is  advised  and  it 
is  proposed  to  ask  the  Board  of  Management  of  the  Hospital  to 
tmdertake  the  general  business  of  the  School — and  that  the  funds 
of  the  School  shall  be  vested  in  trustees,  be  kept  separate  from 
those  of  the  Hospital,  and  be  used  for  educational  purposes  only. 
The  report  of  the  sub-committee  appointed  to  draw  up  a  scheme 
for  the  future  arrangements  of  the  School  is  added. 

In  this  report  it  is  proposed  that  after  the  payment  of  the 
liabilities  of  the  School,  the  property  thereof  shoiUd  be  applied  to 
the  payment  of  salaries  to  the  clinical  lecturer  or  lecturers,  the 
rental  of  the  lecture  room,  and  the  general  expenses  of  manage- 
ment. Subscriptions  are  to  be  requested  from  the  present 
governors  of  the  School,  and  the  members  of  the  profession 
generally.  That  the  Board  of  Management  of  the  Hospital 
be  requested  to   undertake  the  management  of  the  funds  of 


30a  MEETINGS  OF  SOCIETIES.  ^^SSS^fjug^?^ 

the  school,  and  that  trostees  of  these  fands  be  associated  with 
the  Board  in  this  matter.  That  the  medical  goveroors  be  con- 
stituted as  at  present,  and  retain  their  position  and  privileges 
on  the  same  condition  as  heretofore.  That  the  medical  governors 
be  the  electing  body  of  lecturers  and  officers,  and  always  be  con- 
sulted on  the  institution  of  new  lectureships,  and  all  matters 
relating  to  the  educational  arrangements  of  the  School.  That 
the  systematic  lectures  on  Practical  Medicine  be  extinguished, 
and  for  them  clinical  lectureships  be  substituted.  It  is  proposed 
that  the  lectures  on  Materia*  Medica  by  Dr.  Pope  be  continued, 
any  salary  to  be  contingent  on  the  increase  of  the  School  after 
other  payments  have  been  met. 

The  report  concludes  by  advising  that  a  general  meeting  be 
called  for  the  15th  of  October,  to  decide  exactly  on  the  form  in 
which  these  reforms  in  the  School  shall  be  carried  out. 

On  the  motion  by  Mr.  Williams,  seconded  by  Mr.  Gubnst 
''That  the  Beport  be  adopted,  printed,  and  circulated  in  the 
usual  way,"  Dr.  Yeldham  proposed  as  an  amendment  that  the 
word  "  receive  *'  be  substituted  for  "  adopted."  After  some 
discussion  the  amendment  not  being  seconded,  the  original 
motion  was  carried. 

The  following  motions  were  carried  unanimously : — 
Proposed  by  Dr.  Pope,  and  seconded  by  Dr.  Matheson — 
"  That  the  sanction  of  the  meeting  be  given  to  the  delivery  of 
a  course  of  lectures  at  the  School  of  Homoeopathy  during  the 
summer  session  by  Dr.  Eichard  Hughes  at  a  seJary  of  £35." 
Proposed  by  Dr.  Hughes,  seconded  by  Mr.  Kosher — 
'*  That  an  appointment  of  Dr.  Pope  as  lecturer  on  Materia 
Medica  and  Therapeutics  at  a  salary  of  £70,  be  confirmed." 

Proposed  by  Dr.  Matheson,  and  seconded  by  Dr.  Tucket — 
**  That  Dr.  Blackley  be  requested  to  act  as  honorary  curator 
and  librarian  during  the  ensuing  year." 

Proposed  by  Mr.  Williams,  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Pite — 

''  That  the  officers,  staff,  committee  and  council  be  requested 
to  continue  in  office  until  the  15th  of  December  next." 

^*  That  the  rent  and  the  salaries  of  paid  officers  cease  on  the 
15th  of  December  next." 

*'  That  the  School  as  at  present  constituted  be  wound  up  on 
the  15th  December,  and  that  a  special  meeting  be  called  for  that 
day  for  the  purpose  of  reconstituting  the  School  in  accordance 
with  the  resolutions  determined  at  the  meeting  of  the  Governors 
to  be  held  on  the  15th  of  October." 

Proposed  by  Mr.  Chambre,  and  seconded  by  Dr.  Jaqielski — 
''  That  the  sub- committee  appointed  at  the  monthly  meeting  of 
the  14ih  March  be  re-appointed  for  the  purpose  of  drawing  up 
the  new  laws  bf  the  School  on  the  basis  framed  in  the  report." 


^S^^^T^^SS^  KOTABILU. 308 

Proposed  by  Dr.  Bbown,  seconded  by  Dr.  Pope— 
"  That  ihe  sanctioii  of  the  meeting  be  obtained  for  the  appoint- 
ment of   the   Hahnemann    Lecture   to   be   delivered  on   6th 
October  by  Dr.  Richard  Haghest  and  that  a  sum  of  £5  6b,  be  set 
apart  as  the  honorarium  for  its  delivery.*' 
Proposed  by  Dr.  Mathebon,  seconded  by  Dr.  Brown — 
"  That  Dr.  Bayes  and  Dr.  J.  C.  Burnett  be  appointed  joint 
hon.  secretaries  for  the  ensuing  year.*' 

Dr.  Batss  stated  that  at  the  examinations  in  Materia  Medica 
and  Therapeutics  and  Practical  Medicine,  recently  held  for  adju- 
dicating the  £10  prize,  the  two  competitors,  Dr.  Moir  and  Dr. 
ThurloWy  were  returned  as  having  presented  papers  of  equal  and 
very  considerable  merit. 

The  Honorary  Secretary  then  read  a  resolution  which  Dr. 
Drysdale  had  forwarded,  and  requested  that  it  be  proposed  in  his 


"  That  application  be  made  to  some  one  or  more  of  the 
licensing  bodies  for  recognition  of  a  lectureship  on  Materia 
Medica,  to  be  offered  to  Dr.  Hughes  ;  and  if  obtained,  that  a  sum 
of  £200  a  year  for  five  years  be  set  apart  from  the  funds  of  the 
School  towards  the  cost  of  the  same." 

As  the  resolution  did  not  meet  with  a  seconder,  no  discussion 
ensued. 

The  proceedings  terminated  with  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the 
Chairman. 

NOTABILIA. 

MEDICAL  CONSULTATIONS. 

The   Lancet  devotes  three  columns  of   leading    articles    to  a 

discussion   of  the   '^  wide-spread   astonishment  and  unfeigned 

regret"  with  which,  as  it  says,  the  medical  world  has  received 

the  new  doctrine  that  a  physician  may,  without  dishonouring  his 

profession,  consult  with  a  '*  reputed  homoeopath  "  with  a  view 

to  saving  life.     Our  contemporary  is  clearly  of  opinion  that  in 

such  a  matter  the  Jews  ought  to  have  no  dealings  with  the 

Samaritans,  though,  perhaps,  a  Good  Samaritan  might  think 

differently.     We  do  not  profess  to  be  able  to  view  the  question 

from  the  professional  stfuidpoint,  but  the  question  may  as  well 

be  stated,  as  it  is  likely  to  strike  a  layman,  and  in  this  discussion . 

of  it  th^e  is  no  need  to  refer  to  particular  cases.     We  must  start 

with  the  supposition  that  the  doctor  originally  attending  a  given 

patient  is  a  duly  qualified  medical  practitioner,  whether  he  be  a 

'' reputed  homoeopath  "  or  not.     The  question  is  whether  another 

doctor,  called  to  consult  with  such  a  man,  has  any  duty  imposed 

on  him  to  go  behind  or  beyond  that  qualification.     Now,  if  such 

a  doctor  favour  the  theories  of  Peter  Noakes  in  one  branch  of  the 


304 


KOTABILIA. 


Uoollily  HoBflBOiMaiic 
Beriew,  Mays.  18B1. 


profession,  or  thinks  highly  of  the  practice  of  Timothj  Styles  in 
another,  there  is  no  ohjeetion  made  to  consultation  with  him. 
Bat  if  the  man  he  reputed  to  follow  the  lines  of  one  BAhnemann, 
sn  exception  must,  we  are  told,  he  made,  even  thoagfa  in  the 
particular  case  the  treatment  of  the  regular  school  and  the 
homoeopathic  may  have  hardly  two  straws  of  difference  between 
them.  If  the  **  etiquette  of  the  profession  " — ^ascertained  by 
what  recognised  tribunal? — ^is  to  be  empowered  to  impose 
exclusive  tests  at  will,  we  may  expect  that  alcoholic  and  non- 
alcoholic doctors  will  soon  be  expected  to  have  a  great  gulf  fixed 
between  them  ;  or  that  the  consulting  physician  will  furnish  his 
would-be  consultant  with  a  paper  of  questions  in  medical  ortho* 
doxy  requiring  satisfactory  answers.  Meanwhile,  how  about  the 
patient?  But  it  is  said  that  Hahnemann  himself  preadted 
^xclusiveness.  What  of  that  ?  George  Fox  wore  a  suit  of 
leather,  and  was  a  sort  of  Diogenes  ;  but  your  modem  Quaker  is 
a  very  reasonable  being. — Evening  Standard,  April  11th,  1881. 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION  AND 
LORD  BEACONSFIELD. 

It  is  astonishing  how  small-minded  even  the  wisest  and  most 
successful  professional  men  can  sometimes  be  I  The  lay  public 
have  witnessed  with  mingled  feelings  of  amazement,  contempt, 
and  disgust  the  paltry  squabbles  of  Sir  William  Jenner,  and 
Drs.  Quain  and  Kidd  over  the  treatment  of  Lord  Beaconsfield. 
A  valuable  life  is  at  stake.  The  life  of  an  ex-Premier  of  England 
trembles  in  the  balance,  and,  at  the  wish  of  the  Queen  of 
England,  Dr.  Kidd,  the  ordinary  medical  attendant  of  the  illus- 
trious patient,  sends  for  Sir  William  Jenner.  Sir  William 
Jenner 's  reply  is  as  follows: — "Holding  as  you  and  I  do  dif- 
ferent views  as  to  practical  treatment,  I  do  not  think  Lord 
Beaconsfield's  case  could  in  any  way  be  served  by  our  meeting 
in  consultation,  on  the  contrary  it  could  not  be  without  risk  to 
him."  While,  however,  the  negotiations  were  in  progress  which 
led  to  this  inhuman  answer  from  Sir  William  Jenner,  Dr.  Qaain 
had  been  communicated  with,  and,  after  being  assured  that  the 
noble  patient  was  receiving  allopathic — not  homoeopathic — ^treat- 
ment, he  consented,  after  some  reluctance,  to  meet  Dr.  Eidd  and 
join  in  the  effort  to  save  Lord  Beaeonsfield*s  life.  But  Sir 
William  Jenner  was  not  satisfied  even  now.  If  we  have  gathered 
the  threads  of  the  narrative  correctly,  Sir  William  actually  pro- 
ceeded to  the  length  of  remonstrating  with  the  President  of  the 
College  of  Physicians  as  to  the  correctness  of  Dr.  Quain*8  con- 
duct in  consulting  with  a  reputed  homoeopath  1  For  our  part  we 
can  only  hope  that  if  medical  men  are  going  to  make  sudb  idiots 


itSS^^^TS^  NOTABItU.  806 


Bavkrv,  iUj  t,  IfiSl. 


of  themsolTas  and  negleet  the  great  duty  of  iheir  profe88ion« 
whieh  iato  "  leeognise  only  homaxiity  in  need  of  saccoor/*  the 
sooner  we  break  down  their  monopoly  the  better.  The  pablie 
make  the  laws  as  regards  the  statos  and  rights  and  priyilegeB  of 
medieal  piaetLtioners,  and  if  we  are  to  be  ontraged  in  this 
monstrous  fashion  by  the  leaders  of  the  profession  we  shall 
make  short  work  with  their  privileges.  The  Qnain-Kidd-Jenner 
episode  is  not  caloolated  to  raise  the  profession  in  our  eyes.  If 
Lord  Beaconsfield  had  died  daring  the  delay  cassed  by  the 
fighting,  his  death  wonld  plainly  rest  at  the  door  of  these  small- 
minded  miserable  men.  They  hare  excited  aniversal  disgnsty 
and  they  haye  brought  their  profession  into  general  contempt. — 
BcUh  Argus* 

MEDICAL  OBTHODOXY  AND  MEDICAL  BIGOTRY. 

The  following  leading  article  appeared  in  the  Liverpool 
Mercury  of  the  21st  nit.,  and  is  a  good  iUostration  of  the  feeling 
which  has  been  excited  in  the  pablie  mind  by  the  painful  case  to 
which  it  refers : — 

"  Now  that  Lord  Beaconsfield  has  passed  away,  it  may  not  be 
without  its  uses  to  take  up  a  point  which  none  but  the  most 
violent  partisans  would  have  thought  it  seemly  to  discuss  in  the 
spirit  and  tone  of  the  medical  press  while  the  patient  was  as  yet 
hovering  between  life  and  death.  We  refer  to  the  wretched 
squabble  raised  over  what  science  appears  to  have  pretty  clearly 
recognised  as  the  sick  bed  of  a  dying  man,  by  that  section  of  the 
medical  profession  which  delights  in  calling  itself  ^  orthodox.' 
It  must  be  admitted  that  the  word  has  been  well  chosen,  for  it 
expresses  with  regard  to  the  cure  of  bodies  precisely  the  same 
amount  of  bigotry  and  intolerance  which  it  used,  uxihappily,  to 
imply  in  the  cure  of  souls.  It  was  well  known  that  Lord 
Beaconsfield,  like  many  other  men  of  intellect,  placed  affiance  in 
what  is  termed  the  homoeopathic  principle  in  medicine.  It  wan 
equally  well  known  that  Dr.  Kidd  had  long  been  his  trusted 
medical  attendant.  In  such  a  case  there  was  something  more 
than  arrogance — there  was  insolence — ^in  the  indecent  readiness 
with  which  the  ^  orthodox '  mediofd  journals  assumed  that 
homoeopathy  and  quackery  were  synonymous  terms,  and  pro- 
ceeded gravely  to  discuss  the  question  whether  the  Queen's 
physicians  at  the  Queen's  express  command,  ought  or  ought  not  to 
meet  Dr.  Kidd  at  the  bedside  of  Lord  Beaconsfield  to  take  counsel 
together  about  the  condition  and  treatment  of  the  patient.  Even 
worse  was  it  to  find  men  of  the  eminence  of  Sir  William  Jenner 
and  Dr.  Qoain  putting  their  fellow  practitioner — ^the  one  man 
who  must  have  known  more  about  the  case  than  any  others- 
through  a  kind  of  catechism  as  to  his  medical  h^eis,  and  apply- 

Ko.  6,  YoL  35.  z 


806 MOTABIUA.  "Sg^^ygS! 

mg  their  own  narrow  creed  as  a  test  of  his  filneas — ^not^  be  it 
observedy  to  minister  to  his  patient,  bat  to  be  associated  with 
them  in  consultation.  It  seems  to  ns  that  if  any  member  of  this 
medical  triomYirate  had  a  right  to  question  the  others  it  was  Dr. 
Eidd  himself,  and  we  shall  probably  be  doing  no  great  harm  to 
the  public,  who  have  to  depend  so  mach  upon  doctors,  if  we 
briefly  state  why  we  think  so. 

<<  In  the  first  place,  no  educated  member  of  the  homoeopathic 
school  talks  about  there  being  two  diametrically  opposite  systems 
— homoeopathy  and  allopathy — the  one  all  right  and  the  other  all 
wrong.  On  the  contrary,  the  homoeopathic  body  hold  that 
bomoeopathy  is  not  co-equal  with  medicine,  but  expresses  only 
the  belief  in  one  important  principle  which  will  ultimately  be 
incorporated  in  general  medicine,  after  which  the  name  wiU  no 
longer  be  heard  by  the  outside  public— just  as  in  physi- 
ology the  doctrine  of  the  circulation  of  blood  was  for  a 
generation  made  the  ground  of  party  separation  in  the  pro- 
fession, and  those  who  held  it  were  nicknamed  ^  cireulatorB,' 
which  happened  also  to  mean  quacks.  The  proper  definition  of 
homoeopalby  is  held  by  its  mecQcal  adherents  to  be  ^  medicine  as 
it  will  be  when  the  homoeopathic  principle  has  been  duly  in- 
vestigated, and  received  its  proper  place  in  practice ' — neither 
more  nor  less.  On  the  other  hand,  ihe  Lancet,  and  the  organs 
of  the  dominant  school  generally,  persist  in  describing  homoeo- 
pathy as  something  totally  opposite  to  '  scientific  medicine,* 
of  which,  indeed,  tibey  claim  to  possess  the  monopoly.  How, 
then,  it  may  be  asked,  can  an  allopath — ^for  such  he  is  to  the 
public,  whether  he  likes  the  name  or  not,  just  as  much  as  a 
member  of  the  riral  school  is  a  homoeopath — ^meet  a  homoeopatii 
in  consultation  under  any  conditions  whatever?  He  cannot 
03rtainly  if  the  pretensions  of  the  Lancet,  as  the  mouthpiece  of 
allopathy,  are  true  in  fact.  That  they  are  not  true  in  fact  is  just 
what  the  other  party  assert  and  claim  to  be  allowed  to  prove. 
But  hitherto  all  opportunity  for  doing  this  has  been  denied  to 
them.  They  have  been  excluded  from  all  the  bospitals 
and  medical  societies,  from  the  privilege  of  writing  in 
the  medical  journals,  and  even  from  the  publication  of  books 
through  the  medium  of  the  recognised  medical  publishers,  who 
are  warned  that  to  issue  a  homoeopathic  work  will  shut  them  out 
from  the  advantages  of  reviews,  and  even  from  the  right  to 
advertise,  in  the  allopathic  organs.  Were  they  not  thus 
ostracised,  the  homoeopaths  say,  they  could  easily  show  that 
allopathy,  so  far  from  constituting  all  medical  science,  using  this 
term  inclusively  and  exclusively,  is  largely  made  up  of  the 
results — ^valuable,  no  doubt —  of  pure  experience,  for  which  no 
scientific  explanation  is  yet  forthcoming.  If  so,  here  is  a  common 
ground  on  which  both  parties  can  meet  and  so  far  consult 


iSS^^iSTSS*  NOTABIMA.  807 


JIaview,  3Uy  2,  IflBl 


together ;  for  aithoogh  the  homoeopaihB  claim  that  their  piineipld 
•^xplaios  these  facta,  their  theory  pats  no  obstacle  in  the  way  of 
both  schools  using  the  same  remedy  in  a  particular  disease — ^as, 
for  instance,  quinine  in  i^e— just  as  practical  navigators  could 
ngree  in  the  use  of  the  compass  and  the  quadrant,  no  matter 
what  theories  of  magnetism  and  astronomy  they  might  severally 
hold.  Farther  than  this,  the  homoBopathic  body  assert  that  by 
^eir  principle  they  have  discovered  a  large  number  of  new 
specifics  in  disease  which  the  allopaths  have  quietly  taken  from 
them  into  their  own  practice  witibout  acknowledgment  of  the 
^urce  from  which  they  came  or  explanation  of  their  action. 
Here,  again,  there  is  ample  ground  on  which  practitioners  of  both 
schools  can  meet  even  as  regards  treatment,  besides  all  the  large 
question  of  diagnosis  and  the  general  management  of  the  case. 

"  We  thus  see  how,  in  the  case  of  Lord  Beaconsfield,  Dr.  Quain 
eould  easily  have  met  Dr»  Kidd  without  any  formal  profession  of 
l>elLef  in  the  homoeopathic  principle,  and  could  have  continued  to 
•aet  with  him  as  long  as  Dr.  Eidd  was  willing  to  restrict  his  treat- 
anent  to  what  they  both  held  in  common.  What  ground,  indeed, 
4sould  he  have  had  in  refusing  to  meet  a  qualified  medical  man 
who  did  not  insist  on  giving  remedies  contrary  to  his  advice  ? 
The  case,  however,  is  different  with  Dr.  Eidd,  and  we  confess  we 
cannot  readily  understand  the  position  he  has  taken  up.  Homceo- 
pathy,  we  are  told,  is  not  exclusive,  except  in  the  sense  that  any 
remedy  chosen  by  it  ought,  if  better,  to  supersede  others  ;  and  it 
most  necessarily  occur  sooner  or  later  in  the  conduct  of  any  case 
At  all  complicated,  that  ahomceopath,  guided  by  principle,  will 
choose  a  medicine  as  the  best  on  grounds  which  his  allopathfe 
colleague  in  attendance,  although  they  may  agree  in  a  general 
way,  cannot  acknowledge  as  valid.  Moreover,  in  a  case  like  that 
before  us,  palliatives,  such  as  narcotics  and  anti-spasmodics, 
which  the  homceopathic  school  hold  to  interfere  with  the  ultimate 
cure,  and  therefore  use  sparingly,  were  likely  to  be  more  freely 
resorted  to  than  if  an  open  believer  in  the  homoeopathic  theory 
had  the  sole  discretion.  For  these  reasons  we  should  think  the 
homoBopathic  body  will  hardly  be  satisfied  that  Lord  Beaconsfield 
received  the  entire  benefit  which  their  system  more  folly  carried 
out  would  have  afforded,  and  will  therefore  not  approve  of  the 
conduct  of  Dr.  Kidd.  At  the  same  time  the  circumstances  were 
extremely  difficult,  and  homoeopaths  will  find  it  hard  to  say  that 
things  would  not  have  been  worse  if  he  had  retired.  In  their 
view,  probably,  it  would  have  been  better — supposing  the  patient 
to  have  had  confidence  in  Dr.  Eidd,  and  Dr.  Eidd  confidence  in 
himself — ^if  Dr.  Quain,  being  called  in  at  the  request  of  the  highest 
personage  in  the  land,  had  restricted  himself  to  advice  on  ques« 
tions  of  general  management,  while  to  Dr.  Eidd  was  left  the 
ultimate  decision  as  to  the  choice  of  the  more  truly    specific 

x-3 


808  KOTABILIA.  "^fSw^ffiJffSS" 


BeTi0W,]fA7S»]fitt. 


mediomes.  At  the  same  time  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  sneh  & 
proposition  would  have  been  seouted  by  the  jonmals  who,  not- 
withstanding the  complete  submission  of  the  homoBopath,  are 
BtOlfound  condemning  Dr.  Quainfbr  his  *  unprofessional  conduct.' " 


ACONITE. 

In  the  United  States  Medical  Investigator  for  June,  Dr.  Baxter, 
of  Cleveland,  reports  the  following  interesting  case  of  poisoning 
by  aconite : — 

**  A  family,  previously  allopathic  in  belief  and  practice,  con- 
cluded that  homoeopathy  was  the  better  system,  and  formally 
made  the  change.  They  procured  a  work  on  homcBopathic 
practice  calculated  for  family  use,  and  purchased  the  medidncB 
therein  named,  but  most  of  them  in  the  form  of  tinctures  instead 
of  attenuations.  Soon  after  ooe  of  the  children,  a  liitle  girl  about 
ten  years  of  age,  obtained  the  aconztt  bottle,  and  swallowed 
some  of  its  contents.  The  accident  was  discovered  at  once,  but 
no  attention  was  paid  to  it,  under  the  impression  that  all  homoeo- 
pathic medicines  were  perfectly  harmless.  Very  soon,  however, 
the  child  began  to  show  symptoms  of  sickness,  which  rapidly 
increased,  when  the  parents  became  alarmed,  and  I  was  called  in 
liaste  to  see  her.  This  was  about  6  p.m.  I  found  her  sitting  in  a 
large  arm-chair,  with  a  most  anxious  expression  of  countenance, 
face  flushed,  skin  hot  and  dry,  pulse  140  beats  per  minute.  She 
complained  of  heat  and  soreness  of  the  throat,  and  heat  and  con- 
siderable pain  in  the  stomach.  There  was  also  what  seemed  to 
^be  an  almost  constant  spasmodic  action  of  the  diaphragm  and 
stomach  which  was  very  distressing.  It  was  a  most  peculiar 
symptom— hiccough  and  apparently  an  attempt  to  vomit  at  the 
Bame  time.  On  being  asked,  she  said  she  felt  only  a  slight 
nausea.  I  could  not  learn  how  much  of  tiie  poison  had  been 
swallowed,  and  the  condition  of  the  patient  was  such  as  to  give 
rise  to  grave  fears  as  to  the  result.  At  my  request  they  brought 
me  what  I  was  assured  was  pure  cider  vinegar.  I  gave  the 
patient  about  halfateaspoonfol,  undiluted.  In  about  ten  minutes 
I  gave  ten  drops,  and  after  about  twenty  minutes  I  noticed  the 
frequency  of  the  pulse  had  perceptibly  diminished.  To  be  brief, 
in  about  one  hour  from  the  time  of  the  first  dose  the  child  was 
nearly  or  quite  out  of  dauger,  the  pulse  had  diminished  in  fre- 
quency to  about  100  beats  per  minute,  the  peculiar  spasmodic 
action  of  the  stomach  had  almost  entirely  ceased,  and  the  patient 
said  she  felt  much  better.  I  saw  her  again,  three  hours  later, 
and  found  her  with  pulse  at  about  100,  skin  moist,  face  flushed, 
and  some  thirst ;  ollierwise  feeling  pretty  comfortable.  She  was 
somewhat  restless  and  feverish  through  the  night,  but  in  the 
morning  declared  she  was  as  well  as  ever,  except  a  little  weak.' 


rt 


^S^SaSStWSf'  HOTABILIA.  809 


THE  LANCET  ON  DBS.  KIDD  AND  QUAIN. 

The  Lancet  of  the  9th  nit.  shows  that  the  mind  of  the  editor 
has  been  what  a  certain  class  of  people  term  '*  exercised  "  by  the 
professional  hob-nobbing  of  Dr.  Qoain  with  Dr.  Kidd  at  the  death- 
bed of  Lord  Beaconsfield.  "The  position/*  writes  the  editor, 
**  taken  np  by  Dr.  Qoain  in  this  matter  is  at  once  inexplicable 
and  embarrassing."  It  is  said  to  be  so,  on  the  assumption  that 
Dr.  Kidd  is  a  homcaopathist,  and  Dr.  Qaain  an  allopathist,  on 
the  hypothesis  that  Dr.  Eidd  never  prescribes  any  medicines 
under  any  circumstances  which  have  not  a  homoeopathic  relation 
to  the  disease  he  undertakes  to  treat,  that  Dr.  Quain  never  by 
any  chance  gives  any  that  is  not  allopathic,  and  that  the 
prescription  of  drugs  is  the  chief  end  of  a  consultation  at  all 
times  and  in  all  cases.  Now  Dr.  Kidd's  book  [TJie  Laws  of 
Therapeutics)  shows  with  much  plainness  that  his  knowledge  of 
practical  homoeopathy  is  far  from  complete,  and  that  in  very 
many  cases  he  relies  for  his  drug  therapeutics  upon  allopathie 
expedients  and  antipathic  palliatives.  So  far  as  homoeopathy  is 
ooncemed,  we  see  no  reason  why  Dr.  Quain  should  not  be  cflJled 
npon  to  refuse  to  meet  Dr.  Sidney  Bingerif  he  is  to  decline  a 
consultation  with  Dr.  Eidd.  In  Dr.  Binger's  Handbook  of 
Therapeutics  there  is  at  least  as  much  homoeopathy  taught  as 
there  is  in  Dr.  Eidd*6  work.  The  sole  difference  between  i^e  two 
being  that  Dr.  Eidd  ackoowledgea  that  a  certain  class  of 
medicines  do  hold  a  homoeopathic  relation  to  the  diseases  in  which 
be  prescribes  them,  while  Dr.  Binger*s  homoeopathic  recom- 
mendations are  given  as  purely  empirical,  as  though  they  were 
the  outcome  of  the  scientific  uses  of  his  own  imagination,  and 
not  at  all,  as  is  really  the  case,  as  applications  of  remedies  which 
have  been  discovered  through  the  practice  of  homoeopathy  many, 
many  years  ago ! 

l^irty  or  forty  years  since  the  common  practice  of  medicine 
was  purely  allopathic,  or  nearly  so.  It  is  far  otherwise  to-day. 
Dr  Sidney  Binger's  teachings,  the  essayists  in  The  PractUianer, 
and  many  a  lectore  that  has  appeared  in  the  Lan4:et,  the  Medical 
Times  and  Gazette,  and  the  British  Medical  Journal  have  done 
much,  very  much,  towards  modifying  the  drug  therapeutics  of  the 
hoar  in  the  direction  of  homoeopathy.  A  few  years  ago  a 
homoeopathic  practitioner  took  a  patient  to  see  a  well-known 
London  specialist.  When  asked  what  medicine  he  was  giving, 
and  replying  arMmc,  which  was  dearly  indicated  as  the  homoeo- 
pathic remedy,  the  answer  was,  "  You  are  quite  right,  only  don't 
give  it  in  fall  doses  I  "  The  fact  is  that  there  is  now  so  much 
rough,  empirical  homoeopathy  practised  by  medical  men  who 
professedly  repudiate  homoeopathy,  that  tiie  obstacles  to  con- 
sultation arising  from  a  broad  divergency  of  views  as  to  the  uses 


310  NOTABILU.  "'^rSSLTSSTIS^ 


vMajSvlflBf. 


of  drags,  which  formerly  wore  well  marked  enough,  are  rapidly 
diminishing  in  number. 

For  a  person  who,  in  the  words  of  the  Lancet,  **  is  wiDin^ 
to  practise  eitiher  of  these  systems  (homoeopathy  or  allopa11ij7 
at  the  bidding  of  the  sick  person  who  seeks  his  services,*'  we  haye^ 
nothing  bat  contempt.  Bo  to  do  is  to  convert  a  profession  into  a 
trade.  Bat  we  can  quite  well  understand  a  physician  believing 
that  if  he  could  find  a  remedy  homoeopathic  to  a  given  condition, 
it  would  be  the  best  his  patient  could  have,  and  yet,  lacking  the- 
requisite  knowledge  to  find  such  an  one,  falling  back  on  soma 
allopathic  expedient  in  all  honesty  and  good  faith.  He  does,  not 
the  best  that  could  be  done,  but,  the  best  that  he  can  do  for  his 
patient. 

The  solemn  *' bunkum/'  which  the  Lancet  intermingles  with 
its  lamentation  over  ''rules  of  etiquette,"  '* ruthlessly  trans- 
gressed,*' is  really  comical  1  '*  It  has  hitherto,"  says  this  medical 
dictator — '*  It  has  hitherto  been  the  boa&t  of  the  medical  pro- 
fession  that  in  the  hour  of  sickness  it  recognised  only  humanity 
in  need  of  succour."  Verily  a  boast  1  A  vain  and  empty  piece 
of  cant  in  far  too  many  instances  I  ''I  would  not,"  said  a 
provincial  surgeon  to  thp  late  Sir  William  Forgusson : — "  I 
would  not  pass  a  catheter  to  relieve  retention  of  urine  in  the 
person  of  a  patient  of  a  homoeopath."  *<  That,"  replied  Sir 
William,  "  says  a  good  deal  for  your  orthodoxy,  but  very  little 
for  your  humanity."  So  has  it  been  in  hundreds  of  instances.. 
However  great  the  emergency,  however  essential  to  life  the 
assistance  sought,  the  orders  of  the  purest  trades  union  of  the 
day — the  British  Medical  Association — ^are  that  no  homoeopathic 
practitioner  shall  have  any  aid  whatever,  whether  for  the  purpose 
of  relieving  anxiety  by  confirming  or  correcting  diagnosis  or 
prognosis,  or  for  that  of  suggesting  some  indirect  remedial 
measure.  We  know  full  well — and  willingly  admit — ^that  such 
cruel  and  arbitrary  rules  are  not  uniformly  acted  upon,  that  by 
surgeons  of  good  repute  they  are  unrecognised ;  but  such  is  the 
teaching  of  men  who  now  declare  that ''  in  the  hour  of  sickness  ** 
the  medical  profession  "  recognised  only  humanity  in  need  of 
succour  1"  The  Cuckoo,  a  recent  addition  to  the  weekly  journals^ 
remarking  upon  this  subject,  said  on  the  8th  ult. : — 

"  We  regret  very  much  that  rumours  shoald  be  current  of  tb» 
disinclination  of  distinguished  men  of  medicine  to  meetDis. 
Eidd  and  Quain  in  consultation  over  their  distinguished  patient 
For  if  it  be  true  that  the  leading  physicians  of  the  day  refused 
to  meet  the  gentleman  abready  in  attcoidance  upon  Lord  Beacons- 
field,  because  he  is,  or  is  reported  to  be,  of  homoeopathic 
tendencies,  we  can  assure  them  that  they  have  added  another 
reproach  to  the  profession. 


ss^ayn^!^      hotabilia> sn 

"  The  etiquette  which  doctors  are  in  the  habit  of  affecting  in 
matters  of  consultation  are,  eyen  in  cases  of  private  interest, 
intolerable;  but  in  such  a  case  as  this,  where  the  interests  of 
the  nation  are  so  directly  concerned,  the  contemptible  jealousies 
of  the  profession  assume  the  proportions  of  criminal  imbecility." 

And  we  will  venture  to  say  that  999  out  of  every  1,000 
thoughtful  persons  will  agree  with  our  contemporary. 


IMAGINABY    NOTIONS    EEGARDING    HOMCEOPATHY. 

Btttdied  misrepresentation  of  plain  and  simple  facts  regarding 
bomcBopathy,  and  of  all  who  acknowledge  that  they  practise 
homoeopathically,ha8  ever  been  the  policy  of  the  non-homoeopathic 
medical  press.  Of  this  we  have  another  iUustration  in  the 
LatKet  of  the  16th  ult. 

Professing  to  reply  to  the  question,  '*  Why  may  we  not  meet 
professed    homoeopaths    in    consultation  ? "    the  writer    says, 
•«  We  decline  to  have  professional  intercourse  with  professed  or 
reputed  homoeopaths,  for  one  or  both  of  two  reasons — either 
because  they  are  believers  in  a  method  of  therapeutics  at  once 
fantastical  and  absurd,  or  because  they  are  not  believers;  in 
other  words,  either  because  they  are  true  disciples  of  Hahnemann, 
or  because  they  are  not.    In  the  one  instance  the  objection  is 
scientific,  in  the  other  it  is  ethical.*'     Homoeopathy  he  goes  on 
to  observe,  is  *'  Hahnemannism  or  nothing."     Taking  his  infor- 
mation   from     the    now    happily     defunct    Anglo-American 
periodical,  called  Ths  Organon,  he  proceeds  to  define  what  he 
considers  homoeopathy.    Disregarding  the  definition  of  homoeo- 
pathy which  would  be  given  by  at  least  97  per  cent,  of  those  who 
in  this  country  acknowledge  their  therapeutic  indebtedness  to 
Hahnemann,  the  editor  defines  homoeopathy  in  a  maoner  which 
would  be  repudiated  by  all  but  some  h^-dozen  men  amongst  us. 
That  we  are  strictly  accurate  in  our  statement,  we  may  refer  to  an 
attempt  made  some  few  years  ago  to  get  up  a  list  of  men  pre- 
pared to  swear  in  verbis  magistri,  under  the  attractive  title  of 
The  Legion  of  Honour,    We  believe  that  we  are  over  rather  than 
understating  the  result,  when  we  say,  that  in  England  only  six 
or  seven  names  were  obtained.      In  the  British  Journal  of 
Homeeopathy,  in  the  HomcBopathic  fVorld,  and  in  this  EevieWf 
homoeopathy  has  been  repeatedly  defined  during  very  many 
years,  but  never  in  the  terms  used  by  the  editor  of  the  Lancet. 
It  suits  the  purpose  of  the  writer  to  adopt  the  language  of  an 
insignificant  minority,  and  he  employs  it.    It  would  be  mere 
affectation  on  our  part  to  suppose  that  the  writer    did  not 
know  that  his  description  of  homoeopathy   was    unjust   and 


812 HOTABiLu,        ""SS^^SSTSS: 

inacenrate ;  that  he  did  not  know  that  in  making  it  he  mis- 
represented the  troth  about  homoBopathy.  Nearly  twenty  yean 
ago  the  following  passage  appeared  in  this  Review ,  and  inasmuch 
as  we  believe  that  it  expresses  with  sufficient  accnracy  the  views 
of  97  per  cent,  of  those  who  in  this  country  acknowledge  that 
homoeopathy  is  the  basis  of  scientific  drug  selection,  and  further, 
as  the  view  given  is  that  which  has  ever  been  set  forth  in  our 
journal,  we  will  repeat  it : — 

''  True  homoeopathy  consists  simply  and  solely  in  the 
prescribiog  for  disease  such  remedies  as  are  competent  to  pro- 
duce similar  disease  in  a  healthy  person.  This  alone  is 
homoeopathy.  To  carry  out  homoeopathy  it  is  obviously  neces- 
sary that  drugs  be  proved.  It  is  further  necessary  that  the 
amount  of  drug  given  to  cure  be  less  than  that  given  to  produce 
disease.  These  are  the  corollaries  of  homoeopathy.  They  aie 
inseparable  from  it ;  no  one  can  satisfactorily  practise  homoeopathy 
without  seeing  their  necessity,  or  availing  himself  of  them.  The 
psora  theory  may  be  trae  or  fidse ;  the  dynamisation  theory  may 
be  true  or  false ;  the  globule  may  be  the  best  <»r  worst  medium 
for  prescribing  medicines ;  the  thirtieth  dilution  may  be  the  best 
or  worst  dose  in  all  cases,  and  homoeopathy  remain  unaffected." 

The  Lancet  describes  Hahnemann's  dynamisation  theory  as  a 
''law,"  as,  indeed,  one  of  the  two  ''laws*'  in  which  it  says 
homoeopathy  consists!  The  dynamisation  theory — the  idea, 
that  is,  that  by  long-continued  friction  or  shaking  the  medicinal 
power  of  a  substance  is  developed  or  increased — was  simply  an 
attempt  on  Hahnemann's  part  to  explain  a  fact  which,  indeed,  is 
even  now  inexplicable,  but  none  the  less  a  fact,  that  veiy 
infinitesimal  particles  of  matter  do  influence  the  functions  of  the 
body  under  certain  conditions.  It  is  a  theory,  the  troth  of  which 
has  been  inferred  rather  than  demonstrated ;  a  theozy  which, 
however  interesting,  is  of  no  practical  importance  whatever. 

The  physician,  tiierefore,  who  prescribes  in  disease  a  medicine 
which  in  a  healthy  person  will  produce  a  similar  disturbance  of 
health,  is  practising  homoeopathy.  If,  in  the  endeavour  to  find 
a  drog  remedy  for  his  patient,  he  is  guided  in  his  choice  by  the 
law  of  similars,  he  is  to  ail  intents  and  purposes  ahomoeopathist. 
If,  at  the  same  time,  he  is  thoroughly  conscientious,  he  will 
admit  that  he  is  so,  will  confess  the  fact  before  the  world ;  he 
will  be  impelled  to  do  so  in  proportion  as  he  feels  the  value  of 
this  therapeutic  principle,  and  he  will  be  so  impelled  because  of 
the  misrepresentation  from  which  this  doctrine  suffers  at  the 
hands  of  unscropulous  opponents. 

The  Lancet  now  tells  us  that  such  practitioners  are  not 
homoeopathists !  That  ''the  retention  of  the  name  by  such  an 
one  is  misleading,  if  not  actually  unjustifiable,  since  it  has  no 
logical  or  scientific  significance!"      Some  years   ago,  when 


timkm,Maf%mu HOTMSOJA. 818 

Dr.  Wyld  eadeaTonred  to  panmade  non-homodopathic  pno- 
iitionen  to  display  a  little  more  common  sense  and  ordinary 
eonrteey  in  their  professional  interooorse  with  homodopathists,  he 
was  told  by  the  Lancet  that  "  nothing  less  than  the  anreserved 
renmieiation  of  ail  the  dogmas  of  homoeopathy  in  name  and  in 
deed  "  conld  induce  '<  legitimate  practitioners  "  so  to  do. 

Now  the  **  dogmas  "  of  homoeopathy  are,  as  we  have  shown, 
three  in  nnmber : — (Ist)  That  for  a  drug  to  exert  a  directly 
eu-ative  influence  over  disease  it  must  be  capable  of  producing  in 
a  healthy  person  a  similar  condition.  (2nd)  That  in  order  to 
ascertain  what  influence  a  drug  will  have  upon  the  body,  it  must 
be  taken,  be  experimented  with,  by  persons  in  he^th.  And 
(8rd)  that  in  disease  it  must  be  given  in  a  dose  smaller  than  that 
which  is  necessary  to  disturb  health,  and  be  uncombined  with 
any  other. 

These  so-called  "  dogmas  "  are,  we  maintain,  acted  upon  every 
day  by  a  large  and  ever-increasing  body  of  physicians  who  in 
print  aflect  to  despise  them.  A  large  proportion  of  the  indica- 
tions for  the  uses  of  drugs  given  by  Dr.  Sidney  Ringer  and 
Dr.  Charles  Phillips  in  their  works  on  Materia  Medica,  have  been 
made  known  through  the  practical  application  of  the  principle  of 
similars  ;  and  but  for  that  practical  application,  never  would  have 
been  known.  This  principle,  the  Lancet  calmly  assures  its  too 
confiding  readers,  has  no  *<  scientific  significance  !'*  That  it  has 
borne  considerable  practical  fruit,  he  who  runs  may  read  I 

2nd.  The  plan  adopted  by  Dr.  Sidney  Binger,  Dr.  Mnrrell, 
and  others,  of  investigating  the  actions  of  drugs  is  precisely  that 
first  acted  on,  to  any  large  extent,  by  Hahnemann. 

8rd.  In  all  instances,  when  Dr.  Binger  advises  the  use  of  a 
remedy  in  a  condition,  the  like  of  which  it  will  produce  in  health, 
he  also  advises  it  to  be  given  in  very  small  doses,  and  uncombined 
with  any  other,  unless  it  be  something  practically  inert,  apparently 
to  save  appearances. 

Who,  we  would  like  to  know,  is  the  honest  practitioner — ^he 
who,  when  prescribing  a  medicine  homoeopathic  to  a  given  con- 
dition, openly  avows  that  he  does  so ;  or  he  who  peers  into 
homoeopathic  Hteratnre,  picks  thereout  certain  therapeutic  hints, 
and  publishes  them  as  empirical  observations,  without  any 
historical  reference,  any  explanation?  Such,  however,  is  the 
morality  of  the  medical  profession,  that  the  former  is  ostracised, 
while  the  latter  is  promoted  to  honour  I 

We  do  not  say  that  homoeopalhy  presents  us  with  the  only  way 
of  so  preseribing  drugs  as  to  exert  a  curative  influence,  any  more 
than  we  should  assert  that  travelling  by  express  train  is  the  only 
means  of  getting  firom  London  to  Edinburgh.  We  know  foil 
well  that  Modem  Athens  may  be  reached  from  Modem  Babylon 
on  foot,  on  horseback,  on  a  bicycle,  or  by  coach.     So  with  disease, 


814  NOTABILIA«  ''^£ 


Bevlev.Jiftr  2,1881 


antipathic  palliatiTes  may  enable  a  man  to  pull  throng  and  shii^ 
off  an  illness.  But  jost  as  the  *'  Flying  Scotehman  "  u  the 
qoiokest,  pleasantest,  and  safest  mode  of  travelling,  so  is  bomoBO* 
pathy  the  quickest,  pleasantest  and  safest  mode  of  curing  disease 
by  drags. 

Again,  there  are  cases — few  indeed  in  number — where  cure  is 
out  of  the  question,  where  the  existence  of  mechanical  obstacles 
prevents  more  than  temporary  relief  being  given,  where  antipathic 
palliatives  can  alone  be  of  service  to  a  suSfering  person,  where  the 
opiate  and  the  aperient  may  therefore  have  been  given.  These 
are,  however,  the  exception,  which  but  prove  the  rule,  that  for 
curative,  as  opposed  to  palUadve,  purposes,  homoeopathy  stands 
nnrivaUed.  ^*  Some  diseases  are,"  as  Hippocrates  said,  **  best 
treated  by  similars,  and  some  by  contraries,'*  but  the  latter  are 
few  in  number,  and  such  as  cannot  be  cured  at  all. 

Such  endeavours  to  misrepresent  homoeopathy  as  that  we  have 
now  commented  upon,  by  one  who  must  know,  that  what  he  is 
pleased  to  term  ''  scientific  medicine,''  has  for  a  long  while  been 
growing  more  and  more  homoeopathic  in  its  drug  treatment,  is  as 
cowardly  as  it  is  contemptible. 


THE  PRESENT  STATE  OF  THERAPEUTICS. 

The  gentleman  who  composes  editorial  articles  of  the  Lancet 
endeavours,  by  assuming  a  tone  of  deep  solemnity,  tu  pass  off 
as  proverbial  truths  a  great  deal  of  transparent  nonsense. 
**  There  is,"  writes  this  oracle,  '*  a  system  of  medicine — ^based 
on  the  knowledge  of  nature's  order  in  health,  the  manifestations 
of  disease,  and  the  ascertained  effects  of  remedies  and  methods 
of  treatment — ^which  is  accepted  and  practised  by  the  common 
consent  of  the  profession."  Again :  "  Hypotheses  of  oure  by 
similars  and  cure  by  contraries  have  no  place  in  scientiffe 
medicine." 

These  passages  are  obviously  intended  for  the  consumption  of 
the  uninitiated  in  the  art  and  mystery  of  medicine.  They  might 
possibly  have  been  accepted  as  absolute  and  unimpeachable  truth 
some  forty  years  ago.  But  a  good  many  things  have  happened 
since  then  ;  a  good  many  outspoken  troths  have  been  uttered  by 
medical  teachers  during  the  hist  quarter  of  a  century ;  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  daylight  has  been  shed  upon  the  doings  of 
the  apothecary's  shop  !  ^ys  one  professor  of  Materia  Medica, 
*' drags  are  but  stepping-stones  to  faith  in  the  weary  time." 
Writing  within  the  last  four  years,  the  editor  of  the  BriiiA 
Medical  Journal  described  "  the  whole  domain  of  therapeutics 
as  lying  <*  in  a  state  of  chaos." 


tf 


SSS^SSTS?^  NOTABILIA.  815 


lEbBfifBWf  Mtcf  :tt  1881. 


In  an  address  at  the  opening  of  the  Medieal  Session  (1876-77) 
in  Edinburgh,  Dr«  Matiiiews  Dnncan  told  the  students  gathered 
in  that  city  to  learn  the  art  of  healing,  that  the  mass  ci  advice 
given  oat  by  professional  men  is  lamentably  unscientific. 
'*  Regarding  what  remedy  in  common  use,"  he  asked,  ''  can  a 
physician  give  a  reason  sufficient  for  all,  for  the  hitk  that  is  in 
him?  He  knows,"  he  continued,  *^ tdbjij  juvantia  and  loBdentia 
in  different  cases,  with  some  degree  of  assurance,  but  tangible 
remedies  are  the  favourities  of  the  physician  and  of  the  vulgar. 
They  are^  for  the  most  part,  now  as  heretofore,  mere  matters  of 
fashion.  On  the  principle  of  doing  his  best  the  physician  is 
bound  to  use  them,  but  it  is  almost  a  humiliating  proceeding  at 
this  time  of  day."  Again  he  exclaims,  ^'  What  a  tissue  of 
superstition  is  embodied  in  our  dispensatories  1 " 

Dr.  Andrew  Clark,  when  presiding  over  the  Section  of  Medi- 
cine, at  the  meeting  of  the  British  Medical  Association  at  Cork» 
took  as  one  of  tluree  topics  requiring  discussion,  the  present 
state  of  therapeutics.  In  dealing  with  this  important  subject  he 
spoke  as  follows : — ^'  When,  but  a  little  while  ago,  Sir  William 
Hamilton  asked  quite  seriously  if  the  practice  of  medicine  had  made 
asingle  step  in  advance  since  the  time  of  Hippocrates ;  when  we  hear 
that  the  leaders  of  medicine,  both  here  and  abroad,  are  sceptical 
of  the  curative  influence  of  drugs  upon  disease ;  and  when  we 
know  that  experienced  practitioners  are  divided  in  opinion  as  to 
the  effects  upon  the  body  of  the  commonest  medicines,  we  can- 
not doubt  that  this,  the  highest  department  of  our  art,  and  one 
of  its  chief  ends,  is  in  a  backward  and  unsatis&ctoiy  condition, 
and  demands,  like  the  question  of  education,  the  serious  con- 
aderation  and  action  of  the  profession."  And  a  little  later,  in 
the  same  address,  he  said  that  he  knows  that  experienced 
practitioners  are  divided  in  opinion  as  to  the  effects  upon  the 
body  of  the  commonest  medicines.'* 

So  lately  as  last  October  Dr.  Donkin  told  the  students  at  the 
Westmins^r  Hospital  that  <*  any  ostensibly  complete  system  of 
therapeutics  being  even  approximately  scientific,  and  by  conse- 
quence true,"  was  impossible  I  Again,  he  said  "  there  is  no  reason 
m  nature,  nor  does  science  grant  us  right  to  claim  that  we  should 
look  for  our  diseases  to  be  '  cured '  at  alll"  And  once  more  he 
observes,  ''  Our  treatment  as  yet  must  chiefly  remain  as  all  the 
best  treatment  has  ever  been — empirical." 

We  might  go  on  through  many  pages  giving  extracts  from  the 
writings  of  physicians  of  eminence,  all  tending  to  show  that  **  the 
system  of  medicine  "  described  by  the  Lancet  is  a  creation  of  an 
editorial  optimist's  fancy  !  It  is  like  the  account  of  the  camel 
given  by  the  German  professor,  drawn  from  his  internal  coa- 
scioosness  1 


316  NOTABILIA.  ^'"S^ 


Bflvfaw,  May  2,  laSL 


Hypotheses  of  core  by  simiiars  and  by  contrariest  have,  from  tbe 
time  of  Hippocrates  to  the  present  hour,  had  a  place  in  scieniifie 
medicine.  Pereira,  in  his  Materia  MMea,  giyes  them  foU  and 
carefnl  consideration.  The  devdopment  of  the  scope  presented 
for  the  use  of  the  law  of  similars  as  a  principle  of  drag  selection, 
for  which  we  are  indebted  to  Hahnemann,  has  given  rise  to  a 
greater  number  of  well  proved  facts  of  therapeutic  valae  tiian  any 
other.  Dr.  Qoain,  when  obtaining  absolution  from  the  College 
of  Physicians  for  assisting  Dr.  Eidd  in  endeavouring  to  save  the 
life  of  Lord  Beaconsfield,  described  homoeopathy  as  a  collection 
of  *'  imaginary  notions."  We  have  had  so  much  ignorance  of 
what  homoeopathy  is,  circulated  lately  through  the  Times  in  a 
manner  so  conspicuous  as  to  suggest  that  the  author  of  them  is 
a  man  of  some  prominence  in  the  medical  world,  that  we  can 
easily  attribute  Dr.  Quain's  definition  of  homoeopathy  to  want  of 
knowledge.  The  term  <<  imaginary  notions  '*  would  indeed  apply 
with  much  greater  accuracy  to  the  opinions  often  expressed  by 
physicians  as  to  the  processes  of  disease.  No  therapeutic 
principle  was  ever  based  on  a  larger  or  more  thoroughly  ascer- 
tained series  of  facts  than  is  that  of  simiUa  simUibus  curantur* 
None  has  ever  had  its  soundness,  its  reality  sustained  by  a 
greater  amount  of  imimpeachable  evidence  than  it  has.  lliat 
homoeopathy  frimishes  us  with  the  most  scientific  basis  for  drug 
selection  has  been  abundantly  proven. 


MEDICAL  OFFICER  OF  HEALTH  FOR  HASTINGS. 

• 

Tbe  recent  appointment  of  Mr.  £nex  Shaw,  a  member  of  the 
College  of  Surgeons  and  a  Licentiate  of  the  College  of 
Physicians,  who  practises  homoeopathically  as  medical  officer  of 
health  for  the  borough  of  Hastings,  has  given  rise  to  no  little 
stir  amongst  the  allopathic  practitioners  of  that  charming  health 
resort.  There  were  eight  or  nine  candidates,  of  whom  Mr. 
Shaw  was  the  youngest.  Various  reasons,  political  and  re- 
taliatory, are  alleged  as  the  grounds  of  the  selection.  With 
these  we  have  no  concern.  The  motives  of  town  councils  are 
often  mysterious,  and  we  have  no  desire  to  endeavour  to 
fathom  them.  But  the  allopaths  have,  in  a  memorial  to  the 
council,  assigned  as  their  reason  that  *'  he  is  understood  to 
practise  a  mode  of  treatment  diametrically  opposed  to  that 
pursued  by  the  very  large  majority  of  practitioners  in  the  town, 
and  is  thereby  precluded  (sicj  by  principle  from  rendering  that 
co-operation  which  is  so  needful.*'  The  construction  of  the 
last  part  of  this  sentence  is  too  much  "  mixed,**  as  the 
Americans  say,  to  be  intelligible.  But  the  allopaths  have, 
doubtless  unintentionally,  given  Mr.  Shaw  an  excellent  advertise- 


S!SS^£?l?1S!f^  NOTABILU.  817 


Beriew,  May  S,  1881. 


meni^  and  as  they  have  deliberately  stated  that  he  *'  practises  a 
mode  of  treatment  diametrically  opposed  to  that  parsaed  by  the 
very  large  nuyority  of  the  practitioners  in  the  town,"  they  have, 
imconseionsly,  given  him  as  high  a  character  as  a  probably 
sneeessfol  heider,  as  he  conld  desire  I 

The  idea  of  a  qualified  medical  man  being  refosed  a  civie 
medical  appointment  because  he  treats  disease  differently  to  his 
professioiud  neighbours  is  preposterous.  The  chances  are  that 
no  two  of  them  would  treat  a  given  form  of  disease  in  the  same 
way !  That  faith  in  homoeopathy,  a  fedth  carried  out  in  daily 
practice,  is  no  barrier  to  the  holding  of  such  an  appointment, 
has  been  fully  demonstrated  by  Mr.  iinley,  of  Halifax,  who  has 
held  the  same  kind  of  oflGice  in  Halifax  for  nearly  ten  years,  and 
at  the  termination  of  each  third  year  has  been  unanimously 
reappointed. 


LONDON    SCHOOL    OF    HOMCEOPATHY, 

52,    Great    Osicond   Stbeet,    Busssll  Squabs,   W.O. 

SuMicsB  Session,  1881. — ^Dr.  D.  Dyee  Brown  will  resume  his 
course  of  lectures  on  Principles  and  Practice  of  Medicine,  com- 
mencing on  Monday,  2nd  May,  at  5  p.m.  The  lectures  will  be 
continued  every  Monday  and  Friday.  The  following  subjects 
will  be  treated  of : — ^Diseases  of  the  digestive  organs,  followed 
by  the  specific  fevers  and  diseases  of  the  liver,  if  there  is  time. 
I^.  Richard  Hughes  will  commence  his  course  of  '<  Lietitutes  of 
Homoeopathy  and  General  Pharmacodynamics  "  on  Tuesday,  May 
8rd,  at  4  o'clock ;  and  will  continue  it  on  every  Tuesday  and 
Thursday  at  the  same  hour,  till  the  end  of  July.  He  will  begin 
by  reading  Hahnemann's  Organon  with  critical  and  illustrative 
remarks ;  and  the  lecture  of  May  drd  will  be  introductory  to  the 
subject,  giving  a  general  account  of  the  work  in  its  several 
editions.  Any  time  which  will  remain  when  the  Organon  is 
finished  will  be  devoted  to  the  subject  of  the  general  principles  of 
drug-action.  Clinical  teaching  in  the  hospital  will  be  given — On 
Monday  at  9  o'clock,  and  Thursday,  at  8  p.m.,  by  Dr.  J.  G. 
Blackley.  On  Tuesday  and  Friday,  at  2  p.m.,  by  Mr.  Thorold 
Wood.  On  Wednesday  and  Saturday,  at  8  p.m.,  by  Dr.  D.  Dyce 
Brown.  On  Saturday,  at  8  p.m.,  by  Dr.  R.  T.  Cooper  (on 
Diseases  of  the  Ear),  and  by  Dr.  C.  L.  Tuckey.  For  further 
information  apply  by  letter  or  personally  to  Dr.  Bayes,  Hon. 
Sec.,  21,  Henrietta  Street,  Cavendish  Square,  between  11  and 
1.80  on  any  day  ejccept  Saturday  or  Sunday. 


818  C0BKB8P0NDBNCB.         ^^bS^^^iS^X 


SILICATED    CABBON   REGISTERED    ASCaSNSION 

FILTERS. 

This  new  and  improved  form  of  filters  has  been  inirodiieed 
to  public  notice  by  the  Silicated  Carbon  Filter  Company,  already 
weU-known  for  the  excellence  of  the  filters  supplied  by  them. 
It  has  the  great  advantage  over  many  others  of  being  very  easify 
cleansed.  For  the  thoroughness  of  its  purifying  powers  we  have 
the  authority  of  Professor  Corfield,  who,  at  a  lecture  delivered 
at  the  Parke's  Museum  of  Hygiene  the  other  day,  spoke  veiy 
highly  of  it. 

BRITISH  HOMOEOPATHIC  SOCIETY. 

The  next  ordinary  meeting  of  this  society  will  be  held  at  the 
London  Homoeopathic  Hospital  on  Thursday  evening,  the  5th 
instant,  when  a  paper  will  be  read  by  Dr.  Black  entitled,  '*  Sam 
deductuyM  front  a  study  of  Digitalis  bearing  on  the  revision  of  our 
Matetia  Medica" 

CORRESPONDENCE. 


PHYSICIANS  AND  HOMOEOPATHS.—*'  EMPIRICISM 

IN  EXCELSIS.'* 
To  the  Editors  of  the  'Monthly  Homceopathie  Beview, 

Gentlemen — In  the  Qlobe  of  Tuesday  (March  19th)  we  read  :— 
**  It  seems  that  for  the  asthmatic  affection  his  lordship  *'  (Lord 
Beaconsfield)  "  derived  the  greatest  comfort  from  Himrod's 
powder,  which  was  recommended  to  him  by  Sir  Philip  Rose.  Bie 
last  inhaled  it  at  one  o'clock  this  morning,  and  seemed  to  derive 
comfort  from  it.*' 

May  I  ask  the  President  of  the  Boyal  CoUege  of  Phy- 
sicians, "  Who  is  Himrod  ?  "  "  What  is  his  powder  ?  **  Did 
Sir  William  Jenner,  Drs.  Quain,  Eidd,  and  Bruce  consult  with 
Sir  Philip  Bose,  who  does  not,  I  believe,  hold  any  medical 
degree  ? 

Finally,  on  what  possible  ground  do  the  '*  regular"  faculty 
accept  the  secret  remedy  of  a  quack,  and  sanction  its  administra- 
tion, while  they  reject  with  scorn  the  well-known  remedies  ot 
the  British  Homoeopathic  Pharmacopoeia  ? 

One  thing  alone  appears  certain  in  medical  ethics,  as  sane- 
tioned  by  the  College  of  Physicians,  that  when  all  the  remedies 
in  its  pharmacopoeia  fiedl  to  relieve  a  patient,  the  next  resource  of 
that  learned  body  is  to  turn  to  secret,  quack  remedies,  rather 
than  to  those  afforded  by  Hahnemann  and  his  followers.  Is  not 
this  **  empiricism  in  excelsis  ?** 


iSSiHS^TSS^        C0BBB8P0NDENCB.  319 

Homceqpatiiio  remedies,  we  know,  have  been  experimentally 
proved  (tned)  upon  healthy  individaals  before  they  are  adminis- 
tered to  the  sick.  The  effects  they  produce,  physiologically, 
become  a  guide  as  to  the  tracts  of  the  body  on  which  the  drugs, 
so  given,  act,  and  as  to  the  diseases  they  are  likely  to  cure. 
But  all  this  knowledge  of  Hahnemann  and  his  followers  is  not 
only  thrown  away  on  the  CoUege  of  Physicians,  but  we  are  told 
by  Sir  William  Jenner  and  other  learned  pundits  that  such  know- 
ledge disqualifies  those  who  have  looked  into  it  and  believe  in  it 
from  so  much  as  touching  the  hems  ofthe  garments  of*' regular  jj 
physicians. — ^Yours  truly,  Wm.  Bates. 


ARSENIC  IN  WALL  PAPERS,  &c. 
To  the  Editors  of  the  Monthly  HomoBopcUhic  Review. 

Gentlemen, — ^I  am  requested,  by  the  Petition  Committee  of 
the  British  Homoeopathic  Society,  to  ask  you  to  kindly  insert  in 
your  next  issne  the  following  appeal  to  members. 

At  the  monthly  meeting  of  the  Society  in  March,  it  was 
decided  to  present  a  petition  to  Parliament,  praying  for  legis- 
lation to  protect  the  public  from  the  danger  tiiat  exists  in  the 
wide-spread  use  of  arsenic  in  the  manufacture  of  wall  papers 
and  other  articles  of  domestic  use.  At  the  same  meeting  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  take  steps  towards  getting  up  the 
petition.  At  a  meetiag  of  this  committee,  held  April  7th,  it  was 
resolved  that  the  editors  of  the  monthly  homoeopathic  journals 
should  be  requested  to  insert  an  appeal  to  members  of  the 
Society  to  forward  any  evidence  they  may  possess  bearing  on 
the  subject. 

I  therefore  beg  to  ask  all  members,  who  have  or  have  had 
cases  of  sickness  traceable  to  this  cause  under  their  care,  to 
kindly  forward  to  me  the  notes  of  such  at  their  earliest 
convenience. 

It  is  desired  that  the  notes  be  as  full  as  possible,  the  tests 
used  for  the  discovery  of  the  poison  named,  or  the  name  of  the 
analyst  given,  and  all  other  evidence  of  its  presence  and  action 
stated. 

I  am.  Gentlemen, 

Yours  obediently, 

John  H.  Clabke,  M.D., 

Hon.  Sec.  to  the  Conmiittee. 

15,  St.  George*s  Terrace,  Gloucester  Road, 
South  Kensington,  S.W. 
April  8th. 


320 


OOBRE8POHDENT8. 


BOTiew.Karliiai. 


NOTICES   TO   CORRESPONDENTS. 

^%  We  eannot  undertake  to  return  rejected  mantifcrtpts. 

Contribaton  and  Correspondente  are  reqneated  to  notioe  fhe  altezatioii 
in  the  addrefls  of  one  of  the  Editors  of  this  Review. 

Communioationf,  fte.,  have  been  received  from  Dr.  Batxb,  Major 
Vauohan  Moboah,  Gapt.  Matcogk  (London) ;  Br.  Bamsbotham  (Leeds) ; 
Messrs.  Thompson  ds  Cappsb  (Liverpool) ;  I>r.  Sikpbon  (Waterloo) ;  1^. 
G.  Knox  Shaw  (St.  Leonards) ;  Dr.  Keyillb  Wood  (London) ;  Mr.  S.  H. 
Blakh  (Liyerpool) ;  Mr.  Pinsent  (Newton  Abbot) ;  Mr.  PoriAas  (Edin- 
bmgh). 

BOOKS  RECEIVED. 


A  Treatite  on  Disecues  of  the  Nervout  Syttem.  By  James  Boes,  MJ). 
London :  Ghnicfaill  A  Sons.    1881. 

Useful  Hints  from  the  Experience  of  a  Lifetime.  London :  Hamilton, 
Adams  &  Go. 

Sammlung  tDissenschaftUeher  Abhundlungen  aus  dem  GMete  der  HumiO' 
patMe,    Yon  Dr.  Garl  Heinigke.    Leipsio. 

British  Journal  of  Homcscpathjf, 

Homaopathic  World. 

The  Students*  Journal. 

The  Chemist  and  Druggist. 

The  MoTUhly  MagoMvne  of  Phofmaey. 

Report  of  the  Devon  and  Cornwall  Hommopathic  Dupeiuary. 

Report  of  the  Blackheath  Dispensary. 

The  Hahnemannian  Monthly. 

The  New  England  Medical  Gazette. 

American  O^erver. 

New  York  Medical  Times. 

The  Clinical  Review.    St.  Louis. 

The  American  Homaopath.    Ghioago. 

The  Medical  CaU. 

Therapeutic  Gazette.    Detroit. 

L'Art  Medicale. 

Bulletin  de  la  Soc.  Mid.  Horn,  de  France. 

BibliotK^ue  HomcMpathique. 

Revue  Homcsopathiqtie  Beige. 

AUgemeine  Homdopaihische  Zeitung. 

HomJhpathisehe  Rundschau. 

Rivista  Omiopatica. 

El  Criterio  Medico. 

Boletino  Clinico. 

La  Reforma  Medica.    Mezioo. 

Liverpool,  Hastings,  Leeds,  Bath,  and  other  Newspapers. 


Papers,  Dispensary  Bqports,  and  Books  for  Beview  to  be  sent  to 
Dr.  Pops,  21,  Henrietta  Street,  Gavendish  Square,  W.,  or  to  Dr.  D.  Dtci 
Bbown,  29,  Seymoar  Street,  Portman  Square,  W.  Advertisements  and 
Business  Gommunications  to  be  sent  to  Messrs.  E.  Gould  &  Bos, 
69,  Moorgate  Street,  E.G. 


JSSS^'.T^^rK?^  CONSULTATIONS.  821 


Seriew,  Juae  1,  IdBl. 


THE    MONTHLY 


HOMCEOPATHIC    REVIEW- 


CONSULTATIONS, 

The  often  debated  qaestioiiB  of  the  ntilit;  and  propriety  of 
homoBopathio  physicians  meeting  in  consultation  physicians 
who  repudiate  homoeopathy  as  a  basis  of  drug  selection, 
have  again  been  broaght  into  prominence  by  the  circam- 
stances  connected  with  the  illness  of  the  late  Earl  of 
Beaconsfield.  Articles  and  letters  have  appeared  in  the 
medical  journals  of  each  week  during  the  last  month  showing 
how  widely  allopathic  practitioners  di£fer  from  one  another 
on  this  subject.  We  think  that  it  is  desirable  that  the 
points  at  issue  should  be  clearly  understood  and  thoroughly 
discussed,  and  therefore  propose  to  devote  a  brief  space  to 
their  consideration  here. 

The  objects  with  which  medical  men  meet  in  consultation 
are  various ;  the  kind  of  cases  in  which  a  second  opinion 
is  sought  differ.  In  severely  acute  and  dangerous  illness, 
every  aspect  of  the  case  comes  under  review,  every  means 
which  the  experience  and  scientific  knowledge  of  each 
practitioner  suggest  as  likely  to  check  the  progress  of 
disease  must  be  examined.  So  far  as  the  basis  of  diag- 
nosis, of  prognosis,  of  diet,  and  of  nursing  go,  a  phjBician 

No.  6,  Vol.  26.  T 


322  CONSULTATIONS.         ^^£SS??!^ 


.Bsnrieir.  June  1,  UBt. 


who  understandB  and  Talnes  homodopathy  will  probably 
agree  in  opinion  with  one  who,  knowing  nothing  about  it, 
utterly  disregards  it.  But  the  administration  of  medicines 
constitutes  a  more  or  less  important  part  of  the  treatment 
of  all  such  cases,  and  here  in  all  probability  the  homcBopath 
and  the  non-homoBopath  will  differ.  The  former  will 
propose  a  small  dose  of  a  medicine,  the  proving  of  which 
shows  that  its  action  corresponds  somewhat  closely  to  that 
of  the  disease  to  be  treated,  and  if  possible  cured.  The 
latter  will  perhaps  know  nothing  of  the  medicine  in  question, 
maybe  he  has  never  heard  of  it  before !  He  will  argue  thai 
the  patient  requires  stimulating  or  depressing,  that  his  case 
demands  wine,  iron,  or  quinine  on  the  one  hand,  or  morphia 
or  bromide  of  potassium  on  the  other.  The  former  knows 
ftdl  well  that  such  medicines  can  only  operate  as  palliatives, 
while  he  is  equally  assured  that  that  he  proposes  is  specific 
Here,  then,  is  a  vital  difference  of  opinion.  Up  to  a  given 
point  both  are  agreed,  beyond  this  their  views  are  irrecon- 
cileable.  The  good  of  the  patient  is  the  one  thing  desired 
by  both.  Each  is  convinced  that  this  end  is  to  be  obtained 
most  completely  by  measures  diametrically  opposed  to  each 
other. 

It  would  seem  at  first  sight  that  any  consultation  of  this 
kind  would  be  useless,  and  from  one  point  of  view  it 
undoubtedly  is  so.  Still  we  are  far  from  saying  that  it  is 
entirely  without  value,  or  that  it  should  be  resisted 
ah  initio.  We  have  represented  an  extreme  case  as  an 
illustration,  but  even  here  advantages  are  obtained  which 
we  have  no  right  to  deny  our  patients  or  their  friends 
should  they  desire  to  avail  themselves  of  them.  These 
advantages  are,  definite  opinions  expressed  by  two  practi- 
tioners instead  of  one,  as  to  the  nature  of  the  diseasOy  the 
probable  prospects  of  the  patient,  and  the  general  manage- 
ment which  is  desirable.     On  %ach  of  these  topics  the 


}Si^J^?rSr         COKSPLTATIONS. 328 

patient  himself,  or  more  especially  his  friends,  will  feel 
additional  comfort  and  consolation  from  a  double  opinion. 
When  the  question  of  the  medicine  to  be  prescribed  is 
placed  before  them,  it  will  remain  with  them  to  decide  as 
to  which  prescription  shoold  be  followed.  If  that  of  the 
homodopathist,  the  allopathic  physician  will  retire  from  all 
responsibility  for  the  fatnre  management  of  the  case.  If, 
on  the  other  hand,  it  is  that  of  the  allopath,  the  homoeo- 
pathist  should  withdraw.  No  physician  can  take  actual 
charge  of  a  case  in  one  portion  of  the  treatment  of  which 
he  feels  no  confidence.  That  is,  we  think,  perfectly  clear, 
and  will  be  admitted  by  all ;  but  it  ought  first  of  all  to  be 
ascertained  that  a  difference  does  exist  on  any  important 
point.  This  is  a  question  which  must  be  settled  by  in* 
dividual  enquiiy  at  the  bedside,  and  cannot  properly  be 
disposed  of  by  an  assumption  of  difference  based  upon 
general  considerations.  It  cannot  be  thus  dismissed,  wo 
hcHi,  because,  in  an  eyer-increasing  proportion  of  cases, 
differences  between  homoeopathic  and  other  physicians  in 
drag  selection  do  not  exist  to  any  material  extent. 

Such  is  especially  the  case  with  two  classes  of  physi- 
cians— ^those  who  haye  little  or  no  confidence  in  the 
assistance  to  be  deriyed  from  drugs  in  the  cure  of  disease, 
and  those  who,  like  Dr.  Sidney  Binqeb,  prescribe  homceo- 
pathically  as  far  as  they  know  how  to  do  so. 

By  the  former  the  question,  whether  a  placebo  or  a 
homoBopatbically  indicated  medicine  is  giyen,  will  not  be 
regarded  as  of  any  importance.  When  he  has  carried  hiq 
points  on  matters  of  food  and  nursing,  he  has  exhausted^ 
his  therapeutics,  and  may  well  leaye  the  remainder  to  his 
homoBopaihic  colleague.  With  the  latter  the  (dances  are 
that  there  will  be  comparatively  little  difference.  Sl^ould 
any  arise,  it  ought  to  be  disposed  of  simply  by  reference  to 
the  patient  and  his  friends. 


824  coKsuLTATioNS.       "SSSJ.^rT.^! 

Even  here,  then,  in  an  extreme  case,  one  which  presents 
the  largest  possible  scope  for  difference  of  opinion,  there  is, 
from  the  purely  medical  point  of  view,  no  show  of  reason 
why  a  consultation  should  not  take  place  between  an 
allopathic  and  a  homoeopathic  physician,  when  such  is  for 
some  reasoD  or  other — and  the  reasons  advanced  for  such 
consultations  are  numerous  and  sometimes  important — 
desirable. 

In  another  class  of  cases — and  a  very  wide  one  it  is — 
the  administration  of  medicines  does  not  come  xmder 
consideration.  The  family  physician,  who  is  a  homoeo- 
pathist,  has  expressed  an  opinion  of  more  or  less  gravity 
as  to  the  nature  of  the  illness  from  which  his  patient 
suffers.  The  patient  and  his  friends  have  perfect  con- 
fidence in  homoeopathy.  They  desire  that  homoeopathic 
treatment  shall  be  continued,  however  serious  the  malady 
may  be ;  but  they  naturally  vnsh  to  have  the  condition  re- 
examined by  some  physician  who  has  made  for  himself  a 
reputation  in  the  study  of  similar  cases.  Here  it  is 
diagnosis  and  prognosis — questions  of  pure  pathology, 
which  have  to  be  determined  by  the  light  of  the  fullest 
experience  that  is  obtainable.  On  what  possible  grounds 
can  a  hospital  physician  refuse  to  co-operate  with  a  pro- 
fessional brother  in  such  an  investigation  ? 

Again,  in  cases  of  a  purely  surgical  character — cases  of 
fracture,  cases  where  operations  are  required,  and  where, 
whether  for  opinion  merely  or  to  carry  out  any  operation 
that  may  be  deemed  necessary,  no  valid  excuse  can  be 
offered  by  a  hospital  or  consulting  surgeon  for  refusing  the 
aid,  his  more  extensive  experience  has  rendered  valuable  to 
the  patient  of  a  general  practitioner,  who  is  a  homoeo- 
path. It  has  been  suggested  that  the  medicinal  after- 
treatment  of  the  non-homoeopathic  surgeon  will  differ  eo 
widely  from  that  of   a  homoeopath  that  co-operation  is 


iSSS^J^rS^         C0NSULTATI0N8, 826 

lendered  impossible.  But  how  few  pure  surgeons  there 
iue  who  haye  the  sUghtest  regard  for  drugs  as  remedial 
agents  ?  Indeed,  we  might  ask  whether  there  are  any  at 
all !  The  dressing  of  wounds,  the  diet  and  nursing  which 
4Sonstitute  the  treatment  of  nearly  all  cases  after  operation, 
is,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  in  no  way  interfered  with  by  the 
prescriptions  of  small  doses  of  medicine  homoBopathically 
indicated  by  the  general  condition  of  a  patient,  while,  on 
the  other  hand,  those  who  haye  experience  of  cases  so 
treated  ayer  that  they  greatly  facilitate  recovery. 

There  is  then,  we  conclude,  no  valid  reason  why  a 
consultation  should  be  a  priori  refused  when  the  friends  of 
a  patient  desire  it.  Its  value  to  the  invalid  will,  of  course, 
di£fer  according  to  the  nature  of  the  case  and  the  object 
held  in  view.  If  this  latter  be  purely  medicinal,  it  will 
often  be  worthless ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  this  even  might 
quite  well  be  ascertained  by  personal  discussion.  While, 
if  it  is  a  question  of  diagnosis,  of  a  suitable  climate,  or  of 
the  need  or  propriety  of  an  operation,  there  can  and  ought 
to  be  no  objection  on  the  part  of  a  hospital  physician  or 
surgeon  to  examine  a  patient  with  a  homoeopathic  practi- 
tioner, and  to  discuss  with  him  the  points  which  must 
determine  a  right  decision. 

What,  then,  are  the  reasons  put  forth  by  the  leaders  of 
medical  opinion  why  the  non-homoeopathic  physician  or 
surgeon  should  refuse  to  visit  a  patient  with  a  homoeo- 
pathist  ?    Of  these  we  have  of  late  had  no  lack. 

On  the  80th  of  April,  the  Lancet^  in  an  article 
apparently  intended  to  re-assure  the  public  that  trades 
unionism  had  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  the  refusal  on 
the  part  of  allopathic  practitioners  to  meet  homoeopaths, 
asserts  that  for  the  former  to  meet  the  latter  is  impossible, 
because  the  light  in  which  homoeopaths  ''view  disease, 
and  the  principles  on  which  they  propose  to  meet  it,  are 


826  CONStJLTATIOHS.         "SlSiSlSr^Sil* 


Beriew,  June  1. 1881. 


wholly  at  yarumce  with  those  which  every  step  forward  in 
the  cognate  sciences  of  pathology  or  therapy  confirms  and 
demonstrates.  There  is  no  common  ground  for  the 
homoeopath  and  the  ordinary  practitioner,  and  they 
cannot  therefore  consult;  still  less  can  they  work  to- 
gether." Now,  we  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  the 
premises  on  which  this  conclusion  is  based  are  ntterly 
erroneous.  Between  the  pathology  of  the  homcDopath 
and  that  of  the  '^ ordinary  practitioner"  there  is  no 
difference,  and  can  he  none.  The  principles  on  which 
both  sets  of  practitioners  treat  disease  are,  saye  in  the 
matter  of  drug  selection,  identical ;  while  **  ereiy  step  for- 
ward *  *  *  in  therapy  confirms  and  demonstrates" 
that  in  drug  selection  the  homceopath  is  right!  That 
he  is  so  any  careful  reader  of  Bingeb,  Phillips,  Babtho- 
LOW,  and  Horatio  Wood  may,  as  we  have  pointed  out  over 
and  over  again,  see  for  himself. 

The  Lancet  concludes  the  third  part  of  its  appeal  to  the 
public  by  saying  that  ''  no  two  physicians  can,  or  ought  to 
pretend  to  consult  together,  unless  they  be  agreed."  If 
this  is  to  become  an  axiom,  all  consultations  will  be  im- 
practicable ;  nay,  more,  they  will  be  useless  and  unneces- 
sary. Where  shall  we  find  two  physicians  who  are  agreed 
on  the  treatment  of  a  single  disease  ?  How  often  do  we 
not  see  in  the  correspondence  column  of  this  very  Lancet 
letters  from  medical  men,  asking  for  hints  as  to  the  treat- 
ment of  some  common  form  of  disease  replied  to  by  a 
number  of  medical  brethren,  each  of  whom  recommends  a 
totally  different  plan  of  treatment  ?  It  is  not  long  since 
sick  headache  was  the  subject  of  such  a  correspondence, 
and  the  variety  of  remedies  suggested  formed  a  most 
striking  satire  upon  the  claims  put  forth  by  the  Lancet  for 
the  scientific  character  of  therapeutics.  Consultations  ar» 
held  for  the  veiy  purpose  of  discussion,  with  the  object  of 


i£^j^?rS^         CONSULTATIONS.  327 


Befview,  June  1, 18B1. 


looking  at  a  case  from  eyeiy  point  of  view ;  for  examining 
Tarions  measnres  for  its  relief.  In  such  a  discussion, 
uniform  agreement  between  two  or  more  medical  men,  is 
improbable,  if  not  impossible.  While,  out  of  such  discus- 
sion something  more  or  less  approaching  agreement  is  yeiy 
likely  to  arise. 

The  Lancety  it  will  be  seen,  takes  very  broad  ground 
indeed.  The  therapy  of  the  schools  is  thoroughly  scientific, 
and  homodopathy  is  the  negation  of  science !  Were  the 
therapeutics  of  the  schools  so  scientific  as  the  Lancet  would 
have  us  beheve,  there  would  be  a  great  deal  more  uniformity 
amongst  its  representatiyes  than  there  is.  The  estimate  of 
its  utility  in  clinioal  medicine  would  be  much  higher  than 
that  which  has  been  formed  of  it  by  Dr.  Andbew  Glabk, 
Dr.  Matthews  Duncan,  and  many  others  whose  scientific 
acquirements  and  extensiye  experience  entitle  their  opinions 
to  feur  greater  weight  than  those  of  a  mere  newspaper  writer, 
whose  medical  experience  terminated  when  his  editorial 
duties  began !  Then,  again,  the  assertion  that  homoeopathy 
is  the  negation  of  science  is  worthless,  coming  as  it  does 
from  a  writer  who  has  never  gone  into  detail  upon  the 
question  at  issue  without  demonstrating  his  ignorance 
of  it. 

Dr.  MiLNEB  FoTHSBonji  and  Dr.  Donkin,  two  of  the 
junior  Fellows  of  the  College  of  Physicians,  have  written 
letters  on  this  question  to  the  medical  press,  which  read 
yeiy  much  like  bids  for  the  support  of  the  general  practi- 
tioners in  the  country  districts,  one  or  two  of  whom  have 
also  addressed  the  journals  in  the  ignorant,  prejudiced,  and 
violent  manner  characteristic  of  such  persons. 

Dr.  FoTHEBGiLL,  a  somewhat  copious  writer  on  thera- 
peutics, an  author  who  is  only  less  indebted  for  his 
original  (!)  observations  to  homoeopathic  physicians  than  is 
Dr.   Sidney  Bingeb,  occupies  a  colunm  of  the  British 


828  CONSULTATIONS.  ^SSS[. 


Beriev,  Jnne  1, 18B1. 


Medical  Journal  with  a  letter  which  is  a  piece  of  simple 
hinster.  Not  a  single  reason  is  alleged  why  an  allopath 
should  not  meet  a  homoeopath  at  the  hedside  of  the  sick, 
save  that  the  rule  not  to  do  so  is,  in  Dr.  Milner  Fotheb- 
gill's  opinion,  *'  a  just  and  proper  one/'  and  ^'  while  it 
exists  it  ought  to  he  obeyed."  Dr.  Fothergill  then  pro- 
ceeds to  rebuke  the  President  of  his  College  for  advising 
Dr.  QuAiN  as  he  did,  in  a  tone  and  style  that  in  such  an 
one  is  sheer  impertinence.  The  only  shadow  of  a  reason 
Dr.  FoTHEBaiLL  alleges  for  an  allopath  refusing  to  meet  a 
homoeopath,  is  given  in  the  following  sentence : — 

''If  the  general  practitioner  resists  the  temptation  to 
add  an  acquaintance  with  homoeopathy  to  his  medical 
attainments,  by  which  he  could  acquire  a  number  of 
lucrative  patients,  surely  he  ought  to  have  the  support  of 
the  cbnsultants !  He  ought  to  have  some  return  for  his 
self-denial  on  moral  grounds." 

The  support  of  the  consultants  indeed !    Why  here  is  a 
"  consultant "  to  all  appearance  bidding  for  the  support  of 
the  general  practitioner !     An  imperfectly  educated  man  is, 
according  to   Dr.   Fothergill,    more  worthy    of   being 
supported  than  one  who  has  added  to  his  school  knowledge 
a  familiarity  with  homoeopathy !     It  is  the  physician  who 
desires  to  write  himself  into  consulting  practice  who  alone 
may  **  add  an  acquaintance  with  homoeopathy  to  his  other 
attainments.*'    But  he  must  do  so  only  stcb-rosd.   He  may, 
however,  publish  the  results  of  his  reading,  provided  that 
they  are   dressed   up  in   the  current  phraseology  of  the 
museum  and  the  j^st  mortem  room,  and  set  out  as  though 
the  observations  were  original !    In  the  concluding  passage 
of  this  letter,  he  encourages  his  friends  by  assuring  them 
that  *'if  the  profession  would  only  make  a  bold  stand, 
the  laity  would  soon  see  that  they  must  yield." 


It^^STS^        CONSULTATIONS, 829 

In  short,  the  letter  of  Dr.  Fothbbgill  more  closely 
resembles  the  cmde  and  ineonclasiye  prodnotion  of  a 
''  cheeky  "  little  boy  at  a  public  school  than  the  mature 
thoughts  of  a  gentleman  of  education  and  a  member  of  a 
liberal  profession. 

Dr.  DoNsiNy  who  by  the  way  has  stated  that ''  no  one 
has  any  right  to  claim  that  we  should  look  for  our  diseases 
to  be  '  cured '  at  all/'  writes  yeiy  grandly  indeed  about 
''  scientific  and  honest  students  of  medicine/' — alluding, 
we  presume,  to  those  who  prescribe  drugs  ostensibly  for 
the  purpose  of  curing  disease,  well  knowing  all  the  time 
that  they  will  have  no  such  influence.  Dr.  Donxin  defines 
homoeopathy  as  a  ''plausible  and  flimsy"  system,  and 
that  a  ''  consultation  with  a  believer  therein  is  a  contradic- 
tion in  terms — a  moral  and  scientific  solecism."  Denun- 
ciation is  one  of  the  easiest  of  things  to  perpetrate.  But 
it  proves  nothing.  Dr.  Donkin  may  describe  homoBopathy 
in  any  language  that  may  suit  his  taste  or  his  convenience, 
but  it  will  not,  however  strong,  however  vulgar,  show  that 
medicines  selected  homoeopathically  are  not  more  likely  to 
be  fruitful  of  good  than  are  others. 

In  this,  as  in  Dr.  Fotheboill's  letter,  there  is  no 
reason  given  why  a  consultation  of  the  kind  denounced 
should  not  be  held. 

Another  correspondent,  a  Mr.  Dayman,  of  Southampton, 
cannot  resist  the  temptation  to  follow  the  well-known 
example  of  Dogbebby,  and  writes  as  follows :  ''  Homoeo- 
pathy," according  to  this  person,  "  in  the  eyes  of  all  good 
men  and  true,  is  a  thing  as  much  outside  legitimate 
medicine  as  astrology,  alchemy,  or  the  Brunonian  system." 
A  man  that  can  feel  no  shame  in  publishing  such  un- 
blushing ignorance  as  that  displayed  in  this  sentence  is 
unworthy  of  the  notice  of  intelligent  people.  It  would, 
indeed,  be  long,  we  should  imagine,  before  any  homoeo- 


830 ,   CONSULTATIONS.         ^^^fS^^. 

pathic  physician  would  desire  the  assistance  of  Hi. 
Dayman  in  consultation  i  He  need  have  no  fear  of  being 
seduced  into  contracting  a  m^saUiance  of  this  kind,  at  any 
rate. 

Dr.  Handfield  Jones  alleges  that  it  is  the  qnestion  of 
dose  that  preyents  consultation.  He  quotes  Dr.  Hughks' 
summary  of  the  pharmaceutic  processes  of  homoeopathy, 
and  then  adds,  that  as  Hahnemann's  doses  have  not 
heen  abandoned,  and  such  drugs  as  calcarea  carbomaiy 
and  carbo  vegetabUis  remain  in  the  Pharmacopceia,  *'  it  is 
plain  that  conference  between  a  homoeopath  and  a  rational 
practitioner  is  impossible."  To  this  it  may  be  replied 
that  the  80th  dilution  is  not  given  by  any  homoeopath  is 
all  cases,  and  that  ccdcarea  carbonica,  and  carbo  vegetabOis 
are  not  the  only  medicines  in  the  Pharmacopoeia.  Hence 
it  might  be  as  well  to  ascertain  by  a  conference  whether 
the  homoeopath  thought  the  case  one  in  which  the  SOih 
dilution  was  essential,  and  either  calcarea  carbonica^  or 
carbo  vegetabUis  necessary !  Further,  Dr.  Jones  is  par* 
ticular  to  state  that  it  is  not  the  law  of  similars  that  ke^ 
the  people  he  describes  as  **  rational  practitioners  "  apart 
from  homoeopaths.  He  does  so  because  he  has  t<ested  this 
principle  in  practice,  and  many  cases  illustrating  it  haTO 
been  published  by  him  in  the  medical  journals  from  time 
to  time.  But  he  has  not  tried  the  small  dose.  Perhaps  if 
he  did,  he  would  not  so  strongly  object  to  it  as  he  does. 
But,  that  the  fact  that  experience  has  shown  very  infini- 
tesimal doses  to  be  all  sufficient  as  curatiTO  agents  in  9ome 
cases  should  preclude  all  consultations,  is  too  absurd  for 
discussion,  and  no  reason  at  all  why  Dr.  Jones'  desire  that 
the  existing  severance  might  cease  should  not  be  fulfilled. 

We  have  noticed  letters  from  ambitious  young  physi- 
cians, naturally  anxious  to  ingratiate  themselyes  with  the 
surgeon-apothecaries  of  the  provinces,  and  one  from  a  nH>re 


S^SSTSSf"         CONSULTATIONS.  881 


Berievr,  June  1, 18B1. 


intelligent  and  thonghtfal  man,  who  desires  to  see  his  way 
out  of  a  position  he  clearly  feels  to  be  Tintenable.  We  will 
now  notice  one  from  a  well-known  surgeon  who  has  retired 
from  practice.  Mr.  Holthouse,  who  within  a  few  years 
was  the  senior  surgeon  of  the  Westminster  Hospital,  says, 
(British  Medical  Journal,  May  7),  that  since  he  has  had 
more  leisure  to  look  into  many  matters,  medical  and  ethical, 
he  has  been  enabled  to  take  a  more  judicial  view  of  men 
and  things,  and  to  emancipate  himself  from  the  thraldom 
of  ideas  and  feelings  instilled  in  early  life.  Among  other 
matters,  homoBopathy  has  come  under  review,  and  the 
bearing  of  medical  men  who  do  not  beUeve  in  it  towards 
those  who  do,  has  had  his  consideration.  Having  shown 
that  homoeopaths  are  not  quacks,  he  proceeds  to  enquire 
why  non-homooopaths  refuse  to  meet  them  in  consulta- 
tion. That  they  are  neither  knaves  nor  fools,  as  was 
generally  believed  a  few  years  ago,  Mr.  Holthouse's 
experience  has  convinced  him,  for  he  says,  *^  I  have  lived  to 
learn  that  there  may  be  homodopaths  who  are  neither  one 
nor  the  other,  but  as  honourable  and  intelligent  as  ourselves, 
and  in  one  respect,  perhaps,  more  so ;  for  whereas  we 
ignore  their  remedies,  they,  acting  on  the  principle  that 
Fas  est  ab  Jioste  doceri,  adopt  ours  when  their  own  fail." 
He  presently  adds — 

**  They  do  bQlieve,  as  I  think  most  of  us  do,  though  to  a  more 
limited  extent,  in  the  doctrine  of  similia  nmilibus  ;  and  they  hold 
themselves  justified,  as  they  have  a  perfect  right  to  do,  in  making 
use  of  other  remedies  than  homoeopathic  ones,  where  these  fail 
to  effect  their  object,  and  m  larger  doses  than  was  formerly  their 
wont.  This,  so  far  from  being  a  ground  of  complaint  against 
them,  redounds  to  their  credit ;  and  proves  that  they  are  not 
slavishly  following  in  the  footsteps  of  their  master,  but  claim  the 
same  right  to  adapt  their  practice  to  the  altered  circumstances 
and  views  which  now  prevail  as  we  do  ourselves.    Has  our  own 


832  COK8ULTATIOH8.         "^SSSL^STRS? 


;  June  1, 18B1. 


practice  undergone  no  change?  Do  we  still  adhere  to  the 
teachings  of  half  a  centnrj  ago  ?  If  not,  are  we  entitled  to  pat 
on  the  mantle  of  infallibility,  and  to  condemn  all  systems  hut 
onr  own  as  irrational  and  unscientific  7 

**  What  is  rational  medicine  ?  Is  it  that  which  was  in  yogae 
£fly  years  ago,  when  onr  patients  were  bled,  capped,  leeched, 
purged,  starved  ?  Or,  is  it  that  which  succeeded  it :  when  all 
these  depletive  measures  were  abandoned,  and  they  were  gorged 
with  food,  and  stimalated  with  wine,  brandy,  and  rum,  till  the 
outcome  of  this  scientific  treatment  had  culminated  in  the  manu- 
facture of  a  legion  of  drunkards  ?  Or,  is  it  that  towards  which 
we  are  travelling  at  the  present  day,  when  both  the  former 
systems  are  decried  ;  and  we  are  taught  that  safety  can  only  be 
secured  by  abandoning  the  one  and  the  other,  and  adopting  the 
practice  of  total  abstinence  from  all  alcoholic  liquors  ? 

«  :ie  *  3|e  «  4c 

**  Let  US,  then,  look  this  matter  fairly  in  the  face  ;  and  ask 
ourselves  whether  the  time  has  not  arrived  when  we  should 
review  our  position  with  relation  to  homoeopathy — whether  it 
would  not  be  a  gain  to  both  parties  that  some  understanding 
ishould  be  come  to  ;  and,  while  we  cannot  bat  acknowledge  that, 
Its  regards  the  past,  error  has  been  committed  on  both  sides,  let 
US  also  admit  that  good  has  resulted  from  the  conflict.  As 
members  of  a  profession  which  boasts  of  being  liberal,  and  by 
courtesy  is  styled  such,  let  us  prove  our  title  to  it  by  our  acts; 
And  cease  to  hold  that  attitude  of  hostility  towards  the  practi- 
tioners of  homoeopathy,  which,  say  and  think  what  we  will,  is 
regarded  by  the  outside  public  as  merely  a  phase  of  trade- 
tmionism. 

**  The  mere  fact  that  homoeopathy  still  survives,  spite  of  un- 
ceasing persecution  and  ridicule,  and  not  only  survives  bat 
flourishes,  is  primn.  facie  evidence  of  there  being  something  mora 
in  it  than  we  are  aware  of,  or  are  willing  to  admit ;  and  many 
facts,  bearing  on  the  doctrine  of  similars,  and  on  the  potency  of 
minute  quantities,  have  recently  been  brought  to  light,  which  go 


J^riS^J^riTl^         CONSULTATIONS.  333 

to  strengthen  rather  than  weaken  the  Hahnemannian  doctrine.^ 
I  think,  then,  the  time  has  come  when,  both  on  ethical  and 
scientific  grounds,  we  should  take  up  the  question  anew ;  and, 
with  all  deference,  I  would  submit  that,  if  a  homodopath  is 
properly  qualified,  and  practises  his  profession  honourably  and 
to  the  best  of  his  ability,  the  onus  rests  with  us  to  show  why  we 
should  not  meet  him  in  consultation." 

The  letter  of  Mr.  Holthouse  was  evoked  by  one  from 
Dr.  Bbuoe  of  Dingwall,  in  which  he  urges  the  re- 
consideration of  the  decision  of  the  profession,  made  some 
years  ago,  to  ignore  homoeopaths  as  medical  men>  and  to 
enter  into  no  professional  communion  with  them.  Dr. 
Bbuge  takes  the  opportunity  of  expressing  his  regret  at 
haying  taken  a  part  fifteen  years  ago  in  ousting  a  man^ 
whom  he  respected,  from  a  hospital  appointment^  because 
he  was  a  homcBopath.  He  thinks  that  he  and  others,  as 
he  says,  wiser  than  himself,  were  wrong,  and,  at  any  rate, 
he  is  sure  that  they  would  not  do  the  same  thing  again. 

In  the  article  from  the  Lancet,  from  which  we  quoted  in 
the  earlier  part  of  this  paper,  a  good  deal  of  soreness 
expressed  itself  at  the  idea  of  the  refusal  by  allopaths  to 
meet  homoeopaths  in  consultation,  being  regarded  by 
the  public  as  '^  trades-unionism."  In  what  other  light 
can  it  be  yiewed  ?  The  essence  of  trades-unionism  is  the 
restriction  of  the  liberty  of  an  individual  in  the  exercise  of 
lus  calling.  In  the  matter  of  consultations  this  re- 
striction is  distinctly  imposed.  The  question  of  going  to, 
or  refusing  to  go  to  a  consultation  is  not  an  open  one, 
not  one  to  be  decided  by  the  physician  or  surgeon 
whose  opinion  or  co-operation  is  requested.    It  is  a  hard 

*  "  I  refer  here  to  such  iacts  as  the  reoommendation  of  minute  doies  of 
ipeeaeoanha  by  Dr.  Binger  to  reUere  sickness ;  very  large  doses  of  quinine 
by  Professor  Charoot  and  11.  Meniere  to  relieve  the  giddiness  and  singing 
in  the  ears  in  If  enitee's  disease ;  small  doses  of  pilooarpine  by  Dr.  MnzxeU 
to  eheck  the  sweatiDg  of  phthisis.*' 


334  CONSULTATIONS.         '^S^^T??^. 


Bariflw,  June  1,  ISSl. 


and  &6t  rale  imposed  by  colleges  and  societies ;  one  the 
infringement  of  which  carries  with  it  certain  penalties. 
By  meeting  a  homoBopath  in  consultation,  a  physician  or 
surgeon  exposes  himself  to  expulsion  from  certain  medical 
societies,  his  fellows  are  bidden  not  to  meet  him,  not  to  call 
him  in,  not  to  have  any  sort  or  kind  of  professional  com- 
munion with  him.  He  is  to  be  treated  as  a  Pariah !  If 
this  be  not  trades-unionism,  we  know  not  what  is !  And 
to  what  absurd  lengths  it  may  be  carried,  how  it  will  impair 
a  man's  self-respect,  the  following  illustration  will  show.  A 
medical  man  some  years  ago  made  a  series  of  experiments, 
in  a  hospital  to  which  he  was  at  that  time  attached,  which 
convinced  him  that  disease  was  much  more  readily  curable 
by  homoBopathically  indicated  remedies  than  by  those  he 
had  been  taught  to  use.  He  determined  to  adopt  homoao- 
pathy  into  his  practice.  He  then  purchased  a  practice  of 
which  the  physician  had  long  been  a  homoeopath.  He 
succeeded  well.  He  treated  his  patients  homoBOpathically 
with  complete  satisfaction.  This  went  on  for  a  number  of 
years ;  but  as  his  professional  duties  increased,  the  wony 
of  studying  cases,  of  examining  the  Materia  Medica, 
became  more  and  more  unendurable.  Palliatiyes  were  much 
more  easy  to  find  than  specifics  !  While  all  the  time  his 
medical  neighbours  **  cut "  him.  Then  came  the  question, 
was  it  worth  while  to  endure  all  this  ostracism  for  the  sake 
of  science,  for  the  purpose  of  being  able  to  practise  homoso- 
pathy  ?  He  concluded  that  it  was  not ;  and  informed  his 
medical  brethren  that  he  had  given  up  homoeopathy,  and 
hoped  they  would  receive  him  I  They  did  so,  and  he 
became  a  member  of  the  local  medical  society — all  the  while 
being  carefully  watched  lest  he  should  be  found  retracing 
his  steps  or  doing  anything  likely  to  compromise  himself 
with  homoeopathy !  One  morning  he  received  a  telegram 
from  an  old  friend,  asking  him  to  join  him  in  certifying  as 


llSSSf^SSl!'^         CONSULTATIONS.  885 

to  the  insanity  of  a  patient.  He  replied  in  a  long  letter 
that  he  could  not  do  so  ;  he  had  disconnected  himself  from 
homoeopathy;   and  if  he  met  his  old  friend  at  a  sick 

person's  house,  Dr. and  Mr. would  refuse  to 

meet  him  in  consultation !  The  answer  to  this  was  that 
the  refusal  was  a  matter  of  no  consequence,  as  an  allopathic 
practitioner  had  done  all  that  was  necessary.  Now  here 
there  was  no  consultation  at  all — it  was  a  case  where  the 
person  to  be  visited  must  be  seen  by  two  medical  men,  but 
that  separately,  where  one  must  not  be  present  while  the 
other  is  making  his  examination.  But  even  here,  so  great 
is  the  terror  exercised  by  the  medical  trades-union,  that 
this  physician,  an  ex-homoeopath,  was  positively  afraid  to 
sign  a  certificate  on  which  the  name  of  a  homoeopath 
appeared ;  and  the  cause  of  his  fear  was  the  possibility  of 
his  incurring  the  displeasure  of  a  physician  and  surgeon  of 
more  or  less  local  eminence !  Had  he  been  a  free  agent, 
had  he  been  at  liberty  to  perform  any  professional  duty  he 
might  be  called  to,  he  would  have  gone  at  once,  and  have 
gone  with  pleasure.  But  he  had  renounced  the  liberty  he 
once  enjoyed,  and  had  yoluntarily  donned  the  shackles  of 
medical  trades-unionism ! 

It  is  this  ^*  hard  and  fast  rule,"  as  Dr.  Bbuge  terms  it, 
against  which  we  protest.  We  can  understand  a  medical 
man  refusing  to  meet  another  medical  man  on  various 
grounds,  but  that  he  should  in  any  instance  be  liable  to  be 
called  to  account  before  a  body  of  his  medical  brethren  for 
having  done  so  is,  we  assert,  a  source  of  scandal  which  is  a 
disgrace  to  the  profession  of  medicine,  a  condition  of  things 
which  deprives  it  of  all  title  to  be  described  as  liberal. 

There  is  then,  we  hold,  no  reason  why  homoeopaths  and 
allopaths  should  not  meet  in  consultation.  There  may  be 
many  cases  in  which  one  or  other  will  feel  obliged  to  retire 
from  the  future  conduct  of  the  treatment,  while  there  still 


836  DTSMENOBRHCEA.        "SJ^i.^ZH^ 


Benew,  June  1,  IfiBI. 


remain  many  in  which  they  can,  with  every  advantage  to 
the  patient,  continue  in  co-operation. 

Further,  meeting  in  consultation  is  a  matter  which  should 
be  entirely  left  to  the  discretion  of  the  practitioners  engaged. 
No  college  or  society  has  any  right  whatever  to  impose 
barriers  to  such  meetings.  It  is  this  drawing  of  a  hard  and 
fast  line,  where  no  public  body  has  any  right  to  draw  any 
line  at  all,  that  has  been  productive  of  so  much  injury  to 
the  reputation  of  the  profession  of  medicine.  This  it  is 
that  has  divided  the  profession  into  practically  two  bodies. 
This  it  is  which  has  prevented  the  full  development  of  an 
important  therapeutic  doctrine. 

We  can  only  hope  that  the  discussion  which  has  recently 
been  excited  will  do  somewhat  towards  drawing  these  two 
bodies  more  closely  together,  will  show  our  allopathic 
brethren  that  they  have  yet  to  learn  what  homoeopathy 
really  means,  will  convince  them  that  it  is  a  doctrine  not 
only  worthy  of  discussion,  but  one  urgently  calling  for 
investigation,  and  that  no  investigation  of  it  worthy  of  the 
name  can  be  undertaken  without  the  co-operation  therein 
of  those  who  have  for  years  devoted  time  and  thought  to 
its  study',  of  those  who  have  risked  everything  that  can 
render  life  worth  having  in  its  defence. 


ON  DYSMENORRHEA. 

Being  one  of  a  ooone  of  Lectures  on  DiBeases  of  Women,  deliTered  at  the 

London  School  of  Homoeopathy. 

By  D.  Dyce  Bbown,  M.A.,  M.D. 

Gehtlemem, — ^1  now  proceed  to  consider  dysmenorrhoBa,  or 
painful  menstruation. 

Normally,  menstruation  is  performed  without  anything 
approaching  to  pain.  Usually  a  slight  feeling  of  dis- 
comfort in  the  pelvic  region  announces  the  advent  of  the 
period,  but  when  this  amounts  to  actual  pain,  then  we 
have  dysmenorrhoea. 


^;^rSS2T?SS^        DTSMBNOBBH(BA.  837 


Beview,  Jane  1, 1881. 


This  is  a  subject  which  has  been  mach  studied  and 
written  about  of  late  years,  and  our  knowledge  is  much  in 
advance  of  what  it  was  thirty  or  forty  years  ago.  Dys- 
menorrhoBa  is  usually  divided  into  three  classes,  indicating 
the  view  of  the  causation  of  each — (1)  neuralgic,  (2) 
congestive,  (8)  mechanical  dysmenorrhoea.  Two  other 
forms  have  to  be  noticed  separately,  viz.,  ovarian  dys- 
menorrhoaa  and  dysmenorrhcea  membranacea. 

The  immediate  cause  of  dysmenorrhoeal  pain  is,  as 
everyone  is  agreed,  retention  for  a  time  of  the  menstrual 
blood,  which  becomes  coagulated  in  the  uterus,  and  as  a 
consequence  causes  pain  and  difficulty  in  expulsion.  The 
prevaxiing  tendency  in  the  old-school  is,  keeping  this  cause 
in  view  prominently,  and  forgetting  in  a  great  measure  the 
cause  of  this  condition,  at  least  in  the  way  of  treatment,  to 
adopt  mechanical  measures  to  dilate  the  orifice,  internal  or 
external,  of  the  cervix,  and  so  to  remove  the  possibility  of 
obstruction  to  the  flow  of  the  menstrual  fluid. 

As  a  consequence  of  this  tendency,  modern  authors  are 
inclined  to  ignore  very  much  the  first  form,  or  neuralgic 
dysmenorrhoea.  Thus  we  find  Dr.  Barnes  (Diseases  of 
Women,  p.  213)  saying:  "Not  many  years  ago,  dys- 
menorrhcea was  almost  universally  looked  upon  and 
treated  as  a  nervous  affection  of  the  uterus  itself,  or 
sympathetic  with  disorders  of  distant  organs,  or  the 
expression  of  constitutional  debility.  And  vague  ideas 
of  this  kind  still  prevail  largely  amongst  physicians  who 
have  not  directed  particular  attention  to  the  pathology  of  the 
ovaries  and  uterus.  But  in  proportion  as  precise  objective 
methods  of  investigation  have  been  applied  to  the  study,  it 
has  been  discovered  that  in  most  cases  the  nervous 
phenomena  are  dependent  upon  distinct  morbid  conditions 
of  the  uterine  tissue,  or  upon  conditions  which  oppose  a 
mechanical  obstacle  to  the  proper  performance  of  the 
uterine  functions,  or  upon  disorders  of  the  ovary.  If, 
therefore,  we  still  retain  the  term  neuralgic  dysmenorrhcea, 
we  must  do  so  on  the  understanding  that,  although 
expressing  really  existing  disorder,  it  is  a  convenient 
asylum  igruyrantiay  under  which  we  may  class  a  number 
of  cases,  the  true  pathology  of  which  eludes  our  search. 
Extending  observation  will,  however,  certainly  contract 
this  asylum  more  and  more,  if,  indeed,  we  may  not  hope 
to  close  it  altogether.'* 

No.  6,  YoL  2$.  s 


838  DYSMBNORBHfflA.        »%SSL^SS??^ 


Beview,  Jiin«  1, 188L 


These  sentences  at  first  sight  look  very  philosophical 
and  sensible,  hat  when  we  examine  the  snbject  more 
closely,  we  shall  find  that  they  are  not  so — ^that  those  who 
resort  to  surgical  means,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  are 
really  taking  advantage  of  this  '^  asylum  igiwraniia^^  and 
that  it  is  no  more  unscientific  to  acknowledge  the  full 
importance  of  the  neuralgic  variety,  especially  in  the 
matter  of  treatment,  than  it  is  to  acknowledge  the  existence 
and  very  frequent  occurrence  of  neuralgia  elsewhere.  I, 
myself,  believe  that  the  majority  of  cases  we  have  to  treat 
are  essentially  neuralgic. 

We  shall  see,  when  speaking  of  the  treatment,  how  use- 
less or,  at  least,  weak  is  the  medicinal  armamentarixun  of 
the  old-school,  and  it  seems  to  me  that  this  is  one  main 
reason  of  the  resort,  characteristic  of  the  present  day  in 
the  old-school,  to  mechanical  and  surgical  appliances. 
I  shall  be  able  to  show  you  that  our  remedies  are  so  valu- 
able in  the  relief  of  dysmenorrhoeal  pain,  that  recourse 
need  very  seldom  be  had  to  mechanical  and  surgical  treat- 
ment. I  must  say  that  I  disagree  with  Dr.  Barnes  as  to 
his  desire  to  put  into  limbo  the  neuralgic  variety  of 
dysmenorrhoea.  The  '*  number  of  cases,  the  true  patho- 
logy of  which  eludes  our  research,"  will  be  much  reduced 
by  the  application  to  the  question  of  the  results  of  thera- 
peutical measures. 

No  one  denies  that  the  chief  part  of  the  immediate 
cause  of  the  pain  is  the  narrow  condition  of  the  cervical 
passage,  but  what  I  contend  is,  that  when  this  is  only 
temporary,  as  it  is  in  many  or  most  cases,  produced  by  a 
neuralgic  condition,  or  by  congestion,  or  both,  treatment 
by  dilatation  or  incision  is  only  a  rough  and  rude  form  of 
treatment.  True  it  is  that  we  fiind  cases  where  there  is 
unmistakably  an  abnormally  narrow  condition  of  the 
cervical  passage,  and  in  these  cases — some  of  them  at 
least — operation  is  justifiable;  but  even  in  these  cases, 
as  I  shall  afterwards  point  out,  we  may  do  without  the  use 
of  this  more  severe  treatment. 

First,  then,  of  neuralgic  dysmenorrhcea.  That  such 
does  exist,  and  is  the  cause  of  a  great  number  of  the  cases 
that  come  under  our  notice,  is  evident  from  the  following 
considerations : — 

1.  Cases  occur  when  there  is  no  evidence  of  real  uterine 
congestion  between  the  periods,  when  all  the  symptoms  in 
the  case  point  to  the  character  of  the  pain  as  neuralgic. 


^^J^nrSf'        DYBMENOBBH(EA. 889 

We  may  eyen  have  such  narrowing  of  the  cervical  canal  as 
not  to  allow  the  passage  of  the  sound  without  force,  which 
of  course  should  never  be  employed,  but  where  no  relief  is 
experienced  from  dilatation  or  incision  of  the  cervix.  I 
remember  one  marked  case  of  this  kind.  The  pain  was 
extremely  severe,  and  though  considerably  relieved  by 
internal  treatment,  it  was  not  so  much  so  as  I  expected  or 
desired.  The  sound  would  not  pass  the  os  internum,  and 
pressure  on  it  caused  pain.  In  order  to  satisfy  myself 
if  this  narrowing  was  the  real  cause  of  the  pain,  I 
inserted  just  before  the  period  the  smallest  sized  tangle 
tent,  which  only  went  through  the  external  os.  The  effect 
of  this  dilatation  of  the  lower  part  of  the  canal  was  that 
the  sound  passed  in  with  the  greatest  ease  into  the  uterus. 
Menstruation  came  on  next  day,  but  the  pain  was  in  no 
w^ay  relieved,  and  she  had  to  resort  to  the  old  medicines. 
Dr.  Barnes  really  admits  the  same  thing,  though  he  is 
xmwilling  to  acknowledge  it.  On  p.  221  he  says :  "  With 
fill  this  variety  of  illustration  concentrated  into  one  focus, 
we  shall  be  justified  in  repeating  the  proposition  with 
which  we  started — namely,  the  essential  cause  of  dys- 
menorrhoea — at  least,  in  the  great  majority  of  cases — is 
retention  of  the  menstrual  secretion.  The  exceptions  in 
my  experience  are  very  few,  and  yet  among  these  few 
exceptions  there  are  some  which  I  should  hesitate  to 
consign  to  the  neuralgic  asylum.  We  meet  with  cases 
every  now  and  then  in  which  the  dysmenorrhoeal  symptoms 
are  very  severe,  although  there  is  no  obvious  stenosis.  In 
Bome  of  these  I  have  found  the  uterus  small,  perhaps 
inclined  to  one  side,  and  set  in  a  short,  non-distensible 
vagina.  Sometimes  the  os  externum  is  preter-naturally 
small,  but  even  after  freely  dilating  this  the  dysmenorrhoea 
persists.  The  subjects  of  this  kmd  of  imperfect  develop- 
ment—for such  it  is— are  commonly  of  a  highly  nervous 
temperament,  acutely  sensitive  of  pain,  and  it  would  be 
easy  to  say  they  suffer  from  *  irritable  uterus '  or  neuralgic 
dysmenorrhoea ;  but  this  refuge  seems  unsatisfactory.  In 
some  of  the  subjects  the  hypersesthetic  condition  has  been 
gradually  developed,  caused  by  the  frequent  pain  and 
imperfectly  performed  functions,  and  was  not  a  primary 
condition.  In  some  cases  I  have  seen  great  improvement, 
even  cure,  from  the  use  of  Simpsom's  intra-uterine  galvanic 
pessary.**  This  last  remark,  I  should  think,  would  point 
very  strongly  to  the  neuralgic  view  of  such  cas3S. 

z  -2 


340  DYSMKNOBBHCBA.       '^^ 


B«fl0w,  Jidda  U  UBL 


2.  Conyerselyy  even  as  Dr.  Barnes  in  the  above  qaotation 
admits,  there  are.  cases  where  there  is  no  obstmction,  and 
where  the  sound  passes  in  easily  between  the  periods,  and  yet 
there  is  dysmenorrhcea.  One  of  my  cases  of  most  sey^^  pain 
was  of  this  class,  the  sound  passing  into  the  uterus  with 
perfect  ease,  and  there  being  nothing  abnormal  in  the  con- 
dition  of  the  uterns.  as  ascertained  by  physical  examination. 

8.  And  yet  again,  we  meet  with  cases  where  the  sound 
will  not  pass  the  os  internum,  and  yet  there  is  no  dys- 
menorrhcBa.  I  saw  a  case  of  this  kind  not  long  ago,  when 
I  was  consulted  in  regard  to  the  absence  of  faimly,  and  for 
which  reason  I  tried  to  pass  the  sound.  There  was  no  flexion 
whatever,  but  the  sound  would  not  pass.  I  proceeded  to 
dilate  the  cervix,  getting  the  tent  only  in  as  feu:  as  the  lower 
side  of  the  os  internum,  and  it  was  not  until  the  external 
part  of  the  cervix  was  dilated  so  much  as  to  admit  the  first 
finger  easily,  that  the  internal  os  dilated  so  as  to  admit 
the  passage  of  the  sound.  In  this  case  the  lady  was  the 
reverse  of  ''  nervous,"  and  beyond  slight  uneasiness  on  the 
first  day  or  two  of  the  period,  experienced  nothing  of  dys- 
menorrhceal  pain. 

4.  Still  further,  we  meet  with  cases  where  there  is  no 
evidence  of  congestion  of  the  uterus  between  the  periods, 
where  originally  there  was  no  dysmenorrhoaal  pain,  but  in 
whom  after  the  development  of  a  depressed  condition  of 
nervous  system — in  short,  a  hypersBsthetic  state,  severe 
dysmenorrhoDa  occurs. 

While  contending  as  I  have  done  for  the  essentially 
neuralgic  origin  of  many  cases  of  dysmenorrhoea,  I  do 
not  mean  to  say  that  th^  pain  in  sudi  cases  is  nothing 
more  than  a  neuralgia,  as  occurring  elsewhere.  We 
all  know  how  a  neuralgia  is  increased  by  the  addition 
of  any  congestion  of  tiie  part,  and  that  there  is  a 
normal  congestion  of  the  uterus  at  the  period  is  admitted 
by  all ;  and  we  also  know  how  closely  allied  neuralgia  is  to 
spasm,  and  how  a  muscular  contractile  organ  such  as  the 
uterus,  when  afiected  by  neuralgia  of  its  nerves,  is  liable  to 
spasm.  Here  then  is,  I  believe,  the  real  state  of  matters. 
The  nervous  system  as  a  whole,  and  the  uterine  nerves  in 
particular,  being  in  a  hypenesthetic  or  neuralgic  condition, 
this  state  is  aggravated  by  the  normal  congestion  at  the 
period,  and  gives  rise  to  spasm  of  the  cervix,  and  con- 
sequent pain,  with  retention  of  the  first  part  of  the  flow. 
The  uterus  becomes  distended,  the  os  internum  contracts. 


aSagyrSnng^       DYBMENOBBH(EA. 841 

and  the  reBult  is  severe  pain.  I  thus  agree  with  Dr.  Barnes 
that  the  immediate  cause  of  the  pain  is  retention  of  the 
seeretion,  bat  what  I  contend  for  is  that  in  many  cases,  the 
cause  of  this  state  is  essentially  neuralgic.    It  follows  from 
this  view,  that  such  cases  are  suited  for  internal  treatment, 
and  not  for  surgical  interference.    The  right  understanding 
of  the  pathology  of  these  cases  is  very  important,  as  it 
shows  us  what  cases  are  most  amenable  to  drug-treatment. 
The  patients,  then,  in  whom  this  form  of  dysmenorrhoea 
appears,  are  those  who  would  be  classed  as  ^'nervous." 
They  are  excitable,  or  give  way  to  depression  of  mind^ 
alternately  with  excitement.    They  are  frequently  troubled 
with  neuralgia  in  the  head  or  in  other  parts ;  they  are  the 
subjects  of  '"  spinal  irritation,"  have  pain  up  and  down  the 
spinal  column,  with  perhaps  tenderness  in  certain  spots  ; 
headaches  of  the  pressive  vertical  type,  and  over  the  eyes, 
aching  in  the  eyes,  and  dilated  pupils ;  their  nights  are 
sleepless,  or  restless,  with  much  dreaming.     Percussion  of 
the  chest  or  abdomen  may  give  pain,  evidently  superficial ; 
there  is  palpitation,  ovarian  pain,  with  extreme  sensibility 
in  this  region.     The  infra-mammary  pain  is  often  present, 
the  sacrum  aches,  the  limbs  ache  on  the  least  exertion,  and 
put  the  patient  ofif  her  sleep.     On   examination  of  the 
vagina,  the  orifice  is  unusually  sensitive,  making  the  entry 
of  the  finger  painful ;  there  is  tenderness  on  pressure  every- 
where on  the  vagina,  and  on  the  cervix  and  body  of  the  uterus, 
while  on  examination  with  the  speculum,  nothing  abnormal 
is  visible.     The  passage  in  of  the  sound  gives  rise  to  much 
pain,  though  done  in  the  gentlest  manner.     There  is  con- 
stipation,  with   pain  in   defecation,   frequent  desire  for 
micturition,  poor  appetite,   gastralgic  pain,  without  any 
dyspepsia  proper,  but  with  painful  sinking  or  faint  sensation 
at  the  epigastrium — ^in  fact,  a  state  of  general  hypersBsthesia 
of  the  nervous  system.     All  of  these  symptoms  are  not 
always  present,  but  the  above  is  what  we  find  in  extreme 
cases  of  this  type.    While  I  have  so  far  described  the 
symptoms  of  one  class  of  dysmenorrhceal  cases,  I  had 
better  here,  perhaps,  describe  the  symptoms  proper  to  the 
dysmenorrhoea,    premising    that    these    local    symptoms 
are  very  similar  in  all  the  three  classes — ^the  congestive 
and  mechanical,  as  well  as  the  neuralgic  cases.     The  chief 
difference  is  that  in  the  two  former  sets  of  cases,  there  is 
an  absence,  at  least  to  a  great  extent,  of  the  symptoms  of 
general  hypersBsthesia.    The  pain  may  begin  two  or  three 


842 DYBMMrORBHCBA,        ''SS&^SS^mL 

days  before  the  appearance  of  the  flow,  this  being  chiefly 
in  the  nenralgic  cases.  It  then  consists  of  more  or  less 
seyere  pain  in  the  lower  back,  the  OTarian  r^ons,  and  the 
hypogastrinm  of  an  aching,  diooting,  contractiYe,  or  down- 
bearing  pain.  On  the  first  day  of  the  flow  the  pain  is- 
nsnally  at  its  climax.  It  is  then  of  a  catting,  cinmping,  or 
constrictiTO  kind  in  the  abdomen  from  the  nmbilicus  down 
to  the  hypogastrinm  and  all  ronnd  the  pelyis^  followed  by,, 
or  mingled  with  severe  forcing-down  pains  like  those  of 
labonr,  felt  in  the  nterine  region,  and  going  through  to  the 
back,  and  down  the  thighs.  This  pain  is  sometimes  so 
BOYere,  as  to  cause  the  patient  to  roll  in  agony  for  hours  ; 
many  women  are  utterly  unable  to  leave  their  bed.  Vomiting 
is  very  frequent  from  uterine  sympathy,  and  is  sometimes 
most  painfrdly  severe ;  the  head  aches,  and  there  may  be 
marked  men^  excitement,  and  even  delirium.  Some 
women  become  nearly  or  quite  infusible  from  the  pain,  or 
actually  fEiint.  During  this  time  there  may  be  no  appear- 
ance externally  of  any  discharge,  but  it  has  been  secreted 
from  the  uterus,  and  after  a  variable  number  of  hours,  it 
appears,  usually  clotted.  The  passage  of  the  clots  gives 
extreme  agony,  but  after  this  the  spasm  yields  and  the 
pain  decreases,  sometimes  leaves  entirely,  but  leaving  the 
sufferer  in  a  state  of  prostration.  In  the  neuralgic  and 
mechanical  cases,  more  or  less  pain  continues  during  the 
entire  period. 

I  reserve  speaking  of  the  treatment,  till  I  haye  spoken 
of  the  other  varieties  of  dysmenorrhoea,  but  I  may  here- 
state  that  it  is  important  to  enquire  minutely  as  to  the 
special  site  of  the  severity  of  the  pain  ;  thus,  whether  felt 
chiefly  in  the  uterine  region,  in  the  back,  or  equally  all 
round,  with  the  collateral  symptoms,  in  order  to  select  the 
right  remedy. 

Next  as  to  the  congestive  dysmenorrhoea.  This  occurs 
in  women  whose  cervix  is  somewhat  narrow,  and  in  whom 
the  normal  amount  of  uterine  congestion  at  the  period  is 
sufiBcient  to  cause  such  additional  narrowing  as  to  create 
an  obstacle  to  the  flow,  or  in  cases  where  there  is  some 
amount  of  chronic  uterine  congestion.  Such  cases  are 
usually  quite  eased  of  the  pain  as  soon  as  the  discharge 
escapes  from  the  os  externum,  the  sanguineous  excretion 
naturally  relieving  the  temporary  congestion.  The  first 
part  of  the  discharge  is  usually  clotted,  as  in  the  other 


SSfS^^^TY'tSS?^       1>YSMBN0RBH<EA.  348 


Btview,Jiiiiel,lS81. 


cases,  the  clot  arising  from  the  temporary  retention  of  the 
blood  in  the  uterus. 

When  there  is  undoubted  chronic  inflammation  of  the 
uterus  the  symptoms  will  be  cTident,  and  will  be  dis- 
cussed afterwards ;  but  a  certain  amount  of  chronic 
congestion  may  arise  from  the  frequently  recurring  attacks 
of  dysmenorrhoea,  originally  nothing  more  than  neuralgic, 
or  in  cases  where  the  normal  congestion  causes  the 
narrowing.  The  freqaent  repetition  of  this  disorder  is 
apt  to  produce  such  a  state  of  chronic  uterine  congestion 
as  manifests  itself  by  more  or  less  constant  sense  of 
weight  in  the  hypogastrinm,  dragging  in  the  loins,  aching 
in  the  ovarian  regions,  with  tenderness  on  pressure, 
enlargement  of  the  body  of  the  uterus,  as  ascertained  by 
the  finger  and  sound,  and  leucorrhoea. 

Such  cases  are  so  often  complicated  with  neuralgia — if 
not  entirely  at  first  of  this  character — ^that,  although  we 
may  separate  them  in  description,  they  often  run  into  one 
another,  and  we  have  a  case  of  mixed  type.  By  no  means 
unfrequently,  a  long,  lasting  dysmenorrhoea  deyelopes  into 
a  menorrhagia  from  the  constantly  recurring  ovarian  and 
uterine  congestion. 

Such  cases  also  are  quite  amenable  to  drug-treatment, 
and  require  no  surgical  interference. 

Thirdly,  the  cases  of  mechanical  dysmenorrhoea.  Such 
undoubtedly  do  occur.  Malformation,  as  we  may  consider 
this  to  be,  may  occur  here  as  elsewhere.  The  cervical 
passage  is  here  abnormally  narrow.  The  narrowing  may 
exist  either  at  the  os  externum  or  internum,  and  there  is  a 
difference  of  opinion  among  gynsecologists  as  to  which  is  most 
frequent.  When  it  is  at  the  external  os,  the  cervix  is 
usually  long  and  conical,  and  the  orifice  may  be  so  small  as 
not  to  admit  the  point  of  the  sound,  even  of  a  very  small 
sized  one ;  if  it  is  at  the  interoal  os,  the  same  is  found 
there.  In  such  cases,  it  stands  to  reason  that  this,  added 
to  the  normal  monthly  congestion  of  the  uterine  mucous 
membrane,  will  produce  extreme  pain  in  the  passage  ol 
the  discharge.  Another  frequent  cause  of  mechanical 
dysmenorrhoea  is  flexion  of  the  neck  of  the  uterus  on 
the  body — either  ante-  retro-  or  lateri-flexion,  or  the 
presence  of  a  fibroid  tumour  or  polypus  obstructing 
the  canal. 

Mechanical  dysmenorrhoea  is  almost  always  followed  by 
sterility,  but  it  by  no  means  follows  that  this  should  result 


844 DYBMENOBBHCEA,        '^g^^TTlg! 

when  the  dysmenorrhoea  arises  from  the  other  causes.  I 
have  seen  cases  of  the  most  extremely  severe  dysmenor- 
rhoBa  followed  by  pregnancy  immediately  after  marriage. 
Nor  does  it  always  follow  that  sterility  results  from  con- 
genital narrowing.  I  knew  a  case  where  the  os  externum 
was  so  narrow  as  barely  to  admit  the  point  of  the  sound, 
where  dilatation  by  tents  had  improved  the  dysmenorrhcea 
for  a  time,  but  where  the  lady  had  relapsed  into  the  former 
state  of  contraction.  She  was  on  the  point  of  coming  up 
to  London  to  have  incision  performed,  when  pregnancy 
occurred  and  rendered  it  unnecessary. 

The  treatment  of  cases  arising  from  flexion  of  the  neck 
of  the  uterus  on  the  body,  or  of  fibroid  tumours  or  polypi, 
will  be  the  treatment  of  those  affections  themselves,  which 
I  here  pass  by. 

As  to  the  surgical  treatment  of  mechanical  dysmen- 
orrhcea by  dilatation  or  incision,  as  this  is  more  properly 
surgical,  and  has  nothing  to  do  with  homoeopathy,  I  forbear 
for  want  of  time  explaining  it.  But  even  in  cases  which 
may  justify  such  means  we  may  get  so  much  marked  relief 
by  internal  medicine,  as  I  shall  afterwards  mention 
when  speaking  of  the  remedies,  as  to  render  operation 
unnecessary. 

I  now  come  to  speak  of  the  treatment  of  dysmenorrhcBa. 
This  resolves  itself  into  (1st)  that  proper  at  the  time  of  <he 
pain,  to  relieve  it,  and  (2nd)  that  during  the  interval. 

First,  as  to  the  means  useful  to  relieve  the  pain  at  the 
time.  Before  going  over  our  mode  of  treatment,  it  may 
be  interesting  to  see  what  aUopathy  can  offer.  I  quote 
from  Dr.  Barnes  one  of  the  most  recent  writers : — 

*'  Happily  the  recent  appUcation  of  means  of  exploring 
the  state  of  the  organs  primarily  affected  has,  by  enabling 
us  to  analyse  the  cases,  shown  that  the  majority  at  least 
are  dependent  upon  physical  causes  which  admit  of  remedy. 
The  treatment  has  become  far  more  successful  than  was 
contemplated  as  possible  by  Gooch  and  Ferguson.  The 
first  condition  in  which  we  are  likely  to  be  consulted  is 
during  the  attack.  We  are  called  upon,  as  our  first  duty, 
to  relieve  pain ;  and  during  the  menstrual  flow  our  hands 
are  commonly  tied.  We  are  driven  to  a  trial  of  sedatives 
and  narcotics.  Where  the  agony  is  so  intense  as  to  induce 
delirium,  it  is  justifiable  to  induce  anaesthesia  by  chloroform 
or  chloral,  but  the  frequent  recourse  to  these  agents  is  apt 
to  entail  a  terrible  penalty.     The  patient  who  has  once  or 


JSriSyjSnB?*'       DT8MEK0BBH(BA. 846 

oftener  thus  drowned  her  sufferings,  is  little  ahle  to  resist 
the  imperious  craving  to  throw  herself  into  the  same 
treacherous  obliyion  on  every  return  of  pain.  She  soon 
falls  into  the  habit  of  exaggerating  her  suffering  so  as  to 
impose  upon  others,  as  well  as  herself,  the  necessity  of 
getting  relief,  even  momentary,  at  any  cost.  To  say 
nothing  of  the  fatal  accidents  which  have  occurred  from  the 
use  or  abuse  of  chloroform  or  chloral,  even  when  skilfully 
administered,  experience  shows,  it  is  said,  that  the  repeated 
or  habitual  use  of  these  agents  is  liable  to  induce  epilepsy 
and  mental  prostration  of  a  kind  to  justify  apprehension  of 
lapsing  into  dementia.  There  is  no  principle  of  conduct 
more  imperative  than  this :  so  to  direct  our  treatment  as  to 
preserve  and  encourage  to  the  utmost  the  mental  and  moral 
integrity  of  the  patient.  When  once  we  have  lost  the  aid 
of  her  own  will,  when  she  has  lost  the  precious  gift  of  self- 
control,  our  task  is  a  sad  one.  We  are  almost  driven  into 
becoming  quasi-accompUces  in  a  course  that  almost  infallibly 
ends  in  moral  annihilation,  compared  with  which  the  origi- 
nal malady,  still  subsisting,  sinks  into  insignificance.  One 
of  the  best  temporary  sedatives  is  Hofiman's  anodyne,  the 
spiritus  satheris  sulphuricus  compositus,  which  may  be 
given  in  half-drachm  doses.  To  this  may  be  added  ten  or 
fifteen  drops  of  liquor  opii  sedativus,  and  both  act  better  if 
given  with  liquor  ammonisB  acetatis.  Indian  hemp  in 
half-grain  or  grain  doses  is  often  valuable ;  it  may  be  given 
alone  or  combined  in  pills  with  lupulin,  or  five  grains  of 
Dover's  powder.  Where  there  is  a  distinct  hysterical 
character,  musk,  camphor,  and  assafcetida  are  often  usefuL 
Allied  to  sedatives  la  their  effects  are  the  bromides  of 
potassium  and  ammonium.  One  or  other  of  these  may  be 
given  in  scruple  or  even  half-drachm  doses,  repeated  every 
four  or  six  hours.  Bromine  seems  to  possess  a  specific 
power  in  subduing  ovarian  excitation.  If  sedatives  cannot 
be  taken  by  the  mouth,  we  may  resort  to  subcutaneous 
injection  of  one-eighth  or  one-sixth  of  a  grain  of  acetate  of 
morphia ;  or  half  a  drachm  of  laudanum  may  be  thrown 
into  the  rectum ;  or  medicated  pessaries  containing  opiam 
or  belladonna  may  be  placed  la  the  rectum  or  vagina.  The 
local  treatment  in  the  purely  neuralgic  affection  is  restricted 
to  the  use  of  hot  fomentations  or  cataplasms  to  the  abdo- 
men, foot  baths,  and  other  external  applications.  Simpson 
recommended  the  injection  of  chloroform  vapour  or  carbonic 
acid  gas  into  the  vagina,  or  the  application  of  a  small  bit 


346  SKIN  MSEA8B.  "SSlL^irr?^ 


Beriew,  June  1,  tSBi. 


of  lint  soaked  in  chloroform  and  covered  with  a  watch-glass 
over  each  groin.  This  produces  a  small  blister.  The  diet 
should  be  simple,  and  the  use  of  stimulants  strictly  regu- 
lated. Moral  treatment  is  of  great  importance.  During 
the  intervals  great  care  should  be  taken  to  cultivate  habits 
of  industry.  Occupation,  physical  and  mental,  is  the  great 
panacea.  '  Something  to  do ! '  is  the  great  female  cry.  In 
no  case  is  it  more  urgent  than  here.  If  these  and  other 
similar  means,  as  well  as  time,  fail  to  bring  a  relief,  a 
physical  examination  becomes  necessary,  and  then  we  shall 
probably  discover  some  condition  of  the  pelvic  organs,  on 
the  successful  management  of  which  the  hope  of  curing  the 
dysmenorrhoea  will  rest." 

{To  be  continued,) 


THREE  CASES  OF  SKIN  DISEASE.      - 

By  Edward  Blaee,  M.D.,  &c. 

Contagious  Impetigo. 

No.  1.  Master  W.  H.  B.,  aet.  8.  Lymphatic  tempera- 
ment. Twelve  months  ago  had  a  email  scab  in  head, 
it  gradually  enlarged  and  thickened  ;  now  there  is  on  the 
vertex  a  coherent  mass  of  circular  form  four  inches  in 
diameter,  consisting  of  scabs  and  matted  hair. 

I  had  this  all  poulticed  off  and  the  subjacent  surface 
painted  with  acid  carbolic  3  j,  aqute  ferventis  S  iii. 
This  rapidly  healed  the  large  denuded  surface  with  slight 
injury  to  the  scalp. 

Prescribed  internally  PiL  oL  crotonis  6x,  1  n.  mqv£» 

All  new  spots  to  be  well  fomented,  scraped  and  dressed 
with  the  following  unguent : — 

Liq.  carbonis  deterg,  3  j,  ung,  petrolei  (vaseline)  5j. 

Sept.  11.  The  eruption  is  nearly  gone.  There  is  a 
good  deal  of  eneuresis,  and  the  urine  has  a  disagreeable 
odour. 

PiL  didcamara  1,  one  to  be  taken  one  hour  before  each 
meal. 

To  have  a  teaspoon  of  cod  oil  at  bed-time. 

Nov.  12.  Face  and  head  nearly  free  from  rash.  No 
fresh  symptom;  the  eneuresis  is  better;  the  bowels  are  now 
confined. 

PiL  mere,  soL  6,  1  n.  mqite. 


SSSSI'j^frS?*'  SKIN  DISEASE.  847 


,  June  1, 18B1. 


Nov.  27.  Much  better,  only  one  small  point  of  erap- 
tion  on  chest.    He  has  a  cough  with  wheezing. 

Beturn  to  dtUc.  1.     Continue  cod  oil. 

Dec.  11.  Better,  tiny  spot  on  chin ;  gets  three  stools  & 
week. 

Pil.  oL  croton.  12,  1  n.  mqu^. 

Dec.  25.     Quite  well. 

Comments :  This  was  an  aggravated  and  obstinate  caso 
of  a  loathsome  disease.  The  carbolic  dressing  removed, 
the  disease,  but  had  no  power  to  prevent  recurrence.  This 
could  only  be  effected  by  two  means,  viz. :  building  up  the 
constitution  by  means  of  milk,  cod  oil,  &c,  and  by  specific 
medication. 

I  have  found  croton  oil  of  great  service  in  impetigo  with 
intestinal  disturbances,  and  dulcamara  is  invaluable  in 
impetigo,  and  in  eczema  capitis  when  they  arise  in  pale- 
faced,  red-haired  children  with  feeble  glandular  system. 

Psoriasis. 

No.  2.  Mrs.  C.  F.  P.,  set.  28 ;  fair  complexion,  light 
hair;  resides  on  a  clay  soil.  The  only  disease  she  can 
recall  having  had  in  childhood  is  scarlatina  followed,  she 
thinks,  by  dropsy.  As  a  girl  she  was  well  and  strong,  the 
only  illness  being  an  occasional  quinsy;  she  does  not 
remember  being  laid  up  since  childhood.  Her  hair  has 
been  falling  for  the  past  twelve  months.  Has  recently  felt 
a  pain  in  the  right  side  in  the  corner  of  the  lateral 
cutaneous  branch  of  the  last  dorsal,  she  attributes  this 
pain  to  having  taken  cold.  As  a  rule  she  enjoys  equal 
spirits,  but  has  occasional  fits  of  depression.  She  is  prona 
to  dream,  and  is  readily  kept  awake  by  worry.  Gets 
fluttering  of  the  heart  after  excitement  as  well  as  after 
exertion.  Just  before  the  catamenia  she  is  subject  to> 
temporal  headache  (clavus),  much  increased  by  excitement* 
The  period  is  natural,  a  little  pain  perhaps  the  first  day, 
but  no  bearing  down  and  no  perceptible  leucorrhoea,  thougk 
she  feels  local  itching  sometimes.  Has  two  large  sebaceoua 
follicles  on  face.  No  tinnitus ;  no  toothache ;  she  eats, 
slowly  and  can  masticate  well;  the  tongue  is  natural;, 
no  flatulence;  no  nausea;  the  bowels  are  regular; 
no  pile,  and  no  kind  of  worm.  No  cough,  nor 
expectoration.  Arms  and  hands  (chiefly  left)  numb  or 
cramped  during  the  night  only.  When  fifteen  years 
and   six    months  old,  she   observed   some   white   scales 


848  SKIN  DISEASE.         ^^SSX^^SSHImS! 


appearing  on  the  elbows  and  knees.  She  was  taken  to 
the  late  Mr.  S.,  who  soon  snceeded  in  removing  the  raab. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-two,  however,  six  years  ago,  it  recnrred 
in  the  same  sites,  and  she  consulted  Mr.  E.  W.,  a  well- 
known  cutaneous  specialist.  This  time  the  eruption  hung 
about  a  much  longer  time ;  in  fact  it  was  nearly  half  a  year 
before  it  took  its  departure,  and  the  remedies  administered 
aflfected  her  health  very  injuriously.  With  regard  to  the 
remedies  employed  by  that  distinguished  dermatologist,  the 
lady  says  :  "  I  cannot  send  you  the  prescriptions,  having 
either  mislaid  or  destroyed  them.  I  remember  only  that 
arsenic  largely  figured  in  them.  He  increased  the  quantity 
of  the  drug  from  time  to  time,  whilst  I  was  under  his  care. 
I  had  to  use  it  carefully,  measuring  every  drop,  and,  if  I 
remember  aright,  took  the  mixture  after  each  meal.  I 
fancy  I  remained  under  Mr.  W.  about  three  months.  As 
regards  the  symptoms  felt  when  taking  Mr.  W.'s  medi- 
cines, at  first  with  the  smaJl  doses  of  arsenic,  I  felt  no  ill 
efiects  at  all,  but  as  the  quantity  was  increased,  after 
several  visits  I  began  to  lose  appetite  and  colowr,  and  at 
last,  when  the  spots  had  almost  disappeared  (it  was  a  very 
bad  attack,  much  worse  than  the  present  one),  I  was  vio- 
lently sick  for  some  days,  bringing  up  all  my  food,  wMch 
had  a  marked  green  tint  (arsenical  gastritis).  I  grew  quite 
thin,  the  ears  especially  looking  drawn,  and  the  eyes  glassy. 
My  friends  now  insisted  on  my  leaving  oflf  the  medicine.  I 
did  not  go  to  Mr.  W.  again,  for  the  spots  had  entirely 
disappeared." 

This  lady  has  given  us  a  very  graphic  picture  of 
arsenical  poisoning.  It  is  difficult  to  imagine  a  man  in 
his  senses  pushing  a  deadly  drug  to  such  extremes.  He 
certainly  cured  the  rash,  but  at  what  a  terrible  cost !  Six 
years  have  passed  away,  and  the  lady  writes  now :  "I 
have  never  repeated  the  prescriptions,  scarcely  indeed 
having  occasion,  for  the  spots  have  only  made  their 
appearance  (until  this  year)  in  the  spring  or  in  the 
autumn,  and  then  in  so  slight  a  degree  that  medical  advice 
did  not  seem  needful;  but,  since  taking  the  arsenic,  I 
have  found  my  nerves  weaker  than  they  had  ever  been 
before — ^I  mean  in  the  way  of  starting  violently  at  loud  or 
unexpected  sounds,  with  headache  and  throbbing  temples 
as  an  immediate  sequence." 

She  maiTied  at  the  age  of  27,  but  has  not  conceived. 
Twelve  months  after  her  marriage,  which  took  place  in 


ISaSS^^STSS!'  BMW  DISBASB. 849 

Febmary,  1880,  the  nsh  again  appeared,  this  time  on 
shonlders  and  thighs  as  well  as  on  elbows  and  knees.  She 
has  consulted  no  physician  till  she  sought  my  aid  on 
8th  March,  1881. 

Now  the  elbows,  the  shoulders,  the  neck,  and  the  knees 
are  covered  with  spots  of  psoriasis,  varying  in  size  from  a 
fiye-shilling  piece  down  to  a  pea. 

I  swabbed  the  follicular  throat  with  dcid  carboU 
1.80.  I  pierced  the  disfiguring  sebaceous  facial  follicles 
with  a  heated  Paquelin's  point,  and  gave  the  following 
prescription : — 

PU,  gylphuris  (p.  One  to  be  taken  dry  one  hour  before 
each  meal. 

Liq,  carb.  deterg.  iii.,  ung.  petrolei.  (VaaeUneJ  ly, 
to  be  applied  freely  to  the  spots  after  a  hot  bath  each 
night. 

Pil.  ignaUa  1  to  be  taken  frequently  when  a  prsB- 
menstrual  attack  of  clavus  is  dreaded. 

I  directed  a  highly  nutritious  dietary  to  be  observed, 
including  a  cup  of  hot  milk  between  meals,  also  a  teaspoon 
of  *'  perfected  "  cod  oil  at  bed-time. 

March  16.  No  change  in  the  appearance  of  the  rash, 
but  has  felt  less  itching  during  the  day ;  bowels  regular ; 
less  alopecia.  Has  not  found  much  benefit  from  the 
ignada  in  staving  off  the  temporal  pain. 

Bep.  omnia ;  increase  cod  oil  to  balf-an-ounce. 

March  80.     Still  no  improvement  in  eruption. 

Merc.  sol.  6,  ii  pilules  half-an-hour  before  each  meal. 
Apply  to  rash  oleate  of  mercury  (Squire)  instead  of  the 
Uq.  carbonis  detergens.    Continue  cod  oil. 

April  26.  Witii  the  exception  of  trifling,  tiny  scales  on 
neck  and  shoulders,  the  rash  has  gone.  Has  had  no 
headache. 

Bep.  mere.  soL  et  olectte.    Omit  cod  oil. 

Comments :  Though  this  rash  occupied  a  typical  syphi- 
litic site,  that  portion  of  the  nape  where  the  hairy  scalp 
terminates,  yet  it  was  evidently  a  non-specific  rash. 

Added  to  the  total  absence  of  a  syphilitic  history,  there 
was  not  the  faintest  trace  of  pharyngeal  scar ;  there  was  no 
eruption  on  the  forearms,  and  no  coppery  discolouration 
anywhere. 

With  regard  to  the  clinical  uses  to  which  we  should  put 
this  unintentional  proving  of  the  effect  of  arsenic  on  the 


860  SKIN  DISEASE.'  "S^^S??^. 


Beyitw,  June  1, 18B1. 


nervoas  system^  we  shonld  note  that  it  ongbt  to  proye 
especially  cnrative  in  ''throbbing  temporal  headache, 
aggravated  by  mental  excitement." 

EcZCTfld* 

No.  8.  Captain  E.,  SBt.  41.  Is  a  military  man,  tall 
and  athletic,  with  very  large  vital  organs  and  a  most 
mnscular  frame.    He  now  resides  in  Brittany. 

I  had  formerly  attended  his  father,  also  a  British  officer, 
for  varicosis,  occurring  with  some  obscure  gouty  symptoms. 

Captain  E.  has  had  slight  gonorrhoea,  but  never  con- 
tracted syphilis.  His  immunity  from  the  latter  disease 
cannot,  however,  be  attributed  to  prudence,  for  though  now 
deficient  in  sexual  power  he  has  led  what  is  known  as 
*^  a  fast  life."  Has  never  been  salivated.  Of  late  has  had 
a  great  deal  of  social  worry.  He  has  two  healthy  children 
perfectly  free  from  eruption. 

Twelve  years  ago  he  had  rheumatic  fever,  but  it  has  left 
no  apparent  disturbance  of  the  circulatory  system. 

Three  years  ago  he  was  bitten  on  the  left  knee  by  a  dog. 
Soon  after  he  observed  a  ''breaking  out"  on  the  knees, 
then  on  the  elbows. 

Two  years  ago,  when  at  Cannes,  the  eruption  appeared 
Tery  badly  in  the  head,  causing  much  scaling  of  the  scalp. 

Has  been  for  varying  times  uuder  the  usual  specialiste. 
Under  the  late  Dr.  T.  F.  for  eight  months,  under 
Mr.  E.  W.  during  six  months,  and  under  Dr.  W.  C.  for 
three  months,  with  very  unsatisfactory  results. 

His  lower  abdomen,  legs,  arms,  and  neck,  are  thickly 
<;overed  with  eczema,  and  now  present  a  most  painful 
appearance;  many  points  being  denuded  of  epidermis, 
covered  with  a  mixture  of  blood  and  serum.  He  has  lost 
three  nails  through  the  rash.  He  sleeps  badly,  does  not 
dream,  but  frequently  starts.  Changes  of  temperature 
irritate  the  skin  very  much.  On  retiring  to  bed,  at  first 
the  rash  begins  to  itch ;  on  rising  in  the  morning  he  is  in 
a  very  uncomfortable  sticky  condition,  he  has  a  great 
aversion  to  warm  clothing  at  this  time.  Symptoms  are 
greatly  intensified  by  dust.  There  is  no  sensible  perspira- 
tion ;  never  feels  giddy ;  memory  good ;  stuffing  of  ears  at 
times ;  no  thirst ;  mouth  natural ;  throat  sound ;  feels 
better  without  butcher's  meat;  teeth  are  in  good  order; 
liver  slightly  enlarged;  no  wind;  no  piles.  Sometimes 
leaves  the  bed,  but  the  bladder  is  natural :  often  a  sediment 


SSSS'S??*?^  8KIN  DISEASE.  851 


Beview,  Jane  1, 1881. 


of  lithates,  bat  no  uric  acid.    Has  a  slight  cold  and  congh. 
Has  not  taken  cod  oil  since  he  was  a  boy. 

To  feed  well :  plenty  of  fresh  fish,  bird,  &c.,  two  qnarts 
of  scalded  milk  a  day.  To  avoid  butcher's  meat,  salted 
articles,  tea,  coffee,  and  wine. 

Feb.  2,  1881.    PU,  copaiba  1,  ii  every  two  hours. 

lAq.  earb,  deterg.  5  ii.  vaseline  i  i.  apply  freely  each 
night.     Cod  oil  at  bedtime. 

"  Finisterre,  March  20. 

'^  I  have  to  make  a  most  favourable  report  of  my  health. 
My  neck  is  quite  well ;  sometimes  there  is  a  slight  irritation 
bat  very  seldom.  Arms  a  little  roagh,  but  there  are  no 
sore  places  on  them.  The  lower  part  ^stomach  and  groins 
quite  well,  Uight  leg  has  about  half  a  dozen  small  places, 
bat  the  skin  has  a  healthy  appearance.  Left  leg  is  sore  on 
inside  of  thigh  a  little,  and  rather  reddish.  The  calf  and 
knee  are  well.  I  awake  at  night  sometimes  with  a  sense  of 
discomfort  and  general  irritation,  but  very  little  actual 
itching.  If  I  am  bothered  about  anything,  the  feeling  of  irri- 
tation comes  on  by  day.  I  take  a  good  deal  of  preserved  fruit. 
I  have  eaten  very  little  meat,  a  good  deal  of  fish,  vegetables, 
eggs  and  chicken.  Except  one  cup  of  chocolate  in  the 
morning,  I  drink  nothing  but  milk.  I  have  taken  the 
pilules  {copaiba)  regularly,  but  not  the  cod  liver  oil,  as  a 
big  bottle  I  got  was  broken  on  the  journey.  My  spirits  are 
good,  my  bowels  regular,  I  can  walk  well,  and  now  con- 
stantly go  fishing,  &c.,  &c.  As  fftr  as  it  has  gone,  the 
remedies  have  done  me  more  good  than  I  have  received 
from  any  previous  treatment." 

March  25.  Pil  copaiba  1,  ii.  mane  nocteque,  Cod-oU  in 
gradually  increasing  quantities  at  bedtime.  Repeat  ung. 
carbonis, 

"  April  2ith. 

*^I  have  been  altogether  fairly  well.  I  had  one  bad 
attack  of  eruption,  commencing  with  the  usual  feeling  of 
uneasiness  and  heat.  I  quite  put  this  down  to  some  news 
I  got  which  troubled  me.  In  fact,  the  more  I  study  my 
isase,  the  more  I  see  how  it  is  affected  by  the  state  of  my 
mind.  This  attack  is  now  passing  off  without  the  use  of 
any  outward  application.  There  are  still  some  cracks 
ander  my  left  knee,  but  from  a  moist  state  it  soon  com- 
menced to  dry  up,  and  in  three  days  was  quite  desiccated. 
When  this  began  the  itching  and  general  irritation 
returned,  but  I  have  hardly  any  now.    If  I  suffer  from 


852  OBSTINATB  CONSTIPATION.  ^^^fj^SSTwau 

heat  and  discomfort,  it  is  nearly  always  in  the  morning, 
jast  when  I  have  dressed ;  very  rarely  indeed  at  night  now. 
I  have  eaten  yery  little  meat,  and  have  drank  nothing  bat 
milk  since  yon  last  wrote.  I  have  been  taking  cod  liver 
oil. 

''I  am  certfdnly  mnch  stronger*  and  imtil  this  last 
attack  came  on  I  have  been  fishing,  gardening,  driving, 
and  walking  regnlarly." 

April  28.     No  topical  treatment. 

Repeat  copaiba  1.     Omit  cod  oil. 

Conmients :  Aversion  to  batcher's  meat  is,  I  think,  so 
freqaently  based  on  some  good  physiological  reason,  that  I 
nsnally  hnmonr  it.  I  have  seen  sach  very  remarkable 
benefit  in  a  temporary  suspension  of  all  strong  forms  of 
animal  food,  that  I  cannot  doubt  the  wisdom  of  with- 
holding it. 

This  patient's  conviction  that  the  state  of  his  nervous 
system  had  much  to  say  to  his  rash,  is  interesting  in  con- 
nection with  modem  views  of  the  neurotic  origin  of  that 
dermic  catarrh,  which  we  call  '^  eczema." 

I  have,  in  another  place,  pointed  to  the  interesting 
coincidence  that  the  eozematous  remedies,  dtUc.^  sulph.f 
ars,,  mere.  J  copaiba,  and  others  are  essentially  our  catarrhal 
remedies. 


CASE  OF  OBSTINATE  CONSTIPATION. 

By  Dn.  A.  S.  Kennedy. 

Th2  following  case  I  have  deemed  worthy  of  notice  on 
account  of  two  or  three  interesting  points  which  it  brings 
out.  The  first,  is  the  way  in  which  constipation  is  fre- 
quently produced  in  young  children,  especially  girls ;  the 
second,  is  the  extreme  degree  of  constipation  which  may 
exist  without  incapacitating  the  patient  from  going  about 
the  daily  round  of  duty ;  and  the  third  is  the  rapidity,  so 
pleasant  to  the  young  practitioner,  with  which  the  case 
yielded  to  suitable  homoeopathic  remedies. 

Mary  S.,  eet.  12,  the  child  of  poor  parents,  going  to  a 
•Board  School,  has  for  s<xne  three  months  past  been 
troubled  with  constipation.  This  arose  in  the  outset  from 
the  habit,  formed  in  school,  of  repressing  the  inclination  to 
attend  to  the  call  of  nature;  often  going  a  whole  day 


£3Sfj^?r5SS?**  ABSBNIOAL  POISONING.  358 

withont  trying  to  relieve  the  bowels.  At  length,  a  period 
would  elapse  of  sometimes  four  days  or  a  week  between  the 
motions.  Pain  was  felt  in  the  abdomen,  which  began  to 
gettnmid  and  tender.  The  mother  administered  various 
soothing  compounds  of  salts  mixed  with  senna,  castor  oil 
in  large  doses,  and  finally,  a  whole  box  of  Mother  Some- 
body-or-other's  Purifying  Pills.  The  effect  of  this  mild 
persuasion,  though  doubtless  astonishing  at  the  time,  was 
but  temporary,  and,  before  bringing  the  child  to  me,  ten 
days  had  elapsed  without  any  motion.  The  condition  was 
now  serious ;  all  food  taken  was  vomited,  and  occasionally 
vomiting  of  dear  fluid  took  place,  brought  on  by  stooping 
forward.  Great  headache  and  languor  and  pain  in  the 
abdomen.  On  examination  externally,  the  colon  was 
found  distended,  and  large  masses  of  foeces  could  be  made 
oat.  The  child  could  scarcely  bear  to  be  touched,  and  her 
dress  had  been  considerably  let  out  to  accommodate  the 
distension. 

April  27th. — NtLx,  80,  2  pilules  every  night ;  Sidph.  80, 
2  pilules  every  morning. 

May  4th.— Considerable  improvement  since  last  time  ; 
instead  of  an  interval  of  ten  days,  the  patient  has  had  five 
motions  in  seven  days.  Abdomen  noticeably  diminished, 
and  less  tender.    Rep.  ambo. 

May  11th.  Much  better  to-day ;  child  states  that  she 
feels  all  right  again.  No  pain.  Swelling  and  hardness 
gone.     Six  motions  this  week.    Bep.  ambo. 

16,  Montpelier  Bow,  Blackheath. 

THBEE   CASES  OF  AESENICAL  POISONING. 

By  John  H.  Clabee,  M.D. 

ToUe  causam  is  a  maxim  which  scarcely  receives  fair  play 
at  the  hands  of  homoeopathists.  The  favourite  cry  of  our 
opponents,  we  feel  how  little  it  can  do  for  them  in  the 
matter  of  treatment  in  the  great  majority  of  cases,  and  we 
pity  their  helplessness.  The  cause  of  a  disease  is  so  often 
beyond  our  reach,  if  not  beyond  our  ken,  and  has  so  often 
ceased  to  have  any  active  connection  with  the  disease,  that 
we  who  have  remedies,  and  a  method  of  finding  them,  set 
about  the  work  of  removing  the  condition  before  us,  paying 
little  attention  to  the  circumstances  that  may  have  brought 
it  about.     And  generally  we  are  justified  by  the  result. 

No.  6,  Yol  So.  a  A 


364  AB8BNICAL  POISONING.  ^^^SL^xS!^'^ 


Beview,  June  1,  Iffil 


In  most  acute  diseases  it  is  impossible  to  discoyer  the 
cause,  and  when  it  is  possible,  to  trace  ont  the  connection 
between  this  and  the  result.  In  chronic  diseases  where 
the  matter  is  of  more  importance,  we  are  content  if  we  can 
form  some  general  notion  of  ''inherited  taint,"  ''mental 
strain,"  "  over-work,"  "  worry,"  etc.,  to  explain  what  we  see; 
and  with  onr  heads  full  of  "  totalities  of  symptoms,"  and 
similar  pathogeneses,  we  do  not  pursue  the  study  of  causes 
yery  far.  But  in  this  I  venture  to  say  we  are  unwise.  It 
may  be  that  in  the  great  majority  of  cases  it  is  either 
impossible  to  find  the  cause,  or  of  little  use  when  we  have 
found  it,  but  there  is  a  not  inconsiderable  minority  of  cases 
(which  we  do  not  think  it  worth  while  to  publish),  at  which 
we  have  been  firing  one  by  one,  or  one  i^r  another,  half 
the  remedies  in  the  Materia  Medica,  and  all  in  yain,  where 
aU  our  trouble,  and  much  of  our  patients',  might  have  been 
saved  by  an  accurate  diagnosis  of  the  cause  in  the  first 
instance. 

In  all  chronic  diseases  it  is  not  enough  to  diagnose  the 
present  state  and  the  right  remedy  to  cure  it,  but  it  is 
almost  equally  necessary  to  diagnose  accurately  the  cause 
that  has  brought  it  about,  and,  it  may  be,  is  keeping  it  up. 
However  difficult  it  may  be  to  get  at  the  true  history  of  a 
case  we  should  never  be  content  till  we  have  made  it  out  as 
clearly  as  it  is  possible  to  do.  The  richness  of  our  Materia 
Medica  constitutes  a  real  hindrance  to  us  in  this.  We 
choose  a  remedy  that  ought  to  cure,  and  if  it  fails  we  have 
another  to  fly  to  without  being  compelled  to  enquire 
particularly  into  the  cause  of  the  failure  of  the  first. 
Wherever  a  well-chosen  remedy  fails  to  do  for  us  what  it 
ought,  we  should,  before  setting  about  selecting  another, 
endeavour  to  find  the  reason  why  the  former  did  not  act. 

The  three  cases  I  am  about  to  put  on  record  are  an 
illustration  of  this.  Had  they  occurred  to  me  three  years 
ago,  before  I  had  become  aware  of  the  lavish  way  in  which 
arseuic  is  supplied  to  the  home's  of  England,  I  should 
doubtless  have  given  arsenic  in  each  case  as  a  remedy,  with 
the  result  of  making  them  all  worse.  This  would  have 
surprised  me,  but  nothing  daunted  I  should  have  gone  on 
prescribing  this  medicine  or  the  other,  varying  the  dilutions 
from  time  to  time,  and  should  doubtless  have  been  now 
and  again  deluded  by  partial  success.  For  it  is  often 
possible  to  relieve  the  sufferings  of  arsenical  poisoning  by 
similarly  acting  substances,  even  whilst  the  exposure  to 


^^S^^^^"^^  AB8ENI0AL  POISONING.  365 

arsenic  continnes.  But  this  is  rather  a  misfortune  than 
otherwise,  for  it  only  serves  to  conceal  the  source  of  the 
mischief  without  materially  affecting  the  course  of  the 
poisoning. 

The  first  two  cases  I  have  to  narrate  occurred  in  the 
same  house.  The  patients  were  mother  and  daughter. 
They  came  to  me  at  the  London  Homoeopathic  Hospital 
as  out-patients. 

March  19,  1881.  Mrs.  Hannah  K.,  55,  housewife,  dark, 
florid,  spare,  complains  as  follows : — She  has  pain  at  the 
epigastrium  of  a  scraping  character,  fulness  after  food, 
much  flatulence,  passing  both  upwards  and  downwards. 
She  has  great  weakness  and  faintness.  She  wakes  with 
burning  pain  in  the  bregmatic  region  of  the  head,  has  much 
pain  across  the  eyes,  and  burning  in  them.     Sight  dim. 

The  tongue  is  dirty  at  the  back;  bowels  confined; 
appetite  fair. 

The  conjunctivfiB  are  darkly  congested  in  their  lower  half. 
The  mucous  membrane  of  pharynx  is  dark.  The  gums  are 
healthy,  though  she  has  had  much  neuralgia  and  has  lost 
many  teeth.     She  has  been  ailing  a  long  time. 

On  enquiry  I  elicited  the  following  history.  The  family 
had  lived  in  their  present  house  eight  years.  They  had 
never  been  healthy  since  they  took  it.  AH  who  lived  in  it 
had  once  every  six  weeks  a  feverish  attack.  One  son  who 
had  left  home  had  not  had  an  attack  of  the  kind  since,  and 
had  been  quite  well.  Tbey  thought  it  might  be  due  to 
chemical  works  in  the  neighbourhood,  but  did  not  know  of 
any  of  their  neighbours  suffering  in  the  same  way.  All 
the  rooms  in  the  house  were  papered,  some  of  the  walls 
having  as  many  as  five  or  six  thicknesses. 

I  will  now  relate  the  other  case.  Annie  K — ,  26,  thin, 
pale,  dark,  unhealthy-looking,  says  she  is  suffering  much 
in  the  same  way  as  her  mother.  She  has  scraping  pain  at 
the  epigastrium  before  and  after  food,  much  flatulence, 
which  comes  upward,  disinclination  for  exertion,  at  times 
severe  faint  attacks. 

Tongue  thinly  coated  white,  bowels  regular,  appetite 
very  good,  catamenia  regular,  pulse  small  and  quicks  teeth 
and  gums  healthy,  phamyx  dark,  conjunctivsB  congested, 
sight  good. 

It  was  evident  to  ttie  that  both  these  patients  were 
suffering  from  the  safioe  cause,  and,  in  the  light  of  the 
history,  I  had  little  doubt  what  that  cause  was.    I  gave 


356  ABSENICAL  POISONING.  ^S^.^^^J^SSf 

them  both  carbo.  veg.  6,  one  drop  in  water  three  times  a 
day,  as  that  medicine  seemed  most  clearly  indicated  after 

Cardiac  weakness,  freqnent  fainting  or  tendency  to  fiednt, 
is  one  of  the  most  prominent  symptoms  of  arsenical 
poisoning  of  any  standing.  The  periodical  fever  occnrring 
regularly  every  six  weeks  is  a  feature  of  great  interest.  I 
was  much  struck  with  it,  because  I  had  never  met  with  it 
before,  but  had  been  told  of  it,  and  the  information  was 
volunteered  by  the  patient  herself  without  being  asked  for. 
It  was  mentioned  to  me  first  by  a  lady  who  has  done  more,, 
perhaps,  than  anyone  else,  directly  and  indirectly,  to  bring 
this  subject  before  the  public  and  the  profession,  but  who 
has  not  seen  fit  to  publish  her  name.  For  many  years  she 
Buffered  in  her  own  person  and  in  her  family  a  tale  of  mis- 
fortunes, almost  incredible,  from  this  same  cause,  and  being 
possessed  of  unusually  keen  and  accurate  powers  of  obser- 
vation, she  has  been  able  to  turn  her  misfortunes  to  good 
account.  Amongst  other  things,  she  told  me  that  she 
noticed  her  children,  at  the  time  they  were  suffering  from 
poisoning  from  their  nursery  paper,  used  to  become  much 
worse  every  six  weeks — an  exacerbation  occurring^  and 
then  subsiding. 

I  had  not  much  hope  of  the  carbo.  veg.  being  of  much 
service,  and  I  asked  the  patients  to  let  me  have  specimens 
of  all  the  papers  there  were  in  the  house.  The  majority  of 
them  were  arsenical,  some  were  very  bad,  and  there  was  no 
room  in  the  house  that  had  none.  Most  of  the  rooms  had 
several  arsenical  papers  pasted  one  over  the  other. 

But  somewhat  to  my  surprise,  each  of  the  patients  at 
the  fortnight's  end  was  very  much  better.  The  gastric 
trouble — the  chief  thing  complained  of — was  greatly 
relieved,  and  I  continued  the  medicine,  waiting  for  the 
time,  which  I  knew  must  come,  when  the  poison  should 
again  assert  its  ascendency.  The  reports  continued 
fjEtvourable  till  April  SOth,  when  the  mother  alone  appeared, 
saying  they  had  not  been  so  well,  had  had  an  attack  of 
the  fever.  This  is  her  account  of  the  attack: — ^During 
the  week  her  head  had  been  very  bad.  It  began  on  a 
triangular  patch  of  the  forehead,  the  point  of  the  triangle 
being  at  the  root  of  the  nose.  This  part  burned  and  was 
red,  and  the  burning  spread  all  over  the  head  and  was 
accompanied  with  smarting.  The  eyes  became  bad,  and 
she  got  into  a  state  of  burning  fever  all  over.    She  alwaya 


^SJ^jSI^mSl^   absbnioal  poisoning.  867 

wakes  with  a  bnnimg  pain  in  the  head^  and  is  so  weak  she 
can  hardly  dress  herself.  The  flatnlence  is  still  keeping 
^tter. 

The  daughter  was  also  much  worse  again. 

I  told  the  patient  this  was  nothing  more  than  I  expected, 

and  that  very  little  was  to  be  hoped  for  from  medicines.  If 

«he  were  to  get  ont  of  the  house,  or  get  the  house  put  into 

a  healthy  state,  she  would  find  herself  gradually  getting 

hetier,  and  cease  to  suffer,  as  her  son  had  done  who  had  left« 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  carbo  veg.  was  of  decided  service 
in  relieving  some  of  the  symptoms,  and  might  have  deluded 
me  with  the  idea  that  there  could  be  no  constantly  acting 
<$ause.  But  the  fact  that  the  health  generally  was  not 
improved  for  any  length  of  time  would  have  been  enough 
to  dispel  the  illusion.  The  fact  of  the  possibiUty  of 
relieving  the  sufferings  is  no  proof  that  arsenic  is  not  the 
oause. 

The  third  case  is  of  a  somewhat  different  kind,  but 
presenting  many  features  in  common  with  the  above. 
Edith  H.  P — ,  17>  living  at  home,  came  to  me  April  IGth, 
1881.  She  was  excessively  pale  and  ansamic,  nervous, 
fidgety, — almost  amounting  to  chorea.  She  was  rather 
small,  well-made,  delicate  features. 

She  complained  of  headache  on  waking  in  the  morning, 
aching  in  the  limbs,  sickness  after  eating,  tendency  to 
erysipelas  in  the  nose,  fainting  often  when  anything  startled 
her. 

Tongue  very  pale,  bowels  regular,  appetite  varies;  she 
is  fanciful ;  sleep  is  bad  in  the  early  part  of  the  night ; 
catamenia  came  on  at  14,  were  regular,  but  now  are  very 
scanty. 

On  enquiry  I  found  this  excessive  pallor  only  dated 
from  last  summer,  that  she  returned  from  school  last 
Christmas  twelve  months  in  very  good  health  and  with  a 
good  colour.  The  family  history  was  good.  One  sister 
who  lives  away  from  home  becomes  ill  and  loses  her  colour 
as  soon  as  she  comes  home  to  stay.  I  made  enquiries,  and 
asked  for  specimens  of  the  bedroom  and  sitting-room  ^all 
papers.  Both  of  them  I  found  to  be  highly  arsenical,  and 
they  had  been  up  all  the  time  the  patient  had  been  at 
home.  The  bedroom  paper  was  a  brownish-drab,  and  con- 
tained much  arsenic. 

I  gave  heTferrum  mur.  8x  three  times  a-day,  but  in  this 
case  there  was  no  improvement,  and  I  ordered  her  to  be 


358  REVIEWS.  "SSlL^SS??^ 


Beview,  June  1,  Iffil. 


sent  away  for  a  change,  telling  her  mother  either  to  get  ont 
of  the  house  or  to  get  the  poisonous  papers  remoTed. 

These  cases  speak  their  lesson  of  folk  causam  for  them- 
selves. There  is  scarcely  need  of  comment,  but  I  could 
give  it,  if  time  and  space  would  allow,  by  recording  cases 
of  the  same  kind  that  I  have  treated  unsuccessfully  for 
months  before  discovering  the  source  of  the  mischief. 
This  mention,  however,  must  serve  for  the  present. 

The  field  of  causation  is  a  large  one,  and  I  have 
instanced  arsenic,  as  that  occupies  a  large  share  of  it  at 
present,  and  loudly  calls  for  the  attention  of  the  profession; 
but  it  must  not  be  imagined  that  this  covers  the  whole 
field.  In  conclusion,  I  would  again  urge  the  necessity  in 
all  chronic  cases  of  accurately  diagnosing  the  cause,  being 
fully  persuaded  that  if  this  is  done  the  Petition  Committee 
of  the  British  Homoeopathic  Society  will  have  enough  and 
to  spare  of  the  evidence  it  asks  for. 

15,  St.  George's  Terrace, 

Gloucester  Boad,  S.W. 
May  9. 

REVIEWS. 

Useful  Hints,  to  aid  Workers  among  ike  Poor  and  Sick, 
Hamilton,  Adams  &  Co.     London. 

Tms  little  book  contains  a  collection  of  really  valuable  ioformatiGn 
in  an  easily  attainable  form,  suited  to  the  use  of  mothers,  nurses, 
and  district  visitors.  Many  of  the  recipes  for  invalid  diet  are 
given  in  a  way  that  renders  it  difficult  for  anyone  to  make 
mistakes.  Copious  directions  are  given  as  to  ventilation  of  sick 
rooms,  immediate  treatment  of  emergencies,  use  of  disinfectants, 
and  the  administration  of  various  baths  and  packs.  Instructions 
and  patterns  are  given  how  to  make  different  bandages,  and  the 
mode  of  their  application. 

One  good  point  in  this  little  manual  is,  that  when  mentioning 
any  special  domestic  appliance,  needed  in  a  hurry  sometimes, 
instead  of  vaguely  hinting  <<  that  it  may  be  easily  procured 
through  a  chemist  or  ironmonger,"  the  name  and  address  of  the 
firm  who  make  it  are  given. 

Interspersed  through  its  pages  are  a  number  of  rules  for  the 
treatment  of  various  diseases,  which  most  people,  less  ambitious, 
perhaps,  than  the  authoress,  would  be  inclined  to  leave  to  the 
care  and  discretion  of  a  medical  practitioner.  The  mistake  has 
been  made,  as  nearly  always  occurs  with  domestic  amateurs,  of 


I^^J^STSS^    MEETINGS  OF  SOCIETIES.  369 

fanejing  that  the  same  medicines  are  ad^ted  to  every  case  of 
any  given  aihnent.  For  instance,  in  the  treatment  of  measles, 
we  are  told  that  pulsatiUa  Iz  is  a  most  useful  medicine,  but  no 
mention  is  made  of  aconite.  Directions  also  are  given  for  cases 
of  suppressed  measles,  but  no  suggestion  is  made  of  the  desira- 
bility of  medical  aid.  Doses,  too,  should  be  more  defined.  In 
case  of  ulcers  of  the  eye  we  are  advised  to  take  '^  euphrana  (eye- 
bright),  small  doses,  and  bathe  the  eye  constantly  with  euphrasia 
tea  made  from  tbe  herb."  A  child  capable  of  carrying  out  the 
authoress*  directions  in  case  of  catching  fire,  would  be  well 
worth  exhibiting  as  a  marvel.  They  are  as  follows:  ''Every 
child  should  be  taught,  in  case  of  catching  ^e,  not  to  run  out  of 
the  room,  but  to  ring  the  bell  and  roll  a  table-cover  or  hearthrug 
round  itself."  Most  admirable  advice,  doubtless,  but  no  directions 
are  given  as  to  those  rooms  where  there  is  no  bell  or  necessary 
hearthrug.  It  would  need  a  cooler  head  than  a  child's  to  enable 
these  minute  directions  to  be  carried  out.  On  the  whole,  how- 
ever, the  manual  is  instructive,  and  suited  to  the  class  of  persons 
whom  it  is  designed  to  reach.  All  efforts  calculated  to  ameliorate 
the  condition  of  the  suffering  poor,  deserve  our  best  wishes. 


MEETINGS   OF   SOCIETIES. 


DINNER  TO  DR.  BAYES. 

On  the  27th  of  April,  a  dinner  was  given  to  Dr.  Bayes,  the 
honorary  secretary  of  the  London  School  of  Homoeopathy,  on 
the  occasion  of  his  leaving  London  for  Brighton,  at  the  Grosvenor 
Gallery,  Bond  Street,  by  a  number  of  medical  and  other  friends, 
desirous  of  recognising  the  services  he  has  rendered  in  developing 
homoeopathy.  The  chair  was  occupied  by  Dr.  Pope,  who  was 
supported  on  his  right  by  the  guest  of  the  evening,  on  his  left  by 
the  Earl  of  Denbigh.  The  vice-chair  was  filled  by  Major 
Vauohan-Mobgan.     There  were  also  present : — 

Dr.  Donald  Baynes  (Canterbury),  Dr.  Galley  Blackley 
(London),  Dr.  Edward  Blake  (London),  Dr.  Dyce  Brown 
(London),  Dr.  Burnett  (London),  Dr.  Burwood  (Ealing), 
W-  D.  Butcher,  Esq.  (Reading),  Dr.  Clarke  (Kensington),  Dr. 
Clifton  (Northampton),  Dr.  G.  Clifton  (Leicester),  Dr.  Collins 
(Leamington),  Dr.  Cooper  (London),  Dr.  Goldsboro(Camberwell), 
Dr.  Gardiner  Gould  (Eastbourne),  H.  Harris,  Esq.  (Camber- 
well),  Dr.  Hughes  (Brighton),  Dr.  Jagielski  (London),  Dr. 
Kennedy  (Bristol),  Dr.  Arthur  Kennedy  (Blackheath),  Dr. 
Matheson  (London),  Capt.  Maycock  (London),  D.  Noble,  Esq. 
(Southwark),  Dr.  Owens  (Leamington),  A.  R.  Pite,  Esq. 
(London),  Dr.  Ramsbotham  (Leeds),  F.  Rosher,  Esq.  (London), 


UEBTIN08  OF  SOCIETIES. 


Barinr.JmKl.UBl. 


Dr.  Roih  (London),  Dr.  ScriTsn  (London),  Dr.  Shav  (Haslingt), 
Dr.  lAoyA  Tnckey  (London),  Dr.  Thurlow  (London),  and  Dr. 
Woodgatea  (Reigate). 

The  dinner  was  excellenllj  Berved,  AAer  the  removal  of  the 
cloth,  the  Chaibmak,  in  proposing  the  first  toast,  said :  M;  Lord 
and  Gentlemen,  I  ask  jon  to  draik  to  the  health  of  Her  Most 
Gracious  Majesty  onr  Queen,  a  toast  which,  wherever  Enghsh- 
men  are  met  together,  has  ever  been,  and  I  trust  ever  will  be, 
received  with  geuoine  enthusiasm.  (Cheers.)  While  obedience 
to  a  Rojal  command  is,  under  anj  circnmstances,  a  national  dut^, 
onr  attachment  to  the  person  of  our  Sovereign  renders  a  cheer- 
ful and  ready  response  not  merely  a  duty,  but  an  honour  and  a 
pleaanre.  For  I  believe  the  fiiat  time  in  the  hiatoiy  of  onr 
profession  we  have,  however,  recently  witnessed  a  command  d 
tiiia  kind — a  command  by  Her  Majesty,  isened  to  two 
physicians,  to  go  to  the  succour  of  a  brilliant  and  illastnous 
stateamas — responded  to  bat  tardily  and  with  nndisguised  re- 
luctance ;  and  we  have  abo  seen  an  apology  offered,  and  excuses 
made,  for  having  rendered  that  obedience  before  a  Boyal — aye, 
a  Boyal  College  of  Physicians.  My  Lord  and  Gentlemen,  I  need 
not,  I  am  sure,  add  that  those  physicians  were  not  hom<eo- 
pathlsts.  (Lond  cheers.) 

The  toast  having  been  dnty  honoured,  the  Vicb-Chubhin. 

M^jor   W.   Vanghan- Morgan,  eeiA, — Mr.  Chairman,  My  Lord 

Denbigh,  and  Gentlemen,  the  nest  toast  to  he  proposed  Is  one 

which  will  always  be  popular.     As  Vice -Chairman,  I  have  to  ask 

you  to  cbai^e  your  glasses  and  drink  to  the  health  of  the  Prince 

of  Wales — (cheers) — a  toast  which  is  ever  received  by  all  classes 

with  the  warmest  feelings  of  admiration  and  praise.     Whether 

tbe  Prince  of  Wales  performs  bis  duties  as  head  of  the  great  Order 

of  Masonry,  or  the  duties  which  devolve  upon  him  in  connection 

"h  the  State,  he  is  always  willing  to  spend  bis  powers  for  tbe 

>lic  good.     (Hear,  hear.)     I  hardly  need  say  more  respecting 

i  Boyal  Highness  than  that  at  home  or  abroad,  whether  in 

ris  or  Vienna — in  iact,  in  every  partof  the  Continent,  all  kinds 

1  conditions  of  people  respect  and  admire  the  Prince  of  Walcf, 

(Those  health  we  have  now  the  honour  to  drink. 

The  toast  having  been  duly  honoured, 

Dr.  Pope  said  :  My  Lord  and  Gentlemen,  I  have  to  ask  yon 
w  to  join  me  in  drinking  very  cordially,  as  Englishmen  always 
to  the  Officers  and  Men  of  the  Army,  Navy,  and  Bea^re 
rces,  whose  readiness  and  courage  in  defending  tiie  institntioDS 
I  freedom  of  their  country  we  have  so  often  to  acknowledge. 
sk  yon  to  drink  this  toast  warmly,  and  couple  it  with  the 
ne  of  Mfuor  Wm.  Vaughan- Morgan.  (Loud  cheers). 
rhe  toast  having  been  drunk,  Miyor  Vauohah-Moeoan,  in  re- 
mding,  said:  Mr.  Chairman,  My  Lord  Denbigh,  and  Oenllemeo, 


bSSS^jS^^wS^  meetings  of  societies.  861 

I  could  very  mnch  have  wished  that  the  very  pleasant  task  of 

vesponding  to  this  toast  had  fallen  upon  some  one  more  worthy. 

I  am  not  ahle  to  say  much  from  personal  knowledge  of  those 

services  connected  with  the  navy,  my  experiences,  in  common  with 

many,  having  been  mainly  limited  to  the  Canard  line  and  those  little 

steamers  that  carry  ns  from  one  continent  to  another  in  snch 

comfort  and  Inxory.     There  is  still  a  great  deal  of  doubt  and 

misapprehension  on  the  subject  of  the  navy,  and  its  great 

efficiency  and  defensive  power  is  mnch  underrated.     The  fact  is 

yre  have  many  vessels  which  could  go  anywhere  and  do  anything  : 

while  in  its  entirety  the  strength  and  fighting  power  of  the  British 

navy  is  such  that  I  think  there  could  be  no  doubt  of  its  being 

able  to  cope  single-handed  with  the  whole  navies  of  the  world. 

(Loud  cheers.)    But  when  we  come  to  the  army,  and  especially 

the  reserve  forces,  then,  being  somewhat  of  a  specialist  in  the 

matter,  I  do  know  something  about  it.     I  gladly  take  the  oppor- 

tonity  to  contradict  the  assertions  of  croakers — some  of  them  old 

public  servants — asserting  that  the  army  is  going  down.     I  may 

say  that,  personally,  I  knew  that  the  British  forces  are  at  the 

present  time  in  a  better  position  than  ever  they  were,  and  also 

that,  as  of  old,  they  could  go  anywhere  and  do  anything.     The 

fears  entertained  and  expressed  by  the  Press  and  military  croakers 

about  the  present  system  of  short  service  are  quite  groundless. 

Coming  to  the  militia  and  reserve  forces — (cheers) — I  may  say 

that  the  militia  are  still,  as  they  used  to  be,  the  backbone  of  the 

English  military  system.     Everybody  knows  what  services  the 

militia  and  reserve  forces  rendered  in  the  Crimea — (cheers) — and 

now  with  the  volunteers — (hear,  hear) — ^there  can  be  no  doubt  that 

the  regular  army  could  on  an  emergency  be  supplemented  with 

something  like  a  quarter  of  a  million  of  men.     (Loud  applause.) 

It  is  due  to  the  memory  of  Lord  Beaconsfield  to  say  that,  to  him 

belongs  the  honour  of  first  showing  to  the  European  Powers  the 

military  resources  of  the  Empire  by  calling  out  a  contingent  of 

Her  Majesty's  Indian  Army.  (Loud  cheers.)    I  had  occasion  when 

in  India  to  judge  the  quiJity  of  the  Indian  soldier,  which  is  in 

every  respect  satisfactory.  A  finer  race  of  soldiers  than  the  Sikh 

«avaJry  I  never  saw.     On  behalf  of  Her  Majesty's  army,  the 

navy,  and  the  reserve  forces,  I  have  to  thank  you  for  the 

toast.    (Cheers). 

Dr.  Pope  :  My  Lord  and  Gentlemen,  there  is  a  toast  which  is 
never  neglected  whei'e  homoeopathic  physicians  are  assembled, 
and  this  toast  I  will  now  ask  Dr.  Burnett  to  propose. 

Dr.  BuBNETT :  Mr.  Chairman,  Lord  Denbigh,  and  Gentiemen, 
'we  cannot  meet  together  as  a  company  of  medical  men  without 
remembering  that  great  benefactor  of  the  human  race  to  whom 
we  owe  BO  much.  I  refer  to  Samuel  Hahnemann.  When  we 
get  up  in  the  morning,  and  think  what  we  can  best  do  during 


862  MEETINGS  OP  SOCIETIES.  ^SSii,5S??SS! 

the  day,  the  one  man  most  nsefnl  in  the  study  is  Hahnemiim; 
when  yon  go  ont  to  see  yonr  patients,  the  man  who  helps  yon 
most  is  Hahnemann ;  and  when  yon  come  home  to  yom:  con- 
sulting room,  the  help  you  want  is  the  help  you  get  from 
Hahnemann.  If  yon  are  ill  yourself,  and  in  douht  what  to  do, 
Hahnemann  tells  you.  If  your  children  are  iU,  Hahnemann 
helps  you  again.  All  day  long,  in  whatever  position  or  difficulty 
you  may,  in  the  exercise  of  your  profession,  find  yourself, 
Hahnemann  is  your  best  companion  and  guide.  And  although 
he  has  long  gone  over  to  the  majority,  he  still  helps  us  more  in 
the  practice  of  our  science  than  all  the  Jenners  and  Gulls — 
(laughter) — ^put  together.  The  grand  name  of  Hahnemann  ^is  as 
good  as  ever ;  and  for  his  benefactions  to  medical  science  and  to 
the  human  race  I  ask  you  to  drink  to  that  name  in  silence. 

The  Chairhan  then  said,  that  before  coming  to  the  principil 
business  of  the  evening,  he  could  hardly  do  better  than  make 
reference  to  absent  friends,  He  had  received  a  very  great 
number  of  letters  expressing  regret  that  their  friend  Dr.  Bayes, 
who  was  present — (great  cheering) — ^was  about  to  retire  from 
London,  and  that  the  writers  could  not  be  present  to  do  kim  honour 
on  that  occasion.  He  believed  that  the  expressions  of  those  letters 
were  but  a  reflex  of  the  opinions  of  homoeopathic  practitioners  and 
the  public  generally.  Dr.  Pope  then  read  extracts  from  letters 
received  from  Lord  Ebury,  Dr.  Bryce,  Dr.  Hayle,  Mr.  Holford, 
Mr.  Alan  E.  Ofaambre,  Dr.  Proctor,  Dr.  Pybum,  Dr.  Roche, 
Dr.  Scriven  (Dublin),  Dr.  Harmar  Smith,  Dr.  Blumberg, 
Dr.  Dalzell,  and  Dr.  Talbot  (of  Boston),  and  telegrams  which 
had  just  been  received  from  Dr.  Wheeler  (of  Clapton),  and 
Dr.  Williams  (of  Clifton),  regretting  their  inability  to  be 
present.  Now,  my  Lord  and  Gentlemen,  the  speaker  continued, 
I  have  to  ask  you  to  drink  a  bumper  toast  to  our  friend 
Dr.  Bayes.  ('Loud  cheers).  The  work  that  Dr.  Bayes  has 
accomplished  m  promoting  a  knowledge  of  homoeopathy  both 
within  and  without  the  profession  is  so  well  known  to  all  I 
have  the  honour  of  addressing  that  it  is  needless  for  me  to 
enlarge  upon  it  at  any  length. 

More  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  has  elapsed  since  Dr.  Bayes 
became  convinced  that  the  therapeutic  discoveries  of  Samuel 
Hahnemann  placed  a  power  in  the  hands  of  the  physician 
greater  and  more  fruitful  of  good  results  in  cure-work  than 
those  of  any  physician  throughout  the  ages  that  have  past  had 
done,  greater  also  than  those  of  any  observer  of  our  own  time. 
Dr.  Bayes  had  not  contented  himself  with  a  superficial  know- 
ledge of  homoeopathy,  still  less  with  being  a  mere  reputed 
homoeopath.  (Laughter.)  Having  formed  a  high  estimate  of 
the  value  of  homoeopathy,  and  feeling  a  proportionate  respon- 
sibility in  possessing  a  knowledge  of  it,  he  has,  throughout  his 


S^J^^MM^"*  MEETINGS  OF  SOCIETIES-  368 

professional  career,  left  no  stone  untamed  to  teach  homoeo- 
pathy to  others.  As  a  contributor  to  our  periodical  literatctre, 
as  an  author  of  separate  publications,  and  still  more  prominently 
as  the  initiator  of  carefufly-devised  plans  for  the  deyelopment  of 
homoeopathy,  Dr.  Bayes  has  ever  talen  a  prominent  position  as 
a  homoeopathic  physician.  (Applause.)  Thus,  it  has  not 
simply  been  the  useful  and  personally  adyantageous  role  of  a» 
sucoesaful  physician  that  he  has  performed,  but  it  has  been  by 
the  far  more  laborious  and  more  worrying,  the  personally  pro- 
fitless and  too  often  thankless  task  of  undertaking  public  work 
for  the  pubUc  weal,  that  he  has  distinguished  himself.  It  has 
been  by  this  that  he  has  made  his  name  known,  his  character 
respected  wherever  earnest  efforts  are  being  made  to  render 
homoeopathy  more  widely  and  more  thoroughly  known.  (Hear, 
hear).  It  has  been  by  work  of  this  kind  that  he  has  laid  himself 
under  obligations  to  all  who  with  him  desire  to  see  every 
physician,  both  here  and  elsewhere,  practically  appreciate  the 
value  of  Hahnemann's  discoveries.  This  is  the  work  we  are 
here  to-night  to  acknowledge.  (Cheers).  We  do  so  on  this 
occasion  in  an  address,  and  by  presenting  him  with  an  album 
containing  our  photographic  portraits  ;  but  I  trust,  my  lord  and 
gentlemen,  that  we  shall  to-night,  each  and  all  of  us,  resolve  to 
do  much  more  than  this.  Imitation  is  said  to  be  the  sincerest 
form  of  flattery.  Let  us  then,  each  of  us,  imitate  Dr.  Bayes,  to 
the  best  of  our  several  abilities  and  in  our  several  spheres,  in 
earnest  and  united  efforts,  to  increase  a  knowledge  of  homoeo- 
pathy. Our  acknowledgment  of  his  services  would  be  a  very 
hollow  afGedr  indeed  were  we  not  to  include  in  it  a  determination 
to  sustain  and  increase  the  efficiency  of  the  London  School  of 
Homoeopathy,  the  existence  of  which  we  owe  to  him.  I  ask  you 
then,  gentlemen,  to  give  to  that  institution  your  earnest  support 
in  the  future.  In  ^e  report  of  last  year's  work,  a  scheme  is 
shadowed  forth  for  that  re-constitution  which  the  lapse  of  time 
has  rendered  necessary.  That  scheme  appears,  to  those  who  are 
responsible  for  its  details,  to  be  the  one  best  adapted  to  the 
wants  of  homoeopathy.  At  the  same  time  it  may,  like  all  other 
human  devices,  be  susceptible  of  improvement,  of  being  altered 
with  advantage  to  homoeopathy.  The  committee  of  the  school 
will,  I  am  sure,  be  heartily  glad  of  any  suggestions  which  may 
tend  to  its  improvement,  and  will  fully  consider  them  before 
the  meeting  in  October  at  which  the  final  decision  is  to  be 
arrived  at.  That  committee  will,  I  am  sure,  do  nothing  which 
is  in  any  way  calculated  to  weaken  the  usefulness  of  the  school 
in  any  direction  whatever.  They  are  determined  that  it  shall 
not  die  out  either  suddenly  or  gradually.  Therefore,  any 
suggestions  offered  solely  in  the  interests  of  homoeopathy  will  be 
most  gratefully  received — while  yon  may  rely  upon  it,  those  which 


tJ64  MEETINGB  OF  80CIKTIB8.  "SSS^.^^?i!mm! 

-appear  to-be  made  only  in  the  interests  of  indiyidnals  will  be 
disregarded.  (Applause.)  Those  of  ns  who  have  the  honour  and 
responsibility  of  lecturing  are  determined  to  exert  ourselves  to 
ihe  utmost  to  render  it  successful,  and  to  make  it  the  cradle  of 
future  British  homoeopaths,  and  of  well-instructed  homoeo- 
paths, and  I  think  we  can  do  it.  My  opinion  that  we 
can  is  based  upon  the  examination  papers  sent  in  by  Drs.  Moir 
^nd  Thurlow  in  competition  for  the  prize  so  generously  given  by 
Dr.  Bayes  at  the  conclusion  of  each  winter  session  for  the 
student  who  passes  the  best  examination  in  Materia  Medica  and 
Practical  Medicine.  These  papers  were  excellent,  and  would 
have  done  credit  to  many  homoeopathic  practitioners  of  consider- 
able experience.  They  showed,  moreover,  both  in  manner  and 
indeed  in  phraseology,  that  the  lectures  had  been  listened  to 
with  great  attention  and  obvious  interest.  I  need  not  say  how 
gratifying  this  was  to  the  lecturers.     (Cheers.) 

I  ask  you  then,  gentlemen,  to  support  Dr.  Bayes  and  those 
"who  are  united  witib  him  in  developing  the  London  School  of 
Homoeopathy.  I  ask  you,  in  this  way,  to  give  practical  expres- 
-sion  to  the  sentiments  which  have  brought  you  here  to-night. 
I  referred  just  now  to  an  Album  and  an  Address,  and  before  I 
formally  call  upon  you  to  drink  to  the  toast  I  have  proposed,  I 
will  present  you,  Dr.  Bayes,  in  the  name  of  your  coUeagoes, 
with  this  album,  in  which  you  will  find  the  portraits  of  many  of 
those  who  desire  to  take  this  opportunity  of  acknowledging  your 
great  services  to  homoeopathy,  and  will  read  to  you  the  address 
in  which  they  desire  to  express  their  feelings. 

The  Chaibman  then  read  the  following  Address,  which  was 
signed  by  between  sixty  and  seventy  medical  men  : — 

**  London,  AprU.  27th,  1881. 

<<  Dear  Dr.  Bayes, — ^A  number  of  your  professional  brethren, 
together  with  others  who  have  watched  with  much  interest  the 
persevering  efforts  you  have  made,  during  many  years,  to  extend 
^  knowledge  of  homoeopathy,  both  throughout  the  profession  of 
medicine  and  among  the  public,  desire,  on  the  eve  of  your 
removal  from  London,  to  express  to  you  the  strong  sense  they 
entertain  of  the  value  of  the  work  you  have  accomplished,  the 
undaunted  energy  you  have  displayed  in  its  performance,  and 
the  thoroughly  disinterested  motives  by  which  you  have  ever 
been  actuated  in  devoting  yourself  to  the  propagation  of  the 
principles  of  homoeopathy. 

*'  In  laying  the  foundations  of  an  Institution  for  the  public 
teaching  of  homoeopathy  (The  London  School  of  Homoeopathy) 
you  have  earned  a  full  title  to  the  gratitude  of  all  who  appreeiate 
the  value  of  the  therapeutics  of  the  school  of  Hahnemann.  The 
^ork  you  have  done  in  this  direction  has  been  arduous,  at  times 


l£S5?f  J^STSr*  MEETINGS  OP  SOCIETIBS.  865 

* 

we  fear  that  it  may  have  been  attended  with  some  diaconrage* 
ment,  bat  it  must  be  a  satisfaction  to  you  to  feel  that  it  has 
aehieTed  a  measure  of  8ucce9S,  which  there  is  every  reason  to- 
hope  and  believe  will  be  largely  added  to  in  the  future. 

«Yoar  exertions  directed  to  increasing  the  prosperity,  and 
adding  to  the  usefulness  of  the  London  Homoeopathic  Hospital^ 
have  been  rewarded  by  a  most  appreciable  increase  in  ita 
revenues,  and,  we  believe,  in  its  usefulness  as  a  field  for  the 
praetioal  study  of  homoeopathy. 

**In  these  and  in  other  ways  you  have  rendered  essential 
services  to  the  progress  of  scientific  medicine — services  which  we 
desire  on  this  occasion  publicly  to  acknowledge. 

'*  While  regretting  deeply  the  loss  which  we  shall  sustain  by 
your  removal  from  London,  we  trust  that,  with  renewed  health,, 
both  the  Institution  which  you  have  founded,  and  that  which  yoa 
have  fostered,  will  continue  for  many  years  to  come  to  derive 
advantage  firom  your  energy,  enthusiasm,  and  intimate  acquaint- 
ance wiUi  their  requirements." 

The  health  of  Dr.  Bayes  was  then  drunk  with  every  expression 
of  the  warmest  feeling. 

Dr.  Bavxs,  ^ho  on  rising  was  received  with  loud  and  prolonged 
applause,  said  that  he  fdt  it  quite  impossible  to  adequately 
exprecm  his  sense  of  the  honour  they  had  done  him  or  the  kind 
words  they  had  spoken  of  him.  Their  cordial  appreciation  was 
far  beyond  the  deserts  of  anything  he  had  been  able  to  do  in  the 
cause  they  had  so  much  at  heart.  He  was  obUged  to  throw 
himself  on  their  sympathy,  for  the  statement  that  he  was  retiring 
from  London  practice  in  consequence  of  failing  health  was  no 
mere  excuse.  It  had  been  said  by  Buffon  that  the  cause  of  death 
of  a  large  number  of  the  human  species  was  worry  and  disap- 
pointment. In  the  work  which  he  had  undertaken  he  had  had  a 
large  share  of  both,  and  this  had  really  afiected  his  health.  He 
had,  therefore,  to  ask  them  to  allow  him  to  read  his  reply  to  the 
address.  But  he  would  preface  that  reply  by  stating  that  in 
Persia  it  was  regarded  as  the  greatest  compUment  to  be  allowed 
to  look  upon  the  countenance  of  the  Shah.  In  like  manner  he 
would  assure  them  that  he  felt  rewarded  and  supported  by  being 
privileged  to  gaze  upon  the  countenances  of  his  friends  on  that 


Db.  Batss  then  read  as  follows  : — 

«  Mr.  Chairman,  my  Lord,  and  Gentlemen,  the  Address  with 
whieh,  out  of  the  goodness  and  warmth  of  your  hearts,  you  have 
presented  me  this  evening,  the  greatly-prized  and  most  welcome 
gift  of  your  photographed  countenances  with  which  you  have 
asaoeiated  it,  and  the  handsome  and  noble  banquet  by  which  yoa 
have  bound  these  evidences  of  your  goodwill  together,  over- 
whehn  me  with  gratitude  and  thankfalness.     All  these  pleasant 


366  MEETINGS  OP  SOCIETIES.  ^S^ijf^SMi^ 

things  are  far  more  than  I  deserve  or  even  dared  to  desire  in 
return  for  the  work  I  have  heen  enabled  to  do  for  the  common 
good.  I  feel  humbled  by  the  consideration  of  my  own  short- 
comings, and  of  your  too  great  appreciation  of  my  small  effort ; 
but  I  receive  your  many  giflts  fuU  of  gratitude,  And  they  will 
.  encourage  me  to  further  perseverance. 

'*  This  auspicious  occasion  resembles  the  ceremony  of  laying 
the  foundation-stone  of  a  future .  building  (as  you  say  in  your 
address),  which  may  become  a  permanent  school  for  the  practical 
and  theoretical  teaching  of  homoeopathic  science,  rather  than  the 
ceremony  of  rejoicing  at  the  completion  of  a  finished  structure. 
We  have  met  with  many  difficulties  in  obtaining  a  seenre 
foundation,  but  I  trust  we  have  at  last  overcome  them,  and  that 
we  have  succeeded,  as  it  were,  in  blasting  a  foundation  out  of 
the  solid  rock.  We  are  about  to  lay  the  comer-stone  to-night 
of  a  super-structure  which  shall  be  devoted  to  scientific  progress 
in  medicine. 

**  It  is  usual  to  deposit  many  things,  such  as  coins,  &c.,  under 
the  foundation  stones  of  public  buildings,  to  show  to  future 
generations   the   age  when  the  buildings  were    erected.       In 
founding  the  school  of  the  future,  let  us  bury  beneath  its  corner- 
stone the  differences  which  have  hitherto  hindered  us,  and,  by 
the    permanence  of   our  institution,   let  us  trust  that  these 
differences   may  never  again   see  the  light.       Differences  of 
opinion  exist  everywhere,  and  especially  congregate  where  men*8 
minds  are  most  active.     Activity  means  life.     Active-minded 
men  think,  and  plan,  and  attempt  to  carry  out  their  plans. 
Then  arise  other  active-minded  men,  who  think  they  could  have 
done  better,  and  so  form  an  opposition.      What  is  an  oppo- 
sition ?     In  the  first  place,  opposition  pre -supposes  an  interest 
in  the  thing  opposed.     It  has  been  well  said  that  the  opposite  to 
'  love '  is  not  '  hate,'  but  *  indifference,'  for  hate  shows  that  an 
interest  is  felt  in  the  person  hated,  whereas  indifference  shows 
an   utter  disregard   to  him   and  his  feelings.      Difference  of 
opinion,  when  expressed,  brings  out  further  thought  and  excites 
self-criticism  of  their  work  in  those  who  have  actively  engaged 
their  minds  in  it.     It  is  useful  to  every  work  that  it  should  be 
severely  criticised.     It  enhances  its  perfection.     Friends  may 
well  overlook  blots  which  opponents,  who  are  actively  looking  for 
defects,   readily  see   and  point  out.     Hence,  opponents  may 
unintentionally  be  among  our  best  Mends.      We,  as  homoeo- 
paths, have  met  and  still  do  meet  with  an  opposition  outside  our 
ranks  which,  though  hard  to  bear>  has  really  been  sent  in  God's 
good  providence  to  force  upon  us  a  more  careful  examination 
into  the  truth  of  the  principle  sinUlia  nmUUms  curantuTy  than 
we  should  have  given  it  had  there  been  no  criticising  opposition. 
Like  a  high  wind,  opposition  winnows  the  wheat  firom  tiie  chaff; 


SSSSJfjSJiTSf*'*  MEETINGS  OF  SOCIETIES.  367 

therefore,  geniiemen,  however  unpleasant  the  stormy  winds  of 
opposition  are,  they  have  their  uses.  We  of  the  school  party 
have  not  escaped  them.  We  mnst  not  murmur  at  the  stormy 
wind  which  hlows  away  and  scatters  weak  friends,  weak 
principles,  and  weak  arguments.  We  should  rather  rejoice,  for 
when  the  chaff  is  hlown  away,  the  solid  wheat  remains  to  follow 
its  nnimpeded  course  of  fructification. 

'<  Architects  tell  us  that  the  strength  of  a  hridge  only  equals 
that  of  its  weakest  part,  that  the  strength  of  a  chain  only  equals 
that  of  its  weakest  link^  and  to  a  great  extent  this  comparison 
holds  good  as  to  weak  supporters ;  we  are  hetter  rid  of  them. 
Some  of  the  opponents  of  the  school  have  based  their  opposi- 
ticm  on  their  idea  of  the  impossibility  of  its  success.  I  recently 
read  in  Lord  Clyde's  Life  (by  Shadwell)  that  he  wrote  this 
motto  (translation  from  the  (rerman)  on  his  note-book : — *  By 
means  of  patience,  common  sense,  and  time,  impossibilities 
become  possible.'  Let  me  commend  this  motto  to  our  feeble- 
kneed  opponents.  I  might  push  the  illustration  of  this  great 
trath  to  its  extreme  limit.  I  might  say,  the  possible  may 
become  probable  ;  and  the  probable,  by  a  little  further  exercise 
of  determination,  may  become  transformed  into  a  certainty  of 
success. 

*'  I  am  now  going  to  venture  on  very  delicate  ground. 

'*  Some  of  my  friends,  I  am  told,  have  been  scared  by  what 
they  choose  to  term  my  Radical  tendencies.  Now,  I  freely  con- 
fess to  you  all  that  in  one  sense  I  glory  in  being  a  Radical ;  I 
like  to  go  to  the  root  of  a  matter.  Hahnemann  was  a  Radical 
in  this  sense.  He  saw  that  allopathic  medicine  was  erroneous 
in  theory  and  dangerous  in  practice,  and  in  place  of  lopping  off 
a  few  Inranches  and  curtailing  the  unhealthy  luxuriance  of  the 
allopathic  upas  tree,  he  struck  at  its  roots,  in  the  minds  of  his 
followers,  and  uprooted  and  overturned  the  whole  tree  of  error 
within  them.  In  this  sense,  gentlemen,  every  one  of  Hahne- 
mann's true  followers  is  a  Radical*  We  must  cease  to  do  evil 
before  we  can  learn  to  do  well.  I  lately  read  in  the  diary  of  a  de- 
ceased clergyman  this  definition  of  the  three  great  political  parties : 
*  Toryism — ^regret  for  the  past.'  *  Conservatism — content  with 
the  present.*  *  Radicalism — belief  in  the  future.'  Again,  in 
this  sense,  I  am  a  Radical. 

**  What  is  the  root  of  the  present  matter  ?  What  is  the  raison 
d*etre  of  our  school  ?  It  is  that  the  lay  element  of  homoeopathy 
has  increased  far  beyond  the  professional ;  that  consequently 
everywhere  arouAd  us  we  see  our  sheep  without  a  shepherd. 
Towns  with  20,000,  40,000,  nay  50,000  and  even  100,000 
people,  a  very  large  and  influential  section  of  whose  inhabitants 
are  homodopaths,  have  no  homoeopathic  medical  aid  within  a 
reasonable  distance.      It  is  to  correct  this,  it  is  to  provide 


868  MEETINGS  OP  SOCIETIES,  ^SSil^™??^ 


Beview,  June  1, 18B1. 


skilled  bomceopathio  medical  aid  that  onr  school  has  beeik 
founded.  We  are  not  contented  with  the  orthodox,  maddled,, 
medical  practice  of  the  present  day,  but,  gentlemen,  with  all  my 
heart,  I  want  you  to  beheve  in  the  future  of  progreiisiT» 
medicine. 

'*  I  cannot  conceive  any  other  future  in  medicine  than  its  ex- 
tension in  the  direction  of  homoeopathy  as  the  natural  result 
of  the  accumulated  investigations  of  scientific  research.  The 
revelation  through  the  microscope  of  the  powers  of  infinitesi' 
mal  forces  tend  towards  the  extension  of  the  pharmacody- 
namics of  Hahnemann ;  but,  again,  we  must  fall  back  on 
'  Patience,  Common  Sense,  and  Time.*  The  medical  Toryism 
of  the  past  is  not  easily  overcome.  From  the  earliest  time  ^ere 
has  been,  in  men*s  minds,  a  tendency  to  worship  the  material* 
A  conflict  between  the  worship  of  idols  and  spiritual  worship 
has  been  waged  throughout  the  world's  history.  We  are  only 
fighting  the  old  battle  that  has  raged  ever  since,  in  PhaUic 
worship,  the  boys  and  girls  and  women  and  men  of  pre-historie 
times  danced  roxmd,  and  feU  down,  in  adoration  of  the  erect 
pole — a  worship  still  traceable  in  the  may-pole  of  the  villiige- 
green,  and  in  the  attitude  of  the  allopaths  who  may  be  said  to 
fail  down  and  worship  pestle  and  mortar,  pill  and  draught. 
They  are  surrounded  by  evidences  of  the  power  of  infinitesmuJ 
and  malignant  influences  in  a  diflusion  of  small-pox,  seaikt 
fever,  measles,  and  other  pestilences.  Yet  they  refuse  to 
recognise  the  power  of  beneficent  infinitesimal  inflaences  to 
cure  or  prevent  disease.  When  the  life  of  an  ex-Premier  lately 
hung  in  the  balance  on  what  did  his  existence  depend  ?  On 
there  being  an  east  or  a  west  wind.  Yet  by  what  test  can  a 
a  man  of  science  analyse  an  east  wind,  or  point  out  in  what 
resides !  its  deadly  power  ?  It  remains  for  the  men  of  our 
Homoeopathic  School  to  demonstrate  these  things. 

'*  All  who  are  here  met  together  are  men  of  progress,  so  far  as 
medicine  is  concerned.  We  form  the  party  of  progress.  We 
have  begun  to  march  forward,  after  an  indefinite  time  of  waiting, 
for  the  opening  of  the  gates  of  the  allopathic  mind.  We  can 
wait  no  longer.  If  we  cannot  obtain  the  means  of  giving 
homoeopathic  instruction  within  the  recognised  schools,  we  must 
found  and  carry  out  one  of  our  own.  To  do  this,  requires  not 
only  money,  but  the  active  help  of  all  who  prize  the  benefits  of 
homoeopathic  treatment.  If  we  cannot  obtain  full  Hberty  for  the 
practising  and  teaching  of  homoeopathy  within  the  established 
schools  and  hospitals,  we  must  found  schools  and  hospitals  of  our 
own,  on  a  sufficient  scale  to  instruct  students  of  our  own,  on 
terms  of  equality  with  those  of  other  licensing  and  teaching 
bodies.  If  we  cannot  obtain  fraternity,  let  us  at  least  assure  to 
ourselves  liberty  and  equality. 


ISSSl^j^?rS^  MBBTINaB  OP  BOCIBTIBB.  869 

"I  am  told  I  havealanned  certain  of  my  friendB  by  the 
magnitnde  of  the  sum  which  I  have  deemed  requisite  for 
carrying  oat  the  scholastic  and  hospital  requirements  of  this 
iksheme.  Some  call  me  a  '  good  beggar/  and  excuse  themselyes 
for  their  own  want  of  material  contributions  to  homoeopathio 
institutions  by  the  opposite  assertion  that  they  are  not  <  good 
beggars.'  I  fireely  confess  that  I  am  wUUng  to  beg  in  so  good  a 
cause,  and  am  not  ashamed,  I  would  even  join  the  Llamas  of 
Thibet,  and  set  up  praying  wheels,  and  send  praying  horses 
flying  oyer  the  country  on  every  wind,  could  I  only  obtain  the 
mm  I  require  by  so  doing.  In  our  country,  advertisements 
occupy  the  same  place  as  do  the  praying  horses  in  Thibet,  on 
which  are  written  the  blessings  desired  by  the  Llamas.  What 
we  desire  we  mtist  ask  for.  Asking  is  the  foundation  of  every 
-prayer.  Some  professional  men  seem  to  consider  that  there  is 
something  derogatory  to  professional  dignity  in  advertising  the 
names  of  the  professors  in  medical  s<^ools  and  the  medical 
officers  attached  to  public  hospitals.  I  can  only  say  to  such 
gentiemen  that  I  admire  their  '  patience,'  but  I  cannot  admire 
their  '  common  sense.'  Every  successful  hospital  and  school  in 
our  country  advertises  itself  and  its  professors  and  teachers 
largely.  Why  are  we  to  be  debarred  from  such  means  of 
necessary  publicity,  and  to  bury  ourselves  in  oblivion  ?  I  may 
be  permitted  shortly  to  recapitulate,  and  to  show  the  work  which 
has  been  done  during  the  four  years  of  our  school's  existence. 

**  We  have  formed  a  Materia  Medica  Museum  by  the  labours  of 
Dr.  Blackley,  through  whose  exertions  we  have  also  formed  a 
«mall  but  useful  library.  We  have  subsidised  lecturers,  who 
have  delivered  from  70  to  80  lectures  on  the  Principles  and 
Practice  of  HomcBopathy  in  each  year,  and  during  the  same 
period  a  similar  number  of  lectures  have  been  delivered  on  Materia 
Medica.  Good  instruction  has  been  given  within  the  hospital 
by  competent  teachers,  and  about  or  rather  more  than  twenty- 
^ve  medical  men  have  passed  through  our  courses  of  lectures 
with  great  credit  to  themselves.  Snudl  though  these  numbers 
appear,  we  must  remember  the  difficulties  which  surround  the 
establishment  of  a  new  institution,  and  we  must  hope  that  by 
*  patience '  and  '  time,'  the  School  of  Homoeopathy,  as  it  becomes 
better  known,  will  receive  increased  support.  To  tiiose  who  have 
so  willingly  and  so  well  worked  with  me,  through  evil  report  and 
good  report,  I  feel  sure  I  may  tender  your  warmest  thanks  as  well 
as  my  own ;  and  I  feel  confident  that  the  time  will  come  when 
every  member  of  the  British  homcBopathic  body  will  award  full 
meed  of  praise  to  these  active  pioneers  in  the  direction  of 
iiomoeopatliic  instruction. 

«  Meanwhile,  I  must  ask  you  to  join  with  me  in  giving  due 
thanks,  for  their  invaluable  assistance,  to  Lord  Ebury,  our  noble 

No.  6,  Vol.  25.  3  B 


870  MEETINaS  OP  8O0IBTIB8.   ^'ffi.^SJilfiS! 

President,  Major  Yanghan-Morgan,  our  Treasurer,  and  the 
members  of  onr  Committee  and  Council,  for  their  labours  have 
been  many  and  earnest ;  neither  must  we  forget  our  Lecturers 
and  Teadbers,  and  our  Secretary,  Captain  Maycock.  My  owr 
duties  have  been  much  lightened  by  the  active  and  willing  co- 
operation of  all  these  gentlemen,  who  well  merit  the  hearty 
thanks  which  all  earnest-minded  men  among  the  homoeopathic 
section  of  the  public  and  profession  are  ready  to  give  them." 

Dr.  Bayes  resumed  his  seat  amid  loud  and  long-continued 
cheers. 

Dr.  Clabee  then  said  that  it  was  with  very  great  pleasure 
he  rose  to  propose  a  toast — <*The  London  HomoBopathic 
Hospital."  He  commenced  his  acquaintance  with  the  hospital 
four  years  ago  as  house-surgeon,  and  he  had  had  in  that 
capacity  great  opportunities  of  knowing  its  value  as  a  clinical 
school  and  as  a  school  for  the  training  of  nurses.  Dr.  Clarke 
then  spoke  of  the  importance  of  the  School  of  Homoeopathy, 
and  remarked  that  it  was  not  in  his  power  to  say  how  maeh  was 
due  to  the  guest  of  the  evening  for  his  great  efforts  in  the  cause 
of  homoeopathy,  but  he  might  be  permitted  to  testify  to  the 
sympathy  he  had  always  shown  for  young  practitioners.  He  had 
great  pleasure  in  asking  them  to  dnnk  to  ''  The  London 
Homoeopathic  Hospital,"  coupling  with  the  toast  the  name  of 
Major  Yaughan-Morgan. 

Major  Yauosan-Mobgan,  in  replying  on  behalf  of  the  hospital, 
said :  I  am  called  upon  to  respond  to  your  kind  toast  as  treasurer 
of  our  hospital.  In  that  capacity  it  is  my  pleasing  duty  to  state 
that  the  homoeopathic  hospital  is  at  the  present  time,  financially, 
and  structurally,  in  a  better  condition  than  ever  it  was  in  the  whole 
course  of  its  existence.  (Cheers).  Its  sanitary  condition  is  actually 
perfect  in  a  scientific  point  of  view,  but,  in  addition  to  v^ 
valuable  alterations  and  improvements  in  the  drainage  system, 
we  have  just  constructed  what  I  may  call  a  '*  sanitary  ward," 
that  is,  a  ward  for  the  proper  isolation  of  nurses  who  have 
returned  from  patients  recovering  from  infectious  diseases.  In 
addition  we  have  re-decorated  it  in  a  very  agreeable  way,  and  now 
it  is  certainly  well  worth  a  visit  of  inspection.  I  have  mentioned 
the  hospital  to  homoeopathic  physicians  in  all  parts  of  the  world, 
and*  I  find  that  information  about  it  is  always  received  with 
interest.  In  a  few  days  we  shall  be  having  our  annual  meeting, 
and  nothing  would  please  the  board  of  management  better  than 
to  see  on  that  occasion  a  large  gathering  of  the  homoeopathic 
medical  men.  The  speaker  then  read  various  quotations  from 
the  draft  report  of  tibe  hospital,  of  which  a  copy  had  been 
sent  to  him,  and  went  on  to  say  that  the  invested  funds  of  the 
hospital,  if  the  amount  invested  on  behalf  of  the  hospital  from 
the  legacy  of  the  late  Dr.  Quin  be  included,  would  amount  to 


B^Jj^?:^^"  MEETINGS  OF  SOCIETIES.  371 

about  Jg20,0G0,  while  the  income  had  during  the  past  few 
years  very  sensibly  increased — (cheers) — ^the  subscriptions  alone 
being  very  nearly  double,  notwithstanding  the  loss  of  the 
munificent  annual  subscription  formerly  paid  by  the  school. 
The  speaker  then  went  on  to  say  that  he  particularly  wished  to 
draw  the  attention  of  the  medical  profession  to  the  {aicilities  now 
existing  for  nursing  private  patients.  He  felt  perfect  security  in 
saying  that  the  nurses  were  as  good  as  could  be  obtained.  He 
had  heard  from  all  kinds  of  professional  sources  of  the  estimation 
in  which  they  were  held.  I  regard  the  hospital,  continued  the 
speaker,  in  the  light  of  a  missionary  hospital.  lif  it  is  looked  at 
simply  as  a  hospital  for  the  medical  treatment  of  the  sick  poor, 
then  I  can  ui^e  little  reason  for  its  existence  more  than  I  could 
for  St.  George's.  But  educational  opportunites  were  advantageous 
— (hear,  hear) — and  that  was  the  reason  why  Dr.  Bayes  and 
those  members  of  the  medical  profession,  who  took  action  with 
him  in  founding  a  school  in  co-operation  with  the  hospital,  had 
felt  it  so  necessary  that  the  work  should  be  begun.  I  have  now 
to  thank  you  very  much  for  the  kind  way  in  which  you  have 
received  the  toast  of  the  London  Homceopathic  Hospital,  and  I 
hope  all  those  medical  men  who  have  not  lately  been  to  the 
hospital  will  go  over  it  and  see  for  themselves  its  improved  con- 
dition ;  and,  I  will  only  add,  that  if  they  see  any  points  which  do 
not  meet  their  views  they  have  only  to  intimate  them  to  the 
board  of  management,  who,  I  may  safely  say,  will  be  only  too 
glad  to  carry  out  any  really  good  suggestions. 

Lord  Denbigh,  who  was  received  with  cheers,  then  said: 
Dr.  Pope  and  Gentlemen,  it  is  with  very  great  pleasure  that  I 
find  myself  here  in  this  goodly  company  of  homoeopaths,  and  I 
think  it  very  fortunate  that  I  have  been  in  town  to  pay  respect 
to  Dr.  Bayes  on  this  occasion.  I  have  been  a  homoeopath  ever 
since  I  was  a  boy  at  Eton,  now  some  forty  years  ago^(oheer8)— 
and  having  long  felt  it  a  duty  to  interest  myself  in  methods  for 
the  relief  of  suffering,  I  have  found  that  the  practice  of  homoeo- 
pathy is  the  only  rational  treatment  of  disease.  (Cheers*) 
Becently  I  have  had  some  plain  examples  of  the  methods  of  old- 
school  medicine  in  my  own  experience.  A  brother  of  mine 
having  just  had  a  rather  severe  attack  of  illness,  and  no  homoeo- 
pathic doctor  being  near,  we  were  obliged  to  rely  upon  an 
old-school  practitioner,  who  administered  according  to  the  old 
traditions,  I  only  being  able  to  slip  in  a  little  homoeopathy 
where  I  could.  His  progress  was  exceedingly  slow;  but  I 
revenged  myself  by  telling  the  medical  attendant  that  if  the 
patient  had  been  under  a  homoeopathic  doctor  he  would  have 
been  better  in  half  the  time.  Of  Uie  general  ignorance  of  the 
public,  as  to  the  actual  nature  of  homoeopathy,  we  have,  I  think, 
had  some  striking  instances  in  the  papers  lately.    Still  I  think 

2b^2 


372  MEETINGS  OP  BOCIETIEB.  ^^^wf^STJan! 

the  correspondence  in  the  Timet  which  has  amnsed  us  bo  nmch — 
(laughter) — ^will  do  good,  for  it  certainly  calls  the  attention  of  the 
pnhfic  to  the  great  question  of  the  worth  of  homcBOpathy.  But 
the  amount  of  ignorance  as  to  the  true  nature  of  homoeopathie 
doctrines  has  been  most  extraordinary — (hear,  hear)^6ti]l  the 
result  must  be  beneficial,  as  attention  is  thereby  called  to 
homoeopathy,  and  enquiries  are  made.  We  have  met  here 
this  evening  to  show  respect  to  one  of  the  best  friends  of 
homoeopathy — (cheers) — one  whose  goodwill,  and  energy,  and 
zeal  have  done  much  to  remove  obstacles  standing  in  the  way  of 
homoeopathic  science.  (Applause).  I  trust  that  in  the  same 
way  any  difficulties  appearing  in  the  way  of  the  school  may 
disappear.  The  noble  lord  then  went  on  to  speak  of  the  great 
interest  he  took  in  new  medical  discoveries,  especially  many 
relating  to  the  treatment  of  cancer,  of  which  he  had  seen  some 
noteworthy  cases  at  the  hospital  in  Osnaburgh  Street.  The 
noble  lord  concluded  by  proposing  as  a  toast  the  London  School 
of  Homoeopathy. 

The  toast  having  been  duly  honoured,  Dr.  Dyos  Bbown 
thanked  the  assembly  for  the  very  kind  manner  in  which  they 
had  responded  to  the  toast — ^The  London  School  of  Homoeopathy, 
for  which  they  were  all  indebted  to  their  genial  friend,  Dr.  Bayes. 
That  institution  had  to  contend  against  very  great  difficulties, 
and  considering  that  it  had  not  been  in  existence  more  than  four 
years,  it  certaloly  had  not  been  unsuccessful,  especially  when 
its  peculiar  relation  to  other  hospitals  was  borne  in  mind. 
Students  had  their  own  work  at  their  own  hospitals  to  get  throu^, 
and  it  would  be  only  those  whose  interest  was  very  much 
excited  in  the  subject  of  homoeopathy  who  would  take  the  extia 
work  of  attending  courses  of  lectures  and  clinical  instmcticm  at 
another  hospital.  That  being  so,  it  was  to  be  expected  that  the 
number  of  students  would  be  small.  With  their  own  hosptal 
course  to  attend  to,  and  the  preparation  for  their  examinations, 
there  could  be  no  wonder  that  comparatively  few  men  attended 
the  lectures  while  they  were  students.  Then,  when  they  got 
their  diplomas,  they  go  away  as  soon  as  they  can  into  practice, 
and  so  cannot  attend  our  lectures.  Looking  at  these  foots,  the 
school  has  not  been  unsuccessful  with  its  twenty  or  thirty  names 
of  students  attending  the  lectures,  and  so  the  four  years  of  its 
existence  cannot  be  said  to  have  borne  no  fruit.  With  r^ard  to 
the  scheme  already  mentioned,  it  was  a  scheme  which  well- 
wishers  of  the  school  ought  to  approve.  It  provided  for  the 
continuance  of  the  work.  Indeed,  Dr.  Pope  and  himself  had 
decided,  if  it  were  found  difficult  to  remunerate  them  for  their 
services  that  they  would  continue  their  lectures  without  salary— 
(applause) — and  so  carry  on  what  they  believed  to  be  a  necessazy 
and  a  good  work. 


SSrtS^/Stwa!^  MEETINaS  OF  SOCIETIES.  878 

Dr.  Both  said  that,  at  that  advanced  hoar,  he  would  not 
detain  the  company  by  any  lengthened  remarks,  bnt  the  duty 
had  been  imposed  upon  him  to  call  attention  to  the  Intemational 
Gongrefis  to  be  held  in  the  present  year,  and  to  urge  them  to 
appear  in  large  numbers  and  give  a  hearty  welcome  to  their 
American  and  Continental  ccmfreres.  In  connection  with  that 
Congress,  he  had  intended  to  mention  the  name  of  the  President, 
bat  as  Dr.  Haghes  had  been  obliged  to  leave,  he  would  call  upon 
Dr.  Jagielski  to  respond. 

Dr.  Jagielski  remarked  that  he  would  much  rather  that  the 
duty  of  responding  to  this  call  had  fallen  upon  Dr.  Hughes,  but 
as  he  had  been  obliged  to  leave  early,  it  gave  him  (the  speaker) 
the  opportunity  of  saying  how  highly  he  estimated  his  gifts.  He 
had  attended  Dt.  Hughes's  lectures,  and  could  testify  to  the 
great  knowledge  and  mastery  of  science  displayed  in  them. 
(Cheers).  He  was  a  man  eminently  fitted  to  occupy  a 
professorial  chair. 

Dr.  CoopEB  then  proposed  as  a  toast  the  gentlemen  on  whom 
the  great  burden  of  the  work  of  organising  the  dinner  to  Dr. 
Bayes  had  fallen,  namely,  Dr.  Blackley  and  Dr.  Kennedy.     He 
was  sure  that  the  thanks  of  the  meeting  were  due  to  those 
gentlemen  for  the  very  able  and  energetic  manner  in  which  they 
had  exerted  themselves.    (Applause).    As  to  their  friend,  Dr. 
Bayes,  he  was  justly  entitled  to  a  foremost  place  among  medical 
reformers.     In  fact,  the  high  chturacter  of  his  work  was  shown 
by  that  very  occasion,  for  in  England  every  great  work  must 
either  begin  or  end  with  a  dinner — (laughter) — a  method  which 
certainly  had  the  advantage  of  creating  a  cordial  feeling  among 
its  promoters.     No  one  among  their  brethren  was  more  worthy 
of  honour  than  Dr.  Bayes.    (Applause).     When  he  (the  speaker) 
first  came  to  London,  he  called  on  Dr.  Bayes  who  made  him 
most  welcome  to  his  house,  and  gave  him  advice  which  had 
proved  most  valuable  to  him.     He  would  not  easily  forget  the 
hearty  maimer  in  which  Dr.  Bayes  had  extended  to  him  the  right 
hand  of  fellowship.     There  was  no  ill-will,  no  jealousy,  nothing 
but  kindness.    (Loud  cheers).    Now,  it  was  a  delicate  point  to 
touch  upon  the  great  opposition  which  Dr.  Bayes  had  encoun- 
tered in  a  work  ^r  which  he  really  deserved  all  praise.  (Cheers). 
It  had  even  been  said  that  he  had  been  seeking  his  own  interest. 
("  No,  no.**)  Well,  that  was  ahbel.  (Loud  cheers).  There  was  an 
old  saying  that  the  more  the  moon  shines  the  more  the  dogs 
bark.   (Much  laughter).  Well,  there  could  be  no  doubt  that  there 
had  been  some  very  loud  barking  here.     He  (the  speaker)  con- 
cluded by  saying  that  he  hoped  the  younger  men  in  the  profession 
would  profit  by  the  example  Dr.  Bayes  had  set  them — (hear,  hear) 
— ^and  would  follow  it  strenuously,  energetically,  and,  he  trusted, 
as  saccessfoUy.    (Applause). 


874  HOTABIUA.  "S^^SMf. 

Dr.  Blackley,  in  acknowledging  the  toast,  said  he  conld 
entirely  bear  oat  what  had  been  remarked  by  Dr.  Cooper  as  to 
the  readiness  of  Dr.  Bayes  at  all  times  to  give  the  wisest  advice 
and  the  kindest  assistance  to  his  yonnger  brethren.  He  had 
himself  gone  to  Dr.  Bayes  for  advice,  and  had  much  reason  to 
thank  him  for  his  wise  and  practical  counsel. 

Dr.  Eenmedt  also  thanked  the  company  for  the  kind  and 
appreciative  manner  in  which  they  had  responded  to  the  toast, 
and  desired  to  add  his  testimony  to  the  miiform  kindness  of 
Dr.  Bayes  in  his  position  at  the  top  of  the  professional  tree  to 
those  of  his  brethren  who  were  just  ascending  the  lower 
branches. 

Dr.  Matheson  said  that  he  conld  most  cordially  endorse  all 
that  had  been  said  in  favour  of  Dr.  Bayes.  He  had  for  a  long 
time  been  very  closely  associated  with  him,  and,  whatever  some 
might  have  said,  he  could  testify  that  if  Dr.  Bayes  had  any 
wickedness  in  him,  he  (Dr.  Matheson)  had  never  been  able  to 
discover  it.  But  he  rose  at  that  late  hour  to  propose  the  health 
of  the  Chairman,  and  to  offer  him  the  thanks  of  his  brethren 
for  his  vivacity,  his  eloquence,  and  the  powerful  speech  witb 
which  he  had  favoured  tiiem.  The  toast  was  honoured  with 
enthusiasm. 

Dr.  Pope  said  he  thanked  them  extremely  for  the  cordiality  of 
their  toast.  The  proceedings  that  evening  had  given  him 
sincere  gratification,  especially  as  he,  as  well  as  others,  had  felt 
that  it  would  have  been  a  lasting  disgrace  to  them  to  have 
allowed  Dr.  Bayes  to  leave  London  without  some  slight  token  of 
their  sense  of  the  work  he  had  accomplished,  and  an  expression 
of  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held. 

Thanks  were  then  tendered  by  Dr.  Burnett  to  Lord  Denbigh 
for  his  kindness  in  giving  them  the  encouragement  of  his 
presence,  and,  after  a  few  remarks  from  his  lordship,  the 
company  dispersed. 


NOTABILIA, 


THE  "  TIMES "  AND  HOMCEOPATHY. 

It  will  be  within  the  recollection  of  our  readers  that  in  the 
Times  of  last  Good  Friday  a  letter  appeared  on  the  subject 
of  homoeopathy,  displaying  the  usual  amount  of  ignorance 
characteristic  of  its  opponents  and  the  ordinary  misrepresenta- 
tion  of  the  motives  and  practice  of  those  who  acknowledge  their 
faith  in  it,  to  which  we  have  been  so  long  accustomed.  This 
letter  was  fully  replied  to  by  several  homoeopathic  physicians  in 


SiS!S*Ssr«?*         NOTABou.  876 


Bsriew,  June  1, 1881. 


the  paper  of  the  following  day,  and  in  that  of  Easter  Monday. 
The  Times  correspondent,  however,  made  certain  charges  against 
the  character  and  bona  fides  of  homoeopathic  physicians  which 
the  British  Homoeopathic  Society  felt  onght  to  he  met  in  an 
aathoritatiye  manner,  and  should  not  be  merely  left  to  be 
repudiated  by  individual  practitioners,  however  well  known  and 
respected  they  might  be. 

At  the  first  ordinary  meeting  of  the  society,  which  occurred 
after  the  publication  of  this  correspondence  (Thursday,  May  5th,) 
Dr.  EEamilton  and  Mr.  Cameron  moved  for  and  obtained  the 
appointment  of  a  committee  to  draw  up  resolutions  bearing  upon 
this  point  to  be  submitted  to  an  extraordinary  meeting  of  the 
society.  This  latter  meeting,  at  which  an  unusually  large 
number  of  members  attended,  took  place  on  the  12th  ult.  Of 
this  the  following  report  was  drawn  up  and  signed  by  the 
President  and  Secretary  on  behalf  of  the  society,  and  by  him 
sent  to  the  Times  for  pubhcation. 

Its  insertion  was,  we  regret  to  state,  befused  : — 

**  A9  extraordinary  meeting  of  the  British  Homoeopathic  Society 
— ^a  society  consisting  exclusively  of  duly  qualified  and  regis- 
tered members  of  the  medical  profession — ^was  held  on  Thursday 
the  12th  inst.  to  receive  the  report  of  a  committee  appointed  at 
the  ordinary  meeting  on  the  5th,  to  take  into  consideration 
certain  passages  in  two  letters  published  in  the  Times  newspaper 
by  '*  a  correspondent,"  since  the  previous  ordinary  meeting, 
Tiz.,  on  the  15th  and  18th  of  April. 

The  following  are  the  passages  referred  to  : — 

**  The  regular  practitioners  maintain  that  there  are  no  homoe- 
opaths, and  that  the  whole  system  has  died  out  some  yeturs  ago. 
Tliey  maintain  that  those  who  now  call  themselves  homoeopaths 
do  not  differ  from  ordinary  practitioners  in  anything  but  in 
making  a  profession  of  pursuing  a  particular  method  of  treat- 
ment which  as  a  fact  they  do  not  pursue,  and  that  the  question 
is  not  one  of  science  at  all,  but  simply  one  of  morals.  *  *  *  * 
The  followers  of  Hahnemann,  on  the  other  hand,  have  been  con- 
tent to  seek  a  short  cut  to  remunerative  practice  by  ministering 
to  the  ignorant  credulity  of  the  vulgar  ridi.*' 

The  following  resolutions  regarding  these  statements  were 
agreed  to  nem.  con, : — 

*'  That  from  the  structure  and  wording  of  the  letters  referred 
to,  it  being  evident  that  the  writer  is  a  medical  man,  the  British 
Homoeopathic  Society  deeply  regrets  that  any  member  of  the 
medical  profession  should  have  been  found  capable  of  so  reck- 
lessly imputing  dishonest  conduct  to  his  professional  brethren  as 
this  correspondent  has  done. 


376  uoTABiUA.  "SS&Srr?^ 


Beview,  June  1«  IfiBl. 


"  That  the  members  of  the  British  Homoeopathic  Sodetj^nrfaiie 
Hot  feeling  the  occasion  to  be  one  on  which  they  are  called  upon 
to  defend  the  scientific  character  of  their  therapenties,  desire  tOi 
protest  against  the  statements  contained  in  the  foregoing  extracts 
as  utterly  nnfomided  in  fact  and  impossible  of  jnstificatLon. 

'*  Signed  on  behalf  of  the  British  Homoeopathic  Society, 

*'  S.  Yeldham,  President, 

'*  RiCHABD  Hughes,  Hon.  Sec." 


THE  THIRD  ANNUAL  DRAMATIC  PERFORMANCE 

IN  AID  OF  THE  FUNDS  OF  THE 

LONDON    HOMCEOPATHIC    HOSPITAL. 

This  Entertainment  took  place,  on  the  19th  May,  at  St.  George's 
Hall,  before  a  distinguished  and  highly  appreciative  audience. 
At  the  last  moment,  we  understand,  it  was  found  that  the 
Princess  Mary  Adelaide,  who  had  graciously  intimated  an  inten- 
tion  to  honour  the  performance  with  her  presence,  would  be 
unable  to  be  present ;  but,  with  this  exception,  the  patrons  of 
the  hospital  were  represented.  Any  performance  by  the  Ama- 
teur Company  known  as  the  "  Thalians  **  is  sure  to  be  a 
histrionic  success,  and  any  effort  for  the  good  of  the  hospital, 
conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the  energetic  Official  Manager^ 
is  pretty  certain  to  be  satisfactory  in  its  financial  aspects.  The 
performance  commenced  with  a  comedietta,  by  Herman  Merivale, 
entitled  '*  Six  Months  Ago,"  in  which  Ediom  Bliss,  the  husband 
satiated  by  the  monotony  of  love  in  a  cottage — which,  by  the 
way,  seemed  a  very  charming  cottage  indeed — ^was  capitally 
represented  by  Captain  W.  Conyers  d'Arcy,  and  the  pretty  wife, 
whose  affection  and  devotion  begin  to  pall  from  lack  of  variety, 
was  effectively  represented  by  Mrs.  Conyers  d'Arcy.  The 
languor  and  non-chalance  of  the  husband,  and  the  passionate 
jealousy  of  the  beautiful  wife,  produced  some  very  effective 
scenes.  The  piece-de-resistance  of  the  evening  was  the  comedy 
of  '*  Alone,**  by  Palgrave  Simpson  and  Herman  Merivale,  and  a 
I  more  touching  story  more  touchingly  rendered  it  has  seldom 

I  fallen  to  our  lot  to  see.     Colonel  ChaUice,  a  blind  man,  whoea 

I  natural  irascibility  and  acrimony,  stimulated  by  his  affliction, 

,  hide  a  warm  and  generous  heart,  and  whose  horror  of  the 

presence  of  woman — the  result  of  the  cruel  elopement  of  his 
I  daughter  when  a  school  girl — hides  a  chivalrous  tenderness  to 

the  sex,  is  discovered  living  in  retirement,  with  no  society  but 
that  of  an  irrespressible  toady,  Stratten  Stirauless,  his  medical 


S5££fto?g%g^  soTABnjA. 877 

adviser.    Dr.  IGchlethwaite,     and  Mrs.   Thornton,  the    only 
womaD  who  dares  approach  him,  and  the  only  person  who  really 
knows  how  to  manage  him.     The  plot  is  simple,  hut  pathetic 
in  the  extreme.     Mrs.  Thornton,  after  much  diplomacy,  intro* 
duces,  to  read  to  the  colonel,  a  young  girl,  Maud  Trevor,  whose 
sudden  affection  for  him,  and  whose  emotion  in  his  presence 
soon  discover  her  to  he  his  exiled  daughter.     Her  advent  is 
almost  contemporaneous  with  that  of  a  Captain  Cameron,  tho 
lover    with   whom    she    left    school,  and    a  series    of    very 
touching  scenes  and  episodes  follow ;  one  of  the  most  exciting 
heing  at  the  end  of   the  second  act,  when  the  presence   of 
Captain  Cameron  is  accidentally  discovered  by  the  blind  Colonel, 
who  contrives  to  seize  him,  and  is  about  to  take  revenge  upon 
him    when    Mrs.   Thornton,  Dr.  Micklethwaite  and   Stratten 
Strauless .  opportunely  appear  and  prevent  mischief.      In  the 
third  act  everything  becomes  clearer,  especially  the  Colonel's 
eyesight,  which  is  restored  under  the  skilful  treatment  of  Dr. 
Micklethwaite.      It  transpires  that  the  escape  of  the  ColoneFs 
daughter  from  school  was  a  plot  of  a  wicked  and  jealous  school- 
fellow, and  the  repudiation  of  her  father,  which  exiled  her  for 
years,  to  have  been  quite  unjust.     Then  follows  a  reconciliation, 
the  utter  discomfiture  of  Stratten  Strauless,  and  a  pretty  love 
scene  between  Mrs.  Thornton  and  Dr.  Micklethwaite,  who  of 
coarse   marry.      The  acting  of  Mr.   Fourdrinier,   as   Colonel 
Challice,  seemed  to  us  perfect,  almost  too  painfully  real  in  its 
faithful  presentment  of  a  terrible  affliction.       Captain  Conyera 
d'Arcy  was  equally  good  as  the  genial,  skilful,  and  kind-hearted 
physician.   Miss  Bosa  Kenney  displayed  complete  familiarity  with 
stage  business,  and  played  her  somewhat  difficult  role  with  good 
taste  and  adequate  effect.     Mrs.  Conyers  d'Arcy  played  with  her 
usual  eclat  as  the  spirited,  energetic,  and  self-willed  Mrs.  Thorn- 
ton. The  performance  concluded  with  '^  A  Husband  in  Clover,"  tho 
husband  being  well  played  by  Mr.  H.  Walliss,  and  the  SBsthetia 
and  jealous  wife,  to  the  huge  merriment  of  the  audience,  by 
Miss  Lucy  Boche.     The  band  was  composed  of  amateurs,  under 
the  direction  of  Mr.  A.  Dean.    One  of  the  features  of  (he  evening 
was  the  programme,  printed  in  very  old  style,  such  a  bill  as  may 
be  seen  in  the  British  Museum,  bearing  the  stiff  announcements 
of  "  Mr.  David  Garrick  "  or  "  Mr.  Qnin.'*    As  to  the  pecuniary 
results,  Mr.  Alan  E.  Chambre,  in  the  dual  character  of  '*  Officied 
Manager  of    the  Hospital  *'   and   "  Honorary  Secretary    and 
Treasurer  of  the  *  Thalian '  Amateur  Company,"  announced  that 
the  proceeds  of  the  evening  amounted  to  £110,  being  £5  in 
advance  of  the  proceeds  of  the  performance  in  1880,  and  £dO 
in  advance  of  the  proceeds  in  1879,  a  statement  which  waa 
received  with  cheers. 


878 


NOTABILIA. 


Month  iy  HJOBtnBfljwMB 
Bevicnr,  Juab  i,  V&SL. 


LIST  OP  SUBSCRIBERS  TO  THE  INTERNATIONAL 
HOMCEOPATHIC  CONVENTION. 


£    B.  d. 


Dr.'A.  P.  Andenon 1 

Br.  Bajes 2 

Br.  Baynes   

Br.  William  BeU 

Br.  Black  

Br.  Charles  Blackley  

Br.  Edward  Blake   

Br.  J.G.Blake 

Br.  Blumberg  , 

Br.  Blyth 

Br.  Bodman , 

Br.  Bradahaw  , 

Br.  Brooks    , 

Br.  Byce  Brown  , 

Br.  Samuel  Brown , 

Br.  Buck  

Br.  BnrDett  , 

Br.  Bnrwood , 

Br.  Batcher  

Mr.  Cameron    

Br.  Carfrae  , 

Br.  Cash   

Br.  Chalmers    

Br.  Clare 

Br.  Clarke 

Br.  A.  Clifton 

Br.  GhBorge  Clifton  , 

Br.  Collins    

Br.  Cooper    

Br.  Cronin    

Br.  Croneher    

Br.  Bizon 

Br.  Brury 

Br.  Brysdale 

Br.  Bndgeon 

Br.  W.  Ford  Bdgelow 

Ifr.  Engail 

Br.  Epps  

Br,  Flint  

Br.  Galloway    

Br.  Goldsbrongh 

Br.  Gonld 

Br.  GuinesB 

Br.Hale 

Br.  E.Hall  

Br.  Hamilton   

Br.  Harris 

Br.  Hawkes 

Dr.  Hayle 

Br.  Hayward    

Br.  Hewan    

Br.  Hughes  

Br.  Samnel  Kennedy  

Br.  William  Kenne^ 

Br.  Ker 

Br.  M'Hwraith 


1 
2 


0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 


£ 


Br.  Mackechme    

Br.  Macintosh  

Br.  Mahony 

Br.  Mansell  

Br.  Markwiok  , 

Br.  Massy 

Br.  Matheson  

Br.  Metcalfe 

Br.  Millin 

Br.  John  Moore 

Br.  Samuel  Morgan 

Br.  Morrison , 

Br.  H.  Nankivell 

Mr.  J.  H.  Nankivell     

Br,  Neild  

Br.  Nicholson  

Mr.  Norman 

Br.  Perkins  

Br.  Pope    

Br.  Prater 

Br.  Proctor  

Br.  Pordom 

Br.  Bamsbotham 

Mr.  Reynolds   

Br.  E.  B.  Boche  

Br.  JohnBoobe  

Br.  Roth    

Br.  Sandbeig    

Br.  William  Scott   

Br.  Scriven  

Br.  Shaw  

Mr.  Charles  E.  Shaw  

Br.  Shepherd    

Br.  Shuldham  

Br.  Smart 

Br.  Stephens 

Br.  Sfiles  

Br.  Stokes 

Br.  Suss-Hahnemann 

Br.  Tuckey   

Br.  Usslier    

Br.  Wallace  

Br.  H.  Wheeler   

Br.  WUliam  Wheeler  

Br.  Wielobycki 

Br.  John  Wilde    

Br.  Percy  Wilde 

Br.  Albert  Williams 

Br.  Eubnlus  Williams 

Br.  Neville  Wood 

Mr.  Thorold  Wood 

Br.  Woodgates 

Br.  George  Wyld 

Br.  Yeldham .'.... 

Messrs.  Leath  <fe  Ross 5 


d. 

0 

0 

0 

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0 

0 

0 

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SSSSS^SSrST  NOTABILIA.  379 


THE  *•  LANCET  "  ON  HOMCEOPATHY. 

Ih  the  Lancet  of  the  21st  nit.  appears  a  leading  article  divided 
into  three  sections,  and  entitled  **  The  Fallacy  of  HomcBopathy.'* 
We  have  received  it  too  late  to  examine  it  closely  this  month, 
and  notice  it  now  merely  to  congratulate  onr  contemporary  on  its 
change  of  tone  in  treating  of  this  subject.  Had  homoeopathy 
been  discussed  as  it  is  in  this  article  forty  years  ago,  what  our 
contemporary  styles  the  ''regrettable  alienation  and  con- 
troversy,'* which  have  occurred,  would  never  have  been  heard 
of.  Ahnost  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  allopathic  medical 
journalism  homoeopathy  is  here  discussed  with  a  considerable 
amount  of  fairness — indeed,  if  we  excepted  the  well-known 
article  by  the  late  Sir  John  Forbes  in  the  British  and  Foreign 
Medical  Beviewy  and  one  in  later  years  by  Dr.  Boss  in  The 
Practitioner,  we  might  say  that  this  was  tiie  first  occasion  in 
which  homoeopathy  had  met  with  fair  play  in  an  allopathic 
p3riodical. 

The  questions  involved  have  been  frequently  discussed  in  this 
and  other  journals — indeed,  the  writer  would  seem  to  have  taken 
his  cue  from  an  article  in  The  British  Journal  of  Honuxopathy 
(vol.  XXV.),  by  Dr.  Madden  on  contraria  contrariis  curantur. 
We  shall  examine  these  points  in  our  next  number ;  meanwhile, 
we  would  observe  that  tiie  principle  of  similars  is  one  of  drug 
selection,  and  by  no  means  is  it  put  forward  as  an  explanation  of 
drug  action — in  this  light,  notwithstanding  a  good  deal  of  some- 
what loosely- expressed  writing,  it  has  ever  been  understood. 

Secondly — All  experience  shows  that  it  is  perfectly  possible  to 
predict  the  usus  in  morbis  of  a  drug  from  a  knowledge  of  its 
effects  on  health  alone — when  the  principle  of  similars  is  made 
use  of  in  directing  the  prediction. 


ANNUAL  MEETING  OF  THE   GOVEENORS  AND 
BUBSCmBERS    OF    THE    LONDON    HOMCEOPATHIC 

HOSPITAL, 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  friends  of  this  institution  took  place 
in  the  board  room  of  the  Hospital  on  the  80th  of  May,  the  Bight 
Hon.  Lord  Ebury  occupying  the  chair.  The  report,  which  was 
in  every  way  eminently  satisfactory,  was  adopted,  and  various 
resolutions  were  passed.  We  regret  that  the  pressure  upon  our 
space  this  month  prevents  our  doing  more  than  mention  this 
meeting.     We  hope  to  be  able  to  give  full  details  in  our  next. 


380  HOTABaiA.  "S22L=i:s??^* 


Review,  June  1, 1S81. 


PERAMBULATORS. 

A  PAPEB  read  to  the  Philadelphia  Medical  Society  by  Dr. 
Henry  Smith  {Phil.  Med.  Times,  January  15th),  on  **  The  Injorioos 
Effects  of  the  Constant  Use  of  Baby- Carriages  and  Bicycles  on 
the  Physical  Development  of  the  Yoong,"  calls  attention  to  a  yery 
important  subject.  No  one  can  traverse  the  streets  in  onr  own 
country  without  observing  how  gross  is  the  abuse  of  the  peram- 
bulator, and  that  not  only  for  the  reason  assigned  by  Dr.  Smith 
in  relation  to  the  very  young,  but  also  because  it  is  becoming  a 
substitute  for  proper  exercise  on  the  part  of  older  children,  and 
an  encouragement  to  the  laziness  and  neglect  of  those  who  have 
charge  over  them.  Children  perfectly  well  able  to  use  their  limbs 
for  healthy  progression  are  kept  for  long  periods  in  a  semi- 
recumbent  posture,  and  an  indisposition  to  exertion  encouraged. 
One  can  understand  the  convenience  of  the  machine  for  con- 
veying them  to  a  spot  where  they  may  alight  and  romp  about ; 
but  in  too  many  cases  the  ride  in  the  perambulator  is  the  only 
exercise  they  obtain,  and  is  of  course  of  little  or  no  use  to  them, 
even  when  it  is  not  mischievous  owing  to  faulty  position  and  a 
lowered  temperature.  The  point  to  which  Dr.  Smith  especially 
calls  attention  is  the  prevention  of  the  due  development  of  the 
muscles  which  are  to  provide  for  the  infant's  erect  position. 

**  As  the  power  of  every  muscle  is  increased  by  its  exercise, 
it  is  an  important  point  in  the  physical  development  of  children 
that  this  fact  (muscular  action  in  the  erect  posture)  should  be 
impressed  on  those  who  control  or  direct  physical  education, 
especially  in  infancy.  When  a  child  lies  down,  as  it  usually  does 
in  a  baby-carriage  during  infancy,  it  reposes  upon  an  extended 
base,  and,  as  the  force  of  gravity  is  barely  felt  by  it,  the  muscles 
of  the  spine  remain  nearly  at  rest.  When  a  child  sits  up, 
most  of  its  spinal  erector  muscles  are  in  action,  though 
varying  in  intensity.  The  vertical  position,  or  that  in  which 
an  infant  sits  on  its  nurse's  arm  when  carried,  necessitates  a 
balancing  of  the  head  and  upper  extremities  upon  the  infanVs 
pelvis,  with  alternate  action  of  the  erector  spinse  muscles  and 
those  of  the  abdomen  that  flex  the  spine  by  bringing  the  thorax 
towards  the  pelvis,  as  well  as  of  those  which  cause  a  bending 
sideways  or  give  the  lateral  motion  to  the  body,  as  the  quadratus 
lumborum  and  psoas  magnus  muscles.  Hence,  when  a  child  is 
carried  on  the  arm,  its  exercise  in  preserving  its  balance  or 
equilibrium  prepares  its  muscles  for  the  more  steady  action 
demanded  of  them  subsequently  in  creeping,  or  more  especially 
in  walking.  A  child  that  is  carried  is  therefore  being  constantly 
educated  or  trained  in  balancing  its  head  and  shoulders,  whilst 
the  abdominal  muscles,  which  here  act  as  flexors  of  the  spine, 
also  compress  the  liver  and  other  abdominal  viscera,  and  aid  the 


^t^S^^ST'^'  NOTABILIA.  881 


Beriew,  June  1, 1881. 


peiisialtio  aetion  of  the  bowels,  as  well  as  the  action  of  respira- 
tion. In  addition  to  this,  such  infants  are  sooner  able  to  sit 
alone,  and  creep  or  walk  more  yigoroosly,  than  those  who,  in  the 
continued  supine  posture  of  the  baby-carriage,  fail  to  receiye  this 
jnuscular  exercise.  •  .  .  Another  evil  liable  to  ensue  from 
the  constant  use  of  the  baby-carriage  is  the  jarring  and  concussion 
of  the  delicate  brain  and  spinal  cord  of  the  infant,  created  by 
bouncing  the  carriage  over  gutters  or  up  and  down  the  kerb- 
stones/*— Medical  Times  and  Gazette. 


ALLOPATHIC  PROVING  OF  IODINE  IN  GOITRE. 

The  following  striking  passage  occurs  in  Dr.  Tanner's  Practice  of 
Medicine,  yoL  L  p.  187.  (Sixth  edition,  1869):— 

'<M.  Chatin  mentions  that  in  Savoy  there  are  two  villages, 
divided  from  each  other  only  by  a  narrow  ravine.  Both  villages 
-stand  on  rock  and  soil  of  the  same  nature,  their  elevation  is  the 
'Same,  and  they  seem  subjected  to  the  same  influences.  But  in 
cne  goitre  prevails,  while  in  the  other  it  is  unknown;  in  the  first, 
the  water  supplying  it  contains  a  trace  of  iodine:  in  the  second, 
there  is  no  iodine  in  the  water." 


BRITISH  HOMCEOPATHIC  SOCIETY. 

The  Ninth  Ordinary  Meeting  of  the  present  Session  will  be  held 
on  Thursday,  Jxme  2nd,  1881,  at  seven  o*clock.  At  eight 
o*clock.  Dr.  Hale,  of  London,  will  exhibit  a  specimen  of  Perfo- 
rating Ulcer  of  the  Duodenum ;  and  a  paper  will  be  read  by 
Mr.  Mabsblt,  late  of  Melbourne,  entitled,  Bemimscences  of- 
Australian  Practice,  jphe  Annual  Assembly  is  announced  to  be 
held  this  year  on  the  22nd  and  28rd  of  June. 


EXTRACTING  TEETH  WITHOUT  CONSENT. 

A  MEW  branch  of  bui^lary  has  been  opened  in  Chicago.  A 
young  lady  went  to  a  dentist*s  shop  to  have  five  teeth  extracted. 
Having  put  her  under  the  influence  of  gas,  he  drew  fifteen  teeth 
-from  her  upper  jaw.  She  sued  him  for  damages,  he  pleading 
that  the  teeth  all  needed  pulling  out.  She  denied  this,  but  as 
the  dentist  had  the  teeth  she  could  not  prove  her  case,  and  the 
•dentist  would  not  produce  them  in  court.  Therefore  the  jury, 
evidently  thinking  that  the  dentist  knew  better  than  the  young 


882  CORRBSPOHDBNCE.         *S^=iS:S?»t^ 


Beriew,  June  1, 1881. 


woman  whether  her  teeth  needed  polling  oat  or  not,  disagreed, 
and  she  could  not  recover.  Hers,  it  appears,  was  not  the  only 
instance.  Several  joong  persons  had  been  subjected  to  the 
same  involuntary  dental  bereavement  in  the  same  establishment, 
with  a  view  to  compelling  the  victims  to  buy  false  teeth. — 2ie» 
York  Med,  Record,  April  80. 


CORRESPONDENCE, 


INTERNATIONAL  HOMOEOPATHIC  CONVENTION. 

To  the  Editors  of  the  Monthly  Homcsopathic  Review, 

Gentlemen, — ^I  have  addressed  the  subjoined  letter  to  several 
of  the  leading  homoeopathic  journals  in  the  United  States.  I 
would  ask  you  to  allow  me  to  bring  it  xmder  the  notice  of  our 
colleagues  at  home,  from  whom  also  I  shall  be  glad  to  receire 
names  of  subscribers. 

As,  moreover,  it  is  possible  (though  not,  I  think,  probable) 
that  the  subscription  list  may  £ail  to  cover  the  total  cost  of  pub- 
lishing our  Transactions,  it  is  thought  well  that  a  Gkiarantee 
Fund  should  be  instituted,  to  provide  for  this  eventuality.  Sack 
a  fund  was  proposed  by  Dr.  Bayes  in  regard  of  the  expenses  of 
the  meetings,  and  some  names  were  given  for  it.  This  is  fotmd 
unnecessary ;  but  I  shall  be  pleased  to  hear  that  the  same  sums 
may  be  reckoned  upon  for  the  Transactions,  and  that  others  will 
come  forward  to  secure  against  pecuniary  loss  those  who  are 
responsible  for  the  issue  of  them. 

All  communications  on  this  subject  should  be  addressed  tome. 

I  am^  Gentlemen, 

Yours  very  fioithfully, 

BiCHABD  Hughes. 

86,  Sillwood  Road,  Brighton, 
May  16th,  1881. 


To  the  Editor  of  the- 


When  the  International  Convention,  now  about  to  be  held, 
was  first  planned,  it  was  a  serious  question  how  to  provide  for 
the  expense  of  publishing  its  Transactions,  I  wrote  upon  the 
subject  to  the  lamented  President  of  the  first  Convention, 
Dr.  Carroll  Dunham,  and  the  following  is  a  portion  of  his  reply :— 


SS^j^STar*         COBKBSPONDENCB.  888 


Bsview,  Jnme  1.  IBBl. 


"  As  to  the  question  yon  put  concerning  the  means  of  meeting 
the  cost  of  publishing  the  Transactions  of  1881, 1  reply,  without 
hesitation,  Uiat  it  would  be  eminently  proper  to  ask  a  subscription 
that  would  be  sure  to  fully  cover  tiie  cost  of  the  volume,  from 
every  individual  who  desires  a  copy. 

**  As  you  justly  remark,  it  was  quite  di£ferent  with  us.  There 
could  have  been  no  expectation  of  more  than  a  handful  of 
delegates  from  abroad.  The  expenses  must  of  necessity  be 
borne  by  ourselves,  and  we  could  easily  do  it  by  means  of  our 
numbers.  To  make  it  sure,  we  resolved  the  Institute  into  the 
Convention,  for  the  purpose,  not  only  of  using  its  machinery, 
but  of  having  also  at  command  its  yearly  income,  since  the 
Convention  Transactions  would  take  Uie  place  of  the  Institute 
volume.  Tou  have,  I  believe,  nothing  which  in  these  respects 
corresponds  to  the  Institute.  Moreover,  I  hope — as  you  do- 
that  from  America  and  the  Continent  of  Europe  there  may 
come  as  many  delegates  as  England  herself  can  furnish,  and  the 
meeting  may  be  a  '  World's  Convention  *  not  simply  by  virtue 
of  papers  and  reports,  but  through  the  coming  together  of  repre- 
sentative men.  Do  not  determine  too  soon  the  amount  to  be 
asked  for  the  volume,  lest  you  get  it  below  cost.  The  expenses 
of  the  meeting  and  incidentals  wiU  be  all  that  Britain  could 
reasonably  be  asked  to  furnish,  and  these  may  amount  to  a  con- 
siderable sum.'' 

In  accordance  with  these  views,  it  was  determined,  as  part  of 
our  scheme  of  working,  "  that  the  expenses  of  printing  the 
Transactions  be  defrayed  by  a  subscription  from  all  who  desire 
to  possess  a  copy  of  the  volume."  A  subscription  list  will  be 
opened  at  the  meeting,  for  those  who  are  able  to  attend  ;  but  for 
the  many  who  must  perforce  be  absent,  but  who  would  like  to 
support  ns,  and  give  tiiemselves  the  advantage  of  possessing  our 
Transactions,  I  ask  of  your  courtesy  the  admission  of  this  letter. 
I  shall  be  glad  to  receive  the  names  and  addresses  of  subscribers 
as  soon  as  possible,  that  the  total  number  on  whom  we  can 
count  may  be  known.  The  exact  cost  of  the  volume  cannot  be 
reckoned  till  then,  but  it  is  not  likely  to  exceed  ten  shillings  of 
our  money ;  and  it  will  probably  contain  between  600  and  700 
pages  of  matter. 

I  am. 

Yours  very  faithfully, 

BiCHABD  HUGHBS, 

86,  SiUwood  Bead,  Brighton,  President-elect. 

May  12th,  1881. 


884  CORRESPONDENTS.        "^S^r^taJ^Mn! 


NOTICES   TO   CORRESPONDENTS. 


«%  We  eatmot  undertake  to  return  r^eeted  manuscripU. 

Contribaton  and  Correspondents  are  requested  to  notice  the  alteration 
in  the  address  of  one  of  the  Editors  of  this  lUview> 

Dr.  Blakb'b  pamphlet  ^rill  be  noticed  in  onr  next,  onr  space  being  orer* 
filled  this  month.  The  sabject  of  Dr.  Berbidob's  letter  being  disposed  of 
last  month,  we  deem  it  mmecessaiy  to  re-open  it. 

Gommnnications,  Ac,  haye  been  received  from  Dr.  E.  Bun 
^London);  Dr.  Masst  (Bedhill);  Dr.  Bates  (Brighton);  Mr.  Chambu 
(London);  Mr.  Cbobs  (London);  Dr.  A.  Esknkdt  (Blackheath); 
Mr.  Matmhat.!.  (New  Cross) ;  Dr.  Berbisoe  (London). 


BOOKS  RECEIVED. 


A  Guide  to  the  Clinical  Examination  of  Patiente,  and  the  Diagnoeii  of 
Diuate.  By  Kichard  Hagen,  M.D.  Translated  by  G.  E.  Gramm,  HJ). 
New  York :  Boericke  &  Taifel. 

Sewage  Poisoning,  its  Causes  amd  Cure.  By  Edward  T.  Blake,  H.D. 
Second  Edition.    E.  and  F.  N.  Spon. 

A  Statistical  Report  of  Two  hundred  and  fifty-two  Cases  of  Inebrietif, 
By  Lewis  D.  Mason,  M.D. 

Cbnstitutiont  Bye-laws,  and  lAst  of  Members  of  the  Boston  Homaopathie 
Medical  Society.    1881. 

The  Chemist  and  Druggist. 

Monthly  Magazine  of  Pharmacy. 

Homctopathic  World. 

North  American  Journal  of  Homaopatky. 

New  England  Medical  Oazette. 

The  American  Observer. 

The  United  States  Medical  Investigator. 

The  New  York  Medical  Times. 

The  Medical  Call. 

The  Medical  Advance. 

Bulletin  de  la  Soc.  Mid.  de  France. 

Bibliothique  Homaopathique, 

L*Art  Medical. 

Revue  Homaopathique  Beige. 

AUgemeine  Homdopathisehe  Zeitung. 

MomSopathische  Rundschau. 

El  Criterio  Medico. 


Papers,  Dispensary  Beports,  and  Books  for  Beview  to  be  sent  to 
Dr.  Pope,  21,  Henrietta  Street,  Cavendish  Square,  W.,  or  to  Dr.  D.  Ptcb 
BaowM,  29,  Seymonr  Street,  Portman  Square,  W.  Advertisement  and 
Business  Communications  to  be  sent  to  Messrs.  E.  Gouuo  ^  Son, 
59,  Moorgate  Street,  £.C. 


ISS^Tj^TSbl*"  "THE  LANCBT  AND  aOMOBOPATHY.       885 


THE    MONTHLY 


HOMCEOPATHIC    REVIEW 


THE  LANCET  AND  HOMOEOPATHY. 

At.t.  things  come  to  him  who  waits.  This  is  a  proverb 
which  is  often  quoted  now-a-days,  and  it  might  well  be  the 
motto  for  homcBopaths  to  adopt.  It  is  the  history  of  all 
great  truths,  and  of  those  especially  which  have  ultimately 
received  the  most  universal  reception,  that  they  have 
in  their  early  days  met  with  vehement  opposition.  Those 
who  know  that  they  are  really  truths  Qan  afford  to  wait 
complacently,  even  though  they  may  not  at  the  time  relish 
the  consequences  which  adhesion  to  an  unpopular  creed 
may  entail.  So  it  is  with  homoeopathy.  The  opposition  it 
has  so  long  met  with  from  the  hands  of  those  who  ought  to 
know  better,  though  unpleasant  at  the  time  in  its  personal 
consequences,  must  die  out.  We  have  only  to  wait  patiently, 
hold  on  our  way,  and  not  bo  tempted  to  swerve  from  our 
&ith,  to  find  ourselves  victorious,  and  our  maligned 
doctrines  admitted  as  truth  by  those  very  men  who  have 
done  their  best  to  stamp  them  out.  We  have  for  some 
years  back  bad  at  intervals  to  notice  with  satisfaction 
unmistakable  signs  of  the  dawn  appearing  after  the  long 
Areaiy  night  of  allopathic  domination ;  we  have  seen  men 
Na  7»  Vol.  26,  2  c 


886   THE  LANCET  AND  HOMOBOPATHT.  "^BSSli^SnST 

in  position  in  the  profession  adopting  our  Tiews  and  treat- 
ment openly,  provided  it  can  be  done  withoat  saying  that 
such  are  hom<Bopathic  views  and  treatment,  and  we  know 
that  there  is  mnch  more  of  the  leaven  of  homcaopathy 
quietly  leavening  the  whole  of  the  old  school,  in  the  case  or 
men  who  do  not  come  to  the  front,  than  is  generally 
believed  to  exist.    Many  have  of  late  years  been  quietly 
buying  our  books,  and  practising  accordingly,  or  asking  the 
aid  of  those  who  already  know  homoaopathy,  what  are  its 
doctrines,  and  how  they  may  best  become  acquainted  with 
its  practice.  Such  a  state  of  matters  is  pregnant  with  mean- 
ing for  the  future,  and  we  have  rejoiced  to  watch  the  progress 
of  the  truth,  albeit  in  this  secret  manner.      We  feel  as 
certain  as  we  can  be  of  anything  in  this  world,  that  the 
general  and  authoritative  adoption  of  homoBopathy  as  the 
great  rule  of  treatment  is  only  a  question  of  time,  while 
we  amuse  ourselves  by  speculating  how  long  it  will  be 
before  this  consunmiation  shall  arrive.    We  were,  however, 
hardly  prepared  for  the  remarkable  article  which  appeared 
from  the  editorial  pen  of  the  Lancet^  on  May  21,  1881. 
The  Lancet  has  been  hitherto  known  as  the  type  of  un- 
compromising opposition  to  homoeopathy,  to  those  who 
practise  it,  and  to  anything  savouring,  openly  at  least,  of  the 
^'  accursed  thing.''     Our  surprise,  then,  was  only  equalled 
by  our  pleasure  when  we  read  this  article.    We  i  think  we 
are  not  wrong  in  saying  that  it  is  the  first  article  in  that 
journal  since  homcaopathy  has  been  discussed,  in  which 
the  subject  has  been  dealt  with  in  a  fair,  courteous,  and 
argumentative  manner.    It  is  a  new  thing  to  hear  our- 
selves spoken  of  as  the  **  honest  and  intelligent  thinkers 
now  connected  with  the  homoeopathic  schooly"  and  we 
are  thankful  for  small  mercies ! 

But  let  us  look  more  closely  at  this  article  in  the  La$ieiU 
The  editor  begins  as  follows :— *'  In  the  course  of  tbe 


IBSSrwE^rSw?^  THE  LANCET  AND  HOMCBOPATHY,      387 

recent  eontroversy  arising  ont  of  consideration  of  ethical 
propriety  in  regard  to  the  consultations  of  orthodox  pro- 
lessors    of   scientific  medicine    with    actual    or  reputed 
homcBopathistSy  nothing  has  so  much  surprised  us  as  the 
inexplicable  ignorance  which  prevails^  not  only  throughout 
the  lay  community,  but  among  medical  men,  as  to  the 
nature   and  effect  of  *  homoBopathy  *  and  '  allopathy '  as 
medical  theories."    Such  are  precisely  our  sentiments,  and 
we  have  expressed,  till  we  are  almost  tired  of  doing  it,  our 
surprise  that  in  this  nineteenth  century  the  majority  of  the 
medical  profession — a  profession  supposed  to  be  liberal, 
and  whose  very  raison  d'etre  is  the  cure  of  disease,  should 
manifest,  and  this  without  the  least  shame,  such  profound 
ignorance  of  what  homoeopathy  even  means,  as  we  know  is 
the  case,  and  as  the  editor  of  the  Lancet  admits  with 
astonishment.    However,  it  is  never  too  late  to  mend,  and 
80  the  LaTicet  proceeds  to  explain  to  its  readers  what 
homoeopathy  means.  Nothing  like  beginning  at  the  ABC* 
The  explanation  is  a  very  correct  one,  and  so  we  quote  it^ 
that  our  readers  may  see  that  the  editor  can  afford  for  once 
not  to  misrepresent  the  doctrines  of  Hahnemann.     "  The 
homoeopathist  says,  ^  I  select  a  drug  which  if  given  in  a 
large  dose  to  a  healthy  person  would  produce  symptoms 
like  those  of  the  case  I  am  seeking  to  cure,  and  I  give  this 
drug,    when    found,    in    a    small    dose.'     The   ordinary 
practitioner  asks,  '  Why  do  you  not  give  it  in  a  large  dose  ? ' 
The  homoeopathist  replies,   'Because  it  would  increase 
the    symptoms    I    desire    to    remedy.'     In    short,    the 
homoeopathist  avoids  the  dose  in  which  the  remedy  he 
selects  is  homoeopathic  to  the  disease,  and  gives  it  in  a 
smaller  dose."    And  here  comes  in  the  gist  of  the  article. 
The  editor  flEuicies  he  has  made  a  discovery^  which  shall 
henceforth  be  the  finishing  blow  to  **  homoeopathy."    This 
diflcoyery  is  what  is  popularly  known  as  a  "  mare's  nest.'' 

9  0—9 


'  888      THE  LANCET  AND  HOMCBOPATHT.  ^SSSr^^S??^! 

t     

His  argnment  is  that  there  is  a  great  "  fallacy"  in  bomoB- 
opatty,  the  fallacy  being  as  follows  : — The  symptoms  pro- 
daced  by  the  large  dose  in  health  are  those  which  are 
iimUar  to  the  symptoms  of  disease,  or  homoeopathic  to 
them ;  the  dose  given  to  cure  is  a  dose  less  than  will  pro- 
duce those  symptoms  (in  fcase  of  aggravation),  and  as  we 
Imow  that  the  effects  of  the  large  and  small  dose  are  pre- 
cisely the  reverse  of  one  another,  the  small  dose  cures  by 
producing  the  reverse  effect  of  the  large  one,  or  the  reverse 
effect  of  the  disease  symptoms.  Ergo,  this  is  not 
homoeopathy,  since  it  is  the  large  dose  which  is  similar 
or  homoeopathic  to  the  disease,  and  not  the  small  one, 
which  is  its  opposite!  In  other  words,  the  curative 
or  small  dose,  really  acts  on  the  principle  of  corUraria, 
while  the  large  dose  is  the  simile  to  the  disease.  The 
editor  concludes  the  second  section  of  his  article  thus: 
*'  Our  immediate  purpose  is  to  demonstrate  that  the 
•homoeopath  does  not  give  his  drug  on  homoeopathic 
principles,  and  cannot  claim  it  as  homoeopathic,  because 
he  employs  it  in  doses  which  do  not  produce  effects 
like,  but  widely  unlike,  the  symptoms  of  the  disease 
he  seeks  to  cure.  It  follows  that,  so  far  as  the  action 
of  remedies  is  concerned,  homoDopathy  is  a  misnomer, 
and  involves  a  fallacy."  All  this  "  fallacy,"  then,  is  in  the 
name.  Well  might  we  quote  the  poet,  "What's  in  a 
name  ?  "  Homoeopathy,  by  any  other  name  (provided  it 
it  is  an  equally  good  one),  would  smell  as  sweet ;  and  if  the 
editor  prefers  to  follow  an  American  brother,  who  having 
recently  "  discovered  "  the  truth  of  homoeopathy,  and  the 
necessity  for  giving  the  small  dose,  announces  it  as  a  new 
fiystem,  under  the  name  of  "  micropathy," — well  and  good; 
we  prefer  the  good  old  name  of  homoeopathy,  as  expressing 
in  a  word  all  we  intend  to  teach,  and  as,  moreover,  being 
strictly  correct.   Is  not  a  drug,  which  can  not  only  produce 


S^^SuiS^ THE  LANCET  AHD  HOMCEOPATHY.   889 

symptoms  siimlar  to  the  disease,  bat  can  also  cure  it  by 
Yirtne  of  this  veiy  relation  of  similarity,  **  homoeopathic  "  to 
the  disease  in  the  fullest  sense  ?  *^  Homcdopathy  "  means 
nothing,  if  it  does  not  mean  that  the  drag  has  a  cnrative, 
as  well  as  a  pathogenetic  relation  to  the  disease.  The 
mere  fact  that  drugs  will  produce  disease,  has  been  known 
for  generations,  and  what  necessity  would  there  have 
been  for  any  word  at  all  to  express  this  fact?  It  was 
only  when  Hahnemann  discovered  that  disease  and  drugs 
had  this  uniform  double  relation,  and  announced  his 
system  of  treatment  based  on  this  relation,  that  a  word 
became  necessary  to  express  it,  and  whether  the  small  or 
earatiye  dose  acts  after  the  manner  of  contraria  or  not, 
''homoeopathy"  expresses  better  than  any  other  word 
invented,  the  great  fact  of  the  curative  relation  to  disease 
which  a  drug  possesses,  which  can  produce  a  similar  state 
in  health  when  administered  in  a  large  dose.  It  expresses 
concisely  that  the  remedial  drug  is  to  be  sought  for  in  one 
that  can  produce  this  similar  state  of  disease.  And  for  the 
editor  of  the  Lancet  to  argue  in  sober  sense  that  therefore 
"  homoeopathy  is  a  misnomer,  and  involves  a  fallacy,"  is 
mere  childish  play  on  words,  while  the  main  question  of  the 
truth  of  the  facts  is  at  issue.  "  We  shall  be  curious,"  the 
editor  of  the  Laticet  adds,  ''  to  see  how  the  homoeopathists 
attempt  to  answer  this  objection."  We  have  just  expressed 
our  contempt  for  the  **  objection  "  as  an  argument  against 
the  correctness  of  the  word  "  homoeopathy."  But  on  the 
interesting  question  of  how  the  minute  dose  of  a  homoe- 
pathic  medicine  acts,  we  have  no  reply  to  give  to  the 
"  objection  "  (if  it  is  one)  of  the  contraria  action  of  the 
minute  dose,  than  that  we  entirely  agree  with  the  editor's 
explanation.  We  are,  hoiwever,  sony  to  rob  him  of  the 
notion  that  this  explanation  is  a  novel  one,  and  con- 
sequently of  his  being  the  hero  who  first  gave  the  homoeo- 


890   THE  LANCET  AND  HOMCEOPATHY.  ^^SS^J^^u^ 

paths  the  correot  notion  of  how  their  own  lemedies  act. 
But  truth  must  be  adhered  to,  at  the  risk  of  offending  the 
fine  feelings  of  the  editor  of  the  Lancet.  If  he  will  take 
the  trouble  to  refer  to  the  work  on  Pathology,  published  in 
Edinburgh  in  1842,  by  the  distinguished  Fletcheb — a 
work  far  in  advance  of  its  day,  he  will  find  him,  when  dis- 
cussing the  theory  of  the  action  of  homodopathic  remedies, 
saying:  "They  cure,  not  by  the  stronger,  but  by  the 
opposite  impression  which  they  make ;  so  that  homoeopathic 
medicines,  after  all,  operate  on  the  antipathic  principle." 
Dr.  Dudgeon,  in  his  able  lectures  on  "  The  Theoiy  and 
Practice  of  Homoeopathy,"  delivered  in  1861,  and  published 
in  1802,  expresses  his  belief  in  the  same  views.  Thus 
(p.  Ill)  he  says:  "Whilst  this  (the  law  of  similars) 
expresses  only  the  rule  for  the  selection  of  the  remedy,  the 
actual  curative  process  is  rather  contr aria  cantr arm,  for  the 
impression  we  effect  with  our  remedial  agent  is  the  opposite 
of  the  existing  condition  of  the  diseased  part."  Since  then, 
and  especially  in  the  last  few  years,  this  view  has  been 
strongly  advocated  by  Madden,  Sharp,  and  other  writers  in 
our  journals,  and  is  adopted  by  the  majority  of  homoeopaths 
as  the  probably  correct  explanation  of  the  modus  operandi 
of  the  small  dose.  If,  therefore,  the  editor  of  the  Lancet, 
while  deploring  the  '^  inexplicable  ignorance "  which 
prevails  regarding  homoeopathy,  had  but  taken  the  trouble 
to  look  up  our  journals  for  the  last  ten  years,  he  would 
have  found  his  "  argument "  actually  stated  by  ourselves 
and  adopted.  We  are  sincerely  glad  that  the  subject  of 
the  action  of  homoeopathic  remedies  is  beginning  to  be  so 
far  understood,  that  now  there  will  be  no  excuse  for 
ignorance  on  these  points. 

Having  now  disposed  of  the  main  argument  of  the 
Lancet  article,  and  found  that  instead  of  having  to 
stand  on  the  defensive,  we  can  peacefully  smile  at  the 


bSS^j^mS^  the  lancet  and  hohceopatht.    391 

ipare's  nest  which  the  editor  has  discovered,  let  as  take  up 
flome  details  in  the  article,  and  m^ke  a  few  ninning 
•comments  thereon,  in  the  way  of  agreement  with  some,  and 
correction  of  others. 

After  the  passage  we  quoted  in  the  early  part  of  this 
paper,  the  editor  goes  on,  ''Now  every  one  knows  that 
the  '  effects '  of  medicines  differ  with  the  doses  in  which 
they  are  exhibited,  giving  rise  to  symptoms  which  are 
seemingly  contradictory  in  large  and  small  doses 
respectively."  It  is  certainly  most  satisfactory  to  hear 
from  this  authority  that  "now  every  one  knows*'  this 
fact.  We  shall  not  ask  how  long  ago  it  was  that  no  one 
knew  it,  except  homoBopaths,.or  what  were  the  grave  looks 
iusumed  at  Dr.  Boas'  articles  in  the  Practitioner,  when  he, 
a  couple  of  years  ago,  ventured  to  state  that  medicines  had 
a  double  action.  The  editor  proceeds,  "  It  follows  that  the 
so-called  homoeopath  does  not  practise  on  the  principle 
nmiUa  HmiUbtui  curantur  (or  curentur).  He  only  resorts 
to  the  principle  embodied  in  that  aphorism  in  selecting 
his  drug,  and  by  so  doing  goes  a  roundabout  way  to 
discover  the  ]:emedy,  which  lies  close  at  hand,  and 
which  the  '  allopath,'  if  there  were  allopaths  (or  anti- 
paths)  might  claim  as  acting  on  the  principle  contraria 
-contrarm  cura/ni^r.*^  Perhaps  the  editor  will  kindly 
lavour  us  with  a  dissertation  on  the  interesting  difference 
between ''  tweedledum  "  and  "  tweedledee."  If  a  man  selects 
the  remedy  for  the  cure  of  disease  on  a  definitive  and 
fltated  principle,  he  may  surely,  without  much  stretch  of 
imagination  or  metaphorical  language,  be  said  to  practise 
•on  this  principle.  The  homoeopath  who  practises  on  the 
principle  of  9imiUa,  instead  of  adopting  a  roundabout 
lyiethod  for  discovering  his  remedy,  takes  the  shortest  cut 
to  that  end  that  we  have  ever  heard  of*  Find  out  the 
symptoms  produced  by  a  large  dose  of  a  remedy  on  the 


S92       THE  LANCET  AND  HOMEOPATHY.  ^^S^^^j^"^^ 

healthy  body,  and  if  these  resemble  any  known  ailment, 
why  there  yon  are.  What  could  be  simpler  and  le8» 
roondabont  than  this  ? 

But  the  joke  becomes  immense  when  the  editor  tells  us 
that  while  the  homoeopaths  take  this  roundabout  mode  of 
arriving  at  the  proper  remedy ,  it  actually  ''  lies  close  at- 
hand ''  to  the  allopath,  and  that  he  might  claim  it  as  his- 
own  if  he  liked.  We  are  sure  he  must  feel  under  deep 
obligations  to  the  Lancet  for  informing  him  of  this  fact, 
for  until  now,  not  only  did  he  not  know  that  he  was  in 
such  near  proximity  to  homoeopathy,  but  if  we  had  told 
him  any  such  wholesome  truths,  he  would  have  vehemently 
denied  the  soft  impeachment,  and  as  it  is,  he  not  only 
would  do  anything  rather  than  seem  to  touch  the  unclean 
thing,  but  cuts  his  professional  brethren  who  have  found 
the  jewel  and  prize  it,  and  in  fact,  as  the  editor  of  the 
Lancet  admits  with  surprise,  he  is  in  ^'inexplicable 
ignorance  "  of  the  whole  thing.  The  editor  of  the  Lancet 
in  this  paragraph  is  really  too  severe  on  the  feelings  of  his 
confreres  in  thus  informing  them  that,  after  all,  the  hated 
homoeopathic  remedy  is  close  to  their  hand,  and  that  they 
noiay  claim  it  as  their  own  if  they  like,  and  this  after  so 
many  years  of  virulent  abuse  of  this  very  system.  We  feel 
inclined  to  give  the  Lancet  that  excellent  advice  which 
Major  Wellington  de  Boots  gave  to  the  gentleman  who- 
chastised  him,  *^  Next  time  you  want  to  pull  a  gentleman's 
nose,  draw  it  mild" 

The  editor  of  the  Lancet  next  proceeds  to  give  illuslTS- 
tions  of  the  double  action  of  medicines,  that  is,  of  the  cure, 
by  small  doses,  of  symptoms  similar  to  those  produced  by* 
large  doses.  His  choice  is  excellent,  and  we  have  no  need 
to  supplement  it.  He  names  aconite,  nva  vomica,  alcohol^ 
ipecacibanha,  opium,  cathartics  and  oonstipators  (if  we  may 
com  such  a  word) ;  and  yet,  with  these  important  admis- 


jS^j^a^S^  the  lancet  and  homceopatht*    393 

sioBBy  he  takes  to  task  the  homoBopath  who  **  olaims  these 
as  homcBopathic  remedies/'  on  the  ground  that  ^'  he  seeks 
to  conTict  the  ordinary  practitioner  of  medicine  because  he, 
too,  recommends  it/'    There  would  be  no  '*  conviction  "  in 
the  matter,  if  the  opposition  to  this  very  system  of  treat- 
ment which  the  Lancet  here  illustrates  and  approves  of, 
were  not  carried  on  to  the  point  of  "  Boycotting ;  "  but  we 
do  '' convict"  any  man  of  the  old  school  of  practising 
homc9opathy,  if  he  gives  one  of  the  above-named  remedies, 
or  any  other  in  small  doses  to  cure  a  state  of  disease 
resembling  the  effects  of  large  doses  of  the  same  drug.  We 
have  frequently  had  occasion  thus  to  '*  convict "  of  bomceo- 
pathy  EiKOBB,    Phillips,  Babtholow,  Wood,  Leabbd, 
Thobowgood,  Mubbell,  and  many  others,  and  we  shall 
continue  to  do  so  till  the  necessity  for  such  ''  conviction  "  dis- 
appears in  the  general  acknowledgment  of  the  homoeopathic 
system  of  treatment.    But,  it  may  be  asked,  how  does  the 
editor  of  the  Lancet  get  out  of  the  difficulty,  if  he  accepts 
aach  treatment  as  correct  and  scientific,  and  yet  objects  to 
being ''convicted"  of  homoeopathy.    He  says  ''scientific 
explanations  of  the  way  in  which  these  apparently  con*' 
tradictory  effects  are  produced  by  the  same  drug  in  different 
doses  are  ready  to   hand,  but  they  have  no  place    in 
this  argument."    And  yet,  only  a  few  sentences  before^ 
he  says,  "  Now,  how  do  nux  vomica,  and  its  preparations, 
act  in  small  doses?    Why,  as  tonics  to  the  muscular 
system.    In  short,  the  natural  effects  of  a  drug  which  is  & 
powerful  excitant  when  given  in  lai^e  doses,  is  that  of  a 
gentle  and  restorative  or  strength-giving  stimulant  in  small 
doses;"  and  of  ipecacuanha  he  says,  ^'a  large  dose  of 
ipecacuanha  will  produce  vomiting,  while  a  small  dose  will 
act  gently,  and  restore  the  tone  of  the  organ,  thus  allaying^ 
vomiting."    So  the  late  Anstie,  when  reviewing  in  th» 
JhracOtioner  Bingbb's  first  edition,  said  that  ipecacuanha^ 


894   THE  LANCET  AED  HOMCBOPATHY.  ^''SSS^SSSr^^. 

did  not  ihuB  act  homcBopathioilly,  but  as  a '  ^  tonio  to  the  vaso- 
motor nerres  of  the  Btomach/'  Sorely,  here  are  would-be 
**  scientific  explanations,"  which  the  editor  has  just  told  as 
liad  no  place  in  his  argoment,  and  weqnite  agree  with  hisL 
Snch  explanations  inyolve  theory;  they  maybe  right  or 
wrong,  bat  right  or  wrong,  they  are  mere  bUnds  when  put 
forth  in  reply  to  the  question  of  the  truth  of  the  law  of 
fiimilars.  The  real  point  is.  Do  medicines  which  pro- 
duce certain  marked  symptoms  when  given  to  a  healthy 
person  in  lai^e  doses,  cure  similar  symptoms  of  disease  in 
Bmall  doses?  If  they  do,  then  homoeopathy,  and  its 
guiding  law  are  true.  We  may  theorise  as  we  please  as  to 
the  mode  of  action  of  the  small  dose,  but  such  theories  in 
no  way  alter  the  Sm^  which  we  have  all  along  contended  for, 
and  which  the  Lancet  at  length  admits  as  true,  that 
medicines  do  have  this  double  relation  of  producing  aod 
curing  disease.  Let  us  have  no  more  of  such  misleading 
explanations,  vnless  they  are  given  out  simultaneously  with 
the  full  admission  of  the  facts  they  are  intended  to  explain. 
In  the  8rd  section  of  the  article,  the  Lancet  commences, 
''We  shall  be  curious  to  see  how  the  homoeopathists 
attempt  to  answer  this  objection.  If  they  are  honest  men, 
they  must  confess  that  we  are  right,  and  that  the  homcBO- 
pathy  of  their  system  concerns  only  the  mode  of  selecting 
drugs,  not  their  action."  The  gauntlet  thus  thrown  down 
was  taken  up  by  Drs.  Dudgeon,  NANEivEUi,  and  Dtgb 
Bbown,  whose  letters  were  inserted  on  June  11th,  three 
weeks  after  the  publication  of  the  Lancet  article.  They 
flU  agree,  and  we  believe,  reflect  the  views  of  homcsopathio 
practitioners  in  general,  in  repeating  what  is  to  be  found 
over  and  over  again  in  our  journals,  that  the  fqphorism, 
^imilia  mniUbus  curawtur^  ''is  simply  a  guide  to  the 
selection  of  the  medicine,"  or  as  the  Lancet  very  correctly 
^uts  it,  "  concerns  only  the  mode  of  selecting  drugs,  not 


SriS^^TSS?*''  THE  LANOET  AND  HOMCEOPATHY.   896 

the  action."  Here  is  its  great  value.  It  only  states  a 
&ct,  leaving  theory  as  to  the  explanation  of  fiacts  as  a 
matter  of  secondary  importance,  one  on  which  difference  of 
opinion  may  and  does  exist. 

"  Should  they  take  this  ground,"  says  the  editor,  "  we 
shall  then  have  to  show  that  it,  too,  is  untenable,  because 
the  selection  of  a  drug  by  an  inverse  process  of  induction 
from  its  supposed  effects  can  never  be  a  sure  or  safe  guide 
to  its  use."  It  will  be  very  difficult  for  the  editor  to 
^'show"  this.  It  is,  in  fact,  purely  a  matter  for  experiment* 
Try  if  it  is  a  sure  and  safe  guide,  and  each  one  can  and 
must  do  this  for  himself.  HomcBopaths  have  done  so, 
and  find  daily  increasing  evidence  that  it  is  a  very  sure 
and  safe  guide.  Argument  on  this  point  without  ex- 
periment is  useless. 

'^  Moreover,"  he  proceeds,  '4t  is  unscientific  to  speak  of  a 
drug  as  producing  'effects'  or  'symptoms'  on  the  organism. 
In  studying  the  properties  of  a  medicine,  it  is  always  tried  on 
the  healthy,  and  the  student  of  therapy  knows  well  that  there 
is  nothing  mysterious  in  the  seemingly  contradictory  effects 
of  different  doses  of  the  same  substance,  seeing  that  the 
so-called  '  effects '  of  a  drug  are  the  changes  of  state  or 
modification  of  function  which  take  place  in  the  organ- 
ism under  its  infiuence  or  with  its  aid.  The  effects 
are  not  located  in  the  drug !  (sic)  Before  we  can  predict 
«ny  property  of  a  drug,  we  must  take  into  account  the 
properties  of  the  organic  state  and  functions  with  which  it 
is  brought  into  relation."  Now,  this  is  mere  child's  play 
^-the  ex  cathedrd  enunciation  of  truisms.  Who  ever  said 
that  the  effects  of  a  drug  were  located  in  it  ?  or  that  they 
will  produce  these  *'  effects  "  without  coming  into  contact 
with  the  tissues  of  the  body?  It  is  perfectly  scien- 
tific to  speak  of  a  drug  producing  effects  or  symp- 
ioms,    and    to    deny    this   is    a    mere   perversion    of 


896       THE  LANCET  AKD  HOHCEOPATHY. ^'a^fjSSaw^ 

language.  If  a  man  takes  an  oonise  of  ipectuMcmha  irtne, 
and  he  forthwith  vomitSi  is  any  one  bo  left  to  himself 
as  to  say  that  it  is  unscientific  to  state  that  the  yomiting  is 
the  effect  of  the  ipecacuanha  t  If  such  is  science,  save  us 
from  it.  In  the  paragraph  just  quoted,  it  will  he  observed 
that  the  Lancet  says  that  "  in  studying  the  properties  of 
a  medicine,  it  is  always  tried  on  the  healthy."  This  state- 
ment will  rather  astonish  our  readers.  This  plan  is  alwaj» 
adopted  in  homceopathy,  and  is  one  of  the  essentials  of  a 
yaluable  Materia  Medica,  but  while  the  allopaths  now-a-days 
admit  that  this  is  necessary,  the  great  cry  is  that  it  is  not 
done,  and  still  remains  the  great  deinderatum^  accountings 
in  a  great  measure,  in  Dr.  Andbew  Clabk's  opinion,  for 
the  backward  state  of  old-school  therapeutics.  *^  It  foUows,'" 
proceeds  the  Lancet,  **  that  the  only  rc^tional  way  to  try  a 
drug  is  first  in  health  and  then  in  disease."  Precisely  so. 
We  are  here  fully  at  one.  But  We  join  issue  with  him  in 
his  next  sentences :  "  In  short,  it  is  not  possible  to  predict 
the  *  effect '  which  will  follow  its  use  until  we  have  actually 
tested  it,  first  on  a  healthy  and  then  on  a  morbid  organism. 
The  practice  of  selecting  remedies  on  any  principle  or 
theory  of  their  mode  of  action  in  health  alone,  is  manifestly 
an  affectation  of  the  impracticable."  We  mmntpftin  that  it 
is  not  only  possible  thus  to  predict  the  curative  action  of  a 
drug  when  once  we  know  its  effects  in  health,  but  it  is 
constantly  done  by  us.  And  this  is  one  of  the  chief  charms 
of  homoeopathy,  (xiven  the  effects  of  any  new  drag  in 
health,  and  we  shall  tell  for  what  it  will  do  in  disease.  We 
do  not  waste  time  and  energy  in  trying  a  drug  in  every 
conceivable  form  of  disease  till  the  right  path  is  hit  upony 
but  we  go  straight  to  our  point,  and  give  the  drug  in  a  case 
where  symptoms  similar  to  the  pathogenetic  effects  of  the 
drug  are  present,  and  we  know  what  will  be  the  result. 
In  such  a  way,  TTalmA^i^ni^  ^^as  able  to  predict  what  would 


2!^jSnfi8S^  THE  LANOBT  AND  HOMOBOPATHY.   397 

1)0  the  best  remedies  for  cholera,  before  he  had  seen  a  single 
case.  In  such  a  way,  of  late  years,  we  have  been  able  to 
*^  predict "  that  apomorphia  woold  prove  a  most  valuable 
remedy  in  sickness ;  that  chloral  would  cure  urticaria,  &ۥ, 
and  that  jo^oraiult  would  benefit  the  night-sweats  of  phthisis; 
all  which  "predictions"  were  fulfilled  as  we  knew  they 
would  be. 

The  editor  of  the  Lancet  then  concludes  as  follows, 
"We  venture  to  suggest  for  the  consideration  of  honest 
and  intelligent  thinkers  now  connected  with  the  homoeo- 
pathic school,  whether  a  recognition  of  the  truth  of  our 
reasoning,  and  a  consequent  repudiation  of  the  errors 
exposed,  would  not  afibrd  a  timely  occasion  for  re- 
concilement with  the  medical  profession,  on  grounds 
welcome  to  both  parties  in  this  regrettable  alienation  and 
controversy."  We  have  agreed  with  the  editor  in  many 
points;  there  have  been  no  errors  exposed,  and  conse- 
quently none  to  repudiate,  and  we  shall  be  delighted 
to  assist  in  healing  the  professional  breach  "on  grounds 
welcome  to  both  parties,"  But,  unfortunately,  the  right 
hand  of  friendship  thus  offered  is  soon  withdrawn.  The 
editor,  we  presume,  has  found  that  he  has  gone  too  far  for 
the  tastes  of  his  subscribers,  who  cannot  swallow  this 
homoeopathic  pill  so  easily  as  he  has  done.  The  trades- 
union  will  not  allow  it.  So,  in  the  Lancet  of  June  11th, 
the  same  number  in  which  the  three  replies  are  inserted, 
we  find  the  following  precious  editorial  remarks,  which 
we  must  quote  entire : — 

"  * HOMCEOPATHIG    REMEDIES'   DO  NOT  ACT 

HOMCEOPATHICALLY. 

"  The  medical  profession  and  the  public  will  be  interested 
to  learn,  on  the  highest  authority,  that  homoBopaths  do 
not  themselves  believe  that  what  are  called  *  homoeopathic 
remedies '  act  homceopathically.  It  seems  that  no  homoo- 
opathist  has  of  late  years  even  pretended  that  the  drugs  he 
employs  cure  disease  on  the  principle  similia  ahnilibiLB 
curantur  /  This  dogma  is  simply  a  statement  of  the  so- 
called  '  principle '  on  which  the  homoeopathist  selects  his 
remedies.  This  is  obviously  a  minor  consideration,  and 
one  in  which  the  public  has  little,  if  any,  interest. 
What  the  patients  of  homoeopathic  practitioners  expect 


898     THE  LANCET  AND  HOMCEOPATHT.  ^B^.^Hfi^ 


from  these  gentiemen,  and  fee  them  for,  is  '  homoB- 
pathic  treatment  It  is  a  matter  of.  perfect  indifference 
to  the  sick  man  or  his  friends  how  the  physician  selects  his 
drugs.  The  only  practical  question  is  how  he  treats  his 
cases,  and  in  what  manner  the  drugs  act*  Haying  elicited 
a  frank  confession  of  the  &ct8  as  to  the  action  of  drugs, 
we  can  only  appeal  to  honest  men  still  connected  with  thi& 
so-called  'homoeopathic  school,'  to  abandon  openly  a 
position  which  they  admit  does  not  exist,  and  which 
is«  therefore,  only  a  name — full  of  meaning  to  the  lay 
public,  but  of  no  significance  to  themselves.  We  do  not 
wish  to  speak  strongly  on  the  subject,  but  it  is  certainly 
the  reverse  of  candid  to  retain  a  name  which  means 
nothing  and  deludes  the  public.  With  the  publication  of 
the  letters,  which  appear  in  another  colunm,  the  discus- 
sion must  end.  The  truth  is  now  at  length  before  our 
readers  on  the  admission  of  leading  homoeopathists,  and 
the  only  possible  inferences  are  writ  large  and  plain." 

What  shall  we  say  of  this  precious  paragraph  ?    After 
the  original  article  of  the  editor,  which  we  have  criticised 
in  this  paper,  and  the  replies  by  Drs.  Dudgeon,  Nankiyell, 
and   Dyoe  Bbown,  we  should  fancy  that  the   adherents 
of  the  old  school  must  consider  such  remarks  a  piece  of 
sheer  impertinence.     They  are  so  utterly  ridiculous  that 
the  subscribers  to  the  Lancet  must  be  of  different  mental 
calibre  to  what  is  generally  supposed,  if  they  are  taken  in 
by  them,  or  are  considered  by  them  as  other  than  insane. 
They  will  not  bear  sober  argument.     The  best  reply  to 
them  is  to  print  them  entire,  as  we  have  done,  and  leave 
them.     Patients  will   hear  with  astonishment  that  the 
Lancet  consider  them  such  idiots  as  to  believe  that  it  is  a 
matter  of  indifference  to  them  or  their  friends  how  the 
physician  selects  his  drugs. 

For  ourselves,  we  can  hardly  believe  that  the  writer  of 
the  first  article  is  the  author  of  these  last  observations. 
They  are  probably  the  result  of  a  trades-union  conclave, 
and  we  regret  to  find  that  such  a  conclusion  of  an  all- 
important  subject  should  be  possible  in  the  year  of 
grace,  1881. 

The  editor  of  the  Lancet  cannot  now  recall  his  first 
article,  or  suppress  the  replies.  They  will  bear  their  froit, 
and  we  are  quite  ready  to  wait  as  complacently  as  we  hsTd 
ever  done. 


SSSfjWS^*        OK  PHTTOLAOOA.  899 

ON  PHYTOLACCAJ' 

£t  Alfred  C.  Pope,  M.D. 

Lecturer  on  Materia  Kedica  at  the  London  School  of  HonuBopathy. 

The  Phytolacca  decandra^  belonging  to  the  natural  order 
Phytolacca^ea,  is  a  plant  some  six  to  nine  feet  high,  found 
in  the  United  States  of  America  and  also  in  the  South  of 
Europe  and  in  the  Barbary  States.  The  parts  used  in 
medicine  are  the  roots  and  the  berries,  of  which  the  latter 
would  seem  to  be  the  more  active  in  medicinal  properties. 
The  root  is  large,  often  exceeding  a  man's  leg  in  thickness, 
and  covered  wiUi  a  brownish  bark.  The  berries  when 
young  are  greenish,  but  become  purple  after  ripening. 
The  period  of  flowering  is  autumn. 

All  our  knowledge  of  the  action  of  this  plant  is  derived 
from  provings  made  by  our  American  colleagues,  and  from 
cases  of  poisoning  which  have  occurred  in  the  United 
States.  It  was  introduced  into  medicine,  I  believe,  by  that 
indefatigable  student  of  Materia  Medica,  Dr.  E.  M.  Hale 
of  Chicago.  It  is  a  drug  which  appears  to  have  been 
exceptionally  well  proved  on  the  human  subject,  exhibiting 
an  action  of  a  very  powerful  character,  and  giving  rise 
to  morbid  conditions  of  considerable  importance.  Never- 
theless, it  has  not,  at  any  rate  in  England,  been  studied 
with  the  care  necessary  to  that  frequent  use,  which  might, 
I  think,  be  advantageously  made  of  it. 

It  is  a  traditional  remedy  in  the  Western  States  of 
America  in  many  chronic  diseases  among  human  beings, 
and  also  in  inflammation  of  the  udders  in  mares  and  cows. 

The  cases  of  poisoning,  and  the  various  experiments  in 
corpore  sano  which  have  been  made  with  it,  show  that  it 
influences  the  cerebro- spinal  system,  the  mucous  mem- 
brane of  the  gastro-intestinal  tract,  and  slightly  that  of  the 
respiratoiy  organs,  the  skin,  periosteum,  and  glands,  while 
it  also  irritates  to  some  extent  the  male  sexual  organs. 

How  widely  its  influence  extends,  and  how  various  the 
tissues  it  irritates,  this  brief  summary  will  show  you. 

It  is  essentially  a  tissue-irritant.  Violent  as  is  its 
action  on  the  stomach  and  intestines,  severe  as  are  the 
pain  and  vomiting  it  excites,  little  or  no  active  fever  is 
produced  by  it.  With  small  doses  there  is  some  slight 
increase  of  heat,  but  when  the  quantity  taken  has  been 

♦A  Laotorfl  drtitwed  at  th»  London  Behool  ol  HoniOBopathy,Febroagy,  ie81« 


400  ON  PHYTOLACCA.       ^'sS^^^Tm. 


considerable, .  col^ess,  prostration,  and  more  or  leBS 
profuse  perspiration  manifest  the  profoundly  depressing 
influence  it  has  upon' the  organism. 

The  most  striking  effects  to  which  it  gives  rise  consist 
of  inflammation  in  the  throat,  stomach,  and  intestines, 
convulsions  of  a  tetanic  character,  and  a  peculiar,  severe, 
and  enduring  inflammation  of  the  skin. 

In  going  now  more  into  detail,  I  will  first  of  all  describe 
the  kind  of  headache  which  characterises  the  general 
action  of  Phytolacca. 

With  a  marked  indifference  to  ordinary  sources  of 
interest,  there  are  vertigo — ^generally  associated  with 
•nausea — a  dull  heavy  feeling  in  the  head,  with  sickness,  a 
sore  pain  in  the  head,  especially  in  the  temporal  region,  a 
sensation  of  soreness  in  the  interior  of  the  head.  A  doll 
heavy  pain  in  the  forehead  is  descnbed  by  the  prover. 
Dr.  Burt,  as  being  a  constant  symptom.  Dull  pressing 
pain  in  the  forehead,  accompanied  by  slight  nausea,  with 
cool  perspiration  on  the  forehead  and  slight  nausea.  One 
sided  pain  just  above  the  eyebrows,  with  sickness  of  the 
.stomach ;  pressure  on  the  temples  and  constrictive  feeling 
at  the  precordia,  like  the  sensation  that  precedes  sea- 
sickness ;  pressure  and  bruised  sensation  at  the  top  of  the 
head ;  dull  bruised  pain  at  the  occiput. 

These  symptoms  are  such  as  have  marked  not  one  case 
of  poisoning,  or  one  set  of  experiments,  but  they  recur 
repeatedly  in  the  analysis  of  numerous  cases  or  experi- 
ments. They  show,  I  think,  clearly  enough,  the  intimate 
connection  of  the  headache  with  the  gastric  derangement 
the  drug  produces,  to  which  I  shall  draw  your  attention 
presently.  It  is  a  reflected,  a  sympathetic  headache,  not 
'one  dependent  upon  a  primarily  disturbed  state  of  the  brain 
or  its  meninges. 

Hence  you  will  often  find  Phytolacca  to  be  indicated  and 
consequently  useful  in  the  treatment  of  that  too  often 
intractable  disorder  known  as  sick-headache. 

Before  passing  to  the  action  ofphytolacca  on  the  throat, 
I  will  briefly  describe  its  influence  upon  the  eyes. 

The  sunken  appearance  of  the  eyeballs  and  the  livid 
circles  around  them,  are  part  and  parcel  of  the  general  con- 
stitutional disturbance — one  of  the  indications  of  general 
prostration,  and  have  no  strictly  local  significance.  Bnt 
.beyond  this  we  find  ^  sense  of  smarting  in.  theoejebaUs^  a 


iES22rSi?rf^*        ON  PHYTOLACCA.  401 


Berisw,  July  1, 1881. 


feeling  as  if  sand  or  grit  were  between  the  lid  and  the  ball. 
The  eyes  ache,  and  are  sore. 

These  symptoms  reflect  a  certain  degree  of  catarrhal 
inflammation.  The  tarsi  are  more  distinctly  inflamed. 
Thus,  in  one  man  24  years  of  age  poisoned  by  eating  the 
grated  root  in  mistake  for  horseradish,  the  lids  felt  as  if 
granulated,  and  the  tarsal  edges  had  a  scalded  hot  feeling 
as  if  they  were  raw.  In  another  instance,  the  eyelids  were 
agglutinated  and  oedematous  for  two  days.  The  eyelids  are 
also  described  as  being  sore. 

Drs.  Allen  and  Norton  of  the  New  York  Ophthalmic 
Hospital  say  that  Phytolacca  has  been  employed  with  some 
success  in  ameliorating,  if  not  curing  such  malignant 
ulcers  of  the  lids  as  lupus  epithelioma,  &c.  As  an 
illustration  they  refer  to  a  case  of  suppurative  choroiditis 
(paDophthalmitis)  which  occurred  i^  the  clinique  of 
Dr.  Liebold,  in  the  right  eye  of  a  child  after  a  needle 
operation  for  cataract.  The  lids  were  enormously  swollen, 
very  hard  and  red,  the  conjunctiva  was  chemosed,  the 
anterior  chamber  filled  with  pus,  and  the  cornea  was 
tending  towards  suppuration,  the  child  pale,  weak  and 
restless.  Phytolacca  externally  and  internally  was  £^iven 
with  marked  reUef.  the  inflammatory  sympi^ms  4iaiy 
subsiding  under  its  employment. 

Further  still,  we  find  that  phytolacca  gives  rise  to  con- 
siderable lachrymation,  and  in  the  case  of  poisoning^ 
referred  to  just  now,  when  agglutination  of  the  eyelids 
occurred,  there  was  also  a  disturbance  of  vision.  Not  only 
two,  but  four  and  five  reduplications  of  an  object  were 
apparent ;  the  objects  whether  double,  triple,  or  otherwise^ 
were  in  the  same  horizontal  plane ;  the  diplopia  grew 
worse  in  the  evening,  and  again  three  or  four  reduplica- 
tions were  visible  on  the  following  day ;  similar  symptoms 
recurred  on  each  of  the  two  following  days.  In  other 
cases  we  find  vision  to  be  obscure  and  light  to  be  painful. 

The  catarrhal  like  state,  which  we  have  seen  phytolacca 
to  produce  in  the  conjunctiva,  is  also  manifested  in  the 
Schneiderian  membrane.  Fluent  coryza,  nasal  obstruction^ 
and  a  tickling  sensation  in  the  nostrils  have  frequently 
been  noticed.  One  prover  describes  the  following  group  of 
symptoms,  showing  the  continuity  of  irritation.  "  He  first 
felt  a  burning  sensation  in  the  nose,  then  dryness  in  the 
throat,  which  was  soon  followed  by  soreness ;  then  a  watery 

Ko.  7,  YoL  86.  3d 


402  ON  PHYTOLACCA.         ^"SSSL^^S??^ 


Beview,  July  1,  IflBL 


discharge  from  the  nostrils^  which  increased  until  the  nose 
became  stuffed." 

The  tongue  is  coated  white,  or  is  yellow  and  dry  and 
swollen — ^the  tip  is  red,  and  there  is  much  pain  at  the  root 
of  the  tongue,  extending  down  the  fauces.  The  soft  palate 
and  tonsils  are  swollen  and  congested;  small  ulcers  are 
noticed  on  the  inside  of  the  right  cheek,  and  there  is  a 
greatly-increased  secretion  of  ssdiva  with  a  metallic  like 
taste  in  the  mouth. 

The  throat  is  red,  sore,  and  swollen,  with  a  thick,  white, 
yellow  mucus  about  the  fauces.  In  several  other  instances 
it  was  Uvid  and  congested  in  appearance.  There  is  a  great 
sense  of  rawness  and  excoriation  in  the  throat — ^it  is  rough 
and  raw,  and  feels  as  if  it  were  burnt.  Further,  there  is  a 
sense  of  suffocation  in  the  throat — a  feeling  as  if  a  lump 
were  there — ^which  causes  a  constant  inclination  to  swallow, 
and  at  the  same  time  there  are  great  dryness,  roughness, 
and  soreness.  The  tonsils  and  palate  are  sore,  swollen, 
and  congested  looking.  The  fauces  are  dry  and  swollen. 
Dr.  Burt,  a  very  heroic  prover,  says  that  he  felt  as  if  a 
ball  of  red-hot  iron  had  lodged  in  the  fauces  and  the  whole 
of  the  oesophagus  when  swallowing ;  the  pain  was  so  great 
that  he  could  take  nothing  but  fluid  for  two  days,  and  had 
a  constant  choking  sensation.  Dr.  Williamson,  of  Phila- 
delphia, after  chewing  some  pieces  of  the  fresh  root,  felt  a 
dry  sensation  in  the  upper  part  of  the  pharynx,  a  disposi- 
tion to  hawk  and  clear  the  throat  without  relief — ^he  finally 
raised  some  pieces  of  tough  sticky  mucus.  Swallowing 
was  difficult,  and  became  so  severe  that  he  could  not 
swallow  even  water.  Every  attempt  to  swallow  was 
Attended  with  excruciating  pain  shooting  through  both 
ears.  Pressure  and  tension  were  noted  as  being  felt  in 
both  parotids. 

Such  are  the  indications  of  the  disorder  set  up  by  Phyto- 
lacca in  the  throat.  Some  years  ago  these  symptoms  were 
regarded  as  resembling  those  of  diphtheria,  but  I  think 
it  will  be  obvious  that  they  are  wanting  in  some,  which 
are  pathognomonic  of  that  much-dreaded  disease,  at  any 
rate  when  fully  developed.  What  they  do  resemble  is  a  low 
type  of  ulcerated  sore  throat,  not  altogether  unlike  that 
produced  by  mercwry.  Phytolacca,  however,  gives  rise  to 
more  swelling  and  less  ulceration  than  does  Toercury.  It 
is  indeed  a  kind  of  throat  which  is  common  enough  in 
epidemics  of  diphtheria,  but  it  is  diphtheroid  rather  than 


^t^^t^"         Q«  PHYTOLACCA. 403 

diphtheritic.  Dr.  Bayes  describes  several  cases  of  diphtheria 
occnrring  when  he  practised  in  Cambridge,  all  of  which 
were  treated  with  Phytolacca,  bat  at  the  same  time  carbolic 
acid  was  applied  to  the  tonsils  and  brought  away  the 
membrane  in  large  pieces  and  '^  appeared  to  exercise  a 
most  happy  influence  over  the  subjacent  mucous  surfaces." 
To  true  striking  dxphihenAphytolacca  presents  no  analogy ; 
but  Dr.  Hughes  regards  it  as  specific  when  high  fever  with 
aching  in  ^e  back  and  limbs  are  present.  I  am  hardly 
disposed  to  go  so  far  with  him.  Phytolacca  gives  rise  to 
no  high  fever,  but  rather  to  one  of  a  low  type  with  great 
prostration.  The  throat  and  the  cavity  of  the  mouth  are, 
as  we  have  seen,  swollen  and  livid,  the  tonsils  are  enlarged 
and  so  too  are  the  parotids ;  there  are  also  great  soreness 
and  difficulty  in  swaUowing,  but  there  is  nothing  whatever 
like  the  false  membrane  of  diphtheria,  and  no  offensive 
odour.  If  there  is  any  reflection  of  the  diphtheria  disease 
in  the  pathogenesis  of  Phytolacca  it  is  but  a  budding 
diphtheria.  If,  however,  Phytolacca  is  not  calculated  to 
deal  effectively  with  the  fully-developed  diphtheria,  it  is 
still  very  valuable  in  some  of  the  types  of  sore  throat 
which  closely  approach  it.  Enlarged  tonsils,  enlarged 
parotids,  a  swollen  congested  mucous  membrane,  small 
ulcers  here  and  there,  with  salivation  mark  many  sore 
throats  in  low  types  of  disease,  in  such  and  in  what 
Dr.  Hale,  of  Chicago,  calls  ^'  cases  of  catarrhal  inflamma- 
tion of  the  head  and  throat,  which  closely  simulate 
diphtheria" — it  has  proved  very  useful.  In  describing 
such  cases,  he  says,  *^  on  exposing  the  fauces  I  have  seen 
what  appeared  to  be  a  large  patch  of  diphtheritic  membrane 
upon  the  posterior  wall  of  the  throat ;  but;  a  close  exami- 
nation would  prove  it  to  be  tough  white  mucus  from  the 
posterior  nares  clinging  tightly  there."  Here  ihQ  Phytolacca 
is  clearly  indicated,  and  has  been  found  to  be  curative. 

It  is  well  to  give  the  medicine  not  only  by  way  of  mix- 
ture with  water,  but  as  a  gargle.  It  is  very  refreshing  to 
the  patient,  and  also  cleansing  to  his  throat. 

The  appetite  for  food  appears  to  be  considerably 
increased  at  first  by  Phytolacca,  but  in  no  short  time  it  is 
entirely  lost.     There  is  also  great  thirst. 

Eructations  are  frequent,  and  some  nausea  is  a  constant 
symptom.  In  a  young  woman,  who  had  drunk  freely  of  a 
strong  infusion  of  the  root,  the  following  state  was  noted  : 
**  Nausea  with  the  vertigo,  immediately  followed  by  violent 

2d— 2 


404  ON  PHYTOLACCA.       "'S^^SS??^? 


Beriew,  July  1, 1881. 


retching  and  vomiting,  ejecting  the  contents  of  the  stomach, 
which  consisted  of  ingesta.  The  vomiting  continued  at 
intervals  of  from  one  to  five  minutes,  ejecting  a  trans- 
parent mucus  slightly  tinged  with  yellow."  This  nausea 
is  attended  also  by  a  faint  feeling,  severe  pain  in  the 
umbilical  region,  and,  as  I  pointed  out  when  speaking  of 
the  kind  of  headache  produced  by  phytola^ca,  by  heat  in 
the  head,  by  a  dull  pressure  in  the  forehead,  somewhat 
relieved  by  eating,  bnt  soon  returning  with  increased 
severity.  In  this  instance,  when  the  symptoms  detailed 
were  evoked  by  chewing  the  root  and  swallowing  three  or 
four  grains  of  it,  "  vomiting  occurred  violently  every  ten 
or  fifteen  minutes,  the  nausea  was  relieved,  and  the  pain 
in  the  forehead  was  increased  by  vomiting."  The  acrid 
vomiting  in  this  case  caused  a  feeling  of  excoriation  and 
scraping  in  the  throat — water  and  Cofiiee  taken  to  allay  the 
retching  were  instantly  rejected. 

In  this  I  think  you  will  recognise  the  picture  of  many 
cases  of  so-called  sick  headaches — ^remember,  I  do  not  say 
all,  but  many.  I  feel  sure  that  when  such  symptoms  as 
these  characterise  a  sick  headache,  you  will  find  phytolacca 
curative. 

We  also  find  that  phytolacca  produces  a  kind  of  vomit- 
ing, characteristic  of  gastritis.  Of  this  we  have  examples 
in  the  two  following  cases,  both  arising  from  eating  the 
root.  In  one  there  was  free  vomiting  at  intervals  of  twenty 
or  thirty  minutes,  continuing  for  twenty-four  hours.  In 
another  it  is  reported  that  in  about  two  hours  after  the 
second  dose,  he  complained  of  feeling  sick  at  the  stomach, 
and,  in  a  few  minutes  more,  violent  vomiting  began,  first 
of  food,  then  of  greenish  matter,  finally  of  a  dark  matter 
mixed  with  clear  blood ;  it  requires  great  efibrt  to  vomit  ; 
this  syncope  continued  nearly  all  night,  but  was  somewhat 
relieved  in  the  morning,  and  ceased  in  the  afternoon. 

In  addition  to  nausea  and  vomiting,  we  find  that  there 
is  great  pain  in  the  epigastric  region — ^pain  as  of  pressurer 
burning,  constrictive  and  griping,  bruised,  cutting,  and 
tearing.  It  is  increased  by  pressure,  by  taking  a  full 
inspiration,  and  by  walking. 

There  can  be  little  doubt  but  that  pain  and  suffering  of 
this  kind  is  due  to  inflammation  of  mucous  membrane  of 
the  stomach.  Vomiting  is  the  conspicuous  symptom,  the 
stomach  refuses  to  retain  anything,  any  food  whatever  iff 
ejected  inmiediately ;  the  pain  likewise,  which  is  buming^ 


S^J^TJSiL^       ON  PHYTOLACCA.  405 

and  catting  in  character,  and  aggravated  by  pressure 
or  movement,  all  point  to  inflammation  of  the  stomach  as 
the  pathological  state  produced  by  the  drug* 

A  similar  condition  exists  in  the  intestines ;  the  liver 
also  is  disturbed  as  shown  by  the  heavy  aching,  the  digging 
pain  in,  and  the  inability  to  lie  on  the  right  side.  A 
violent  pressing  pain  is  also  noticed  in  the  hypoohondrium, 
BO  that  he  cannot  remain  in  a  sitting  posture. 

Fain,  burning,  cramping,  and  griping  is  referred  to  the 
umbilical  region.  The  intestines  are  full  of  gas,  the 
emission  of  which  somewhat  relieves  the  pain.  Through- 
out the  abdomen  griping  and  cramp-like  pains  are  very 
severe.  Purging  is,  as  might  be  expected,  also  severe. 
Thus  we  find  "  purging  severely  and  frequently ;  "  "  severe 
purging  after  vomiting,  the  stools  thin  and  dark  brown." 
In  one  very  extreme  case  of  poisoning,  we  find  diarrhoea 
with  sickly  feeling  in  the  bowels,  copious  discharges  of 
'blood,  mucus,  and  what  looked  like  scrapings  of  the  inner 
surface  of  the  intestines  ;  involuntary  stools  from  straining, 
which  continued  even  in  sleep.  In  another,  ''diarrhoea 
set  in  with  the  vomiting,  with  fearful  tenesmus,  rendering 
it  impossible  to  leave  stool  for  a  moment,  the  pain  did  not 
■cease  for  an  instant,  the  stool  was  at  first  yellow,  then  of 
greenish  matter,  finally  dark  bloody  matter,  this  continued 
all  night,  and  in  the  morning  was  somewhat  relieved, 
•ceasing  early  in  the  afternoon." 

The  stools  are  chiefly  soft  and  papescent,  or  thin  and 
jdark  brown,  copious  and  light  yellow,  mucous  and  bloody, 
attended  with  tenesmus,  and  preceded  by  heat  in  the 
rectum.  With  these  symptoms  you  must  bear  in  mind 
that  there  is  no  active  fever,  but  on  the  contrary,  a  state 
of  prostration — ^a  condition  approaching  collapse.  PhytO" 
lacca  you  will  thus  find  to  be  indicated  in  cases  of  what  are 
called  English  cholera,  where  the  pain  is  severe,  the 
vomiting  great,  and  the  purging  considerable.  In  cholera 
infantum  it  has  proved  useful.  In  some  cases  of  dysentery 
it  will  be  a  serviceable  medicine,  especially  when  the  heat 
in  the  rectum  and  the  straining  immediately  before  and 
during  stool  are  peculiarly  well  marked. 

In  sach  cases  phytolacca  has  been  much  more  generally 
used  by  homoeopathic  physicians  in  the  United  States  of 
America  than  it  has  been  in  England.  Here  it  would  seem 
that  its  powerful  action  on  the  gastro-intestinal  canal  has 
been  somewhat  overlooked. 


406  ON  PHTTOLACOA.        «^L=?S??^" 


BoTiew,  Jnly  1, 1881. 


Irritation  is  also  set  up  in  the  kidneys.  Weakness, 
pain,  and  soreness  are  felt  in  the  renal  region.  The  urine 
is  diminished  in  quantity  to  such  an  extent  as  to  be 
described  as  suppressed,  and  subsequently  it  is  increased 
in  amount.  Dr.  Burt,  in  describing  his  own  condition, 
says :  "  The  urine  was  at  first  diminished,  afterwards 
increased ;  the  urine  remained  acid  and  became  decidedly 
albuminous  ;  the  specific  gravity  greatly  increased."  Thid 
albuminous  condition  of  the  urine  has  been  held,  and  with 
reason,  to  justify  the  prescription  of  Phytolacca  in  diphtheria; 
but,  at  the  same  time,  it  is  insufficient  where  other  and 
more  prominent  symptoms  of  this  disease  are  but  im- 
perfectly developed.  It  is  doubtless  produced  by  a  renal 
congestion  near  akin  to  that  which  marks  the  state  of  the 
tonsils,  fauces,  and  parotids. 

The  irritation,  which  as  we  have  seen  is  set  up  in  the 
throat,  extends  to  the  larynx  and  bronchi,  and  is  marked 
by  a  sensation  of  dryness  in  the  lamyx  and  hoarseness, 
somo  dry  cough  with  an  expectoration  of  tough  mucus, 
some  shortness  of  breath,  slow  sighing  respiration  and  a 
sense  of  suffocation,  pain  and  tenderness  and  a  bruised-like 
feeling  in  the  muscles  of  the  chest. 

These  symptoms  all  indicate  a  degree,  but  not  a  veiy 
serious  degree,  of  pulmonary  congestion.  It  is,  I  appre- 
hend, in  cases  where,  firom  whatever  cause  arisiDg, 
congestion  of  the  lungs  follows  a  sore  throat  of  the  type 
I  have  described,  that  Phytolacca  is  useful ;  not  in  purely 
idiopathic  congestion;  nor  yet  again,  in  one  that  is 
extensive;  and  still  less  so,  when  there  is  much  febrile 
excitement. 

The  action  of  Phytolacca  on  the  skin  is  very  distinct. 
In  the  following  case  the  symptoms  arose  in  a  woman  who 
took  about  a  couple  of  table-spoonfuls  of  an  infusion  of 
three  ounces  of  Phytolacca  root  in  a  pint  of  whisky  three 
times  a  day. 

'*  She  was  covered,"  says  Dr.  Grasmuck,  in  the  Ohio 
Medical  and  Surgical  Report ,  "from  the  crown  of  the  head 
to  the  soles  of  her  feet  with  an  eruption,  the  like  of  which 
I  never  beheld ;  it  began  on  the  scalp  and  spread  down- 
wards to  the  very  toe-nails ;  it  consisted  of  erythematous 
blotches  of  irregular  shape,  slightly  elevated,  of  a  pale 
red  or  pink  colour,  very  sore  and  painful,  itching  sUghtly 
only  on  desquamation,  but  too  sore  to  allow  any  scratchiog 
for  relief,  and  terminating  in  a  dark  red  or  purple  spot, 


55Si^j^?8r°         ON  PHYTOLAOOA, 407 

taking  about  thirty  days  for  each  to  pass  through  its 
various  stages  of  eruption  and  desquamation,  and  about 
the  same  length  of  time  to  advance  from  the  head  to  the 
feet,  so  that  the  eruption  could  be  seen  at  one  time  in  all 
its  stages  of  development;  there  was  no  accompanying 
fever,  no  swelling.  After  mere,  sol.  8d  x  trit.,  which 
relieved  the  sleeplessness  and  finally  also  the  pains,  the 
eruption  grew  worse  rather  than  better,  and  even  invaded 
the  conjunctiva  and  mucous  membranes  of  the  nose  and 
mouth ;  and  now,  after  a  lapse  of  three  months,  it  is  in 
the  fauces  and  oesophagus,  having  entirely  disappeared 
from  the  external  surface." 

To  what  known  morbid  condition  to  liken  this  state  is 
not  easy.  Erythema,  followed  by  ulceration,  is  perhaps 
most  like  it,  but  it  is  erythema  of  a  type  rarely,  if  ever, 
seen  in  practice.  We  will,  however,  consider  it  in  connec- 
tion with  the  next  case  I  shall  cite. 

The  following  condition  was  set  up  in  a  man  from  eating 
the  root  for  some  trivial  complaint. 

"  On  the  third  day,  after  taking  the  medicine,  an  itching 
commenced  on  his  hands  and  feet,  and  spread  over  the 
entire  body.  Four  hours  after  this  began  a  rash  showed 
itself,  following  the  same  course  that  the  itching  did. 
"With  this  the  itching  started  with  renewed  force,  and 
became  so  severe  that  he  could  hardly  contain  himself. 
The  more  he  scratched  the  worse  the  itching  grew ;  skin 
hot  and  dry ;  it  seemed  as  if  he  would  burn  up ;  great 
desire  to  pour  cold  water  on  himself,  which  would  relieve 
him  for  a  few  moments,  but  was  always  worse  afterwards ; 
he  could  not  lie  in  bed,  as  the  heat  of  the  bed  was  more 
than  he  could  bear,  it  aggravated  the  itching  so  badly ;  his 
skin  was  very  red,  and  if  he  exercised  so  as  to  feel  the 
least  warm  little  vesicles  could  be  discerned  under  the 
cuticle." 

Here  I  think  we  have  an  illustration  of  some  inveterate 
cases  of  eczema.  I  remember  seeing  one  some  few  years 
ago  under  the  care  of  Dr.  Wheisler,  of  Clapton.  The 
patient  went  through  much  such  a  process  as  this,  while  the 
desquamation  was  something  enormous.  I  do  not  recollect 
whether  we  gave  him  Phytolacca,  but  I  rather  think  not. 
He  ultimately  recovered,  chiefly  by  means  of  a  course  of 
hydropathic  bathing.  In  such  a  case  I  should  certainly 
advise  you  to  give  this  medicine.     The  condition  seems  to 


408  ON  PHYTOLACCA.        ^''SS^i^^STTlS' 


B«new,Ji]l7l,lBBl. 


be  one  of  inflammation  of  the  akin  with  effusion,  teimi* 
nating  either  in  desquamation  or  ulceration. 

In  another  case  an  itching  on  his  left  calf  and  then  on 
the  right  was  accompanied  in  the  latter  part  of  the  time  by 
a  lichenous  eruption,  the  itching  lasting  two  or  three 
weeks,  and  was  always  worse  during  the  first  part  of  the 
night,  often  keeping  him  from  sleep.  Dr.  Hale,  of  Chicago, 
states  that  it  has  cured  lichen-like  eruption  of  the  skm, 
and  is  especially  useful  in  eruption  which  form  a  part  of  a 
syphilitic  disease,  and  also  in  lupus. 

We  will  now  examine  the  symptoms  of  the  back  and 
extremities.  Glandular  hardness  in  the  neck  was  noticed 
by  Dr.  Burt  and  several  other  provers,  thus  suggesting  its 
use  in  such  a  condition,  when  arising  as  part  of  a  diseased 
state.  The  neck  is  stiff,  especially  the  right  side,  and 
worse  during  the  night  and  on  rising  in  the  morning. 
Pains  are  felt  in  the  muscles  of  the  scapula,  and  a  con- 
stant, dull,  heavy  pain  is  noticed  in  the  lumbar  and  sacral 
regions,  which  is  aggravated  by  motion.  Shooting  pains 
extend  from  the  sacrum  down  both  hips  to  the  feet.  Here 
we  have  some  resemblance  to  sciatica  shadowed  forth. 
Muscular  cramp  is  a  prominent  symptom.  The  muscles 
are  described  as  gathering  into  great  knots,  hard  and  rigid, 
the  cramp  coming  on  suddenly,  continuing  a  few  moments, 
and  then  subsiding  in  an  instant,  leaving  the  muscles 
flaccid  and  sore. 

Aching  pains  in  the  shoulder  blades  are  noticed  in 
several,  and  also  in  the  shoulder  joint.  There  is  also  a 
sensation  of  weight  and  pressure  on  both  shoulder  blades. 
The  arms  ache  and  feel  extremely  weak.  A  dull  aching 
pain  and  tenderness  as  from  a  bruise  is  felt  in  the  muscles 
of  the  outside  of  the  right  upper  arm,  most  severe 
about  two  inches  above  the  elbow,  particularly  when  the 
part  is  pressed  upon  and  touched  and  the  arm  is  extended. 
Pain  is  also  noticed  as  felt  just  at  the  insertion  of  the 
deltoid.  There  is  in  addition  a  good  deal  of  aching  in 
the  forearm  and  rheumatic-like  drawing  along  the  ulna, 
and  in  the  leg.  Jerking  pains  are  noticed  in  the  hands 
and  legs,  especially  frequent  are  they  in  the  hands,  the 
finger  joints  being  particularly  affected.  The  pains  are 
lancinating  or  shooting  in  character.  In  one  instance 
occasional  sudden  prickings  were  felt  in  the  points  of  the 
fingers,  as  if  occasioned  by  electric  sparks. 


i£!SS?:S!fr!Sf**'      ON  PHTTOLAOCA.  409 


Benew,  J11I7 1, 1861. 


The  lower  extremities  are  weak*  Nenralgio  pains  occur 
•on  the  outer  side  of  the  left  thigh,  and  also  of  the  right. 
The  knee  joints  feel  stiff  and  ache,  and  the  pain  is 
increased  by  walking.  The  ankle  joints  are  also  painful, 
80  also  are  the  tarsal  joints,  but  the  pains  are  not  so 
marked  or  so  severe  in  the  joints  of  the  foot  as  they  are 
in  those  of  the  hands.  These  symptoms  represent  not 
only  rheumatism  but  neuralgia.  Neuralgic  pains  in  the 
arms,  hands,  and  thighs.  Further,  this  combination  of 
rheumatism  and  neuralgia  resembles  that  form  of  rheuma- 
tism which  is  engendered  by  mercury,  or  by  mercury  and 
syphilis  jointly. 

Pains,  similar  to  these,  are  noted  as  occurring  in  the 
superior  maxillsB,  and,  in  the  case  I  have  referred  to, 
as  related  by  Dr.  Grasmuck,  pain  was  felt  in  the  frontal 
bone,  and  described  as  resembling  that  of  periostitis. 

Dr.  Hale  says  that  in  periosteal  rheumatism  phyto- 
lacea  is  useful,  and  he  bases  his  opinion  on  the  case  re- 
lated by  Dr.  Grasmuck.  The  patient  was  a  woman  of 
forty-five,  keeper  of  a  boarding-house,  of  a  bilious,  sanguine 
-temperament,  active  and  hardworking,  the  mother  of  a  family. 
She  had  always  had  good  health  until  a  year  before  Dr. 
Grasmuck  saw  her,  when  she  was  attacked  with  rheumatism, 
this  was  followed  by  anasarca  and  many  other  symptoms, 
indicative  of  the  change  of  life.  After  some  month's 
illness  she  recovered  with  the  exception  of  a  slight  pain  in 
the  right  hip  joint.  A  month  later  Dr.  Grasmuck  saw  her 
tind  found  her  suffering  intensely  from  pains  in  her  joints  and 
in  the  bones  of  her  face  and  hand,  which  had  prevented  sleep 
for  many  nights.  The  skin  eruption,  an  account  of  which 
I  read  to  you  just  now,  is  then  detailed,  and  Dr.  Grasmuck 
goes  on  to  observe  that  there  were  no  accompanying  fever, 
no  swelling  except  in  the  face,  no  sweats,  and  the  appetite 
was  good.  She  wanted  relief  from  the  nightly  pains  in  the 
bones  of  the  face  and  head,  and  wanted  to  biow  what  the 
eruption  was.  On  examination  I  found  that  the  pains 
proceeded  from  nodes,  especially  in  the  frontal  bones,  and 
resembled  very  much  those  of  periostitis.  My  first  im- 
pression, says  Dr.  Grasmuck,  was  that  I  was  dealing  with 
a  case  of  syphilis,  but  a  closer  inspection  and  my  intimate 
acquaintance  with  the  family,  together  with  the  history  of 
the  case,  caused  me  to  abandon  this  theory,  and  the  next 
one  of  mercurial  cachexy  also.  A  vigorous  eross-examina- 
tion,  he  adds,  revealed  the  &ct,  that  about  thirty  days  before 


410  OR  PHTTOLAOOA.         ''SSSL^SI??^ 


Bevjev,  July  1, 1881. 


ahe  had  been  indaced  to  take  "  a  blood  purifying  "  remedy, 
consisting  of  a  pint  of  whisky  with  abont  three  onnces  of 
poke  root — the  popular  name  for  phytolacca — ^in  it.  Of 
this  poisonous  and  saturated  tincture  she  had  taken  ^'a 
BwaUow  three  times  a  day  tiU  I  was  caUed  in." 

This  is  only  a  single  case  it  is  true,  but  it  is  a  verj 
well  marked  one,  and  justifies  us  in  regarding  phytolacca 
as  probably  capable  of  coping  with  some  cases  of  syphilitic 
or  mercurial  rheumatic  periostitis.  It  does  so,  the  more 
in  that  associated  with  these  symptoms  were  those  of  the 
eruption  I  detailed  to  you  just  now,  which  had  a  very 
syphilitic  character  about  it.  Its  value  has,  moreoYer, 
been  clinically  tested.  The  late  Dr.  O'Brien  of  South 
Shields  {Monthly  Homoeopathic  Review^  vol.  x.  p.  173), 
states  that  in  a  case  of  syphilitic  rheumatism  with  enlarge- 
ment of  the  parotid  and  submaxillary  glands  this  agent 
produced  prompt  relief,  and  a  rapid  subsidence  of  the 
tumours.  In  another  case  of  rheumatism  of  the  right 
frontal  region,  accompanied  by  nausea  and  aggravation  of 
the  pain  in  the  morning,  relief  was  afforded  by  one  dose 
of  Phytolacca, 

Further,  in  chronic  rheumatism  uncomplicated  with 
mercurial  or  syphilitic  taint,  phytolacca  has  proven  a 
valuable  remedy.  Of  such  a  case,  Dr.  Hale  gives  the 
following  illustration  in  his  work  on  New  Remedies. 

*'  Mrs.  S.,  aged  about  40,  had  a  severe  attack  of  inflam- 
matory rheumatism  fifteen  years  ago,  which  ran  into  a 
chronic  form,  affecting  the  left  hip-joint,  of  which  she 
lost  the  use.  Upon  examination,  the  synovial  membrane 
was  found  implicated,  with  considerable  tumefaction  from 
the  effusion.  The  patient  was  of  a  scrofulous  diathesis. 
I  ascertained  she  had  enlargement  of  the  glands  of  the 
neck  and  axillse  which  had  existed  since  she  was  a  child. 

''  There  was  no  swelling  of  the  limb,  the  pain  was  obtuse, 
heavy,  aching,  generally  worse  in  damp  weather.  She 
complained  of  coldness  of  the  limb,  and  the  pain  was 
aggravated  by  warmth.  She  was  very  much  emaciated, 
and  had  night-sweats,  having  an  acid  re-action.  Urine 
scanty  most  of  the  time,  but  sometimes  very  clear.  She 
had  not  walked  without  assistance  for  fifteen  years. 

''Prognosis  unfavourable,  but  concluded  to  give  the 
Phytolacca  a  fair  trial.  Gave  the  tincture  of  the  ripe 
berries,  80  drops  three  times  a  day. 


iSSSJ'j^rSS?*'       HEART  SYMPTOMS.  411 


it 


In  two  weeks  I  saw  her  for  the  second  time,  and  she 
seemed  very  mach  benefited ;  less  pain,  the  tmnefaction 
of  the  hip  had  nearly  disappeared,  the  muscles  of  the 
thigh  had  relaxed,  and  she  had  greatly  improTed.  In  a 
few  weeks,  under  decreasing  doses>  she  recovered  the  ase 
of  her  limb," 

That  Phytolacca  excites  the  glandular  system  we  have 
had  evidence  in  the  enlargement  which  we  have  seen 
has  occurred  in  the  parotid  and  submaxillary  under  its 
influence ;  but  it  is  not  so  limited,  the  mamma  has  by  it 
become  swollen  and  inflamed.  The  slight  hint  here 
given  has  led  homoeopathic  physicians  to  develope  one  of  the 
popular  uses  of  the  drug.  For  many  years  it  has  been 
reputed  in  the  Western  States  of  America  as  a  remedy  in 
"broken  breasts,"  and  this  not  only  in  human  beings 
but  in  mares  and  cows.  Dr.  Hale  of  Chicago,  brought 
this  part  of  the  action  of  Phytolacca  fully  out  and  gave 
some  striking  clinical  illustrations  of  it  in  the  British 
Journal  of  Homoeopathy  (vol.  xxi.  p.  202). 

Of  the  value  of  phytolacca  in  such  cases  and  also  in 
darting  neuralgic  pains  in  the  breast,  pains  which  always 
excite  the  anxiety  of  woman,  who  has  ever  a  fear  of 
scirrhus  before  her  eyes,  I  have  often  found  phytolacca  a 
very  certain  and  speedy  remedy. 

It  has  generally  been  given  in  drop  or  two  drop  doses 
of  the  tincture,  Ix  or  8x  dilution.  As  a  gargle,  3  ss —  5  i 
to  a  pint  of  water  is  very  efficient,  when  this  application 
is  needed. 

21,  Henrietta  Street, 
Cavendish  Square. 

May  17th,  1881. 


HEAET  SYMPTOMS. 

Bt  Adrian  Stokes,  M.D. 

In  perusing  the  records  of  Materia  Medica  arranged  by 
Hahnemann  according  to  his  schema,  I  have  often  been 
struck  with  the  disjointed  character  of  many  of  the  symp- 
toms in  various  provings ;  some  one  or  more  being  recorded 
among  those  of  the  head,  another  among  those  of  the  back, 
thorax,  stomach,  abdomen  or  extremities,  without  any  clue 
as  to  their  connection.     In  some  cases  Hahnemann  does  i 

refer  in  a  note  from  one  symptom  to  another  to  which  it  is 


412  HEABT  SYMPTOMS.        ^'SS&^S??^! 


,  July  1, 18SL. 


organically  idatedy  the  reference  being  from  head  to 
extremities,  or  from  any  part  to  another  at  a  distance. 
Snch  references  are  very  abondant  in  the  proYings  of  china 
— are  distinct  iti  the  connection  of  catarrh  of  the  nasal 
passages  and  of  the  intestines  in  chanuyndUa  (cf.  195  x  202 
with  235  X  240)~and  in  cannabis  the  heart  symptoms  and 
those  of  the  stomach  are  referred  from  one  to  the  other, 
without  other  key  to  the  connection  than  the  notes. 

Now  if  we  want  to  establish  the  organic  relationship  of 
parts  thus  severed  and  scattered  about,  we  have  to  hunt  ap 
laboriously  the  various  regions,  and  put  the  pieces  together 
as  well  as  we  may.  This  is  always  a  difficult  work,  and  the 
results  of  it  are  never  very  satisfactory ;  while  for  one  group 
that  we  may  reconstitute,  we  see  many  more  we  should 
like  to  do  the  same  by,  but  cannot  find  the  key  to  their 
relationship.  This  is  the  case  particularly  with  the  heart 
symptoms,  which  have  in  the  body  so  large  a  circle  of 
sympathetic  relations,  and  in  the  books  stand  so  much 
idone.  As  the  heart  is  an  organ  affected  by  so  many  and 
varied  conditions,  arising  in  its  own  structure  and  functions, 
or  in  sympathy  with  the  ailments  of  other  organs,  or  from 
changes  in  the  emotions  and  affections,  it  must  needs  reveal 
its  troubles  in  many  forms  of  expression  which  are  not 
found  in  our  provings ;  or,  if  recorded,  the  link  to  unite 
them  is  missing.    As  Longfellow  says — 

"  £*en  as  the  troabled  heart  doth  make,  in  the  white  oonnteoaiice 
confession ; '' 

80  does  it  reveal  its  troubles  also  by  the  motions  of  the  ribs, 
pains  and  other  sensations  in  the  head,  thorax,  stomach 
and  limbs,  as  well  as  by  increase  of  certain  secretions  and 
suppression  or  diminution  of  others.  Symptoms  indicative 
of  heart  suffering  are  plentiful  enough  in  the  schema,  some 
medicines  being  quite  rich  in  them,  while  hardly  a  word  is 
said  about  the  heart  itself,  and  not  one  as  to  how  the  symp- 
toms are  to  be  connected.  In  such  a  way  much  knowledge 
that  might  be  extremely  valuable  is  lost,  or  at  any  rate 
made  so  difficult  of  apprehension  as  to  be  practically  useless. 
In  medical  practice  I  have  found  so  much  difficulty  in 
getting  at  anything  satisfactory  about  the  physiological 
action  of  drugs  on  the  heart,  that  it  occurred  to  me  many 
years  ago  to  make  a  schema  for  the  heart,  and  bring  into  it 
as  many  symptoms  as  seemed  to  me  indicative  of  cardiac 
suffering.  I  note  first  the  heart's  action,  and  sounds,  pulse, 
palpitation;  then  anxiety;   affections  of  the  chest  as  to 


SSSfS'JSSfrSSS"*       HEART  8TMPT0MS.  413 


JteriMT,  July  1, 1881. 


respiration,  yoice,  pains  and  sensations;  then  &cial  ex- 
pression and  colonr,  including  the  appearance  of  the  eyelids' 
and  eyes,  nose,  and  lips ;  the  look  of  the  ears ;  sahjective 
sounds  in  these.  The  movements  of  the  upper  and  lower 
extremities,  with  pains  or  other  sensations  therein ;  the 
state  of  the  renal  and  alvine  excretions ;  the  state  of  the 
skin  as  to  colour,  dryness  or  moisture;  and  lastly  the 
iniSuence  of  the  heart-state  on  the  mind,  temper,  and  dis- 
position ;  and  on  sleep  and  dreaming. 

In  bringing  together  thus  around  a  common  centre, 
heart  symptoms  scattered  all  through  the  Hahnemannian 
schema,  I  am  fully  aware  of  the  difficult  and  delicate  nature 
of  the  work.  No  Chinese  puzzle  was  ever  more  complicated, 
no  dissected  map  more  difficult  to  piece  together.  Yet  that 
the  pieces  do  exist,  and  can  be  put  together  so  as  to  form  a 
map  or  chart  of  cardiac  symptoms  peifectly  reliable,  is  my 
firm  conyiction ;  and  the  more  I  have  considered  the  subject 
the  more  am  I  convinced.  Colleagues  whom  I  have  con- 
sulted on  this  subject  have  given  opinions  adyerse  to  the 
reconstruction  of  symptoms  in  this  manner,  and  the  intro- 
duction to  the  Repertory  contains  a  strongly  expressed 
sentence  against  the  proceeding.  While  I  acknowledge 
with  all  respect  the  superior  judgment  of  my  fellow 
labourers,  I  feel  bound  to  exercise  my  own  in  an  inde- 
pendent manner ;  and  I  have  a  firm  belief  that  when  the 
dissevered  parts  of  a  corpus  can  be  recognised  and  put 
together,  they  may  be  united  and  form  once  more  a  recog- 
nisable entity,  which  may  offer  us  many  concrete  features 
of  disease  that  we  cannot  now  find  in  our  Materia  Medica. 

I  have  felt  interested  in  this  subject  sufficiently  to  have 
explored  the  Materia  Medica  for  heart  symptoms  as  far  as 
kali  iod.y  writing  out  the  objective  and  subjective  sensa- 
tions and  pains,  and  their  associations,  so  far  as  I  could 
trace  them,  in  the  order  stated  above.  I  shall  be  glad  to 
learn  the  opinions  of  others  as  to  the  plan  I  have  adopted, 
as  to  how  far  it  is  right,  in  the  first  place,  to  use  such  a 
plan  at  all ;  and  next,  how  far  is  it  practicable,  and  beyond 
all  things,  practical.  To  this  end  I  invite  the  members  of 
the  homoeopathic  medical  body  to  give  their  attention  to 
the  subject ;  and  those  who  will,  to  favour  me  with  their 
opinions  thereon,  with  such  suggestions  as  may  occur  to 
them.  I  should  have  brought  this  matter  forward  long 
ago,  but  my  time  has  been  so  much  occupied  by  the  prepa- 
ration of  the  two  chapters  of  the  Repertory ^  xviii.  and  xxiv.. 


414  HBABT  SYMPTOMS-       ^"^^^f^^. 

that  I  have  not  been  able  to  give  it  sufficient  attention. 
Bat  now  that  chap.  xxiy.  is  in  the  printer's  hands  I  am  at 
liberty  to  work  at  this. 

In  order  to  illustrate  the  synthetic  process  sketched 
above,  I  give  a  few  examples  of  the  scope  and  power  of 
some  medicines  acting  on  the  heart  and  its  envelope  as 
direct  tissue  irritants  or  sedatives,  and  of  others  whose 
influence  is  reflected  from  the  organs  of  digestion,  the 
capsules  of  the  jomts,  or  the  glands  and  lymphatic  Efystem. 
Beginning  with  aconitum  napeUm,  and  gathering  round  it 
the  pathogenetic  efiects  of  the  other  varieties  of  thut 
drug,  we  find  the  following  symptoms  grouped  in  their 
(presumed)  natural  associations.  Natural  groups  are  given 
as  recorded. 

Heart.     Aco.  nap. 

Palpitation,  with  great  anxiety,  dyspnoea  and  weariness 
of  limbs ;  sensation  of  rushing  in  the  head,  confusion,  and 
flushing  heat  of  &ce. 

Palpitation,  with  increased  heat  of  tJByoe ;  palpitation  on 
walking,  with  great  anxiety,  restlessness,  and  pressive  pain 
in  cardiac  region. 

Palpitation  sudden  and  violent,  with  tightness  of  chest, 
while  sitting  quietly. 

Palpitation  lasting  all  day,  relieved  by  rest,  worse  by 
motion. 

Tendency  to  palpitation,  with  trembling.  Heart  beats 
quick,  while  the  pulse  was  slow,  appearing  to  intermit, 
with  attacks  of  powerlessness. 

Impulse  weak,  heart  flutters. 

Left  ventricle  consonant  with  pulse,  but  the  right  auricle 
seemed  to  be  convulsively  agitated  with  rapid  irregular 
movements  not  related  to  the  contractions  of  the  ventricle. 

Only  one  heart-beat  for  three  of  the  pulse,  still  the  beats 
of  the  vena  cava  were  equal  to  those  of  the  arterial  pulse; 
rapid  irregular  motion  of  right  auricle  synchronous  with 
the  beats  of  the  vena  cava. 

Pulse  rises  from  96  to  112  on  going  into  the  open  air. 

Towards  evem'ng  the  pulse  became  full  and  quick,  he 
felt  the  carotid  and  temporal  arteries  throb,  while  sitting 
(face  flushed;  red  and  hot;  sweat  on  the  face). 

Pulse  96  during  afternoon,  with  fever.  Heart  beat 
strong ;   pulse  full,  hard,  and  strong,  moderately  quick. 

Pulse  67,  small  and  soft,  rising  in  an  hour  to  102,  fioll 
find  hard ;  then  an  agreeable  warmth  came  over  the  bodyi 


£^J?ST3^       HBABT   SYMPTOMS.  415 

followed  by  perspiration,  the  legs  being  cool  all  the  time. 
(This  symptom  is  repeated  at  '*  fever.") 

Poise  fall,  strong,  intermitting  every  six  beats  of  heart 
and  radial  artery;  with  heaviness  of  chest,  especially  in  the 
cardiac  region. 

Pulse  irregnlar  and  intermitting.  Two  or  three  beats 
in  rapid  snccession,  and  then  a  panse  of  some  duration. 

Pidse  febrile,  intermitting.    Ditto  with  general  dniness. 

Pnlse  rapid  at  first,  becomes  weaker  and  slower,  softer, 
and  unequal. 

Pnlse  irregular,  weak,  thready.  Pulse  fails  and  finally 
becomes  imperceptible. 

Dreadful  oppression  of  precordial  region ;  feeling  as 
if  a  great  weight  lay  on  the  heart,  becoming  a  pressive 
burning,  with  flushes  of  heat  along  the  back. 

Weight  on  the  heart  region,  with  anxiety.  Inward 
pressing  pain  in  the  region  of  the  heart.  Slight  stitches 
in  the  cardiac  region. 

Transient  stitches  in  heart,  especially  when  walking,  in 
forenoon ;  sometimes  also  when  at  rest.  Slow  jerks  in  the 
cardiac  region  towards  the  surface  of  the  chest. 

Anxiety ;  oppression ;  constriction  of  chest,  with  con- 
tracted pulse,  when  sitting,  after  much  motion. 

Gontiuctive,  squeezing,  tight  pains  in  chest,  mostly 
under  the  sternum,  with  anxiety  and  dyspnoBa. 

Gbreat  oppression  of  chest. 

Pressure  and  burning  under  the  sternum.  It  prevents 
deep  breathing,  and  extends  back  to  the  spine. 

Heaviness  in  chest,  dyspnoea,  sighing,  violent  palpitation, 
dry  cough,  with  clear,  bloody  sputa. 

Acute  lancinating  pain  in  cardiac  region,  as  if  in  the 
costal  pleura,  on  rising  in  the  morning.  It  prevents  deep 
breathmg  or  rising  up,  and  is  attended  by  inclination  to 
cough.  After  friction  and  repeated  efforts  at  inspiration, 
the  symptoms  abated,  but  left  the  part  sensitive. 

Stitches  in  the  left  side  of  chest. 

Shooting  pain  in  left  side  of  chest,  followed  by  palpita- 
tion and  ill  humour,  anxiety  and  headache. 

Shooting,  boring,  burrowing  pain  in  the  left  side,  between 
the  fourth  and  sixth  ribs,  lasts  ten  minutes. 

Pain  under  the  sternum,  as  if  hurt  or  bruised.  Bespira- 
tion  much  afiected  by  sighing,  need  to  breathe  deeply,  as  if 
to  drive  the  blood  through  the  lungs. 


416  HEABT  SYMPTOMS*        ^'r^jJ^^. 

Oppressed  respiratioiiy  diy  hackmg  conghy  much  thirst 
and  chilliness. 

Dyspnoea  with  oppression  under  the  sternum.  Bespi- 
ration  short  and  honied,  anxious  and  gasping ;  breath  hot. 

Bespiration  noisy,  with  open  mouth.  Voice  hoarse,  weak, 
and  low,  with  prostration. 

Head  :  Confusion  in,  with  pressive  frontal  ache.  Con* 
fasiou  soon  changes  to  heayiness,  with  pressiye  pain  in 
vertex  and  forehead. 

Vertigo,  as  if  about  to  fall  over.  Vertigo  on  stooping ; 
she  staggers,  most  to  right  side.  Vertigo,  all  goes  round. 
Vertigo  with  nausea,  worse  on  rising  from  a  seat,  less  while 
walking,  not  when  sitting.  Vertigo  much  increased  hj 
shaking  the  head,  whereby  it  goes  black  before  the  eyes. 
Vertigo  with  headache  frontal  and  occipital. 

Heat  in  the  head.  Burning  headache,  as  if  the  brain 
were  agitated  by  boiling  water. 

Headache  like  a  band  round  the  head.  Compressive 
headache. 

Fulness  in  the  head,  with  weight,  and  pressure  in  fore- 
head. 

Itching  on  the  scalp.  Painful  tickling,  and  feeling  as  if 
the  hairs  were  pulled. 

Eyes  protruded  and  swollen  (with  the  full  and  bounding 
pulse  and  red  face). 

Eyes  look  dull  and  encircled  by  liyid  rings.  Dimness  of 
vision ;  flickering  before  the  eyes. 

External  ear  red,  hot,  and  swollen. 

Bearing,  humming,  and  buzzing  in  ears. 

Face  :  Hot,  red  and  swollen  (with  the  full  pulse) ;  face, 
pale,  with  expression  of  anxiety  and  restlessness;  face 
expresses  fright  and  imbecility;  face,  livid  and  ghastly, 
dusky  like  that  of  a  person  strangled.  Face  purplii^,  with 
white  blotches. 

Lips  blue,  livid. 

Throat  feels  eonstrioted,  dry ;  and  feels  nairowed. 

Anorexia ;  faint  sick  feeling,  without  nausea. 

Urination  frequent,  of  much  increased  pale  watery  urine, 
with  faint  feeling  on  passing  it. 

Diuresis  and  constant  sweat. 

Increase  of  urine,  depositing  blood  on  stimding. 

Extremities. — ^Weariness  of  arms  and  legs,  difficulty  of 
moving  the  limbs,  feeling  as  if  the  joints  were  loose.  Fain 
in  left  shoulder,  and  posterior  exterior  side  of  left  arm^ 


SSS?.S??3#^        HBABT  SYMWOMfl.  4l7 


Bevimr,  July  1,  IBBl. 


Numbing  paralytic  feel  of  left  arm  (and  thigh),  so  that  he 
can  hardly  move  the  arms.  Pricking  and  tingling  in  the 
arms  and  fingers,  and  painful  numbness  across  wrists. 
Hands  icy  cold,  nails  blue  (with  failing  pulse).  Lower 
limbs  are  weak  and  give  way,  unable  to  support  the  body. 

Sleeplessness. — ^Frequent  starting  out  of  sleep ;  nights 
restless  and  tossing ;  with  vivid  dreams  full  of  action  and 
turmoil.  Anxious  heavy  dreams,  with  oppression  of  chest. 
Nightmare. 

Feverish  symptoms. — Chilliness,  shivering  and  faintness. 

Chilliness  and  tingling  between  shoulders  and  down 
back,  with  cold  fingertips  and  blue  nails,  in  a  warm  room. 
Shuddering,  with  paleness  and  sunken  features. 

Burning  heat  of  face  towards  evening,  with  pressive 
headache,  at  the  same  time  general  rigors  and  thirst. 
Feverish  state  with  general  prostration.  Cold  sweat  on 
brow  when  pulse  is  scarcely  perceptible. 

Extreme  feeling  of  nervousness ;  fearful,  and  uncertain 
as  to  actions.  Extreme  sensitiveness  to  all  impressions- 
Extreme  languor,  lassitude,  and  muscular  weakness ;  can 
hardly  stand ;  pressure  at  heart.  Tendency  to  faintness ; 
swooning. 

Constrictive  sensation  in  chest,  icy  coldness  of  body,  with 
fainting  fit. 

Sudden  attack  of  unconsciousness  while  urinating ;  all 
the  blood  seemed  to  rush  to  the  head,  and  he  fell  down. 
He  remained  for  some  time  quite  prostrate. 

Anxious  trembling,  preceded  by  an  unpleasant  feeling  of 
coldness. 

Homoeopathic  physicians  will  be  at  no  loss  in  recognising 
in  these  symptoms  pictures  of  many  cardiac  troubles, 
organic  and  functional.  Indeed  it  is  hardly  possible  to  find 
a  case  of  heart  disease  in  which  it  may  not  be  useful  in  one 
stage  or  another. 

To  turn  now  to  a  medicine  presenting  cardiac  symptoms, 
with  constitutional  states  altogether  difierent  from  those 
produced  by  aconite,  I  collect  from  the  schema  of  baryta 
carbonica  the  pictures  to  be  seen  in  the  following : — 

Palpitation,  violent  and  prolonged.  Palpitation,  oc- 
casional violent.  Palpitation,  when  lying  on  the  left  side. 
Palpitation,  renewed  when  thinking  of  it,  for  it  then  makes 
her  anxious. 

Pulse  full  and  hard. 

No.  7,  Tol  25.  2  n 


418  HEABT  BTMPTOHS.        ^''rS^ 


BevifSfw,  July  1, 18BI. 


She  cannot  lie  on  the  left  side  on  aecoont  of  gresi 
orgasm  of  the  blood,  and  Tiolent  palpitation,  with  sore 
feeling  in  heart,  and  great  anxiety. 

Sensation  of  severe  palpitation  on  front  of  chest. 

Sadden  sticking  and  burning  in  the  left  side  of  chest, 
deep  seated,  in  afternoon,  cansing  her  to  ciy  out* 

Small  stitches  in  left  side  of  chest  at  every  inspiration. 
A  violent  stitch  in  left  chest  by  lifting  a  weight  with  both 
hands.  Doll  stitches  under  the  sternum,  deep  in  chest, 
followed  by  a  bruise  pain  in  that  spot. 

Voice  hoarse ;  aphonia. 

Cough,  dry  and  suffocative. 

Headache,  vertigo,  and  nausea  (these  are  associated  by 
Taylor  also  in  the  account  of  poisoning  by  ba.e).  Moral 
state  anxious,  depressed ;  the  memory  much  impaired. 

Sight  dim,  as  from  a  gauze  veil  before  eyes.  Diplopia. 
Sparks  before  the  eyes. 

Ears :  humming,  roaring,  ringing  noises  in.  Sound  as 
of  a  strong  wind. 

Throat,  constriction  of;  attacks  of  chokiug. 

Increased  secretion  of  urine,  with  frequent  calls  to 
pass  it. 

Sleeplessness ;  starting  in  affright.  Dreams  are  anxious, 
confused,  and  frightful.    Sudden  attack  of  dejection  in  bed. 

Becords  of  poisouing  show  baryta  to  be  a  powerful 
depressant  of  the  brain  and  spinal  cord.  It  acts  as  a 
direct  poison  on  the  heart,  as  shown  by  the  flabby  withered 
state  of  the  muscle  after  death,  and  by  the  coagulated 
blood  found  in  the  auricles  and  vena  cava  and  coronaiy 
arteries.  As  it  is  the  property  of  baryta  and  its  salts  to 
produce  states  of  long  lasting  depression  and  debility,  so 
will  its  therapeutic  field  be  found  in  the  heart  diseases  of 
the  aged,  the  weakly,  and  the  scrofulous. 

Cactus  grandijionis. 

Heart's  action  increased,  and  when  walking  there  is 
palpitation  with  anxiety. 

Bapid,  short  beats  of  the  heart  on  moving  quickly. 

Several  violent  irregular  heart-beats  with  sense  of 
pressure  and  weight  at  the  heart. 

Several  violent  irregular  throbs  when  walking  slowly, 
rising  from  a  seat,  or  turning  suddenly. 

Many  violent  throbs  on  walking  the  room  slowly,  with 
tightness  of  chest  and  deep  breathing. 


nX^uiS^      HEART  smWOMB.  419 

K^  .  ■■■■■■■ 

The  heart-beating  and  pnlsation  in  the  chest  worse  when 
lying  on  the  back,  more  visible  and  andible  when  lying  on 
the  side,  with  anxiety  and  nightly  restlessness. 

Violent  palpitation  and  pulsation  in  upper  part  of  chest, 
at  night  in  bed. 

Palpitation  occurs  by  a  quick  motion,  as  stooping,  or 
rising  from  a  chair,  or  turning;  but  not  by  fast  walking; 
with  anxiety  rising  to  the  throat. 

Palpitation  continues  day  and  night,  when  lying  on  the 
left  side,  and  when  walking. 

Palpitation,  with  oppression  at  heart  when  sitting  or 
lying  in  the  evening,  worse  when  lying  on  the  back  in  bed. 

Palpitatien  consists  of  small  irregular  beats,  with 
necessity  to  breathe  deeply.  Slight  excitement  or  deep 
thought  will  bring  it  on. 

DuU  heavy  pain  at  heart,  worse  by  pressure;  constriction 
as  from  an  iron  band. 

Very  acute  stitches  in  the  heart  make  him  call  out  loudly 
and  weep,  with  obstruction  of  breathing.  Pricking  pain  at 
heart,  impeding  breathing  and  motion. 

Yery  annoymg  sensation  of  motion  in  the  heart  from 
front  to  back,  as  if  a  reptile  were  moving  therein;  worse  by 
day  than  by  night. 

The  palpitation  and  pain  come  on  when  walking  or 
ascending  steps,  so  that  he  must  pull  up,  and  breathe 
heavily  several  times ;  it  came  also  by  rising  from  a  chair, 
moving  any  article,  which  caused  sudden  and  violent  throbs, 
intermitting. 

Bespiration  short  and  hurried,  with  the  palpitation; 
oppression  of  chest  as  from  a  great  load. 

Bespiration  prolonged,  with  anxiety. 

Bespiration  continued,  as  if  bound  up  in  iron,  so  that  the 
thorax  could  not  be  dilated. 

Periodical  attacks  of  suffocative  dyspnoea;  with  cold 
sweat  on  face,  and  loss  of  pulse. 

Painful  constriction  of  chest,  and  low,  weak  voice. 
Oppression  and  constriction  at  middle  of  sternum,  with 
dyspnoea.    Bronchitis  and  catarrh. 

Pressive  pain  in  upper  part  of  left  chest,  between  second 
and  third  ribs,  when  sitting  quietly,  with  dyspnoea,  lasting 
several  minutes,  and  causing  a  desire  to  breathe  deeply. 

Violent  pain  in  the  head,  of  a  pressive  kind,  with  vertigo. 
Much  weight  on  vertex,  and  pain  in  the  occiput. 

Sight  very  dim  and  veiled ;  frequent. 

a  B— 2 


420  HEART  SMPTOMB.        "^SKiSSS??^. 


Beriew,  JnlyltlflBl. 


Ears,  pnlsations  in ;  buzzing  in ;  rnshing,  as  of  a  riyer. 

Stomach,  feeling  of  great  constriction  in  the  scrobicnlas, 
extending  to  hypochondria,  impeding  respiration.  Con- 
tinned  and  annoying  pulsation. 

Frequent  desire  to  urinate,  and  abundant  passage. 

Disposition,  much  sadness;  taciturnity;  disposed  to 
weep.  Hypochondriachal  mood;  melancholy;  irritability; 
fear  of  death. 

General  prostration,  weakness  and  malaise,  so  that 
walking  is  difficult.  Bestlessness,  hurry,  always  wanting 
to  be  doing  something,  and  fearing  to  be  too  late,  with 
agitation  of  the  heart  and  feeling  of  oppression. 

Here  we  have  a  suggestion  of  debility,  and  nervous 
depression,  which  may  direct  attention  to  heart  diseases  in 
women  of  timid  and  retiring  character,  or  in  men  of  similar 
constitution,  or  in  the  aged  and  weakly  of  either  sex.  It 
does  not  seem  that  cacivs  is  a.  direct  poison  to  the  heart 
muscle,  but  that  it  depresses  the  nerve  power  sent  through 
the  cardiac  ganglia,  and  that  of  the  great  sympathetic 
nerve. 

Carlo  animalis. 

Palpitation  in  the  evening  without  anxiety.  Palpitation 
violent,  every  throb  felt  in  the  head.  Palpitation  on 
awaking  in  the  morning,  obliging  her  to  be  still  vrithout 
opening  her  eyes  or  speaking.  Palpitation  after  breakfast, 
or  other  meals.     Palpitation  afber  singing. 

Pressure  about  the  heart  almost  like  pinching.  Coldness 
felt  in  the  chest.  Tremor  in  the  chest.  Violent  pain  in 
chest  as  if  it  would  fly  to  pieces,  with  internal  soreness. 
Violent  compression  early  in  the  morning,  with  arrest  of 
breathing.  Contracted  feeling  in  chest.  Contracted  feeling 
in  chest  as  if  suffocating  early  in  the  morning  in  bed.  She 
fears  to  die.  Stitches  in  the  heart  on  speaking ;  and  feels 
when  moving  the  (left?)  arm  as  if  the  heart  and  chest 
would  be  torn.     Chilliness  usually  prevails. 

Voice  roDgh,  hoarse  and  low. 

Sensation  of  suffocation  and  pressure  in  CBSophagns, 
ascending  the  throat,  alternated  with  feeling  of  roughness. 

Urination  copious ;  the  fluid  pale. 

Head  stupid  and  dizzy.  General  debility  and  prostra- 
tion. Memory  bad.  Moral  state  depressed.  Weeping 
mood.     Disposition  perverse  and  peevish. 


SJ^jW^***       viola  tbioolor.  421 

These  symptoms  are  such  as  we  see  in  hysterical  and 
dyspeptic  persons.  Heart  troubles  arising  firom  irritation 
of  the  digestive  organs  may  find  in  carbo  aninialis  a  useful 
palliative.  It  is  said  to  be  much  more  far  reaching  and 
more  lasting  in  its  action  on  the  vegetative  sphere  than 
carbo  veg. 

Sidmouth,  June  1881. 

^nOLA  TRICOLOR  OR  JACEA  IN  THE  TREAT- 
MENT OF  ECZEMA  INFANTILE.* 

By  W.  H.  Bigleb,  M.D. 

.^ead  before  the  Philadelphia  Connty  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society.) 

Thb  object  of  the  following  short  paper  is  to  draw  attention 
to  a  remedy  in  the  treatment  of  that  sometimes  troubb- 
some  disease,  crusta  lactea,  which,  to  judge  from  our 
literature,  has  not  been  so  frequently  employed,  nor  indeed 
80  generally  known  as  its  antiquity  and  its  real  virtues 
deserve, — the  viola  tricolor  or  herha  jacece. 

According  to  Porta  it  was  known  to  the  Greeks  and 
Romans  under  the  name  of  phlox.  Eminent  physicians 
employed  it  in  the  treatment  of  various  diseases  with 
occasional  success,  and  cures  of  asthma,  epilepsy,  and 
uterine  complaints  have  been  reported  from  its  use ;  but  it 
was  regarded  as  specially  and  specifically  applicable  to 
chronic  and  obstinate  cutaneous  diseases  (Matthiolus's 
CommenU  on  Dioscy  p.  822 ;  Fuchsius^s  Hist,  Stirp.y 
p.  804). 

In  the  New  London  Dispensatoji/  (Salmon  1684)  the 
following  notice  ot  jacea  occurs:  '^ Silver  knapweed;  it 
is  called  Flaming  violet  also.  Schroder  saith  it  is  bitterish 
and  sharp ;  cleanses,  pierces,  and  discusses  ;  it  (is  a)  vul- 
nerary and  sudorific;  takes  away  clammy  humors,  and 
opens  obstructions  of  the  womb ;  outwardly  it  is  cosmetic, 
and  cures  scabs,  itch,  etc.'' 

But  as  has  happened  with  so  many  other,  and  perhaps 
better  remedies,  its  use  was  gradually  abandoned,  until 
towards  the  close  of  the  last  century  Strack,  of  Mentz, 
sought  to  restore  it  in  his  Dissertation  on  Crusta  lactea  and 
its  Remedy  (1779).  He  prescribes  a  specific  one  handful 
of  the  fresh,  or  one-half  drachm  of  dried  leaves,  to  be 
braised  in  hidf  a  pint  of  milk,  and  the  whole  to  be  taken 
night  and  morning.    He  says  that  in  the  first  week  the 

*  Beprinted  from  the  Hahnemannian  Monthly. 


422  TIOLA  TMOOIOB.       "^^"^SKWS!' 


Beview,  July  1,  1881. 


eruption  seems  to  increase,  and  to  appear  in  other  parts  of 
the  body,  but  that  at  the  same  time  the  urine  acquires  a 
smell  as  of  cat's  urine,  and  at  the  end  of  a  fortnight  the 
crusts  begin  to  fall  ofif,  and  sound,  healthy  skin  appears 
beneath.  When  the  urine  does  not  acquire  this  odour,  bnt 
remains  unchanged,  ho  says  the  disease  will  generally  be 
of  long  continuance  (London  Medical  Journal,  vol.  ii, 
p.  487).  Some  years  later  his  observations  were  confirmed 
by  Hasse  (Diss,  de  Viola  Tncohr,  Erlangen,  1782)  and  by 
others  (Melzer,  Yeckrskrifb,  and  Murray).  {Aj^aratxiM 
Medic. t  vol.  vi,  p.  83.) 

Although  there  were  some  who  denied  the  specific  virtues 
of  the  herb  (Mursinna,  Achermann,  Hemmig,  et  a{.),  or 
even  (Selle)  maintained  that  it  was  injurious,  title  majority 
of  physicians  believed  that  it  acted  on  the  intestinal  func- 
tions as  a  cathartic,  that  it  sometimes  produced  emesis, 
and  that,  besides  increasing  the  flow  of  urine,  it  imparted 
to  it  a  disagreeable  odour  like  that  of  cat's  urine,  that  there- 
fore it  was  by  no  means  inert,  but  a  valuable  medicine. 

We  find  it  successfully  employed  by  Hasse  and  others  in 
crusta  lactea  with  violent  cough  and  dyspnoea,  in  impetigo 
of  hairy  scalp  and  face,  in  acne  rosacea,  in  favus,  in  ser- 
piginous crusts  in  children  and  adults,  in  swelling  and 
indurations  of  cervical  glands,  in  large  boils  all  over  the 
body  in  scrofulous  children,  in  pustulous  and  ichorous 
exanthems  of  the  feet,  in  squamous  spots  on  the  skin,  in 
rheumatism  and  gout,  in  articular  rheumatism  with  itch- 
like eruptions  around  the  joints,  in  an  impetiginous  exan- 
them  on  the  forehead  consequent  on  suppression  of  gonor- 
rhoea, and  in  an  induration  of  the  testicles  from  the  same 
cause,  in  ichorous  ulcers  with  violent  itching,  in  blennor- 
rhoeas  of  the  various  mucous  membranes,  and  in  epilepsy. 

In  Hussia  a  decoction  of  the  pansy  was  a  popular  remedy 

for  scrofula;  and  it  was  used  in  1808  by  Schlegel,  of 

Moscow,  with  good  efiect  in  syphilitic  affections,  especially 

venereal  ulcers  (Sammlg.,  3,  pp.  141 — 156 ;  Frank t  Mag,, 

/.  i4.  d  r.,  vol.  iii,  p.  655). 

In  1818  Fauvergne  claimed  to  have  cured  with  vioh 
nervous  paroxysms  in  a  young  girl,  which  he  thought  had 
been  caused  by  suppression  of  orusta  lactea. 

Finally,  we  find  reference  to  the  herha  jacea  and  its 
several  preparations,  decoctions,  .infusions,  syrups,  and 
unguents  in  the  various  pharmacopoeias  of  Europe,  and  in 
the  Umttd  SUUet  DitpetuaUnrg  (Wood  and  Baohe). 


ilS^J^Tl^         VIOLA  TRICOLOB.  423 

Daring  the  annual  meeting  of  the  American  Dermato- 
logical  Association,  held  in  New  York  on  Augast  26th, 
27th,  and  28th,  1879,  a  paper  on  viola  tricolor  was  read  by 
Dr.  H.  G.  Piffard,  in  which  he  quoted  largely  from  Gazin, 
who  has  experimented  considerably  with  the  drug,  and 
used  it  with  success,  and  from  a  brief  article  written  by 
himself  in  the  American  edition  of  Phillips^s  Materia 
Medlca  and  Therapeutics.  He  says  it  has  long  been  a 
&Yoarite  in  France  in  the  treatment  of  eczema  capitis  and 
faciei,  and  that  he  has  employed  it  for  many  years  with 
great  satisfaction  in  chronic  cases  of  this  affection.  The 
watery  preparations  have  appeared  to  answer  better  than 
the  alcoholic.  He  believes  it  to  be  of  the  greatest  servico 
in  eczema  about  the  upper  part  of  the  body,  and  especially 
the  head;  while  when  the  affection  was  situated  on  tLo 
lower  part  of  the  body  he  has  found  it  to  be  frequently 
aggravated  by  the  drug.  {The  Medical  Record,  yoI.  xvi, 
No.  11.) 

It  was  not  to  be  expected  that  a  drug  so  well  known,  and 
promising  so  much,  would  be  neglected  by  Hahnemann, 
and  we  find  in  Stapt's  Archiv  (vol.  vii,  2,  p.  173)  a  proving 
undertaken  by  him  in  connection  with  Franz,  Wislicenus, 
and  Gutmann.  They  used  a  tincture  made  of  equal  parts 
of  the  expressed  juice  of  the  fresh  herb  and  alcohol.  We 
find  here,  as  in  the  case  of  so  many  other  of  our  remedies, 
that  it  is  not  the  symptoms  obtained  by  the  provers  that 
have  given  the  indications  for  the  use  of  the  remedy,  but 
those  obtained  ab  tisu  in  viorbis,  the  clinical  symptoms,  the 
much-caluminated  empirical  usage.  After  this  has  directed 
our  attention  to  certain  applications  of  a  remedy,  it  is  not 
a  matter  of  very  great  difficulty  to  read  between  the  lines 
of  the  provings  justifications  for  our  practice.  All  the 
characteristic  skin  symptoms  except  an  indefinite  itching 
here  and  there  oyer  tixe  whole  body,  are  taken  from  an  allo- 
pathic source  (Hufeland's  Joumaly  xi,  iv,  p.  128,  et  seq.), 
and  the  keynote,  ''  urine  smelling  like  cat's  urine,"  was  not 
observed  by  any  of  the  provers,  but  is  altogether  clinical 
(Alshop,  in  Murray's  Appar.  Med.,  i,  p.  703  (?)  33  (?), 
Hufelaiid,  Strack). 

In  his  Lesser  Writings  (p.  328),  Hahnemann  says  of  the 
viola,  *^  The  pansy  violet  at  first  increases  cutaneous  erup- 
tionsy  and  thus  shows  its  power  to  produce  skin  diseases, 
and  consequently  to  care  the  same  effectually  and  perma- 
nently." 


424  VIOLA  TRICOLOR.        ^S^^SjW! 

In  the  sacceeding  works  on  Materia  Mediea  the  original 
proving  is  repeated  without  additions,  and  with  or  without 
the  clinical  symptoms  according  to  the  principles  of  the 
seyeral  editors,  and  even  Allen  can  find  no  new  anthorities 
for  his  Encyclopedia,  Teste  and  Hughes  both  notice  it 
fayoorably  in  their  works  on  Materia  Mediea.  Gaemsey, 
in  his  Lectures,  says  its  principal  use  is  in  nocturnal 
emissions  accompanied  by  very  vivid  dreams. 

In  many  of  the  works  on  therapeutics  it  is  not  mentioned 
at  all  among  the  remedies  used  in  crusta  lactea,  and  in 
others  it  occupies  a  very  subordinate  position.  Those  who 
speak  most  favourably  of  it  are  Hartmann  {TherapeuHcs^ 
vol.  ii,  p.  89)  and  Hughes.  The  latter  says  that  he  veiy 
seldom  has  occasion  io  use  any  other  remedy.  He  gene- 
rally uses  the  1st  or  2nd  dilution,  but  has  seen  the  6th 
act  well,  with  which  attenuation  Dudgeon  also  reports  a 
case  of  cure  in  the  British  Journal  of  HomoM)pathy,  xi,  855. 

Lilienthal,  in  his  Therapeutics,  says  under  Eczema: 
"  Viola  trie, — ^Milk-crnst,  burning  and  itching,  especially 
in  the  night,  with  discharge  of  tough  yellow  pus ;  heat  and 
perspiration  of  the  face  after  eating.'*  And  in  his  Skin 
Diseases,  **Jacea, — ^Violent  itching  eruption,  worse  eveiy 
night,  and  urine  smelling  like  cat's  urine."  Why  he  has 
used  the  unhomoBopathic  nsanejacea  in  this  latter  place  I 
cannot  understand. 

I  have  been  in  the  habit  of  using  viola  for  the  last  twelve 
years,  and  have  recommended  it  to  many  of  my  colleagues 
in  the  treatment  of  the  eczema  of  children,  and  in  the 
majority  of  cases  its  use  has  been  attended  with  gratifying ' 
success.    I  candidly  confess,  however,  that  I  am  unable  to 
give  any  so-called  characteristic  symptoms  or  keynotes,  the 
presence  of  which  would  invariably  and  unmistakably  point 
to  the  applicability  of  this  herb,  but  the  following  general 
indications  may  prove  as  useful  to  others  as  they  do  to 
myself.    We  may  expect  the  best  results  from  the  employ- 
ment of  t'io^a  where  the  eruption  is  acute,  and  is  confined 
principally  to  the  face,  although  its  extension  to  the  scalp 
is  no  counter-indication.    In  eczema  of  the  whole  body  I 
have  not  found  it  produce  any  good  results,  but  others  may 
have  been  more  fortunate.     The  tendency  of  the  disease  is 
always  rapidly  io  the  pustular  form.     The  crusts  are  of  a 
brownish-yellow  colour,  and  the  eruption  is  veiy  itchy  in 
all  its  stages,  but  the  itching  seems  to  be  temporally 
reeved  by  rubbing.     The  general  condition  of  the  child 


^Siynr*  RBVIEWB.  m 

seems  to  be  one  of  perfect  health,  with  the  exeeption,  per- 
haps, of  a  rather  thin  white  discharge  from  the  nose,  and 
may  be  a  loose  catarrhal  cough.  The  remedy  Tery  soon  pro- 
daces  a  profnse  flow  of  urine,  bnt  never  have  I  had  a  case 
where  either  before,  during,  or  after  the  administration  of 
the  medicine  I  could  detect  the  characteristic  smell  of  cat's 
urine.'  I  usually  have  about  3  j  of  the  dried  herb  (the  im- 
ported, for  the  market  is  full  of  inferior  qualities)  boiled  in 
half  a  pint  of  water,  and  of  this  tea  prescribe  f  3  j  two,  three, 
or  four  times  a  day  in  milk  slightly  sweetened.  If  the 
patient  is  a  child  at  the  breast  I  order  the  mother  to  drink 
rather  larger  quantities  of  the  tea  morning  and  evening, 
while  the  child  takes  nothing,  and  I  have  found  this  to 
work  as  well  as  where  I,  in  addition,  prescribed  viola^  for 
the  child.  Frequently,  in  alternation  with  the  tea,  I  have 
given  the  first  or  second  decimal  dilutions  twice  a  day,  or 
the  thirtieth,  but  have  not  been  able  to  discover  any 
marked  difference  in  the  course  of  the  disease  produced 
thereby.  I  have  also  used  the  various  dilutions  without 
the  tea,  but  the  effects  have  not  been  so  marked,  nor  any 
more  permanent.  Sometimes,  in  aggravated  cases,  I  have 
derived  benefit  from  the  external  use  of  the  tea,  together 
with  internal  medication.  In  short,  I  have  allowed  myself 
considerable  latitude  in  the  mode  of  administration  of  this 
drug,  and  have  every  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  its  action. 
Medicinal  aggravations  I  have  observed  in  some  few  cases, 
but  they  are  speedily  followed  by  improvement  and  cure. 
Usually^  by  the  end  of  the  first  week,  sometimes  by  the 
third  day,  a  decided  improvement  is  visible,  and  at  the 
end  of  two  or  three  weeks  the  cure  is  complete.  If  others 
will  try  this  drug,  not  waiting  for  the  urine  smelling  like 
cat's  urine,  I  have  no  doubt  they  will  be  convinced,  as  I  am, 
of  the  almost  specific  action  of  the  viola  tricolor  in  the 
treatment  of  crusta  lactea. 

REVIEWS. 

Prize  Essay  on  DiphHieria,    By  A.  McNeil,  M.B.    Chicago : 

Duncan  Bros.     1861. 

It  is  long  since  we  have  seen  a  more  succinct  and  instructive 
monograph  than  this  Prize  Essay.  Written  essentially  for  the 
profession,  there  is  about  it  none  of  the  quasi-amateur  element 
which  characterises  so  much  of  the  homoeopathic  literature  of 
the  day.    Information,  drawn  from  many  sources,  is  here  ranged 


426  BBVIBW8.  "2SSL^5??SI 


Beriev,  July  1«  IflBl. 


m  a  way  wiiieh  imprints  it  on  the  memory,  and  makes  the  reader 
led  thai  he  has  really  benefited  by  its  perosal.  The  writer  opens 
with  a  chapter  on  the  history  and  geography  of  diphtheria,  which 
shows  a  vast  amount  of  research  and  considerable  acqnaintance 
with  old  time  chronicles,  tracing  back  its  history  to  the  days 
of  Galen  and  Asclepiades. 

The  chapter  on  the  etiology  of  the  disease  goes  deeply  into 
the  yarioas  theories  which  have  been  advanced  by  writers  of 
different  ages  and  schools.  The  author  gives  extracts  from  the 
works  of  eminent  pathologists  bearing  on  the  germ  theory  of 
causation.  On  the  oue  side  he  quotes  Oertel,  Eberth,  Hanpt, 
and  Nassiolf,  who  all  hold  that  the  peculiar  bacteria  formed  in 
diptheritic  fluids  are  the  cause  of  the  disease,  and  that  the 
disease  is  spread  by  contact  with  these  particles.  Amongst  the 
opponents  of  this  theory  he  places  Schneider,  Leflett  Julian, 
l^ube  and  Gscheitel,  Euener,  Hiller  and  Billroth.  The  author 
himself  is  opposed  to  the  germ  theory  of  causation,  maintaining 
that  these  atoms  are  not  the  cause  but  the  effect  of  diphtheria. 
He  says  :  "  If  the  bacteria  theory  is  true,  we  would  be  compelled 
to  resort  to  gargling,  cauterising,  and  large  doses  of  drugs 
capable  of  destroying  the  fungi." 

Ordinary  dishifectants,  he  says,  are  useless  against  the  disease, 
the  only  one  of  any  value  being  ozone,  which  is  very  difficult  of 
production  with  ordinary  appliuices. 

We  can  scarcely  agree  with  the  author  when  he  states  that 
''  there  is  more  rationality  in  its  being  produced  and  propagated 
by  telluric  influences,  as  electricity,  terrestrial  magnetism  and 
evaporation,"  and  <<that  the  disease  may  have  an  autocthonous 
origin.''  We  fear  that  this  theory  cannot  long  be  maintained  in 
the  face  of  recent  researches  made  by  Pasteur  on  the  bacteria 
present  in  various  diseases,  notably  those  on  the  bacteria  oi 
eharbon  in  sheep.  So  constant  are  the  forms  of  the  bacteria 
in  various  diseases,  that  physiologists  can  almost  say  with 
certainty,  what  pathological  phenomena  would  be  produced  by 
inoculation  with  a  given  bacterium  in  the  healthy  subject. 

Under  the  head  of  symptomatology,  the  invasion  and  course  of 
the  disease  in  its  various  forms  is  graphically  and  carefiil^ 
portrayed.  The  various  complications,  with  their  diagnostic 
differentiation,  and  the  deplorable  sequelsB  which  form  one  of  the 
most  dreaded  features  of  this  fell  scourge,  are  pointed  out.  Bis 
interesting  to  remember  that  the  severest  sequelsB  may  arise  from 
apparently  the  mildest  cases,  and  that  the  simplest  case  may  take 
on  a  malignant  form  without  any  apparent  reason. 

The  chapter  on  pathology  is  written  with  great  care,  and  well 
repays  perusal.  Quoting  from  Euchenmeister,  the  author  shows 
that  almost  all  the  usual  gargles  and  topical  applications  are 
powerless  to  change  or  dissolve  the  exudation  membrane.    The 


'b^, jSTTio^' '^ETINaS  OF  BOOIETIEB.  427 

only  agent  which  effected  this  was  lime  water ;  <*  in  aqua  calois, 
(one  part  lime  to  thirty  of  water)  the  exudation  disBolved  com- 
pletely in  ten  to  fifteen  minates,  and  in  a  less  time  became  so 
soft  that  it  fell  to  pieces  by  moderate  shaking." 

The  chapter  on  seqnelss  is  most  comforting  to  the  trae  homoeo- 
path. The  anthor  affirms  **  that  nnder  good  homoeopathic 
treatment  there  will  be  few  or  no  sequelsB  in  this  disease.  They 
noTer  follow  a  cured  case  of  diphtheria."  Whenever  we  have 
seqaelaB,  it  is  either,  says  the  author,  because  the  case  has  been 
under  old-school  treatment,  or  because  we  have  failed  to  find  the 
right  remedy. 

The  latter  part  of  the  essay  is  taken  up  with  a  review  of  the 
various  remedies  which  have  been  found  useful  in  the  disease, 
with  the  indications  for  each.  The  totality  of  the  symptoms  is 
insisted  on,  in  the  selection  of  the  remedy.  As  an  instance  of 
this,  a  case  is  mentioned  (almost  the  only  case  given  in  the  book) 
in  which  hryonia  200  and  rhu»  200  both  failed  to  relieve  acute 
rheumatism,  and  arnica  1000  gave  prompt  and  permanent 
relief.  Alternation  too  is  decried  as  a  confession  of  weakness. 
Our  old  friend,  p$ora^  crops  up  here  and  there  as  exerting 
a  latent  influence  in  acute  disease. 

The  repertory  is  copious  and  clear,  and  the  author  though 
evidently  a  high  dilutionist,  very  sensibly  refrains  from  insisting 
on  any  given  dilution,  evidently  believing  that  the  dilution  is 
within'oefiain  Kmite  of  merely  se^ndary  4ortance,  and  that  the 
proper  symptomatic  drug  selection  is  the  great  point  to  be 
sought  after. 

The  last  chapter  is  devoted  to  the  consideration  of  tracheotomy. 
Statistics  show  conclusively  that  in  diphtheria  this  is  not 
advisable,  as  the  majority  of  cases  operated  on  have  died. 
Homoeopathy  generally  succeeds  without  it,  and  we  may  safely 
say  that  if  the  indicated  remedy  will  not  cure  there  is  little  use 
in  performing  tracheotomy. 

Taken  as  a  whole,  this  little  work  contains  much  useful  in- 
formation, and  were  it  only  for  the  repertory  alone,  deserves  a 
place  on  the  shelves  of  the  reference  library. 

MEETINGS   OF   SOCIETIES. 

THIRTY-FIRST  ANNUAL  GENERAL  MEETING 

OP   THE    GOVERNORS  AND   SUBSCRIBERS   OF  THE 

LONDON  HOMCEOPATHIC  HOSPITAL. 

The  Annual  General  Meeting  of  the  Governors  and  Subscribers 
of  the  Hospital  was  held  in  the  Board  Room  of  the  Hospital,  on 
Saturday  afternoon,  April  SOth,  1881,  at  three  o'clock.  The 
Lord  Ebury  presided,  and  was  supported  by  the  Earl  of  Denbigh, 


428  MBBTING8  OF  SOCIETIBfl.  ^^J^J^SS?®! 

the  Earl  of  Dtuimore,  Major  Win.  Yanghan  Morgan,  Mr.  H.  E. 
Williams,  Dr.  Hamilton,  Dr.  Yeldham,  Dr.  Bayes,  Dr.  Hale, 
Dr.  Carfrae,  Dr.  Burnett,  Dr.  Pope,  Mr.  Samuel  Gumej, 
Mr.  C.  G.  Walpole,  Mr.  F.  Bosher,  Mr.  Crampem,  Mr.  Alfred 
B.  Pite,  Captain  Davies,  Dr.  Matheson,  Dr.  Blackley,  Dr. 
Boriven,  Dr.  Dyce  Brown,  Mr.  Adlard,  Dr.  Mackechnie,  Mr. 
Boodle,  the  Bey.  Dacre  Crayen,  Mr.  Alan  E.  Ohambre  (Official 
Manager).    Seyeral  ladies  were  also  present. 

The  Bey.  Dacbe  CsAyEN  (Chaplain)  opened  the  meeting  with 
prayer. 

The  Secbetabt  (Mr.  G.  A.  Cross)  read  the  notice  conyening 
the  meeting ;  the  minutes  of  the  Annual  General  Meeting,  held 
on  April  27th,  1880 ;  and  the  minutes  of  the  Special  General 
Meeting,  held  on  the  same  day,  all  of  which  were  formally 
approyed  and  signed  by  the  Chairman. 

The  Beport,  which  was  read  by  the  Official  Manager,  is  in 
eyery  way  satisfactory.  It  records  a  donation  of  £200,  to  be 
increased  in  subsequent  years  to  £250,  from  a  nobleman  who 
desires  to  remain  anonymous ;  a  renewal  of  the  donation  of  £210 
by  Miss  Duming  Smith,  for  the  maintenance  of  six  beds  for 
chronic  cases,  while  the  income  from  the  Quin  legacy  is  estimated 
at  £450  per  annum.  The  extensiye  alterations  which  haye  been 
made  in  the  sanitary  arrangements  of  the  Hospital  are  folly 
described,  and  the  expenditure  of  £1,000  is  stated  to  haye  been 
incurred.    An  improyement  in  the  gas  apparatus  is  also  noticed. 

The  following  extract  sets  forth  the  state  of  the  finances  and 
the  number  of  patients  treated. 

'*  The  Balance-Sheet  shows  that  the  total  Ordinary  Income 
of  the  Hospital  from  the  1st  April,  1880,  to  ihe  81st  March, 
1881,  was  £8,918  ds.  dd.,  as  against  £8,971  lOs.  5d.  for  the 
year  1879-80 ;  thus  showing  an  apparent  decrease  of  £58  7s.  2d. 
This  result  is,  howeyer,  due  to  an  alteration  in  the  mode  of 
making  out  the  Balance-Sheet,  and  if  this  alteration  had  not  been 
made,  the  figures  would  compare  as  follows : — 1879-80, 
£8,971  10s.  5d.,  and  1880-81,  £4,485  6s.  lOd.  The  items 
comprising  Ordinary  Income  are : — Diyidends  on  Stocks ; 
Donations ;  Subscriptions  ;  Begistration  Fees ;  Hospital  Sunday 
and  Saturday  Funds  ;  Bents ;  Nursing  Fund — ^Profits ;  Paying 
Patients ;  and  Dr.  Quin's  Annuity  Fund.  To  this  amount  of 
£8,918  8s.  dd.  must  be  added  Extraordinary  Beceipts :  £5  58.,  the 
proceeds  of  the  Dramatic  Becital ;  £105,  the  profit  deriyed  from 
the  '  Thalian '  Dramatic  Performance,  and  a  Legacy  of  £50 ; 
making  a  total  of  £4,858  16s.  6d. 

«  The  Expenditure  on  account  of  Ordinary  Income  from  Ist 
April,  1880,  to  the  81st  March,  1881,  has  been  £8,867  18s. -Sd. 

**  The  Annual  Subscriptions  actually  receiyed  from  the  Ist 
April,  1880,  to  the  81st  March,  1881,  amounted  to  £1,482  146. 


IS^j^iTSk***  MBBTINGfl  OF  BOOIBTIBS.  429 

-  ,  - ,-         . 

A  snm  eBtuoiAted  at  £70  representing  SabBcriptions  due  bnt  not 
jet  paid* 

**  The  total  Donations  from  Ist  April,  1880,  to  the  81st 
March,  1881,  amounted  to  £495  17s.  lOd. ;  an  increase— as 
compared  with  the  year  1879-80— of  £110  18s.  lOd. 

**  The  fees  for  the  Registration  of  Oat-Patients  show  a 
decrease  of  £87  15s.,  and  amomited,  for  the  twelve  months  to 
8l8t  March,  1881,  to  £272  8s.,  against  £810  8s.,  in  the  preced- 
ing year;  but  this  decrease  of  £87  15s.  is  due  to  the  closing  of 
the  Hospital  for  nearly  five  weeks. 

*'  The  Nnrsing  Fond  Receipts  have  jostified  the  anticipation 
formed  at  the  outset  and  repeated  in  the  last  two  Reports.  They 
amounted — ^in  the  period  from  the  Ist  April,  1880,  to  the  81st 
March,  1881 — ^to  £627  2s.  6d. :  the  largest  amomit  yet  received 
under  this  head.  In  the  twelve  months  immediately  preceding 
the  amonnt  was  £612.  In  1878  the  total  was  £899  Os.  6d.  A 
slight  alteration  has  been  made  in  the  mode  of  bringing  this  item 
to  account  in  the  Balance-Bheet. 

"The  awards  from  the  Hospital  Sunday  and  the  Saturday 
Funds  differed  but  little  from  those  of  the  preceding  year,  and 
the  difference  was  due  only  to  causes  beyond  the  control  of  the 
Hospital. 

"  The  only  Legacy  received  in  1880-1  was  a  bequest  of  £60 
by  the  late  Miss  BrsJcenbury. 

"The  working  Expenditure  of  the  Hospital  from  the  1st 
April,  1880,  to  the  81st  March,  1881,  was  £8,867  18s.  8d. 
This  compares  with  £8,897  19s.  6d.,  the  Expenditure  in  the 
year  1879-80. 

"  The  Invested  Funds  of  the  Hospital  at  the  81st  March,  1881, 
exclusive  of  the  Hospital  Premises  and  Furniture,  and  the  Free- 
hold House,  No.  1,  Powis  Place,  consisted  of — 

Consols £2.674    2    8 

New  Three  per  Cents   £4,757  17  10 

Total £7,482    0    6 

being  the  same  amount  as  last  year. 

"  The  total  number  of  In-Patients  treated  in  the  Hospital 
from  the  1st  April,  1880,  to  the  81st  March,  1881,  was  485, 
while  in  the  twelve  months  immediately  preceding  the  number 
was  494,  showing  a  decrease  of  9,  accounted  for  in  the  following 
paragraph. 

**  The  number  of  Out-Patients  shows  a  decrease  of  686.  The 
numbers  from  the  Ist  April,  1880,  to  the  81st  March,  1881, 
being  6,217,  and  in  the  corresponding  preceding  twelve  months, 
6,908.  The  aggregate  number  of  In  and  Ont-Patients  treated 
since  the  opening  of  the  Hospital  to  the  8l8t  March,  1881, 
amounts  to  162,229.    The  falling  off  in  the  number  of  Patients, 


480  MEETINGS  OF  BOOIETIES.  ^'^^ 


B«irisw«  July  U  iBBL 


both  In  and  Oat,  is  due  to  the  fiust  that  the  Hospital  was  dosed 
for  nearly  five  weeks  to  carry  ont  the  extensive  drainage  and 
stractoral  alterations,  and  a  comparison  between  the  total  number 
actually  admitted  and  the  time  the  Hospital  was  open  shows  a 
steady  increase  on  the  previons  twelye  months. 

**  The  visiting  of  Out-Patients  at  their  own  homes  oontinoes 
to  be  attended  with  a  fair  amount  of  success/* 

Some  alterations  have  been  found  necessary  in  the  arrange- 
ments for  receiving  paying  patients.  A  ward  has  been  set  apart 
'*  where  infectious  cases  occurring  unexpectedly  in  the  Hospital, 
or  nurses  returning  from  an  infectious  case,  could  be  accommo- 
dated/' 

Among  other  matters  of  interest  alluded  to  in  the  Beport  we 
notice  the  creation  of  a  special  division  for  the  treatment  of 
diseases  of  the  skin  under  the  care  of  Dr.  Galley  Blackley,  and 
the  appointment  of  Dr.  George  Wyld  as  vaccinator.  The  special 
division  which  has  hitherto  existed  for  children  has  been 
abolished,  and  the  patients  divided  equally  among  the  medical 
ofSoers. 

The  remaining  portion  of  the  Beport  is  occupied  with  a  state- 
ment of  appointments  and  donations. 

The  Lord  Ebuby,  in  moving  the  adoption  of  the  Beport,  said 
the  Beport  having  been  duly  read  it  became  his  pleasing  duty,  as 
on  many  previous  successive  occasions,  to  move  that  it  be  printed 
and  circulated  in  the  usual  manner.  They  had  had  favourable 
Beports  of  late  years,  but  he  thought  he  might  say  this  was  the 
best  of  all.  (Cheers.)  They  could  hardly  help  being  impressed 
with  its  lucidity  and  singular  clearness.  (Hear,  hear.)  He  had 
— with  his  colleagues  on  the  Board  of  Management — passed  many 
an  anxious  hour  in  that  room  in  the  course  of  previous  yean. 
There  had  been  times  when  they  dared  not  look  forward  to  the 
future  of  the  Hospital  and  feel  assured  that  it  would  maintain 
the  position  it  ought  to  hold  in  the  Metropolis.  But  all  who 
heard  or  read  that  Beport  would  feel  that  their  greatest  diffi- 
culties had  been  cleared  away,  and  that  they  would  still  be  able 
to  work  on  for  those  who  were  suffering  and  who  came  to  them 
for  relief.  His  Lordship  then  referred  to  recent  correspondence 
in  the  Times  with  respect  to  the  medical  treatment  of  a  great 
statesman,  who  had  passed  from  among  us,  and  expressed  his 
astonishment  at  the  great  amount  of  ignorance  shown,  even  by 
the  medical  profession,  as  to  the  true  nature  of  homceopathy. 
What  especially  surprised  him  was  the  persistence  with  which  it 
was  maintained  that  homoeopathy  was  very  good  in  slight  ail- 
ments, but  that  of  course  no  one  would  thmk  of  sending  for  a 
homoeopathic  medical  man  if  seriously  ill.  His  Lordship  pictured 
a  patient  who  might  call  in  a  homoeopathic  doctor  for  some 
apparently  simple  compUunt,  but  finding  himself  getting  worse, 


iSSSS^J^l^S^  IfBETINOS  OF  B00IETIB8.  481 

would  flay  to  his  adviser  that  he  would  be  really  too  ill  to  see 
him  any  more.  They  must  eradicate  that  idea.  And  he  waa 
not  withont  hope  that  oat  of  that  controversy^  which  developed 
BO  much  and  singular  ignorance,  good  might  come,  as  people 
would  be  led  to  enqnire  for  themselves  what  homoeopathy  reidly 
is.  In  general  practice  there  could  be  no  doubt  that  the  homoBO- 
pathic  practitioners  beat  the  allopathic  quite  out  of  the  field,  and 
he  had  himself  seen  astonishing  instances  of  skill  on  the  part  of 
homcBopaths  when,  what  he  might  call  the  Act  of  Parliament 
physicians,  had  confessed  their  inability  to  render  aid.  He  did 
not  remember  noticing  in  the  Report  any  allusion  to  the  School 
of  Homoeopathy.  That  Institution  had  been  of  very  great 
ftsmfltance  to  the  Hospital  by  its  contributions  of  money.  Like 
the  Hospital,  it  had  encountered  very  great  difficulties.  There 
were  a  great  many  '*ifs"  and  '<  huts''  to  be  considered  and 
airanged,  but  its  Medical  Council  and  Committee  of  Management 
had  successfully  carried  it  through  the  dangers  of  its  infancy. 
With  regard  to  the  scheme  for  amalgamating  the  Hospital  and 
the  School,  it  would  unquestionably  be  of  great  advantage  to 
both  these  scientific  Institutions  to  do  so,  by  bringing  promi- 
nently before  the  public  the  true  principles  of  homoeopathy. 
Until  that  was  done  they  would  never  reach  the  position  they 
ought  to  have.  Those  who  beUeved  in  the  wonderful  skill  and 
knowledge  of  the  Founder  of  the  system  knew  best  that  a  com- 
bination of  all  their  forces  was  necessary  in  order  to  reach  the 
highest  point.  Hahnemann,  great  as  he  was,  was  not  like  that 
Manchester  machine  which  was  called  '*  the  mule,"  simply 
because  it  was  believed  to  be  so  perfect  that  no  one  could  invent 
anything  better.  That  should  not  be  the  motto  of  homoeopathy. 
(Cheers.)  The  success  of  the  past  must  only  stimulate  us  to 
further  efibrts  in  the  future.  There  were  many  items  he  might 
deal  with,  but  perhaps  he  had  said  enough.  His  Lordship  said 
he  cordially  approved  the  Report,  and  ask  them  to  signify  their 
approval  also.    (Cheers.) 

The  Easl  of  Dummobe  begged  to  second  the  motion  for  the 
adoption  of  the  report,  and  said  he  had  listened  with  great 
satisfaction  to  the  speech  of  the  noble  Lord. 

The  motion  was  carried  unanimously. 

Dr.  Ybldham  then  proposed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Chair- 
man, the  Board  of  Management,  the  House  Committee,  the 
Treasurer,  and  Sub-Treasurer,  and  referred  to  the  services 
which  Lord  Ebury  had  rendered  to  the  Hospital.  He  (Dr. 
Yeldham)  had  never  been  absent  from  an  annual  meeting  for 
thirty  years,  and  he  did  not  remember  an  occasion  when  his 
Lordship  had  been  absent.  It  was  very  gratifying  to  have 
associated  with  any  institution  a  nobleman  who  took  so  great  an 
interest  in  it  as  Lord  Ebury  took  in  the  London  Homoeopathic 


482  MEETINGS  OF  SOCIETIES.  ^'ISS&^SISS!^ 


Baview,  July  1,  ISBL 


Hospital.  He  eamesUy  hoped  thai  his  Lordship  would  he 
spared  for  many  years  to  take  the  same  kindly  care  in  its 
welfare.  (Cheers).  The  weU-wishers  of  the  Hospital  were  also 
much  indebted  to  those  gentlemen  who,  in  the  offices  of 
Treasurer  and  Sab-Treasnrer,  and  as  members  of  the  House 
Committee  and  Board  of  Management,  did  so  mnch  nsefnl  work. 
Their  Treasurer  was  a  most  important  officer  in  the  Hospital. 
(Hear,  hear).  Particularly  when  we  are  in  want  of  funds. 
(Laughter.)  On  those  occasions  we  draw  freely  on  his 
resources,  and  the  readiness  with  which  he  responds  makes  the 
Treasurer  an  invaluable  member  of  the  Board  of  Management. 
They  owed  him  a  debt  of  gratitude.  Then  as  to  their  Sub- 
Treasurer,  Mr.  Crampem  (cheers),  he  was  sure  that  that  gentle- 
man, although  for  the  present  incapacitated  from  ill-health, 
continued  to  take  the  deepest  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the 
Hospital,  and  for  many  years  past  had  not  ceased  to  devote  a 
great  amount  of  time  and  labour  to  the  duties  of  his  office  and  of 
tiie  House  Committee.  They  were  all  glad  to  see  him  present 
(cheers)  that  afternoon.  As  to  the  Board  of  Management,  there 
could  be  no  doubt  it  was  the  backbone  of  the  institution :  with- 
out a  good  Board  of  Management  an  institution  was  certain  to 
decline.  A  great  sign  of  progress  during  the  last  twelve  months 
was  the  fact  stated  in  the  report  that  the  income  had  become 
equal  to  the  expenditure.  That  was  a  very  gratifying  fact,  and 
if  he  were  to  say  anything  farther  about  the  Board  of  Manage- 
ment it  could  not  add  to  the  force  of  that  pregnant  fact. 
(Applause). 

Dr.  BuBNETT  said  he  had  listened  to  the  remarks  which  had 
been  made  by  Dr.  Yeldham,  and  he  so  entirely  approved  of  all 
that  had  fallen  from  him  that  he  would  only  second  the  motion 
in  a  formal  way. 

The  motion  being  carried.  Major  Wh.  Yauohan  Moroaii — ^in 
responding  on  behalf  of  the  Board  of  Management — said  &at 
none  could  be  more  thankful  than  they  were  for  the  improve- 
ment in  the  state  of  the  affairs  of  the  Hospital.     The  greatest 
difficulty  which,  as  a  Board,  they  had  had  to  contend  against  in 
the  past  year  was  the  defective  state  of  the  drainage.   Two  yeais 
ago  they  had  spent  much  money  on  general  improvements  which 
were   quite  indispensable,   and   subsequently  they  found  that 
the  Hospital  was  deficient  as  to  that  in  which  every  Hospital 
ought  to  be  perfect, — ^in  sanitary  arrangements.     There  could 
be  no  doubt  that  the  chief  essentials  of  a  good  Hospital  were — 
proper  ventilation,  proper  nursing,  and  proper  hygiene.    It  was 
really  no  good  having  successful  physicians  and  surgeons  unless 
they  had  also  a  proper  and  effective  sanitary  system.     (Hear, 
hear.)    To  meet  the  expense  incurred  in  making  our  Hospital 
as  efficient  as  possible  in  this  important  particular  the  Board 


SS^J^h^^  MEETINGS  OF  SOCIETIES.  438 

are  obliged  to  ask  yoa  for  permission  to  make  use  of  a  portion 
of  the  Beserve  Fond,  under  the  law  which  provides  for  such  a 
contingency.  As  to  the  current  income,  the  handsome  legacy 
of  Dr.  Quin  (cheers)  has  enabled  the  Board  to  look  at  Uieir 
expenditure  with  a  light  heart.  Anyone  who  would  take  the 
trouble  to  inspect  the  Hospital  would  admit  that  they  had  effected 
a  Tery  great  improvement  at  a  cost  certainly  not  beyond  what 
was  necessary  to  incur.  He  could  not  say  this  much  without 
alluding  to  their  honorary  architect.  At  a  great  expenditure  of 
time  and  labour  he  had  organised  these  improvements  in  a  man- 
ner worthy  of  his  reputation,  and  in  a  most  economical  manner. 
The  Hospital  was  now  more  efficient  than  ever :  medically, 
sanitanly,  and  officially.     (Cheers.) 

The  Lord  Ebury  then  proposed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the 
anonymous  nobleman  who  has  so  generously  given  a  subscription 
of  JB200  for  the  first  year,  with  a  promise  to  increase  the  amount 
to  JS250  in  future  years. 

The  motion  being  seconded  by  Mr.  Cramfebn,  was  carried 
unanimously  amidst  applause. 

The  Earl  of  Denbioh  then  proposed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Miss 
J.  Duming  Smith  for  her  continued  generosity  in  undertaking  to 
maintain  six  beds  in  the  Hospital,  chiefly  for  patients  requiring 
prolonged  treatment.  Miss  Smith  had  sent  a  first  cheque  for 
Jg210  in  the  month  of  May,  1880,  and  another  in  the  month  of 
March  just  past.  His  Lordship  said  that  while  homoeopathy  was 
most  valuable  in  acute  diseases,  it  was  not  less  valuable  in 
chronic  diseases,  and  it  was  highly  gratifying  that  a  lady  so 
munificent  was  interested  in  the  Hospital.  It  was  to  be  hoped 
that  her  noble  example  would  be  followed  by  others.  (Hear, 
hear.) 

Dr.  Dyce  Brown,  in  seconding  the  motion,  said  that  they  were 
extremely  indebted  to  this  lady  for  the  munificent  subscription 
which  she  had  bestowed  on  the  Hospital.  The  idea  of  benefiting 
chronic  cases  was  a  very  good  one,  and  he  quite  agreed  with  the 
remarks  made  by  Lord  Denbigh  as  to  the  value  of  homoeopathy 
in  such  cases.  Formerly  the  Medical  Staff  had  to  ask  the  per- 
mission of  the  House  Committee  before  they  could  retain  any 
patient  in  the  wards,  but  now  they  could,  under  the  conditions 
attached  to  this  generous  annual  contribution,  retain  at  their 
discretion  any  case  which  a  prolonged  stay  in  the  wards  was 
likely  to  benefit. 

Dr.  Pope  then  moved  the  re-election  of  those  Members  of  tho 
Board  of  Management  who  retire  by  rotation,  namely,  the  Earl 
of  Dunmore,  ihe  Earl  of  Denbigh,  Mr.  Philip  Hughes,  Mr. 
Humphries,  Mr.  Pite,  and  Mr.  Bosher. 

Dr.  Neville  Wood  said  he  had  much  pleasure  in  seconding 
the  resolution,   and  congratulated    those  gentlemen  on  their. 

No.  7,  Vol.  25.  2  r 


4M 


MBETWOB  OF  80CIETIB8.   *tSgw,/«ly  i^Wi. 


adherence  to  the  lioiiMBopatfaie  **  heresy  **  which  they  knev  to  he 
a  great  medical  &ct  (cheers)  and  thought  they  were  also  to  be 
thanked  for  their  warm  snpport  of  the  HospitaL 

Captain  l)A'nB  then  moved  the  confirmation  of  three  medical 
appointments  made  during  the  year,  namely,  those  of  Dr. 
Sandberg,  Dr.  Noble,  and  Dr.  Clarke. 

Dr.  Hamilton  said  he  had  mnch  pleasure  in  seconding  the 
motion,  as  he  felt  quite  sure  that  those  appointments  were  for 
the  good  of  the  Hospital. 

Mr.  H.  B.  WiLiiiAMS  then  rose  to  move  that  a  vote  of  thanks 
be  given  to  the  Medical  Staff  for  their  valuable  services  during 
the  year,  and 

Mr.  BosHEB  seconding,  it  was  carried  unanimously. 

Dr.  Hamilton  said  he  had  to  return  thanks  for  this  moat 
cordial  vote.  As  a  permanent  member  of  the  Medical  Staff  he 
could  only  say  that  although  their  aim  was,  of  course^  principally 
to  relieve  the  sick,  yet  they  never  forgot  that  as  homoeopaUis  it 
was  their  duty  to  demonstrate  in  doing  so  that  their  system  was 
better  than  any  other.     (Cheers). 

Major  Yaughan  Mobgan  then  moved  that  the  Governors'  and 
Subscribers'  sanction  be  given  to  the  Abolition  of  the  Special 
Department  for  the  Treatment  of  the  Diseases  of  Children, 
which  they  had  discontinued  under  the  advice  of  the  Medical 
CounciL  The  speaker  then  read  the  following  paragraph  irom 
the  report : — '*  The  Special  Division  for  Children,  which  has 
been  so  long  maintained,  under  the  provisions  of  Law  XXXIV., 
has,  after  consultation  with  the  Medical  Council,  been  abolished, 
and  the  Children  are  divided  equally  among  the  Physicians  in 
charge  of  the  Out-patients  generally.  This  is  found  to  work 
more  satisfactorily  in  the  interests  of  the  Medical  Officers  in 
charge  of  the  Out-patients  and  of  the  Children,  as  they  have 
now  many  more  opportunities  of  coining  for  treatment.  It  iB 
hoped,  therefore,  that  the  Governors  and  Subscribers  will 
ooncur  in  this  change.' ' 

Mr.  Boodle  having  seconded  the  motion,  it  was  carried 
unanimously. 

The  Eabl  of  Denbigh  then  moved  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the 
Lady  Visitors,  the  Honorary  Solicitor,  and  the  Honoraiy  Archi- 
tect, and  remarked  that,  as  to  the  first  part  of  the  resolution,  no 
one  who  had  ever  been  ill  could  doubt  the  great  advantage  to 
the  sufferer  of  the  sympathetic  ministrations  of  the  ladies. 
(Applause). 

^e  motion  having  been  seconded  by  Mr.  Walpole, 

Mr.  Ptte  begged  to  thank  the  meeting  for  the  kind  way  in 
which  they  had  acknowledged  his  services.  He  regarded  it  as  a 
great  privilege  to  devote  what  time  he  could  to  the  work  neoetf- 
eaiy  for  the  Hospital. : 


B^/j^TTilS^  MEETINGS  OP  SOCIETIES.  435 

Mr.  B08HB&  responded  on  behalf  of  the  Honorary  Solicitor^ 
who  was  nnavoidablj  absent. 

The  Bey.  Daobe  Osa.tbn  replied  for  the  Lady  Visitors,  and, 
in'  thanking  the  meeting  for  ^e  kind  way  in  whioh  they  had 
spoken  of  tiieir  services,  remarked  that  his  appointment  to  the 
Chaplaincy  was  very  recent  and  he  conld  not  claim  yet  to  an 
ertensiye  acquaintance  with  the  Hospital  and  its  friends.  But 
itf  to  those  ladies  who  so  kindly  visit  the  patients  in  the  wards 
he  had  had  considerable  experience,  and  could  say  how  valuable 
saeh  services  were,  especially  when  rendered  with  such  tact  and 
kindness  as  ladies  mostly  displayed.    (Applause.) 

Mbqot  Yajsohjm  Moboak  then  rose  to  propose  a  vote  of  thanks 
to  Lord  Ebury,  as  Chairman  of  that  meeting  and  Chairman  of 
the  Board  of  Management.  Within  the  last  few  days  his  Lord- 
ship had  reached  his  eightieth  birthday.  (Loud  cheers.)  There 
oouid  not,  therefore,  be  a  better  example  of  the  success  of 
homoeopathy  than  Lord  Ebury.  (Applause.)  Before  he  (Major 
Morgan)  was  a  homoeopath  his  Lordship  was  working  effectively 
in  its  service,  while  as  Chairman  of  the  Board  he  could  not  say 
enough  of  him.  Everything  done  under  his  auspices  receives 
his  attention.  His  great  experience  has  always  been  of  the 
.greatest  value,  and  the  great  charm  of  his  presence  on  the  Board 
was  that  when  wanted  he  was  always  to  be  relied  upon.  Lord 
Ebnry  had  rendered  very  great  and  signal  service  to  the  cause  of 
homoeopathy,  and  they  only  wished  him  many  years  of  life  and 
happiness.     (Cheers.) 

Dr.  Bates  said  his  friend  M^or  Yaughan  Morgan  had  said 
everything  he  could  have  said  by  way  of  congratulation  to  Lord 
Ebnry  on  his  recent  birthday.  We  all  deeply  feel  that  for  a 
nobleman  of  such  influence  to  devote  so  much  time  and  attention 
to  the  afiairs  of  the  Hospital  is  of  the  greatest  advantage  to  it. 
(Applause.) 

l^e  motion  being  put,  was  carried  with  acclamation. 

LoBD  EnuBTthen  tiianked  the  meeting  for  their  vote  of  thanks, 
and  said  he  littie  thought  that  the  fact  of  his  having  attained  his 
eightieth  year  had  become  known  beyond  his  own  immediate 
neighbourhood.  So  long  as  he  had  health  and  strength  he  hoped 
to  continue  his  connection  with  the  London  Homoeopathic 
Hospital.  (Applause.)  He  had  noticed  with  much  pleasure  that 
at  tiie  commencement  of  the  last  session  of  the  School  of 
Homoeopathy  there  was  an  address  on  the  life  of  Samuel  Hahne- 
mann. The  allopathic  School  of  Medicine  had  its  Hunter  and 
its  Jenner,  and  so  the  homoeopaths  had  their  Hahnemann. 
(Cheers.)  He  was  glad  that  most  eloquent  oration  had  been 
printed  for  he  had  almost  forgotten  the  very  eventful  life  of  the 
great  founder  of  homoeopathy.  His  Lordslup  again  thanked  the 
meeting  for  their  approbation.    He  was  present  the  other  day 

2r— 2 


486 HOTABIUA.  "'SS^^j^gg 

at  the  Guildhall,  when  the  dinner  was  given  to  the  Eazl  of 
Shaftesboij.  He  did  not  think  he  was  ever  more  gratified  in  his- 
hfe  than  by  what  took  place  on  that  occasion.  When  his  Lord- 
ship and  Lord  Shaftesbury  were  at  college  together  they  used  io 
play  the  Ante  and  violin  together ;  his  Lordship  playing  first  and 
Lord  Shaftesbury  playing  second.  (Laughter.)  Well,  that  was 
reversed  in  actual  life,  Lord  Shaftesbuiy  playing  first,  and  his 
Lordship  playing — ^well,  he  supposed,  twentieth.  (Much  laughter.) 
At  all  events,  the  Earl  of  Shaftesbury  had  lived  a  magmficeni 
life.  (Cheers.)  With  regard  to  the  School  of  Homoeopathy  they 
hoped  for  its  continued  progress  as  an  institution  which  wonld 
instruct  medical  men  and  students  in  the  practice  of  a  troer 
medical  science.     (Cheers.) 

Mr.  Chambbe  ttien  read  the  foUowing  telegram  from  ISi^ 
Humphries,  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Management,  who  was 
unable  to  be  present :  ''I  unite  with  my  colleagues  in  offering 
respectful  congratulations  to  our  noble  Chaiiman,  my  Lord 
Ebury,  on  attaining  his  eightieth  year.  I  hope  his  life  may  be 
spared  and  strength  given  to  continue  in  works  of  doing  good  io* 
his  fellow  creatures." 

After  some  further  special  business,  the  meeting  terminated. 

NOTABILIA, 

INTERNATIONAL  HOMCEOPATHIC  CONVENTION,  1881. 

The  following  programme  of  this  important  meeting  has  been 
issued : — 

President,    Dr.    Hughes ;    "Vice-President,  * ; 

Treasurer,  Dr.  Black,  88,  Kensington  Gardens  Square,  London, 
W. ;  General  Secretary,  Dr.  Gibbs  Blake,  24,  Bennett's  Hill, 
Birmingham ;  Local  Secretaries,  Dr.  Hayward,  117,  GroTe 
Street,  Liverpool ;  Dr.  Burnett,  5,  Holies  Street,  Cavendish 
Square,  London. 

An  assembly  of  medical  men  practising  homoeopathicallj 
in  all  parts  of  the  world  will  be  held  in  London  during  the  we^ 
July  11th — 18th,  1881,  to  communicate  thought  and  experience, 
to  cement  friendly  union,  and  to  confer  as  to  the  best  modes  of 
propagating  and  developing  the  method  of  Hahnemann. 

This  Assembly  will  be  open  to  all  practitioners  of  medicine 
qualified  to  practise  in  their  own  country.  Those  who  desire  to 
become  members  of  the  Convention  should  present  to  one  of  the 
secretaries,  general  or  local,  their  names  and  addresses,  and  a 
statement  of  their  qualifications  ;  and,  if  unknown  to  the  officers 
of  the  Convention,  should  be  introduced  by  some  one  known  to 

"  Dr.  Hamilton  was  the  originally-elected  President;  but,  having 
resigned  the  office,  the  Vice-President,  Dr.  Hughes,  has  taken  his  place, 
and  a  new  Vice-President  will  be  elected  by  Qie  Convention  on  the  £ist 
day  of  its  assembling. 


them,  or  bring  letters  credential  from  some  homcBopatbic 
society,  or  other  recognised  representative  of  the  system.  They 
will  then  receive  a  card  of  membership,  which  wiU  admit  them 
on  all  occasions. 

The  general  meetings  of  the  Convention  will  be  held  at  the 
rooms  of  the  Dilettante  Society,  7,  Argyll  Street,  Regent  Street, 
on  the  Tuesday,  Wednesday,  Thursday,  and  Friday  of  the 
week  of  assembly,  from  2.80  to  5.80  p.m.,  and  on  the  Saturday 
at  2  p.m.  Sectional  meetings  can  be  held  in  the  Hall  during  the 
forenoons,  as  may  be  arranged  among  the  members  themselves. 
Members  of  the  Convention  are  at  liberty  to  introduce  visitors  to 
all  these  meetings  at  their  discretion. 

No  papers  will  be  read  at  the  general  meetings.  The  essays 
which  have  been  sent  in,  and  have  been  approved  by  the  Board 
of  Censors  *,  are  being  printed,  and  will  be  supplied  to  all  who 
desire  to  take  part  in  the  debates  on  their  subject-matter. 
They  will  be  presented  at  the  meetings,  singly  or  in  groups, 
according  to  their  contents, — a  brief  analysis  of  each  being 
given  from  the  chair ;  and  the  points  on  which  they  treat  will 
then  be  thrown  open  for  discussion. 

The  appointed  openers  will  be  allowed  fifteen  minutes,  and 
subsequent  speakers  ten  minutes,  for  their  remarks. 

The  Chainnan  will  have  liberty,  if  he  sees  that  an  essay  is 
being  discussed  at  such  length  as  to  threaten  the  exclusion  of 
the  farther  subjects  set  down  for  the  day,  to  close  the  debate. 
In  so  doing,  he  will  give  the  authors  of  the  essays  discussed,  if 
present,  the  opportunity  of  saying  the  last  word  before  the 
subject  is  dismissed. 

The  discussions  wiU  ordinarily  be  conducted  in  English ;  but 
-any  member  desiring  to  speak  in  another  language  can  do  so  with 
the  consent  of  the  meeting.  Such  speaker,  however,  shall  either 
obtain  an  interpreter,  or  shall,  on  rising,  hand  to  the  Chairman 
a  precis  of  the  remarks  he  purposes  to  make,  which,  at  the 
conclusion  of  his  speech,  shall  be  communicated  in  English  to 
ihe  meeting. 

ORDER  OP  BUSINESS. 

Tuesday,  July  12th. 

Address  of  the  President. 

Presentation  of  reports  from  the  different  countries  of  the 
^orld  as  to  the  history  of  homoeopathy  during  the  last  fiveyearSy 
and  its  present  state  tiierein. 

Belgium — ^Dr.  Martiny,  Brussels. 

Canada — ^Dr.  Nichol,  Montreal. 

France — ^Dr.  Claude,  Paris. 

Germany  and  Austria — ^Dr.  Dudgeon,  London. 

*  The  Board  of  Censors  has  been  made  up  of  Dra.  Hamilton,  Hughes, 
Dudgeon,  Pope,  and  Teldham. 


488  NOTABILU.  ^■^SS 


Befiflfv,  July  1>  IflBl. 


Great  Britain  and  its  Colonies — ^Dr.  Pope,  liondon. 
Italy — ^Dr.  B.  Amn^hy,  Nice. 
India — ^Dr.  Sircar,  Calcutta. 
Bassia — ^Dr.  Bojanus,  Moscow. 
United  States— Dr.  Talbot,  Boston,  n.S. 
Discussion — On  the  Condition  and  Prospects  of  HooKBopafliy 
at  the  present  time,  and  the  best  means  of  farthering  its  caoae.*^ 

Wednesday,  July  18th. 
IfutUvtei  of  Homaqpathy  and  Materia  Medica* 

1.  Essays  for  Discnssion : 

**  Thoughts  on  the  Scientific  Application  of  the  Principles 
of  Homoeopathy  in  Practice." — ^Dr.  Hayle,  Rochdale. 

'<  Indiyidualisation  and  Generalisation."  —  Dr.  Hu^es, 
Brighton. 

"  A  New  •  Similia.'  "—Dr.  Woodward,  Chicago. 

Subject  for  Discnssion — <<  The  Selection  of  the  Bemedy. 

2.  Essay  for  Discussion : 
"The  Alternation  of  Medicines.*' — ^Dr.  Martiny,  Brussels; 

Dr.  Bernard,  Mens. 

Subject  for  Discussion — ''  Alternation," 

8.  Essays  for  Discussion : 

'*  Drug  Attenuation :  its  influence  upon  Drag  matter  and 
Drug  power." — ^Dr.  J.  P.  Dake,  Nashville,  U.S. 

**  A  Plea  for  a  Standard  Limit  of  Attenuated  Doses." — 
Dr.  C.  Wesselhoefb,  Boston,  U.S. 

<*  The  Question  of  the  Dose :  Hahnemannism  and  HomoBO- 
pathy." — ^Dr.  Cretin,  Paris. 

Subject  for  Discussion — "  The  relatiye  Talue  of  Clinical  and 
Extra-Clinical  Evidence  as  to  the  Efficacy  of  Infinitesimal  Doses. 


»» 


•r 


Thubsday,  JuiiY  14th. 
PraeHcal  Medicim  and  Oynacology. 

1,  Essays  for  Discussion : 

**  The  Differential  Diagnosis  and  Treatment  of  YeUow  Ferer." 
— ^Dr.  Holcombe,  New  Orleans. 

<*  Indian  Dysentery  and  Cholera." — ^Dr.  Carter,  Sydney; 
Dr.  Sircar,  Calcutta. 

Subject  for  Discussion  —  "Homoeopathy  in  Hyper-acuie 
Diseases,  including  Hyper-Pyrezia." 

2.  Essay  for  Discussion  : 

"  Cancer." — ^Dr.  Gutteridge,  London. 
Subject  for  Discussion — "The  possibilities  of  Medicine  is 
Cancer." 

*  The  names  of  the  appointed  Openers  and  intending  Debftten  on  esdi 
subject  wH  be  azmonnoed  from  the  Ohair,  and  posted  in  the  Ball  of 
lleeting,  on  the  prerions  day. 


8.  EssajB  for  Disciusioii : 

'*  On  the  place  of  Mechanical  MeasoreB  in  PelTio  Disease/' 
— Dr.  Edward  Blake,  London. 

"  On  the  treatment  of  some  Uterine  Diseases." — ^Dr.  Djce 
Broim,  London. 

**  On  the  treatment  of  some  of  the  Affections  of  the  Cervix 
Uteri." — ^Dr.  Carfrae,  London. 

Snhject  for  Discnssion — **  The  treatment  of  the  Affections  of 
the  Os  and  Cerm  Uteri." 

Fbiday,  July  15th. 
Surgical  Thsrapeutictt  Ophthalmology^  and  OHatriei. 

1.  Essays  for  Discnssion : 

**  A  Report  (hy  Dr.  Dndgeon)  on  *  The  Liflnence  of  HomoBO- 
pattiy  on  Operative  Sorgeiy/  by  Dr.  Bojanns,  Moscow.*' 

**  Surgical  Observations." — ^Dr.  Watson,  London. 

Subject  for  Discussion. — *'  The  help  brought  by  Homoeopathy 
to  the  Surgeon." 

2.  Essays  for  Discussion : 

"  Therapeutics  of  Iritis," — Dr.  Yilas,  Chicago. 

Subject  for  Discussion. — '*  The  treatment  of  Litis,  Simple  and 
Syphilitic." 

8*  Essay  for  Discussion : 

''  Notes  on  some  Homoeopathic  Bemedies  in  Aural  Disease." 
— ^Dr.  Cooper,  London. 

Subject  for  Discussion. — *^  The  place  of  Homoeopathic  Medica- 
tion in  Ear  Disease." 

Satubdat,  July  16th. 
Miscellaneous  Business. 

Pbebidekt'b  Bboeption. 
On  Monday,  July  11th,  at  8  p.m.,  the  President  will  hold  a 
reception  at  the  HaJl  of  Assembly.  To  this  all  members  of  the 
Convention  are  iavited,  with  the  ladies  of  their  families  ;  and  it 
is  especially  desired  that  visitors  from  abroad  should  take  this 
opportunity  of  becoming  known  to  the  officers  of  the  Convention, 
and  their  colleagues  in  general.  The  Secretaries  will  be  present, 
to  enrol  new  members  and  issue  tickets.    Evening  dress. 

TESTIMONIAL    TO    LOBD    EBUBY. 

A  HOVXMXMT  has  been  set  on  foot,  chiefly,  we  believe,  at  the 
su^estion  of  Dr.  Yeldham,  to  take  advantage  of  the  opportunity 
of  the  Bight  Hon.  Lord  Ebuiy's  having  attained  his  eightieth 
birthday,  for  homoeopathic  practitioners  and  others  interested  in 
homoeopathy  to  present  his  Lordship  with  an  acknowledgment 
of  the  eminent  services  he  has  rendered  to  homoeopathy  during 
a  period  of  at  least  forty  years. 

It  has  been  rightly  estimated,  that  the  value  of  such  a  presen- 
tation is  contingent  rather  upon  the  number  of  those  who  have 


^ HOTABILIA,  ^"S^S^TSSTm. 

.  taken  part  in  it,  than  on  anj  msrekj  money  worth  it  may  possess ; 
and  consequently,  no  snbscription  is  to  exceed  one  guinea— an 
arrangement  which  will  enable  all  to  contribute  who  entertain  a 
due  sense  of  Lord  Ebury's  constant  and  zealous  efforts  to  advance 
the  interests  and  sustain  the  rights  of  homoeopathic  practitioners. 

The  obstacles  which  were  presented  to  the  exercise  of  his  pro- 
fession by  the  homoeopathic  practitioner  thirty  years  ago  are 
scarcely  capable  of  refdisation  now.  To-day  it  would  be  im- 
possible to  obtain  a  verdict  of  manslaughter  from  a  coroner's 
jury  against  a  homoeopathic  practitioner  who  had  failed  to  prevent 
his  brother-in-law  dying  of  cholera — but  this  actually  occurred 
in  1849.  To-day  no  licensing  board  could  be  found  that  would 
withhold  its  license  to  practise  from  a  candidate  who  had  passed 
a  fair  examination,  on  the  ground  that  he  was  intending  to  study 
homoeopathy.  This  happened  in  1851.  Now  it  would  be  hope- 
less to  attempt  to  persuade  the  House  of  Commons  to  pass  an 
Act  which  would  enable  a  Medical  Council  to  deprive  the 
practitioner  of  homoeopathy  of  all  professional  rights.  This, 
however,  was  attempted  in  1858. 

We  are  quite  wiihin  the  mark  when  we  say  that  it  has  been 
chiefly  due  to  Lord  Ebury's  exertions  that  all  disabilities  of  the 
kind  have  been  removed.  It  is  to  his  Lordship's  efforts  that  we 
owe  the  28rd  clause  of  the  Medical  Act — a  clause  which  is  in  veiy 
deed  the  charter  of  scientiflc  medical  liberty.  Never  has  an 
opportunity  of  benefiting  homoeopathy,  or  of  relieving  homoeo- 
pathic practitioners  from  professional  tyranny,  been  placed  within 
his  Lordship's  reach  without  his  having  warmly  and  earnestly 
availed  himself  of  it.  As  the  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  the 
London  Homoeopathic  Hospital,  and  as  the  President  of  tiie 
I/ondon  School  of  Homoeopathy,  Lord  Ebury  has  worked  hard, 
and  without  the  least  regard  to  his  personal  ease  and  convenience, 
in  advancing  the  interests  of  both  institutions. 

For  the  position  of  comparative  ease  and  of  freedom  which  all 
homoeopathic  practitioners  enjoy  at  present,  for  the  opportunities 
we  possess  of  illustrating  and  teaching  those  truths  in  medicine 
in  which  we  have  acknowledged  our  confidence,  we  are  indebted 
to  no  man  in  this  country  more  than  we  are  to  Lord  Ebury. 

We  trust,  then,  that  no  homoeopathic  practitioner  wiU  stand 
aside  on  this  occasion,  but  that  each  and  all  will  gladly  and 
thankfully  come  forward  to  publicly  acknowledge  his  obligations 
to  the  venerable  nobleman  who  has,  through  so  long  a  series  of 
years,  laboured  so  vigorously,  so  unremittingly,  and  so  success- 
fully in  our  interests. 

.  Subscriptions  wiU  be  received  by  Dr.  Yeldham,  the  Treasurer, 
at  58,  Moorgate  Street,  E.C.  Up  to  the  2drd  June  the  subscrip- 
tions amount  to  £118  15s.  Od.  The  subscription  list  will  remain 
open  during  July,  and  we  hope  then  to  publish  it.    Meanwhile 


I^^IX^      CORRBSPOKDKRCB.  441 

we  maai  express  our  regret  that  eomparatiyely  so  few  medical 
fiaen  have  thns  far  taken  advantage  of  this  opportunity  of  pablidy 
-expressing  their  obligation  to  Lord  Eboiy.   Bis  dot,  qui  eito  dot. 

MABSHALL'S  PATENT  SECTIONAL  FEEDING  BOTTLE. 
Tbe  supreme  importance  of  cleanliness  in  all  applianees  for 
feeding  purposes  is  nniyersally  acknowledged.  Especially  is  it 
essential  to  infant-life,  so  susceptible  as  it  is  to  the  inflnenee 
-of  the  germs  of  disease.  To  dean  thoroughly,  to  rub  and  brush 
in  the  lines  and  comers  of  the  ordinary  f ee^g  bottle  is  often 
difficult.  That  constructed  by  Mr.  Marshall  is  so  devised  as  to 
admit  the  hand  to  all  parts  of  its  interior  and  enable  a  towel  or 
brush  to  be  freely  used.  It  is  very  simple,  not  likely  to  get  out 
<d  order  easily,  and  is  inexpensive.  It  is  well  worthy  of  the 
attention  of  medical  men. 

HAHNEMANN  PUBLISHING  SOCIETY" 

Thx  annual  meeting  of  this  Society  will  be  held  at  the  Dilettante 
dlub,  7,  Argyll  Street,  Regent  Street,  at  10  o*clock  on 
Wednesday  morning,  the  18th  July.  It  is  very  necessary  that 
SM  many  members  as  possible  should  be  present  at  this  meeting, 
as  very  important  business,  as  to  the  work  and  future  of  the 
Society,  will  be  brought  forward. 

Gentlemen  who  may  have  any  reports  or  suggestions  to  make 
should  communicate  at  once  with  the  Hon.  Sec.,  Dr.  Hayward, 
117,  Grove  Street,  Liverpool. 

BRITISH  HOMCEOPATHIC  SOCIETY. 

The  annual  assembly  of  this  Society  took  place  on  the  22nd  and 
2drd  ult.,  when  Dr.  Pope  was  elected  President,  Dr.  Dudoeon 
and  Dr.  Blackley  (Manchester)  Vice-Presidents,  Dr.  Hamilton 
Treasurer,  and  Dr.  Riohabd  Hughes  Secretary  for  the  ensuing  year. 

HOMOEOPATHY  IN   GERMANY. 

The  Berlin  correspondent  of  the  Times  telegraphed  the  following 
interesting  piece  of  news  on  the  27th  ult. : — '*  A  medical  paper 
-at  Leipsic  has  been  fined  100  marks  and  costs  at  the  suit  of  75 
homoeopathic  doctors  for  publishing  a  lecture  delivered  to  a 
Berlin  Medical  Society,  in  whicli  homoeopathy  was  denounced  as 
quackery  and  swindling." 

00RRE8P0NDENGE, 

THE    MEDICAL   ACTS    COMMISSION. 

To  ths  Editors  of  the  MonthU^  Honusopathic  Bevisw. 

GsHTUBiiBH, — ^It  is  time  that  those  professional  and  laymen, 

who  are  interested  in  the  scientific  progress  of  medicine,  should 

diamine  into  the  present  state  of  mescal  law,  with  a  view  of 


442  OOBBEBPOHDENCE.  "^^Wlfuttl 

obtainixig  from  the  Boyal  Coinmiiwion,  now  ntting,  a  reciificaium 
of  any  wrongs  under  which  the  pnblic  may  be  saffeiing.  In  th» 
hope  of  obtaining  a  free  expreesion  of  opinion  in  your  pagee,  I 
send  yon  these  few  lines. 

There  are  nineteen  bodies  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  who 
possess  the  power  of  granting  licenses  or  diplomas,  entitling 
those  who  haye  obtained  them  to  register  as  general  practitioneESr 
surgeons,  or  physicians  within  these  islands. 

These  nineteen  halls,  colleges,  or  nniyersilieB  recognise 
certain  medical  schools  and  hospitals  in  these  idands  as  the  only 
educational  establishments  whose  certificates  shall  be  receiTed 
as  qxiaUfyvng  a  student  to  preunt  himself  for  exammatioiu 

It  is  not  enough  for  the  present  examining  bodies  that  a  man 
has  qualified  himself  by  study  to  pass  an  examination,  bnt  h» 
must  also  have  studied  in  a  definite  schooL  He  may  not 
enlarge  his  mind  by  studying  practice  partly  in  Vienna,  partly 
in  Berlin,  Paris,  New  York,  or  other  cities.  Such  certi£catea 
count  for  nothing.  He  must  have  studied  for  four  years  in 
England,  Scotland,  or  Ireland.  He  must  have  att^ded  so 
many  hundred  lectures  delivered  by  lecturers  attached  to^ 
certain  schools.  He  is  not  allowed  to  be  examined,  eyen  if  he 
haye  attained  the  highest  amount  of  knowledge  from  his- 
indiyidual  study  of  the  best  books,  or  from  instruction  receiyed 
from  the  best  possible  professor,  priyately.  He  must  haye 
certificates  from  the  recognised  professors  of  these  medical 
monopolies,  extending  oyer  four  whole  years,  whether  he  ia 
qualified  or  not  in  a  less  time. 

I  haye  already  pointed  out  some  of  these  blots  in  the  scheme 
of  medical  education  in  my  paper  read  at  the  Leeds  C^ongress.. 
I  have  protested  against  medical  teaching  being  made  a 
monopoly.  I  always  shaU  protest  against  this,  as  an  injustice  to 
medical  students,  an  iojustice  to  medical  science,  and  an 
ii\justice  to  the  public,  on  these  grounds. 

In  the  first  pLace,  such  a  scheme  handicaps  genius.  The  law 
which  says  that  the  candidate  must  show  that  he  (or  she)  has 
practically  studied  medicine  for  at  least  four  years  before  he  can 
present  himself  for  examination,  is  a  good  and  proper  law. 

It  would  be  quite  proper  if,  in  addition,  it  were  instated  that 
such  study  should  be  conducted  under  the  guidance  of  a  legally 
qualified  practitioner. 

But  when  it  is  required  that  the  four  years  must  be  passed  at 
some  public  school,  and  that  so  many  courses  of  lectoreB  must 
be  attended,  and  that  so  much  public  practice  at  certain 
hospitals  must  also  be  attended,  a  monopoly  of  teaching  ia 
created. 

Again,  the  expenses  of  a  medical  education,  sooh  as  to  qaalify 
a  man  to  present  himself  for  examination,  amount  at  the  pceeeoi 


ISSS^^^uSSf^     OOHBBSPONDBNOB.  448^ 

dftj  to  80  large  a  sum  as  praeticaUj  to  preoladA  many  man  of 
ganins  from  entering  the  profession. 

I  doubt  yery  much  whether  the  average  expenses  of  a  medieal 
ednoation  at  the  present  are  mneh  nnder  JB1,000.  Now,  I  know 
that  there  are  many  men  who  have  a  natural  talent  (one  may 
even  say  have  a  genius)  for  medicine,  who  are  quite  unable  to* 
spare  such  a  sum  as  this  or  even  half  or  a  quarter  of  that  sum, 
to  deTote  to  the  obtaining  a  medical  Hoense  or  degree.  It  is- 
eyident  that  men  of  natural  talent  or  genius  would  greatly 
advantage  medicine  as  a  science  and  that  the  public  would  be 
great  gainers  in  every  way,  were  the  difSiculties  removed  which 
lay  in  the  way  of  the  attainment  of  medical  licenses  or  degrees, 
by  men  of  tins  class,  and  it  appears  to  me  that  any  true  reform 
in  the  laws  relating  to  the  medical  profession  must  commence  by 
attracting  to  the  medical  ranks  men  of  talent  and  genius,  quite 
irrespective  of  their  possession  of  the  means  to  pay  heavy  pro- 
fessor's fees  or  large  fees  for  hospital  practice. 

Another  objection  to  the  present  monopoly  in  medical  teaching 
is  that  an  aprit  de  carps,  in  medical  corporations,  is  sure  to  arise, 
and  that  enquiry  into  new  developments  of  medical  science  is 
certain  to  be  more  or  less  discouraged  by  those  who  hold  the 
chairs  in  established  schools.  As  ^e  late  Archbishop  Whately 
shrewdly  and  truthfully  observed,  *'  improvements  in  details  are 
willingly  accepted,  but  the  introduction  of  totally  new  systems 
inevitably  encounters  strenuous  opposition,"  and  he  instances- 
that,  in  the  olden  mode  of  locomotion  by  coaches,  any  improve- 
ment in  harness  or  in  coach-building  was  accepted  with  avidity, 
while  the  introduction  of  the  new  mode  of  locomotion  (by  steam  and 
railroad)  was  opposed  with  bitterness  by  all  interested  in  coaching. 

It  is  quite  in  accordance  with  precedent  then  that  all  who  are 
interested  in  the  older  methods  of  medical  thought  and  teaching^ 
should  oppose  any  new  method  which  would  unsettie  the  old 
apothecary  system  and  which  should  give  a  method  of  applying* 
new  therapeutic  indications. 

Now,  it  appears  to  me  that  the  only  way  of  assuring  true  liberty 
of  thought  and  action  to  the  professors  and  practitioners  of  the 
medical  science  and  art,  is  to  leave  the  candidate  for  the  medical 
license  or  degree  the  utmost  possible  hberty  to  acquire  his  learning 
and  education  in  any  way  he  may  select,  and  to  make  the  exami- 
nation of  the  candidate  a  true  test  as  to  whether  he  possesses- 
the  requisite  qualifications  to  act  as  medieal  adviser  to  the  public. 

Let  the  examination  extend  over  a  week  or  more  if  needful — 
let  it  include  examination  at  the  bedside  as  to  the  candidate's 
knowledge  of  disease,  and  the  different  means  of  praetical  diagnosis- 
— let  it  include  hk  knowledge  of  principles  of  treatment,  and  in 
addition  let  him  be  well  examined  in  all  the  edlateral  seientifio^ 
and  praetical  aspects  of  surgery,  midwifery,  chemistry,  &c. 


444  COBBESPOHDBNOE.       ""^^"JS??^ 


Btnibw,  Jnlj  1,  UBL 


Let  there  also  be  examiofln  appointed  irho  are  well  atMpiainted 
with  each  apecial  therapeutic  meihod,  who  ahall  (if  asked  to  do 
jBo)  exanuDo  and  grant  certificates  in  additional  special  subjects, 
such  as  Hydropathy,  Homoeopathy,  Electricity,  &c.,  Ac.  The 
range  of  medical  science  is  so  eztensiTe  that  it  wonld  be  well 
io  enconrage  special  acquirements  in  those  desiring  to  practise 
speciahties. 

It  is  not  possible  to  do  more  in  the  scope  of  a  short  letter 
ihan  to  gire  a  few  short  suggestions,  bnt  it  seems  to  me  that 
each  of  onr  societies  wonld  do  well  to  discuss  within  themselTeB 
these  varied  aspects  under  which  the  subject  of  medical  education 
.should  be  Tiewed.  I  feel  sure  you  wiU  open  your  pages  to  those 
willing  to  discuss  the  best  way  of  our  approaching  the  Boyil 
Commission  in  order  to  protect  the  rights  of  the  profession  and 
.of  the  public  against  any  possible  encroachment. 

Yours  Tory  sincerely, 

WiLLiAH  Bates,  M.D., 
Hon.  Sec.  to  London  School  of  Homcpopathy. 

68,  Lansdowne  Place,  Brighton. 

STRYCHNIA  AND  NITRO- STRYCHNIA. 
To  ihe  Editors  of  the  Monthly  HamcBopathic  Review. 

X^ENTUEMEN, — As  the  so-called  ''stryehnie  nitrate**  of  the  British 
HonuBopaUiic  Pharmacopcna^  1870,  has  come  into  sach  ex- 
tensive use,  and  now  that  ^e  normal  ivitrate  of  strychnia  has 
been  regularly  proved  and  an  account  of  its  symptomatology 
published  in  Allen's  Encyclopadia^  it  becomes  important  that 
the  attention  of  your  medical  readers  should  be  called  to  the 
difference  of  chemical  composition  existing  between  the  two 
preparations. 

Ignoring  the  well-known  products  of  the  reaction  of  the  nitrie 
add  and  spirit  of  the  pharmacopoeia  process,  this  difierenee  is 
similar  to  that  between  glycerine  and  nitro-glycerine  (gloneine), 
ihe  strong  nitric  acid  producing  a  nitrate  of  a  new  base,  mtro- 
strychnia,  the  presence  of  which  is  manifested  by  the  yellow 
colour  of  the  solution.  The  reaction  may  be  represented  as 
follows : — 

StTTchaU.  Nhtic  Add.  NltrtHStrxchnia  Nhsmtc  Wafeer. 

C A^.O.  +  2HN63  =  C.A.(N0.rN.0.,HN6,  +  Sfi 
In  view  of  these  facts,  the  pharmaeopoeial  solution  should 
always  be  prescribed  as  ''stryeh.  niL  B.  if.  P.,  1870,"  to 
distinguish  it  from  the  pure  neutral  salt  of  strychnia  referred  to 
in  the  provings. 

We  are,  Gentlemen,  yours  faithfully, 

59,  Moorgate  Street,  E.G.  £.  Gould  &  Son. 

Jwte  IBth,  1881. 


iSSS^^^STmL^      CORBESPONDBNOB,  445' 

MICROPATHY. 

To  the  Editors  of  ike  MonMy  Honueopathie  Beview. 

Oentlbmbn, — ^It  is  a  very  oommon  habit,  now-a-dajs,  to  expect 
noTelties  in  art  and  invention  from  onr  Transatlantic  neighboors ; 
and,  as  a  general  role,  the  expectation  is  seldom  disappointed. 
Ton  will  not,  therefore,  be  surprised  to  hear  that  an  enterprising 
Yankee  has  invented  homoBopathy !  It  appears  that  a  Dr. 
Maclean,  of  Washington,  was  some  time  ago  attending  a  severe 
ease  of  vomiting,  in  which  all  the  ordinary  remedies  had  failed. 
He  administered  one-sixtieth  of  a  grain  of  tartar  emetic  every 
fifteen  minutes,  and  found  that  it  acted  as  an  irritant  of  the 
organ  affected ;  he  then  reduced  the  dose  to  the  one-hundredth 
of  a  grain,  and  soon  saw  that  the  disease  was  under  control. 
''From  this  time,*'  he  says,  ''his  practice  was  a  succession  of 
experiments  to  establish  tiie  truth  of  this  theory,  and  he  soon 
demonstrated  that  whenever  a  remedy  irritates  an  organ,  by^ 
reducing  the  dose  to  a  certain  point,  it  will  act  as  a  tonic  to  that 
organ.  This  certain  point,  roughly  stated,  is  about  one  hundredth 
of  the  ordinary  allopathic  dose ;  i,e.^  if  the  allopathic  dose  of 
rhubarb  is  ten  grains,  the  micropathic  (eic)  dose  is  one  tenth  to 
one  twelfth  of  a  grain,  but  if  this  dose  causes  any  irritation,  it  is 
a  symptom  that  the  quantity  given  has  gone  beyond  the  tozdo- 
action  and  must  be  reduced.** 

Shade  of  Hahnemann !  Has  it  come  to  this,  that,  at  this 
time  of  day,  a  Yankee  shall  invent  homoeopathy,  and  with  flourish 
of  trumpets  attempt  to  proclaim  a  new  discovery  in  medicine  1 

The  only  modest  feature  in  the  afi&kir  is  his  hunting  up  of  a 
new  name  wherewith  to  christen  his  bantling.  Micropathy, 
forsooth  I 

Lancet^  please  copy.  Now  is  your  time,  another  American 
discovery  in  the  realms  of  science  to  be  assimilated  and  used  as 
a  stepping  stone  for  the  advancement  of  rational  medicine.  One 
wonders  whether  it  is  possible  that  honest  and  intelligent  prac- 
titioners can  read  all  these  announcements,  and  not  see  the  facts 
of  homoeopathy,  similia  similibue  curantur,  written  in  large  type 
staring  in  their  faces. 

This  present  attempt  to  re-discover  homoeopathy  is  too  puny  to 
merit  much  notice,  but  the  frequent  recurrence  of  this  class  of 
announcement  in  the  medical  and  scientific  press  shows  surely 
the  drift  of  modem  thought. 

The  walls  of  Jericho  fell  with  a  deafening  crash  on  the  seventh 
day  of  the  pabrol  of  the  Israelites.  Already  signs  are  not  wanting 
of  a  crumbling  and  a  tottering  of  the  walls  of  the  tyrannical 
bigotry  which  would  try  to  keep  homoeopathy  from  breathing  the 
pure  air  of  freedom  of  thought  and  of  literature.  The  final  crash 
is  not  far  removed.  Our  attitude  in  the  present  crisis  should  not 
be  that  of  complacent  handfolding-deprecation  of  publicity,  nor 


446  COBBESPOHDENCE*         "'S^.  July  i,  mbl 

^e  indiflerenee  of  ihe  supine  onlooker — ^wone  often  than  open 
enmity.  More  aggrestiTe  honuBopaths  are  needed,  men  who  can  hit 
hard,  and  who  hate  and  are  ever  ready  to  expose  cant  and  shams. 
It  only  remains  now  for  some  educated  Sandwich  TslandeT  to 
invent  the  locomotive,  and  for  some  enlightened  Znlu  to  be  the 
first  expounder  of  the  law  of  gravitation !  Awaiting  fnither 
developments,  I  am.  Gentlemen,  yours  te., 

16,  Montpdier  Bow,  A.  8.  Ekiqikdt. 

Blaekheath. 

ARSENIC  IN  WALL  PAPERS,  &c. 

To  the  Editort  of  the  Monthly  HomcBopathie  Review, 

GsNTUoiBN, — ^We  must  all  feel  indebted  to  Dr.  Clarke  for  his 
earnestness  in  bringing  this  vital  subject  before  the  Legislature. 
Recently  I  was  called  to  see  a  gentleman  on  the  highest  part  of 
Ore,  near  Hastings,  who  had  been  ill  since  October  twelve 
months,  with  intermittent  symptoms,  with  sickness,  occasional 
vomiting  of  bile.  During  this  time  he  had  his  usual  medical 
attendant,  with  the  advantage  of  two  consultations  with  cele- 
brated allopaths  from  London. 

By  the  desire  of  his  sister  I  was  called  to  his  bed-side  in 
consultation  with  the  regular  attendant,  who  described  his  case 
as  jungle  fever,  for  which  he  was  giving  quinine  every  day,  and 
had  continued  it  perseveringly  so  long  that  the  lady  thou^t  it 
must  be  the  cause,  as  cinchona  had  the  power  of  producing  such 
fevers.  I  therefore  had  it  discontinued,  and  prescribed  my 
favourite  remedy,  euciUyptus  glohtdus^  which  warded  off  the  next 
attack  so  accurately  expected  and  calculated  for  by  the  doctor. 
I  looked  and  drove  all  round  Ore,  to  see  if  I  could  see  or  dis- 
cover any  marsh  or  fen  that  would  account  for  this  jungle  fever. 
The  neighbourhood  was  dry  and  healthy.  The  residence  was  a 
little  too  near  the  cemetery,  but  this  offered  nothing  unhealthy. 
A  week  or  two  after  my  return  home,  letter  after  letter  followed, 
detailing  daily  symptoms — ^patient  getting  better  and  worse, 
when  I  wrote  to  have  the  paper  in  the  bed-room  analysed, 
although  it  was  a  very  modest  colour,  giving  no  suspicions  of  a 
deadly  poison.  In  a  few  days  a  letter  came — "  The  paper  U 
highly  impregnated  with  arsenite  of  copper,  which  must  be  mo$t 
injurious  to  ihe  p<Uient,'*  I  accordingly  ordered  instant  removal 
to  Tunbridge  Wells,  where  the  iron  waters  and  changed  air 
would  act  as  an  antidote,  the  paper  to  be  removed,  and  common 
healthy  whitewash  to  be  substituted,  as  is  my  wont  to  recom- 
mend after  all  contagious  diseases— diphtheria,  scarlet  fever,  &c. 

On  the  11th  of  this  month  I  went  again  to  see  my  patient, 
now  suffering  from  the  debility  produced  by  a  return  of  the 
sickness  two  days  previously,  accompanied  with  the  usual 
abdominal  pains  and  initation  in  the  neck  and  region  of  the 


^Xm^ITSS!^        C0RBB8P0NDEN0B, 447 

bladder,  -with  fireqnent  desire  to  pass  water.  As  the  features 
exhibited  bile  and  poison  in  the  blood,  I  instantly  suggested  a 
light  Turkish  bath,  with  brisk  shampooing  on  the  breaking  out 
4>f  the  perspiration,  so  we  drove  to  the  Hydropathic  Establish- 
ment, and  had  a  most  enjoyable  bath  in  well-ventilated  rooms, 
which  re&eshed  the  patient  and  removed  the  yellow  colour  from 
ihe  eyes  and  face.  Notwithstanding  all  this  evidence,  the 
medical  attendant  is  loth  to  acknowledge  the  paper  poisoning  by 
finch  small  doses  as  could  be  inhaled  through  the  lungs  into  the 
blood.  He  has  also  seen  the  exact  analysis,  which  I  have  the 
pleasure  of  enclosing  for  the  purpose  of  urging  Government  to 
immediate  action.  For  many  years  I  have  had  a  dread  of 
arsmUc  or  lead  in  paper  collars,  from  a  case  of  spinal  debility, 
approaching  paralysis,  which  came  before  me  for  consultation. 

Trusting  that  the  medical  officers  of  health  may  use  their 
influence  and  power  to  compel  house  agents  and  their  employers 
to  act  with  justice  and  honesty  towards  their  duped  tenants, 

I  am,  truly  yours, 

B.  TUTHILL  Masst,  M.D. 
Park  Boad,  BedhiU,  Surrey. 
May  lltk,  1881. 

"  64,  Pabk  Street,  Southwark,  S.E. 
"  London,  ISth  May,  1881. 

*<  Report  of  analysis  of  sample  of  wall  paper  received  from 
W.  B.,  by  the  desire  of  Dr.  Tuthill  Massy,  and  marked  by  us 
No.  8. 

'*  The  surface  powder  scraped  from  the  paper  was  digested, 
together  with  the  paper  itself  (cut  into  small  pieces),  in 
hydrochloric  acid,  until  the  powdery  substance  was  dissolved. 
The  solution  was  then  diluted  and  filtered. 

*'  Sulphuretted  hydrogen  passed  into  the  solution  produced 
immediately  a  deep  yellow  precipitate,  which  in  a  little  time  was 
very  copious. 

"  The  precipitate  thrown  in  a  filter  was  well  washed,  and  a 
portion  Rested  in  ammotda,  which  entirely  dissolved  it,  it 
being  again  precipitated  on  addition  of  hydrochloiic. 

''  Marsh's  test  gave  dense  metallic  rings,  which,  treated  with 
ammoniated  nitrate  of  silver,  produced  brick-red  colour,  thus 
demonstrating  presence  of  arsenic.  The  ordinary  tests  gave 
evidence  of  presence  of  copper. 

**  A  sample  of  wall  paper,  received  from  J.  S.  Baker,  Esq.,  of 
Surbiton,  was  also  found  to  be  impregnated  with  arsenic  to 
about  the  same  extent. 

«<  Analyst,  EEenby  Child, 

**  Li  employ  of  Davt  Yatbs  Boutlbdov. 
^'  64.  Park  Street,  Southwark." 


448  C0BBB8P0HDENT8.        "S^"!S?7^ 


Sefinr,  Joly  1,  VSL. 


NOTICES   TO   CORRESPONDENTS. 

«%  We  eafmot  undertake  to  return  rejected  mamueripte. 

ContribatorB  and  ConeqMDdeiits  are  reqneated  to  notioe  the  alteiation 
in  the  address  of  one  of  the  Editors  of  this  Beview, 

SxTBscRiBEBS  TO  THE  HoMCEOPATBic  CoNYEiiTioN. — ^We  have  beard,  with 
mnoh  regret,  that  onr  list  pnblished  last  month  was  imperfect.  We  had 
made  arrangements  for  a  oonected  list  to  appear  on  this  ooeasion,  bat 
these  haye  been  frustrated  throng  a  mistake  in  the  Post  Office.  We 
hope  to  be  more  fortnnato  next  month. 

Btde,  Isle  of  Wight. — Since  the  death  of  Dr.  Lovdeb,  which  occurred 
several  years  ago,  homcBopathic  physicians,  who  have  had  patients 
going  to  the  Isle  of  Wight,  have  been  at  some  disadvantage  from  there 
not  having  been  a  homcBopathio  pxactitioner  there.  This  want  has,  we 
are  happy  to  be  able  to  state,  been  folly  met  by  Mr.  Machutt,  who  has 
recently  settled  in  practice  at  Byde,  and  has  made  arrangements  for 
seeing  patients  at  Vontnor  and  Newport.  A  Homoeopathic  Dispensaiy 
has  idso  been  set  on  foot. 

Eablsbad. — As  some  of  oar  readers  may  be  intending  to  visit  this  well- 
known  watering-place  daring  the  summer,  it  may  be  a  convenience  to- 
them  to  be  informed  that  there  are  two  homoBopathic  physicians  there, 
Dr.  Thbodob  Kafka,  and  Dr.  LoiOKm. 

Gommonications,  fte.,  have  been  received  from  Dr.  Jaoiblsei, 
Dr.  Waleeb  and  Mr.  Jahbs  Epps  (London);  Dr.  Bates  (Brighton); 
Dr.  Shabp  (Bngby) ;  Dr.  Hatwabd  (Liverpool) ;  Dr.  £.  M.  Maddek 
(Birmingham);  Dr.  E.  Williaxs  (Clifton);  Dr.  Masst  (Bedhill); 
Dr.  Wielobtcxi  (Edinburgh);  Dr.  Bamsbothax  (Leeds);  Dr.  Abihub 
Ebnkedt  (Blackheath). 

BOOKS  RECEIVED, 

On  Diseates  of  the  Nervous  SysUm,  By  0.  P.  Hart,  M.D.  New  York : 
Boericke  &  Tafel.  London:  HomcBopathio  Publishing  Co.  1881.— 
Treatise  on  Diseases  Peculiar  to  Infants  and  Children.  By  W.  A 
Edmunds,  M.D.  New  York :  BoSricke  <t  Tafel.  London :  The  Homao- 
pathic  Publishing  Company. — Physicians  and  Homceopatky,  A  Reply  to  a 
Letter  in  the  '* Leeds  Mercury"  from  a  Leeds  Surgeon.  By  S.  H. 
Bamsbotham,  M.D.,  <&c.  London:  Simpkin  &  Marshall. — Critical 
Examination  of  the  Encyclopadia  of  Materia  Medica  hy  T.  F.  AUen,  MJD. 
New  York  :  Boericke  &  Tafel. — The  Homccopathie  World,  London. 
The  Chemist  and  Druggist,  London. — The  Students'  Journal,  London. — 
The  English  Mechanic.  London. — The  AnH-Vivisectionist.  London. — The 
New  England  Medical  Gazette,  Boston. — The  Hahnemannian  Monthly* 
Philadelphia.— r^  New  York  Medical  Times.  New  Yoik.—The  United 
States  Medical  Investigator,  Chicago. — The  Clinique.  Chicago. — VArt 
Medical.  Paris. — Bulletin  de  la  Soc,  Horn,  de  France^  Paris.— 
Revue  Horn.  Beige.  Bruzelles. — UHomaopathique  Militante.  Bmxelles. 
— Allg.  Horn.  Zeitung.  Leipsic. — Homdopathische  Bundschau.  Leipsic 
— El  Criterio  Medico.  Madrid. — Boletino  Clinico  del  Instituto  Homao- 
patico  de  Madrid. — Rivista  Omnopatica.  Borne. — La  Ref&rma  Medico. 
Mexico. — The  Argus  Newspaper.    Melbourne. 

Papers,  Dispensaiy  Beports,  and  Books  for  Beview  to  be  sent  to 
Dr.  Pope,  21,  Henrietta  Street,  Cavendish  Square,  W.,  or  to  Dr.  D,  Drcs' 
Bbown,  29,  Seymour  Street,  Port  man  Square,  W.  Advertisements  and 
Business  Communications  to  be  sent  to  Messrs.  E.  Gotjld  &  SoHr 
59,  Moorgate  Street,  E.C. 


iS^^rrSaL*"    HOMCBOPATHIO  CONVENTION.  449 


THE    MONTHLY 


HOMOEOPATHIC    REVIEW- 


THE    INTEKNATIONAL    HOMOEOPATHIC 

CONVENTION. 
LONDON,      1881. 

This  important  meetmgy  which  has  been  anticipated  for  so 
long  by  many  of  ns,  the  preparations  for  which  haye  occn- 
pied  so  mnch  of  the  time  and  thought  of  some,  is  now  an 
event  of  the  past.  Happily  the  retrospect  it  affords  is  one 
of  nndilnted  satisfaction,  of  nnalloyed  pleasure.  Barely,  if 
ever,  has  a  gathering  of  the  kind  occurred  which  has  left 
behind  it  so  many  pleasant  memories. 

If  onr  hopes  had  been  pitched  somewhat  too  high  regard- 
ing the  nnmber  of  those  of  our  coUeagnes  who  would  yisit 
ns  from  abroad,  those  who  did  giye  us  the  pleasure  of 
offering  them  a  hearty  British  welcome  were  precisely  those 
we  were  most  desirous  of  seeing  amongst  us,  while  we  were 
assured  that  very  many  others,  who  would  right  gladly  haye 
yisited  our  shores,  were  detained  by  circumstances  entirely 
beyond  their  control. 

'  From  a  scientific  point  of  view  especially,  the  meeting 
was  a  success  of  a  high  order.  Limited  as  the  subjects 
were  to  the  influence  of  homoeopathy  up<m  the  practice  of 
medicine  and  surgery,  the  papers  presented  gave  evidence 

No.  8,  Vol.  85.  2  a 


450  HOMGEOPATHIC   CONVENTION.    ^bSSJ^STm. 


of  that  increase  of  original  thought,  of  careful  and  un- 
hiassed  criticism  which  has  so  markedly  characterised  the 
work  of  homoBopathic  physicians  of  later  times.  The 
respect  in  which  we  hold  the  work  accomplished  by 
Hahnemann,  the  reverence  with  which  we  regard  his 
memory,  is  far  from  being  diminished — is  rather  increased 
by  the  critical  investigations  to  which  the  resnlts  of  his 
labours,  and  the  conclusions  he  evolved  from  his  untiring 
study  of  therapeutics,  have,  in  these  latter  days,  been  sub- 
jected. The  day  has  gone,  and  gone  for  ever,  when  a 
homodopath  is  supposed  to  be  obliged  in  verba  magisin 
jurare.  Scarcely  one  single  paper  presented  at  this  Con- 
vention can  be  quoted,  in  which  the  critical  fELculty  did  not 
find  full  expression  when  discussing  propositions  ema- 
nating from  the 'works  of  TTahnemeann  and  of  his  earlier 
disciples.  The  discoveries  of  modern  science,  while  they 
have  confirmed  much  that  in  the  writings  of  Hahnbicank 
At  one  time  appeared  doubtful  to  many  minds,  have,  in 
other  instances,  tended  to  prove  that  the  great  practical 
therapeutist  was  in  error.  These  spots  on  the  great  lumi- 
nary of  therapeutics  detract  not  one  jot  from  his  reputation 
as  the  man  who,  of  all  others,  has  exerted  the  widest  and 
most  powerful  influence  upon  the  modem  drug-treatment 
of  disease.  They  were  the  necessary  consequences  of  the 
state  of  science  when  he  was  in  the  prime  of  life — ^now 
'eighty  years  ago ! 

The  meetings  were  appropriately  opened  by  an  Address 
from  the  Pbesident,  Scholarly  in  style,  graceful  in 
expression,  replete  with  feeling  of  the  purest  type»  Dr. 
Hughes  appealed,  as  he  is  ever  wont  to  do,  not  only  to 
the  heads,  but  to  the  hearts  of  his  audience,  and  gave  a 
tone  to  the  proceedings  which  was  sustained  to  the  last. 

The  reports  of  the  progress  of  homoaopathy  in  America, 
and  in  the  various  Continental  States,  afibrded  fgratifpng 


IS^r-aS^nSSu^  HOMCEOPATHIC   CONVENTION.  451 

^▼idence  of  the  increasing  appreciation  in  which  the 
therapeutic  method,  we  are  endeaTonring  to  make  more 
widely  known  and  more  clearly  nnderstood,  is  held. 

The  speeches  which  followed  showed  that  the  circum- 
stances of  each  country  render  different  plans  of  action 
requisite  in  each  in  advancing  the  interests  of  homoe- 
opathy. About  the  importance  of  public  teaching,  of 
extending  hospitals  and  dispensaries,  and  of  still  further 
improving  our  literature,  there  was  no  dispute.  The  only 
questions  raised  were,  as  to  how  each  method  might  be 
Adapted  to  the  exigencies  of  each  country.  Union  in 
whatever  is  practicable  was  strongly  urged. 

In  another  part  of  this  number  we  give  brief  abstracts 
of  the  papers  read.  We  regret  that  our  space  does  not 
allow  of  our  reproducing  the  discussions  which  took  place. 
The  papers  in  extenso,  with  full  reports  of  the  debates, 
will  appear  in  the  Transactions.  These,  collected  in  one 
volume,  may  be  confidently  looked  for  within  a  very  few 
weeks.  We  would  urge  all  our  colleagues,  and  indeed 
everyone  interested  in  the  progress  of  homoeopathy,  to  at 
once  subscribe  for  a  copy.  Names  of  those  who  desire  to 
do  so  will  be  received  by  Dr.  Hughes. 

Independently  of  the  scientific  interest  attaching  to  a 
gathering  of  the  kind  which  has  just  occurred  in  our  midst, 
is  the  great  advantage  which  accrues  from  men,  who  in 
different  parts  of  the  world  are  engaged  in  the  same  work, 
axe  endeavouring  in  various  ways  to  forward  the  same 
interests,  becoming  personally  acquainted  with  one  another. 
Thus,  on  the  present  occasion,  we  had  with  us  Dr.  Satt^bb, 
of  Monroe,  in  Michigan,  to  whose  energy  we  owe  it,  in 
great  part,  that  homoeopathy  is  taught  in  the  University 
of  that  State ;  Dr.  Talbot,  of  Boston,  the  Dean  of  the 
medical  faculty  of  the  Boston  University,  and  one  of  the 
pillars  of  homoeopathy  in  the  United  States ;  Drs.  Daee, 

2 


452  HOMCEOPATHIC   CONVENTION.     ^"^^^^T!^^ 


Beyiew,  Aug.  !•  1881. 


of  Nashyille,  and  Conbad  We8selh(eft,  of  Boston,  whose 
thorough  and  careful  investigationB  of  many  matters  of 
poBological  dispute  have  contributed  greatly  towards 
bringing  us  within  ^'measurable  distance  of  a  rational 
solution  of  the  *  dose  question ; '  "  Drs.  Helmuth,  of  New 
York,  and  McClelland,  of  Pittsburgh,  whose  reputation  as^ 
surgeons  has  extended  beyond  the  limits  of  their  own 
country ;  while  from  France  we  had  the  pleasure  of  wel- 
coming Drs.  Claude  and  LfeoN  SmoN,  fihy  of  Paris — 
names  well  known  to  us  all  as  contributors  to  medieal 
literature;  Dr.  Meyhoffeb,  of  Nice,  a  physician  long 
known  and  respected  in  this  country ;  Dr.  Yon  Dittxakn, 
of  St.  Petersburgh,  one  of  the  most  cultiyated  of  Russian 
physicians ;  to  meet  these  and  many  others,  to  discuss 
points  of  conmion  interest  with  them,  and  to  listen  to 
their  views  on  questions  regarding  the  progress  and 
extension  of  homoeopathy,  was  a  source  of  much  advantage 
to  us  all. 

,  One  of  the  objects  set  out  in  the  programme  as  being 

held  in  view  by  the  Convention  was  that  of  cementing 
friendly  union.  Never  do  we  remember  a  meeting  at 
which  this  very  desirable  result  was  more  fully  or  more 
completely  attained.  And  this  not  only  between  British,. 
American,  and  Continental  homoBopathists,  but  more 
especially  amongst  ourselves.  We  have  had  many  sharp 
discussions  during  the  last  few  years — discussions  which 
have  excited  considerable  feeling — and  have  been  produc- 
tive of  most  undesirable  and  uncalled-for  dissensions, 
i  We  trust  that  our  assembling  together  in  debate  and  in 

i  social  union  during  that  hot  week  of  last  month  will  have 

i  as  one  of  its  many  valuable  results  the  obliteration  of  any 

unkindly  feeling  that  may  have  been  generated  by  past 
I  disputes ;  and  that  the  International  Homoeopathic  Con- 

I  vention  of  1881    may  be  signalised  as  the  occasion  oa 


ii:^S^f:'S^      OURB   OF   DISEASES.  453 

which  a  fall  and  complete  nnioii  of  all  homoeopathic 
physicians  in  this  country,  in  making  a  strenaons  effort  to 
advance  the  interests  of  homceopathy,  to  increase  a  know- 
ledge of  the  therapeutic  method  developed  bv  Hahnemann 
b7every  practicaWe  meauB  within  ou?  rea^  was  fuUy 
accomplished. 

In  union  is  strength ;  and  by  united  effort,  by  the  sink- 
ing of  individual  crotchets,  by  loyally  carrying  out  the 
views  and  wishes  of  the  majority,  by  earnestly  endeavour- 
ing to  improve  and  develop  our  homoeopathic  institutions, 
we  shall,  in  due  course,  accomplish  the  end  we  have  ever 
had  in  view,  the  indoctrmating  of  the  entire  profession  of 
medicine  with  the  great  truths  expressed  in  the  word 

HOMGBSOPATHY. 

THE  CURE  OP  DISEASES  BY  MEDICINES. 
By  WnjiiAM  Sharp,  M.D.,  F.B.S. 

•<Le8  soienoes  natmeUeB  ont  eu,  oomine  lliistoire,  lean  tempB  fabnleux. 
L'astronomie  a  commence  par  rastrologie ;  la  chimie  n'etait  nagadre  que 
Valchemie ;  la  physique  n'a  M  long-temps  qn'trne  vaine  rSanion  de 
sjratdmes  absuxdes ;  la  physiologie,  qn'on  long  et  fastidienz  roman ;  la 
medicine,  qa'on  amas  de  pr6jug6s  en&nUs  par  Pignorance  et  la  erainte  de 
la  mort,  &o.,  &c.  Singnlidre  condition  de  Pesprit  hamain,  qui  semble 
avoir  besoin  de  s'exercer  long-temps  siir  des  errenrs  avant  d'oaer  aborder 
la  T^rit^  1  '* — Majxxcdib. 

The  world  is  saturated  with  sickness  and  death.  It  is 
our  familiarity  with  these  painful  events  which  makes  them 
not  more  alarming  to  us  than  they  are.  Nevertheless,  in 
all  civilised  nations  it  is  the  duty  of  certain  men,  who  have 
been  set  apart  for  it  by  a  serious  student  life,  to  endeavour 
to  cure  sickness,  and  to  stave  off  death.  This  is  the 
benevolent  duty  of  the  medical  profession,  and  the  reason 
for  its  existence.  To  aim  at  the  improvement  of  the  edu- 
cation for  this  great  duty  is  the  design  of  this  Paper. 

The  task  for  which  medical  students  are  to  be  prepared 
in  an  extremely  difficult  one,  and  it  is  of  the  first  moment 
that  they  should  be  encouraged  to  fit  themselves  for  it  by 
every  hopeful  thought.  They  are  to  believe  in  the  pre- 
ventibility  and  curability  of  disease.  They  are  to  learn 
that  knowledge  is  power ;  and  that,  were  their  knowledge 
perfect,  their  power  would  be  equal  to  the  emergencies  of 
their  duty,  and  that  then  they  might  hope  i^^at  their 
patients  would  die  only  of  old  age.  And  though  this 
perfect  knowledge  cannot  be  attained,  it  may  be  held  up 
before  them  as  the  object  to  be  aimed  at. 


454 CXTBE   OF  DIBEABE8,      ^b^^SSSTS^ 

They  are  to  be  encouraged  to  lay  aside  all  methods  of 
treatment  of  an  indirect  kind:  for  example,  the  use  of 
medicines  which  act  on  the  healthy  parts,  on  the  principle 
of  revulsion  or  counter-irritation.  They  are  to  seek 
remedies  which  act  npon  the  diseased  parts,  and  which  cure 
in  a  direct  manner. 

They  are  to  understand  that  diseases  are  the  result  of 
the  meeting  together  of  two  causes — a  predisposing  cause 
and  an  exciting  cause ;  and  inasmuch  as  all  predisposing 
causes  and  all  exciting  causes  act  locally,  that  all  disei^es 
are  local ;  and,  consequently,  that  all  diseases  can  have  a 
direct  local  treatment. 

Now,  it  is  admitted  on  all  hands  that  while  anatomy^ 
physiology,  and  pathology,  as  well  as  such  helping  branches 
of  knowledge  as  botany,  mechanics,  and  chemistry,  have 
assumed  the  form  of  sciences,  the  condition  of  therapeutics 
— the  ultimate  aim  of  all  medical  knowledge — is  in  the 
highest  degree  unsatisfactory.  If  the  matter  may  be  put 
plainly,  we  have  had  medicines  given  us  to  cure  the  sick, 
and  we  have  not  yet  learned  how  to  use  them.  This  is  a 
great  reproach,  and  as  the  fault  cannot  be  laid  to  the  charge 
of  want  either  of  talent  or  of  industry,  it  argues  an  error  in 
the  methods  pursued.  When  students  have  discovered 
this,  they  cannot  but  desire  and  look  out  for  some  new 
method,  which  shall  be  more  certain  and  more  successful. 

It  is  wished  to  invite  their  attention  to  some  of  the 
results  of  a  long  and  practical  study  of  the  action  of  drugs^ 
with  reference  to  the  use  of  them  as  remedies  in  disease. 
And  seeing  that  these  remarks  are  offered  to  students,  it  is 
hoped  that  none  will  be  offended  if  they  are  elementary.  I 
remember  Majendie,  in  one  of  his  lectures  on  physiology, 
fifty-four  years  ago,  standing  silent  for  a  moment,  and  then 
saying  something  like  this :  '^  Gentlemen,  we  mast  be 
willing  to  begin  at  the  beginning ;  to  begin  as  if  we  knew 
nothing  about  physiology ;  and  to  try  to  instruct  ourselves 
in  rudimentary  facts !  " 

And  let  us  go  direct  to  the  question  at  issue — ^the  cure  of 
diseases  by  medicines.  For  diseases  are  urgent ;  death  is 
not  distant ;  the  physician's  own  life  is  short ;  therefore 
time  presses,  and  we  cannot  afford  to  travel  in  a  circuitous 
lane  shut  up  by  customary  banks  and  hedges,  and  having 
no  visible  end ;  nor  on  the  gravelled  path  of  a  park,  whose 


iSssy^ra^  c^m  pg  diseases, 455 

tnnimgs  are  guided  hj  fashion*  We  most  go  as  the  crow 
flies. 

We  suffer  from  diseases,  and  we  have  had  medicines 
given  us  for  their  cure ;  but  between  the  course  of  diseases 
and  the  action  of  medicines  there  is  a  chasm  which  has 
not  yet  been  bridged  over.  Consequently,  it  has  to  be 
confessed  that  upon  the  use  of  medicines  the  profession 
has  neither  settled  opinions  nor  satisfied  feelings.  The 
consciousness  of  this  chasm  never  was  so  clear  as  at  the 
present  time,  and  it  follows  that  doubt,  uncertainty,  and 
even  scepticism  in  the  efficacy  of  medicines,  never  were  so 
prevalent  as  they  are  now ;  this  is  the  dark  side.  But  every 
subject  has  two  sides,  and  the  other  side  of  this  is  a  bright 
one,  for  it  is  a  hopeful  opportunity  to  start  afresh  on  a  new 
path. 

It  is  known  to  all,  that  for  more  than  two  thousand  years 
physicians  have  laboured  unweariedly  to  bridge  over  this 
chasm  by  theories  of  disease.  It  is  equally  well  known  that 
all  this  labour  has  ended  in  a  failure. 

It  is  also  known  that  during  the  early  period  of  this 
time,  and  still  more  during  tibe  latest,  there  has  been 
among  physicians  an  empirical  school,  the  fundamental 
principle  of  which  is  that  '*each  remedy  which  has  cured 
one  disease  must  also  cure  analogous  diseases."  A  propo- 
sition possessing,  in  the  opinion  of  these  thinkers,  all  the 
clearness  and  infallibility  of  a  mathematical  problem.  Two 
facts  are  fatal  to  this  method.  (1).  It  leaves  a  very  large 
number  of  diseases  without  any  remedy  whateyor.  (2).  It 
offers  no  assistance  towards  finding  any  remedies  for  them. 
This  school  contents  itself  with  thinking  that  the  chasm 
between  diseases  and  remedies  canjiot  be  bridged  over. 

Thus  it  appears  that  through  long  ages  speculative 
physicians  have  striven  to  carry  a  bridge  across  this  gulf, 
and  have  failed.  Speculation  without  experiment  must 
always  fail ;  it  is  little  better  than  dreaming.  On  the  other 
hand,  practical  physicians  have  comforted  themselves  with 
the  thought  that  no  bridge  can  be  built  over  the  gulf,  and 
have  satisfied  themselves  with  accident  and  observation. 
But  accident  and  observation  without  experiment  must  also 
fail.  Such  work  is  a  miserable  trudging  round  in  a  trodden 
circle  in  which  progress  is  impossible.  Before  either  specu- 
lation or  observation  can  be  accepted  it  must  be  verified  by 
experiment.  A  question  arises — what  kind  of  experiment  ? 
Not  experiments  on  the  sick ;  these  have  been  tried  to  the 


u. 


456  CURB  or  diseases.   "^S^^SSIImm! 

uttermost  and  have  failed.  The  question  is  repeated — what 
kind  of  experiment  ? 

During  the  present  century  two  experimental  schools 
have  been  actively — nay,  enlhusiasticfdly  at  work.  The 
endeavour  of  one  is  to  found  the  treatment  of  sickness  on 
the  facts  of  physiology  and  pathology.  This  school  accepts 
as  its  method  experiments  on  the  lower  animals  in  health. 
The  other  school  does  not  rest  on  a  physiological  and 
pathological  foundation,  but  on  the  knowledge  of  tibe  symp- 
toms of  disease  and  of  drug  action.  Its  method  is  experi- 
ments on  ourselves  in  health;  and  its  therapeutics  are 
founded  on  a  comparison  of  the  symptoms  of  diseases  with 
the  symptoms  thus  produced  by  drugs  taken  in  health.  It 
will  help  to  explain  the  purpose  of  this  Paper  if  a  few 
remarks  are  offered  upon  these  two  methods. 

The  first,  often  called  the  physiological  method,  which 
is  founded  upon  experiments  on  the  lower  animals,  puts 
forward  a  claim  to  a  degree  of  certainty  and  precision  not 
hitherto  met  with  in  therapeutics.  By  its  experiments  on 
living  and  healthy  animals  it  hopes  to  learn  the  true  action 
of  drugs,  and  in  this  way  to  ^scover  the  cases  in  which 
each  should  be  used,  and  the  objects  for  which  it  should 
be  prescribed.  Very  great  zeal  and  labour  have  been 
devoted  to  this  pursuit,  but  the  results  have  not  been  in 
proportion  to  them.  Some  old  medicines  have  been 
examined  in  this  manner,  and  a  few  new  ones  have  been 
added  to  the  Materia  Medica.  Two  remarkable  poisons 
have  been  selected  to  illustrate  this  mode  of  experiment 
and  prescription.  These  are  upas  (teute,  not  antiar,)  and 
curare.  Upas  causes  convulsions;  curare,  paralysis. 
Upas,  therefore,  is  prescribed  for  paralysis;  curare  for 
convulsions.  In  both  instances  careful  distinctions  are 
made  as  to  the  precise  kinds  of  convulsions  and  paralysis 
which  are  caused  by  these  poisons,  and  elaborate  anatomical 
details  have  been  prosecuted  to  discover  the  exact  actions 
of  each  of  them.  Chemical  analysis  of  the  upa>s  shows 
that  it  contains  strychnine,  which  produces  similar  con- 
vulsions ;  but  the  analysis  of  curare  reveals  no  strychnine. 
Now,  the  recent  publication  by  Dr.  Ed.  Schomburgk,  giving 
the  best  information  yet  communicated  as  to  the  production 
and  composition  of  curare,  tells  us  that  it  is  obtained  by 
the  natives  of  Guiana  from  eight  trees,  several  of  which 
are  strychnos  trees.  The  preparation  of  curare  by  these 
people  is  a  complicated  and  superstitious  process,  and  it 


bS^JSTUSS!^      cube  of  DIBBASB8, 457 

may  be  that  the  strychnine,  whieh  must  exist  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  process,  becomes  before  the  end  of  it 
so  redaced  in  quantity  as  to  elude  detection  by  our  present 
chemicid  analysis.  Should  this  be  the  true  condition,  the 
contrary  effects  of  upaa  and  curare  are  the  contrary  effects 
of  larger  and  smaller  doses  of  the  same  drug.  It  may  be 
that  there  is  some  drug  in  curare  of  which  we  know 
nothing.  Only  further  experiments  can  throw  light  into 
this  darkness. 

And  with  regard  to  the  use  of  these  two  drugs  as 
medicines,  which  have  thus  been  put  forward  as  successful 
examples  of  the  physiological  method  based  on  experiments 
-on  animals,  it  must  be  remembered:  (1)  That  we  know 
nothing  accurately  of  their  mode  of  preparation  ;  (2)  That 
we  have  no  assurance  of  uniformity  in  the  preparations 
themselves ;  (8)  That  we  are  not  sufficiently  acquainted 
with  their  composition ;  (4)  That  we  are  quite  uncertain 
as  to  any  uniformity  in  this  composition ;  (5)  That  we 
have  not  sufficient  certainty  that  their  action  on  man  is  the 
same  as  that  on  frogs ;  (6)  And  that  we  have  no  knowledge 
of  the  doses,  and  their  different  actions.  Until  these 
conditions  are  altered,  such  dangerous  poisons  cannot  be 
used  as  medicines  either  extensively  or  safely.  This  is  the 
first  or  physiological  method,  founded  on  experiments  in 
health  on  the  lower  animals.  When  it  is  tried  by  the 
final  court  of  appeal — ^the  amount  of  its  success  in  curing 
disease — ^the  judgment  is  unfavourable. 

The  second  method,  that  of  experiments  upon  our- 
selves in  health,  and  the  careful  registration  of  all  the 
symptoms  produced,  without  reference  to  physiology  or 
pathology,  has  also  been  pursued  with  much  enthusiasm. 
Besides  an  experimental  examination  of  the  drugs  we 
already  possess,  some  hundreds  of  new  substances  have 
been  added  to  the  Materia  Medica.  In  this  school  the 
study  of  diseases  is  to  be  carried  on  in  the  same  manner, 
and  a  similar  collection  of  symptoms  is  to  be  made.  The 
therapeutics  consist  in  finding  for  the  picture  of  symptoms 
which  each  patient  presents,  a  similar  picture  among  the 
symptoms  which  have  been  produced  by  drugs  taken  in 
health.  The  drug  which  is  found  to  correspond  with  the 
patient's  symptoms  is  to  be  given  in  small  doses,  as  the 
best  remedy  which  can  be  found.  This  course  of  pro- 
ceeding appears  superficial,  and,  therefore,  notwithstanding 
its  remarkable  success  in  practice,  it  fails  to  satisfy  the 


468  CUBE   OF  DIBBA8BB.     ^bS^SS^u^- 

medical  mindy  which  crayes  for  flomething  more  like 
Bcience,  and  something  more  to  jnstify  the  existence  of  a 
medical  profession.  It  is  tme  that  many  members  of  this 
school  have  made  great  efforts  to  combine  pathology  with 
the  treatment  by  symptoms,  but  with  only  partial  snccess ; 
for,  so  long  as  tiie  results  of  the  experiments  on  which  the 
practice  is  based  remain  in  their  present  form,  the  extent 
to  which  this  combination  can  be  carried  is  Tery  limited. 

Students  will  now  see  that  another  method  is  demanded. 
They  know  that  at  the  present  time  two  schools  are  very 
earnestly  engaged  in  experiments  ;  the  first  in  experiments 
on  living  animals  in  health,  with  special  regard  to  physio* 
logy  and  pathology ;  the  second  in  experiments  on  man  in 
health,  with  regard  to  symptoms  only.  Sooner  or  later 
they  will  know  the  deficiencies  of  both  these  undertakings. 
Their  attention  is  now  called  to  a  third  method  of  experi- 
ment, which  is  to  be  briefly  explained  in  this  Paper.  It 
consists  of  one-half  of  each  of  the  other  two.  Like  the 
first,  it  has  special  regard  to  physiology  and  pathology,  but 
it  repudiates  experiments  on  the  lower  animals.  Like  the 
second,  its  experiments  are  upon  ourselves,  but  it  seeks  to 
learn  from  these  experiments,  and  from  cases  of  poisoning, 
both  the  seat  of  the  action  and  its  kind.  This  method, 
therefore,  supplies  something  more,  which  may  satisfy  the 
desire  of  the  professional  mind.  An  outline  only  is  admis- 
sible on  the  present  occasion,  and  this  may  be  sketched  by 
considering  (1)  How  to  study  this  method ;  (2)  The  results 
already  obtained  from  it ;  (3)  How  to  use  these  results  in 
practice. 

I. — How  to  study  this  Method. 

It  is  to  be  taken  for  granted  that  the  student  has 
acquired  the  best  knowledge  of  the  structure  and  functions 
of  all  the  organs  of  tiie  body  which  anatomy  and 
physiology  can  teach  him,  along  with  a  sufficient  acquaint- 
ance with  the  collateral  branches  of  science.  He  then 
meets  n^ith  disease,  and  has  to  undertake  its  cure.  To  do 
this  he  must  have  some  method;  that  now  proposed 
requires  to  be  diligently  studied. 

It  has  already  been  remarked,  that  disease  results  from 
the  meeting  of  two  causes — one  called  the  predisposingy 
the  other  the  exciting  cause.  Each  of  these  demands  a 
separate  study. 


l£rtS?lSn«?'      OTOE   OP   DISEASES.  45* 

1.  Preduposition, — This  is  local,  and  belongs  to  each 
organ  of  the  body.  It  deserves  more  careful  study  than 
it  has  yet  received.  Each  organ  has  its  own  structure  and 
functions  ;  its  own  conditions  of  health ;  its  own  disorders 
and  diseases,  even*  its  own  kind  of  inflammation ;  and  its 
own  modes  of  recovery ;  and  necessarily,  therefore,  its  own 
predispositions,  and  which  are  subject  to  much  variety.. 
Predisposition  is  a  field  of  science,  and  it  ought  to  be 
cultivated  as  such.  A  few  words  on  one  organ,  as  an 
example  of  what  is  meant,  may  be  of  service.  Let  the 
student  take  the  heart,  and  look  at  its  possible  predisposi- 
tions. Its  muscular  fibres  involve  a  liability  to  such 
structural  changes  as  growth  or  emaciation,  specially  in 
the  walls  of  the  ventricles,  which  are  liable  to  thickening 
and  thinning ;  and  to  such  functional  changes  as  increased 
or  diminished  frequency  in  their  contractions  or  beats,  and 
the  greater  or  less  strength  or  volume  of  these ;  its  cavities 
are  Uable  to  alterations  of  size,  to  diminution  or  dilatation ; 
its  valves  to  softening  or  hardening ;  its  coronary  arteries 
and  veins  to  inflammation,  congestion,  and  all  other 
derangements  of  the  circulation  of  the  blood ;  its  nerves  to 
increased  or  lessened  sensibility.  It  follows  that  in 
making  a  diagnosis  relating  to  a  morbid  condition  of  the 
heart,  the  student  will  ascertain,  if  he  can,  towards  which 
of  these  liabilities  there  has  been  an  undue  tendency,  by 
which  the  equihbrium  of  health  has  been  disturbed,  and  a 
predisposition  acquired.  And  this,  which  is  true  of  the 
heart,  is  true  of  every  organ  of  the  body. 

In  experiments  on  ourselves  in  health  with  drugs,  the 
same  attention  has  to  be  given.  The  organ  where  the 
action  takes  place  must  be  studied  in  regard  to  the  possible 
predispositions  of  its  structure  and  functions;  and  the 
existing  predisposition  is  to  be  noticed  as  one  of  the  two 
causes,  by  the  conjunction  of  which  the  effects  observed 
have  been  produced. 

2.  Exciting  Cause. — The  action  of  all  the  common 
exciting  causes  of  disease  is  also  local,  and  in  every  case 
demands  from  the  student  careful  investigation.  These 
causes  are  individualised,  and  their  effects  explained  in  all 
our  standard  works  on  the  practice  of  medicine. 

In  experiments  on  ourselves  in  health  the  exciting  cause 
is  the  drug  we  are  taking.    We  are  to  know  enough  of 
this  to  be  clear  about  its  obtainment  or  preparation,  and 
the  permanency  of  its  composition,  so  that  others  may  be^ 


460  CUBE   OF  DISEASES.      ^^S^^A^uSS. 

able  to  experiment  on  the  identical  substance.  We  are  to 
take  it  in  a  known  dose,  to  observe  its  effects,  to  note 
their  snccessiou,  to  ascertain  as  accurately  as  we  can  the 
whereabouts  of  its  action,  and  its  kind  of  action;  and 
having  noticed  the  predisposing  cause,  to  record  the  whole 
just  as  we  should  a  case  of  illness  from  any  other  cause.* 
At  other  times  we  are  to  experiment  with  the  same  drug 
in  different  doses,  and  to  note  whether  the  action  is  in  the 
same  or  in  some  other  locality,  and  whether  it  is  of  the 
same  or  of  a  different  kind. 

It  will  be  objected  that  we  cannot  carry  these  experi- 
ments on  ourselves  fax  enough ;  that  we  are  not  to  kill 
ourselves  with  a  drug  and  be  dissected,  that  the  morbid 
anatomy  of  its  action  may  be  learned.  It  is  replied  :  This 
is  not  necessaiy.  Opportunities  of  learning  the  patho- 
logical changes  of  structure  produced  by  the  more  powerful 
drugs  are  furnished  by  the  cases  of  poisoning  which  occur 
from  accident  or  intention;  and  which,  unhappily,  are 
more  frequent  than  is  required  for  this  purpose. 

n. — The  remdts  already  obtained  from  this  Method. 

1.  In  all  time  past,  when  drugs  have  been  given  to  men, 
they  have  been  given  to  them  when  sick.  The  phenomena 
caused  by  their  action  were,  therefore,  always  obscured  by 
the  phenomena  of  the  disease  with  which  they  were  mixed. 
In  experiments  with  drugs  on  healthy  persons  this  compU- 
cation  is  avoided.  In  all  time  coming,  the  true  action  of 
each  drug  may  in  this  manner  be  ascertained  with  clear- 
ness and  certainty.     This  is  the  first  result.* 

2.  It  is  proved  by  these  experiments  in  health  that  each 
drug  has  an  action  pecuUar  to  or  characteristic  of  itself. 
This  action  is  adapted  to  the  predisposition  of  some  organ 
or  organs  of  the  body ;  the  two  fit  each  other.  The  effects 
which  follow  the  talong  of  the  drug  are  the  produce  of  this 
mutual  fitness.     This  is  the  second  result. 

8.  The  third  result  is  also  one  of  great  moment.  It  is 
the  truth  of  a  general  fact  of  great  practical  value,  namely, 
that  all  drugs  have  a  local  action ;  they  act  on  some  organ 
or  organs,  or  parts  of  an  organ  of  the  body,  in  preference 
to  others.     From  giving  m^icines  to  the  sick  this  fact  has 

*  This  forms  the  subject  of  Essay  XVI.,  a  Paper  read  at  the  Meeting  oi 
the  British  Association  for  the  Adoaneement  of  Science,  held  at  Nottrngluun 
in  1866. 


ta^SSTS^      ^3™®  O^  DISEASES.  461 

long  been  partially  known.  It  is  now  proved  by  experi* 
ments  in  health,  tiiat  the  aotion  of  every  dmg  is  local, 
and  by  experiments  in  health  and  in  illness,  that  it  is  in 
the  same  part,  whether  that  part  is  healthy  or  sick. 

4.  The  fourth  result,  like  the  others,  is  of  great  prac* 
tical  importance.  Each  dmg,  in  certain  larger  and  smaller 
groups  of  doses,  has  two  kinds  of  action — ^the  one  contrary 
to  the  other.  Between  these  larger  and  smaller  doses 
there  is  an  intermediate  group,  having  actions  apparently 
irregular,  of  both  these  contrary  kinds.  Sometimes  like  that 
of  the  larger  doses,  sometimes  like  that  of  the  smaller. 
These  actions  are  governed  by  predisposition,  and  are 
made  irregular  by  its  variations.  As  this  fourth  result  has 
not  yet  been  generally  received,  it  may  be  well  to  give 
students  a  few  examples  of  it  from  experiments  in  healthy 
as  illustrations,  and,  as  far  as  they  go,  as  proofs : — 

Action  on  the  Heart. — ^The  larger  doses  of  aconite 
increase  the  heart's  action  and  quicken  the  pulse;  the 
smaller  doses  diminish  its  action  and  make  the  pulse 
slower.  The  larger  doses  of  digitalis  weaken  the  heart's 
aotion ;  the  smaller  doses  strengthen  it.  The  larger  doses 
o{  phosphorus  quicken  the  heart's  beats ;  the  smaller  doses 
slow  ihem. 

Action  on  the  Pupil. — ^The  strong  tincture  of  belladonna 
rubbed  over  the  eyebrows  dilates  the  pupil ;  a  weak  tinc- 
ture applied  in  the  same  manner  contracts  the  pupil.  The 
tincture  of  physostigma  (Calabar  bean)  applied  in  the 
same  manner  produces  the  reverse  effects :  the  strong 
tincture  contracts  the  pupil ;  the  weak  tincture  dilates  it. 

Action  on  the  Stomach. — ^The  larger  doses  of  arsenic 
destroy  the  appetite ;  the  smaller  doses  exaggerate  it. 

Action  on  the  Liver, — The  larger  doses  of  chamomiUa 
diminish  the  secretion  of  bile ;  the  smaller  doses  increase 
it.  Contrary  actions  of  a  similar  kind  are  produced  by 
wyrica  (bayberry),  and  by  mercury. 

Action  on  the  Bowels. — The  larger  doses  of  arsenic, 
mercury y  and  castor  oil  cause  diarrhosa ;  the  smaller  ones 
constipation.  Bryonia  and  opium  act  in  the  reverse 
manner;  the  larger  doses  constipate  the  bowels;  the 
smaller  ones  relax  them. 

Action  on  the  Brain. — The  larger  doses  of  opium 
oppress  the  brain;  the  smaller  excite  it.  For  further 
details  on  this  subject  former  Essays  must  be  referred  to. 


462  OTTRB   OF  DISEASES.      ^bTSS.^SIIuibS! 

in. — How  to  use  these  results  in  practice* 

The  student  having  ascertained,  as  correctly  as  he  can, 
the  seat  and  kind  of  disease  in  the  case  before  him,  the 
following  rules  of  treatment  may  be  suggested  for  his 
guidance : — 

1.  Study  the  predispositions  of  the  parts  affected.  Pre- 
disposition is  local.  Each  organ  has  its  own  predispositions. 
What  these  are  may  be  learned  with  certainty  by  under- 
standing three  things :  first,  the  structure  of  the  parts ; 
second,  their  functions;  third,  the  predispositions  now 
showing  themselves. 

Their  structure.  This  will  be  best  explained  by  taking 
some  organ  as  an  example.  The  heart  has  already  been 
used  for  illustration ;  let  us  now  take  the  brain.  Here  we 
see  the  peculiar  structure  of  the  cerebral  substance,  and  of 
the  nerves  proceeding  from  it ;  the  blood-vessels,  arterial 
and  venous ;  the  membranes,  &c.  The  cerebral  substance 
is  of  such  delicate  and  minute  workmanship  that  we  cannot 
learn  its  final  condition,  and  are  obliged  to  content  ourselves 
with  obscure  notions  respecting  it  and  its  changes ;  we  can, 
however,  perceive  that  it  may  become  harder  or  softer.  Of 
the  circulation  we  can  see  that  there  may  be  dilatation  or 
contraction  either  of  the  arteries  or  of  the  veins ;  that  they 
may  contain  an  increased  or  diminished  quantity  of  blood ; 
and  that  this  fluid  may  move  faster  or  slower  than  in 
Jiealth.  We  can  also  notice  that  the  membranes  may  be 
thickened,  and  that  the  ai*achnoid  may  become  white  ;  that 
the  cavities  may  have  a  fluid  in  them ;  and  that  there  may 
be  blood  outside  the  vessels.  The  structure  of  all  the  other 
organs  must  be  studied  in  the  same  manner. 

Their  functions.  Continuing  our  reference  to  the  brain, 
we  are  to  notice  that  the  functions  of  the  cerebral  substance 
are  connected  with  the  mind ;  that  they  admit  of  exaltation, 
depression,  or  perversion ;  that  there  may  be  increased, 
diminished,  or  perverted  sensation  ;  increased,  diminished, 
or  perverted  will  and  voluntary  motion.  The  functions  of 
pther  organs  are  to  be  similarly  observed." 

It  will  be  understood  that  when  the  balance  between  the 
different  parts  of  the  structure  of  an  organ  and  between  its 
various  functions  is  perfect,  there  is  not  predisposition  but 
health.  When  the  balance  is  overthrown  and  there  is  a 
leaning  to  any  side — ^that  leaning  is  the  predisposition. 
While  this  leaning  remains  the  same,  many  different 
exciting  causes  will  produce  the  same  disease ;  this  is  the 


SSS^aST^Sm!'     eilM  OV  M8BA8E8.  468 

xeyerse  condition  of  those  cases  in  which  the  same  exciting 
•cause  produces  different  diseases  in  persons  having  different 
leanings. 

The  predigpositioTis  showing  ikemseloes  in  the  patient.  It 
is  not  only  possible,  but  generally  easy  to  observe  these. 
For  example :  the  student  is  called  suddenly  to  a  patient 
who  has  fallen  down  in  a  state  of  insensibility  or  coma,  with 
laborious  breathing,  a  bounding  pulse,  and  a  flushed  face  ^ 
in  medical  language  in  a  fit  of  apoplexy*  If  he  will  analyse 
these  symptoms  and  separate  the  exciting  from  the  pre- 
^sposing  cause,  he  may  find  that  the  exciting  cause  has 
been  heat,  or  cold,  or  muscular  exertion,  or  mental  agita- 
tion, or  some  other  cause  (not  including  poisoning,  as  by 
alcohol  or  opium) ;  and  that  the  predisposing  cause  has 
"been  a  leaning  to  distension  of  the  veins  in  the  brain,  and 
to  retardation  of  the  flow  of  blood  through  them ;  the  result 
of  the  two  causes  being  a  condition  to  which  the  term  con" 
gestion  is  applied. 

2.  Study  the  action  of  drugs  as  seen  in  experiments  on 
ourselves  in  health.  We  have  learned  from  these  ex* 
periments  that  each  drug  has  a  characteristic  action,  which 
in  its  degree  is  dependent  upon  predisposition ;  that  this 
action  is  on  particular  parts  only,  and  so  is  local ;  and  that 
it  has  two  contrary  kinds  of  action  in  larger  or  smaller 
doses.  Let  us  now  help  the  student  with  his  case  of 
apoplexy.  He  must  first  look  for  the  drugs  whose  local 
action  is  in  the  brain ;  he  will  find  several,  as  belladonna, 
stramonium,  opium,  &c.  He  is  next  to  examine  these  as 
to  the  particular  parts  of  the  brain  where  their  action  is 
most  visible;  and  then  as  to  their  kind  of  action.  He 
finds  that  belladonna  acts  mainly  on  the  arterial  circula- 
tion, causing  in  certain  larger  doses,  inflammation ;  that 
stramonium  acts  on  the  cerebral  substance  and  nerves, 
causing  in  the  larger  doses,  convulsions;  and  that  opium 
acts  mainly  on  the  venous  circulation,  causing  in  the 
larger  doses,  congestion.  Now  our  student  is  happy.  He 
knows  that  certain  smaller  doses  of  each  drug  act  in  the 
same  locality  as  the  larger  doses,  but  in  the  contrary 
direction.  He  knbws  that  dmgs  in  any  doses  will  at  least 
try  to  act  in  disease  as  they  act  in  health.  He  knows 
that  the  larger  doses  of  opium  act  on  the  venous  circulation 
of  the  brain  and  cause  congestion,  and  that  the  smaller 
doses  will  act  in  the  contrary  manner;  therefore,  he  has 
found  the  remedy  for  his  case  of  apoplexy;  he  gives  it, 


464  OH  DTBHSNOBBHiEA.     ^^I^^S^^T!i^, 

perhaps  only  can  pat  it  with  difficulty  into  his  patient's 
month ;  and,  if  his  experience  shall  be  like  mine,  he  will 
have  the  intense  pleasure  of  seeing  his  patient  recover — 
perhaps  rapidly  recover. 

This,  it  seems  to  me,  is  the  bridge  which  reaches  across 
the  golf  between  diseases  and  their  remedies.  It  is  now 
seen  to  rest,  on  one  side  of  the  gulf,  on  local  predisposi- 
tion; and  on  the  other,  on  the  local  action  of  drugs* 
When  this  bridge  has  been  pat  in  requisition  by  tiie 
medical  profession,  Sydenham's  yearnings  for  a  method 
''fixed,  definite,  and  consummate,"  will  be  accomplished. 

The  statements  made  in  this  paper  are  believed  to  be, 
not  opinions  hni  facts*  It  is  obvious  that  such  statements 
cannot  be  disproved  by  arguments,  but  only  by  more 
numerous  and  more  accurate  experiments.  These  ex- 
periments being  upon  ourselves  call  for  the  exercise  of 
some  self-denifid ;  in  return  they  give  us  an  acquaintance 
with  the  action  and  use  of  medicines  which  cannot  be 
obtained  in  any  other  way. 

Rugby,  April  14th,  1881. 

ON  DYSMENORRHCEA.* 
By  D.  DvGE  BnowN,  MA.,  M.D. 

[Continued  from  Page  846). 

This  passage  from  Dr.  Barnes  does  not  give  the  sufferer  or 
student  much  encouragement  to  look  to  allopathy. 

Let  us  then  see  what  homoeopathy  can  offer. 

The  medicines  which  are  of  most  value  in  relieving  the 
pains  of  dysmenorrhoea  at  the  time  of  the  pain  are  derived 
chiefly  from  the  ''  new  "  American  remedies. 

Foremost,  perhaps,  in  importance  is  the  gelseminum 
sempervirens.  This  medicine  has  a  remarkable  action  on 
the  cerebro-spinal  nerves,  and  through  it  upon  muscular 
tissue,  voluntary  and  involuntary,  details  of  which  you  will 
hear  fully  described  by  my  esteemed  colleague.  Dr.  Pope, 
and  I  therefore,  with  this  general  statement,  pass  on  to 
notice  its  bearing  on  the  subject  in  hand. 

It  is  one  of  those  medicines  which  are  now  being  adopted 
largely  by  allopaths  (without  ever,  of  course,  hinting  that 
it  has  been  in  use  by  homoeopaths  for  years),  in  neuralgia 
of  the  face  and  teeUi,  &c.,  but  they  seem  not  yet  to  have 

*  Being  one  of  a  Goime  of  Lecfcues  on  I^aotiee  of  Medioine,  deUvend 
at  the  London  Bohool  of  Homoaopathy. 


S^AiSTi^"       ON  DYSMENOBBHCEA.  465 


"discovered"  its  great  value  in  relieving  the  pains  of 
dysmenorrhcea.  As  with  many  of  the  "  new  "  remedies, 
the  provings  in  women  are  scanty,  and  in  the  provings  of 
geUeminum  the  only  symptom  indicating  its  use  in  dys- 
menorrhoBa  is  "  severe,  sharp  labour-like  pains  in  the 
uterine  region,  extending  to-  the  back  and  hips.*'  This 
is  part  of  a  long  symptom,  which  is  reported  as 
follows  : — "  Severe  pain  in  the  forehead  and  vertex,  with 
dimness  of  vision ;  roaring  in  the  ears ;  a  sensation  of 
enlargement  of  the  head,  and  a  'wild  feeling,'  a  com- 
pression, almost  amounting  to  delirium ;  the  pain  in  the 
bead,  which  was  of  a  pressing,  heavy  nature,  would  at 
times  disappear,  the  concomitant  symptoms  being  at  the 
same  time  ameliorated,  and  severe,  sharp,  labour-like  pains 
would  set  in  in  the  uterine  region,  extending  to  the  back 
and  hips  ;  these  pains  would  in  turn  leave,  and  the  pain  in 
the  head  would  recur  immediately  after."  This  fully 
described  symptom  points  to  the  neuralgic  character  of  the 
uterine  pain  of  gelseminum.  Clinically,  it  has  been  found  of 
the  greatest  service,  and  in  my  own  experience  I  find  it  a 
medicine  which  could  not  be  dispensed  with.  It  is  very 
rarely  that  it  does  not  give  marked  relief,  and  in  fact  I  may 
say  that  I  in  the  majority  of  cases  prescribe  it  first,  and 
seldom  have  to  use  any  other  medicines. 

The  cases  in  which  it  is  useful  are  principally  the  neuralgic 
and  congestive  varieties.  We  know  the  marked  power  of 
gelseminum  on  the  spinal  cord,  and  the  spinal  nerves,  and  in 
relieving  spasm  and  neuralgic  pain  generally.  In  cases  of 
neuralgic  dysmenorrhoea,  in  which  spasm  and  neuralgia  are 
combined,  it  will  almost  infallibly  relieve  the  pain  very 
rapidly.  Cases  I  have  seen  over  and  over  again,  where  the 
pain  has  been  most  intense,  and  where  hot  brandy  and  water 
had  been  resorted  to,  after  failure  of  all  allopathic  remedies, 
till  a  species  of  drowsy  intoxication  was  induced,  and 
when,  under  the  use  of  geUeminum  the  pain  was  in  a  very 
short  time  reduced  to  a  trifling  amount,  ''hardly  worth 
speaking  of,"  as  is  often  remarked.  I  generally  prescribe 
the  Ix  dilution,  6  drops  to  be  taken  as  soon  as  the  pain  is 
is  felt,  and  repeated. every  half-hour  till  the  pain  has 
gone.  One  or  two  doses  will  often  do  all  that  is 
required,  and  seldom  more  than  four  or  five  doses  are 
necessary.  If  this  should  not  succeed  as  expected^ 
I  should  give  the  mother-tincture,  one  or  two  drop 
doses  in  the  same  way.     These  last  doses  have  never,  in 

No.  8,  ycH  25.  2  H 


466  ON  DTSMENORRHOEA,      *SS2^.^T!S! 

my  experience,  produced  any  disagreeable  head  symptoms. 
One  lady,  on  her  own  responsibility,  took  15  drops 
at  once  of  the  ^,  with  almost  instantaneous  relief,  and  no 
disagreeable  effects  in  other  parts  of  the  body.  As  a  role, 
however,  the  Ix  dilution  is  sufficient. 

2.  In  congestive  dysmenorrhoea  it  is  equally  valuable,  and 
may  be  given  in  the  same  way. 

8.  Even  in  well-marked  mechanical  dysmenorrhoea  I 
have  seen  it  of  such  marked  effect  .in  the  Ix  dilution,  given 
in  the  above  way,  that  operation  was  rendered  unnecessary. 

One  of  the  most  marked  and  unmistakable  cases  of  this 
kind,  I  had  two  years  ago.  A  lady  who  had  had  no  family 
had  all  her  life  been  subject  to  intense  dysmenorrhoaa.  The 
pain  had  been  perfectly  agonising  during  the  whole  period. 
it  quite  prostrated  her,  so  that  she  dreaded  her  monthly 
sneering.  She  told  me  that  she  had  had  the  cervix  dilated 
by  one  of  the  first  gynsBCologists  in  Ireland,  with  only 
temporary  benefit.  She  then  had  it  incised  by  one  of  the 
leading  gynsecologists  in  London,  with  decided  relief  for 
three  or  four  years,  but  that  latterly  it  had  become  as  bad 
AS  ever.  I  could  not  get  the  point  of  the  ordinary  sound 
into  the  os  externum,  nor  even  the  point  of  Barnes'  flexible 
sound.  With  the  use  of  gels.  Ix  the  pain  became  so  trifling 
that  it  was  nothing  to  speak  of,  and  passed  off  soon.  I  saw 
her  a  year  after,  and  she  told  me  that  with  the  medicine  she 
really  had  no  pain  to  speak  of.  I  relate  this  case,  because 
its  nature  was  indubitable,  while  the  results  of  internal 
treatment  were  equally  so,  and  this  after  the  failure  of 
both  dilatation  and  incision.  As  she  is  now  within  a  few 
jears  of  the  menopause,  she  has  dismissed  all  idea  of 
further  operation,  which  she  had  contemplated.  GeU.  is 
certainly  an  incalculable  boon  to  the  female  sex. 

The  symptoms  which  I  have  found  indicating  gelse^ninum 
Are  described  shortly  in  the  pathogenetic  symptoms  I 
quoted.  The  patient  does  not  feel  the  pain  confined  to  the 
uterine  region,  but  it  goes  from  there  to  the  back,  where  it 
is  felt  severely,  and  all  round  the  pelvis,  and  dovm  the 
thighs,  and  has  the  forcing  down  character  prominently,  as 
well  as  the  severe  indescribable  aching. 

The  next  remedy  I  have  to  mention  is  caulophyllum, — a 
medicine  I  have  already  had  occasion  to  speak  of.  It  was 
known  to  the  American  aborigines  and  the  original  settlers 
as  ^*  squaw-root,''  from  its  proved  value  in  female  com* 
plaints.      Unfortunately  we  have  no  provings  of  it  by 


SSjSSf^STS!^"     ON   DYSMENORRHCEA.  467 

women,  so  we  are  obliged  to  resort  for  our  knowledge  of  it 
to  the  clinical  results.  These,  which  have  been  extensiye, 
show  that  caulaphyllum  has  a  specific  affinity  for  the  uterus. 
In  full  doses  it  seems,  so  far,  to  resemble  secdU  in  its 
iiction ;  producing  severe  labour  pains,  increasing  feeble 
pains,  and  in  small  doses  (its  proper  homcQopathic  action)  it 
relieves  spasmodic,  irregular,  or  over-severe  pains,  prevents 
abortion  when  threatened,  and  relieves  the  pains  of 
4ysmeDorrh(Ba.  Its  value  in  the  latter  is  now  well  known, 
and,  for  myself,  I  value  it  next  to  gelseminwm.  It  is  indi- 
cated by  the  same  class  of  symptoms,  and  in  the  neuralgic 
And  congestive  varieties ;  and  I  have  found  it  succeed  when 
gelseminum  had  failed  to  yield  the  result  I  expected.  I 
have  generally  given  it  in  the  mother-tincture,  gttj.,  every 
half-hour  till  pain  is  relieved,  which  it  usually  is  quickly. 

I  well  remember  the  first  case  in  which  I  prescribed  it. 
A  young  lady  had  suffered  ever  since  the  onset  of  the 
period  with  severe  dysmenorrhoeal  pain.  Her  mother  said 
she  had  to  go  to  bed  the  first  two  days,  and  used  to  roll  in 
agony  during  the  first  day.  I  prescribed  the  caulo- 
phyUum  (p  as  described.  I  happened  to  be  in  the  house 
the  next  day,  when  her  mother  asked  me  if  I  had  given  her 
an  opiate,  as  after  the  first  dose,  she  had  fallen  asleep,  and 
after  a  good  sleep  had  got  up  quite  free  of  pain,  the  first 
time  such  a  thing  had  occurred. 

Nearly  equal  in  value  is  xanthoxylum  fraxineum, 
the  prickly  ash.  In  the  provings  we  have  unmistakable 
evidences  of  its  power  to  produce  dysmenorrhoea.  In  one 
prover,  the  menses  came  on  a  week  before  the  time, 
and  with  ''  a  good  deal  of  pain.''  In  another,  it  came  on 
two  days  before  time,  and  was  proceeding  quietly,  when, 
after  taking  twenty  drops  of  the  tincture,  the  following  is 
reported :  ''  all  the  system  quiet,  with  an  unnatural  forcing 
of  nature ;  went  to  sleep  as  usual,  and  woke  in  dreadftd 
distress  and  pain,  baffling  description ;  profuse  flowing ; 
the  pain,  or  agony,  continued  till  noon  of  next  day,  when 
it  gradually  subsided."  Dr.  Hale,  in  his  ''New  Bemedies," 
says  he  has  given  this  medicine  in  dysmenorrhoea  with 
marked  success.  Dr.  Gullis,  of  Boston,  whose  observations 
are  quoted  by  Hale,  says,  "I  think  zanthoxylum  more 
especially  indicated  in  females  of  spare  habit,  nervous 
temperament,  and  delicate  organization.  In  some  cases 
of  plethoric  habit  it  has  failed  me."  It  would  seem,  from 
this  proving,  to  be  specially  suited  to  dysmenorrhea  with 

2  k  -2 


468  ON  DYSMENOBBH<EA.      ^sS^fSS^^^ 

profase  flow,  bat  I  haye  used  it  in  several  cases  where  this- 
was  not  markedly  present,  with  most  decided  and  rapid 
relief.  I  have  generally  given  it  in  the  Ix  gttv,  or  in  the  (p 
gttj  every  half-hour,  till  relieved. 

Acta'a  racemosa,  although  the  uterine  provings  are  rather 
more  scanty  than  we  like  to  see,  yet  has  evidently  decided 
power  of  producing  dysmenorrhcea.  Thus  we  find :  ' '  During 
menses,  very  severe  down-bearing  forcing  pains."  ^*  Taken 
unwell  in  the  morning ;  wandering  pain  in  the  back,  and 
around  hips,  inside,  lasting  all  morning ;  quite  severe  at 
10,  when  she  was  obliged  to  lie  down ;  has  never  had  so* 
much  pain  during  menses."  It  is  not  a  medicine  I  can 
speak  of  from  experience  during  the  pain  (except  in  cases 
where  it  has  been  given  during  the  whole  interval,  and 
continued  during  the  flow),  but  marked  success  is  reported 
from  its  use  by  Dr.  Hale,  and  others,  and  by  those  of  the 
eclectic  school.  It  would  be  indicated  chiefly  in  the 
neuralgic  and  congestive  forms,  and  especially  when  the 
general  actaa  symptoms  are  present.  These  I  have  already 
gone  fully  into,  when  speaking  of  its  use  in  amenorrhcBa. 
The  neuralgic  producing  power  of  actcBa  would  point  to  its 
use  in  cases  of  neuralgic  dysmenorrhosa ;  while  its  power 
over  uterine  congestion,  which  I  shall  afterwards  allude  to, 
indicates  its  use  in  the  congestive  forms  also.  In  patients 
of  a  rheumatic  tendency  it  would  be  specially  useful.  I 
have  found  the  8rd  dec.  dilution  act  better  in  most  of  the 
oct^a  cases  than  the  Ix  or  9.  Were  I  giving  it  during  the 
dysmenorrhoeal  pains  only,  I  should  give  a  drop  of  the  Sx 
every  quarter  of  an  hour. 

These  are  the  medicines  which  I  find  give  most  relief  in 
dysmenorrhoeal  pain  at  the  time,  and  we  have  much  to  be 
thankful  for,  for  the  sake  of  our  patients,  in  having  such 
means  at  our  disposal.  With  their  aid  we  can  rob  49  out 
of  every  50  dysmenorrhoeal  patients  of  the  dread  they  haye 
at  the  approach  of  the  period. 

I  have  named  them  before  the  Hahnemannian  remedies,, 
as,  with  one  exception,  these  latter,  by  general  consent, 
seem  to  be  of  less  value  in  relieving  pains  at  the  time. 
This  exception  is  cocculus.  This  medicine  is  of  value  in 
cases  where  gelseminum  and  the  other  remedies  already 
named  do  not  relieve  much,  because  they  are  not  so  closely 
similar  in  symptoms,  while  cocculus  affords  a  close 
simile.  The  use  of  this  remedy  and  the  selection  of 
the  cases  where  it  supersedes  the  other  remedies  is,  in  fact,. 


iSS^^TmSS^   05  dtsmbnobbh(ba.  469 

^ _  _  _      .    _         .    .  _A_ 

AH  excellent  illastration  of  the  necessity  of  examining  into 
the  details  of  dysmenorrhoeal  symptoms,  and  the  excellent 
resnlts  of  snch  selections  according  to  symptoms.  We 
know  the  power  of  coccttlus  on  the  cerebro-spinal  and 
sympathetic  nervons  systems.  Yon  will  remember  the 
**  sea-sick  "  headache  it  produces ;  one  with  compression, 
mnch  vertigo,  and  inclination  to  Tomit.  Next  you  will 
recal  the  flatnlent  gastralgia,  with  vomiting,  and  the 
flatulent  colic  with  distension,  and  feeling  of  distension 
which  it  produces.  In  the  pathogenesis  of  the  uterine 
symptoms  we  find  ''menstruation  seven  days  too  early, 
with  distension  of  the  abdomen,  and  cutting-contracting 
pain  in  the  abdomen  on  every  motion  and  every  breath, 
together  with  contraction  in  the  rectum."  ''  Menstruation 
eight  days  too  early,  with  distension  of  the  abdomen,  and 
pain  in  tiie  upper  region  of  the  abdomen,  not  only  on  every 
motion  (even  stooping  was  painful)  but  also  while  sitting, 
AS  if  the  inner  parts  were  suffering  from  the  sharp  pressure 
of  a  stone ;  the  parts  are  painful  to  external  touch,  as  if 
there  were  an  internal  ulcer."  Lastly,  it  is  to  be  noted 
that  in  the  pathogenesis  there  is  next  to  no  pain  spoken  of 
in  the  lower  back. 

Here,  then,  we  have  clear  indications  of  the  case  of 
dysmenorrhoBa  for  which  coccvliis  is  the  remedy.  The 
severe  pain  is  in  the  region  of  the  uterus  only,  and  not  in 
the  back.  It  is  of  a  sharp  cutting  feeling,  or  as  if  the 
uterus  were  distended  by  internal  pressure,  and  the  flow  is 
more  profuse  than  natural.  It  is  accompanied  by  general 
abdominal  distension  and  flatulence,  or  flatulent  colicky 
pain,  with  pain  and  flatus  in  the  stomach,  and  vomiting. 
The  headache  also  is  severe,  and  is  associated  with  vertigo 
and  vomiting.  These  cases  are  not  nearly  so  well  treated 
by  gelseminum,  caulophyUumy  &c.,  as  by  cocculus,  I  generally 
give  2x  or  Ix  dilution,  a  drop  every  quarter  of  an  hour  till 
relief  is  obtained. 

Cuprum  may  sometimes  be  given  with  advantage  when 
the  pain  is  like  cramp,  characteristic  of  copper,  and  when 
there  is  much  spasmodic  vomiting,  and  nervous  depression* 
Then  the  6th  dilution  may  be  given  every  five  or  ten 
minutes  till  relieved. 

Ignatia  may  sometimes  be  required  when  the  pain 
is  associated  with  marked  hysterical  symptoms,  or 
^sulminates  in  a  fully  developed  hysterical  attack.     It  may 


470  ON  BYBMBNORBHCEA.     *a^^*?^ 


,  Ang.  1, 1S81. 


then  be  given  in  the  2z  dilation,  two  or  three  drops  eyeiy 
quarter  of  an  honr. 

As  accessory  means,  it  is  of  decided  service  to  prescribe 
a  hot  sitz  badi,  to  be  taken  on  the  night  previous  to  the 
expected  day  of  the  period,  repeated  as  soon  as  the  pain 
comes  on,  bat  not  after  the  flow  has  began  to  appear.  If 
this  last  injunction  is  not  attended  to,  t£e  heat  of  the  sitz 
bath  may  check  the  flow.  The  water  should  be  used  as 
hot  as  can  be  borne.  After  this,  or,  if  preferred  in  place  of 
it,  hot  compresses  all  round  the  pelvis  are  of  marked  value. 

I  next  come  to  speak  of  the  treatment  of  such  cases  during 
the  interval  of  the  menstrual  periods,  with  the  view  of 
preventing  the  recurrence  of  the  pain ;  and  in  selecting  the 
remedy,  we  must  inquire  minutely  into  the  state  of  every 
function  in  the  body,  in  order  that  we  may  find  a  medicine 
which  will  '*  cover  "  the  whole  disordered  condition. 

First  comes  sulphur.     This  great ''  anti-psoric  "  is  often 
of  much  benefit  in  cases  of  dysmenorrhoea.    I  would  select 
it,  if  I  learned  that  there  had  been  at  any  previous  time  of 
life  a  history  of  skin  eruption,  or  irritation,  which  had 
been   cured,  or,   at    all   events,   had  disappeared;   more 
especially  if  the  disappearance  of  the  skin  rash  had  been 
coincident,  or  nearly  so,  with  the  development  of  the  dys- 
menorrhoBa,  or  even  of  general  dis-health.     Or  again,  if  at 
the  time  of  prescription  the  skin  was  irritable  and  inclined 
to  itch,  or  break  out  with  any  disorder  of  digestion  or 
change  of  season;  or  even  if  a  condition  of  this  sort  existed 
in  other   members  of  the  same  family,   though   not  iu 
our  patient ;    if  nothing  of  this  kind  were  discoverable, 
sulphur  would  be  indicated    by  a  tendency  to   mucous 
catarrh,  liability  to  "catch  cold"  on  the  least  exposure, 
and  sensitiveness  to  change  of  weather.     Also  if  the  com- 
plexion  were  dusky  or  "  liverish,"  if  headaches  of  a  full 
congested  feeling  were  present,  if  the  tongue  were  some- 
what coated,  with  more  or  less  dyspeptic  feeling,  if  the 
liver  and  bowels  were  sluggish,  with  tendency  to  piles,  and 
if  the  patient  felt  an  indescribable  languid  feeling,  with 
irritable  temper,  I  should  then  give  stdphur  in  the  80th 
dilution  twice  a  day,  varying  the  dilution  according  to 
circumstances,  down  to  the  6th  or  8rd. 

2.  Actaa.  This  remedy,  which,  as  I  have  already  stated, 
I  have  little  experience  of  when  given  simply  to  relieve  pain 
at  the  time,  unless  it  has  been  given  during  the  whole 
interval,  and  continued  on  during  the  pain,  is  one  on  which 


eS^^STmSu**     on  dysmbnorrhcea,  471 

I  place  mach  yalue  as  a  remedy  given  daring  the  interval. 
Althongh  I  folly  described  the  pathogenetic  indications  for 
iicUea  when  treating  of  amenorrhoBa,  let  me  remind  you  of 
them  shortly.  It  meets  especially  the  hyper^esthetic  patient 
— ^not  the  hysterical  temperament  exactly,  but  that  which  we 
find  developed  in  what  is  known  as  spinal  irritation.  The 
prominent  features  are  the  extreme  sensitiveness  to  pain, 
and  the  existence  of  pain  in  various  nerve  centres,  and  in 
the  nerves  arising  from  them.  There  is  a  feeling  of  general 
languor,  and  tiredness,  with  a  very  restless  state  of  body^ 
causing  the  patient  to  be  always  changing  position.  The 
same  restless,  unstable  condition  is  manifested  in  the 
mental  and  emotional  sphere,  producing  alternations  of 
excitement  with  depression.  Headaches  are  constant, 
chiefly  in  the  vertex,  with  feeling  of  heavy  weight,  and  over 
and  in  the  eyes,  with  dragging  at  the  back  of  the  eyes. 
Pains  up  and  down  the  spine  are  felt,  with  spots  tender  to 
pressure.  Sleep  is  restless  and  disturbed,  and  accompanied 
by  much  dreaming.  Palpitation  and  infra-mammary  pain 
are  much  complained  of,  with  pain  in  the  ovarian  regions, 
and  tendency  to  touch  there.  The  tongue  is  clammy,  and 
the  epigastric  '*  sinking"  sensation  causes  much  distress.- 
There  is  frequent  desire  to  pass  water,  with  sacral  pain, 
general  pelvic  uneasiness,  and  down-bearing.  If  there  is 
actual  uterine  congestion,  as  evidenced  by  the  symptoms, 
or  by  vaginal  examination,  so  much  the  more  is  actisa  indi- 
cated. Lastly,  its  power  over  rheumatism  of  the  joints' 
and  muscles  makes  the  rheumatic  element  in  the  patient 
an  additional  indication.  The  catamenia  are  usually  scanty, 
and  there  is  more  or  less  constant  leucorrhcea. 

In  such  a  case  acUea  is  of  great  value,  and  may  be  given 
in  dilutions  from  3  to  8x,  or  even  Ix,  three  times  a-day. 

8.  CatUophylluvi  is  of  as  great  value  when  given  during 
the  interval,  as  during  the  access  of  pain.  As  a  remedy 
during  the  interval,  the  chief  indications  are  scantiness  of 
the  menses,  leucorrhoea,  and  the  presence  of  the  rheumatic 
diathesis.     I  usually  give  the  <p  1  drop  three  times  a  day. 

4.  Hamamdis  may  be  given  during  the  interval,  when 
the  flow  is  profuse,  when  there  are  piles  which  bleed  easily, 
tendency  to  varicosis,  to  venous  engorgements,  and  to 
haemorrhage  elsewhere.     Dose  2x  or  Ix  three  times  a  day« 

5.  Xanthoxylum  may  be  given  during  the  interval,  as 
well  as  during  the  pain,  when  indicated  for  the  pain.  I 
have,  however,  no  experience  of  this  use  of  it. 


472  ON   DYSMBNORBHCEA,     ^'b^^i^!?!^. 


6.  One  other  of  the  "new  remedieB"  I  must  name 
hefore  speaking  of  the  older  or  Hahnemannian  medicines. 
That  is  coUintonia  canadensis.  The  yalne  of  this  remedy 
in  cases  of  haemorrhoids  and  severe  constipation,  accom- 
panied by  much  pain  in  defecation,  I  spoke  of  fnlly  in  a 
former  lectnre.  But  sometimes  we  meet  with  cases  when 
we  have  this  veiy  state  superadded  to  dysmenorrhoea,  and 
where  the  existence  of  this  state  may  be  very  much,  or  at 
all  events  partially,  the  cause  of  the  dysmenorrhoeal  pain. 
Here  then  coUinsonia  is  of  value  for  both  features  of  the 
case.     I  usually  give  the  3x  dilution  in  2  or  8  drop  doses. 

I  come  now  to  the  Hahnemannian  remedies  during  the 
interval. 

7  and  8.  Sepia  and  piilsatiUa  are  both  of  importance, 
each  in  its  own  sphere.  The  pathogenesis  of  both  these 
medicines  I  fully  sketched  when  speaking  of  amenorrhoea. 
Let  me  only  here  recall  to  your  memory  the  main  features 
of  each. 

(1.)  Sepia,  The  patient  suited  to  this  remedy  is  a 
woman  with  dark  hair,  pale  or  sallow  complexion,  of  easy 
disposition,  or  excitable,  with  alternations  of  depression. 
She  complains  of  weakness,  and  has  frequent  attacks  of 
faint  prostration — ^not  actual  syncope — accompanied  by 
chilliness,  these  attacks  coming  chiefly  in  the  morning 
and  evening.  There  is  frequent  headache,  partly  left-sided, 
and  neuralgic  toothache.  She  complains  of  backache  of  a 
dragging  or  burning  character,  with  scanty  menstruation 
and  leucorrhoea — ^in  fact,  the  symptoms  of  uterine  congestion. 
The  tongue  is  white,  and  dyspepsia  is  present  with  the 
well-known  epigastric  **  sinking."  The  liver  is  sluggish, 
the  bowels  costive,  and  the  urine  depositing  lithates,  while 
there  is  a  tendency  to  pimples  on  the  face,  itchiness  of 
Kkin,  and  itching  and  excoriated  feeling  at  the  vulva,  and 
tendency  to  mucous  catarrh  elsewhere. 

Such  is  the  case  for  sepia.  If  you  find,  on  examination, 
undoubted  uterine  congestion  of  cervix  or  body,  or  both,  so 
much  the  more  is  sepia  indicated. 

(2.)  Pulsatilla  Again  correBponAs  to  the  fair-haired,  blue- 
eyed  woman  of  a  gentle  and  emotional  temperament,  and 
<  asily  giving  way  to  tears.  You  remember  the  full  head- 
aches, the  furred  white  tongue,  the  acid  taste,  the  gastric 
catarrh,  the  fulness  in  epigastrium  after  food,  the 
flatulence,  and  nausea  or  vomiting.  The  bowels  are  either 
regular  or  inclined  to  be  loose,  especially  at  night,  the 


^^^T^    ON  DYSMBNORRHCEA,  478 


stools  being  mucoas.  She  is  always  worse  in  a  wann 
room  and  in  the  evening,  and  better  in  the  open  air.  She 
has  frequent  or  constant  backache  and  lencorrhoea,  with 
tendency  to  mucons  catarrh  everywhere.  Her  catamenia  are 
scanty,  with  ovarian  pain.  She  is  always  chilly  in  the 
evening,  with  cold  feet,  but  there  is  a  marked  absence  of 
thirst. 

9  and  10.  Nux  vomica  and  ignatia  may  be  required  in 
•certain  cases.  The  general  features  of  the  nux  vomica 
-derangement,  with  its  headaches,  dyspepsia,  and  constipa- 
tion, I  have  so  often  described,  that  I  need  hardly  again 
go  over  it ;  while  ignatia  would  be  preferred  when  the 
hysterical  condition,  with  its  well-known  symptoms,  are 
the  special  features  in  the  case. 

11.  Coccvhja  may  be  continued  during  the  interval  for 
the  same  indications  as  I  noticed  when  speaking  of  its  use 
:at  the  time  of  the  pain — ^viz.,  the  vertigo,  headache,  sea- 
sick feeling,  and  flatulent  gastralgia,  along  with,  of  course, 
the  special  form  of  dysmenorrhcsal  pain  already  described. 

12.  Platina.  This,  though  named  last,  is  by  no  means 
least,  but  is  a  very  important  medicine  for  administration 
•during  the  interval,  as  well  as  at  the  time  of  pain.  It 
suits  chiefly  women  who  are  thin  and  with  dark  hair,  and 
are  very  prone  to  mental  depression.  The  catamenia 
^ome  on  too  early,  and  are  profuse  and  clotted.  Leucor*- 
rhoea  occurs  during  the  interval.  The  dysmenorrhoBal  pains 
are  well  brought  out  in  the  provings.  They  are  chiefly  in 
the  abdomen,  going  into  the  genitals  and  down  the  groins 
to  the  thighs.  The  pain  is  cutting,  or  griping,  or  con- 
strictive, causing  also  much  down-pressure.  This  down- 
pressure  is  much  felt,  as  in  the  rectum,  causing  desire  for 
stool,  which,  however,  gives  pain,  while  the  stool  is  scanty, 
and  constipated.  The  mental  state  is  important  to  notice. 
It  is  one  of  anxiety,  and  great  depression,  with  fear  of 
death,  and  at  the  same  time  irritability.  Headaches  are 
very  frequent  and  distressing.  They  are  prominently  a 
mixture  of  cramp-like  constriction  with  numbness,  and 
•occur  chiefly  in  the  forehead  and  temples,  though  they  may 
also  be  felt  in  the  occiput  and  vertex.  The  face  is  pale 
and  sunken,  and  there  is  a  sense  of  great  weakness  and 
prostration,  with  chilliness.  Such  a  condition  is,  you  will 
observe,  quite  distinct  from  that  of  any  other  medicine  I 
have  named,  and  when  present,  you  will  find  platina  a 
remedy  of  great  value.   I  usually  give  it  in  the  6th  dilution. 


474  CASE  0^  PABOVABIAN  CYST.    ^^£^^^^^^. 

Snch  are  the  leading  remedies  in  the  treatment  of  djs- 
menorrhoea,  and  with  the  nae  of  the  indicated  remedy 
daring  the  interral,  and  also  when  the  pain  comes  on,  you 
will  find  your  success  such  as  to  earn  for  you  the  gratitude 
of  many  a  poor  sufierer,  who  has  been  endeaTouing 
previously  to  deaden  her  pain  with  opiates  and  brandy. 

CASE  OF  (?)  A  PAR-OVAMAN  CYST,  CURED  BY 

BOVISTA  6x. 

Beported  by  Ed.  M.  Madden,  M.B.,  Suigeon  for  Diseases  of  Women  to> 
the  Birmingham  and  Midhind  Homoeopathic  Hospital. 

The  following  case,  which  of  itself  wonld  be  hardly  worth 
publishing,  on  accoant  of  the  slight  doubt  inyolving  the 
exact  diagnosis,  becomes  worthy  of  record  when  read  as  a 
sequel  to  the  case  reported  by  Dr.  Alfred  £•  Hawkes,  of 
Liverpool,  in  the  Organon  for  July,  1878,  in  which  an 
undoubted  unilocular  par-ovarian  cyst  was  cured  by  the 
same  medicine  after  having  been  three  times  tapped. 

Miss  F.  W.,  aged  13^,  was  first  brought  to  me  on 
28rd  September,  1880,  suffering  from  the  following 
symptoms.  For  about  three  weeks  she  had  had  headache 
and  general  dyspepsia,  her  appetite  was  quite  gone,  she 
was  very  sleepy  and  in  bad  spirits,  though  usually  of  a 
very  bright  and  cheerful  disposition.  For  two  days  she 
had  had  diarrhoea  in  the  mornings,  with  slight  colic.  The 
tongue  was  white  and  slimy.  Pulse  82.  She  had  never  had 
any  catamenia.  For  this  condition  I  prescribed  puis.  Ix,. 
gt,  ij.,  o.  3  tia  h.,  and  recommended  her  to  be  kept  from 
school.  On  the  27th  she  was  again  brought  to  me,  and 
had  well  developed  follicular  tonsillitis,  with  a  pulse  of  124, 
and  temp.  38'8,  but  in  addition  complained  of  her  abdomen 
feeling  very  hard  and  distended,  as  it  had  been  for  several 
weeks,  but  was  increasing. 

I  now,  of  course,  ordered  her  to  be  put  to  bed,  and 
attended  her  at  home.  The  tonsillitis  ran  a  favourable 
course,  and  was  well  in  four  days  ;  but  on  examining  the 
abdomen  when  she  was  in  bed,  I  discovered  a  very  evident^ 
fluid  tumour,  confined  to  the  left  lower  portion  of  the 
abdomen,  which  did  not  alter  its  position* with  the  position 
of  the  patient,  and  which  was  very  slightly,  if  at  all,  tender 
on  pressure.  As  I  did  not  wish  to  give  a  decided  opinion  as 
to  the  nature  of  the  case  without  consultation,  I  got  leave 
to  call  in  Dr.  B.  Wynne  Thomas  to  see  the  case  with  me,. 


IRrfSt^^TTiS^   CASE  OF  PABOVABIAN  OTST.  475 

which  he  did  on  October  Ist,  and  agreed  with  me  that  there 
was  every  evidence  of  a  par-ovarian  cyst,  though  from 
the  age  of  the  patient  we  did  not  ask  for  an  internal  exami- 
nation, and  he  thooght  it  just  possible  that  it  was  a  cyst 
connected  with  the  left  kidney.  We  now  felt  it  our  duty  to 
give  a  somewhat  serious  opinion  to  her  parents,  and  to  hint 
at  the  possibility  of  an  operation  being  required  in  the 
future,  but  decided  to  try  treatment  in  the  first  place,  and 
remembering  Dr.  Hawkes'  successful  case  with  bovistay  we 
ordered  her  to  take  this  in  2  min.  doses  of  the  6x  dilution 
three  times  a  day.  The  measurement  at  this  time  was  80^ 
inches  round  the  abdomen,  and  the  discomfort  and  sense  of 
distension  were  considerable.  The  distension  and  size 
began  almost  at  once  to  diminish,  and  on  October  18th  she 
only  measured  29  inches  (which  is  her  normal  size),  and 
she  felt  much  more  comfortable.  About  this  time  the 
treatment  was  interfered  with  on  account  of  a  severe  cold, 
which  produced  violent  toothache  and  general  malaise,  and 
the  bovista  was  not  resumed  till  November  2nd. 

On  November  17th  Dr.  Thomas  again  examined  her  with 
me,  and  there  was  then  no  sign  of  any  fluid  tumour  to  be 
found,  and  only  a  slightly  increased  sense  of  resistance  on 
the  left  side  compared  with  the  right.  She  was,  moreover, 
feeling  quite  well  in  herself. 

I  have  only  to  add  that  the  cure  has  been  permanent, 
and  she  is  now,  June  10th,  1881,  as  free  from  discomfort 
or  enlargement  of  the  abdomen  as  before  this  illness.  I 
can  hardly  think  that  a  cystic  kidney  would  have  been  cured 
so  easily,  and  without  any  other  symptoms  pointing  to  the 
kidney  as  the  seat  of  disease ;  and  except  a  dropsy  of  the 
fallopian  tube  (a  very  rare  occurrence),  I  do  not  know  of  any 
other  simple  fluid  tumour  which  could  occupy  the  same 
position  except  a  par-ovarian  cyst,  and  such  I  am  convinced 
was  the  nature  of  the  swelling  which  thus  so  happily 
disappeared.  It  would,  therefore,  seem  certain  that  bovUta 
in  the  6x  dilution  has  a  powerful  curative  action  on  certain 
forms  of  ovarian  or  par-ovarian  disease,  and  further 
experience  will  probably  teach  us  in  which. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  no  symptoms  distinctive  of 
ovarian  dropsy  should  have  been  produced  in  the  provings 
of  bovisixL  or  of  any  other  drug,  so  that  we  must  rely  almost 
entirely  upon  clinical  experience  in  its  treatment. 

P.S. — ^When  this  case  was  first  sent  to  the  Editors  of  the 
Review,  it  was  returned  to  me  with  a  polite  note  intimating 


476       CASE  OF  PABOVARIAN  CYST.  *SSj,^*?fS£' 


that  in  their  opinion  **  the  diagnosis  was  so  doubtful  and 
so  highly  improbable  that  an  ovarian  cyst  should  apjiear 
And  disappear  so  rapidly  and  in  a  girl  of  that  age,  who  had 
never  menstruated,  that  they  thought  it  better  not  to 
publish  it." 

Afber  receiving  this  note,  I  called  upon  and  submitted 
my  case  for  the  opinion  and  criticism  of  Mr.  Lawson  Tait, 
surgeon  to  the  Women's  Hospital  in  Birmingham,  a 
gynsBCologist  of  the  very  first  rank,  as  every  one  who  has 
read  his  book  on  Diseases  of  Women  must  admit, 
teeming  as  it  is  with  original  and  practical  observations, 
and  one  whose  experience  of  ovarian  disease  and  success  in 
operating  for  its  removal  is  only  surpassed  by  two  or  three 
living  surgeons. 

I  was  therefore  not  a  little  gratified  to  hear  him  say  that 
my  diagnosis  was  by  no  means  improbable,  as  he  had 
frequently  met  with  ovarian  tumours  in  girls  under  puberty, 
and  had  removed  at  least  five  or  six.  I  would  here  remark 
that  in  my  case,  though  it  had  only  become  noticeable  and 
inconvenient  for  a  short  time,  it  had  probably  been  much 
longer  since  it  commenced.  Mr.  Tait  also  told  me,  what 
I  did  not  know  before,  that  the  so-called  uni-locular  ovarian 
^ysts  are  never  truly  ovarian,  but  are  cysts  in  the  broad 
ligaments  and  should  hence  be  called  "par-ovarian" — 
cystic  disease  of  the  ovary  being  always  multiple — ^I  have 
therefore  adopted  this  name  in  reporting  my  case. 

He  also  told  me,  somewhat  to  my  discomfiture,  that  this 
form  of  cyst  is  liable  to  spontaneous  cure,  though  only  in 
the  proportion  of  three  per  cent,  and  then  usually  by 
opening  into  and  discharging  itself  per  vaginam,  which 
certainly  did  not  happen  in  this  case.  Mr.  Tait  also 
suggested  (as  Cr.  Thomas  had  done)  that  the  cyst  might 
have  been  connected  with  the  kidney,  possibly  a  hydro- 
nephrosis, but  admitted  that  this  was  a  much  rarer 
-disease. 

I  think  then  that  after  all  the  case  is  worth  recording, 
for  making  all  allowance  for  doubtful  points,  there  is  f^ 
least  this  much  of  certainty  remaining : — Here  was  a  giri 
sufiering  from  an  unmistakable  fluid  tumour  in  the 
abdomen  contained  in  a  cyst  of  some  kind,  and  the  balance 
of  probabilities  is  strongly  in  favour  of  its  being  par- 
ovarian, and  this  tumour  as  unmistakably  disappeared 
while  she  was  taking  hovista  6x,  and' the  chances  against  its 
having  been  a  spontaneous  cure  are  at  least  thirty  to  one. 


iSS^^rrSg"'  HBAPA0HB8> 477 

HEADACHES. 
By  AbchibaIiD  Hxwan,  M.D. 

(1).  Mary  B.  (March  81,  1881),  kitohen-maid,  aged  22, 
has  suffered  from  pains  through  her  head  more  or  less  all 
her  life  as  far  hack  as  she  can  remember.  It  makes  her  feel 
confdsed  and  stupid.  It  is  much  worse  at  the  monthly 
period.  The  period  lasts  only  two  or  three  days,  and  is 
scanty.  Tongue  has  moist  yellow  fur  in  centre  and  at 
back.  Bowels  regular.  Appetite  fair,  but  she  often  feels 
nausea.  She  is  of  a  quiet  retiring  disposition,  has  light 
brown  hair,  and  is  well  nourished.    PttU.  2  dec.  t.  d. 

April  14. — Headache  much  less  frequent.  Has  been 
quite  rid  of  it  since  the  10th.  Tongue  is  still  slightly 
failed.    Continue  puU.  2  dec. 

May  18. — Still  further  improved.  Only  two  attacks 
since  last  visit,  and  then  not  all  the  day;  these  were 
during  the  period.     Trit.  puis*  6  dec.  t.  d. 

June  9. — ^Much  better.  No  headache  whatever  since 
last  visit,  not  even  during  the  period.  Feels  in  very 
different  health  altogether,  and  is  quite  well. 

(2).  1878,  Oct.  7. — ^Lord  — ,  aged  40,  sallow  com- 
plexion. Headache  in  the  morning,  a  malady  extending 
back  some  years.  Nothing  ever  relieved ;  and  his  duties, 
which  are  ''on  the  bench,"  have  become  irksome  and 
painful.  There  is  also  a  feeling  of  oppression  at  the  pit  of 
the  stomach,  which  is  relieved  after  food,  but  very  soon 
returns.  Dry  mouth  on  awaking  in  the  morning ;  tongue 
loaded  at  the  back.  Bowels  regular.  Pain  on  pressing 
over  right  hypochondrium.  Sleep  not  refreshing.  Nux. 
3  dec.  day ;  mere*  3  dec«  night. 

Oct.  14. — ^Very  slight  improvement.  Wishes  particu- 
larly to  mention  an  irritation  of  the  skin  generally  for  the 
last  five  years.  At  first  when  it  attacked  him  his  stomach 
and  the  other  symptoms  were  soon  relieved,  but  latterly  it 
has  not  had  that  effect.  It  comes  on  after  walking,  or 
sitting  before  the  fire.    Hep.  sul.  8  dec. 

Oct.  24. — Headache  less.  Irritation  of  skin  also  less  ; 
not  for  a  long  time  past  has  he  had  so  little  as  yesterday. 
Sleeps  much  better.     Continue  hep.  8.  8  dec. 

Nov.  9. — Altogether  better.  Less  headache,  less  wind 
on  the  stomach,  and  there  is  less  pain  on  pressure  over 
right  hypochondrium ;  but  the  tongue  continues  furred  at 
the  bacL    Nux.  8  dec. 


478  HYDRONBPHBOSIS.       "a^SSffiSTMO. 

Not.  24. — Thinks  he  is  getting  better  slowly,  bat  there 
is  still  a  sensation  of  headache  which  he  never  quite  gets 
rid  of.  Has  had  a 'Turkish  bath,  which  has  made  the 
irritation .  of  the  skin  worse  and  caused  the  skin  to 
have  a  slight  eruption  like  millet  seed.  Trit.  mere. 
sol.  6  dec.  o.  m. 

The  result  of  this  last  prescription  was  most  satisfiactorj. 
There  was  a  steady  gradual  cessation  of  the  headacheSy 
resulting  in  a  permanent  cure,  so  that  '^my  work  has  now 
become  again,  as  it  was  formerly,  a  pleasure.'* 

(8).  M.  P — ,  aged  83,  ooachbuilder,  sallow  complexion. 

1878,  March  5. — ^Headaches  began  last  May  with  pain 
in  the  back  of  the  head  ;  was  *'  treated  for  liver,"  but 
the  pain  has  never  quite  gone.  Can  always  set  himself 
right  for  a  time  by  taking  pills,  and  he  obtains  temponuy 
relief  by  eating  a  biscuit.  It  is  better  after  breakfast,  but 
not  after  other  meals.  Tongue  whitish  furred.  Pressure 
over  right  hypochondrium  causes  a  sense  of  suffocation. 
Trit,  mere,  sol.  6  dec.  t.  d. 

May  80. — Headaches  have  been  much  better.  *^  After 
taking  the  medicine  for  a  week  or  ten  days  I  had  two  or 
three  weeks  with  no  headache  whatever,  and  I  felt  quite 
well;  then  it  came  on  again."  Tongue  slightly  furred. 
Appetite  fair.  Bowels  regular.  Trit*  mere.  sol.  5  dec. 
mane.    Ign,  8  dec.  bis  in  die. 

Aug.  5. — Has  been  better  in  every  way  since ;  head- 
aches altogether  better.  Whenever  there  has  been  a 
tendency  to  their  recurrence  the  powders  have  set  him 
right.  Has  had  a  fall,  since  which  he  has  been  troubled 
with  boils  in  his  face  coming  on  a  fortnight  after.  Used 
to  have  boils  when  a  youngster  and  a  teetotaller.  Am. 
mont.  8  dec. 

Aug.  18. — Called  to  make  an  engagement  for  a  relative 
to  see  me,  and  showed  me  that  the  boils  had  quite  dis* 
appeared,  and  that  there  were  no  new  ones  coming. 

Chester  Square,  June,  1881. 

A  CASE   OF  HYDKONEPHROSIS. 

By  p.  J.  M'CouBT,  M.D. 

November  22nd,  1878.— Mrs.  W.,  »t.  82,  medium 
height,  sanguine  temperament,  a  lady  of  fine  nervous 
organisation,  and  highly  cultured,  called  on  me,  by  request 
of  her  physician.    The  closest  inquiiy  as  to  the  history  of 


H^^^TS^        HYDR0NBPHB08I8.  479 


Keriew,  Aug.  1,  lS6t. 


her  illness  elicited  only  the  following:  Daring  the  past 
fonr  years,  since  her  second  and  last  parturition,  she  has 
Boffei^d  from  dysmenorrhoea  and  menorrhagia,  also  from 
progressiye  corpulency  and  exoessiye  prostration.  At  no 
time  has  there  been  renal  pain  or  hasmaturia.  She  now 
weighs  180  pounds,  40  pounds  above  her  normal 
standard. 

At  present  her  symptoms  are:  Great  debility;  dry, 
harsh  skin;  vertigo  and  almost  constant  headache,  the 
pains  shooting,  in  frontal  and  temporal  regions;  almost 
complete  blepharoptosis  (due,  not  to  oedema  of  the  lids, 
but  to  partial  paralysis  of  the  levator  palpebrsD  superioris) ; 
spasmodic  cough,  with  involuntary  micturition;  a  fierce 
bulimia,  which  cannot  be  appeased  by  any  amount  of  food ; 
she  complains  that  her  load  of  flesh  is  crushing  her,  and 
that  she  ''  feels  like  a  mass  of  blubber."  Examination 
reveals  a  state  of  general  oedema;  but  no  pitting;  heart 
normal;  liver  slightly  congested;  uterus  somewhat  pro 
lapsed  and  crowded  to  the  left;  ovaries  apparently 
healthy.  On  the  right  side,  involving  the  hypochondriac, 
iliac,  and,  in  a  less  degree,  the  umbiUcal  regions,  I  find  a 
large,  bulging  tumor ;  it  is  soft,  almost  painless,  vibratory 
and  lobulated;  percussion  yields  a  dull  sound  and  distinct 
fluctuation.  The  left  hypochondriac  and  iliac  regions  are 
likewise  slightly  tumefied,  the  sound  somewhat  dull,  but 
fluctuation  is  not  perceptible.  Urine  scanty,  albuminous  ; 
specific  gravity  1,020  (owing,  doubtless,  to  the  very  small 
quantity  voided) ;  a  few  tube-casts  only  are  present ;  no 
blood  or  pus  corpuscles  visible;  no  calcvli,  nor  evidence 
of  their  presence  at  any  time. 

I  think  the  diagnosis  of  that  extremely  rare  disease, 
hydronephrosis,  wUl  not  be  questioned,  and  it  has  been 
caused,  presumably,  by  pressure  upon  the  ureters  during 
pregnancy.  The  prognosis  must,  of  course,  be  unfavourable, 
and  the  lady  is  informed  that,  while  hoping  to  afford 
substantial  relief,  I  cannot  encourage  her  to  anticipate  a 
cure. 

CausUcum  6  x,  being  the  only  drug  which  covers  the 
totality  of  these  symptoms,  is  given,  a  dose  every  two 
hours,  with  orders  to  extend  the  intervals  to  three  hours 
when  urination  becomes  free* 

November  26th.  —  The  bulimia,  cough,,  involuntary 
micturition,  and  blepharoptosis  have  completely  vanished. 
The  flow  of  urine  is  enormous ;  the  entire  body  is  bathed 


^0 MvnwB.         "g^;^^ 

in  a  viscidperspiration  of  strong  minons  odour,  and  the 
enlargement  has  diminished  considerably.  Headache  and 
yertigo  remain.  In  place  of  the  bolimia,  there  is  now 
anorexia,  yet  she  feels  mnch  stronger.  Soon  after  this 
the  catamenia  returns,  and  the  function  is  free  from  pain 
and  hsBmorrhage  for  the  first  time  in  three  years.  Without 
change  of  medicine  the  lady  makes  steady  progress  until 
the  7th  of  February,  1879,  when  she  is  discharged  with- 
out apparent  vestige  of  the  disease. 

March  10th. — On  the  2nd  instant,  while  walking  over 
ice  concealed  by  a  light  &U  of  snow,  her  feet  suddenly 
slipped,  and  she  fell,  in  a  sitting  posture,  with  great 
violence.  Immediately  the  skin  beciune  dry,  the  urine 
scanty,  general  oedema  reappeared,  and  the  intumescence 
on  the  right  side  is  nearly  as  large  as  when  I  first  saw  her. 
But  the  concomitant  symptoms  then  noted  are  not  present, 
nor  any  other  which  may  serve  to  indicate  a  particular 
drug.  Hence,  in  order  to  famish  the  experimentum  crwis 
as  to  its  curative  action  over  the  pathological  condition, 
eauBticum  is  given  as  before.  After  a  few  doses  had  been 
taken,  the  skin  became  moist,  and  a  free  uiiniferous  per- 
spiration followed,  which  continued  to  soak  her  clothing  for 
several  days.  During  the  same  night  an  abundant  flow 
of  urine  ensued,  and  the  swelling  rapidly  subsided.  A 
week  later,  when  the  tumor  was  scarcely  perceptible,  a 
large  abscess  presented  on  the  upper  third  of  tiie  right 
thigh,  between  the  pectineus  and  adductor  longus.  Not- 
withstanding its  immoderate  size,  the  abscess  matured  and 
discharged  with  but  slight  general  disturbance,  and  its 
healing  appeared  to  be  the  signal  of  a  perfect  cure. 

October  20th. — ^Mrs.  W.  informs  me  to-day  that  her 
health  is  perfect,  &r  better  than  at  any  previous  period 
of  her  life. — Hahnemannian  Monthly ^  Feb.,  1880. 


REVIEWS. 


Entdickungen  auf  dem  Gebiedie  der  Natur^  vnd  der  HdUnauU. 
Die  Ckromtehm  KrankhsUen.  Von  Dr.  Ignab  PionLT. 
First  Part.  Anleitnng  zom  Stadium  der  Diagnose  aos 
den  Augen.  (**Da8  ange  ist  nicht  nor  der  Seele  er  ist  anch 
des  Korpers  BpiegfiL")    Budapesfc:  1881. 


£5S^5r?SS*  REVIEWS.  481 

Diteoveries  in  Natural  and  Medical  Science,  The  CJironic 
Diseases.  By  Dr.  Ignab  Peczely.  First  Part.  Guide  to  the 
Study  of  the  Diagnosis  (through)  the  Eyes.  With  three 
Tables  and  three  Engravings.  ('*  The  eye  is  the  mirror  not 
only  of  the  soul  bnt  also  of  the  body.*')    Budapest :  1881. 

We  haye  much  pleasure  in  calling  the  attention  of  our  readers 
to  the  first  instahnent  of  a  work  which  is  to  consist  of  seven 
partsy  each  of  which  is  promised  to  be  original. 

Dr.  Peczely,  a  physician  in  large  practice  in  Budapest,  has 
for  the  last  twenty  years  made  researches  and  observations 
regarding  the  changes  of  form  and  colour  which  take  place  in 
the  iris,  in  consequence  of  chronic  diseases.  Having  respectively 
verified  that  the  same  disease  causes  analogous  changes  in  the 
iris,  these  changes  enable  him,  in  combination  with  the  other 
symptoms,  to  ascertain  and  verify  his  diagnosis ;  believing  thai 
luB  observations,  based  as  they  are  upon  material  changes  and 
facts,  which  can  be  verified  by  every  physician  and  educated 
layman  who  foUows  his  instructions,  might  be  very  useful  both 
for  the  sake  of  diagnosis  and  treatment,  Dr.  Peczely  intends  to 
show  at  the  next  !Litemational  Medical  Congress,  to  be  held  in 
London,  in  the  first  week  of  August,  what  he  has  done  for  the 
diagnosis  of  chronic  disease  through  observations  of  the  changes 
in  tiie  iris. 

The  Guide  contains  an  anatomical  and  physiological  description 
of  the  eye  and  its  adjacent  parts,  the  peculiar  functions  of  the  iris 
in  the  living  state ;  Uie  local  changes,  and  the  changes  of  form 
of  the  nervous  fibres  on  the  anterior  surface  of  the  iris ;  the 
origin  and  significance  of  the  brown  deposits  seen  on  the 
anterior  surface  of  the  iris — some  of  the  causes  of  these  deposits 
are  named — and  the  changes  caused  after  the  treatment  by 
stdphur. 

An  explanation  is  given  of  the  second  ohromo-lithographic 
table,  containing  twenty-seven  diagrams  of  the  iris  in  its  natural 
and  enlarged  size  ;  the  various  small  and  large  spots,  the  several 
forms  of  these  spots,  their  various  localities  and  the  diversity 
of  colour,  surprise  eveiy  one  who  has  never  paid  any  attention  to 
such  abnormal  peculiarities,  and  give  a  proof  of  the  author's 
powers  of  observation. 

The  title  of  another  chapter  is.  What  is  to  he  understood  hy 
diagnosis  through  the  eyes,  and  what  is  to  be  expected  from  it  for 
medical  purposes  ? 

After  entering  minutely  into  the  topography  of  the  iris^ 
ilhistrated  by  &e  first  large  table,  and  into  further  details 
regarding  the  brown  deposits ;  the  changes  caused  in  the  iris  by 
cutaneous  diseases,  by  itch,  fevers,  scrofula  (after  fevers) 
gonorrhoea^  chancre,  the  author  mentions  the  changes  caused 

No.  8,  YoL  25  3 


482  MEETINGS  OF  SOCIETIES,   ^'b^ 


Eefiew,  Aug.  U IM.. 


by  external  and  natural  mechanical  injuries,  by  inflammation,  by 
heart  disease. 

In  the  appendix,  the  author  details  his  plan  of  examiTiing  adult 
persons  as  well  as  children,  independent  of  the  iris,  and  finishes 
with  these  words,  feuits  can  be  denied,  but  camwt  be  routed. 

Want  of  time  must  be  our  apology  for  not  having  entered  into 
more  details  regarding  this  perfectly  new  field  of  diagnosis,  but 
there  will  soon  be  an  English  translation  published,  which  will 
serve  to  satisfy  the  appetite,  which  we  hope  to  have  roused  by 
this  ohort  notice. 


Sewage  Poisoning :  its  Causes  and  Cure.    By  Edwabd  T.  Bi.aks, 
M.D.,  M.B.C.S.    Second  edition.    London :  £.  &  F.  Spon. 

On  the  appearance  of  the  first  edition  of  this  work,  we  had  the 
pleasure  of  speaking  of  it  in  terms  of  high  praise,  and  we  are  glad 
to  see  that  a  second  edition  is  needed.  Dr.  E.  Blake  has  xnade 
this  subject  a  speciality,  and  we  are  glad  to  see  a  subject  of  so 
much  importance  taken  up,  and  gone  into  so  fully  and  thoroughly 
by  one  of  our  small  body.  The  work  is  most  full,  and  every 
detail  so  fully  and  clearly  described  as  to  render  the  subject 
easily  comprehended  by  every  one,  lay  as  weU  as  medical.  The 
illustrations  are  fuller  than  in  the  first  edition,  and  leave  nothing 
to  be  desired,  while  the  simplicity  of  the  whole  arrangement 
carries  its  own  recommendation  with  it.  We  trust  it  will  have  a 
wide  circulation  among  the  laify,  while  every  medical  practitioner 
ought  to  be  possessed  of  it,  if  he  wishes  to  be  au  couraiU  with  the 
times  on  this  all-important  topic. 

MEETINGS   OF   SOCIETIES. 

THE  INTERNATIONAL  HOMCEOPATHIC  MEDICAL 

CONVENTION. 

The  meetings  of  this  Convention  were  opened  on  the  evening  of 
Monday,  the  11th  ult.,  by  a  reception  held  by  the  President  and 
Mrs.  Hughes  at  the  rooms  selected  for  the  transaction  of  business 
— ^those  of  the  Dilettante  Club,  in  Argyle  Street.  The  rooms 
were  tastefally  decorated,  and  in  addition  Messrs.  Leath  &  Boss 
(on  whose  stall  was  a  medicine  case  used  by  Hahnemann), 
Gould  &  Son,  and  Eeene  &  Ashwell,  exhibited  some  fine  phanna- 
ceutical  specimens.  The  visitors,  among  whom  were  the  majonij 
of  homoeopathic  practitioners  in  London,  a  goodly  number  from 
the  country,  and  all  the  American  and  Continental  visitors  to 
the  Convention  who,  up  to  that  time,  had  arrived  in  town, 
and  also  a  number  of  ladies,  were  presented  to  the  Presidant 
and  Mrs.  Hughes  by  the  Secretaries.  With  conversaiioa, 
inspection  of  microscopic  objects  of  mterest,   demoDstratioiifl 


SSh^I^u'S^  MEETIN08  OF  800IBTIBB.  483 

bj  Dr.  Dudgeon  of  the  powers  of  hie  sphygmograph,  and 
some  excellent  vocal  and  instnunental  music  from  Herr  and 
Madame  liebe,  Dr.  and  Madame  Jagielski,  and  Dr.  Hughes  and 
his  daughters,  a  very  pleasant  evening  was  passed— one  full  of 
good  auguries  for  the  success  of  the  meetings  that  were  to  follow. 

On  Monday  afternoon,  at  half-past  two,  the  members  assembled, 
and  the  Secretary,  Dr.  Gibbs  Blake,  was  actively  engaged  for 
some  time  in  entering  their  names.  These,  so  &r  as  we  have 
been  able  to  gather,  were  as  follows  : — 

Dr.  Hughes,  Brighton,  President:  Drs.  Black,  Dudgeon, 
Both,  Dunn,  Jagielski,  Hahnemann,  Hale,  Pope,  Matheson, 
Yeldham,  Tuckey,  E.  Blake,  Neville  Wood,  Clarke,  Epps, 
Cooper,  Burnett,  Brown,  Hewan,  Wyld,  Carfrae,  Hamilton, 
Ussher,  Powell,  Shuldham,  J.  G.  Blackley,  Goldsborough, 
Eugene  Cronin,  Anderson,  Markwick,  H.  Wheeler,  W.  H. 
Wheeler,  Gutteridge,  Morrisson ;  Messrs.  Cameron,  Engall, 
D.  Smith,  Thorold  Wood,  Harris,  Noble,  Penfold,  and 
M'Gillicuddy  (London) ;  Drs.  Drysdale,  Moore,  Hayward, 
Stuart,  and  Brotchie  (Liverpool) ;  Drs.  Nicholson,  £.  Williams, 
Morgan  and  Fallon  (Clifton);  Drs.  Blake  and  Madden 
(Birmingham) ;  Drs.  Mackintosh  and  Midgeley  Cash  (Torquay) ; 
Dr.  Kennedy  (Blackheath) ;  Dr.  C.  H.  Blackley  (Manchester) ; 
Drs.  Ramsbotham  and  Clare  (Leeds) ;  Dr.  Scott  (Hudders- 
field)  ;  Drs.  Woodgates  and  Massy  (Reigate) ;  Mr.  Norman, 
(Bath);  Mr.  Butcher  (Reading);  Drs.  Biyce  and  Wolston 
(Edinburgh) ;  Dr.  Blythe  (Dublin) ;  Dr.  Pybum  (Hull) ;  Dr. 
Clifton  (Northampton) ;  Dr.  G.  Clifton  (Leicester) ;  Dr.  Wolston 
(Croydon);  Mr.  Rowbotham  (Woolwich);  Dr.  Croucher  (St. 
Leonard's);  Dr.  Bodman  (Devizes);  Dr.  Shuldham  (Putney); 
Mr.  Potts  (Sunderland) ;  Dr.  Galgey  (Southampton) ;  Dr.  Ker 
(Cheltenham).  From  abroad  there  were  present,  Drs.  Talbot, 
de  Gersdorff,  C.  Wesselhceft,  W.  WesseDioefb,  Baker,  Kennedy, 
Hall,  and  Walker  (Boston,  U.S.A.) ;  Dr.  Hebnuth  (New  York)  ; 
Dr.  Bushrod  James  (Philadelphia);  Drs.  McClelland,  Bingaman, 
and  Cooper  (Pittsburgh);  Drs.  Henderson,  Dobson,  Foster, 
Mitchell,  and  Woodward  (Chicago) ;  Dr.  Dake  (Nashville) ; 
Dr.  Park  Lewis  (Buffalo) ;  Drs.  Eaton  and  Owens  (Cincinnati) ; 
Dr.  Higbee  (St.  Paul,  Minnesota) ;  Dr.  Ordway  (Hot  Springs, 
Ark.)  ;  Dr.  Phillips  (Cleveland) ;  Dr.  Sawyer  (Monroe  Mich.)  ; 
Dr.  Breyfogle  (Louisville);  Dr.  Welch  (Brooklyn) ;  Dr.  MTickars 
(Cleveland) ;  Dr.  Rush  (Salem,  Ohio) ;  Drs.  Claude  and  Simon, 
FiU  (Paris);  Dr.  von  Dittmann  (St.  Petersburgh) ;  Dr.  Stephens 
(Cannes);  Dr.  Meyhoffer  (Nice);  Dr.  Casal  (Mentone) ; 
Dr.  Cigliano  (Naples) ;  and  Mr.  Martin  (Melbourne). 

In  addition  there  were,  we  beheve,  about  twenty  others  who 
omitted  to  enter  their  names  in  the  Secretary's  book. 

The  meeting  having  been  called  to  order,  the  Pbbsidknt 

a  1—2 


484  MEETINGS  OP  SOCIETIES.    ^^;r^SS!7^ 

delivered  his  opening  Address,  eommencing  by  a  touching 
reference  to  the  life  and  character  of  the  late  Dr.  Carroll  Don- 
ham,  the  occupant  of  the  chair  at  the  Conyention  held  in  Phila- 
delphia in  1876.  He  also  noticed  the  departure  from  amongst 
us  during  the  Ust  five  years  of  Qoin,  Niinez,  and  Bering,  of 
Hempel,  GranTogl,  and  Jahr. 

He  then  described  the  arrangements  which  had  been  made  for 
securing  papers  and  for  facilitating  discussion,  and  passed  to  the 
consideration  of  the  objects  aimed  at  in  holding  these  meetings. 
These,  he  said,  ^ere,  first,  the  consideration  of  the  best  plans  for 
propagating  the  method  of  Hahnemann.  He  urged  that  homoeo* 
pathy  was  a  method,  and  not  a  doctrine  or  a  system.  Hahne- 
mann had  his  theories,  pathological,  snch as  psora;  physiological, 
such  as  dynamisation — but  there  was  no  such  thing  as  homoeo- 
pathic pathology,  no  such  thing  as  homoaopathic  physiology.  He 
then  considered  the  leading  features  of  homoeopathy,  the 
principle,  the  dose,  the  single  medicines-describing  these  as, 
collectively,  the  method  bequeathed  to  us  by  Hahnemann.  He 
then  vindicated  the  liberty  of  the  physician  who  practised  homoeo- 
pathy in  the  use  of  such  measures  as  appeared  to  him  to  be  best 
adapted  to  the  individual  case  before  him ;  arguing,  at  the  same 
time,  that  departure  from  homoeopathic  prescribing  was  a  grave 
responsibility — a  responsibility  that  ought  to  be  assumed  only 
after  a  full  conviction  of  its  necessity. 

Secondly,  the  Convention  had  in  view  the  development  of 
homoeopathy.  This  would,  he  thought,  be  achieved  by  the 
diligent  prosecution  of  the  means  of  at  present  within  our  reach, 
and  by  further  extension  of  efforts  in  the  same  directions. 

Thirdly,  the  Convention  would,  it  was  hoped,  have  a  powerfol 
influence  in  cementing  in  friendly  union  homoeopathic  practi- 
tioners in  different  parts  of  the  world.  Dr.  Hughes  concluded  his 
address  by  dwelling  on  the  importance  of  unity  among  colleagues. 

A  cordial  vote  of  thanks  to  the  President  for  his  address  was 
passed  on  a  motion  proposed  by  Dr.  Conbad  Wesselhceft,  of 
Boston,  and  seconded  by  Dr.  Methoffeb,  of  Nice. 

The  President  then  announced  that  an  election  for  Yiee- 
President  had  become  necessary,  and  after  a  ballot  it  was 
declared  that  the  choice  of  the  meeting  had  fallen  upon  Dr.  Pope 
by  a  large,  majority.  On  the  motion  of  Dr.  Clifton,  of  North- 
ampton, seconded  by  Dr.  C.  H.  Blacklet,  Dr.  Talbot,  of 
Boston,  Dr.  Bbeyfoole,  of  Louisville  (President  elect  of  the 
American  Institute  of  Homoeopathy),  Dr.  Methofixb,  of 
Nice,  and  Dr.  Dbysdalb,  of  Liverpool,  were  elected  Honoraiy 
Vice-Presidents. 

The  President  then  gave  a  brief  outline  of  the  papers  which 
had  been  presented  on  the  history  of  homoeopathy  in  different 
parts  of  the  world  during  the  last  Ave  years. 


2^2?'J5?rS8?^  MEETINGS  OP  SOOIBTIBS.  486 

The  report  on  Bbloium  was  presented  by  Dr.  Mabtxny,  of 
Brussels,  and  stated  that  the  number  of  homceopathists  had 
increased  in  that  country  in  a  suitable  proportion.  During  the 
last  five  years  two  homceopathic  medical  societies  had  been 
established,  a  new  journal  (U Hornctopathie  MiUtante)  had  been 
founded,  while  the  list  of  new  medical  works  published  by 
homoeopathic  practitioners  was  a  lengthy  one. 

Dr.  Logan,  of  Ottawa,  described  the  state  of  homoeopathy  in 
the  Province  of  Ontabio,  where  from  one  homoeopathic  practi- 
tioner in  1846,  there  were  now  eighty-four.  A  legal  status  h  ad 
been  secured,  and  examiners  in  homoeopathy  had  seats  on  the 
jnedical  council  of  the  province. 

Of  the  Province  of  Quebec,  Dr.  Nichol,  of  Montreal,  writes 
that  progress  during  the  last  five  years,  though  somewhat  slow, 
has  on  the  whole  been  steady  and  satisfactory.  **  In  the  City 
of  Montreal,  with  a  population  of  120,000,  the  principles  and 
methods  of  homoeopathy  have  leavened  not  only  the  public 
mind  to  a  degree  quite  satisfactory,  but  even  the  minds  of 
physicians  of  tibe  dominant  school,  quite  a  number  of  whom  base 
at  least  a  part  of  their  practice  on  the  law  of  similars." 

Of  the  Maritime  Provinces,  Dr.  Ajllan  M.  Kino,  of  St.  John, 
New  Brunswick,  reports  that  homoeopathy  has  made  solid 
progress  in  the  Provinces  of  New  Bbunswick  and  Nova  Scotia* 
Since  the  year  1876  the  number  of  practitioners,  though  still  far 
below  the  public  demand,  has  increased,  and  the  popularity  of 
homoeopathy  has  extended. 

The  report  of  the  state  of  homoeopathy  in  Fbanoe  was  pre- 
sented by  M.  le  Dr.  Claude.  He  detailed  the  circumstances 
which  have  culminated  in  the  Government  recognition  of 
L'Hopital  S.  Jacques.  He  noticed  the  International  Homoeo- 
pathic Congress  at  Paris,  in  1878,  and  described  the  arrange- 
ments which  have  been  made  in  Paris  for  the  public  teaching  of 
homoeopathy,  and  referred  to  the  lectures  of  Dr.  Gonnard, 
Jousset,  and  Fredault.  Dr.  Claude  then  described  with  much 
minuteness  the  various  sections  into  which  French  homoeo- 
pathists  are  divided ;  the  two  hospitals  in  Paris,  and  the  third 
At  Lyons,  and  the  various  dispensaries  of  the  capital  and  the 
provinces;  concluding  by  pointing  out  the  kind  of  influence 
bomoeopaUiy  is  exerting  upon  the  practice  of  medicine  in  France, 
iind  the  reasons  why  this  is  not  greater  than  it  is. 

Gebmany  was  to  have  been  represented  in  these  reports  by 
Dr.  Gox^iLON,  Junr.,  of  Weimar,  but  at  the  last  moment  he  was 
unable  to  fulfil  the  task  he  had  undertaken,  and  his  place  was 
kindly  supplied  by  Dr.  Dudgeon,  who,  from  such  materials  as  he 
4;ould  find,  gave  a  sketch  of  the  events  which  had  marked  the 
history  of  homoeopathy  in  Germany  of  late  years.  The  losses 
by  death  in  the  ranks  of  prominent  homoeopathic  physicians  in 


486  MEETINGS  OP  SOCIETIES.    ^SS&,  A^^lfwl! 

Germany  have  proved  very  heavy ;  and  while  one  journal  of  old 
standing  has  ceased  to  exist,  and  two  hospitals  have  heen  closed, 
homoeopathy  has  made  little  if  any  progress  in  that  conntry 
dnring  the  last  five  years. 

The  report  on  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies  was  pre- 
sented hy  Dr.  Pope,  who  commenced  hy  allading  to  the  extensive 
adoption  of  homoeopathicaUy  acting  medicines  hy  members  of 
the  old  school,  and  the  consequent  necessity  of  onr  directing 
attention,  more  than  ever,  to  the  principles  which  originally 
brought  out  these  uses  of  medicines.  The  efforts  to  re-unite 
the  homcBopathio  and  anti-homceopathic  sections  of  the  pro- 
fession were  shown  to  have  proved  abortive,  and  that  the  only 
re-union  worthy  of  the  name  would  take  place  "  when  the 
doctrine  of  homoeopathy  receives  full  and  fair  discussion  in  the 
columns  of  the  medical  journals  and  at  the  meetings  of  the 
medical  societies,  when  ignorance,  bigotry,  and  intoleranee  have 
been  replsiced  by  knowledge,  courtesy,  and  a  respeet  for  opinions 
carefully  formed,  experimentally  tested,  and  honestly  held,  but 
not  before." 

The  report  proceeds  to  show  that  our  institutions  devoted  to 
illustrating  homoeopathy  have,  during  the  last  five  years,  been 
well  sustiuned,  their  efficiency  has  been  increased,  and  they  have 
in  some  measure  been  added  to.  The  condition  of  the  London 
Homoeopathic  Hospital  and  of  the  origin  and  present  state  of 
the  London  School  of  Homoeopathy  are  then  described.  The 
position  of  the  Hospitals  at  Birmingham  and  Bath,  the 
Dispensary  at  Liverpool,  and  the  Convalescent  Homes  of 
Bournemouth  and  Southport  are  also  set  forth,  the  several 
societies  and  journals  noticed,  and  the  deaths  of  Drs.  Quin, 
Eyan,  and  Euddock  briefly  alluded  to. 

The  state  of  homoeopathy  at  Sydney,  Melbonme,  Adelaide, 
Bathurst,  Hobart  Town,  and  Brisbane  (Australia),  in  New 
Zealand,  and  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  is  touched  upon  in 
conclusion. 

Dr.  SmoAR,  of  Calcutta,  in  a  paper  of  great  interest  and 
considerable  length,  traced  the  history  of  Homoeopathy  in 
India.  The  first  case  treated  homoeopathicaUy  in  India  was 
that  of  the  Maharaja  Bunjeet  Sing,  who,  in  1889,  was  seriously 
ill,  but  appears  to  have  been  marvellously  relieved  by 
Dr.  Honigberger,  who  reports  the  case  in  a  book  entitled 
Thirty-Five  Years  in  the  East,  published  in  London  in  1852. 
The  Hakims  of  the  court  of  Laliore,  however,  interfered,  and 
regaining  their  lost  ascendency,  proceeded  to  administer  to  the 
Maharaja  an  enormous  electuary  of  which  precious  stones 
constituted  the  chief  ingredient,  and  in  less  than  a  fortni^i 
the  patient  was  a  corpse.  For  many  years  before  1852, 
homoeopathy  had  been  practised  in  India  by  amateurs.    In 


'b^^^!T^''  meetings  of  societies.  487 

at  least  three  instances  homoeopathic  hospitals  were  estab- 
lished by  wealthy  native  princes.  One  was  also  set  on  foot  by 
Sir  John  Little  in  Calcutta  in  1851,  and  placed  nnder  the 
direction  of  Dr.  Tonnerre.  By  Mr.  E.  De  Latonr,  an  en- 
iJinsiastic  and  capable  layman,  much  good  was  accomplished 
in  the  treatment  of  cholera  by  homoeopathy.  Another  lay- 
man—  a  native  —  Babu  Bajender  Dntt,  began  to  practise 
homoeopathy  in  1861,  during  an  epidemic  of  malarisd  fever 
of  especial  severity,  when  his  success  caused  his  house  to 
be  thronged  with  applicants  -for  relief.  The  Babu  had  other 
successes  of  great  importance  which  produced  a  marked  effect 
upon  the  public  mind.  In  1864,  Dr.  Berigny,  a  graduate 
of  the  University  of  Paris,  settled  in  Calcutta,  and  was  for 
a  time  a  great  help  to  the  Babu.  In  1867  Dr.  Sircar  was 
induced  to  study  homoeopathy.  He  declared  his  convictions  in 
an  address  before  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Bengal  Branch  of 
the  British  Medical  Association,  and  was  excommunicated 
accordingly.  '*  This,"  he  writes,  *'  has  been  as  nothing  com- 
pared to  the  beiiefits  my  patients  have  enjoyed  and  the 
consequent  consolation  I  have  myself  enjoyed  of  an  approving 
conscience. "  In  the  North- West  Provinces,  homoeopathy  was 
being  advanced  at  the  same  time  by  Babu  Loke  Nath  Moitra. 
and  a  homoeopathic  hospital  and  dispensary  were  established  and 
placed  under  his  care  at  Benares  in  1867.  In  the  same  year 
Dr.  Saltzer,  a  graduate  of  Vienna,  settled  in  Calcutta,  and  has 
since  done  good  service  there.  In  1868  The  Calcutta  Journal 
of  Medicine  was  established  to  advocate  the  cause  of  homoe- 
opathy. In  1869  at  Allahabad  a  dispensary  was  established 
under  the  charge  of  Babu  Preo  Nath  Bose,  a  layman  of 
considerable  skill ;  and  in  1870,  one  at  Agra  under  another 
layman,  Babu  Gohind  Chunder  Boy. 

With  occasional  exhibitions  of  stupidity  and  ignorance  on  the 
part  of  the  allopathic  sect,  in* which  they  have  xmiformly  been 
opposed  by  the  intelligent  portion  of  the  public,  homoeopathy 
has  gradually  advanced.  In  Calcutta  there  are  seven  qualified 
practitioners  of  homoeopathy ;  in  the  suburbs  of  Calcutta,  five  ; 
in  Baraset,  one ;  in  Serampore,  one ;  in  Hnghli,  three ;  in 
Bamipore,  one;  in  Allahabad,  one.  There  may,  Dr.  Sircar 
adds,  be  others  of  whose  presence  he  is  not  aware.  The  number 
of  secret  practitioners  of  homoeopathy  is,  he  says,  already  great, 
and  threatening  to  be  greater  still,  while  the  number  of  lay 
practitioners  is  considerable.  In  Calcutta  there  are  eight 
homoeopathic  pharmacies. 

Dr.  Sircar  concluded  his  paper  with  some  general  observa- 
tions on  the  requirements  of  homoeopathy,  in  order  to  its  fall 
advancement. 

Italt  is  reported  on  by  Dr.  BeIInabd  Abntjlphy,  of  Nice.    He 


488  MEKTIHOS  OF  80CISTIES.  ^"b^^ITmS!  * 


tells  118  thai  the  political  Tidsaitodes  through  which  Italy  has 
passed  haye  tended  to  arrest  the  derelopment  of  hom(Bopathy. 
This  has  arisen  from  the  fact  that  when  the  Peninsnla  was 
divided  into  a  number  of  independent  states,  there  was  always 
found,  here  and  there,  a  sovereign  fayoarable  to  homoBopathyi 
and  thus  £Eu:ilitated  the  propagation  of  oar  doctrines,  first  among 
the  aristocracy,  and  then  the  prosperons  middle  class,  ^ow, 
with  only  one  soverdgn,  and  he  in  the  hands  of  aUopaths,  this 
source  of  influence  has  gone.  Again,  the  spread  of  the  curious 
notions  of  Ck>unt  Mattei  has  done  much  evil.  There  are,  it 
appears,  between  one  and  two  hundred  homoeopathic  practi- 
tioners in  Italy,  but  so  isolated  are  they  that  they  are  scarcely 
known  to  each  other.  There  are  a  few  dispensaries — one  at 
Milan,  another  at  Borne,  another  at  Turin,  and  so  on.  The 
Journals  are  H  Dinamico,  edited  by  Dr.  GigHano,  of  Naples, 
Eivigta  OndopaUcay  by  Dr.  Pompfli,  of  Borne,  and  the  CUniea 
Omiopatica,  of  Padua,  edited  by  Dr.  Coco. 

Dr.  Amulphy  concludes  with  an  earnest  appeal  for  more 
homoeopathic  practitioners,  and  for  more  books  in  the  Italian 
language  on  Materia  Medica  and  the  practice  of  medicine. 

Dr.  BojANUs,  of  St.  Petersburgh,  opens  his  very  interesting 
account  of  homoeopathy  in  Bussia  with  an  examination  of  the 
report  submitted  by  the  military  medical  officers  to  the  late 
Emperor  on  the  experiments  made  with  homoeopathy  in  the 
Military  Hospital  of  Helsingfors.  The  number  of  homoeopathic 
practitioners  throughout  Bussia  would  appear  to  be  about  200. 
The  literature  of  homoeopathy  in  that  country  is  but  slight. 

Dr.  Lloyd  Tucket  compiled  a  report  on  the  state  of  homoe- 
opathy in  Spain.  The  chief  event  during  the  last  five  years  has 
been  the  opening  of  the  Homoeopathic  Hospital  in  Madrid.  To 
this  institution  a  corps  of  lecturers  on  the  Institutes  of  Homoe- 
opathy, Materia  Medica,  Pathological  Medicine  and  Surgery  and 
Clinical  Medicine  and  Surgery  i»  attached,  and  student43  who 
have  a  University  degree  at  the  end  of  one  Annus  Medicus, 
receive  the  diploma  of  homoeopathic  doctor  if  successful  in 
passing  an  examination.  The  hospital  receives  about  400 
patients  per  annum,  and  nearly  10,000  out-patients  are  annually 
prescribed  for  in  the  dispensary  attached  to  it.  The  Hahne- 
mannian  Society  is  very  prosperous,  and  the  journal  El  Criterio 
Medico  has  been  slightly  enlarged  and  altered. 

The  condition  of  homoeopathy  in  the  Umited  States  of 
Amebioa  is  reported  on  with  much  fulness  by  Dr.  Talbot,  the 
Dean  of  the  Medical  Faculty  of  the  University  of  Boston. 

Dr.  Talbot  gave  the  history  of  homoeopathy  in  the  States  from 
its  introduction  by  Dr.  Gram  in  1825  until  the  present  time.  It 
is  now  represented  by  6,000  practitioners,  26  organised  State 
societies,  more  than  100  local  societies,  88  hospitals,  40  dis  pen- 


bSSSS^^mJS^  mbktings  of  societies.  489 

saries,  11  medical  colleges,  and  17  journals.  Dr.  Talbot  gave 
a  clear  account  of  these  institationSy  and  concluded  his  essay  with 
brief  references  to  some  of  the  leaders  of  homosopathic  medicine 
who  have  passed  away — ^Dr.  Jeanes  of  Philadelphia,  Dr.  Hempel 
of  Grand  Bapids,  Dr.  W.  £.  Payne  of  Bath,  Miftine,  Dr.  Bering 
-of  Philadelphia,  and  Dr.  Carroll  Dunham  of  Irvington-on-the- 
Hudson. 

After  these  reports  had  been  presented  a  discussion  ensued  on 
the  condition  and  prospects  of  homoeopathy  at  the  present  time, 
jmd  the  best  means  of  farthering  its  cause.  This  was  opened 
by  Dr.  Talbot,  who  was  followed  by  Dr.  Claude,  Dr.  Dxjdgeon, 
Dr.  Db  Gebsdosff,  Dr.  Bushbod  James,  Db.  Pope,  Dr.  Leon 
Simon  and  others,  when  the  Convention  adjourned. 

On  the  following  morning  (Wednesday)  a  number  of  members, 
who  take  an  especial  interest  in  sanitary  science,  met  at  half-past 
eleven  to  hear  an  address  from  Dr.  Both,  on  Hygiene ^  the 
chair  being  occupied  by  Dr.  Blackley,  of  Manchester,  In  it  he 
^poke  of  tiie  importance  of  recognising  the  many  removable 
•causes  of  disease  by  which  we  are  surrounded,  and  added,  that 
though  the  science  of  hygiene  has  made  considerable  progress 
during  the  present  century,  its  practical  application  has  taken  but 
slight  root  either  among  tiie  profession  or  the  people.  He  then 
dwelt  on  the  importance  of  legislation  in  respect  of  pure  air, 
water,  and  food,  and  on  the  necessity  of  medical  men  studying 
hygiene  as  a  part  of  their  medical  training.  He  supported 
cremation  as  tending  to  remove  many  sources  of  disease. 
Another  matter  of  importance  was  the  disinfection  of  the  contents 
of  sewers,  and  another,  methods  for  preventing  accidents  in 
trades.  The  use  of  compressed  air  in  tunnelling  was  noticed 
and  its  effects  described. 

Dr.  Both  then  dwelt  on  the  prevention  of  disease  in  private 
families  by  proper  attention  to  hygiene.  He  urged  the 
supervision  of  all  dairies,  referred  to  preventible  causes  of 
blindness,  and  to  the  importance  of  disseminating  information 
regarding  them  among  the  poorer  portion  of  the  population.  He 
argued  that,  instead  of  establishing  homes  for  cripples,  we 
should  prevent  children  becoming  crippled  by  paying  proper 
attention  to  their  development  during  infancy.  Each  of  these 
topics  was  illustrated  by  Dr.  Both,  with  much  force,  by  facts 
that  had  come  under  his  observation  in  practice.  He  concluded 
his  address,  which  was  listened  to  throughout  with  deep  interest, 
by  urging  a  more  general  diffusion  of  knowledge  through  the 
various  educational  channels  on  all  matters  pertaining  to 
hygiene. 

The  various  points  touched  on  by  Dr.  Both  formed  the  basis 
of  a  lively  discussion. 

In  the  afternoon  the  chair  was  taken  by  the  Vice-President, 


490  MEETINGS  or  SOCIETIES.  'a^SlJ'Jfm 

Dr.  PoPB,  when  papers  were  presented,  of  which  the  follomg 
are  abstracts. 

ThoughU  on  the  ScienUfie  Application  of  the  Principkt  of 

Homaopaihy  in  Practice, 
By  Thomas  Hatle,  M.D.  £din.,  of  Boehdale. 

Dr.  Hayle  commenced  his  paper  by  dwelling  upon  thfr 
importance  of  facts  as  distingoished  from  speculations,  argning 
that  it  was  from  rash  speculations  and  reckless  experiments  that 
much  of  the  evil  that  had  resulted  from  the  use  of  drugs  in  the 
past  had  accrued.  Referring  to  the  effect  produced  on  Hahne- 
mann by  his  reflections  on  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  his 
resolution  not  to  terminate  his  train  of  thought  until  he  had 
arrived  at  a  definite  conclusion,  he  describes  it  as  ''a  frame  of 
mind  of  which  it  may  be  asserted,  as  an  everlasting  truth,  that 
those  who  seek  shall  find,  and  that  unto  them  who  knock  it  shall 
be  opened." 

Briefly  noticing  the  circumstances  which  led  Hahnemami  ta 
the  assertion  of  the  law  of  similars  as  the  basis  of  drug 
selection,  to  the  researches  made  by  him  confirming  its  troth, 
and  to  such  as  have  since  been  made,  he  points  to  them  as 
having  established  Hahnemann's  discovery  beyond  question. 

Noticing  Hahnemann's  sole  reliance  upon  symptoms  and  their 
most  minute  surroundings,  with  the  result  of  setting  them  forth 
in  a  schema  which  was  artificial,  he  proceeded  to  consider,  from 
an  historical  point  of  view,  the  infinitesimal  dose,  describing  it 
as  a  discovery  as  bnUiant  as  any  in  the  annals  of  medicine,  and 
one  to  which  the  law  was  a  step.  Of  the  reception  of  homceo- 
pathy  among  its  adherents,  he  said,  the  great  majority 
materialised  its  teachings ;  their  habits  and  instincts  led  them 
to  compromise — they  preferred  the  lower  attenuations,  often 
giving  Uie  crude  material.  Another  branch  of  homoeopathists 
out-Hahnemanned  Hahnemann — he  gave  thirtieths,  they  gs^e 
millionths.  He  observed  positions,  aspects,  and  the  weaUier, 
and  they  attended  to  the  most  minute  particulars  and  circum- 
stances. That  which  Hahnemann  did  from  necessity,  they  do 
from  choice.  The  resources  of  pathology  were  not  open  to  himr 
and  he  was  therefore  compelled  to  find  his  similar  in  a  very 
roundabout  way.     Symptom  covering  was  his  only  resource. 

Encumbered  as  it  has  been  the  achievements  of  homoeopathj 
have  been  great,  but  what  may  not  be  expected  when  science 
has  cleared  away  the  impediments  and  has  revealed  the  essentials 
in  their  unadulterated  beauty,  when  we  shall  have  ascertained 
the  nature,  extent,  and  limits  of  the  law,  and  the  essence  and 
relative  importance  of  the  symptoms  1 

Dr.  Hayle  then  passed  to  a  consideration  of  a  rational  theory 
of  medicinal  action.  In  doing  so,  he  said,  "  The  peripheial 
extremities  are  always  furnished  with  a  mechanism  adapted  to 


"SSri^,^!^^*  MEETINGS    OP   SOCIETIES.  491 

ihe  peonliar  mode  of  vibration  they  are  meant  to  transmit. 
Heat  being  a  mode  of  molecalar  motion  requires  no  peculiar 
apparatus,  and  has  none.  Touch  requires  an  apparatus  of  a 
simple  kind.  As  we  ascend  through  the  vaiious  senses,  the 
apparatus  of  reception  becomes  more  complex.  Thus  in  the 
present  state  of  our  knowledge,  I  think  it  is  probable  that  an 
apparatus  for  sensation  is  constituted  somewhat  after  this 
fkshion — First,  there  is  the  nerve  cord,  a  sort  of  telegraphic 
wire ;  then  there  is  the  special  fluid,  tiie  vibrations  of  which 
eaose  our  various  sensations.  Thus,  the  sense  of  heat,  the 
impressions  of  touch,  the  sense  of  taste,  that  of  smell,  of 
hearing,  and  of  sight  are  caused;  the  last  bringing  us  into 
oommunication  with  the  realms  of  space,  and  with  their 
phenomena. 

«  But  there  are  other  sensations,  not  perceptible  in  health, 
but  which  come  out  in  disease,  or  when  the  body  is  affected  bj 
certain  noxious  agents,  mechanical  or  otherwise.  Thus,  for 
instance,  in  a  strong  cold,  north-east  wind,  a  delicate  individual 
feels  a  strong  sensation  of  cold  which,  through  the  sensory 
nerves,  is  conveyed  to  the  brain,  from  which,  through  the  vaso- 
motor nerves,  the  vessels  at  the  surface  are  contracted,  the  skin 
becomes  pale,  and  almost  bloodless,  or  blue  and  livid.  This  may 
be  the  direct  effect  of  cold.  If  this  ends  here,  a  littie  warmth 
sets  it  right  again.  But  it  may  not  end  here.  Then  another  set 
of  reflex  actions  are  set  up,  tenninating  in  one  or  more  of  the 
internal  organs — generally  one  or  more  of  the  serous  membranes 
— the  pleural  or  synovial  membranes.  These  vessels  are  not 
strong  enough  to  withstand  the  shock,  and  after  a  few  alter- 
nations of  diameter,  some  weaker  portion  subsides  into  a  paralytic 
state.  It  becomes  dilated,  and  stagnation  of  the  circulation  takes 
place,  and  what  is  called  inflammation  is  set  up." 

Dr.  Hayle  then  detailed  a  case  where  fever  and  pleuritic 
stitches  were  the  result  of  exposure  to  a  north-east  wind,  which 
was  completely  checked  by  one  dose  of  aconite  80.  The  next 
day  the  patient  was  free  from  pain  and  fever,  but  weak.  In 
explaining  the  mode  of  cure  in  this  case  he  says :  *'  Medicinal 
action  consists  in  a  particular  mode  of  motion,  controlling  and 
altering  the  mode  of  motion  which  is  constantiy  going  on  in  the 
different  nerves.  It  does  not  alter  the  mode  of  motion  that  is 
going  on,  if  healthy,  that  is  synchronous  with  its  own  mode  of 
motion ;  but  whatever  is  amiss,  out  of  gear,  it  restores  to  its 
normal  action,  and,  in  fact,  sets  all  right  tiiat  is  wrong."  A 
large  dose  or  low  dilution  not  only  acts  on  the  diseased  parts, 
but  sets  up  morbid  movements  of  its  own,  deranging  the  whole 
nervous  tracts. 

Comparing  Stanley's  account  of  his  successful  treatment  of 
his  marsh  fever  in  Afirica  by  large  doses  of  quinine  with  those 


492  MEETINGS  OF  SOCIETIES.  ^SSS.^STmSl 

recorded  in  Biickert^s  Klinitehe  Erfahrvngen^  where  small  doM 
were  used,  Dr.  Hayle  says  that  he  belieTes  the  cnieB  wrou^ 
by  the  larger  doees  are  more  violent  and  less  rapid,  and  more 
apt  to  retam  than  those  by  smaller  doses,  whidi  are  accom- 
panied with  less  straggle,  as  only  the  diseased  parts  are  touched, 
while  the  healthy  parts  remain  onafiected.  In  the  smaller  dose 
the  Tibrations  are  synchronons  with  the  healthy  parts,  and  only 
those  which  are  out  of  gear  are  touched.  In  the  other  case  the 
whole  sphere  of  the  medicine,  that  is,  the  sphere  on  which  it 
Acts,  is  abnormally  and  yiolently  acted  on. 

In  chronic  cases,  the  vessels  of  the  part  are  chronically  dilated 
and  have  lost  their  elasticity.  Speedy  relapse  follows  restoration 
by  a  single  dose.  This  state  of  things  is  to  be  met  by  a  skilfiil 
repetition  of  dose,  and  if  the  part  is  accessible  by  atypical 
stimulant,  or  by  large  doses,  we  should  not  give  a  second  dose 
imtil  the  first  has  exhausted  its  action,  and  we  should  persevere 
with  our  medicine  as  long  as  it  seems  to  do  good.  Altemationg 
impede  the  action  of  the  right  medicine  and  prevent  the  acquisi- 
tion of  experience.  *'  The  charioteer  lq  the  car  of  homoeopathy" 
says  Dr.  Hayle  *'  always  drives  at  least  a  pair  of  horses,  but  rarely 
-well  matched." 

In  another  class  of  cases  crisis  is  rarely  admissible.  When 
the  vessels  in  the  interior  open  upon  mucous  surfisu^s,  then  these 
relieve  themselves  partially  and  set  up  a  series  of  actions  whidi 
run  a  course.  First,  they  contract  and  the  membranes  become 
dry,  then  their  discharges  are  poured  fourth  and  lastly  they 
become  thicker. 

From  the  hypothesis  thus  set  forth — that  all  sensations  and 
pains  come  under  the  category  of  modes  of  motion,  that  the 
rectification  of  abnormal  motions  by  the  setting  up  of  normal 
ones  is  probable,  and  accounts  for  the  non-production  of  change, 
and  therefore  of  sensation  when  the  vibrations  are  synchronons^ 
Dr.  Hayle  argues  that  change  and  therefore  cure  is  only  effected 
when  the  vibrations  are  not  synchronous,  and  therefore  diseased. 

Dr.  Hayle  concluded  by  advocating  the  remodelling  of  the 
Materia  Medica,  by  arranging  the  symptoms  in  the  order  of 
their  occurrence.  The  doses  in  which  the  drugs  have  prodoeed 
them  should  be  stated,  and  the  effects  of  a  change  of  dose  apoo 
the  nature  and  order  of  symptoms  should  be  ascertained.  The 
causes,  seat  and  nature  of  the  symptoms  should  be  analysed. 

To  accomplish  this  end  Dr.  Hayle  proposes  the  formation  of 
an  experimental  conmiittee.  By  such  work  all  attempts  to 
include  truth  by  including  everything,  even  the  unimportant  and 
minute,  would  be  unnecessary.  Transitional  and  temporaiy 
-aberrations  would  be  merged  in  one  uniform  and  scientific  system 
of  practice,  which  might  admit  of  additions  but  not  of  change. 


iSSS^rSSTSw?'*  MBBTIN08  OF  SOOEBTIBS.  493^ 

Generalisation  and  Individu€di$ati&n, 

By  B.  Hughes,  L.B.C.P.  Edin.,  of  Brighton. 

In  opening  his  paper,  Dr.  Hughbs  spoke  of  the  necessity  of 
defining  the  word  **  likes."  In  doing  so  he  described  two  classes 
of  homoeopathic  practitioners,  the  one  satisfied  only  when  he  can 
secnre  a  drag  which  will  produce  the  morbid  state  supposed  to- 
constitute  the  disease  he  is  called  upon  to  treat ;  while  tiie  other 
ignores  disease  for  therapeutic  purposes  as  a  pathological  state, 
and  regards  only  sick  persons.  The  totality  of  the  S3rmptoms  is- 
ihe  sole  guide  to  the  simillimTun,  and  if  that  is  not  attainable 
reliance  must  be  placed  on  the  more  peculiar  symptoms.  Dr. 
Hughes  then  proceeded  to  show,  by  quotations  from  The 
Organon  and  Hahnemann's  Lesser  Writings,  that,  while  Hahne- 
man  taught  that  for  the  multitudinous  and  diverse  forms  of  dis- 
order which  come  before  the  physician,  arising  from  common 
causes  (atmospheric  and  such  like),  and  having  no  permanent 
eharacter,  selection  by  totality  of  symptoms  and  treatment  as 
individual  maladies  formed  the  best  mode  of  proceeding,  yet  he 
ever  recognised  that  there  were  a  certain  number  of  diseases  of 
fixed  type,  acquiring  this  by  origination  from  a  specific  (generally 
miasmatic)  cause.  To  these  he  appropriated  one  or  more  specific 
remedies,  as  always  appHcable  and  usually  indispensable.  And, 
further  he  considered  it  a  positive  gain  when  morbid  states, 
hitherto  regarded  as  individuals,  could  be  referred  to  a  common 
type  and  treated  by  remedies  chosen  from  a  definite  group, 
instead  of  being  made  the  subjects  of  an  indiscriminate  search 
through  the  Materia  Medica." 

From  the  evidence  he  adduced,  showing  that  Hahnemann 
recognised  certain  specific  forms  of  disease,  which  are  always 
essentially  the  same,  and  always  curable  by  the  same  remedy ; 
that  he  divided  miasmatic  diseases  into  acute  and  chronic,  and 
defined  another  class  of  diseases  as  specific  fevers,  each  epidemio 
having  features  of  its  own,  but  all  cases  of  each  being  amenable 
to  the  same  specific  remedy ;  that  he  asserted  the  value  of  the 
same  remedy  for  the  few  diseases  which  have  a  constant  cha- 
racter; and  from  the  importance  he  attached  to  the  facility 
afforded  in  prescribing  by  the  recognition  of  the  psoric  origin  of 
ehronic  disease ;  as  well  as  from  the  fact  that  he  acknowledged 
the  curative  power  of  spongia  over  goitre ;  of  bark  in  endemic 
malarial  fever ;  of  veratmm  album  in  the  water  colic  of  Lauen- 
burg ;  of  aurrnn  in  suicidal  melancholia ;  of  the  prophylactic 
power  of  heUadorma  over  scarlatina,  and  of  copper  over  cholera. 
Dr.  Hu^s  argued  that  Hahnemann  was  no  mere  individualiser^ 
that  he  resorted  to  this  method  only  where  other  guidance  failed 
him^  that  for  him  there  were  morbid  species  and  specific  medi- 
cines,  and  that  he  counted  it  real  gain  to  redaun  forms  of 


494  MEETINGS  OF  SOCIETIES.  *^ffi.%.  i^m. 

disease  from  the  desert  of  symptomatology,  to  trace  them  to  a 
common  origin  and  connect  them  with  certain  remedies. 

Haying  &iis  shown  that  pure  individaalisers  were  without 
authority,  he  argued  that  they  had  no  foundation  in  reason.  To 
obtain  a  group  of  allied  remedies,  generic  and  specific  charaeten 
are  necessary.  Generalisation  must  precede  individualisatioD. 
Further,  by  generalisation  we  are  able  to  utilise  the  experience 
of  the  past. 

There  are  cases,  Dr.  Hughes  urged,  such  as  goitre  and 
mumps,  where  we  must  all  generalise  exclusively ;  oSiers,  soeh 
as  nervous  disorders,  varieties  of  dyspepsia,  and  of  defediTe 
nutrition,  which  cannot  be  conformed  to  any  known  type  of 
disease,  and  here  individualifiation  is  the  only  reasonable  oouise. 
Between  these  two  extreme  poles  there  is  an  extensive  zone  of 
genuine  morbid  species,  each  requiring  the  allotment  of  a  groi^ 
of  specific  remedies  to  be  differentiated  in  accordance  with  each 
variety  and  each  case.  Where,  on  the  other  hand,  this  is  not 
possible,  where  the  practitioner  has  to  choose  between  a  remedy 
producing  symptoms  similar  to  some  of  the  peculiarities  of  thfl 
instance  before  him  or  to  the  type  of  disease  of  which  tho 
instance  in  question  is  a  specimen.  Dr.  Hughes  argued  that  it 
was  of  greater  consequence  to  secure  similarity  to  the  patho- 
logical process  itself  than,  to  use  Hahnemann's  own  words,  *'  to 
some  accidental  concomitant  circumstances  which  do  not  altar 
its  essential  character." 

A  New  Similia. 

By  A.  W.  WooDWAED,  M.D.,  Chicago,  U.S.A. 

Dr.  WooDWABD  defined  disease  as  a  combined  pietoze  of 
pathological  lesion  plus  the  special  sympathetic  disturbanoei 
attending  it;  necessitating  a  remedy,  which  is  a  simillimnm, 
not  only  to  the  local  lesion,  but  to  all  the  symptoms  in  the  order 
of  their  relative  importance.  Our  drug  provings  fail,  he  said, 
in  giving  the  combination  and  subordination  of  symptoms 
pecijQiar  to  and  characteristic  of  each  drug,  rendering  us  imaUe 
to  estimate  correctly  the  attending  symptoms  which  govern  the 
success  of  the  remedy.  A  drug  can  only  be  radically  curative 
when  it  presents  a  complete  parallel  to  the  totality  of  the  dieeaee 
symptoms.  If  it  cures  to-day  and  fails  to-morrow  in  the  same 
disease,  it  must  be  owing  to  difierences  existing,  not  in  the 
local  lesion  itself,  but  in  the  epiphenomena  which  modify  and 
present  a  favourable  result  and  to  which  the  drug  is  not 
homoeopathic.  To  obtain  the  knowledge  necessary  for  preeeiib- 
ing  in  this  manner.  Dr.  Woodward  argued  that  provings  moft 
be  made  on  the  healthy  by  a  single  dose  taken  in  suffieiflDt 
quantity  to  produce  disturbance  of  the  enture  economy* 
Dr.  Woodward  then  adduced  a  series  of  provings  of  aruafkt 


^"^fA^TSSu*"  MBETINaS  OP  BOCIETIES.  495 

nitx  vomica,  cinchona,  veratrum  album,  aconite,  and  belladonna, 
which  were  brought  forward  to  show  (1st)  That  the  same  drug 
when  taken  in  health,  and  in  a  single  dose,  will  affect  many 
persons  in  the  same  general  manner,  though  the  specifd 
symptoms  will  vary ;  (2nd)  That  all  medichies  begin  their  action 
by  excitement,  either  of  the  motor,  the  sensory,  or  the  excretory 
functions ;  and  that  they  divide  themselves  naturally  into  three 
groups  or  classes  according  to  the  order  in  which  their  general 
functions  are  disturbed  successively;  (8rd)  That  each  drug, 
while  exhibiting  the  general  method  of  action  belonging  to  its 
class,  shows  its  individuality  by  the  succession  in  which  it 
disturbs  the  special  organs  and  functions  of  the  body,  thus 
presenting  a  combination  of  symptoms  peculiar  to  that  drug 
alone. 

In  the  proving  of  arsenic  by  three  persons — ^two  male  and  one 
female — ^the  smgle  dose  was,  in  one  case,  8  drops  of  the  Ix,  in  a 
Beeond,  a  gndn  and  a  half  of  the  Ix  trituration,  and  in  the  third, 
three  grains  of  the  2x.  An  analysis  of  the  provings  showed  that, 
while  speeial  symptoms  varied,  uniformity  of  physiological  action 
was  seen  in  the  symptoms  beginning  with  morbid  sensations,  and 
being  followed  by  morbidly  increased  or  altered  secretions — ^with 
a  final  general  disturbance  of  a  febrile  character.  These  proviogs 
are  held  to  show  that  arsenic  disturbs  not  only  special  organs  but 
the  entire  economy  in  one  specific  direction,  and  that  these  dis- 
turbances are  cumulative.  Its  use  then  diuicaUy  must  be 
governed,  not  alone  by  the  local  symptoms  of  disease,  for  they 
may  belong  to  many  drugs,  but  by  the  associated  sympathetic 
•disorders  that  must  always  ohariGMterise  this  remedy  in  any 
disease.  !|7huB,  excluding  the  locus  morbi,  gastric  symptoms 
Always  lead,  cephalic  are  next  in  importance,  and  cutaneous, 
respiratory,  spinal,  renal  and  enteric  each  progressively  decrease 
in  importJEuxce  except  when  one  of  them  becomes  the  leading 
feature  as  the  seat  of  disease. 

The  new  similia  governing  the  use  of  arsenic  in  disease  is, 
that  whatever  the  disease  may  be  called  the  indications  for  this 
drug  are  Luvariable,  and  will  be  limited  to  only  two  conditions. 
1st.  That  the  sufferings  and  morbid  excretions  shall  exceed  the 
fever.  2nd.  That  the  chief  sympathetic  disorder  must  always 
be  gastric,  the  second  cephalic,  the  third  cutaneous,  &c.  In  this 
manner  Dr.  Woodward  examined  the  provings  he  had  conducted 
of  the  medicines  already  named. 

The  subject  of  discussion,  which  the  papers  introduced,  was 
the  Selection  of  the  Bemedy.  It  was  opened  by  Dr.  Drysdale, 
who  was  followed  by  several  speakers.  At  its  conclusion  the 
next  paper  presented  was — 


496  MBETING8  OP  SOCIETIES.  ^S^^S^!^ 


On  the  AUemadoH  of 

By  Br.  Mabziht,  of  Brossek,  and  Dr.  Bxbmabd,  of  Mods, 

Bfllgiunu 

The  aathora  define  ftltemation  as  the  snceesaye  admiiiiBtiaiion 
of  two  or  more  remedies  which  reeor  in  torn  in  a  regnkr  order 
and  at  interrals  snfficientlj  approximated,  so  that  the  dnntion 
of  the  action  of  the  one  drog  may  not  be  quite  exhausted  before 
another  soceeeds  it. 

This  methodical  alternation  they  consider  eonstitates  a& 
important  step  in  practical  progress. 

In  taking  a  retrospectiye  view  of  the  practice  of  altematioiir 
they  refer  to  Hahnemann,  who,  in  the  edition  of  the  Organon 
published  in  1810,  admitted  its  necessity,  becanse  of  the  *'  insuf- 
ficient nmnber  of  remedies  tried  np  to  that  time." 

Hering,  Gross,  Bmnmel,  iBgidi,  Kcempfiar,  Hirseh,  Hartnuum 
and  Perry  are  cited  as  supporting  the  altemation  of  mediones  in 
the  early  history  of  homoeopathy,  and  Teste,  Jonsset,  Momremsiu, 
Espanet,  and  Van  den  Ne<^6r  as  doing  so  in  later  years. 

The  ideal  of  the  practice  of  homoeopathy,  the  finding  of  a 
remedy  whose  pathogenetic  symptoms  comprise  the  totality  of 
the  morbid  symptoms,  actual  and  antecedent,  personal  tnd 
hereditary,  ol)jectiye  and  sabjeetiye,  is,  they  say,  one  bristling 
with  difficulties— -difficnlties  which  haye  led  to  the  altematbn  of 
drags.  They  donbt  whether  the  progress  of  therapentics  inll 
ever  bring  ns  exclnsiyely  and  defimtiyely  to  the  simplicity,  io 
sednctiye,  and,  in  appearance  at  least,  so  much  more  logical,  of  the 
administration  of  one  single  remedy :  and  consider  that  so  long  as 
this  ideal  or  eyen  nnrealisable  perfection  of  the  method  is  not  at- 
tained, it  is,  firom  a  clinical  point  of  yiew,  adyantageons  in  ordinary 
practice  to  habitually  alternate  remedies  two  by  two,  or  three  by 
three,  or  even  fonr  by  four,  when  two  or  three  drags  are  not  soffi- 
cient  to  coyer  all  the  symptoms,  or  do  not  answer  to  all  the  caoflOB 
of  disease  both  profound  and  occasional.  For  example,  an  aeoie 
pleurisy  occurs  in  an  emphysematous  patient  who  has  had 
hemorrhoidal  troubles  : — acomts  will  be  tdtemated  with  bryma 
and  arsenic ;  and  when  the  acute  cfymptoms  are  calmed,  iv» 
belieye  that  to  obtain  a  prompt  and  durable  cure,  we  must  gire 
bryofda  the  first  day,  arsenic  the  second,  nux  vam,  the  third, 
and  perhaps  sulphur  the  fourth. 

They  then  illustrate  this  method  of  prescribing  by  reports  of 
a  series  of  cases,  in  each  of  which,  seyeral  remedies  were  used 
either  in  altemation  or  succession. 

In  discussing  the  modus  agendi  of  medicines  thus  prescribed, 
they  argue,  1st,  that  sometimes  they  act  as  adjuyants,  and 
instance  spongia  and  hepar  in  croup  and  aconite  in  acute  infiam* 
mation,  alternated  with  beUadonna  or  mercurius,  &q. 


ISSS^^rrSa^'  meetings  op  societies.  497 

2nd.  They  act  sometimes  as  correctiTes — ^as  in  cases  where 
special  susceptibilities  to  the  action  of  certain  medicines  exist — 
as  when  sufphur  cannot  be  taken  singlj  ;  bat  when  alternated 
with  niur  it  does  good,  while  the  nux  vom.  alone  would  be 
inefficacious. 

Srd.  They  think  that  sometimes  alternated  remedies  seem  to 
constitute  a  new  medicinal  means  endowed  with  new  properties, 
illustrating  this  by  Dr.  Kafka's  experience,  who  says  that  he  has 
cured  chronic  catarrhs  of  the  stomach  by  alternating  mix  vom, 
and  calcarea  after  having  uselessly  administered  these  two 
remedies  singly. 

4th.  That  under  the  influence  of  remedies  of  more  or  less 
different,  sometimes  even  antidotal  action,  the  remedy  seems  to 
react  more  briskly ;  the  vitality  seems  to  emerge  from  the  torpor 
into  which  it  appeared  plunged. 

They  next  proceed  to  consider  the  objections  made  to 
alternation. 

1st.  Alternations  were  condemned  by  Hahnemann. 

2nd,  With  alternation  it  becomes  difficult  or  impossible  ta 
discuss  the  characteristic  effects  of  each  of  the  agents  employed. 
The  object  of  giving  remedies  being  to  cure  and  not  to  experi- 
ment, they  regard  this  objection  as  having  no  weight. 

8rd.  The  alternation  of  medicine  is  nothing  more  or  less  than 
a  disguised  return  to  polypharmacy.  This  objection  they  assert 
is  only  a  specious  one.  Polypharmacy  means  the  simultaneous 
employment  or  mixture  in  one  formula  of  several  different  sub- 
stances, whilst  the  method  advocated  consists  in  the  employment 
of  single  remedies  at  short  intervals, 

4th,  The  alternation  of  medicines,  if  elevated  to  a  system,  will 
simplify  too  much  the  practice  of  homoeopathy ;  it  will  favour  the 
laziness  of  medical  men,  and  the  usurpation  of  the  art  by  out- 
siders. ' 

The  simplification  of  the  practice  of  homoeopathy,  so  far  from 
being  matter  for  regret,  should,  they  argue,  be  considered  as  a 
bencd&t. 

5th.  We  can  admit  strictly  the  alternation  of  two  medicines, 
but  that  is  the  extreme  limit  of  the  concession  we  can  make  Uy 
the  partisans  of  alternation. 

This  objection  they  regard  as  speciouSi  as,  if  it  is  admitted 
that  two  remedies  may  be  alternated,  there  can  be  no  valid 
reason  why  a  greater  number  should  not  be  used  in  succession. 

The  President  now  resumed  the  chair,  and  a  discussion  on  the 
Alternation  of  Remedies,  opened  by  Dr.  Clark,  took  place. 

At  its  conclusion  the  following  papers  were  presented :— 
Ka«  8,  YoL  86.  S  k 


498 


HEETINOS  OF  SOCIETIES.  ^%l^ 


Renew,  Aflff.  1.  tBBL 


Drug  AUenuatian :   Its  Influence  upon  Drug  MaUer  and  Drug 

Power, 

By  Jabbz  p.  Daks,  M.A..  M.D.,  NashyiUe,  U.S.A. 

Dr.  Dakb  opened  his  paper  by  stating  that  the  remedy  to  be 
employed  in  the  combat  with  disease,  upon  whatoTer  therapeniie 
principle  or  theory  chosen,  must  be  exhibited  in  proper  form 
and  quantity,  to  the  end  that  its  inflaence  may  be  satisfactory. 
What  then,  he  asks,  is  the  effect  of  drag  attennation  npon  drag 
matter  ?    What  its  effect  npon  drag  power  ? 

Drag  attenuation  is  defined  as  the  diminution  of  a  drag  mass 
by  division  and  subdivision  and  admixture  with  some  neutral  or 
non-medicinal  substance  as  a  menstruum  or  vehicle. 

Viewing  the  question  historically,  he  showed  that  Hahnemann 
adopted  this  method  of  dealing  with  drugs.  1st.  To  avoid 
aggravation  of  disease  from  too  Iwge  a  dose.  2nd.  To  secure  a 
thorough  diffusion  of  drug  particles.  Srd.  He  claimed  that 
through  a  better  preparedness  for  absorption  and  an  increased 
surface  for  contact  increased  power  was  obtained.  4th.  A  given 
dose  of  a  homoeopathic  remedy  was  increased  in  power  by  the 
increased  susceptibility  to  it  produced  by  disease.  5th.  In 
order  to  explain  or  account  for  the  action  of  infinitesimals, 
Hahnemann  broached  the  theoiy  that  medicine  does  not  act 
atomically,  but  dynamically.  6.  Hahnemann  conceived  the 
idea  that  vigorous  succussion  and  trituration  effected  a  great 
unknown  and  undreamed  of  change  by  the  development  and 
liberation  of  the  dynamic  powers  of  the  medicine. 

Passing  to  the  later  history  of  drug  attenuation,  Dr.  Dake 
described  Eorsakofi^s  "  dry  contact  potencies,"  putting  one  dxy 
medicated  globule  in  a  bottle  full  of  pure  sugar  pellets  in  order 
to  medicate  the  whole ;  Jenichen's  high  potencies ;  those  of 
Lehrmann  and  Fincke — all  of  whom  had,  Dr.  Dake  observed, 
exceeded  the  .utmost  limits  thought  of  by  Hahnemann  in  the 
diminution  of  drug  matter  and  development  of  drug  power. 

After  noting  the  observations  upon  trituration  of  Begin  and 
Mayhofer  made  with  the  microscope,  those  of  Dr.  Breyfog^ 
made  with  chemical  reagents,  those  of  Professor  Edwards  Smith, 
Professor  S.  A.  Jones,  Dr.  Lewis  Sherman  and  Professor  Conrad 
Wesselhoeft  with  the  microscope,  those  of  Professor  Wesselhoeft 
with  the  spectroscope,  and  some  of  the  teachings  of  analogy,  which. 
Dr.  Dake  says,  compel  us  to  conclude  that  potent  drug  material 
may  exist  in  attenuations,  where  every  test  save  that  of  the  living 
animal  organism  fails  to  detect  its  presence,  he  thence  drew  the 
inferences — 1st.  That  medicinal  substances  differ  greatiy  in  theif 
cohesive  property  and  divisibility.  2nd.  That  some  may  be 
readily  diffused  in  minute  particles  through  a  menstruum,  drd. 
That  others  are  comminuted  with  great  difficulty  and  sloidy. 
4th,  That  in  the  case  of  some  metals  the  comminution  is  modi 


B^^Ss^rSm^^  MEETINGS  OP  SOCIETIES.  499 

more  complete  by  chemical  than  bj  mechanical  measnres.  5th. 
That  in  the  decimal  or  centesimal  scale  the  theoretical  or  mathe- 
matical rate  of  diminntion  in  the  size  of  the  particles  is  Very 
dijQTerent  from  the  actual.  6th.  That  by  chemical  reagents  drag 
matter  can  be  recognised  in  no  decimal  attenuation  above  the 
third  ;  by  the  spectroscope,  in  none  above  the  seventh ;  and  by 
the  microscope,  in  none  above  the  eleventh  or  twelfth.  7th. 
That  analogy  warrants  the  belief  in  drag  presence  when  not  a 
particle  of  drag  matter  can  be  discerned  by  direct  observation, 
inasmoch  as  impalpable  and  invisible  material  agents,  as  morbific 
caoses,  have  often  demonstrated  their  presence  by  their  destruc- 
tive infloence  upon  the  human  organism.  8th.  That  all  efforts 
must  fjEol  to  attenaate  drug  matter  beyond  its  ultimate  molecule, 
the  division  of  a  molecule  being  a  reduction  of  the  substance  into 
its  elements,  or  the  destruction  of  its  identity.  9th.  That 
According  to  the  accepted  theory  of  molecular  magnitudes  the 
ultimate  molecule  must  be  reached  in  the  twenty-tibird  decimal 
attenuation,  and  that  beyond  that  there  must  be  a  gradual  dimi- 
nution in  the  number  of  molecules  till  all  are  gone.  IQth.  That 
neither  direct  observation,  nor  analogy,  nor  anything  learned  of 
the  conditions  and  behaviour  of  drug  matter,  can  justify  the 
inference  that  there  is  a  single  molecule  of  medicine  in  one  grain 
of  the  thirtieth  attenuation  when  faithfully  made. 

Dr.  Dake  then  proceeded  to  consider  the  influence  of  attenua- 
tion upon  the  power  of  drugs. 

In  doing  BO  he  noticed  some  of  the  leading  theories  which 
have  been  advanced  upon  the  subject;  and  first,  the  earliest 
theory  of  Hahnemann  and  that  still  entertained  by  many  of  his 
disciples,  that  drug  power  may  be  developed  but  not  increased 
by  the  processes  of  attenuation.  That  the  potential  medicinal 
force  of  a  given  drug  mass  is  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  its 
medicinal  molecules,  and  its  actual  medicinal  force  in  proportion 
to  the  number  of  its  medicinal  molecules  made  superficial  or 
ready  for  an  immediate  contact  with  nerve  tissue,  or  an  imme- 
diate absorption  and  conveyance  to  its  special  field  in  the 
organism.  That  attenuation  and  trituration  have  for  their  ends 
simply  the  overcoming  of  cohesion  in  drug  matter  and  comminu- 
tion of  drug  particles. 

2nd.  In  later  years  Hahnemann  inculcated  not  only  the 
development  but  ^e  great  increase  of  drug  power  through 
attenuation.  Korsakoff  believed  in  the  existence  of  a  drug  aura ; 
Lutze  believed  in  animal  magnetism  being  imparted  by  the  hand 
to  the  dose  employed. 

Dr.  Bachmann*s  theory  and  the  recent  neuranalytic  experi- 
ments and  the  hypotheses  of  Dr.  Lawton  were  then  considered. 

In  applying  the  physiological  test  to  the  question  under  dis- 
cussion, Dr.  Dake  referred  to  Hahnemann's  early  provings,  in 


600  MEETINGS  OF  80CIETIEB.   ''SJ^,  Ai^.  i,  iflU. 


irhich  dmg  power  was  present  beyond  any  question ;  to  the 
experiments  of  Professor  Conrsd  Wesselhceft,  those  of  the 
IGhraokee  Academy  of  Medicines,  and  to  those  of  Dr.  Sherman 
and  Dr.  Potter.  From  these  he  eoncladed  that  drags  are  reeog- 
nised  in  attenuatioDs  up  to  die  7th  x  by  their  effects  npon  the 
healthy  hnman  organism,  while  in  the  8th  x  and  9th  x  their 
recognition  is  less  certain. 

Dr.  Dake  conclodes  his  paper  with  an  examination  of  <^HTiifal 
eiperience  on  drag  power. 

He  points  out  in  the  first  plaee,  the  laige  variety  of  inftaenee 
besides  those  pertaining  to  drags  iHiich  may  determine  recoveryr 
Gonyendons  to  hi^  potency  viewB  have,  he  shows,  oftai 
reeolted  from  a  sin^  experience  in  using  tiiem,  and  this  often 
after  a  lower  attenuation  had  been  in  action,  thou^  not 
really  fruitiesBly  for  some  days.  He  gives  his  personal  ex- 
perience on  this  point,  showing  that  he  was  neariy  led  to  plaee 
confidence  in  their  preparation  because  he  obeerred  fbe 
paroxysms  of  an  intennktent  fever  suddenly  stop  after  the 
administration  of  a  sin^  dose  of  anenic  200,  when  he  had 
been  exhibiting  the  6th  and  Mth  with  no  apparent  benefit. 
Another  case,  one  of  pneumonia,  is  reported,  where  after  giving 
hycm,  8x  witii  little  apparent  benefit,  a  single  dose  of  the  200th 
was  followed  by  a  great  change  for  the  better.  Befieetioii, 
however,  convinced  him  thai  the  change  was  really  due  to  the 
preparation  which  had  been  previously  administered.  Dr.  Dake 
Inrtiier  argues,  that  not  one  of  the  cases  reported  in  journals  as 
cured  with  any  high  dilutions  iuznishes  a  partide  of  satiafiMtozy 
proof  that  there  is  medicinal  power  in  attenuations  above  the 
thirtieth  dedmaL 

linaDy,  where  homoeopathy  has  gained  her  greatest  victories, 
as  in  chokra  and  yellow  fever,  the  battles  have  been  fou^i 
almost  entirely  by  means  of  die  lower  attenuations. 


A  PUa/ar  a  Standard  Limit  of  Attenuate  2>oi«t« 
By  0.  Ws88BLH<BR,  MJ).,  Boston,  n.S.A« 

Dr.  Wbssklhcbft,  after  some  introductory  remarks  of  a 
general  character  on  the  importance  of  the  question  of  dose, 
gives  a  summary  of  recent  researches  that  have  been  made  (m 
biturations  and  dilutions.  These  point  to  the  &ct  that  the 
limits  of  ip?P"t^"ft«»  to  which  particles  of  hard  insoluble 
substances  can  be  reduced  are  arrived  at  between  the  y^th 
and  the  tsVt^  ^  *  millimetre. 

Dr.  Wessdhoeft,  in  discussing  the  molecular  structure  of 
matter,  showed  that,  whereas  in  Hahnemann's  time  it  was 
r^arded  as  infinitely  divisible  and  that  consequently  homceo- 
pathists  were  on  this  basis  right  in  proceeding  to  attenuations 
however  high,  it  had  now  been  demonstrated  that  there  was  a 


^^^TS^  MEETINGS  OP  SOCIETIES.  601 

limit  beyond  which  molecnlar  diyidbility  did  not  extend.  He 
then  proceeded  to  estimate,  from  the  calcidations  and  experi- 
ments of  Sir  William  Thompson  and  Professor  Clerk-Maxwell, 
that,  with  the  eleventh  centesimal  dilation,  the  number  of 
molecules  in  a  drop  of  liqnid  is  exhansted.  By  a  series  of 
further  calculations,  he  concludes  that  the  supposition  of  trans- 
mission of  molecular  force,  separated  from  the  original  medicine 
molecules,  is  untenable  in  the  light  of  modem  molecular  science. 
Dr.  Wesselhoefb  then  argued  that  the  molecular  constitution  of 
matter  demanded  the  omission  from  our  statistics  of  all  clinical 
results  obtained  with  dilutions  above  the  eleventh  centesimal. 
With  regard  to  the  value  of  clinical  experience  in  enabling  us  to 
■estimate  the  best  standard  of  dose,  Dr.  Wesselhoeft  contended 
that  it  is  at  present  but  slight,  owing  to  the  inadequacy  of 
statistical  materials.  What  is  deemed  clinical  experience  con- 
sists, he  says,  of  recorded  cures  with  the  entire  omission  of 
opposite  or  negative  results,  which  must  be  presumed  to  be 
iaige,  and  a  decision  will  therefore  be  impossible  until  '*  expe- 
rience "  includes  numerous  and  accurate  statistics  of  negative  as 
well  as  of  p9sitive  results.  Dr.  Wesselhoeft  concludes  by  urging 
the  limitation  of  the  dose  to  attenuations  below  the  eleventh 
■centesimal. 

The  Question  of  Doses :  Hahnemannism  and  Homosopathy, 

By  Dr.  Cbetih,  Paris,  France. 

Dr.  Cbetin  opens  his  paper  by  asserting  the  therapeutic  power 
'Of  infinitesimal  doses,  but  he  demands  that  their  degree  of  this 
power  be  ascertained  by  experiment  alone. 

He  desires  to  enquire,  1st,  What,  for  each  drug,  are  the  limits 
of  its  therapeutic  action  ;  at  what  stronger  dose  does  its  action 
^commence ;  at  what  weaker  dose,  what  attenuation  does  it  cease  ? 
These  limits  being  fixed,  what  is,  in  each  case,  the  dose  which 
shows  itself  the  most  efficacious,  the  strong,  weak,  or  even  the 
infinitesimal  ? 

Dr.  Cretin  denies  that  there  is  any  evidence  of  Hahnemann's 
having  been  led  to  the  use  of  attenuation  in  consequence  of 
aggravation  from  larger  doses ;  but  that  he  proceeded  to  them  by 
analogies,  by  indication,  by  anticipating  generalisation,  and  also 
by  studies.  This  he  endeavours  to  make  good  by  analysing 
Hahnenuinn's  pathological  illustrations  of  the  law  of  similars  in 
ihe  Organon. 

In  the  following  two  chapters  he  examines  attenuations,  dyna- 
misations,  and  medicinal  aggravations,  and  then  the  practice  of 
Hahnemann.  From  this  enquiry  he  concludes  that  Hahnemann 
has  not  established  on  any  data,  rational  or  experimental,  either 
the  necessity,  the  utility,  or  the  action  of  the  infinitesimal  attenu- 
.ations,  and  still  less  the  aggravations,  which,  according  to  him. 


602  ICEETINaS  OF  80CIBTIB8.  ^"^^r^J^Maa! 

shoald  be  at  once  the  proof  of  the  condition  and  the  product  of 
their  action. 

The  clinical  aspect  of  the  infinitesimal  dose  shows,  that  the 
admission  of  its  power  rests  upon  an  experimental  basis.  The 
questions  then  arise,  at  what  dose  does  medicinal  action  be^pn — 
ix  what  attenuation  does  it  cease  ?  And  again,  are  infinitenmsl 
doses  preferable  to  appreciable  doses  in  all  cases,  or  in  what  cases 
only  ?  A  lengthened  enquiry  in  using  all  dilutions  from  the  SOth 
downwards  has.  Dr.  Cretin  says,  convinced  him  that  the  action 
of  a  drug  is  less  sure  as  the  attenuation  is  high.  **  In  acute,  as 
in  chronic  affection,"  he  adds,  '*  I  have  never  obtained  from  the 
higher  dilutions  the  results  which  have  been  given  me  in  a  more 
positive  fjEishion  by  the  dilution  below  the  sixth,  and  above  all 
by  the  unattenuated  medicine.*' 

With  some  remarks  on  the  choice  of  the  dose  in  individual 
medicines,  and  a  comparative  view  of  Hahnemannium  and 
bomceopathy.  Dr.  Cretin  brings  his  essay  to  a  dose. 

A  discussion  followed  on  the  relative  value  of  clinical  and 
extra  clinical  evidence  as  to  the  efficacy  of  the  infinitesimal  dose. 

On  the  following  morning  (Thursday)  a  sectional  meeting  was 
held  of  members  especially  interested  in  gynieoological  studies. 
The  chair  was  taken  by  Dr.  Eaton,  of  Cincinnati.  The  ipt^pen 
on  this  subject  to  be  brought  forward  in  the  afternoon  formed 
the  basis  of  discussion. 

In  the  afternoon,  at  the  general  meeting,  business  commenced 
by  the  presentation  of  papers,  of  whidi  the  following  are 
abstracts. 

On  the  Differmdal  DiagncaU  <md  Treatment  of  Yellow  Feter, 

By  Wm.  H.  Holcoxbe,  M.D.,  New  Orleans,  U.S. 

After  a  full  definition  of  yellow  fever.  Dr.  Hokombe  spoke  of 
its  geographical  range.  It  is  endemic  in  the  islands  and  cities 
of  the  Atlantic  coast  of  tropical  America.  From  this  habitat  it 
may  be  transported  northward  and  southward  many  degrees  of 
latitude,  but  very  lew  of  longitude.  Yellow  fever  has  no  second 
week.  It  and  plague  are  the  shortest  of  all  febrile  diseases,  as 
they  are  also  the  most  &tal.  Yellow  fever  becomes  more  &tal 
as  it  advances  northward.  It  is  the  hottest  of  all  fevers.  It  is 
a  hemorrhagic  fever,  the  hsmonhages  depending  on  chemical 
changes  in  the  blood  itself.  The  jaundiced  or  icteric  condition 
is  a  peculiarity  of  the  fever,  and  is  entirely  of  blood  origin.  An 
abnormally  slow  pulse  down  to  50,  40,  and  even  80  pulsations  is 
found  in  many  cases.  Yellow  fever  has  a  meluicholy  pre- 
eminence in  its  marked  or  latent  features,  its  sudden  changes 
and  terrible  surprises  requiting  more  watchful  care  and  vigilant 
nursing  than  any  other  disease,  the  danger  being  often  out 
proportion  to  the  symptoms. 


BSSS^fSTS^  MEETINGS  OF  SOCIETIES.  608 

Dr.  Holeombe  then  described  the  posUmorUm  appearances  of 
jeDow  fe^er,  and  then  proceeded  to  compare  its  phenomena  with 
those  of  the  other  great  fevers.  In  speaking  of  the  treatment 
of  yellow  fever  Dr.  Holeombe  laid  especial  stress  on  the  import- 
ance of  nnrsing  and  hygiene — a  sudden  noise,  movement  in  bed, 
conversation,  a  piece  of  bad  news,  any  excitement,  the  presence 
of  food  in  the  stomach  at  the  wrong  time,  the  omission  of  a 
stfmnlant  at  the  right  moment,  being  often  enough  to  transform 
a  hopefdl  into  a  hopeless  case. 

Of  the  medicinal  treatment,  Dr.  Holeombe  says  that  we  have 
no  specific  for  the  first  or  febrile  stage  of  yellow  fever.  His 
paper  concluded  as  follows : — 

''It  is  in  the  second  stage  of  fevers,  when  we  contend  with 
local  congestions,  special  inflammations,  and  the  effects  of  blood 
poisonings  or  other  morbid  processes,  that  homceopathy  asserts 
its  specific  and  unquestionable  power.  We  may  not  be  able  to 
break  or  materially  shorten  the  continued  fevers,  but  we  can 
control  the  bronchitis  of  measles,  the  sore  throat  of  scarlatina, 
the  suppuration  of  small-poz,  the  pneumonia  of  typhus,  the 
diarrhoea  of  typhoid,  the  jaundice  and  haemorrhages  of  yellow 
fever,  &c.,  in  the  most  remarkable  manner,  thereby  reducing  the 
mortality  of  all  those  diseases  to  a  point  considerably  below  the 
acknowledged  allopathic  level. 

**  What  enormous  services  have  been  rendered  in  these  cases 
by  those  chemically  isomorphous  substances,  arsenic,  phosphorus, 
and  tartar  emetic,  applied  upon  the  homoeopathic  principle  1  To 
these  may  be  added,  as  special  remedies  for  yellow  fever,  the 
snake  poisons,  lachesis,  crotalus,  naja  tripudians,  elaps  coraUinus, 
and  vipera  torva,  introduced  into  practice  from  the  loug-recog- 
nised  resemblance  between  the  symptoms  of  yellow  fever  and 
those  which  have  followed  the  bite  of  serpents.  These  serpent 
poisons  will  no  doubt  be  foand  valuable  also  in  the  haemor- 
rhages and  jaundice  of  the  plague,  of  typhus,  relapsing  fever, 
biUous  typhpid,  and  malignant  remittents. 

''  The  homoeopathic  treatment  of  yellow  fever  is  still  in  its 
infancy,  comparatively  speaking,  but  the  results  already  achieved 
constitute  one  of  the  strongest  arguments  ever  offered  in  behalf 
of  the  practice." 

Indian  Dysentery  and  Cholera. 

By  P,  W.  Caeter,  Ph.D.,  L.M„  &c.,  Sydney. 

This  paper  opens  with  a  minute  account  of  the  phenomena 
of  Indian  dysentery.  Then  follow  a  series  of  well  reported 
cases  of  the  disease.  Dr.  Carter  makes  the  following  statement 
of  the  results  of  his  practice  while  in  India:  ''The  total 
number  of  cases,*'  he  says,  "  treated  by  me  allopathically  up  to 
the    November,   1875,   was  218 — deaths  99.     Cases  treated 


£04  UEETINGS  OF  SOCIETIES,   ^'v^ 


Aefvieir,  Aug.  1*  IBU. 


henuBopaihieiilly  np  to  the  end  of  1878  (I  left  India  in  March, 
1879)  were  77^  with  14  deaths — all  in  dispensary  practice,  whan 
the  disease,  and  erery  disease,  is  generally  seen  in  an  advanced 
stage.*' 

With  regard  to  cholera,  Dr.  Carter  had  seen  little  advantage 
from  the  use  of  camphor  even  in  the  stage  of  invasion.  In  the 
first  stage,  he  says,  he  did  hest  with  aconite  Ix  or  0.  This, 
when  given  early,  prevented  the  advancement  to  the  second 
stage  in  every  instance.  In  the  second  stage,  verat,  alb.  8z, 
anen.  8,  cup.  acet.  2  or  8,  sec.  cor.  8x,  ant.  tart.  8x  and  8,  and 
croton  8  were  the  chief  and  most  reliable  remedies.  In  the 
stage  of  collapse,  arsen.  80  was  nsed  with  the  happiest  results.  In 
pulmonary  congestion,  phoe.  8  or  5.  When  this  had  grown  to 
blood-poisoning,  with  brain  symptoms,  beU.^  stram^j  hyoec.  or  ac. 
hydrocy.  were  used  with  better  effects  than  any  treatment  be  had 
obtained  under  old-school  practice.  Three  out  of  four  cases  of 
intra-cranial  effusion  yielded  to  digitalis.  In  renal  congestion, 
with  albuminuria  or  suppression  and  unemia,  he  found  terebi$Uk 
8z,  kaH  hick.  8,  canth.  2  or  8,  and  digit.  8x  very  effective. 


Homaopathy  in  the  Treatment  of  Diseases  prevalent  in  India. 

By  Mahendra  Lal  Sibgab,  M.D. 

The  paper  sent  in  by  Dr.  Sibcab  was  found  too  lengthy  for 
the  Transactions,  and  to  cover  more  ground  than  had  been 
intended.  Such  portions  only  were  introduced  to  the  Convention 
as  bore  upon  the  therapeutics  of  the  special  types  of  Indian 
disease. 

Diarrhoaa,  generally  traceable  to  bad  food,  but  sometimes  to 
extremes  of  temperature,  was  first  noticed,  and  the  indications 
given  for  the  use  of  china,  arsen,,  coloc,,  puis.,  &e.  Of  dysentery, 
Dr.  Sibgab  says,  **  In  the  majority  of  cases  I  find  ipecac,  to  be 
quite  competent  to  deal  with  the  disease.  Failing  this  I  have 
recourse  to  the  mere,  sol.,  and  in  very  grave  cases  to  mere,  cor. 
Other  medicines  meeting  special  cases  are  aconite,  beUad,, 
canth.,  capsicum,  and  colchicum." 

The  liver  is  an  organ  very  firequently  disordered  in  India.  In 
malarious  enlargement,  remedies  that  are  suitable  for  the 
general  condition,  prove  corrective  of  it.  Aeon,  and  bry.  in 
febrile  states ;  cak.  c.  especially  in  young  children ;  nua.  «. 
when  there  is  constipation;  lycopod.  when  with  constipation 
there  is  tympanitis,  especially  of  the  colon.  In  acute  con- 
gestion, no  remedy  equals  <iconite;  sometimes  bryonia  iB 
required  subsequentiy.  When  the  secretory  structures  are 
inflamed,  mercury  is  wanted.  In  suppuration,  aconite  and  then 
cinchona  or  quinine  in  massive  doses.  In  very  prostrate  con- 
ditions, arsenic,  earb.  v.,  and  laehesis  are  useful. 


^S^SSTS^  BtEBTINGS   OP   SOCIETIES.  506 

In  hjrpertrophic  cirrhoBis  with  jaundice,  laehesis  is  a  capital 
remedy.  In  chjloria,  Dr.  Sircar  has  seen  good  done  by  earb,  v. 
.and  phospK  add.  In  hydrocele  and  elephantiasis  of  the  scrottim, 
Dr.  Sircar  has  seen  benefit  derived  from  nlica^  rhodod&ndronf 
and  sometimes  from  rhtts. 

Malarious  Fever  in  India, 
By  Pratap  Chandon  Majuicba,  L.M.S.,  &c.,  Calcutta. 

This  commonication  was  one  of  enquiry  rather  than  one 
presenting  good  therapeutic  results.  Dr.  Majumba  says  that 
' quinine f  which  is  almost  the  only  drug  resorted  to,  does  more 
harm  than  good  in  many  cases— -^ough  useful  in  some.  So  fiEtr 
as  his  experience  has  gone,  he  has  found  aconite  useless.  Bell., 
in  some  cases  of  a  remittent  type,  has  proved  serviceable ;  so, 
also,  has  gelseminum,  especially  in  children  with  a  delicate  nervous 
system.  Baptieia  foUowed  by  hryoma,  rhu8y  arsenic  and 
muriatic  acid,  have  been  of  great  value  in  cases  where  the  fever 
has  assumed  a  typhoid  type.  Dr.  Majumba  concludes  by 
remarking  on  the  necessity  of  a  careful  study  of  the  Materia 
Medica  in  each  case,  &c. 

These  papers  having  been  introduced  by  the  President,  a  dis- 
cussion followed  on  Homoeopathy  in  Hyper-acute  Disease,  in- 
•cluding  Hyper-pyrexia. 

The  subject  of  Cancer  was  then  brought  before  the  Conven* 
vention  in  a  paper  by  Dr.  Guttebidoe,  of  which  the  following  is 
an  abstract : 

After  some  reference  to  the  statistics  of  cancer,  and  having 
given  a  definition  of  the  disease,  Dr.  Gntteridge  expressed  his 
doubts  as  to  the  value  of  microscopic  observation  and  chemical 
tmalysis  as  means  of  diagnosis.  Beferring  to  the  researches  of 
HavDand  on  the  geographical  distribution  of  disease,  he  showed 
that  districts  where  the  mortality  from  cancer  was  high  were 
such  as  are  liable  to  somewhat  long-continued  floods  from  the 
overflowing  of  rivers.  He  thei)  entered  on  a  somewhat  minute 
differentiation  of  cancer  and  simple  glandular  enlargement. 
Passing  to  the  consideration  of  the  propriety  of  operation,  he 
showed  that  extirpation  by  the  knife  does  not  cure  cancer,  does 
not  always  remove  it,  and  that  the  liability  to  return  is  ever 
present,  and  often  an  absolute  certainty.  The  results  of 
enucleation,  he  says,  are  in  no  way  more  favourable.  He  con- 
cludes, therefore,  that  cancer  patients  do  better  when  treated 
medicinally  alone.  In  scirrhus  he  pointed  out  the  indications  for 
heU,  and  eonium.  Oicuta  is  also  named  as  usefdl.  Of  all  most 
generally  useful  remedies.  Dr.  Qntteridge  speaks  most  favourably 
of  kydrastis,  and  especially  of  Tilden's  preparation  hydraetin, 
intimately  incorporated  with  an  equal  quantity  of  hydrastis. 
When  this  drug  is  given  internally  a  lotion  of  the  tincture  or 


506  MEETINGS   OF  SOCIETIES.    ^SS^r.^S^ifMa! 

powdered  root  should  be  applied  at  the  same  time.  When 
nlceration  has  taken  plaee,  Dr.  Gntteridge  laid  great  stress  on 
the  Talue  of  hydrastis,  hamamflUf  comocladia,  bapttsm,  and  the 
iodide  of  arsenic^  pointing  out  the  special  indications  for  the  use 
of  each. 

In  epithelioma,  Dr.  Grntteiidge  drew  attention  to  ranuneuhUf 
arsenicy  and  hydrastu  as  medicines  from  which  the  best  resnlts 
had  accrued.  In  discussing  the  treatment  of  cancer  of  the 
stomach,  he  pointed  out  the  indications  for  the  use  of 
ranunculus,  phosph,,  argent,  nitric,  arsenic,  hydnuHs,  and 
baptisia.  With  some  observations  on  the  nature  of  the  diet  best 
adapted  to  cases  of  cancer,  Dr.  Gntteridge  concluded  his  paper. 

A  discussion  ensued  on  the  Possibilities  of  Medicine  in 
Cancer. 

Papers  were  then  presented  on  gynaecological  subjects,  the 
first  being  by  Dr.  Edwabd  Blase,  On  the  Place  of  Mechanical 
Measures  in  Pelvic  Disease. 

After  some  introductory  remarks  on  the  anatomy  and 
physiology  of  the  uterus,  Dr.  Blake  argued  that  the  greater 
number  of  the  disorders  of  the  female  pelvis  may  be  included  in 
four  categories — 1,  Mechanical  changes  acting  from  vrithont; 
2,  Mechanical  changes  acting  from  within ;  8,  Physiological 
changes  acting  from  without;  4,  Physiological  changes  acting 
from  within. 

"  The  inclination,**  said  Dr.  Blake,"  of  the  dominant  schod 
of  therapeutics,  is  probably  whilst  attaching  undue  importance 
to  mechanical  methods  to  ignore  the  second  or  vital  side ;  whereas 
our  own  tendency  as  undoubtedly  is  to  decry  the  former.*' 

Dr.  Blake  said  that  during  the  first  six  years  of  his  practice 
he  abjured  local  physical  examination  ahnost  entirely,  and  worked 
laboriously  at  subjective  symptomatology,  with  comparatively 
unsatisfactory  results ;  that  during  the  succeeding  six  ye&rs  he 
turned  his  attention  to  the  use  of  various  means  of  physical 
diagnosis,  but  without  using  any  mechanical  contrivances  for 
the  purpose  of  local  treatment ;  while  during  this  time  he  fre- 
quently witnessed  through  homoeopathy  the  temporary  removal  of 
results  of  morbid  processes  without  necessanly  attacking  the 
cause  ;  he  never  during  this  time  witnessed  the  smallest  cervical 
excoriation  healed  under  the  influence  of  internal  medicatkui 
alone,  even  when  such  medication  was  carried  on  under  the  most 
favourable  circumstances.  Sulgective  symptoms  Dr.  Blake 
relies  on  to  differentiate  between  a  group  of  cloeely-aUied 
remedies,  but  to  lead  up  to  that  group  for  diagnostic  and  prog- 
nostic purposes  he  trusted  solely  to  objective  signs. 

Dr.  Blake  ooncluded  his  paper  by  urging  greater  attention  to* 
the  mechanical  causes  of  diseases^ 


SaSHAS^Ti^    MKBTINAS  OP  SOCIETIES.  SOT 

On  the  TretOment  of  Common  Metritis,  egpecially  that  Form 
known  <u  Endo-CervicUU,  with  Vlcsration  of  the  Cervix, 

By  D.  Dtgb  Brown,  M.A.,  M.D. 

Dr.  Brown  cozomenoed  his  paper  by  dwelling  on  the  imperfec- 
tions which  exist  in  onr  proyings,  so  far  as  they  relate  to  chronic 
uterine  inflammation.  A  medicine  to  be  selected  in  this  class  of 
disease  mnst  show — Ist,  from  the  provings  filled  np  by  the 
results  of  clinical  observation,  that  it  has  a  specific  relation  to 
the  genital  organs  by  producing  disordered  menstruation, 
leocorrhoea,  oyarian  pain,  &c. ;  or,  2nd,  if  the  symptoms  should 
be  scanty  in  the  provings,  the  medicine  must  be  one  which 
shows  a  spedfie  affinity  for  mucous  membrane  in  general,  pro- 
ducing catarrh  or  acute  inflammation,  with  their  results  in  the 
shape  of  increased  secretion  or  ulceration  ;  or,  8rd,  it  is  of  the 
utmost  importance  that  it  should  *' cover"  the  constitutional 
dyscrasia  that  may  be  present  with  the  various  symptoms 
referable  to  other  organs  than  the  uterus  and  ovaries.  In 
other  words  it  must  cover  the  totality  of  the  symptoms. 

The  greatest  amount  of  success  Dr.  Brown  thought  was 
attainable,  when  a  remedy  is  selected  which  covers  the  general 
state  of  disordered  health,  more  especially  if  this  remedy  is 
known  to  have  a  specific  a£Snity  for  the  uterine  organs. 

Before  considering  medicines.  Dr.  Brown  drew  attention  to 
local  applications.  Weak  solutions  of  astringent  remedies  he 
regarded  as  acting  in  accordance  with  the  homoeopathic  law  in 
eases  of  chronic  inflammation.  When  first  practising  homoe- 
opathy he  thought  that  such  applications  as  nitrmte  of  silver 
hastened  the  cure  of  disease  of  the  cervix.  Clinical  observa- 
tion had,  however,  convinced  him  that  with  specific  general 
treatment  such  applications  as  nitrate  of  silver,  iodine,  carbolic 
add  applied  by  the  mop  through  the  speculum  were  unnecessary. 
Just,  however,  as  everyone  would  use  water  dressing  or  calendula 
or  Hydrastis  to  promote  healing  in  ulcerated  si^aces  so  he 
employed  these  means  in  such  cases.  When  in  addition  to 
ulceration  the  cervix  was  hypertrophied,  glycerins  diluted  with 
water  or  with  a  few  drops  of  Hydrastis  added  was  useful.  Where 
vaginal  catarrh  is  excessive  injection  of  calendula  and  Hydrastis, 
or  even  in  chronic  cases  of  a  weak  solution  of  zinc  or  alum, 
were  beneficial.  In  suitable  cases  Dr.  Brown  attached  great 
importance  to  the  wet  compress  and  to  the  tepid  sitz  bath. 

Dr.  Brown  then  pointed  out  the  indications  for  the  use  of 
medicines.  Belladonna,  he  said,  was  required  in  almost  every 
case  of  chronic  cervicitis  with  ulceration  at  some  period  of  its 
progress.  The  indications  were  fuUy  and  minutely  given,  but 
at  too  much  length  to  allow  of  our  transcribing  them  here.  Sul- 
phur he  found  often  required,  especially  in  cases  of  chronic 


508  MEETINGS  OF  SOCIETIES.   ^'bSIS^A^!^^. 

mflammation  of  the  yenoos  type — ^when  that  sluggish  state  of 
the  system  exists  which  refuses  to  respond  to  the  action  of 
medicines.  The  symptomatological  indications  were  then  giyen. 
Sepia,  he  showed,  was  indicated  in  endo-cervicitis,  where  the 
uterus  is  enlarged,  prolapsed,  or  where  version  has  occurred. 
When  there  is  a  tendency  to  skin  eruptions,  &c.,  Pulsatilla, 
he  pointed  out  at  some  length,  was  indicated  in  cervical 
disease  hy  the  appearance,  complexion,  and  temperament  of 
the  patient,  the  scanty  or  irregdar  menstruation,  the  men- 
strual pain,  the  leucoirhoea,  prevailing  ehiUiness,  aggrava- 
tion of  symptoms  in  the  evening,  hut  especially  by  the 
gastric  or  gastro-intestinal  catarrh  with  headache.  Actaa 
corresponded  to  the  nervous,  neuralgic,  hyper-s&sthetic  patient 
suffering  from  uterine  disease.  The  coincidence  of  cervical  in- 
flammation, slight  or  severe,  with  well-marked  hyper-festhesia 
(showing  itself  by  the  spinal  tenderness,  the  peculiar  head-aches, 
the  palpitation  and  sleeplessness  from  mental  depression,  or 
alternation  of  depression  with  excitement,  and  sinking  pain  at 
the  epigastrium)  indicates  the  kind  of  case  in  which  it  is  usefdL 
Ignatia  was  indicated  rather  by  the  general  state  of  nervousnesB 
that  characterised  some  cases  than  by  local  manifestations  of 
•disease.  Calcarea  earbomca  in  cervical  disease  associated  with 
struma  he  describes  as  a  remedy  of  immense  value,  especially 
if  the  catamenia  are  too  frequent  and  profuse.  Lycopodium  is 
useful  in  cases  where  the  pelvic  organs  are  congested  and  leucor- 
rhoea  and  endo-cervicitis  are  set  up  in  consequence  of  the  liver 
and  portal  circulation  becoming  congested.  The  condition 
requiring  nux  vomica  resembles  that  in  which  Lycopodium 
is  useful.  Mercury  is  especially  indicated  in  cases  of  endo- 
cervicitis,  when  the  ulceration  is  of  an  unhealthy  and  sloughy 
type,  and  when  vaginal  catarrh  with  thick  leucorrhoea  is 
present  to  a  marked  degree ;  2,  when  gonorrhcea  has  extended 
upwards  to  the  uterus;  8,  when  syphilitic  ulceration  is  made 
-out,  or  when  there  is  reason  to  expect  a  syphilitic  taint;  4, 
when  the  collateral  symptoms,  those  of  the  stomach,  liver^  and 
intestines,  especially  call  for  mercury.  Dr.  Brown  also  noticed 
LiUum  graphites,  arsenic,  and  platina  as  often  indicated  in 
uterine  disease,  and  concluded  by  saying  that,  in  his  opinion^ 
we  quite  as  often  require  to  select  our  remedy  less  on  the 
grounds  of  its  local  action  than  on  those  of  the  systemic  dis- 
turbance or  constitutional  taint  which  may  be  present  in  a  given 
case,  and  the  more  carefully  such  selection  is  made  the  better  it 
seemed  to  him  were  the  results. 

On  the  Treatment  of  some  of  the  Affections  of  the  Cervix  Uteri. 

By  Geo.  M.  Carfbab,  M.I>. 
Dr.  Carfrae  commenced  with  some  remarks  on  the  unsatis- 
factory character  of  much  of  the  Materia  Medica,  and  this  especially 


SS^iS^M^    MEETINGS  OF  SOCIBTIBS.  609' 


9B  related  to  the  action  of  medicmes  on  the  cervix  nteri.  Be- 
8tricting  hia  attention  to  the  consideration  of  cervical  endo- 
metritis, or  cervical  catarrh,  or  uterine  leucorrhoea  and  granular 
erosion,  or  ulceration  of  the  cervix,  he  entered  into  a  full  account 
of  the  etiology,  symptomatologj,  and  pathology  of  the  condition. 
P&Bsing  to  the  treatment  he  divided  it  into  constitutional  and 
local.  In  discussing  the  former  he  took  Guernsey's  book  on 
Obstetrics^  and  examined  the  medicines  named  therein  as 
applicable  to  this  condition.  He  insisted  that  as  leucorrhoea 
was  a  constant  symptom  of  this  disease  it  ought  to  be  among 
the  phenomena  produced  by  each  medicine  adapted  to  cure  it, 
if  the  totality  of  the  symptoms  was  to  be  our  guide.  Many  of ' 
the  medicines  recommended  by  Guernsey  have  not  this  symptom 
in  their  provings.  Of  the  provings  of  others,  it  must,  he 
thought,  be  admitted  that  they  were  unreliable.  He  then  pro- 
ceeds to  examine  seriatim  all  the  medicines  named  by  Ghiemsey, 
concluding  that  out  of  seventy-two  such  remedies  about  a  dozen 
and  a  half  have  no  leucorrhosa  in  the  list  of  symptoms  attributed 
to  them ;  while  about  one  half  of  the  whole  number  have  been 
proved,  Dr.  Carfrae  thinks,  in  a  manner  too  loose  to  merit  our 
confidence,  reducing  the  number  of  drugs,  the  provings  of 
which  entitle  us  to  look  upon  them  as  ixulj  homoeopathic  to 
cervical  leucorrhoea  to  scarcely  a  dozen;  and  of  these  Dr. 
Garfrae  is  doubtful  of  at  least  six.  Of  eleven  other  medicines 
recommended  by  Hale  the  value  is  chiefly  empirical,  few  of  them< 
having  been  thoroughly  proved. 

Beading  the  Materia  Medioa  as  poor  in  relation  to  truly 
homodopathic  remedies  in  cervical  leucoirhoaa  and  granular 
and  folHcidar  disease  of  the  cervix,  he  asks,  do  we  get  any  help 
from  local  applications,  and,  if  so,  from  what?  He  then 
examines  the  views  of  Guernsey^  Madden,  Leadam,  Ludlam, 
and  Hale,  with  regard  to  the  use  and  mode  of  action  of 
externally-applied  irritants.  He  concludes  that  we  are  far 
from  having  arrived  at  that  amount  of  scientific  precision 
which  is  desirable  or  attainable.  This  he  attributes  to 
some  extent  to  the  number  of  unreliable  provings  which 
are  incorporated  in  our  text  books.  To  some  extent  also 
is  it  due  to  the  difficulty  of  getting  good  provings  of  drugs^ 
which  have  a  specific  relation  to  the  utenis;  while,  lastiy, 
the  semeiology  of  these  afiections  is  often  very  vague  and 
no  sure  indication  of  their  pathological  condition.  To  admit 
that  the  combined  local  and  constitutional  treatment  of  cervi- 
citis, granular,  erosion,  &c.,  gives  the  patient  the  best  hope  of  a 
cure  is  to  allow  that  our  treatment  is  to  a  certain  extent 
empirical.  '*  This,"  he  adds, ''  I  fear  must  be  so,  until  we  have 
a  reformed  Materia  Medica.'*  As  medicines.  Dr.  Garfrae  relies 
ichiefly  on  arsstdGf  mercurius^  nux  vcmca^  phosphorus^  pulstUiUar. 


^10  BiEETINGS  OP  SOCIETIES.    "^SSrfi^^lfSl! 

sdbina,  $epia,  vadferrum,  while  gdseminumf  helomoM^  hamamdk^ 
UUum,  Phytolacca,  and  anthoxylum  are,  he  thinks,  valnaUe 
additions  to  onr  armamentarinm,  but  requiring  more  thorough 
proving.  The  best  local  applications  are  chromic^  carboUCf  and 
nitric  acids,  and  nitrate  of  siher. 

He  concludes  by  hoping  that  ultimatelj  we  may  treat  these 
-cases  altogether  without  tibe  aid  of  local  applications.  So  long 
as  these  are  used  we  must  admit  that  onr  treatment  is,  to  a 
certain  extent,  unscientific  and  unsatisfactory.  When  we  can 
abolish  them  it  will  be  because  we  have  attained  that  amount  of 
scientific  preciaon  which  meanwhile  it  must  be  our  constant 
endeavour  to  reach. 

A  discussion  followed  on  the  Influence  of  Homoeopathy  on 
Uterine  Disease,  at  the  conclusion  of  which  the  meeting 
adjourned. 

On  Friday  afternoon  the  subjects  of  general,  ophthalmic,  and 
aural  surgery  were  brought  under  the  consideration  of  the  Gon- 
vention,  and  received  full  discussion. 

The  first  contribution  presented  was  from  Dr.  Bojantts,  of 
Nischny-NoYOgorod,  in  Bussia.  It  was  in  the  form  of  a  book, 
entitled,  Homceopathic  Therapeutics  in  its  application  to  Operative 
Surgery,  and  upon  this  Dr.  Dudgeon  prepared  a  report,  giving  a 
brief  resume  of  its  contents.  It  is  occupied  with  a  detailed 
analysis  of  the  operations  performed  in  the  hospital  to  which  th« 
author  is  attached. 

Surgical  Therapeutics  is  the  Bubjeot  of  Dr.  J.  C.  Mcnuuir's 
(Philadelphia)  contribution  to  the  Transactions, 

Dr.  Morgan  commences  his  paper  with  some  remarks  on  the 
comparative  value  of  aconite  in  wounds  and  other  injuries.  In 
these  classes  of  cases.  Dr.  Morgan  contends  that  aconite  is 
superior  to  arnica — 1,  in  iiyuries  of  the  eyeballs ;  2,  in  the 
reaction  which  occurs  some  hours  after  an  ii^ury;  8,  in  the 
commencement  of  a  sprain.  Dr.  Morgan  then  adduoes  some 
illustrations  of  the  sorbefacient  effects  of  the  internal  ezhibitioB 
of  hydrastis  80,  sepia  Im,  arsen,,  iod,  dx,  and  hypericum  2x  in 
mammary  tumours. 

Passing  to  tumours  of  the  uterus  and  ovaries,  Dr.  Morgan  has 
no  records  of  absolute  cure  by  drugs,  but  he  can  say  that  in  no 
case  has  it  been  necessary  to  submit  any  such  to  a  surgical  pro- 
cedure, except  the  pedunculated  polypi,  fibrous} and  mucous; 
these  he  has  uniformly  removed  by  the  wire  Scraseur,  AH 
others  he  has  treated  with  drugs  '*  in  potency  "  for  months  and 
years,  according  to  the  various  changes  of  symptoms,  to  the 
great  satisfaction  of  patients,  ;Rrho  in  sheer  desperation  had 
previously  courted  the  most  formidable  resources  of  surgery. 

Dr.  Morgan  concludes  by  giving  the  charaeterirtio  indications 
ibr  the  use  of  a  number  of  medicines  in  the  treatment  of  tomomt. 


IS^S^Utm!^  MEETINGS  OP  SOCIETIES.  511 

Dr.  Watson,  of  Hsmmersmith,  eontribnted  a  paper  entitled 
Surgical  ObserwUions,  which  consisted  of  some  general  observa- 
tions on  the  pathology  and  treatment  of  abscess,  illnstrated  by 
several  cases. 

A  discussion  then  ensaed  on  the  Help  bronght  to  the  Snrgeon 
by  Homoeopathy,  in  which  Dr.  Dmm,  Dr.  M'Clelland,  Dr. 
Helmnth,  and  ottiers  took  part. 

A  Paper  on  the  Therapeutics  of  Iritis,  by  Dr.  Vilas,  of  Chicago, 
was  then  presented*. 

Dr.  Vilas  declined  to  discnss  the  cnrability  of  iritis  by  internal 
remedies  alone,  because  he  is  of  opinion  that  internal  medication 
alone  will  never  cnre  all  cases  wluch  might  be  cored  were  they 
treated  with  all  the  means  at  onr  command.  The  first  point  in 
the  treatment,  he  says,  consists  in  perfect  rest  of  both  eyes, 
shnttmg  ont  of  bright  light,  and  protection  from  injorioiui 
changes  of  temperature.  The  second  consists  in  obtaining 
•complete  rest  for  the  iris.  Of  all  mydriatics,  atropium,  he  said, 
was  the  best,  and  the  best  preparation  a  carefully  prepared 
^phate.  The  advantages  to  be  obtained  and  dangers  to  be 
avoided  were  folly  pointed  out.  Various  other  mydmtics  were 
noticed  by  Dr.  Vilas.  In  all  cases,  save  those  in  which  there 
are  no  synechisd  likely  to  form,  can,  he  alleged,  a  mydriatic  be 
safely  dispensed  with.  If  there  be  exudation  from  the  iris,  and 
it  is  not  drawn  away  from  its  resting  place,  the  anterior  lens 
•capsule,  synechiffi  must  form,  and  more  or  less  firmly  tie  down 
the  iris.  Dr.  Vilas  next  considered  the  indications  for  the  use 
of  internal  remedies.  These  comprised  some  twenty-eight 
drugs,  and  form  a  usefol  collection  of  references  for  ophthalmic 
surgery.  We  must,  however,  direct  our  readers  to  the 
Tranuactione  for  their  study. 

The  Treatment  of  Iritis,  simple  and  syphilitic,  was  then  made 
the  subject  of  discussion,  the  debate  being  opened  by  Dr. 
Bushrod  James,  of  Philadelphia. 

This  being  terminated,  the  last  paper  to  be  presented  to  the 
donvention,  that  by  Dr.  Goofbk,  of  London,  on  Aural  Surgery, 
was  introduced  under  the  title.  Notes  an  some  Jlomaopatkie 
Esmedies  in  Aural  Disease,  After  some  introductory  remarks  on 
the  position  of  the  therapeutics  of  aural  surgery.  Dr.  Cooper 
pointed  out  the  indications  for  the  use  of  the  following  medi*- 
icines  in  different  forms  of  deafriess : — GeUeminnm,  Hydrastis 
canadensis,  picric  acid,  capsicum,  arnica,  rkus,  ignatia,  quinine, 
amyl  nitrite,  chloroform,  salicylic  acid,  and  salicylate  of  soda, 
eypis  melUfica,  lachesis,  slaps,  cor,,  crotahts,  formica,  naja,  and 
vespa.  In  reviewing  his  experience,  Dr.  Cooper  says  that  the 
conclusion  is  forced  upon  him  that  very  long  standing  eases  are 
best  met  by  highly  dynamised  preparations;  these,  beyond 
question,  he  says,  excoi  a   most  powexfol  and    satisfiEtoiory 


512  HEETiNas  OF  socnTiEB.  "^^^J^f^M?; 


inflnenee.   He  especuJlj  names  pkotph.  and  cdlearea  as 
wbieh  in  a  hif^  dilation  haTe  proTed  of  most  essential  sendee. 

After  Dr.  Cooper's  paper  had  been  introdneed  a  discussion 
ensaed  on  the  plan  of  HonuBopathic  Medication  in  Ear  Disease. 

The  ConTention  assembled  at  two  o'clock  on  the  following  day 
for  the  transaction  of  miscellaneous  business. 

The  report  of  the  Conmiittee  and  the  President's  address  were 
brought  forward,  and  as  practical  results  it  was  determined  to 
appoint  a  committee,  consisting  of  one  or  more  skilled  phaima* 
ceutists  in  each  country  represented  by  the  ConTention,  to 
co-operate  with  the  editor  of  the  Pharmaeopaia  of  ths  BrUiA 
Homaoptukie  Society  in  the  preparation  (^  a  pharmacopoua 
which  shall  be  adopted  by  all  nations. 

It  was  also  resolTed  that  a  permanent  secretary  of  Inter- 
national HomcBopathic  CouTentions  be  appointed,  aiid  to  this 
office  Dr.  Richard  Hughes  was  unanimously  appointed. 

After  some  couTenwtion,  it  appeared  to  be  the  wish  of  the 
members  of  the  ConTention  that  the  meeting  of  the  ConTention, 
which  would  in  the  ordinary  course  of  CTents  be  held  in  1886, 
should  take  place  at  Brussels. 

The  statistics  of  the  ConTention  were  presented  by  the  Presi- 
dent, from  which  it  appeared  that  78  British,  81  American, 
4  Fiench,  1  Italian,  and  1  Bussian  physician  had  entered  their 
names  on  the  books  of  the  Congress,  while  there  is  reascm  to 
belieTe  that  some  20  Biitish  practitioners  had  been  present  at 
the  meetings,  but  had  omitted  to  record  the  &ct  of  their 
presence. 

After  Tciy  cordial  Totes  of  thanks  to  the  President,  mee- 
I^nesident,  Secretaries,  and  Treasurer,  the  members  separated. 

THE  BRITISH   HOMCEOPATHIC    SOCIETY 

CONVERSAZIONE. 

(comcuiacATED.) 

On  Thursday  CTening,  the  14th  ult.,  the  Members  of  the 
International  Homoeopathic  ConTention  were  entertained  at  a 
ConTcrsazione  held  at  the  rooms  of  The  Society  of  Britiflh 
Artists  in  Suffolk  Street,  and  a  brilliant  company  was  innted  to 
meet  them. 

The  Tisitors,  to  the  number  of  260,  were  receiTed  by  ^e 
President  of  the  Society  and  Mrs,  Pope.  The  stair-oass, 
entrance-hall,  and  the  cldef  rooms  were  most  tastefully  de- 
eorated  with  flowers,  while  the  unusually  fine  collection  of 
pictures,  which  were  on  ezhibitian  at  the  time,  was  a  source  of 
much  interest  and  pleasure,  and  afforded  a  fine  back-ground  te 
the  display  of  the  ladies'  dresses. 

The  chief  feature  of  the  eTming's  amusement  was  the  mnmct 


tX^T^  MEBilNGS  OF  SOCIBTIEB.  618 

vhich  was  of  a  Teiy  high  order.  M.  Niedzielski  performed 
twice  on  the  violin  with  that  degree  of  brilliancy  for  which  he  is 
now  BO  well  known  in  London  mosical  circles.  His  second  piece, 
entitled  '<  Sonvenir  de  H£^ydn,'*bj  Leonard,  was  remarkably  fine, 
and  an  irresistible  eneare  was  the  resnlt,  which  M.  Niedzielski 
obligingly  gratified.  Miss  Meredith  Brown  and  Miss  Nellie 
Bnmmers  were  the  solo  vocalists.  The  former,  a  deep 
contralto,  sang  ''The  Three  Bavens,*'  an  old  English  ballad, 
and  Madame  Sainton-Dolby *s  song  "  Ont  on  the  Rocks/'  The 
latter,  a  very  sweet  soprano,  ''  When  the  Tide  comes  in,"  and 
**  A  Summer  Shower."  Botii  were  in  excellent  voice,  and  were 
received  with  mnch  applause.  In  the  course  of  the  evening 
Mr.  Burgess  Perry's  Glee  Party  enlivened  the  company  with 
several  excellently  rendered  glees  and  part-songs,  to  the  great 
Batis£ftction  of  the  visitors. 

The  reunion  was  much  enjoyed  by  all  present,  and  the  feeling 
that  it  had  proved  a  great  success  was  very  generally  expressed. 
The  President  of  the  Society  and  Mrs.  Pope  may  be  congratulated 
on  having  added  greatiy  to  the  pleasures  which  those  present  at 
the  Convention  experienced  during  the  week. 

The  only  cause  of  inconvenience  was  the  intense  heat^ — it  was 
the  evening  of  the  hottest  day  of  the  hottest  week  of  the  year. 
This,  unfortunately,  was  not  under  the  control  of  mine  host. 

THE  DINNER. 
To  go  through  a  week  of  hard  work  and  bring  the  proceedings 
to  a  close  without  a  dinner  would  be  too  un-English  to  be  endured. 
Gonsequentiy,  though  no  part  of  the  programme  of  the  Conven- 
tion, it  was  determined,  chiefiy  at  the  instigation  of  Dr.  Burnett 
and  Dr.  Roth,  that  our  guests  from  America  and  the  Continent 
*  should  be  entertained  at  a  public  dinner  ere  they  left  London. 
The  idea  had  but  to  be  broached  to  be  taken  up  with  alacrity 
and  zeal  by  many  homoeopathic  practitioners,  and  an  adequate 
subscription  list  was  filled  within  two  or  three  days. 

On  the  evening  of  Friday,  the  15th,  about  one  hundred 
British,  American,  and  Continental  practitioners  dined  together 
at  the  '<  Criterion,"  in  Piccadilly.  The  chair  was  occupied  by 
Dr.  Hughes,  the  I^sident  of  the  Convention,  and  the  vice-chair 
by  Dr.  Pope.  The  dinner  was  excellent  and  well  served,  and 
the  wine  was  good.  Mr.  Burgess  Perry's  Glee  Party  attended, 
and  on  the  removal  of  the  cloth,  sang  '*  Non  Nobis  Domine  " 
very  effectively.  The  CHiiiBHAN  then  proposed  ''  The  Health  of 
the  Queen,"  which  was  drunk  right  heartily,  and  followed  by 
"  God  Save  the  Queen,"  from  Mr.  Perry  and  his  Mends.  ''The 
Health  of  the  Prince  and  Princess  of  Wales  and  all  the  Members 
of  the  Royal  FamOy"  was  proposed  by  Dr.  Pope  and  responded 
to  very  cordially.  This  was  followed  by  a  glee,  **  The  Sailor's 
Home." 

Ho.  8,  voL  26.  2  L 


614  MEETINGS  OF  SOGIETIEB.  ^'S^fSSthm, 

The  "  Memory  of  Hahnemann  "  was  proposed  by  Dr.  Db 
GsBBDOBFF,  of  Boston,  who  when  a  child  had  been  a  patient 
of ''  The  Master."  Dr.  De  GersdorTs  father,  the  Baron  De 
Gersdorff,  was  one  of  Hahnemann's  most  zealous  and  self- 
sacrificing  provers.    The  toast  was  drunk  in  solenm  silence. 

*'  Prosperity  to  Medical  Education  **  was  then  proposed  by 
Dr.  Yon  Dittmakn,  of  St.  Petersburg,  and  responded  to  by 
Dr.  Talbot,  the  Dean  of  the  Medical  Faculty  of  Bioston. 

Dr.  Burnett  then  proposed  **  Prosperity  to  American  Sur- 
gery,*' which  was  responded  to  in  a  humorous  speech  by  Dr. 
Helmuth,  of  New  York,  during  the  course  of  which  he  succen- 
fully  magnified  his  office  by  reciting  an  original  poem  in  honour 
of  surgery^  a  production  which  was  received  with  immense 
applause. 

<<  Medical  Literature  **  was  proposed  by  Dr.  Dudgkok,  and 
responded  to  by  Dr.  Fosteb,  of  Chicago. 

This  was  followed  by  an  extremely  effectiye  song  by  Mr. 
Perry,  entitled  **  The  Boatswain's  Story." 

Dr.  BusHBOD  James,  of  Philadelphia,  then  proposed  ^^  Success  to 
Homoeopathic  Hospitals,"  which  was  responded  to  by  Dr. 
M'Olelulnd,  of  Pittsburg,  who  gave  a  very  graphic  account  of 
the  duties  of  a  hospital  surgeon  in  the  United  States. 

*^  Prosperity  to  Homoeopathic  Societies  "  was  proposed  by  Dr. 
Methoffeb,  and  responded  to  by  Dr.  Bbeyfogle,  the  President- 
elect of  the  American  Institute  of  Homoeopathy. 

Then  came  a  beautiful  glee,  ^'  Haste  ye  soft  gales."  After 
which  Dr.  Dbysdale  proposed  the  <*  Health  of  our  American 
Guests,  to  which  Dr.  Conbad  Wesselhceft  responded. 

Our  **  Continental  Guests  "  was  proposed  by  Dr.  Pops,  and 
responded  to  by  Dr.  Claude,  of  Paris. 

Dr.  Dake,  of  Nashville,  then  proposed  the  "  Health  of  the 
President  and  Vice-President,"  who  responded. 

Several  impromptu  toasts  were  afterwards  proposed  and  drank 
with  much  enthusiasm,  among  which  was  one  by  Dr.  Buxnktt, 
that  was  especially  well  received — **  The  Health  of  the  President 
of  the  United  States,"  coupled  with  an  earnest  wish  for  his 
speedy  recovery  from  the  wound  received  from  an  insane 
assassin. 

After  leaving  the  dining-hall  a  considerable  amount  of  time 
was  spent  in  the  hat-room  in  saying  *'  good-byes,"  and  many 
and  most  gratifying  were  the  expressions  of  the  pleasure  onr 
guests  had  enjoyed  during  the  week. 

No  event  of  the  week  was  productive  of  more   eiyoyment, 
k  none  more  thoroughly  successful  than  this  closing  dinner,  and  Dr. 

<  Burnett,  on  whose  shoulders  rested  the  chief  burden  of  making 

[  arrangements  for  it,  may  well  be  congratulated  On  the  succesi  0^ 

^  bis  efforts. 


r 


f^ggff^?^^  NOTABILIA. 516 

NOTABILIA. 

TESTIMONIAL  TO  LORD  EBURY. 

Ws  much  regret  being  obliged  to  omit  the  list  of  Bubseribers 
to  the  testimonifd  which  is  being  raised  io  Lord  Ebnry,  in 
consequence  of  the  nnnsual  pressure  upon  our  space  by  the 
reports  of  the  proceedings  of  the  International  Homoeopathio 
GonTention.  But  we  are  sure  that  our  readers  will  be  pleased  to 
learn  that  a  sufficient  sum  has  been  subscribed  to  enable  the 
Committee  to  enter  into  arrangements  with  an  artbt  of  high 
repute  to  paint  a  full  length  portrait  of  the  noble  lord  for 
presentation  to  Lady  Ebury.  Due  notice  will  be  given  of  its 
completion,  so  that  subscribers  may  haye  an  opportunity  of 
viewing  the  work. 

THE  INTERNATIONAL  MEDICAL  AND  HYGEE5NE 
EXHIBITION  IN  SOUTH  KENSINGTON. 

OuB  readers  will  be  interested  in  hearing  of  some  of  the  con- 
tributions made  to  this  exhibition  by  a  few  of  our  homoeopathic 
colleagues. 

Drs.Drysdale  and  Hayward  exhibit  drawings,  plans,  and  books 
of  their  warming  and  ventilating  system  for  houses.  This  system 
has  been  successfully  carried  out  in  the  houses  of  our  two 
friends  at  Liverpool.  About  two  or  three  years  ago  a  mansion 
was  built  on  the  Hove  estate  in  Brighton,  warmed  and  ventilated 
after  this  manner,  when  a  number  of  medical  and  other  scientific 
men  were  invited  to  listen  to  a  clear  explanation  of  this  excel- 
lent system  from  Dr.  Hayward.  The  principal  feature  of  the 
plan  is  a  central  shaft  with  warm  air,  which  distributes  an 
uniform  degree  of  warmth  over  the  house,  while  the  kitchen  fire 
acts  on  a  shaft  which  carries  off  all  the  foul  air.  Within  twenty 
minutes  all  the  air  in  the  house  can  be  renewed  without  any 
draught ;  the  fresh  warm  air  enters  on  one  side  of  the  ceiling, 
while  the  foul  air  is  absorbed  on  the  other.  In  summer,  the  air 
which  enters  the  house  can  pass  through  wet,  cold  blankets  and 
sheets ;  thus  the  air  in  the  room  is  cooled,  while  the  outer  tempera- 
ture is  higher.  What  a  benefit  at  such  a  hot  season  afl  that 
through  which  we  have  just  passed.  We  recommend  all  our 
readers  interested  in  home  comforts  and  the  prevention  of 
disease  to  study  Drs.  Drysdale  and  Hayward's  books  and 
plans. 

Dr.  Dudgeon,  who  has  most  generously  placed  his  invention 
of  the  best  sphygmograph  at  the  disposition  of  all  manufacturers 
of  medical  and  scientific  instruments,  exhibits  this  instrument. 
We  hope  our  colleagues  of  the  old  school  will  appreciate  the 
merits  of  this  sphygmograph,  one  which  can  be  applied  to 
young  and  old  in  a  recumbent,  sitting,  or  standing  position, 


516 HOTABEUA.  '^ggS^.A.^.f.MB. 

wiihont  cansing  the  patient  the  slightest  trouble.  The  pressure 
on  the  pulse  can  be  changed  from  one  to  fonr  ounces,  so  that 
the  medical  man  can  use  it  whether  the  patient  is  weak  or 
strong.  As  the  price  is  only  one-third  of  the  original  and 
incomplete  sphygmograph,  we  can  but  encourage  our  coUeagnei 
to  provide  themselves  with  this  beautiful  and  exact  instrument. 
They  will  soon  find  out  that  the  old  practice  of  ATfLnn'ning  the 
pulse  by  the  finger  is  very  uncertain  and  incorrect,  as  it  depends 
upon  tLe  individuality  of  the  medical  man,  whose  touch  or 
pressure  vary  according  to  his  general  state  of  health  and  strengtL 

There  are  some  exhibits  planned  and  carried  out  according  to 
the  ideas  of  another  of  our  colleagues,  who  for  many  yean  has 
taken  much  interest  in  hygiene — ^Ih*.  Both. 

These  are  the  publications  of  the  Ladies'  Sanitary  Associatioiif 
which  was  originated  twenty-five  years  ago  by  Dr.  Roth,  who, 
with  the  assistance  of  Lady  Mount-Temple  (at  that  time  the 
Honourable  Mrs.  William  Cowper),  by  Lady  Ebury  (at  that 
period  Lady  Bobert  Grosvenor),  and  Mme.  La  Comtesse  da 
Noailles,  nee  Miss  Trevelyan,  and  succeeded  in  establishing  this 
society,  which  has  published  one  and  a  half  million  of  sanitaiy 
tracts,  beginning  with  one  on  '^The  Health  of  Mothers,"  and 
"  How  to  Manage  a  Baby." 

Besides  numerous  popular  lectures  on  sanitary  laws,  the 
society  has  distributed  patterns  of  hygiene  dresses  for  babiee, 
infants,  and  children. 

As  Dr.  Both's  name  is  not  mentioned  in  connection  with  this 
important  work,  we  suppose  that  the  committee  and  the  secre- 
tary have  forgotten  that  they  owe  all  to  him. 

Messrs.  Coleman  and  Glendinning,  of  Wigmore  Street  and 
Norwich,  exhibit  Dr.  Both's  hygiene  school  desk  and  chair. 
These  have  now  been  introduced  into  many  schools,  and  are  at 
present  the  best  for  comfort  and  health,  because  the  body  is  aUe 
to  lean  while  writing,  reading,  and  drawing.  The  table  or  desk 
is  movable,  drawn  to  the  writer,  which  prevents  round  and 
high  shoulders,  flat  chests,  deformities  of  the  spine.  Our 
readers  are  recommended  when  visiting  the  exhibition  to  trj 
these  chairs  and  to  judge  for  themselves  how  comfortable  they  are. 

The  Society  for  the  Prevention  of  Blindness  and  the  Improve- 
ment  for  the  Physique  of  the  Blind — Hon.  Treasurer  (pro  tem.) 
Dr.  Both — exhibit  their  papers,  reports,  and  the  best  advice  to 
mothers  who  do  not  wish  their  children  to  be  blind.  Half  the 
blindness  in  Europe,  amounting  to  800,000  cases,  is  caused  by 
the  ignorance  of  mothers  regarding  the  preventible  and  curable 
inflammation  of  the  eyes  of  the  new  bom.  Of  three  persons 
who  are  blind  two  are  blind  through  ignorance  and  neglect 

A  series  of  twelve  gymnastic  models  are  also  exhibited  (which 
many  years  ago  were  modelled  from  life  by  a  French  sculptor, 


JSaSy^MTSST  HOTABIUA, 617 

Mr.  Megraiy  onto  Dr.  BoUi*8  saperintendenee),  tfaoM  serve  for 
the  phjdcal  ednotttum  of  the  hlind. 

We  reconunend  those  interested  in  the  diminntion  of  blindness 
and  in  a  better  physical  state  of  the  blind,  to  address  themselres 
to  the  hon.  secretary,  48,  Wimpole  Street,  London,  W.,  for 
farther  information,  and  hope  they  inSl  try  to  make  it  known 
that,  as  Dr.  Both  says,  ^*  people  have  no  bosiness  to  be  blind." 

THE  LANCET  ON  HOMCBOPATHY. 

Om  the  21st  of  May  last,  the  Lancet  published  a  leading  article, 
in  which  the  writer  admitted,  as  true,  nearly  eyerything  that 
homoeopathic  practitioners  have  hitherto  contended  for.  Three 
letters  from  well  known  homoBopathic  physiciaDs  were  immediately 
addressed  to  oxa  contemporary,  pointing  oat  this  fact.  After 
three  weeks  delay — ^snggestive  of  a  good  deal  of  discussion  as  to 
whether  they  shonld  appear  or  not — ^these  letters  were  published. 
By  way  of  a  "  make- weight,"  a  paragraph  appeared  in  another 
portion  of  the  Lancet  deliberately  misrepresenting  the  purport  of 
these  communications.  That,  however,  it  would  seem,  is  not 
atonement  enough  for  the  Lancet  to  mikke  for  having  pablished 
a  nearly  complete  recognition  of  homoeopathy.  Tbe  ghost  of 
its  founder  would  seem  to  have  been  stirred  up,  to  have 
**  knocked  "  or  "  rapped  "  Yoeiferonsly  at  the  editorial  door,  and 
having  gained  admission  to  the  sanctum,  to  have  denounced, 
after  the  manner  of  former  days,  any  conclusions  whatever  in 
favour  of  homoeopathy.  And  now,  in  consequence  of  all  this 
hubbub,  we  find  Uie  Lancet  of  the  16th  nit.  appealing  to  the 
British  Medical  Association  to  re-enact  the  resolutions  of  1851, 
resolutions  denouncing  as  false  that  which  two  months  before  the 
Lancet  had  declared  to  be  true  1 

It  is  really  a  matter  of  very  Httle  consequence  to  any  one, 
except  members  of  the  British  Medical  Association,  whether  their 
resolutions  are  repeated,  or  whether  they  are  not.  The  only 
effect  that  any  re-enactment  of  them  can  have  will  be  to  stamp 
those  engaged  in  the  operation  as  a  body  of  blind,  stupid  dolts, 
incapable  of  learning  anything  or  of  perceiving  the  signs  of  the 
times.  These  resolutions  are  so  well  known  that  it  is  unnecessary 
for  us  to  reproduce  them  here,  especially  as  they  are  folly  set 
forth  in  the  Lancet  of  the  16th.  The  first  has,  we  may  state, 
been  proved  to  be  utterly  erroneous  by  the  general  experience  of 
the  profession.  The  second  is  a  pure  fabrication,  and  has  not 
and  never  had  any  justification  in  fact.  Upon  these  two  reso- 
lutions hang  all  the  rest,  except  the  ninth,  which  is  as  genuine  a 
piece  of  cant  as  ever  was  uttered  by  Mr.  Pecksniff.  The  Lancet 
describes  the^  resolutions  as  '*  excellent,  decided,  straightforward, 
honest  1"  And  then  proceeds,  with  an  apparent  effort  at  a 
sigh,  to  say,  <'  but  in  view  of  recent  events  and  expressions  of 


518 


notabuja. 


B«Tiew,  Ang.  1,  IM. 


opinion,  there  is  room  for  question  whether,  with  inereaaing  age, 
this  Association,  or  rather  some  of  its  leaders,  may  not  hare  lost 
part  of  their  early  zeal  for  '  honesty '  in  professiomd  conduct ! " 
Maoh  as  the  Laneet  may  desire  to  imitate  the  efforts  of  the  lale 
Mrs.  Partington,  who  strove  hard  to  prevent  the  incursion  of  the 
waves  of  an  advancing  tide  with  her  mop,  we  suspect  that  the 
present  crusade  against  therapeutic  trutii  will  terminate  after 
much  the  same  manner — the  pen  will  he  as  impotent  against 
truth,  as  the  mop  was  against  the  sea ! 

Let  the  opponents  of  homoeopathy  pass  their  resolutions  if 
they  can.  No  intelligent  physician  or  surgeon  will  attach  the 
slightest  importance  to  them. 

But  the  Association  cannot  pass  them  if  it  would.  It  is  now 
a  "Limited  Company,"  and  registered  under  the  Friendly 
Societies*  Act — and  as  their  resolutions  and  their  consequent  bye- 
laws  are  "  in  restraint  of  trade,"  they  are  inadmissible  in  point 
of  law  I 

How  can  Wakley*s  ghost  be  propitiated  ?    Alas !     How  ? 

HAHNEMANN  PUBLISHING  SOCIETY. 

A  UEETiNa  of  this  Society  was  held  on  Wednesday,  the  12th  alt., 
Dr.  Hughes  in  the  chair.  We  are  compeUed  by  the  pressure  on 
our  space  to  postpone  the  publication  of  the  report  until  our  neit 
number. 

LIST    OF    SUBSCmBERS    TO    THE    INTERNATIONAL 
HOMOEOPATHIC    CONVENTION,   1881. 

£   B.  d. 


Br.  A.  P.  Anderson 110 

Dr.  Bajes 2    2    0 

Br.  Baynes  110 

Br.  William  BeU 110 

Br.Blaok 110 

Br.  Charles  Blackley 110 

Dr.  GaUey  Blackley    1    1    0 

Dr.  5.  Blake    110 

Dr.  GibbB  Blake 1    1    0 

Dr.  Blumberg  1    1    0 

Dr.Blyth 110 

Dr.  Bodman 110 

Dr.  Biadfihaw 1    1    0 

Dr.  Brooks  110 

Dr.  Dyce  Brown 110 

Dr.  Samuel  Brown 110 

Dr.  Biyce 1    1    0 

Dr.  Buck  110 

Dr.  Burnett 1    1    0 

Dr.  Burwood    1    1    0 

Dr.  Butcher 1    1    0 

Mr.  Cameron   110 

Honbl.  Dr.  A.  Campbell...  110 
BcGaxfrae ,.«•.....  1    1    0 


£   B.  d. 


Dr.  Cash  

Dr.  Chalmers  

Dr.  Clare 

Dr.  Clarke    

Dr.  A.  Clifton 

Dr.  Oeorge  Clifton  .... 

Dr.  ColUna  

Dr.  Cooper  

Dr.  Cronin  

Dr.  Crouoher   

Dr.  Dixon    

Dr.  Druiy 

Dr.  Diysdale    ..., 

Dr.  Dndgeon    , 

Dr.  W.  Ford  Edgelow 

Mr.  Engall   

Dr.  Epps  

Dr.  FKnt  

Dr.  Galloway  , 

Dr.  Gibson  

Dr.  Goldsborough  .... 

Dr.  Gould 

Dr.  Guiness 

Dr.  Ghitteridee , 


1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
2 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 


0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

fl 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 


Boview,  Aug.  1, 1861. 


GOBBESPOKDBNOE. 


519 


Dr.  Hale  

Dr.  E.Hall 

Dr,  Hamilton 

Dr.  Harris    

Dr.  Harper  

Dr.  Hawkos 

Dr.  Hayle     

Dr.  Hayward    

Dr.  Hewan   

Dr.  Hughea 

Dr.  Johnson 

Dr.  Jagielski    

Dr.  Ker 

Dr.  London 

Dr.M'Hwniith 

Dr.  E.  Madden 

Dr.  Kaffej 

Dr.  Marsden 

Dr.  Mackeohnie 

Dr.  Maciniosh 

Dr.  Mahony 

Dr.  Mansell 

Dr.  Markwlck  

Dr.  Massy .^ 

Dr.  Matheson  

Dr.  Metcalfe 

Dr.Mmm     

Mr.  Mills 

Dr.  Douglas  Moir   

Dr.  Samuel  Morgan   

Major  Yaughan- Morgan... 

Dr.  Morrisson  

Dr.  H.  Nankivell 

Bir.  J.  H.  NankiveU    

Dr.NeUd 

Dr.  Nicholson 

Mr.  Noble 

Mr.  Nonnan     

Dr.  Perkins 

Dr.  Pope  

Dr.  Potta  

Dr.  Prater 

Dr.  Proctor  

Dr.  Powell    

Dr.  Pordom 

Dr.  Pnllar 

Dr.  Fybnm 

Dr.  Bamsbotham 


£   B.  d. 


1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

0 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 


0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 


£  8.  d* 


Mr.  Bowbotham 

Mr.  Beynolds  

Dr.  E.  B.  Boche 

Dr.  JohnBoche  

Dr.  W.  Boche  

Dr.  Both  

Dr.  Sandberg  

Dr.  W.Scott    

Dr.  Scriven 

Dr.  Shaw 

Mr.  C.  E.  Shaw  

Dr.  Shepherd  

Dr.  Shuldham 

Dr.  Smark 

Dr.  Stephens   

Dr.  Stiles ••• 

Dr.  Stokes 

Dr.  Siiss-Hahnemann    ... 

Dr.  Tuckey  

Dr.  Wynne  Thomas   

Dr.  Ussher  

Dr.  Wallace 

Dr.  H.  Wheeler  

Dr.  W.  Wheeler 

Mr.  Whitehead    

Dr.  Wielobycki    

Dr.  John  Wilde  

Dr.  Percy  Wilde 

Dr.  A.  Williams  

Dr.  Eubnlus  Williams  ... 

Dr.  WoLiton 

Dr.  Neville  Wood    

Mr.  Thorold  Wood 

Dr.  Woodgates 

Dr.  George  Wyld 

Dr.  Yeldham    

Chemists. 
Messrs.  Epps,  London  ... 
Messrs.  Gould,  London ... 
Mr.  Gillett,  Sonthport   ... 
Messrs.  Eeene  &  Ashwdl, 

London    5 

Messrs.    Leath   A    Boss, 

London 10 

Mr.  Martin,  Melbourne  ...  5 


1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
5 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
0 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 

5 
5 
1 


0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 
0 
0 


5    0 


10 
5 


0 
0 


Total    £188    8    0 


FRANCIS  BLACK,  Treasurer. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

INTERNATIONAL  HOMCEOPATHIC  CONVENTION. 

To  the  Editors  of  the  Monthly  HomcBopathic  Eeview. 
GxMTLEMXN,— There  is  reason  to  believe  that  some  of  the 
medical  men  present  at  our  reoent  Conyentioa  did  not  enter 


520  OOBilESPOKDBNTS.       "S^^S??^ 


Bemwy  Aug.  1,  im. 


their  names  in  the  Secretaries*  books.  If  this  letter  shooH 
meet  the  eye  of  any  who  fiuled  so  to  do»  I  shall  be  mach  obliged 
if  they  will  send  me  their  names  and  addresses  at  onee»  that  I 
may  hkye  a  oomplete  list  for  insertion  in  the  Transactions. 

Yonrs  Tery  respectfully, 
BiCHABD  HuQHES,  PermanetU  Secretary, 

86,  Billwood  Boad,  Brighton. 

July,  19th,  1881. 

ERRATUM. 
To  the  Editore  of  the  Monthly  HomaoptUhic  Review, 

Gentlemen, — ^My  attention  has  been  directed  by  Br.  Proctor 
to  an  error  in  an  article  on  Albuminuria  in  the  last  (Joly) 
number  of  the  British  Journal  of  Homaopatht/j  the  editors  of 
which  have  kindly  promised  to  insert  an  erratum  to  the  following 
effect : — p.  264,  Ime  12,  for  six  grain  doses  read  one  grain 
doses ;  and  line  18,  for  has  read  have.  But  as  their  jounud 
will  not  appear  for  two  months,  and  as  I  wish  the  error  to  be 
corrected  as  soon  as  possible,  will  you  kindly  giTe  insertion  to 
this  in  your  forthcoming  number,  and  oblige, 

Yours  truly, 

15,  Euston  Square,                                      Thos.  Engall. 
July  19th,  1881. 

NOTICES  TO   CORRESPONDENTS. 

«%  We  cannot  undertake  to  return  rejected  manuscripts. 

GommimieationB,  Ac,  have  been  reoeived  from  Dr.  Both,  Dr.  BnaBiR, 
Pr.  Hewan  (London) ;  Dr.  Ksnnxdt  (Blaokheath) ;  Dr.  Ba.xb8,  Dr. 
HuoHBB  (Brighton) ;  Dr.  Hatwabd  (Liyerpool) ;  Dr.  Sharp  (Bngby) ; 
Dr.  AxLBT  (Halifax) ;  Dr.  Pxmbebton  Duplet  (Philadelphia,  U.S.A.); 
Dr.  Black  (London) ;  Dr.  E.  M.  Madden  Birmingham) ;  Dr.  Fbooiob 
(Birkenhead) ;  Mr.  Enoall  (London) ;  Dz.  Chaxtebtom  (Ghioago) ;  Dr. 
Newman  (Bath). 

BOOKS  RECEIVED. 

Rheumatism :  its  Naturst  its  Pathology,  and  its  Successful  TreatmeiU. 
By  T.  J.  Maclagan,  M.D.  London :  Pickering  &  Co.— TA«  British  Jasamal 
of  Homoeopathy. — T?ie  Homaopatinc  World, — The  Chemist  and  Druggist 
^-Burgoyne^s  Monthly  Journal  of  Pharmacy. — The  Students*  Journal'- 
Boston  University  School  of  Medicine.  Ninth  Annual  CommeneemenL'- 
The  American  Journal  of  Homoeopathy,  New  York. — The  Ne»  York 
Medical  Times,  New  York. — United  States  Medical  Investigator.  Chiea^. 
Hahnemannian  Monthly.  Philadelphia. — The  Medical  Advance.  Cm- 
oinnati — New  England  Medical  Gazette. — Therapeutic  Gazette.  Detroit. 
Bulletin  de  la  Soc.  Horn,  de  France. — Bibliotheque  Homotopathiqut.— 
Bevue  Horn.  Belge.^AUg.  Horn.  Zeitung.^-El  Criteria  Medieo.^Biviste 
Omiopatica. — Boletino  Clinico  del  Instituto  Homceopatico  de  Madrid.— 
La  Beforma  Medica.    Mezioo. 

Papers,  DiepenBaiy  Beports,  and  Books  for  Beriew  to  be  sent  to 
Dr.  Pope,  21,  Henrietta  Street,  Cayendish  Square,  W.,  or  to  Dr.  D.  Droi 
Bbowv,  29,  Seymour  Street,  Portman  Sqnaze,  W.  Adyertuements  and 
^uinees  OommnniflatoM  to  bft  sent  to  MeMBk  fi.  Qooud  A  ta, 
59,  Moergate  Street,  E.G. 


¥S^^^ht^   BRITISH  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION.       521 


THE    MONTHLY 


HOMOEOPATHIC    REVIEW- 


THE  BRITISH  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION  AND 

HOMCEOPATHY. 

Airr  time  within  the  last  twenty  years^  and  even  quite 
recently,  w^^have  been  soberly  told  by  those  who  ought  to 
know  better,  and  who  do  know  better,  that  homoeopathy  is 
dead.  If  so,  the  physiology  of  the  homoeopathic  corpse  is, 
to  say  the  least,  peculiar.  Instead  of  following  out  the 
maxim  ''  earth  to  earth,''  it  shows  ever-increasing  vitality, 
and  has  of  late  administered  several  decided  '*  eye-openers  ** 
to  those  who  chose  to  believe  that  it  was  defonct. 

The  fact  is,  that  instead  of  being  dead,  homoeopathy  at 
the  present  time  is  more  living  and  active  than  ever, 
leavening  to  an  extent  to  which  no  one,  even  of  its  oppo- 
nents, can  shut  his  eyes,  the  doctrines  and  practice  of  the 
old  school.  The  Lcmcet,  as  we  lately  pointed  out,  in  a 
remarkable  editorial  article,  admitted  the  whole  points  at 
issue,  although,  three  weeks  after,  the  editor  found  himself 
obliged  to  cry  peccavi  in  the  most  humiliating  and  ridiculous 
manner,  for  the  enlightened  article  of  May  Slst.  And 
now  we  find,  by  the  report  of  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
British  Medical  Association,  held  last  month  at  Byde,  that 
the  subject  of  homoeopathy  has  so  come  to  the  front,  as  to 
be  discussed  in  the  address  of  Mr.  Babbow,  the  President, 
No.  9,  Vol.  85.  3  X 


622       BRITISH  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION-    ^b^.^SH!^ 

in  Mr.  Jonathan  Hutchinson's  ''Address  in  Surgery/'  and 

in  Dr.  Bbistowe*s  "  Address  in  Medicine." 

Says  Mr.  Barrow  : — 

''No  one  can,  I  think,  deny  that  the  homoeopath  stands 
npon  Tery  peculiar  groond.  He  practises  a  system  of  medicme 
(although  I  have  no  belief  in  it) ;  nevertheless  it  is  a  system^  and, 
if  carried  on  in  its  purity,  as  laid  down  by  the  founder  of  the 
system,  and  as  long  as  the  homoeopath  adheres  strictly  thereto, 
I  fail  to  see  how  he  can  be  called  a  quack,  or  why  he  should  ba 
tabooed  by  the  profession,  as  it  were,  cut  off  from  a  position 
amongst  medical  men,  forbidden  to  gather  together  with  them, 
and  prevented  from  discussing  publicly  his  system,  and  hearing 
the  contrary  from  those  practising  legitimate  medicine.  The 
benefit  would  be  mutual,  and  these  discussions  would  be  of  benefit 
to  the  public,  and  an  additional  proof  to  them  that  their  weal  was 
uppermost  in  our  minds." 

This  is  something  for  the  President  of  this  Association, 
although  he  adds  that  he  considers  homoBopathy  a  "f&xiltj 
and  pernicious  system."  If  "  pernicious  "  it  is  absurd  to 
caU  it  "  faulty,"  and  if  only  "  faulty,"  why  "  pernicious?" 

Mr.  Jonathan  Hutchinson  devotes  a  considerable 
portion  of  his  address  to  the  question  of  the  propriety  of 
meeting  homoeopaths  in  consultation.  He  considers  that 
the  followers  of  the  ''talented  and  learned  enthusiast" 
who  founded  the  system  are  not  to  be  called  ''  fools/'  but 
are  only  weak-minded,  and  in  this  complimentary  estimate 
lie  includes  not  only  the  medical  practitioners  of  the  system, 
l)ut  the  laity,  high  and  low,  who  prefer  to  be  treated 
homoeopathically.  This  is  too  amusing  to  take  ofifence  at. 
We  can  afford  to  smile  at  it.  But  the  practical  outcome  of 
Ids  observations  is  that,  although  the  public  and  many  of 
the  profession  are  thus  weak-minded,  the  strong-minded 
allopath — at  least,  if  he  is  a  surgeon — ought  to  forget  this, 
and  having  an  eye  to  the  good  of  the  public,  he  ought  not 
to  decline  to  meet  a  homoeopathic  practitioner  if  the  case  is 
a  surgical  one.  We  are  glad  to  hear  that  this  view  of  respon* 


^^jSSt^U^i!^    BRITISH  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION,        523 


sibility  to  the  public  is  coming  uppermost  in  the  minds  of 
such  eminent  surgeons  as  Mr.  Hutchinson.  It  is  not 
so  very  long  ago  that  the  late  Sir  William  Febgusson 
had  himself  set  on  by  a  nest  of  hornets,  and  had  to 
rcry  peccavi  for  having  been  guilty  of  the  crime  of  saving 
the  life  of  a  patient  who  was  nnder  the  care  of  a 
homoeopath,  by  passing  a  catheter.  It  is,  therefore,  a 
•distinct  gain  in  professional  right  feeling  to  find  a  man  in 
Mr.  Hutchinson's  position  disdaining  all  sympathy  for 
such  barbarous  trades-unionism.  He  argues  that  any 
practitioner  who  is  on  the  Medical  Register  has  a  right  to 
'Call  on  a  professional  brother  for  help  in  such  circum- 
stances. As  these  views  are  thus  grounded  on  the  legal 
professional  status  of  the  homoeopath,  and  on  their 
Tesponsibility  to  the  public,  we  shall  not  quarrel  with  him 
for  his  complimentary  estimate  of  the  mental  faculties  of 
the  homoeopathic  public  and  practitioners.  The  curious 
point  is  that  Mr.  Hutchinson  says  he  has  several  times 
met  homoeopaths  without  knowing  at  the  time  that  they 
^ere  homoeopaths,  and  that,  the  case  being  surgical,  he 
has  ''never  yet  encountered  the  slightest  difference  of 
opinion" — ^nor,  we  may  add,  noticed  any  mental  weak- 
ness— ^till  he  found  out  afterwards  that  they  were  heretics ! 
The  remarks  of  both  Mr.  Bajo&ow  and  of  Mr.  Hutchinson, 
however,  ajSbrd  no  evidence,  but  the  contrary,  that  they  have 
ever  studied  our  system  of  therapeutics,  or,  in  fact,  know 
anything  of  it  practically,  illustrating  in  this  the  position 
of  the  majority  of  the  old-school,  who  venture  to  express 
iux  opinion  on  its  merits. 

Far  different  is  it,  however,  with  the  address  of  Dr. 
Bristow^.  With,  perhaps,  the  single  exception  of  the 
^torial  article  in  the  Lancet  just  referred  to,  and,  we 
ought  also  to  add,  some  papers  by  Drs«  Boss  and 
Babagluti  in  the  Practitioner,  and  a  work  on  Therapeutics 
by  Dr.  Booebs,  Dr.  Bbistowe's  address  is  the  only  public 

2  X— 2 


624       BRITISH  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION.    ^^.^°^f^ 


ntterance  from  the  old-school  which  shows  that  its  author 
has  taken  pains  to  make  himself  acquainted  with  the 
subject  on  which  he  is  going  to  discourse.  We  have  so 
often  had  to  remark  that  tJie  opinions  of  a  man  who  speaks- 
or  writes  on  a  subject  of  which  he  displays  the  grossest- 
ignorance  are  worth  less  than  nothing,  that  it  gives  us  the 
greatest  pleasure  to  meet  with  a  physician  with  whom 
we  can  calmly  discuss  points  in  dispute,  knowing  that  he- 
has  honestly  and  carefully  studied  his  subject. 

Dr.  Bbistowe's  address  is  a  very  able  one,  and  just  such 
as  we  should  expect  from  so  enlightened  a  physician.  He 
is  not,  in  this  address,  a  special  pleader,  but  one  who  wishes- 
to  do  as  much  justice  as  he  can  to  Hahnemann  and 
homcBopathy,  consistently  with  the  fact  of  his  disbelief  in 
the  system. 

This  disbelief  is^  however,  as  we  shall  see,  entirely 
theoretical,  as  Dr.  Bbistowe  never  once  says  he  has  put  it- 
to  the  practical  test,  and,  indeed,  there  is  no  evidence  in 
his  remarks  to  lead  us  to  suppose  he  has  done  so.  It  is  a 
thousand  pities  that  our  opponents  will  not  put  homoeo- 
pathic treatment  to  the  practical  test  of  success  or  failure*^ 
The  system  may  be  objected  to  theoretically,  but  as  the 
proof  or  disproof  of  a  theory  can  be  only  obtained  by  actual 
experiment,  so,  however  interesting  it  is  to  have  a^ 
theoretical  argument  on  the  question,  it  never  comes  to  a 
satisfactory  issue.  The  one  disputant  says,  '^  I  have  re- 
peatedly tried  it  and  found  the  theory  proved,  and  in  fact 
have  such  confidence  in  its  truth  that  I  base  my  practice 
on  it,  and  find  vastly  better  results  than  I  did  before  I 
thus  practised.*'  His  opponent  can  only  add,  ''I  don't- 
believe  the  theory,  and  shall  not  try  whetiber,  practically,  I 
am  right  or  wrong." 

It  is  an  interesting  and  a  very  instructive  fact  that 
several  of  our  stauncbest  adherents,  both  in  the  profession 
and  among  the  public,  have  been  previously  so  opposed  to 
the  belief  of  its  truth,  theoretically,  that  it  was  only  by 
the  pressure  of  friends  that  they  were  induced  to  iff 
it,  more  for  the  sake  of  getting  rid  of  the  importunity  of 
their  friends  than  anything  else,  and  have  been  Mtendly 
convinced  against  their  will. 

But  to  return  to  Dr.  Bbistowe,  as  we  are  anxious  to  do 
him  full  justice,  while  at  the  same  time  pointing  out  when 
he  is  wrong  or  mistaken,  we  think  the  best  way  is  to  quote 
the  larger  portion  of  his  address^  and  make  running  com-^ 


A^^s^^HTiS^    BBITISH  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION.       625 

ments  on  it.  Our  comments  then  will  be  placed  in  brackets 
to  distingnish  it  from  Dr.  Bristowb's  text. 

In  the  first  place,  Dr.  Bbistowe  endeavours  to  do  justice 
io  Hahneiiann  as  a  man  of  learning,  earnestness  and 
thoughtfulness.     He  says : — 

'*  Many  will  sympathise  with  him  now,  as  many  doubtless  would 
have  sympathised  with  him  then,  in  the  dissatisfiEtction  which, 
About  this  period,  he  undoubtedly  felt  with  the  chaotic  state  of 
therapeutical  theory  and  practice  at  ^  that  time  prevalent,  and 
with  the  aspirations  that  sprung  up  within  him  to  make  order 
out  of  confusion,  to  discover  some  intelligible  relation  between 
therapeutic  agents  and  morbid  processes,  to  systematise  the 
4surative  treatment  of  disease.  Ajid  many,  even  of  those  who 
dissent  most  widely  from  his  conclusions,  will  still,  I  think,  admire 
.the  tenacity,  the  energy,  and  the  sublime  bigotry  he  displayed  in 
the  development  of  that  system  of  which  he  was  at  once  the 
-creator  and  apostle.'' 

He  next  says  of  the  Organon  : — 

**  How  Hahneuanm's  special  views  of  disease  and  its  treatment 
originated,  and  how  they  underwent  gradual  development,  until 
they  found  exact  expression  in  his  Organon^  the  bible  of  homceo- 
jpathy,  I  shall  not  attempt  to  discuss.  The  Organon  itself, 
however,  is  a  remarkable  work,  very  interesting  also,  and  very 
entertaining  ;  for  it  not  only  comprises  the  quintessence  of  his 
iabours,  but  reveals  the  character  of  the  man,  as  in  a  mirror, 
with  all  his  strength  and  all  his  weakness,  all  his  wisdom  and  all 
his  folly." 

Then  comes  the  following  passage : — 

*'  He  was  a  physician  who  had  a  supreme  contempt  for  pathology, 
and  on  the  whole  for  etiology.  He  inveighs  over  and  over  again 
jagainst  the  absurdity  of  those  who  endeavour  to  discover,  in 
morbid  phenomena  within  the  body,  an  explanation  of  the 
jsymptoms  which  persons  who  are  ill  present.  He  says  :  '  We 
may  well  conceive  that  every  malady  implies  a  change  in  the 
interior  of  the  organism,  but  this  change  can  only  be  surmised 
obscurely  and  fallaciously  from  the  symptoms  ;  it  can  never  be 
recognised  infallibly  in  its  complete  reality.  The  invisible 
changes  wrought  by  the  malady  within  the  organism,  and  the 
changes  perceptible  to  our  senses  (that  is  to  say,  the  sum  of  the 
symptoms),  together  form  a  complete  image  of  the  malady ;  bat 
that  image  is  only  visible  in  its  entirety  to  the  eye  of  the  Creator. 
It  is  the  totality  of  the  symptoms  which  alone  constitutes  the 
jpart  of  it  accessible  to  ii^^  doctor;  but  it  is  likewise  in 
the  totality  of  the  symptoms  that  we  find  everything  that  it  is 
needful  to  know  in  order  to  cure.*   *  To  Hahnehann  it  is  a  matter 


526       BRITISH  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION,    *^bS5S^.^2Ti«l 

of  no  moment  whether  ascites  depends  on  cirrhosis  of  the  liver, 
or  tubercle  of  the  peritoneum  ;  whether  an  attack  of  constipatioDr 
and  cohc  arises  from  lead-poisoning  or  from  a  cancerous  stricture; 
whether  a  paralytic  seizure  is  the  outcome  of  hysteria,  or  is  due 
to  some  material  lesion  of  the  brain.  In  each  case,  to  him, 
what  is  the  condition  of  things  within  is  an  idle  speculation ; 
the  symptoms  of  which  the  patient  complains  comprise  all  that 
the  medical  man  need  know ;  and  to  treat  these  according  to  the 
true  laws  of  homoeopathy  is  to  cure  the  disease.  But  he  goes 
further;  for,  not  satisfied  with  stigmatising  all  pathological 
investigations  as  mere  pedantry  and  foolishness,  he  actually 
objects  to  all  attempts  on  the  part  of  systematic  writers  and 
practical  physicians  to  distinguish  and  classify  diseases.  Speaking 
of  pathology  in  the  past,  he  says :  '  It  created  arbitrarily  the 
object  of  cure — ^namely,  the  malady.  Men  decided  authoritatively 
what  are  the  number  of  diseases,  what  their  form,  and  what  their 
genera.  Good  God,'  says  he,  'the  infinity  of  diseases  which 
nature  excites  in  man,  exposed  as  he  is  to  so  many  different 
influences,  under  conditions  never  to  be  determined  beforehand, 
and  infinitely  varied,  is  reduced  to  such  an  extent  b;^  pathologyr 
that  there  remains  only  a  handful  of  them,  fashioned  according 
to  its  whim.'  Elsewhere  he  observes:  *  We  may  also  pass 
over  in  silence  the  fact  that  persons  have  tried  to  reduce  the 
number  of  maladies — ^those  infinitely  varied  deviations  from  the 
state  of  health — to  a  limited  list  of  denominations,  and  to  give 
them  definite  descriptions  (which  vary,  nevertheless,  according 
to  different  pathological  views),  in  order  to  afford  a  ready 
indication  of  medical  treatment  for  each  form  of  illness  that  is- 
artificially  defined  in  therapeutics.*  And  again  he  says,  in 
reference  to  the  causes  of  disease  (which  he  regards  as 
innumerable) :  '  Thence  come  an  infinite  number  of  hetero- 
geneous diseases  which  are  so  different  from  one  another  thai 
(to  speak  strictly)  every  case  of  illness  appears  only  once,  and 
(if  we  except  the  few  diseases  which  originate  in  a  miasm  always- 
of  the  same  kind,  or  which  arise  from  the  same  cause)  eveiy 
man  who  becomes  affected  suffers  from  a  special  .malady,  to 
which  no  specific  name  can  be  given,  and  which  has  never  existed 
in  the  same  manner  as  in  the  present  case,  in  the  particular 
individual  and  under  existing  circumstances,  and  will  never  be 
reproduced  in  exactly  the  same  form.'  " 

[Now,  as  to  Hahnemann's  "  supreme  contempt  for  patho- 
logy,'' we  have  simply  to  ask  Dr.  Bristowk  what  was  the 
state  of  pathology  at  the  date  of  the  publication  of  the 
Organon  (1810)  ?  Is  there  a  work,  antecedent  to  that 
period,  on  pathology,  which  one  can  even  find  extant  at  the 
present  day,  or  is  there  pathology  to  be  found  in  any  work 


iSSS^8^"ri«^    BBITI8H  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION.       527 

on  '^Practiee  of  Medicine  *'  at  that  time  such  as  Dr. 
Bbistowe  or  any  man  of  the  present  day  would  take  the 
trouble  to  study,  except  for  the  purposes  of  the  historio- 
grapher ?  In  the  beginning  of  this  address  Dr.  Bbistowb 
himself  says  that  ^*  it  is  mainly  within  the  present  century 
that  anatomy,  physiology  and  pathology  have  risen  into  the 
dignity  of  sciences/'  and  can  we  wonder  that  as  Hahnemanh 
noticed  how  the  current  views  of  the  pathology  of  disease 
r^ulated  entirely  its  treatment,  and  perceiving  how 
little  was  really  known  of  pathology  in  his  time,  can  we 
wonder  that  he  resolved,  for  the  purposes  of  treatment, 
to  cast  aside  what  was  uncertain  and  misleading?  We 
venture  to  say  that  if  Dr.  Bristowe  had  lived  in 
Hahnehann's  day,  and  felt  as  he  did  in  regard  to  the 
''chaotic  state  of  therapeutical  theory  and  practice,'^ 
he  would  have  felt  the  same  contempt  for  pathology, 
such  as  it  was  at  that  time.  But  it  is  an  entire  mistake  on 
Dr.  Bribtowe's  part  to  say  that  to  Hahnemann,  it  was 
''  a  matter  of  no  moment  whether  ascites  depends  on 
cirrhosis  of  the  liver,  or  tubercle  of  the  peritoneum ; 
whether  an  attack  of  constipation  and  colic  arises  from 
lead-poisoning  or  from  a  cancerous  stricture ;  whether  a 
paralytic  seizure  is  the  outcome  of  hysteria,  or  is  due  to 
some  material  lesion  of  the  brain."  He  would  have  formed 
his  opinion  as  anyone  of  the  present  day  would  do,  as  to 
the  nature  of  the  disease ;  and  how,  may  we  ask,  can  these 
several  causes  of  the  same  result  be  diagnosed  but  by  the 
symptoms?  In  each  of  the  three  diseases  named,  the 
aJtemative  causes  named  produce  such  different  symp- 
toms that,  not  only  is  it  by  'means  of  these  symptoms  that 
we  can  make  the  ^agnosis  at  all,  but  the  man  who  goes 
most  into  detail  in  symptoms  will  be  the  one  who  will 
probably  make  the  best  diagnosis.  The  first  passage  from 
the  Organon,  which  Dr.  Bristomtb  quotes,  proves  the  in- 
correctness of  Dr.  Bristowe's  assertion.  Hahnemann 
says  that  every  malady  implies  a  change  in  the  interior  of 
the  organism,  but  it  is  our  ignorance,  or — ^to  put  it  for  the 
sake  of  argument — ^the  ignorance  in  Hahnemann's  time,  of 
what  those  changes,  often  very  minute,  consisted,  tiiat 
Hahnemann  put  them  aside  as  guiding  to  treatment.  That 
he  did  not  ignore  these  pathological  changes,  such  as  were 
known,  in  the  way  of  developing  symptoms,  we  see  by  this 
same  passage,  when  he  says,  *^  The  invisible  changes 
wrought  by  tiie  malady  withhi  the  organism,  and  the 


628       BRITISH  MBDIOAL  AS800XATION.    "bSSS^.^TTmSl 

changes  perceptible  to  our  senses  (that  is  to  say,  the  sum 
of  the  symptoms)  y  together  fonn  a  complete  image  of  the 
malady ;  but  that  image  is  only  visible  in  its  entirety  to 
the  eye  of  the  Creator." 

Hahnemann  is  perfectly  correct  in  adding,  **  It  is  the 
totality  of  the  symptoms  which  alone  constitates  the  part  of 
it  accessible  to  the  doctor/'  and  Dr.  Bristowe's  illustra- 
tions are  quite  to  the  point  in  explaining  what  Hahnemann 
means.  Equally  coiTect  and  scientific  is  it  on  Hahnemann's 
part  to  add  further  ^*  but  it  is  likewise  in  the  totality  of 
the  symptoms  that  we  find  everything  that  is  needful  to 
know  in  order  to  cure.'*  Not,  it  will  be  observed,  that 
these  are  all  that  is  needful  to  know,  but  all  that  is  needful 
to  know  in  order  to  cure.  It  will  also  be  observed  that 
here,  it  is  not  merely  the  subjective  symptoms  which 
HAm^MANN  advises  to  be  noted,  but  the  totality  of  the 
symptoms,  including  those  which  can  be  gathered  or  inter- 
preted from  what  knowledge  we  have  of  the  pathology  of 
disease,  and  the  changes  sdso  perceptible  to  our  senses. 
In  other  words,  this  passage  which  Dr.  Bbistowe  quotes 
from  the  Organon,  shows  that  Hahnemann's  views  were 
these : — ascertain  everything  about  the  patient  which  can 
be  put  down  as  an  existing  fact — the  totality  of  the 
symptoms ;  but  set  aside  theory,  which  may  be,  and  often 
is,  very  misleading.  And  in  spite  of  the  great  advances  in 
pathology  and  dif^osis  of  disease  which  have  been  made 
in  the  last  80  or  40  years,  this  is  still  the  ground  which 
must  be  taken  up  by  the  physician  as  a  healer.  Even  at 
the  present  time,  how  often  has  theory  guided  the  treat- 
ment, and  guided  it  utterly  wrong,  explaining  the 
waves  of  therapeutical  belief  and  practice  which  have 
flowed  and  ebbed,  and  passed  away  to  the  domain  of 
history.  The  other  two  quotations  which  Dr.  Bristowb 
gives  are  well  worth  study.  They  give  Hahnemann's 
views  as  to  the  essential  importance  of  individualising 
cases  of  disease  when  the  question  is  one  of  treat- 
ment. His  objections,  it  is  very  clear  firom  this  passage, 
to  the  *'  limited  list  of  denominations "  and  "  definite 
descriptions  "  are  plainly  owing  to  the  use  made  of  such 
classifications  and  ''definite  descriptions  "  ''  to  afford  a  ready 
indication  of  medical  treatment  for  each  form  of  illness  that 
is  artificially  defined  in  therapeutics,"  and  not  to  the  mere 
description  and  classification  of  leading  forms  of  disease  for 
the  purpose  of  systematic  arrangement.     This  insistance 


ISS^^Tt^vS^  BMTIBH  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION.       629 

on  his  part  of  the  neoessity  for  indiTidiialismg  each  ease  of 
disease  with  a  view  to  treatment  is  one  of  the  wisest  and 
most  advanced  doctrines  that  he  incolcated,  and  at  this 
present  day,  in  the  addresses  of  the  most  enlightened 
teachers  in  the  old  school,  the  same  necessity  for  indi* 
yidoalising  each  case^  and  not  treating  it  as  a  case  of  this 
or  that  disease  is  eqnidly  strongly  insisted  on.  We  belieya 
we  are  perfectly  correct  in  stating  that  no  two  cases  of 
the  same  disease  are  absolutely  alike,  and  consequently 
the  scientific  physician,  while  bearing  in  mind,  for  the 
purposes  of  diagnosis  and  classification,  the  main  features 
which  characterise  a  given  class  of  cases,  individualises 
each  case  when  he  comes  to  prescribe.] 

Dr.  Bristowe  goes  on : 

"  For  him,  I  should  think,  preventive  medicine  which  deals 
specially  with  the  causes  of  disease,  and  has  been  successful  only 
in  proportion  to  its  knowledge  of  them,  would  have  been  a 
delusion  and  a  snare.  In  the  second  place,  pathology,  and  more 
especially  morbid  anatomy,  had  no  meaning  for  bun.  All  the 
laborious  investigations  conducted  in  our  deadhouses,  which  we 
fondly  imagine  to  add  to  our  knowledge  of  disease,  and  to  which 
(in  association  with  clinical  study)  we  attribute  most  of  the 
advances  that  have  been  made  in  medicine  of  late  years — such  as 
the  differentiation  of  kidney-diseases,  the  recognition  of  suprarenal 
melasma,  the  discovery  of  the  condition  known  as  embohsm,  the 
«zact  recognition  of  the  natore  of  tumours,  the  discoveries  which 
have  been  made  in  regard  to  the  diseases  of  the  nervous  system 
— ^would  be  looked  upon  by  him  with  contempt.  For  what,  in 
the  third  place,  have  such  investigations  and  such  knowledge  to 
do  with  diseases  as  he  understood  them  ?  His  diseases,  as  I 
have  shown,  were,  with  a  few  exceptions,  simply  groups  of  symp- 
toms— mosaics  of  which  the  component  pieces  admitted  of  endless 
rearrangement.  Intermittent  fever  constituted  one  of  the  cases 
in  which  he  recognised  the  operation  of  a  definite  cause  ;  but, 
notwithstanding  this,  intermittent  fevers  were  themselves  innu- 
merable, and  each  ease  that  came  before  him  was  an  independent 
disease.  I  do  not  wish  to  misinterpret  his  views.  He  recognises, 
I  admit,  the  existence  of  morbific  causes  ;  but  he  seems  to  liken 
them  to  the  impulse  which  propels  a  ball,  and  to  think  that  with 
their  initial  impulse  aU  their  specific  influence  ceases.  Ner  does 
he  deny  the  existence  of  pathological  changes  in  the  interior  of 
the  body ;  but  he  says  that  we  cannot  detect  them  ;  that,  as  a 
matter  of  fact,  they  are  correlated  with  the  symptoms  which 
patients  present,  and  together  with  these  are  common  manifesta- 
tions of  the  same  disease ;  and  that  in  the  symptoms  alone  we 


580       BBITIBH  HEmCAL  AB80CIATI0K.   ^^iS&^S^SJ' 


bttve  a  sufficient  indication  of  the  nature  of  the  difleaee  and  of 
the  treatment  to  be  adopted  for  its  cure." 

[Now,  ''  preyentiYe  medicine  '*  has  been  only  developed 
into  its  present  state  in  the  last  few  years,  and  to  say  of 
Hahnemann,  who  introduced  the  nse  of  beUculonna  as  a 
preventive  of  scarlet  fever,  that  preyentive  medicine  "  wonld 
have  been  a  delusion  and  a  snare,"  is  one  of  the  most 
gratuitous  assumptions  we  have  ever  met  with.  Then  as 
to  pathology  and  morbid  anatomy  having  no  meaning  for 
him,  we  have  ahready  seen  what  meaning  it  had,  and  in 
the  latter  part  of  this  quotation  Dr.  Bbistowe  himself 
states  the  case  just  as  we  have  done.  But  the  examples 
which  Dr.  Bristowe  gives  here  of  the  pathological  advances 
of  the  present  day  oidy  show  mote  clearly  how  unfiBdrly  he 
is  judging  Hahnemann.  None  of  these  points  in  pathology 
were  known  when  he  wrote  the  Organon.  The  stetho- 
scope and  the  physical  signs  of  diseases  of  the  chest  were 
then  unknown.  Why  thus  condemn  a  learned  and  earnest 
physician  because  he  did  not  know  what  was  then  known 
to  no  one.  If  this  is  not  asking  a  man  to  make  bricks 
without  straw  what  is  it  ?  Let  our  opponents  be  simply 
fair,  and  judge  of  a  man's  knowledge  by  what  was  known  at 
the  time.  With  all  that  was  known  Hahnemann  was 
thoroughly  acquainted,  since  we  find  him  translating  an 
English  work  (CuUen's  Materia  Medica)  into  German,  and 
displaying  profound  knowledge  of  all  writers  on  medicine, 
from  Hippocrates  downwards]* 

Dr.  Bbistowe  goes  on : — 

*'  Of  course,  in  all  this  there  is  much  that  is  true,  and  much  that 
is  specious.  Were  it  not  so,  his  theories  would  long  ago  have 
been  abandoned ;  for  it  is  the  mixture  of  truth  and  verisimilitude 
with  error  that  gives  error  cnrrencj".  But  how  much  of  wild 
speculation,  how  much  of  absolute  ignorance  of  the  matters  which 
he  proposes  to  teach,  how  much  obstinate  shutting  of  his  senses 
to  the  truths  of  nature  I  *' 

[We  are  glad  to  hear  Dr.  Bbistowe  say  there  is  much 
that  was  true  in  Hahnemann's  views,  but  we  fail  to 
see  the  speciousness,  the  error,  the  wild  speculation,  the 
absolute  ignorance  of  the  matters  he  proposes  to  teach,  or 
any  shutting  of  his  senses  to  the  truUis  of  nature.  If  ever 
a  man  had  his  senses  open  to  the  truths  of  nature  it  waft 
Hahnemann]. 

In  the  next  passage,  which,  for  want  of  space,  we 
cannot   quote  in  full.  Dr.  Bbistowe  again  quotes  from 


SlSSiJr^TiS^    BBITIBH  MBDIOAL  ASSOCIATION.       531 

Hahnemann  in  a  passage  begmning — ''All  hnman  mala- 
dies haTe,  np  to  the  present  time,  been  cored  not  by/*' 
&c.,  &c. — from  which  Dr.  Bkibtowe  argues  that  Hahne- 
MANN  "  seems  to  start  from  the  fascinating  belief  that  all 
symptoms  of  disease,  and  therefore,  from  his  point  of  view, 
all  diseases,  are  curable."  Hahnemann  never  says  any- 
thing of  the  kind.  In  the  passage  Dr.  Bristowe  quotes 
he  says  that  "  all  human  maladies  " — ^not  have  been  cured, 
simpliciter — (how  could  he  have  said  such  a  thing  ?)  but 
those  that  have  been  cured  have  been  so  by  certain 
methods,  the  fallacy  of  which  he  proceeds  to  point  out. 
Dr.  Bbistowe  ought  here  to  be  fair  in  his  reading  of  the- 
passage. 

Next,  Dr.  Bristowe  says : — 

'^  Stated  generally,  his  views  are  as  follows :  the  innumerable- 
diseases  which  afflict  mankind,  and  which  arise  out  of  natural 
causes,  consist,  for  the  purposes  of  the  physician,  of  groups  of 
symptoms ;  the  innumerable  remedial  agents  which  exist  in 
nature,  locked  up  in  the  animal  and  vegetable  kingdoms,  and  in 
the  inorganic  world,  are  themselves  the  causes  of  a  parallel  series 
of  artificial  diseases,  which  again,  for  the  purpose  of  the 
therapeutist,  consist  of  groups  of  symptoms ;  in  order  to  cure 
any  natural  disease  that  may  come  before  us,  it  is  necessary  to 
administer  that  particular  remedial  agent  which  is  capable  of' 
producing  identical  symptoms  with  it,  and  of  course  this  must 
be  given  in  a  suitable  dose,  for,  if  in  too  minute  a  dose,  it  leaves 
a  residuum  of  the  original  disease  uncured  ;  if  in  too  large  a  dose, 
it  cures  the  disease,  but  induces  after-effects  of  its  own ;  and,, 
further,  inasmuch  as  we  are  not  yet  acquainted  with  the  specific 
virtues  of  all  remedies,  and  inasmuch,  therefore,  as  for  a  large 
number  of  diseases  the  most  suitable  homoeopathic  remedy  has 
not  yet  been  discovered,  we  must  in  such  a  case  select  a  remedy 
the  effect  of  which  approximates  to  the  symptoms  of  the  disease, 
by  which  means  we  shall  cure  a  certain  area,  so  to  speak,  of  the 
primary  disease,  but  we  shall  leave  a  new  disease  behind,, 
compounded  of  the  as  yet  uncured  symptoms  of  the  old  disease, 
and  the  supernumerary  symptoms  due  to  the  drug  itself,  which 
new  disease  must  be  treated  de  novo  on  homoeopathic  principles. 
How  curious,  how  ingenious,  how  interesting  the  whole  thing  is  t 
How  exceUent,  if  true  !  And  has  it  not  the  simplicity  of  tmtii  in 
it  ?  The  entire  range  of  diseases,  the  entire  range  of  therapeutics,, 
converted  into  Chinese  puzzles ;  the  phenomena  of  diseases 
and  the  effect  of  drugs  upon  them  treated  as  algebraical 
equations !  It  is  impossible  to  conceive  of  any  physician 
working  daily  by  the  bedside  of  patients,  and  in  the  dead- 


^82       BRITISH  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION.    *a!S&,^SLi!w£ 


house,  and  seeing  diseases  as  they  are,  framing  such  a  system, 
-except  as  a  joke.  It  conld  only  have  been,  as  in  fact  it  was 
the  serious  work  of  a  visionary  who  had  thrown  off  the  trammels 
of  fact,  and  allowing  his  imagination  to  run  riot,  mistook  its 
fantastic  figments  for  a  revelation  from  heaven.'* 

[This  general  statemest  of  Hahnemann's  views  is  in  the 
main  correct,  but  Dr.  Bbistowe's  statement  that  they 
amount  to  a  Chinese  pnzzle  or  an  algebraical  equation  is 
absurd.  Dr.  Bristowe  may  find  it  impossible  to  conceive 
of  a  physician  working  at  the  bedside  on  Hahnemann's 
lines,  except  as  a  joke,  but  hundreds  of  fully  qualified 
physicians  in  this  country  and  on  the  continent,  and 
thousands  in  America,  do  so  daily,  and  fail  to  see  it  as  a 
joke,  but  as  a  grand  reality^  the  majority  of  them  having 
formerly  treated  their  patients  on  the  old  system,  which 
i;hey  have  abandoned  in  favour  of  the  new.  What  gives 
the  homoBopathic  physician  such  interest  and  enthusiasm 
in  his  work  is  that  the  homceopathic  relationship  between 
disease  and  drugs  is  so  "  curious,"  "  ingenious/*  "  inte- 
resting," "  simple,"  "  excellent,"  and  withal  "  true."  So 
far  from  homoeopathy  being  the  work  "  of  a  visionary  who 
had  thrown  ofif  the  trammels  of  fact,"  it  is  fact  that  the 
-system  is  based  on  entirely,  and  without  which  facts  it 
would  be  nowhere.] 

The  next  passage  is  interesting. 

' '  That  Hahnemann  believed  in  himself  and  in  the  absolnte  truth 
-of  all  that  he  taught,  is  beyond  dispute.  He  was  a  prophet,  not 
only  to  his  followers,  but  in  his  own  eyes.  All  other  systems  of 
therapeutics  bat  his  were  foUy,  and  all  who  pursued  them  were 
fools.  That  he  had  learning,  and  ability,  and  the  power  oi 
reasonisg,  is  abundantly  clear.  He  saw  through  the  prevalent 
therapeutical  absurdities  and  impostures  of  the  day ;  he  laughed 
to  scorn  the  complicated  and  loathsome  nostrums  which,  even  ei 
that  time,  disgraced  the  pharmacopoeias ;  and  he  exposed  with 
no  little  skill  and  success  the  emptiness  and  worthlessness  of 
most  of  the  therapeutical  systems  which  then  and  theretofore 
had  prevailed  in  the  medical  schools  ;  and  then  he  invented  and 
proclaimed  a  system  of  his  own  at  least  as  empty  and  as  worth- 
less as  any  that  had  gone  before.  In  this,  I  suppose,  there  is 
nothing  very  strange  ;  for  it  is  only  the  broadest  intellects  (and 
his  was  an  essentiidly  narrow  one)  which  are  capable  of  treating 
the  offspring  of  their  own  brains  with  the  severe  impartiality  they 
manifest  in  other  cases." 

[Dr.  Bristowe,  in  here  describing  homoeopathy  as  being 


Jt^fs^LijSS!^   BBITI8H  BCEDICAL  ASSOCIATION.       58S 

'^  at  least  as  empty  and  worthless  as  any  that  had  gone 
before/'  is  simply  begging  the  entire  question.] 

Dr.  Bristowe  next  proceeds  to  consider  briefly  ^'the^ 
character  of  the  therapeutical  facts  and  arguments  which  h& 
alleges  in  support  of  his  doctrines,  and  the  methods  of  inves- 
tigation which  he  taught  and  practised,"  and  refers  to  the 
mass  of  quotations  from  medical  writers  from  the  earliest  date 
till  his  own,  which  ELahnemann  publishes  in  the  introduction 
to  the  Organon.  He  quotes  only  two — ^the  cure  of  the 
''  sweating  sickness  "  by  sudorifics,  and  the  reduction  of 
fever  by  a  hot  bath.  Dr.  Bristowe  considers  the  whole 
series  of  quotations  as  worth  little.  But  he  will  find  that 
EEahnemann  himself  says  that  he  places  little  or  no  im- 
portance on  these  quotations,  having  merely  accumulated 
them  as  an  interesting  illustration  of  the  previous  unwitting 
use  of  the  principle  of  similars,  not  as  an  argument  of 
importance  for  his  case,  but  merely  an  unintentional  cor- 
roboration of  it.  Dr.  Bristowe  then  proceeds :  "  In  the^ 
second  place,  as  regards  his  own  homoeopathic  observations  ;^ 
these,  as  given  in  the  Organon^  are  not  very  numerous. 
For  the  most  part,  he  there  lays  down  the  law  oracularly, 
and  quotes  the  more  or  less  questionable  and  loose  state- 
ments of  other  authors,  in  support  of  his  opinions.'^ 

[The  Organon  is  a  work  on  the  principles  of  scientific 
medicine,  not  a  clinical  work  at  all — Whence  the  absence  of 
many  cases.] 

*'  There  are  two  or  three  observations,  however,  apparently  his 
own,  or  at  any  rate  confirmed  by  his  own  experience,  which  are 
really  interesting.     He  speaks,  as  I  have  before  poiated  out,  of 
intermittent  fevers  as  being  innumerable,  and  derides  the  blind 
pathology  which  makes  of  them  one  disease ;   and  proceeds : 
*  Pathology  feigns  this  in  order  to  give  pleasure  to  her  dear 
sister,  Therapeutics,  who,  excepting  antimony  and  sal-ammoniac ^ 
has,  as  a  rule,  no  other  remedy  against  intermittent  fevers  than. 
cinchona,  with  which  she  treats  them  according  to  a  fixed  method, 
as  if  they  were  aU  identical !     It  is  true,'  he  continues,  *that- 
these  fevers  can  be  suppressed  by  enormous  doses  of  cinchanaf 
that  is  to  say,  that  their  periodical  recurrence  is  overcome  by  it ; 
but  those  who  are  affected  with  intermittents  for  which  this 
remedy  is  unsuitable  are  not  cured  by  it,  but  remain  continually 
ni,  and  worse  than  they  were  before.    And  this  is  what  the 
vulgar  art  of  medicine  calls  a  cure  I '     He  regards  cinchona,  and. 
mentions  it  elsewhere,  as  a  homoeopathic  remedy  for  ague  at- 
tended with  certain  groups  of  symptoms.    Homoeopathic,  forsooth ! 
when  the  most  striking  therapeutical  fact  concerning  quinine  is- 


534       BRITISH  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION.    "SS^.^STifMS! 

that  it  lowers  temperature ;  while  the  most  strikiiig  dinical  fea* 
lure  of  agae  is  the  extraordinary  rise  of  temperature  which  at- 
tends its  paroxysmal  attacks." 

[The  power  of  quinine  in  very  large  doses  to  lower 
temperature  is  only  one  £etct;  an  equally  important  one, 
and  the  one  which  constitutes  quinine  homoeopathic  to 
ague  is  its  power  to  develop  in  the  healthy  body  a 
paroxysm  exactly  resembling  a  typical  fit  of  ague.  This 
fauct  has  been  ignorantdy  denied  by  allopaths,  but  the 
evidence  is  ample,  and  even  Trousseau  and  Pidoux  in 
their  Materia  Medica  admit  it.  We  ourselves  have  seen 
at  least  one  unmistakable  case  of  this.  The  reason  of 
its  being  denied  is  that  the  ague-like  phenomena  occur 
-comparatively  rarely,  and  only  in  those  who  have  the 
special  idiosyncrasy.  It  is  one  of  these  very  important 
groups  of  symptoms  which  Dr.  Dbtsdale  terms  "  contin- 
gent," and  which  he  points  out  are  generally  of  the  highest 
importance  as  curative  indications.] 

*'  ButfEuicy  ague,  which  (Hahnemann  notwithstanding)  is  in  all 
its  forms  identically  the  same  disease,  being  homceopaihio  to 
qmnine  in  one  case,  and  allopathic  or  antipathic  in  another; 
being  in  one  case  curable  by  quinine  administered  in  infinitesimal 
quantities,  and  in  another  aggravated  by  the  same  remedy  in 
large  doses.  I  do  not  know  what  the  present  views  of  homoeo- 
pathic practitioners  may  be  as  to  the  relations  of  quinine  and 
ague ;  but  I  appeal  to  everyone  of  experience  besides  as  to 
whether  agae  ever  succumbs  to  the  use  of  infinitesimal  doses  of 
quinine^  and  whether,  in  the  large  majority  of  oases,  it  does  not 
yield  with  no  ill  consequences  (due  to  the  drug)  to  qmnme  in 
large  quantities  ?  " 

[Ague  is,  as  Dr.  Bbistowe  says,  in  all  its  forms  identi- 
cally the  same  disease,  but  this  does  not  argue  that  the 
same  remedy  is  the  right  one  for  all  cases.  HAHNSBiANN's 
argument  is  a  carrying  out  of  his  principle  of  individual- 
isation  of  cases,  no  two  cases  being  precisely  similar. 
Hence,  while  a  case  of  ague  which  is  a  typical  one,  that  is, 
where  all  the  stages  are  typical  in  duration  and  time  of 
access,  is  cured  with  quinine,  and  in  very  small  doses,  it  is 
well  Imown  by  "  everyone  of  experience  "  (Dr.  Bbistowe 
notwithstanding)  that  many  forms  of  ague  are  not  at  all 
benefitted  by  quinine,  but  rather  made  worse.  Many  cases, 
utterly  unamenable  to  quinine,  are  cured  rapidly  by  arsenic, 
nux  vomica,  ipecacuanha,  cedron,  natrum  muriaticuin,  &c., 
^hile,  if  Dr.  Bbistowe  wants  allopathic  authority,  he  will  find 


fS^fs^TM!'    BBITISH  MEDICAL  ASSOOUTION.       536 

it  in  the  report  of  Dr.  Boxtbin,  surgeon-general  to  Napoleon's 
army  in  Egypt.  There,  Boudin  found  that  many  cases 
were  not  only  not  cured  by  quinine,  but  were  made  worse 
by  it,  while  they  yielded  rapidly  to  arsenic  in  a  dose  of  t^^ 
•of  a  grain.  But  when  quinine  is  the  remedy  very  small 
doses  cure.] 

*'  Again,  he  speaks  over  and  over  again  of  itch,  a  disease  with 
winch  he  seems  to  have  been  flGuniliar,  and  which,  he  assumes  to 
be  an  affection  pervading  the  whole  organism,  but  attended,  as 
smali-pox  is,  with  a  rash ;  and  in  reference  to  it,  he  insists  upon 
the  foUy  of  endeavouring  to  cure  the  skin  disease  by  local  appli- 
cations, a  procedure  which,  he  says,  has  the  effect  of  aggravating 
the  constitutional  disorder ;  and  .he  teaches  that  the  disease  is 
only  to  be  cured  by  the  internal  administration  of  sulphur  in 
homoeopathic  doses.  Now,  it  is  pretty  certain  that  Hahnemtmn 
did  not  very  clearly  distinguish  itch  from  many  other  forms  of 
•cutaneous  eruption ;  still,  many  of  his  cases  of  itch  were  true 
itch,  no  doubt.  But  what  can  practical  men  think  of  the*  insight 
into  diseases,  of  the  power  of  observation,  of  that  man  who 
discovers  that  to  destroy  the  local  phenomena  of  itch  is  to 
aggravate  the  patient's  illness  ;  that  itch  itself  is  ever  curable  by 
any  internal  remedy  whatever  9  No  doubt  he  was  not  aware  that 
itch  is  due  to  the  burrowing  of  parasites  in  the  skin  ;  but  if  he 
had  been,  it  would  have  made  no  difference  to  him ;  for  he 
would  have  argued  of  them  and  of  their  relation  to  itch,  as  I 
have  ahready  shown  that  he  argues  of  intestinal  psurasites  and 
the  symptoms  of  disease  which  are  usually  attributed  to  their 
presence." 

[When  Hahnemann  wrote  the  Organon,  it  was  not  known 
ihat  the  true  itch  was  dependent  on  a  parasite,  as 
Dr.  BmsTowE  admits,  but  one  has  only  to  read  his 
writings  carefully — the  Organon  is  sufficient — to  see  that 
under  the  names  psora  or  itch  he  includes  all  itching  skin 
^uptions,  whether  papular,  vesicular,  or  pustular,  and  his 
'views  of  the  proper  treatment  of  Uiese,  culminating  in 
his  doctrine  of '' j^sora,"  are  not  only  strictly  scientific  and 
&r-seeing,  but  they  are  adopted  by  the  best  dermatologists 
of  the  present  day,  under  the  name  of  the  "  herpetic  *'  or 
'*  dartreux,"  diathesis  or  "  herpetism.''  It  is  quite  gra- 
tuitous to  assume  that  if  Hahnemann  bad  known  of  the 
itch  parasite,  as  distinguishing  the  itch  proper,  or  scabies, 
from  other  similar  eruptions,  he  would  have  ignored  the 
fitct.  But  what  he  would  probably  have  insisted  on  is,  that 
most  or  all  cases  of  long  standing  itch  which  resist  sulphur 
ointment  were  dependent  on  a  state  of  health  which  required 


686     BBrnsH  medical  association.  ^bSSS.^STmST 

internal  treatment  by  snlphnr  in  minnte  doses.  Those 
who  have  had  large  experience  of  scabies,  in  workhonses 
for  example  in  Scotland,  are  well  aware  that  while  many^ 
cases  may  be  cured  in  twenty-four  hours  by  the  application 
of  sulphur  ointment,  many,  on  the  other  hand,  will  remaiir 
weeks,  or  even  months,  uncured,  though  rubbed  daily.  In 
the  former  class  there  is  no  diethetic  taint,  the  parasite  is 
killed  easily,  and  the  patient  is  well,  while  in  the  latter,  the 
parasite  finds  a  suitable  nidus  in  which  to  live,  and  no 
amount  of  external  application  cures  them.  An  illustration 
of  the  same  thing  one  sees  in  different  CBses  of  ring-worm. 
These  obstinate  chronic  cases  then  require  internal  treat- 
ment to  modify  the  state  of  health,  which  permits  of  the 
existence  of  the  parasite.  Hahnemann's  advocacy  of  the 
psora  theory  only  shows  how  much  his  views  were  in 
advance  of  his  own  day,] 

''But,  in  the  third  place,  before  medicines  can  be  employed 
homoeopathically,  their  collective  effects  must  of  oourse  be  aseer- 
taiued  and  tabulated ;  and  before  cases  of  disease  can  be  treated 
homoeopathically,  their  symptoms  must  also  be  accurately  deter- 
mined and  tabulated ;  in  order  that  the  appropriate,  or  at  any 
rate  the  most  appropriate,  remedy  may  be  selected  for  each. 
We  cannot,  therefore,  quarrel  with  Hahnemann  for  reqainng^ 
that  drags  shall  be  carefully  tested  or  proved,  and  that  cases 
shall  be  carefolly  and  accurately  recorded.    But  what  does  he 
mean  by  proving  of  medicines,  and  what  by  taking  of  easee  f 
Most  men  accustomed  to  scientific  investigations  wo^d  say  that, 
in  order  to  detennine  the  precise  potential  characteristics  of  any 
unknown  agency,  it  should  be  interrogated,  and  cross-examined,, 
and  tested  from  all  points  of  view  ;  that,  if  a  drag,  its  chemical 
properties  should  be  determined,  and  its  action  on  the  living  and 
on  the  dead,  in  health  and  in  disease,  should  be  exhaastively 
ascertained.     That  is  not  Hahnemann's  notion  at  all.    Drags 
being,  in  his  view,  agencies  which  impart  disease,  most  be 
tested  only  on  the  healthy  body,  in  order  to  determine,  id 
accordance  with  homoeopathic  requirements,  what  natoral  dis^ 
eases  their  effects  simulate.    And  the  method  of  procednre  is» 
that  the  experimenter  and  those  who  act  under  his  direetioDSf 
shall  take  regulated  doses  of  the  drugs  they  wish  to  ezamipe, 
and  then  note,  in  each  case,  accurately  every  phenomenon  which 
develops  itself  during  some  period,  determined  more  or  less 
arbitrarily,  after  the  reception  of  the  drug.     The  system,  to  the 
uneducated  eye,  looks,  perhaps,  fair  and  reasonable.    Bat  ve 
must  admit  Ihe  truth  of  the  homoeopathic  view  of  the  relatioo0 
between  medicines  and  diseases  before  we  can  admit  the  sgedd 
value  of  investigations  conducted  only  on  the  healthy  body ;  sz^» 


J 


toSS^fsStTS?^    BRITISH  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION.       687 

as  regards  the  method  of  inyestigation  which  he  teaches,  can 
anything  be  better  calcidatad  to  promote  self-deception  ?  Think 
of  the  innumerable  phenomena  which  a  hypochondriacal  old  man, 
a  youthful  enthusiast  in  experimental  research,  or  a  credulous. 
believer,  would  find  under  such  circumstances,  arising  from 
inconceivable  doses  of  the  most  inert  substances — the  itching  at 
this  point,  the  aching  at  that,  the  variations  in  the  pulse,  the 
watering  of  the  eyes,  the  noises  in  the  ears,  the  muscular  start- 
ings,  the  eructations,  the  rumblings  in  the  bowels,  and  many 
other  matters  of  the  same  kind.  What  pictures  of  the  mimicry 
of  disease  might  be  thus  produced  and  varied  ad  infinitum ;  of 
what  innumerable  pictures  of  the  kind  (comprising  here  and 
there  doubtless  accurate  and  valuable  observations)  is  the  homoe- 
opathic literature  on  the  provings  of  drugs  made  up  I 

[This  proving  of  drugs  on  the  healthy,  is  one  of  the 
strongest  points  in  homoeopathy.  That  this  is  necessary, 
and  {^ost  the  only  essential  for  a  pure  Materia  Medica,  is 
admitted  and  preached  now-a-days  by  most  of  the  leading 
men  in  the  old  school.  Sir  Thomas  Watson,  some  fifteen 
years  ago,  first  insisted  strongly  on  this,  and  since  his 
address  the  same  point  has  been  repeatedly  taken  np  by 
physicians.  One  of  the  latest  utterances  on  this  topic  is 
the  remarkable  address  by  Dr.  Andrew  Clark  at  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  British  Medical  Association,  at  Cork, 
in  1879.  Dr.  Clark  not  only  insists  on  the  necessity  of 
having  all  medicines  proved  on  the  healthy  body,  but  gives 
the  absence  of  such  provings  (ignoring  those  of  homoeopathy) 
as  one  of  the  chief  reasons  of  the  backward  state  of  old- 
school  therapeutics.  Dr.  Bristowe,  then,  in  finding  fault 
with  EDilHNEMann,  is  behind  the  age,  and  he  has  only  again 
to  read  the  directions  in  the  Organan  for  the  carrying  oat  of 
the  provings,  to  see  that  EEahnemann  took  infinite  care  to 
exclude  all  possibility  of  imaginative  or  dubious  symptoms*. 
In  spite  of  all  care,  dubious  symptoms  may  creep  in,  but 
these  are  corrected  and  discovered  by  clinical  observations* 
Dr.  Bristowe  is  wrong  in  saying  that  Hahnemann,  while 
insisting  on  the  necessity  of  provings  on  the  healthy, 
ignores  symptoms  which  may  be  obtained  from  the  sick- 
bed, and  he  will  find  the  most  careful  directions,  in  the 
Organan,  for  the  observation  and  noting  of  such  pathoge- 
netic symptoms  as  may  crop  up  in  a  case  of  disease ;  but 
these  require  much  more  careful  observation  and  discrimi* 
nation  than  those  obtained  on  the  healthy  body.  We  must 
draw  special  attention,  however,  to  a  very  important 
sentence  in  this  passage  of  Dr.  Bristowb's  address.    He 

No.  9,  YoL  25.  2  N 


588      BRITISH  MEDICAL  A6800UTI0N.     ^^!S^  a^  i. 


flays  ''But  we  must  admit  the  tmih  of  the  homisopathie 
view  of  the  relations  hetween  medieines  and  diseaaes, 
before  we  can  admit  the  special  yalne  of  investigations 
condncted  only  on  the  healthy  body/'  Precisely  so.  Unless 
we  do  so,  of  what  nse  is  it  to  know  that  anenic  will  produce 
conjunctivitis,  nasal  catarrh,  sickness  and  vomiting, 
inflammation  of  the  stomach,  enteritis,  and  diarrhoda, 
shortness  of  breath,  weak  action  of  the  heart,  and  general 
debility?  or  that  bichloride  of  mercury  will  produce 
dysentery,  or  cantharii  inflammation  of  the  kidneys  and 
bladder,  or  belladonna  conjunctivitis,  sore  throat  and  an 
erythematous  eruption,  and  so  on  of  a  host  of  medicines  f 
None  at  all,  unless  we  admit  the  homoeopathic  relation  of 
drugs  to  disease.  Hence  it  is  that  in  the  old  school  while 
the  cry  is  for  proving  of  drugs  on  the  healthy  body  aa 
absolutely  necessary,  we  find  that  such  investigations  are 
gone  about  with  so  little  zeal  and  come  to  so  little.  And 
flo  it  will  be  till  the  law  of  similars  is  recognised,  and  tken^ 
all  those  otherwise  useless  symptoms  are  found  to  be  of  the 
utmost  therapeutical  importance.  This  point  has  always 
fleemed  to  us  to  be  one  of  the  strongest  arguments  in  favour 
of  homoeopathy  versus  allopathy.] 

"  The  recording  of  cases,  according  to  Hahnemann's  directionB, 
is  of  a  piece  with  the  proving  of  medicines.  He  tells  you  to 
listen  csurefoUy  to  the  account  the  patient  gives  of  himself,  to 
hear  all  that  the  friends  and  others  about  tiie  patient  say  con- 
cerning him,  and  to  note  down  everything  accuratelv,  and  in 
tabular  form.  You  are  not  to  interrupt.  And  then,  when  the 
recitals  have  been  completed,  you  are  permitted  to  ask  certain 
questions,  the  character  of  which  he  carefully  specifies.  Bat  you 
are  never  to  suggest  anything  to  the  patient ;  and  you  are  never, 
so  far  as  I  can  make  out,  to  cross-examine  him.  Imagine  the 
picture  of  her  condition  that  a  Mrs.  Nickleby  would  give  under 
such  conditions.  Imagine  the  innumerable  histories  of  diseases 
you  would  get,  in  which  everything  accessory  and  unimportant 
would  be  recorded,  and  everything  really  ^tinotive  and  im- 
portant for  diagnosis  and  treatment,  as  we  understand  them, 
omitted.  I  am  not  prepared  to  say  the  method  is  a  wrong  one 
from  the  homoeopathic  point  of  view,  in  which  diseases  as  objects 
of  medical  treatment  are  regarded  only  as  an  assemblage  of 
symptoms,  and  in  which  the  interconnection  of  symptoms  is 
comparatively  unimportant.  But  what  a  caricature  of  scientific 
case-taking  it  reveals  to  us  1  What  an  unpractical  condition  of 
mind  it  manifests  in  him  who  elaborated  it  I  What  light  it 
throws  on  his  curious  incapacity  for  exact  scientific  observation ! 


^S^SS^Til^    BBITISH  MEDICAL  A8B0CIATI0N.       589 

How  like  his  method  is  to  that  of  an  indostrioiiB  newly  appointed 
elinioal  derk !  How  ntterly  opposed  to  the  procedure  of  the 
experienced  scientifie  physician  1  *' 

[This  is  too  mach.  Certainly,  listen  to  all  the  patient 
flays,  for  by  so  doing  we  often  get  Talnable  subjective 
symptomSy  which  the  allopath  in  his  rough-and-ready 
routine  would  pass  oyer  as  useless.  Certainly,  also,  never 
suggest  anything  to  the  patient,  for  we  all  know  how 
certain  patients  will  answer  yes  or  no,  according  to  leading 
questions.  But  cross-examine  as  much  as  you  want,  in 
order  to  elicit  what  is  really  meant  or  felt  by  the  patient. 
This,  with  the  objective  symptoms  noticed  by  the 
physician,  including  the  physical  signs,  give  him  the 
totality  of  the  symptoms,  or,  in  other  words,  the  picture  of 
the  case  as,  in  Dr.  Bbisxowe's  words,  an  object  of  medical 
treatment.  We  maintain  that  such  case-taking  is  the 
most  scientific  form  of  it,  and  as  far  removed  from 
•caricature  as  light  from  darkness.] 

"Perhaps  the  most  astonishing  feature  of  homoBopathy,  as 
Hahnemann  bequeathed  it  to  'us,  is  his  hypothesis  of  infinitesi- 
mal doses.  He  discovered,  from  the  results  of  his  experiments 
and  practice,  that  when  once  the  true  homoeopathic  remedy  for 
any  disease,  or  rather  collection  of  symptoms,  had  been  ascer- 
tained, it  was  needful,  in  order  at  the  same  time  to  secure  the 
full  effect  of  the  drug,  and  to  obviate  any  ill  effects  it  might  have 
of  its  own,  to  reduce  the  dose  of  it  to  an  inconceivable  minuteness. 
The  millionth,  the  billionth,  the  triUionth  of  a  grain  were  gigantic 
quantities  compared  with  some  of  those  which  finally  he  found  it 
best  to  administer.  It  has  been  calculated  that  a  drop  from  the 
lake  of  Geneva,  through  the  waters  of  which  a  single  grain  of 
medicine  had  been  diffused,  would  contain  one  of  his  ordinary 
doses ;  and  that  a  drop  from  a  mass  of  water  similarly  treated 
large  enough  to  float  the  whole  solar  S3r8tem,  would  contain  as 
large  a  dose  as  is  furnished  by  some  of  his  exixeme  attenuations  I 
When  we  laugh  at  these  infinitesimal  doses,  the  retort  is  often 
made  that  we  ourselves  use  small  doses ;  and  calculations  are 
flung  at  us,  showing  how  excessively  minute  must  be  the  amount 
of  any  potent  drug  administered  by  the  stomach  which  reaches 
the  organ  wherein  it  induces  specific  effects,  and  how  absolutely 
inappreciable  must  be  the  bulk  of  odorous  particles,  which  not 
affect  the  sense  of  smell,  but  even  provoke  eoryza,  sickness  and 
ilEuntness.  Wherein,  then,  is  the  absurdity  of  the  Hahnemannio 
dosage  ?  But  this  is  not  a  retort  that  Hahnemann  would  have 
made  ;  and,  indeed,  it  is  one  that  could  only  rise  to  the  lips  of  a 
degenerate  follower  of  his.  It  is  not  the  amount  of  any  drug 
which  reaches  any  one  part  of  the  organism  which  is  in  question, 

2  m— S 


540      BRITISH  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION.    's^.^^Tun! 

but  the  amonnt  of  it  which  has  to  be  administered  for  a  dose. 
And  it  eannot  be  denied  that  the  smallest  doses  employed  by  ns, 
even  such  as  Dr.  Binger  recommends,  are  gross  indeed  compared 
with  those  of  Hahnemann.  Where  we  give  a  drop  or  the 
hundredth  part  of  a  grain,  he  woold  haye  given  the  millionth  or 
the  billionth  part  of  that  quantity  at  the  very  most,  and  probably 
millions  of  billions  less  than  tiiat.  Moreover,  the  principles 
underlying  the  two  cases  are  wholly  dissimilar. 

The  belief  in  the  efficacy  of  infinitesimal  doses  involved  no 
violation  of  his  theory.  It  was,  indeed,  I  think,  the  natural  out- 
come of  it.  The  mystical  powers,  which  for  him  resided  in 
drags,  bore  no  quantitative  relation  to  the  ponderable  elements 
with  which  they  were  associated.  They  were  contained  in  them 
much  as  the  genie  in  the  fisherman's  story  in  the  Arabian  NighU 
was  contained  in  the  copper  pot,  which  was  fished  up  from  the 
bottom  of  the  sea.  It  was  easy  then,  if  not  inevitable,  for  him 
to  imagine  that  the  power  of  drugs  became  more  and  more 
developed,  in  proportion  as  the  grosser  matters  which  environed 
them  were  removed.  It  is  easy  too,  from  another  point  of  view, 
for  a  vaguely  mathematical  mind  like  his  (which  had  already  dealt 
with  diseases  as  if  they  were  algebraical  equations)  to  conceive 
that  just  as  mathematics  becomes  a  more  and  more  potent 
instrument,  according  as  the  encumbrances  of  arithmetical  and 
ordinary  algebraical  processes  are  thrown  aside,  and  one  comes 
to  deal,  as  in  the  differential  calculus,  with  the  mere  ratios  which 
survive  in  quantities  which  have  been  reduced  to  zero,  so  medi- 
eine  would  become  a  more  and  more  potent  art,  according  as  the 
coarser  factors  of  drugs  and  of  diseases  are  elixninated  from  con- 
sideration, and  we  have  only  to  do  with  the  relations  or  ratios  (if 
I  may  so  express  it)  between  drugs  attenuated  to  nothing,  and 
diseases  reduced  to  mere  groups  of  intangible  subjective  phe- 
nomena !  One  may,  I  think,  follow  Hahnemann's  lines  of 
thought ;  one  may  trace,  I  think,  without  much  difficulty,  the 
steps  by  which  his  system  acquired  its  full  development,  and 
culminated  at  length  in  the  doctrine  of  infinitesimal  doses.  The 
author  of  homceopathy  himself  carried  homcBopathy  to  its  logical 
consequences :  and  was  there  ever  a  more  amazing  reductio  ad 
abturdumf  " 

[The  infinitesimal  dose  is,  no  doubt,  ''the  most 
astonishing  feature  of  homoeopathy."  It  is,  however,  well 
for  Dr.  Bbistowe  to  know  that  Hahnemann  himself 
began  with  fairly  material  doses,  and  only  diminished 
them  till  they  became  infinitesimal  because,  from  ex- 
perience, he  found  that  such  small  quantities  would  cure 
better  than  larger  ones,  and  ran  no  risk  of  aggravating 
the  symptoms.    In  his  later  years  he  advocated  a  much 


BS^StTSS?"    BBITISH  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION.       541 

higher  dilation  as  the  best  than  he  did  when  in  the 
zenith  of  his  career,  and  in  this  extremely  infinitesimal 
dosage,  as  a  nniform  dose,  the  majority  of  his  followers  do 
not  tread  in  his  footsteps.  He  thus  stated  that  the  80th 
dilution  was  always  the  best  to  give.  Now,  while  a  certain 
number  of  homoeopaths  do  use  this  dose,  and  even  higher 
ones,  uniformly,  &e  majority,  as  we  haye  said,  adhere 
more  to  his  medium  doses.  Thus  we  find  that  the 
millionth  of  a  grain  (the  8rd  centesimal  dilution)  is  con- 
stantly prescribed ;  so,  also,  is  the  billionth  (the  6th),  or 
the  trillionth.  But  while  Dr.  Ringer's  doses  (as  published 
£kt  least  in  his  book)  are  gross  compared  with  these  others, 
Dr.  Bbistowe  is  quite  wrong  in  saying  that  the  '^  principles 
underlying  the  two  cases  are  whoUy  dissimilar."  The 
majority  of  homoeopaths  make  use  of  the  whole  scale  of 
dilutions,  from  the  pure  tincture  up  to  the  80th  dilution. 
The  principle  of  the  smaU  dose,  be  it  a  drop  of  the  tincture 
or  a  hundredth  part  of  a  grain,  or  the  80th  dilution,  is 
simply  a  corollary  from  the  principle  of  the  selection  of  the 
drug.  If  a  drug  is  chosen  at  all,  which  can  produce  in  a 
i^rtain  dose  an  exact  simile  of  a  case  of  disease,  the  dose 
of  the  medicine  must  be  smaller  than  will  produce 
pathogenetic  symptoms,  or  in  other  words,  aggravate  the 
complaint  intended  to  be  cured.  How  small  the  dose 
should  be  is  purely  a  matter  of  individual  experience ; 
hence  we  find  some  homoeopaths  habitually  using  tangible 
doses,  as  BiNaEB  does ;  others  habitually  using  the  highest 
dilutions,  while  the  majority  make  use  of  the  whole  scale 
of  dilutions,  from  the  lowest  to  the  highest.  The  principle 
is  thus  precisely  the  same,  the  same  drug  being  selected  by 
all  parties.  And  Dr.  Bbistowe  will  please  observe  that 
Dr.  BiNOEB  never  recommends  a  drop  or  a  hundredth  part 
of  a  grain  of  any  drug  which  has  not  a  homoeopathic 
relation  to  the  disease.  The  Lake  of  Geneva  calculation  is 
absurd.  The  80th  dilution  can  be  made  in  any  laboratory 
with  thirty  half-ounce  phials  and  fifteen  ounces  of  liquid. 
The  efScacy  of  the  infinitesimal  dose  can  never  be  argued, 
but  can  only  be  tested  in  disease,  each  one  for  himself, 
and  it  only  requires  to  be  properly  tested  to  produce  con- 
viction in  its  efBcacy.  The  infinitesimal  dose  can  never  be 
given  up ;  the  whole  range  of  dosage  may  be  employed, 
but  we  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  numbers  of  cases 
which  are  untouched  by  crude  doses  are  cured  in  a 
marvellous  manner  by  infinitesimals.] 


542         BBITISH  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION.  '^SSr,^?;^^!! 

Dr.  Bbistowe  next  makes  some  very  fair  remarks  on  the 
right  of  modem  homoeopaths  to  think  for  themselves,  to 
develope  homoeopathy,  and  not  to  be  boxmd  slaTishly  by 
the  ipse  dixit  of  the  master,  and  in  this  we  see  Dr. 
Bribtowe's  fairness  and  common  sense,  so  different  from 
many  of  our  opponents  who  wonld  try  to  pnt  ns  in  a  comer, 
by  saying  that  anyone  who  ventured  to  deviate  from 
Hahnemann's  direct  words,  was  not  a  homoeopath  at  alL 
If  Hahnemann  was  inspired,  then  this  latter  view  would  be 
correct,  but  as  he  was  not  so,  it  remains  for  everyone  to 
develope  the  great  principle  as  fully  as  he  can,  and  to  think 
for  himself.  It  would  indeed  be  a  marvel  if  one  man 
should  so  perfect  a  new  system  of  medicine  as  to  admit  of 
no  subsequent  development,  but  it  is  equally  a  marvel 
to  consider  to  what  an  astonishing  degree  of  perfection 
Hahnemann  brought  his  system,  and  how  little  subsequent 
development  or  dissension  from  his  very  words  has  been 
found  possible.  Such  a  wonderful  fact  is  seldom  met  with 
in  uninspired  writings.  Dr.  Bristowe  shortly  notices  the 
recent  correspondence  in  the  Lancet,  in  which  the  anti- 
pathic action  of  homoeopathic  medicines  is  advocated.  In 
concluding  this  part  of  his  address.  Dr.  Bristowe  conceives 
that  homoeopaths  deceive  themselves  as  to  their  good  results. 
Such  an  assertion  is  easy  to  make,  but  is  of  no  value 
from  the  lips  of  one  who  has  not  practically  tested  homoeo- 
pathic treatment.  It  is  conceivable  that  one  man  or  a 
dozen  might  so  deceive  themselves,  but  when  thousands 
testify  to  the  same  facts,  the  same  results,  and  use  the  same 
medicines  for  the  same  indications,  all  over  the  world,  the 
theory  of  self-deception  falls  to  the  ground. 

Dr.  Bristowe  devotes  the  conclusion  of  his  address  to  the 
question  of  ''homoeopathists  as  men,  and  as  members  of  oar 
common  profession."  This  passage  is  so  interesting  that  we 
quote  it  entire,  as  it  is  seldom  we  find  ourselves  spoken  of 
so  fairly  and  courteously  as  members  of  one  common  pro- 
fession with  the  old  school.  All  the  more  important  are 
these  remarks,  as  coming  from  an  address  delivered  at  the 
opening  of  the  section  of  medicine  at  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  British  Medical  Association,  an  association  which 
has  done  more  than  any  trades-union  could  have  done  to 
snub  and  '*  Boycott  "  homoeopathic  practitioners. 

*<  That  a  very  strong  feeling  of  hostility  should  have  ansen 
early  between  orthodox  practitioners  and  homoeopathiBts,  is  not 
to  be  wondered  at,  when  we  consider,  on  the  one  hand,  the 


iS^jSSt^Tfm!^  BBITISH  MEDICAL  ASBOCIATION.        648 

arrogance  and  intdleranee  whieh  Hahnemann  displayed,  at  anj 
rate  in  his  writings,  and  on  the  other  hand  the  contempt  which 
experienced  physicians  felt  and  freely  expressed  for  him  and  his 
whimsical  doctrines.  Nor  is  it  to  be  wondered  at,  that  this 
variance  should  still  be  maintained ;  for  homoBopathy  is  still  a 
protest  against  the  best  traditions  of  orthodox  clinical  medicine ; 
and  there  is  a  nafcoral  tendency  among  us  still  to  look  npon 
homoeopathic  practitioners  as  knaves  or  fools.  But  sorely  this 
view  is  a  wholly  untenable  one. 

That  all  homcsopathists  are  honest,  is  more  than  I  would 
venture  to*assert ;  but  that  in  large  proportion  they  are  honest, 
is  entirely  beyond  dispute.  It  is  quite  impossible  that  a  large 
sect  should  have  arisen,  homoeopathic  schools  and  hospitals  have 
been  established,  periodicals  devoted  to  homoeopathic  medicine 
be  maintained,  and  a  whole  literature  in  relation  to  it  have  been 
created,  if  it  were  all  merely  to  support  a  conscious  imposture. 
No,  gentlemen ;  the  whole  history  of.  the  movement  and  its 
present  position  are  amply  sufficient  to  prove  that  those,  at  any 
rate,  who  take  the  intellectual  lead  in  it  are  men  who  believe  in 
the  doctrines  they  profess,  and  in  their  mission ;  and  who  practise 
their  profession  with  as  much  honesty  of  purpose,  and  with  as 
much  confidence  in  their  power  to  benefit  their  patients,  as  we 
do.  That  all  homoeopathic  practitioners  are  men  of  ability  and 
education,  it  would  be  absurd  to  maintain ;  but  it  is  absolutely 
certain  that  many  men  of  ability  and  learning  are  contained 
within  their  ranks.  If  you  care  to  dive  into  homoeopathie 
literature,  you  will  find  in  it  (however  much  you  may  differ  from 
the  views  therein  inculcated)  plenty  of  literary  ability ;  and  I 
have  perused  many  papers  by  homoeopaths  on  philosophical  and 
other  subjects  unconnected  with  homoeopathy,  which  prove  their 
authors  to  be  men  of  thought  and  culture,  and  from  which  I  have 
derived  pleasure  and  profit.  Again,  I  will  not  pretend  that  even 
a  considerable  proportion  of  homoeopaths  are  deeply  versed  in 
the  medical  sciences ;  yet  they  have  all  been  educated  in  orthodox 
schools  of  medicine,  and  have  passed  the  examinations  of 
recognised  licensing  boards  ;  so  that  it  must  be  allowed  that  they 
have  acquired  sufficient  knowledge  to  qualify  themselves  for 
practice.  And  some  among  them  possess  high  medical 
attainments. 

But  it  may  be  replied,  if  these  men  are  honest  and  educated, 
and  at  the  same  time  duly  qualified  practitioners  in  medicine, 
how  can  they  believe,  and  how  can  they  practise  such  a  palpable 
imposture  as  homoeopathy  ?  Well,  gentlemen,  it  is  very  difficult 
to  account  for  the  beliefs  and  vagaries  of  the  human  intellect. 
It  is  only  occasionally  that  our  convictions  are  the  result  of 
oonscions  reasoning.  For  the  most  part  they  arise  in  the  mind, 
and  take  posiession  of  it,  we  know  not  how  or  why ;  and  our 


544         BRITISH  MEDICAI.  ASSOCIATION. ^nlS^^ilSr^f^ 


T6Moiiiiig8  with  regard  to  them  (i£  we  leaflcm  at  all)  are  merely 
special  pleadings  prompted  by  the  very  convietions  they  seem  to 
US  to  detemuDe — in  ottier  words,  they  are  not  the  fomidations 
of  our  beliefis  at  all,  bat  exhalations  from  them.  It  is  not 
surprising,  therefore,  that,  even  on  matters  of  sapreme  import- 
ance, irreconcilable  differences  of  opinion  prevail,  aye,  amongst 
men  of  high  integrity  and  cnltiTated  intellect.  And  if  we  desire 
to  live  broad  and  nnselfish  Htos,  we  mast  be  slow  to  condemn 
all  those  who  entertain  convictions  which  to  as  seem  foolish  or 
mischievons  and  logically  ontenable,  or  to  refuse  to  co-operate 
with  them. 

There  are  few,  even  of  the  best  among  as,  who  have 
not  weak  points  in  inteUeet  or  character.  And  it  woald  be 
deplorable,  indeed,  if,  for  example,  those  of  as  who  look  on 
spiritoalism  as  one  of  the  grossest  follies  of  the  times  in 
which  we  live,  were  to  scont  the  distingaished  chemists  and 
great  writers  vdio  devoatly  believe  in  it,  or  were  to 
refuse  to  do  homage  to  the  conspicaoas  abilities  and  high 
character  of  a  great  judge,  because,  throwing  off  the  jadi<^ 
impartiality  which  befits  a  judge,  and  acting  under  the  iiiflaence 
of  prejudice,  emotion,  and  ignorance,  he  has  made  himself  the 
leader  of  ail  the  hysterical  sentimentalism  of  the  day  in  a  crusade 
against  experimental  physiology  in  this  land  of  Harvey  and  of 
Hunter !  The  remarks  just  made  apply  especially  to  beliefii  in 
relation  to  those  matters  which  are  incapable  of  exact  scientific 
proof,  and  in  which  the  feelings  are  largely  involved — ^pre- 
eminently, therefore,  to  religion,  to  politics,  and  to  medicine. 

I  ask  you,  gentlemen,  to  forbear  with  me,  if  I  push  my 
arguments  to  their  logical  conclusion,  and  venture  now  to  express 
an  opinion  which  is  opposed  to  the  opinion  which  many,  perhaps 
most,  of  you  entertain.  I  do  not  ask  you  to  agree  with  it ;  stiE 
less  do  I  ask  you  to  adopt  it.  But  I  ask  you  to  consider  it;  and 
I  am  content  to  believe  that,  if  it  be  just,  it  wiU  ultimalely 
prevail  It  is  that,  where  homceopathists  are  honest,  and  well- 
informed,  and  legally  qualified  practitioners  of  medicine^  they 
should  be  dealt  with  as  if  they  were  honest  and  weU-iotbrmed 
.and  qualified.  I  shall  not  discuss  the  question  whether  we  can, 
with  propriety  or  with  benefit  to  our  patients,  meet  honoeopatiis 
in  consultation.  I  could,  however,  I  think,  addose  strong 
reasons  in  favour  of  the  morality  of  acting  thus,  ard  for  the 
belief  that  good  to  the  patient  would  generally  ensue  ander  such 
circumstances.  I  shall  not  consider  at  length  whether  the  dignity 
of  the  profession  would  be  compromised  by  habitual  dealing  with 
homoeopathists.  But  I  may  observe  that  it  is  more  conducive  to 
the  maintenance  of  true  dignity  to  treat  with  respect  and  con- 
sideration, and  as  if  they  were  honest,  those  whose  d|»nions  differ 
firom  ours,  than  to  make  broad  our  phylacteries  asd  enlarge  the 


2SSS^^^n?M^  BRITISH  BffEDIOAL  ASSOCIATION.        645 

borders  of  our  ganxLente,  and  ^rrap  onrselveB  up,  m  regard  to 
them,  in  Pharisaic  pride.  I  appeal,  gentlemen,  in  support  of  my 
•contention  to  other  considerations.  It  has  been  held,  that  to 
break  down  the  barriers  that  at  present  separate  us  from 
homoeopathists  wonld  be  to  allow  the  poison  of  quackery  to  leaven 
the  mass  of  orthodox  medicine.  But  who  that  has  any  trust  in 
his  profession,  any  scientific  instinct,  any  faith  in  the  ultimate 
triumph  of  truth,  can  entertain  any  such  fear?  All  the  best 
physicians  of  old  times,  all  the  greatest  names  in  medicine  of  the 
present  day,  are  with  us,  all  science  is  on  our  side ;  and  we  know 
that  as  a  body  we  are  honest  seekers  after  truth.  What  have  we 
to  fear  from  homoBopathy?  Bigots  are  made  martyrs  by  per- 
secution; &lse  sects  acqnire  form  and  momentum  and  importance 
mainly  through  the  opposition  they  provoke.  When  persecution 
ceases,  wonld-be  martyrs  sink  into  insignificance;  in  the  absence 
of  the  stimulus  of  active  opposition,  sects  tend  to  undergo 
disintegration  and  to  disappear.  The  rise  and  spread  of  homoe- 
•opathy  have  been  largdy  due  to  the  strong  antagonism  it 
has  evoked  from  the  schools  of  orthodox  medicine,  and 
to  the  isolation  which  has  thus  been  imposed  on  its  disciples. 
If  £Edse,  as  we  believe  it  to  bo,  its  doom  will  be  sealed,  when 
active  antagonism  and  enforced  isolation  no  longer  raise  it  into 
fictitious  importance.  At  any  rate,  breadth  of  view,  and 
liberality  of  conduct,  are  the  fittmg  characteristics  of  men  of 
science." 

[Dr.  Bkistowb's  answer  to  the  question—"  If  these  men 
are  honest,  and  educated,  and  at  the  same  time  duly 
qualified  practitioners  in  medicine,  how  can  they  believe 
and  how  can  they  practise  such  a  palpable  imposture  as 
homoeopathy?" — ^is  the  only  one  which  can  be  given  by  a 
physician  who  differs  from  us  theoretically  and  has  never 
tried  the  system  practically,  and  we  can  pardon  him  freely. 
His  remarks  require  no  comment. 

To  one  of  the  concluding  sentences  —  ^'If  false,  as 
vee  believe  it  (homoeopathy)  to  be,  its  doom  is  sealed  " 
— ^we  venture  to  add,  **and  if  true,  it  will  ultimately 
triumph  and  become  the  dominant  practice."  This 
latter  we  as  fully  believe  as  that  we  are  in  existence, 
and  the  happy  time  will  be  vastly  hastened  by  the 
<lelivery  of  such  addresses  as  Dr.  Bbi8T0V^*s,  and  such 
editorial   articles  as  that   of  the  Lwncet  of  May  2Ist. 

The  length  of  this  article  wiU,  we  hope,  be  pardoned, 
-on  account  of  the  desire  we  felt  to  do  full  justice 
4o  Dr.  Bristowb  by  quoting  largely  verbatim  from  his 
address,  and  by  meeting  his  objections  in  such  a  calm  and 


646       BBin8H  XEDIGAL  AflSOOIATION.  '^Sl 


friendly  way  as  one  foemm  ahonld  do  to  another  "  worthy 
of  hifl  steel/'  and  who  ahows  that  he  has  honestly 
endeayomed  to  make  himself  master  of  the  snbject  he 
midertakes  to  diseuss.  The  sadden  change  from  a  seriona 
discQBsion  to  a  joke  may  perhaps  be  not  amiss,  and  so  we 

3 note  the  speech  of  Dr.  Lono  Fox  of  Clifton,  who  seconded 
he  asnal  formal  vote  of  thanks  to  Db.  Bbistowb  for  his 
address.  We  qnote  from  the  report  in  the  British  Medical 
Journal  for  Angost  IStlu 

**  Dr.  Long  Fox  (Clifton),  in  seconding  the  motion,  said  he 
thonght  Dr.  Bristowe  had  prored  that  homoBopaihy  was  not  a 
system  of  medicine  in  the  sense  in  which  educated  men  mtder- 
stood  the  term.  With  regard  to  the  question  of  infbitesimal 
doses,  many  of  them  mi^t  remember  the  calculation  attributed 
to  the  late  Sir  James  Simpson,  that  the  most  powerfol  homcBo- 
pathic  remedy  was  the  solution  of  a  grain  df  medicine  in  an 
ocean  of  fluid  that  would  extend  from  the  earth  to  the  nearest 
fixed  star.  (Laughter.)  If  homceopathy  was  not  a  system  of 
medicine,  he  thought  the  course  with  regard  to  it  was  extremdy 
clear.  (Hear,  hear.)  If  a  homoeopat^c  practitioner^  allying 
that  the  same  remedies  were  used,  the  difference  being  only  in 
name,  asked  an  honourable  member  of  a  most  honourable  pro- 
fession to  associate  with  him  in  the  treatment  of  a  case,  it 
appeared  to  him  to  be  like  asking  the  Archbishop  of  Canteibuiy 
to  associate  with  the  high  priest  of  the  lowest  fetish  in  Central 
Africa.  (Laughter.)  Why  were  the  adherents — ^he  would  not 
say  the  victimB — of  homoeopathy,  to  be  found  among  men  eminimt 
in  piety,  sanctity,  and  benevolence  ?  He  belicTed  it  was  really 
because  they  thought  that  God  acted  habitually  miraculously. 
But  as  a  reverend  profession  (as  Bishop  McDougal  had  called 
them),  they  ought  to  refdse  to  countenance  so  unphiloso^ducal  a 
view  of  the  great  First  Cause.  (Hear,  hear.)  It  was  surely  a 
much  grander  view  of  the  Almighty  to  believe  that  he  alwa^ 
acted  by  the  grand  laws  that  He  had  Himself  laid  down.  He 
hoped  tiiat  Dr.  Bristowe  would  not  suppose  that  he  had  disagreed 
with  anything  he  had  said.  He  ventured  only  to  differ  in  regard 
to  the  remarks  in  the  latter  portion  of  the  Address.'* 

These  observations  of  Dr.  Long  Fox  remind  us  of  the 
dry  reply  of  an  American  colleague  to  a  question  from 
as,  how  Dr.  So-and-So  could  have  made  such  and  such 
extraordinary  remarks.  "  The  trouble  is,  Sir,"  said  he, 
**  there  is  no  law  in  the  United  States  which  prevents  s 
man  making  an  ass  of  himself." — ^And  we  must  presume 
that  the  powers  of  the  British  Medical  Association  ars 
equally  defective. 


ISlSS^SpLi!^!^  PBINCIPLBS  OF  HOHOBOPATHT.  64T 

THOUGHTS  ON  TH3E  SCIENTIFIC  APPLICATION^ 
OF  THE  PEINCIPLES  OF  HOMCEOPATHY 

IN  PRACTICE.* 

By  Thomas  Hatle,  M.D.   Edin. 

The  science  of  any  branch  of  knowledge  is  the  ascertain- 
ment and  definition  of  its  facts  and  of  their  relations  both 
in  synchronons  and  snccessiye  order,  and  in  all  their  mutual 
interdependencies.  The  steps  to  be  taken  in  the  attainment 
of  this  knowledge  are  the  exact  appreciation  of  the  facts, 
then  their  classification,  induction,  ratiocination,  deduction 
and  verification.  Every  step  in  the  order  of  succession 
being  known,  results  can  be  predicted,  and  their  accom- 
plishment appealed  to  as  a  verification  of  the  accuracy  of 
the  process. 

These  remarks  commence  my  paper  as  a  chart  for  my 
guidance  and  as  a  bright  contrast  to  my  own  performance 
and  the  glorious  uncertainties  of  medicine.  High  as  the 
heavens  above  our  heads  is  the  "  lucidus  ordo  "  of  science, 
as  compared  with  the  mass  of  assumptions  and  speculations 
through  which  it  will  be  my  perplexing  task  to  clear  my 
way.  The  nature  of  the  case  must  be  my  apology  for  failure, 
though  I  do  not  pretend  to  more  than  an  attempt  to  indi- 
cate what  must  be  done  in  order  to  succeed.  The  study  of 
facts  should  be  a  worship,  and  reverence  for  them  is  a 
reverence  for  their  author ;  for  they  are  his  words,  that  is, 
the  expression  of  his  mind.  The  history  of  medicine  does- 
not  present  us  with  such  a  reverence  for  facts  as  the  occa- 
sion demanded,  especially  as  on  their  proper  application  the 
well-being  of  humanity,  often  the  very  existence  of  indi- 
viduals, depended.  Instead  of  the  ''  lucidua  ordo "  of 
science,  rash  speculations  and  reckless  experiments  almost 
decimated  society.  Medicine,  instead  of  being  the  friend 
of  man,  might  well  be  deemed  his  worst  foe.  Secundum 
artem  became  as  nearly  synonymous  in  meaning  with 
''  secundum  Martem,"  as  it  is  symphonous  with  it  in  sound, 
quite  as  much  so  as  the  fiercest  worshipper  of  Bellona  could 
have  wiAed.  There  is  little  doubt  that  the  persistent  and 
reckless  employment  of  noxious  agents  in  the  treatment  of 
disease  caused,  in  the  long  run,  more  deaths  than  the  most 
protracted  and  bloody  wars.  A  constantly  acting  influence 
is  more  effective  than  a  cataclysm.     Good  and  thoughtful 

^  Beprixited  from  the  Tzwitaetioiii  of  the  InteznaiioiuJ  HonuBopathio-- 
ConTention,  July,  1881. 


^48  PBINCIPLES  OF  HOMCBOPATHY.  'mSL 


I. 


men  shrank  from  the  responsibility  of  snch  a  csUing,  and 
in  sorrow,  sometimes  in  indignation^  stood  by  and  looked 
on  at  this  abomination  of  desokition.  Hahnemann  describes 
his  mood  as  follows :  "  After  I  haddiseoYered  the  weakness 
and  errors  of  my  teachers  and  books  I  sank  into  a  state  of 
iM>rrowf  ol  indignation,  which  had  nearly  altogetijer  disgnsted 
me  with  the  study  of  medicine.  I  was  on  the  point  of 
conclnding  that  the  whole  art  was  vain  and  incapable  of 
improvement.  I  gave  myself  up  to  solitary  reflection,  and 
resolved  not  to  terminate  my  train  of  thought  until  I  had 
arrived  at  a  definite  conclusion  on  the  subject.*  This  is 
the  frame  of  mind  of  which  it  may  be  asserted  as  an  ever- 
lasting truth  that  those  who  seek  shall  find,  and  that  unto 
those  who  knock  it  shall  be  opened. 

The  first  event  or  coincidence  that  sets  the  mind  on  the 
right  track  may  appear  to  be  an  accident,  but  it  is  an  acci- 
dent which  is  available  only  to  him  whose  mind  is  on  ike 
watch  and  whose  whole  sord  is  devoted  to  the  consideration 
of  the  subject.  The  fall  of  the  apple  came  virithin  the 
observation  of  a  man  whose  whole  soul  was  dcToted  to  the 
study  of  the  laws  of  nature ;  it  was  something  to  him,  it 
was  nothing  to  all  men  beside.  That  it  was  a  nniformitj 
was  enough  for  them ;  why  it  was  a  uniformity  they  did  udk 
-care  to  inquire. 

When  Hahnemann  found  that  the  cinchona  harkpro- 
•duced  a  kind  of  intermittent  fever,  which  kind  it  also  cured, 
he  found  a  fact  connected  with  another  fact,  and  he  was  in 
search  for  such  connections.  To  most  men  this  would  have 
heen  a  coincidence;  but  a  coincidence  that  always  recnis 
under  the  same  circumstances  is  a  law ;  and  Halinemann 
at  once  perceived  this.  What  was  the  extent  of  this  law  ? 
Was  it  confined  to  this  single  instance,  or  did  it  ran 
through  all  the  instances  of  remedial  agency?  Or,  as 
Newton  might  have  thought,  is  this  law  confined  to  the  faO 
of  bodies  to  the  earth,  or  does  it  pervade  every  instance  of 
motion,  controlling  it  or  keeping  it  up  ?  Hahnemann's 
great  learning  enabled  him  to  go  through  the  record  of 
cures  with  one  medicine,  and  to  compare  these  with  what 
was  ascertainable  of  their  action  on  the  healthy  body.  He 
found  in  his  researches  numerous  instances  in  which  the 
^sease-producing  and  curative  action  of  medicines  corres- 

^  JE9eulapiu8   in    the   Balance,  Leipsic,   1806.     Letter  Writingi  4 
Hahnemann,  p.  470,  translated  by  Badgeon. 


iRSS^rs^riTSK*'   PKINOIPLEB  OF  HOMCEOPATHT.  649^ 

pond  remarkably;  the  one  set  of  observations  being* 
reeorded  by  one  set  of  observers,  the  other  by  another  set, 
eaeh  being  ignorant,  or,  at  least,  not  necessarily  cognizant, 
of  each  other's  observations,  thus  being  undesigned  coinci- 
dences. In  one  instance,  however,  De  Haen  observed  both, 
and  put  them  together,  with  great  surprise,  having  nnwit-- 
tingly  stumbled  on  a  law  of  nature  without  knowing  it. 
Hahnemann  quotes  from  his  Ratio  medendi,  tom.  iv.,  s. 
228,  the  following  passage :  **  Dulcamarsd  stipites  majori 
dosi  convulsiones  et  deliria  excitant,  moderata  vero  spasmos 
convulsionesque  solvunt."  Hahnemann  observes,  '*  Wie 
nahe  war  De  Haen  an  Erkennung  des  naturgemdssesten 
HeUgesetzes  I "  Very  near  indeed !  So  near  that  he  had 
observed  the  difference  between  the  action  of  the  larger 
and  the  smaller  dose. 

The  number  of  medicines  cited  is  about  fifty;  the 
number  of  coincidences,  perhaps,  two  hundred.  Some  of 
these  coincidences  are  of  the  rough  and  ready  class,  and  do 
not  correspond  with  the  requirements  of  science.  For 
instance,  the  cure  of  the  sweating  sickness  by  sudorifics, 
and  of  inflammatory  fever  by  smidl  doses  of  a  strong  wine, 
and  also  of  inflammation  of  the  brain  by  the  same  agent, 
present  no  data  for  the  scientific  homoBopath  to  act  on. 
There  is  a  very  striking  similarity  between  the  majority  of 
the  cases  cited,  but  exact  knowledge  was  not  attainable  in 
the  days  of  our  ancestors,  and,  in  &ct,  was  not  sought  for. 
It  is  well  for  humanity  that  the  after-researches  of 
Hahnemann  and  his  disciples  have  immensely  multiplied 
and  precisionised  the  data,  or  the  homcdopathic  law  would 
have  stood  upon  a  very  insecure  foundation.  As  it  is,  how- 
ever, these  researches,  and  those  which  have  subsequently 
been  carried  on  by  experiments  on  the  healthy  body,  obser- 
vations in  cases  of  poisoning,  and  cures  wrought  in  con- 
formity with  the  homoeopathic  law,  the  last  almost  countless, 
have  established  Hahnemann's  discovery  beyond  question. 
Eighty-four  years  have  passed,  and  each  successive  year 
has  but  added  to  the  extent  of  the  evidence  and  the  number 
of  converts.  The  benefits  conferred  on  suffering  humanity 
have  been  incalculable.  Diseases  previously  considered 
incurable  have  been  rendered  amenable  to  treatment ;  the 
percentage  of  fatal  cases  has  been  reduced,  so  much  so  as 
to  render  it  safe,  and  even  remunerative,  to  reduce  the  rate 
of  premium  on  policies  for  persons  treated  homceo- 
pathically ;  a  venture  which  has  been  proved  remunerative^ 


560  PRINCIPLES  OF  HOMOBOPATHT.      n..^^  o^  i. 


in  New  York  [under  State  inspection]  by  an  experience  of 
more  than  a  decade  of  years.  This  does  not  consiitiite 
more  than  a  small  portion  of  the  benefits  which  have  beoi 
realised  by  the  system  of  Hahnemann,  applied,  as  it  was, 
in  all  sorts  of  ways,  none  of  them  scientific.  They  had  the 
form  of  science,  bnt  not  the  power  of  it. 

Thinking  that  it  was  impossible  to  get  at  the  nature  of 
disease,  H^nemann  was  driven  to  adhere  to  the  symptoms. 
He  was  in  the  position  of  the  savage,  of  Dngald  Stewart, 
I  think,  who,  harassed  by  a  bnrning  fever  and  raging 
thirst,  comes  to  a  spring  of  cold  water  to  qaench  his  ilmvt, 
and  finding  that  the  cold  draught  not  only  removed  that, 
bnt  with  it  all  the  other  symptoms,  carefiiUy  noted  all  the 
circumstances  of  time  and  place  and  whatever  other  con* 
ditions  might  apply  to  the  case ;  the  time  of  day ;  whethtf 
the  sun  was  shuung  or  not ;  his  relation  to  it ;  whether  it 
was  shining  on  his  back  or  his  side ;  whether  it  was  doudy, 
calm,  or  windy ;  the  direction  of  the  wind  if  there  was  one; 
the  position  of  his  body,  on  his  hands  and  knees  or  others 
wise ;  the  taste  of  the  spring,  saline,  acid,  or  effervescent. 
All  this  and  much  more  lus  careful  mind  would  note,  not 
knowing  what  was  essential  or  unimportant,  so  ignorant 
was  he  of  the  world  in  which  fate  had  placed  him.  And  so 
for  some  time  his  servile  imitators  blindly  followed  hinu 
At  length  it  was  discovered  that  the  sun  might  shine  or 
not,  the  body  be  in  any  position,  the  wind  blow  as  it  listed, 
without  affecting  the  results.  It  was  the  spring  that  did 
it  all.  But  the  human  mind  was  not  so  easily  satisfied. 
What  part  of  the  spring  was  efiBcient  ?  There  were  ten  or 
twelve  ingredients.  Was  it  the  potass,  the  soda,  or  the 
lime  ?  At  last  by  investigation,  chemical  or  otherwise,  the 
active  ingredient  was  discovered,  and  all  superfluous  was 
eliminated.  This  is  the  course  of  science ;  a  very  slow  but 
a  very  sure  one.  Hahnemann  had  found  that  swiUia 
simiUJbus  curantWy  but  what  was  the  simiUa  t  Pathological 
science  was  not  &r  enough  advanced  in  his  time  to  be  con* 
fided  in,  and  he  was  too  sagacious  a  man  to  trust  in 
hypotheses  he  could  not  verify.  He  therefore  determined 
to  take  the  totality  of  the  symptoms  as  his  guide.  He  wss 
in  the  position  of  the  savage,  and  he  acted  as  sagaciously, 
proceeding  on  the  facts  of  the  case.  There  was,  however, 
a  difference  in  the  proceeding.  The  savage  did  not  know 
that  there  was  no  connection  between  all  the  parts.  He 
proceeded  as  if  there  was.    Hahnemann  knew  that  there 


BSS^^TirStt!*'    PBINOIPLBS  OF  HOMOfiOPATHT.         551 

-was,  and  perhaps  he  was  jnsfcified  in  thinking  so,  but  he 
was  not  in  a  position  to  trace  it.  In  the  one  case  the 
fortnitons  had  to  be  discovered  and  eliminated ;  in  the  other 
the  great  majority  of  symptoms  had  to  be  retained  in  order 
to  be  investigated  and  explained. 

Hahnemaxm  was  misled  in  his  view  of  the  case  and  by 
his  distmst  of  speculation.  He  treated  the  affair  as  one  of 
natural  history,  whereas  it  was  one  of  ratiocination  and 
deduction.  He  thought  that  a  medicine  which  produced 
A  symptom  in  any  one  case  might  produce  it  in  every  other, 
onmindfol  of  the  various  and  altogether  different  kinds  of 
disturbance  that  one  and  the  same  medicine  might  set  up 
in  the  body  and  the  variety  of  interdependence  which  might 
prevail  among  the  symptoms,  that  the  symptom  which  was 
set  up  in  one  kind  of  disturbance  might  be  out  of  place  in 
another.  Thus,  he  arranged  all  the  symptoms  belonging 
to  every  kind  of  disturbance  together,  and  confoundiug 
things  different,  made  a  scheme  of  them,  putting  all  the 
Bymptoms  which  belonged  to  one  region  together,  and  thus 
A  puzsle-box  of  dissimilars  out  of  which  to  construct  a 
whole  with  no  chart  to  guide. 

It  really  makes  me  ashamed  to  criticise  one  to  whom  we 
•owe  so  much,  and  we  should  consider  the  difficulties  under 
which  he  laboured,  and  put  down  his  errors  to  an  attempt 
to  steer  clear  of  the  hypotheses  and  rubbish  of  his  time. 
His  divine  discovery  came  on  the  human  mind  as  a  thunder- 
bolt, and  its  reception  corresponded  to  the  medium  on 
which  it  fell.  It  fell  on  a  world,  the  recklessness  and  folly 
of  which  was  well  expressed  in  the  waggish  distich — 

**  I  bleeda  them,  I  puxges  them,  I  sweatB  *em, 
And  if  they  diea— L  Lettsom.*' 

A  description  this  of  profound  stupidity  and  of  the  reckless- 
ness for  human  life  by  which  it  was  accompanied,  couched 
in  appropriate  terms.  No  wonder  that  the  Sangrados  of 
their  day  rejected  the  light  they  could  not  comprehend 
with  scorn  and  ridicule.  This  was  unavoidable.  The 
large  doses  of  drugs  which  it  was  the  fashion  to  give,  and 
in  which  alone  they  were  considered  efficient,  were  incon- 
sistent with  the  practice  of  homodopathy.  The  infinitesimal 
doses  or  exhibitions  of  nothing  were  considered  inventions 
of  Hahnemann  to  conceal  the  failure  of  his  laws, — at  least, 
to  render  that  failure  less  conspicuous,  which  the  doses  in 
common  use  would  no  doubt  have  done  in  a  remarkable 
way ;  and  thus  the  action  of  the  small  doses,  a  discovery  as 


652  PBINCIPLES  OF  HOM<EOPATHT.    ^bS^.^TSl 


brilliant  as  any  in  the  annals  of  medicine,  and  which 
law  was  a  step  to,  was  made  nse  of  by  the  profession,  not 
only  to  throw  ridicule  on  the  whole  thing,  bnt  even  to  cast 
suspicion  on  the  good  faith  of  the  great  man  whose  faith 
in  the  immutability  of  nature  had  guided  him  to  his  dis- 
covery. The  reception  of  homoaopathy  among  its  adherents 
was  various.  The  great  majority  materialised  its  teachings. 
They  could  not  reject  the  assertion  of  Hahnemann  that  his 
doses  acted,  but  their  habits  and  instincts  led  them  to 
compromise.  They  preferred  the  lower  attenuations,  and 
often  gave  the  crude  material.  They  came  as  near  as  they 
could  to  the  absurdities  of  polypharmacy  by  giving  alterna- 
tions of  two  or  more  drugs,  and  I  have  even  heard  of  twa 
or  three  drugs  being  mixed  and  given  at  the  same  time,  in 
direct  contradiction  to  the  precepts  of  Hahnemann  and  of 
common  sense*  until  at  last  a  homcBopathic  and  allopathic 
prescription  could  not  be  distinguished,  given,  as  they  weie, 
in  the  same  dose. 

There  is  nothing  new  in  all  this*  Men  have  aliraTS^ 
materialised  truth.  When  a  new  spiritual  religion  came 
into  the  world  men  christened  the  statues  of  the  heathen 
gods  and  gave  them  the  names  of  saints.  They  substituted 
the  Christian  festivals  for  the  Pagan,  retaining  even  the 
time.  The  great  festival  of  the  year  when  the  days  begin 
to  lengthen  was  honoured  by  being  converted  into  the 
commemoration  of  the  nativity  of  its  founder,  ail  whose 
precepts  they  took  pride  in  disregarding.  His  priests 
prayed  to  the  god  of  battles  for  success  to  the  armies  of 
their  nation.  No  priests  were  appointed  by  him.  His^ 
God  was  not  the  god  of  battles,  but  the  Universal  Father 
and  God  of  Love.  Oaths  bristled  up  on  every  side  thoogh 
he  had  expressly  forbidden  them.  lUches  denounced  by 
Him  in  the  strongest  terms  became  the  special  objects  of 
their  worship.  Thus,  Paganism  was  retained  under  ihe 
name  of  Christianity,  and  man's  lusts  gratified  under  the 
name  which  renounced  them.  Thus,  too^  was  the  sem- 
blance of  homoeopathy  retained,  though  the  substance  was 
allopathy.  In  both  cases,  however,  was  there  some  truth 
received,  and  that  little  leavened  the  whole  lump,  and  the 
world  was  the  better  for  it.  Another  branch  of  homcBO- 
pathists,  however,  out-Hahnemanned  Hahnemann  himself. 
If  he  gave  thirtieths  they  gave  millionths.  If,  lihe  the 
savage  at  the  spring,  he  observed  positions,  aspects,  and 
the  weather,  they  attended  to  the  most  minute  particnltf^ 


i 


lESSSfs^rr^''    PBINCIPLE8  OF  HOMEOPATHY.  653 

and  circamstances  ;  in  fact,  they  were  and  are  the  Boman- 
ticists  of  homoeopathy,  and  have  outliyed  their  time.  That 
which  Hahnemann  did  from  necessity  they  do  from  choice. 
The  resources  of  pathology  were  not  open  to  him,  and  he 
was  therefore  compelled  to  find  his  similar  in  a  very  round- 
about way.  Symptom-covering  was  his  only  resource. 
Eveiy  symptom  which  the  disease  produced  must  be  found 
in  the  medicine.  Unimportant  symptoms  were  confounded 
with  essential,  subjective  symptoms,  in  which  hardly  two 
people  would  be  found  to  agree,  took  their  place  with 
objective,  which  spoke  for  themselves.  In  this  search  after 
nonentities  the  weary  and  perplexed  searcher  after  truth 
might  well  exclaim,  as  in  the  i^into  di  Tasso — 

**  Quante  vedove  notte, 
Quanti  di  solitari, 
Ho  oonsomato  indamo/' 

did  he  not  every  now  and  then  chance  upon  some  similar 
which  led  him  to  a  startling  cure.  Yes,  in  spite  of  the 
absurdities  of  the  letter,  homoeopathy  has  achieved  its 
splendid  triumphs.  Six  thousand  physicians  in  America, 
with  a  clientele  that  makes  its  influence  felt  on  the  legisla- 
ture, and  insurances  effected  at  a  considerable  reduction  of 
premium  to  the  profit  of  the  office.  It  has  been  demon- 
strated that  homoeopathy  saves  one  out  of  every  two  lives 
that  allopathy  loses.*  If  such  be  its  achievements,  en- 
cumbered as  it  is  with  so  much  rubbish,  what  may  we  not 
expect  when  science  has  cleared  away  the  impediments  and 
has  revealed  the  essentials  in  their  unadulterated  beauty ! 
when  we  shall  have  ascertained  the  nature,  extent,  and 
limits  of  the  law,  and  the  essence  and  relative  importance 
of  the  symptoms.  The  recent  discovery  of  the  telephone 
has  rendered  it  highly  probable  that ''  nervous  communi- 
cation is  effected  by  means  of  nervous  cords  which  conduct 
what  may  be  called  a  carrier  fluid  endued  with  a  quality  oif 
so  plastic  a  nature  as  that  every  mode  of  motion  by  which 
one  of  the  extremities  may  be  affected  is  fedthfully  repre- 

*  In  fact,  the  Report  of  the  HonuBopathic  MutwU  ZAfe  Inturanee  Com-- 
pany,  New  Yorkf  makes  the  following  atcUemerU : — 

Total  Btunbtt  of  FoUdaB  Temunated 

iMoed.  by  death. 

HonuBopAthio   8827  (or  1  in  71)     124 

Non-HomoBopathio  ....    2466  (or  1  in  27)     89 

(or  nearly  1  to  8). 

No.  9,  Vol.  25.  2  o 


564  PRINCIPLES  OF  HOMOEOPATHY.   ^'SS^f^Trnfla! 

Bented  at  the  other  extremity  in  an  absolntely  perfect  way 
for  the  information  of  the  brain."* 

The  peripheral  extremities  are  always  famished  with  a 
mechanism  adapted  to  the  peculiar  mode  of  vibration  they 
are  meant  to  transmit.  Heat  being  a  mode  of  molecular 
motion  requires  no  peculiar  apparatus  and  has  none.  Touch 
requires  an  apparatus  of  a  simple  kind.  As  we  ascend 
through  the  various  senses,  through  the  sense  of  taste,  of 
smell,  of  hearing,  and  of  sight,  the  apparatus  of  reception 
becomes  more  complex.  Thus,  in  the  present  state  of 
our  knowledge  I  think  it  is  probable  that  the  apparatus  for 
sensation  is  constituted  somewhat  after  this  fashion.  First, 
there  is  the  nerve  cord,  a  sort  of  telegraphic  wire ;  then 
there  is  the  carrier  fluid,  the  vis  nervosa  of  Dr.  Drysdale, 
analogous  to  the  electricity  which  travels  along  the  wire ; 
then  there  is  the  special  fluid,  the  vibrations  of  which  cause 
our  various  sensations — dare  I  say  our  thoughts,  feelings, 
And  emotions  ?  Thus,  the  sense  of  heat,  the  impressions 
of  touch,  the  sense  of  taste,  that  of  smell,  of  hearing,  and 
of  sight  are  caused,  the  last  bringing  us  into  communication 
with  the  realms  of  space,  and  with  their  phenomena. 

But  there  are  other  sensations  not  perceptible  in  health, 
but  which  come  out  in  diuease  or  when  the  body  is  affected 
ly  certain  noxious  agents,  mechanical  or  otherwise.  Thus, 
for  instance,  in  a  strong,  cold,  north-east  wind  a  delicate 
individual  feels  a  strong  sensation  of  cold  which,  through 
the  sensory  nerves,  is  conveyed  to  the  brain,  from  whidi, 
through  the  vaso-motor  nerves,  the  vessels  at  the  surface 
are  contracted,  the  skin  becomes  pale  and  almost  bloodless, 
or  blue  and  livid.  This  may  also  be  the  direct  effect  of 
cold.  If  this  ends  here,  a  little  warmth  sets  it  right  again. 
But  it  may  not  end  here.  Then  another  set  of  reflex  actions 
are  set  up,  terminating  in  one  or  more  of  the  internal  organs 
— generally  one  or  more  of  the  serous  membranes— the 
pleurse  or  synovial  membranes.  These  vessels  are  not 
calculated  to  withstand  the  shock,  and  after  a  few  alterna- 
tions of  diameter  some  weaker  portion  subsides  into  a 
paralytic  state.  It  becomes  dilated,  and  stagnation  of  the 
•circulation  takes  place,  and  what  is  called  inflammation  is 
set  up.  Stabbing  pains  on  every  inspiration  impede  the 
breathing,  and  the  phenomena  of  pleurisy  are  developed.  I 
once  met  with  a  case  of  this  kind,  and  as  its  phenomena  are 

*  "  Some  Sensations  and  Pains  discossed,  with  an  attempt  to  detennine 
their  mode  of  origin  and  production."  Poblished  in  Monthly  Horn.  Reviem, 


^^f  ^tT^"*  PBINCIPLBS  OF  HOMOEOPATHY.  555 

•characteristic,  and  its  mode  of  cessation  illustrates  the 
Action  of  a  homoeopathic  medicine,  I  transcribe  it. 

'*  A  yoong  lady,  a  teacher  at  a  school,  when  walking  out 
with  the  scholars  on  a  cold  frosty  day,  a  sharp  north-east 
wind  blowing,  was  seized  with  violent  pleuritic  stitches.  I 
found  her  in  bed ;  a  hard  pulse  of  120 ;  great  agony ;  every 
breath  caused  acute  stabs;  every  movement  was  acutely 
painful.  Yet  she  was  so  restless  she  could  not  keep  quiet. 
•One  dose  of  aconite  80  was  the  only  medicine  I  gave  her. 
In  a  short  time  after  taking  it,  five  minutes  she  said,  a  most 
violent  perspiration  broke  out-— a  vapour  bath  was  the  term 
she  used — and  all  her  pains  left  her.  The  next  day  I  found 
her  free  from  pain  and  fever  but  weak." 

The  rationale  of  the  process  by  which  the  disease  was 
-set  up  I  have  given  above,  at  least,  what  I  suppose  was  the 
rationale — What  explanation  is  to  be  given  of  the  cure  ? 
The  answer  to  this  lies  in  an  explanation  of  the  mode  of 
action  of  medicines,  and  especially  of  the  higher  attenua* 
tions.  Medicinal  action  consists  in  a  particular  mode  of 
motion  controlling  and  altering  the  mode  of  motion  which 
is  constantly  going  on  in  the  different  nerves.  Each  medi- 
<3ine  has  its  own  sphere  of  action,  and  controls  and  alters 
the  mode  of  motion  in  its  own  sphere  of  nerves.  It  does 
not  alter  the  mode  of  motion  that  is  going  on,  if  healthy,* 
that  is,  synchronous  with  its  own  mode  of  motion ;  but  what- 
ever is  amiss,  out  of  gear,  it  restores  to  its  normal  action, 
and,  in  fact,  sets  right  all  that  is  wrong.  I  am  speaking 
of  a  proper  dose,  that  is  of  a  dilution.  When  given  in  a 
large  dose  it  not  only  acts  on  the  diseased  parts,  but  sets  up 
morbid  movements  of  its  own,  deranging  the  whole  nervous 
tract. 

Thus,  in  the  case  before  us  the  aconite  descended  the 
Tasomotor  nerves  of  the  pleurae,  and  finding  some  of  them 
weakened  in  their  movements  and  out  of  gear,  and  the 
▼easels  under  their  control  dilated,  strengthened  their 
action,  restored  the  dilated  vessels  to  their  normal  calibre, 

*  I  am  speaking  of  the  smaU  doses.  In  a  large  material  dose  its  action 
pervades  the  whole  sphere  of  the  nezTons  system  under  its  control,  and, 
instead  of  merely  setting  ri^t  what  is  amiss,  we  have  to  do  with  a 
deranging  inflnence.  In  one  case,  the  smallness  of  the  dose  renders  it 
too  weak  to  alter  the  healthy  vibrations,  bnt  only  the  abnormal.  The 
largeness  of  the  dose  seems  to  derange  the  harmony,  and  even  though  its 
vibrations  are  syndironons,  they  beat  down  the  normal  vibrations  and 
raporsede  ti^em,  thus  producing  disease  or  an  extension  of  it.  The  small* 
ness  of  the  dose  limits  and  softens  the  action. 


656  PBIKCIPJUBS  OF  HOM(EOPATHY.   ""S^lf Sept.  i;  issL 

consequently  caused  the  pains  produced  by  their  pressm^ 
to  subside,  and  set  np  a  series  of  actions,  ending  in  the 
relaxation  of  £he  cutaneous  ressels  and  profbse  perspiration. 
Thns,  the  process  is  reversed ;  the  dilated  yessels  of  the 
plenrs  are  contracted,  and  the  contracted  vessels  of  the 
skin  are  dilated,  and  relieve  themselves  by  transpiration. 
The  blood  previously  thrown  npon  the  vessels  of  the- 
interior,  which  were  nnable  to  bec^  it,  is  thrown  ontwards 
on  the  cntaneoQS  vessels,  which  relieve  themselves  by  per- 
spiration.    This  is  a  common  mode  of  relief.    But  the 
other  day  rheomatism  of  the  knee-joint  gave  way  to  the 
action  of  mercury,  which  set  np  a  profuse  perspiration  with 
complete  relief.     This  is  a  very  common  mode  of  relief  if 
the  vessels  of  the  interior  are  strong  enough  to  throw  back 
the  blood-cnrrent  to  the  surface.    In  intermittent  fever 
relief  is  accompanied  by  a  profuse  perspiration,  by  a  natural 
or  medicinal  reaction.    Here  is  a  quotation  from  Stanley. 
"Early  in  the  morning  I  commenced  on  my  qtdnine  doses; 
at  6  a.m.  I  took  a  second  dose ;  before  noon  I  had  taken 
four  more,  altogether  fifty  measured  grains,  the  effect  of 
which  was  manifest  in  the  perspiration,  which  drenched 
flannels,  linen,  and  blankets.    After  noon  I  rose,  devoutly 
thankful  that  the  disease  which  had  clung  to  me  for  the 
last  fourteen  days  had  at  last  succumbed  to  quinine.**  * 

On  the  other  hand,  we  have  numerous  cases  treated  by 
small  doses.  In  Buckert's  Klinische  Erfahrungen  we  have 
twenty-seven  cases  so  treated,  and  all  successfully,  with 
china,  and  eleven  cases  treated  likewise  successfully  with 
chinin.  suLph.,  first  attenuation.  How  is  it,  then,  such 
different  doses  alike  prove  curative  ?  One  dose  produces- 
intermittent  fever,  the  other  cures  it,  but  is  unable  to 
produce  it.  One  would  have  thought  that  the  large  dose, 
capable  as  it  is  of  producing  the  ^sease,  would  aggravate 
it.  Is  it  possible  that  it  sets  up  such  a  turmoil  in  the 
system  that  in  its  sphere  a  crisis  is  produced  by  which  the 
disease  is  expelled  when  it  is  already  produced  ?  This 
would  be  one  devil  driring  out  another.  An  examinatioa 
of  cures  by  large  doses,  of  which  there  should  be  many  in 
our  ranks>  would  throw  light  on  this  subject.    I  beheye 

*  Stanley's  How  I  Found  LivingBtone,  p.  1 92.  He  had  sevezai  attacks- 
of  fever  after  this.  He  speaks  of  the  '*  athninia  or  deq>0Ddeney  in  which, 
he  was  plunged  by  eyer-reonzring  fevers."  He  adds,  '*  My  enfeebled 
stomach,  harrowed  and  izritated  with  medicinal  oompoonds — tpee.,  cdo- 
cyrUhj  tartar  em.,  quinine — protested  against  the  coarse  food."  8o  mnch 
lor  driig  treatment  1 


lS^^jS^t!VS^  PBINCIPLES  OP  HOMCBOPATHT.  557 

that  the  cnres  so  wrought  are  more  violent  and  less  rapid, 
and  more  apt  to  return,  than  those  by  smaller  doses,  which 
are  accompanied  with  less  straggle,  as  only  the  diseased 
parts  are  touched,  while  the  healthy  parts  remain  unaffected* 
Jn  the  small  dose  the  vibrations  are  synchronous  with  those 
of  the  healthy  parts,  and  only  those  which  are  out  of  gear 
are  touched.  In  the  other  case  the  whole  sphere  of  the 
medicine,  that  is  the  sphere  on  which  it  acts,  is  abnormally 
and  violently  acted  on.  The  vibrations  and  oscillations  of 
the  vessels  are  tumultuous  and  endanger  their  continuity, 
and  then  a  crisis  takes  place,  and  things  are  made  right  as 
after  a  storm.  This  is  dangerous  work ;  it  is  a  trial  of 
strength,  the  vessels  may  give  way,  and  then  all  is  over. 
Sweats  may  set  in,  but  not  of  the  kind  that  restores.  The 
patient  sinks  under  the  action  of  the  medicine.  The  subject 
is  a  very  interesting  one,  and  will  make  an  excellent  subject 
for  experimentation,  and  will  have  the  advantage  of  settling 
the  vexed  question  of  the  dose.  There  are  numberless 
^diseases,  however,  in  which  there  are  no  crises,  in  which 
the  vessels  of  the  part,  chronically  dilated,  have  lost  their 
elasticity.  If  they  are  restored  to  their  normal  state  by 
-one  dose  of  a  homoeopathic  medicine,  they  speedily  relapse 
into  their  usually  dilated  and  diseased  state.  These  are 
>our  chronic  cases,  and  this  state  of  things  is  to  be  met  by 
A  skilful  repetition  of  doses,  and  if  the  part  is  accessible  by 
A  typical  stimulant  or  by  large  doses,  we  should  not  give 
a  second  dose  until  the  first  has  exhausted  or  nearly 
•exhausted  its  action,  and  we  should  persevere  with  one 
medicine  as  long  as  it  seems  to  do  good.  The  too  conmion 
plan  of  alternations  is  contrary  to  the  dictates  of  common 
i9ense,  may  impede  the  action  of  the  right  medicine,  and 
prevent  the  acquisition  of  experience.  I  do  not  mean  that 
alternations  are  never  of  use ;  but  the  fact  should  be  ascer- 
tained by  careful  experiments,  and  no  alternation  should  be 
used  in  the  happy-go-lucky  way  of  modern  practice.  The 
charioteer  in  the  car  of  homoeopathy  always  drives  at  least 
a  pair  of  horses,  but  rarely  well  matched.  There  must  be 
magic  in  number  two. 

There  is  another  class  of  cases  which  do  not  or  rarely  do 
admit  of  crises.  When  the  vessels  in  the  interior  open 
upon  mucous  surfaces,  these  then  relieve  themselves 
rartially,  and  set  up  a  series  of  actions  which  run  a  course. 
J*irst,  they  contract,  and  the  membranes  become  dry,  then 
their  discharges  are  poured  forth,  and  lastly,  they  become 


558  PRINCIPLEB  OP  HOMCEOPATHY.  ^B^.^^tTSt 

thicker.  Ulcerations  occur,  and  in  one  case  fibrinons- 
exudations  nnder  the  inflaence  of  north-east  winds,  as  in 
cronp.  We  must  recollect  the  disturbing  agency  is  applied 
in  this  class  of  cases  to  both  surfaces.  The  results  of 
treatment  are  often  gradual,  and  people  rarely  take  medi- 
cine for  a  cold.  Now,  a  great  deal  of  all  this  may  be  mere 
speculation.  It  is  a  worlong  hypothesis  which  may  serve  a 
turn  till  superseded  by  a  better.  The  hypothesis  that  aU 
sensations  and  pains  come  under  the  category  of  modes  of 
motion,  as  those  of  the  senses  undeniably  do,  is  according 
to  the  analogy  of  nature.  That  the  rectification  of  abnormid 
motions  by  the  setting  up  of  normal  ones  is  at  least  pro- 
bable, and  accounts  for  tiie  non-production  of  change,  and 
therefore  of  sensation,  where  the  vibrations  are  synchronous. 
Change,  and  therefore  cure,  is  only  effected  where  the 
vibrations  are  not  synchronous,  and  therefore  diseased. 
The  hypothesis  is  also  rendered  probable  by  what  we  now 
know  of  the  way  in  which  the  electric  fluid  conveys  along 
the  wire  sound,  light,  and  heat.  The  small  doses  of 
bomceopathy  are  accounted  for  and  their  efficiency  explained 
when  medicinal  action  is  referred  to  vibration,  and  attention 
vrill  be  directed  to  points  of  practical  interest,  such  as 
alternations  of  medicines  and  the  doses.  In  various  and 
unlooked  for  ways  an  hypothesis,  if  it  approaches  truth, 
may  be  useful.  It  directs  investigation  and  leads  to  other 
guesses,  which,  when  they  are  of  an  experimental  character, 
may  be  verified  or  discarded.  The  first  step,  or  at  any 
rate  a  very  important  step,  in  the  scientific  application  of 
homoeopathy  is  the  remodelling  of  our  Materia  Medica^ 
We  must  reform  our  medicines.  The  symptoms  must  be 
arranged  in  the  order  in  which  they  occur.  The  doses  in 
which  the  drugs  are  given  should  be  stated,  and  the  effect 
of  change  of  dose  upon  the  nature  and  order  of  the  symp- 
toms should  be  ascertained.  The  symptoms  themselves 
should  be  analysed,  so  that  their  caases,  seat,  and  nature 
should  be  ascertained. 

In  my  papers  on  Same  Sensations  and  Pains  I  have 
endeavoured  to  do  this  in  regard  to  the  sensations  of  heat 
and  burning — ^very  inadequately,  I  confess.  It  is  a  hnmble 
attempt ;  I  have  done  what  I  cotdd.  But  there  will  be 
some  advantages  in  the  method  of  proving  suggested.  The 
rise  and  progress  of  the  different  sensations  may  be  dis- 
tinctly traced.  An  important  element  this  in  ascertaining: 
the  causes,  seat,  and  nature  of  the  symptoms,  an  advantage 


B^^^P^u^^  PRINCIPLES  OP  HOMCEOPATHY.  559 


I  did  not  possess.  In  following  out  these  investigations, 
the  resoarces  which  chemistry  and  the  microscope  have 
placed  at  oar  disposal  should  he  brought  to  bear.  The 
excretions^  especially  the  nrine,  should  be  thus  examined. 
Disease  should  also  be  studied  with  equal  minuteness  and 
accuracy.  Every  advance  in  the  knowledge  of  pathology  is 
an  advance  in  that  of  drug-action.  In  fact  they  are  one  and 
the  same.  We  may  obtain  and  utilise  the  labour  of  our 
allopathic  brethren,  at  present,  from  the  want  of  a  system  of 
healing,  almost  purposeless,  A  branch  of  the  enquiry  will 
be  the  action  of  the  different  remedies  on  each  other,  and 
the  modification  of  symptoms  by  such  action.  This  looks 
all  very  well  when  we  are  laying  down  plans,  but  the 
process  is  slow  and  tedious  when  we  come  to  action.  It 
would  be  well  to  form  an  experimental  committee  to  prove 
the  medicines  and  arrange  the  symptoms.  Another  com* 
mittee  might  analyse  and  endeavour  to  find  the  cause, 
nature,  and  seat  of  the  symptoms.  The  energies  of  the 
homcBopaihic  world  should  be  turned  towards  these  objects. 
Should  it  be  objected  that  the  members  of  a  hard-worked 
and  ill-paid  profession  can  ill  afford  to  devote  time  to  such 
objects,  money  might  supply  that  want  by  enabling  self- 
denying,  conscientious  men  to  devote  themselves  to  these 
purposes.  The  world  will  pay  for  what  it  wants.  A  few 
hundreds  a  year  for  each  of  the  five  or  six  men  that 
would  be  wanted  would  be  a  slight  thing  to  do  for  the 
attainment  of  such  a  purpose.  Hahnemann's  law  would 
thus  be  presented  to  the  world  shorn  of  all  its  impedi- 
menta, and  fit  for  application  to  every  case.  The  savage 
at  the  spring  would  be  nowhere.  All  attempts  to  include 
truth  by  including  everything,  even  the  unimportant  and 
minute,  would  be  rendered  unnecessary  by  a  perfect 
analysis.  Transitional  and  temporary  aberrations  would 
be  merged  in  one  uniform  and  scientific  system  of  practice 
which  might  admit  of  additions,  but  not  of  change.  The 
reckless  and  murderous  school  of  the  Lettsom's  would  be 
superseded  by  a  tender  and  reverent  approach  to  the  noblest 
work  of  God — a  process  at  present  going  on.  Secundum 
Martem  would  cease  to  be  synonymous  with  secundum 
artem  in  medical  practice. 

In  conclusion,  what  is  wanted  for  the  scientific  applica- 
tion of  the  law  of  similars  in  practice  is,  I  think,  a  rational 
and  true  theory  of  medicinal  action  (the  one  proposed  may 
not  be  the  trae  one,  bat  it  is  proposed  merely  as  a  working 


660  CAMP  LOU.  ^%S£ 


hypoUiegis  in  &iilt  of  a  better);  a  remodeUing  of  our 
Materia  Medica  in  a  naioral  ordra* ;  a  carefol  analysis  of 
symptoms^  so  that  we  may  be  sore  that  our  similars  sro 
not  alike  merely  in  iqipearance,  but  in  reality;  last,  bat  not 
least,  embracing  all  oar  researches,  a  humble  and  reverent 
spirit  as  becomes  workers  in  the  great  temple  of  Ood. 

Bochdale,  Jnly,  1881. 

"  CAMP  LOU." 

By  Dr.  A.  S.  Kbnkedt,  Blackheath. 

**  Camp  Lou  "  is  the  title  of  an  article  in  the  May  nnmber 
of  Harper^s  Monthly,  which  opens  up  a  subject  of  great 
interest  to  the  medical  world.  It  is  written  by  a  news- 
paper reporter  after  his  retom,  in  comparatiyely  robnst 
health,  from  a  district  in  the  Adirondack  mountains,  to 
which  he  had  been  sent  as  a  dernier  reuort.  As  he  says 
himself,  he  went  hunting  for  health,  and  he  found  it. 

About  two  years  ago.  Dr.  A.  L.  Loomis,  of  New  York 
City,  read,  before  the  State  Medical  Society,  a  paper 
entitled  ''The  Adirondack  Region  as  a  Therapeutical 
Agent  in  the  Treatment  of  Pulmonary  Phthisis  "  {Medical 
Record,  toI.  xv.).  Dr.  Loomis  speaks  from  personal  ex- 
perience of  this  district,  having  been  himself  the  victim  of 
phthisis,  the  only  survivor  of  a  family,  everyone  of  whom, 
save  one,  died  of  phthisis.  After  trying  many  climates, 
and  having  been  made  worse  by  a  journey  south,  he  went 
to  the  Adirondack  wilderness,  and  when,  after  a  residence 
of  some  months  in  the  woods,  he  returned  free  from  cough, 
with  an  increase  in  weight  of  twenty  pounds,  he  very 
naturally  became  an  enthusiast.  For  eleven  years  he  has 
been  sending  invalids  to  that  region,  at  first  for  the 
summer  only,  and  latterly  for  the  whole  year.  He  cites 
twenty  cases  of  persons  who  tested  this  experiment,  and, 
after  an  extended  trial,  he  reports  ten  as  recovered,  six  as 
improved,  two  not  benefited,  and  two  dead.  The  ten 
absolute  cures  were  in  cases  of  catarrhal  phthisis,  the  form 
of  the  disease  which  seems  most  benefited  by  residence  in 
the  wilderness.  The  characteristics  of  the  climate  are  the 
extreme  purity  of  its  atmosphere  and  the  high  percentage 
of  ozone.  Balsamic  odours  abound  from  pine,  balsam, 
spruce,  and  hemlock  trees.  The  air  is  cool  and  moist,  but 
the  soil  is  so  porous  as  to  be  always  dry.  The  cold  in 
winter  is  great  and  continuous,  snow  lying  thickly  until 


^SS^^^^T^^  CAMP  LOU.  661 


Seviaw,  Sept.  1, 18S1. 


March,  when  the  thaw  is  rapid,  and  the  moisture  rapidly 
Tans  through  the  soil.  He  dwells  especially  upon  the  dry* 
ness  of  the  soil  as  being  of  the  greatest  importance  to  the 
patient. 

The  writer  of  the  article  amved  in  the  Lake  St.  Regis 
•district  in  the  last  stage  of  the  disease — in  fact,  his  friends 
scarcely  expected  to  get  him  there.  His  tent  was  pitched 
^n  the  borders  of  a  lovely  lake,  near  the  one  hotel  of  the 
neighbourhood.  The  great  point  in  the  treatment  is  that 
-the  patient  liyes  in  a  hut  or  tent,  so  as  to  be  almost 
•entirely  in  the  open  air,  breathing  always  the  healing 
atmosphere,  and  drawing  in  new  life  with  each  breath. 
To  quote  his  own  words — *'  To  begin  with,  camp  life  is  to 
l>e  considered  as  perhaps  the  most  important  feature  of  the 
wilderness  cure.  When  the  reporter  first  came  into  the 
woods,  his  ideas  with  regard  to  this  matter  of  camping  out 
were  vague  in  the  extreme.  Having  faithfally  read  all  the 
books  on  the  Adirondacks  that  he  could  find,  the  im- 
pression left  was  a  jumble  of  woollen  blankets,  rubber 
<»oat8,  hemlock  boughs,  salt  pork,  and  a  frying-pan.  To- 
day he  is  glad  to  be  able  to  report  that  camping  out,  so  far 
SB  relates  to  the  St.  Elegis  country,  may  be  absolutely 
dissociated  from  pork,  fr3^ing-pans,  and  all  other  abomina- 
tions. Here,  forty  miles  in  the  wilderness,  one  may 
surround  himself  with  all  the  comforts  and  nearly  all  the 
luxuries  that  he  can  enjoy  in  his  own  city  home." 

And  really,  if  the  readers  of  the  Review  could  only  see 
the  pictures  of  the  invalid's  hut,  and  read  the  descriptions 
of  camp  life,  I  think  they  would  be  inclined  to  agree  with 
Mm.  Passing  over  the  graphic  descriptions  of  camp  life 
in  this  delightful  spot,  we  come  to  the  manner  in  which 
the  winter  is  generally  spent  by  the  invalid. 

The  writer  stands  out  stoutly  for  the  necessity  of 
staying  in  the  St.  Begis  district  during  the  winter.  The 
atmosphere  is  then  like  that  of  Davos-am-Platz,  which  is 
regarded  with  so  much  favour  as  an  invalid  residence. 
Daring  this  time  the  invalid  must  live  in  one  of  the  hotels 
of  the  district  or  in  a  boarding-house,  of  which  there  are 
several  in  the  small  towns  of  Saranac  and  Bloomingdale. 

^'  The  winter  months  are  generally  dry,  cold,  and  almost 
entirely  free  from  thaws.  .  As  a  rule  also  the  snow-fall  is 
abundant,  and  three  or  four  months  continuous  sleighing 
may  be  counted  upon  with  certainty.  In  winter,  as  in 
summer,  the  first  duty  of  the  patient  should  be  to  live  out 


662  CAMP  LOU.  ^SSS^ 


of  doors  as  much  of  the  time  as  is  practicable.  If  not 
strong  enough  to  hont — and  winter  hunting  is  rare  good 
sport  here — or  to  tramp  oyer  the  snow-covered  roads,  then 
he  may  resort  to  riding,  and  thus  secure  the  benefits  of  the 
bracing  air." 

The  food  is  good  at  the  boarding-honses,  with  the 
exception  of  one  important  item,  viz.,  beef.  "  Adirondack 
beef  is  tougher  than  anything  in  this  world  ^riiich  it  has 
been  the  lot  of  the  reporter  to  grapple  with,  an  assertiffli 
not  lacking  in  solemnity  when  it  is  remembered  that 
reportorial  experience  familiarises  a  fellow  with  criminals, 
politicians,  and  the  orthography  of  the  man  who  writes 
gratuitous  communications  (on  both  sides  of  the  sheet)  to 
the  daily  press." 

Now,  as  to  the  cost.  The  reporter  was  not  a  rich  num, 
and  had  to  carefally  count  the  cost  of  everything.  The 
conclusion  he  comes  to  cannot  &il  to  be  comforting.  He 
says :  "  From  his  personal  experience  and  the  oppor- 
tunities afforded  him  of  studying  the  subject,  the  reporter 
is  convinced  that  a  person  can  journey  to  the  St.  Begis 
country,  spend  a  year  there,  give  the  experiment  a  &ir 
trial,  and  all  for  a  smaller  sum  than  the  same  person  must 
necessarily  spend  at  home.  He  can  pay  the  cost  of  the 
journey  from  New  York,  buy  a  good  tent,  and  fit  up  a 
camp  so  that  it  shall  be  in  all  respects  comfortable,  spend 
the  winter  months  in  a  hospitable  farmhouse,  live  on  bed", 
mutton,  venison,  partridges,  chickens,  speckled  trout, 
fresh  eggs,  pure  milk,  sweet  butter,  and  a  variety  of 
vegetables,  recover  his  health,  and  his  entire  outlay  for  the 
year  need  not  exceed  the  £2  8s«  a  week  which  he  would 
have  spent  at  home,  taking  the  expenditure  in  New  York 
at  12  dollars  at  the  lowest." 

The  reporter  gives  a  tabular  statement  of  the  expenses 
for  two  persons  for  twelve  months'  residence. 

Gamp-life  Period— Fivb  Months: — 


Canvas  tent  and  camp  equipments . . . 

Labour  and  buildings        

Food  and  all  necessaiy  expenses  at 

9  dollars  per  week  

Guide  for  season     ...         


£ 

B.   d. 

20 

0    0 

10 

0    0 

86 

0    0 

80 

0    0 

£96 

0    0 

SsSii^llST?^  CAMP  LOU.  663 


Beview,  Sept.  1, 1881. 


HOUBB-LIFB   PeBIOD — SbVEN  MoNTHS  I — 

Board  and  washing 61  12  0 

Horse  for  driving 16  16  0 

Extras  for  table      20    0  0 


je98    8    0 
Total        ...  £194    8    0 


The  average  weekly  expenditure  on  this  scale  reaches 
£S  16s.,  but  this  supposes  many  laxories  which  coald 
easily  be  omitted  wi^out  in  the  least  endangering  the 
experimenter's  chances  of  recovery. 

''  In  a  word,  then,  the  wilderness  is  poverty's  paradise. 
Yon  can  rent  a  house  here,  with  two  or  three  acres  of 
ground,  for  10  shillings  a  month.  You  can  buy  mutton, 
or  venison,  or  beef  for  10  cents  a  pound,  partridges  or 
chickens  for  25  cents  a-piece,  butter  for  16  cents,  speckled 
trout  for  5  cents.  You  can  get  your  wood  all  sawn  and 
split  for  1  dollar  a  cord,  and  a  horse  to  use  all  through 
the  winter  for  his  keeping." 

Camp  Lou  has  now  passed  out  of  the  stage  of  an 
experiment.  Numbers  of  consumptives  have  since  thea 
gone  to  this  region  and  regained  health  and  strength. 
The  district  is  within  easy  reach  of  England.  Travel 
now-a-days  is  sufficiently  easy  and  luxurious  to  permit 
of  invalids  from  our  own  country  reaching  this  new 
sanatorium  in  safety.  The  journey  may  be  comfortably 
broken  at  New  York  and  other  places  of  interest  en  route^ 
so  that  by  short  and  easy  stages  a  patient  may  be  enabled 
to  reach  this  district,  which  promises  so  good  a  chance  of 
arresting  the  disease,  and  a  restoration  in  great  measure  of 
health  and  strength. 

Surely  this  is  worth  a  trial.  We  send  patients  to 
Egypt,  the  Gape,  Davos,  Queensland,  in  fact,  anywhere, 
that  they  may  have  a  chance  of  recovery  through  climatic 
influence.  Why  not  send  some  to  St.  Begis?  In  the 
brief  space  of  tlus  review  there  are  many  points  of  interest 
necessarily  omitted,  and  no  justice  can  be  done  to  the 
lovely  etchings  which  adorn  the  pages  of  the  article.  I 
would  earnestly  recommend  all  who  are  interested  in  the 
subject  to  obtain  the  May  number  of  Harper's  Monthh/y, 
and  read  for  themselves  what  I  have  been  able  to  give  only 
the  barest  outline  of. 


564  MEETINGS  OP  BOCIBTIEB.  *fe^S!!?"?'TS* 


finvjeWy  Sept.  Ip  IflSL. 


MEETINGS   OF   SOCIETIES. 

THE    BANQUET  TO  THE  VISITORS  TO  THE  INTEB. 
NATIONAL  HOMCEOPATHIC  CONVENTION.* 

At  the  invitation  of  British  homoeopathic  phjadans,  the 
Ameriean  and  foreign  Tisitors  were  entertained  at  a  banqnet  ai 
the  Criterion  on  fViday  evening,  July  16th.  The  Preaideiift 
(Dr.  Hughes)  occupied  the  chair ;  Dr.  Pope  the  vice-chair. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  dinner,  the  Chaibmak  called  npon  the 
'Company  to  charge  their  glasses,  and  said :  It  is  always  custo- 
mary in  this  country,  when  we  begin  onr  toast  drinking,  first  of 
all  tu  drink  the  health  of  Her  Migesty  the  Qneen ;  and  although 
the  present  assemblage  is  that  of  the  Intsmational  Homodopathie 
Convention,  I  am  sure  there  will  be  no  gnidging  on  the  part  of 
the  members  of  any  nationality  here  represented  in  the  response 
iiCGorded  to  the  toiust  I  am  about  to  ask  you  to  drink.     We,  here 
in  England,  have  the  satisfEu^tion  of  knowing  that  the  honour  and 
respect  we  feel  for  the  person  of  Queen  Victoria  is  shared  hj 
every  one  who  knows  anything  of  her,  and  that  there  is  no 
Sovereign  in  Europe  who  is  more  honoured  wherever  she  goes. 
I  venture  also  to  say  that  in  our  sister  America — ^though  no 
longer  subject  to  the  British  Crown — ^there  is  more  than  honour 
— ^ere  is  affection  felt  for  the  head  of  our  State,  and  that  **  the 
<2ueen  "  is  a  household  name  there  as  well  as  here  for  one  who 
has  adorned  her  high  place,  and  has  shown  therein  all  the  viitaes 
of  a  mother,  a  wife,  and  a  woman.  (Cheers.)  The  Queen  knows, 
and  well  exemplifies  one  chief  office  of  the  Monarchy,  thai  is,  to 
represent  her  country — ^to  r^resent  it  alike  in  its  historic  past 
and  in  the  mind  of  its  present ;  and  that  office  of  hers  was  never 
more  worthily  fulfilled  than  when  our  brethren  over  the  sea  were 
plunged  suddenly  into  great  trouble  through  the  calamity  which 
fell  upon  the  head  of  their  States.     She  then  was  foremost  in 
shoignng  her  spirit  of  sympathy  and  affection.    We  all  sympa- 
thised with  her  then ;  and  I  ask  you  to  sympathise  with  us 
to-day,  and  to  drink  to  the  health  of  Her  Majesty  the  Queen. 
(Cheers.) 

The  toast  was  cordially  received,  and  accompanied  with  the 
singing  of  the  National  Anthem. 

Dr.  Pope,  in  proposing  the  next  toast,  said :  I  ask  you  to 
drink  the  health  of  the  Prince  and  Princess  of  Wales  and  tiie 
members  of  the  Royal  Family,  assured  that  it  is  a  haoilj  that 
eigoys  a  high  degree  of  popularity  not  only  in  this  country,  when 
it  is  perfectly  natural,  but  in  every  other  country  in  the  world. 
The  Prince  of  Wales  in  his  time  has  travelled  over  the  greattf 

*  Through  the  ooortosy  of  the  Preddent  of  the  reoMit  Convention,  we 
aie  enabled  to  present  onr  readers  with  an  ample  report  of  the  speeches 
at  the  dinner,  to  whidi  we  briefly  referred  last  month. 


22^f^t  mSS!**  meetings  op  societies.  665 

portion  of  the  ciTilised  world.  His  yiflit  to  the  United  States  and 
to  Canada  some  years  ago  was  one  of  very  pleasant  memories  to 
many  who  were  there.  As  a  visitor  to  Paris  there  is  no  one  who 
is  more  popular  than  the  Prince  of  Wales,  and  it  is  the  same  as 
regards  Vienna  and  St.  Petersburg,  and  we  may  say  all  over 
Eniope.  Hence  there  is  a  veiy  great  degree  of  propriety  in 
asking  an  International  assembly  to  drink  the  health  of  the 
Prince  and  Princess  of  Wales  and  the  members  of  the  Royal 
Family,  which  I  now  do. 

This  toast  having  been  doly  honom^, 

The  Chairman  said :  Now,  gentlemen,  that  we  have  performed 
oar  loyal  duties,  we  can  address  onrselves  to  the  subjects  which 
more  immediately  bring  us  together.  But  before  we  can  say  a 
word  abont  homoeopathy  or  homceopatiis,  we  must  first  remember 
bim  to  whom  we  owe  both  homoeopathy  and  homoeopaths ;  we 
must  first  of  all  honour  the  memory  of  Hahnemann  ;  we  do  that 
as  nsufd  by  drinking  to  his  memory  in  solemn  silence,  and  I  will 
ask  Dr.  De  Gersdorff,  of  Boston,  to  propose  the  toast  which  we 
shall  thus  honour. 

Dr.  De  Gbbsdorff  :  Mr.  President,  and  Gentlemen  of  the 
Homoeopathic  World's  Convention,  I  am  truly  over-powered  by 
the  honour  you  bestow  upon  me  by  asking  me  to  propose  the 
toast  to  the  memory  of  Hahnemann,  for  I  claim  certainly  no 
right  to  it  in  the  presence  of  so  many  of  his  more  worthy 
disciples.  But  if  the  personal,  and  almost  filial  affection,  which 
I  entertain  for  him  and  his  memory,  and  which  I  have 
entertained  during  my  entire  life,  can  give  one  a  rig^t  to  it, 
I  may  claim  it.  The  great  master  was  esteemed  as  my  own 
father  and  true  friend,  and  my  physician  in  my  infancy,  and 
I  can  truly  say  that  by  his  judicious  treatment,  my  life,  when 
laid  low,  and  in  much  danger,  after  a  scarlet  fever,  was  saved  by 
him ;  he  saved  me  also  from  the  horrors  of  the  old-fashioned 
allopathy  of  1824.  He  himself  had  the  satisfaction  of  verifying 
his  method  by  curing  me  with  fresh  air,  good  diet,  and  cole.  carb. 
Thus  it  happens,  that  as  I  have  occasionally  gloried  in  this  event 
of  my  early  lifb,  one  of  my  Boston  friends  has  called  me  the 
**  lap-boy  of  Hahnemann.''  I  do  not  think  that  there  is  a  man 
among  us  who  has  been  more  beset  than  I  have  by  doubts  of  the 
various  theories  of  Hahnemann,  and  who  yet  at  the  same  time  is 
more  strong  in  hb  conviction  of  the  greatness  of  the  man  and  his 
method.  TmUi  is  a  wholesome,  but  often,  also,  a  searching  fire. 
It  is  only  rarely  that  a  Prometheus  arises  to  snatch  it  from  the 
heavens  ;  and  your  great  Shakespeare,  hundreds  of  years  ahead 
of  his  time,  guessed  at  a  physiolgioal  taruth  when  he  made  Hamlet 

flay— 

"  Oh  that  this  too,  too  solid  fleih 
Would  m«lt,  thaw*  and  resolve  itself 
Into  dew." 


566  MEETINGS  OP  SOCIETIES.  ^BS^.^sStTttn! 

foreshadowing  thereby  the  cureulation,  the  offioe,  and  the  desti- 
nation of  the  blood.  So  did  onr  lUufltrionB  TT«ttiTiflmiMm  ovedeap 
his  time,  and  penetrate  with  prophetic  wisdom  the  mysteries  d 
life  and  disease  and  those  of  the  power  in  the  drag,  and  he 
ignited  his  Promethens  torch  by  pronouncing  the  living  method, 
a  method  of  action,  in  the  immortal  words  unuUa  dmHSm 
curantur.    (Cheers.) 

The  CaiOBMAN :  One  word  in  addition.  In  drinking  to  the 
memory  of  Hahnemann,  let  us  remember  also  those  three  worthy 
disciples  and  followers  of  his  who  have  departed  from  us  duriD^; 
the  last  five  years — Qoin,  Nunez,  and  Hering. 

The  toast  was  drunk  in  solemn  silence. 

The  CHATBifAW  :  The  next  toast  on  our  list  is  **  Prosperity  to 
Medical  Education."  And  I  shall  ask  a  gentleman  whom  we 
have  been  very  glad  to  see  among  us  on  this  occasion,  coming 
from  the  hi  north  of  Russia,  to  propose  that  toast.  He  vill 
appreciate  the  toast  of  Medical  Education  more  than  most  of  as, 
from  the  fact  that  homoeopathy  has  no  educational  opportnnitiee 
in  that  country.  I  shall  ask  to  respond  to  the  toast  a  gentlemis 
who  represents  a  country  where  medical  education  in  homoeopathy 
is  widely  difiused,  and  who,  as  Dean  of  the  MediealFaeulty  of  the 
University  of  Boston,  stands  at  the  head  of  it.  I  shali  ask 
Dr.  Talbot  to  reply. 

Dr.  Von  Dittbcann,  in  proposing  "  Prosperity  to  Medical 
Education,*'  said :  I  think  we  have  idl  been  delighted  to  listen  at 
one  of  the  sittings  of  our  Congress  to  the  very  able  speech  of  our 
most  learned  and  illustrious  colleague,  Dr.  Talbot,  in  which  ha 
gave  us  a  short  account  of  the  excellent  and  almost  astonishing 
results  of  special  homoeopathic  education  in  America.  If  it  is 
true  that  in  the  old  world  the  question  of  introducing  homiBopathy 
into  the  official  centres  of  science,  the  universities  in  the  difiereot 
lands,  meets  with  such  difficulties  as  to  make  it  nearly  impossibie, 
and  if,  on  the  other  hand,  there  are  many  important  reasons  for 
suggesting  that  perfect  knowledge  of  the  therapeutic  method  of 
the  old  sdiool  is  desirable,  and  gives  to  the  homoeopathic  pne* 
titioner  a  very  great  advantage  in  meeting  the  mockery  or  the 
assailings  of  the  allopathic  physicians — nevertheless  it  cannot  be 
doubted  a  moment,  that  as  long  as  we  do  not  find  out  a  way  to 
give  larger  opportunities  than  we  do  now  to  young  physicians  of 
the  old  school  to  learn  homoeopathy,  we  shidl  never  be  able  U> 
compete  with  our  brethren  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic  I 
hope  that  this  question,  once  raised  by  Dr.  Talbot,  will  not  he 
dropped,  but  most  carefully  examined,  so  as  to  ascertain  the 
possibility  of  founding  homoeopathic  schools  for  young  physieiaDS 
who  have  obtained  the  license  to  practise  from  the  universities 
of  the  old  school,  and  that  every  one  of  us  will  do  his  best  to 
frurther  this  question  by  following  the  good  example  of  our 


hS^^^X!^  meetings  of  societies.  567 

American  coUeagaea.  I  beg  to  propose  the  toast  of  **  Prosperity 
io  Medical  Education/'  and  the  health  of  Dr.  Talbot,  Dean  of 
the  Medical  Faculty  of  the  University  of  Boston.    (Applause). 

The  toast  having  been  dnly  honoured, 

Dr.  TaiiBOt,  in  response,  said :  Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen, 
— the  subject  of  medical  education  is  one  too  broad  and  too  deep 
to  go  into  to  any  great  extent  to-night,  and  I  do  not  propose  to 
bore  you  with  a  long  speech  upon  that  subject,  but  a  Httle  anec- 
dote perhaps  may  start  us  right.  Possibly  you  have  heard  of  a 
gentleman  who  was  going  to  a  town  supposed  to  be  not  very  far 
distant ;  as  he  was  going  along,  and  not  feeling  quite  certain  of 
the  way,  he  met  a  Yankee  fEurmer,  to  whom  he  said,  **  Can  you 
tell  me  how  &r  it  is  to  Dedham  ?  "  <<  Well,"  said  the  Yankee, 
*'  the  way  you  are  going  now,  it  is  about  24,000  miles,  but  if 
you  turn  right  round,  and  go  the  other  way,  it  is  only  a  little 
^ay.*'  Now,  medical  education,  for  the  last  6,000  years,  has 
often  times  been  going  the  other  way  a  long  distance  round ;  but 
at  its  shortest  distance,  and  in  the  best  method  that  it  can  be 
pursued,  you  wHl  bear  me  out,  gentlemen,  in  saying  that  it  is  no 
4ihort,  and  no  easy  way.  (Hear,  hear.)  Our  homoeopathic  schools 
in  America,  that  you  have  so  kindly  alluded  to,  have  been  esta- 
bHshed  by  men  of  earnestness  and  of  education — men  who  have 
been  willing  to  make  every  sacrifice,  from  Hering  in  his  earliest 
efforts  in  ijuerica,  to  those  gentlemen  who  are  associated  together 
in  our  medical  schools  in  America  to-day ;  they  have  all  made 
great  sacrifices  for  it ;  and  yet,  gentlemen,  what  they  have  done 
has  been  only  the  beginning  of  i£e  way  for  homoeopathy.  If  we 
Lave  started  them  with  a  compass,  with  a  law — ^witiii  good  direc- 
tions which  shall  take  them  in  the  right  course,  we  are  happy ; 
but,  gentlemen,  it  requires  more  than  schools ;  it  requires  the 
daily  effort  of  our  lives ;  it  requires  our  association  one  with 
another ;  it  requires  our  literature  ;  it  requires  our  hospitals,  our 
dispensaries,  and  all  the  connections  with  which  the  medical 
profession  is  associated,  to  give  a  proper  medical  education  to 
the  physician;  and  let  me  say  that  this  association,  and  this 
meeting,  has  done  not  only  for  me,  but  I  trust  for  every  one  of 
US,  something  to  help  us  in  our  medical  education.     (Cheers). 

The  Chaibhan:  Gentlemen,  we  have  wished  prosperity  to 
medical  education,  but  mediciue,  strictly  speaking,  does  not 
include  surgery;  and  yet  we  have  here  to-day  such  eminent 
representatives  of  American  surgery  that  I  feel  the  subject 
demands  a  special  toast.  Surgery,  thanks  to  our  American 
brethren,  has  done  great  things  for  homoeopathy,  and  we  must 
therefore  wish  it  prosperity  to-night.  I  call  upon  Dr.  Burnett 
to  propose  the  toast,  and  upon  Dr.  Helmuth  to  reply. 

Dr.  BuBMETT  :  I  have  pleasure  in  rising  to  propose  the  toast, 
namely,  **  Medical  Surgery  "  or  surgery,  with  special  reference 


568  MEETINGS  OP  SOCIETIES.  ^BSSJ.^S^tJttaT 

to  American  snidery.  We  poor  miforkmate  homoeopatiiB  hare 
been  accused  of  eyerythmg  nearly,  and  have  been  told  that  we 
have  failed  in  eyerything.  It  is  said  we  are  not  rq>resenting 
science  in  any  way,  and  I  bave  heard  it  said  and  repeated  ihai 
we  have  never  produced  a  first-class  snrgeon.  We  have  the 
honour  to-night  to  have  here  one  of  the  first  surgeons  of  the  day — 
(applause) — and,  having  the  presence  of  one  of  the  first  sargeona 
of  the  day,  I  am  sure  yon  will  not  expect  me  to  occupy  your 
time.  I  tiierefore  propose  "  Health  and  Prosperity  to  Amerieaa 
Surgery,"  and  couple  with  it  the  name  of  our  honoured  guest. 
Dr.  Hehnuth. 

The  toast  was  warmly  responded  to. 

Dr.  Helmuth,  in  reply,  said  :  Mr.  President,  if  it  were  not 
that  a  surgeon  should  never  be  on  the  sick  list,  that  he  should 
be  up  to  all  emergencies,  and  ready  at  all  times  to  meet  the 
demands  made  upon  him,  I  certainly  should  feel  overcome  by 
this  extraordinary  demonstration  of  your  society  and  tiie 
assembled  physicians  ;  but  my  love  for  my  science  and  my  ait 
bear  me  up.  They  call  me  an  enthusiast  in  surgeiy,  and  so  I 
ought  to  be,  and  I  expect  to  bring  before  you  some  arguments  ia 
a  few  minutes  which  will  go  to  prove  that  actuaDy  the  whole 
world  was  peopled  through  surgery  and  through  nothing  else. 
(Laughter).  Li  order  to  prove  that  if  there  were  no  surgeiy 
there  would  be  no  population,  I  have  put  this  little  argument  d 
mine  into  verse,  and,  if  you  will  allow  me,  I  will  repeat  it  to  you 
now.  Dr.  Helmuth  then  recited  a  humorous  poem,  to  prove 
that,  while  medicine  was  claimed  to  be  as  old  as  man,  and 
surgery  was  regarded  as  its  poor  relation,  as  a  matter  of  &et 
surgery  preceded  medicine,  and  in  age  could  claim  priority. 
Describing  the  temptation  of  Eve  and  the  fall  of  herself  and 
Adam,  he  said — 

"  'Tis  tme  the  snake  aroused  the  onriosify,  and  gave  to  Eve 
the  apple  fair  and  bright ; 
She  ate,  and  with  a  fatal  generosity  inveigled  Adam  to  a 

Insoioiu  late. 
But  from  that  time  disease  and  sofleiing  came, 

Boctors  were  called  vapon  to  core  the  evil ; 
The  art  of  healing  then,  with  all  its  fame, 

Was  but,  at  the  best,  developed  by  the  DeviL. 
Medicine  thus  came  eoBval  with  the  sinning 
Of  Mother  Eve  (fair  creature,  though  qnite  human), 
'  While  noble  suigeiy  had  its  beginning 

In  Paradise,  before  there  was  a  woman. 
But  facts  are  facts,  and  we  are  all  agreed 

That  Satan  laid  on  man  the  diref nl  rod ; 
The  doctors  aie  the  Devil's  progeny, 
While  surgeons  came  directly  down  from  God.*' 

In  illustration  of  this  assertion,  Dr.  Hehnuth  went  on  to  say 
\  that^ 


w^S^^kS^  meetings  op  societies.  569 

"  Adam  piotonndly  slept  by  axuBsthesia, 
And  from  his  thorax  was  removed  a  bone. 
This  was  the  first  recorded  operation, 

No  doctor  here  dare  tell  me  that  I  fib ; 
And  surgery,  thus  early  in  creation, 

Can  claim  complete  excision  of  a  rib. 
This  is  nothing  to  the  obligation 
The  world  to  surgery  most  surely  owe, 
•  "When  woman  (loTeliest  of  the  creation) 

Ottew  and  developed  from  that  very  bone. 
From  this  the  world  was  peopled.'* 

Thus  hftTing  finished  his  task,  he  asked  them  to — 

**  Sometimes  give  honour  to  the  bright  scalpel, 
And,  when  you  recolleot  what  I  have  told  you, 
"Remember  me — *tis  all  I  ask — farewelL'* 

{Applause). 

Dr.  DuDOGON,  in  proposing  the  toast  of  '*  Medical  Literature,* * 
said  :  When  Dr.  Pope  requested  ma  to  propose  this  toast  I  was 
much  too  submissive  to  think  of  objecting  to  it,  because  we  never 
refuse  what  our  "  Pope  "  proposes,  but  I  feel  that  I  am  very  in- 
competent to  speak  to  the  toast  of  Medical  literature.  When  I  look 
around  the  table  and  see  more  than  one  gentleman  who  has  already 
distinguished  himself  in  the  path  of  medical  literature,  it  seems 
presumptuous  to  select  a  humble  individual  like  mysdLf  for  this 
honour.  Perhaps  the  reason  is  that  I  have  destroyed  more  sheets 
of  paper  with  my  literature  than  most  of  you.  But  the  Latin 
Bays  Litsra  seripta  manet,  I  hope  that  is  not  literally  true, 
because  if  it  were  the  world  would  soon  be  too  small  to  contain 
all  the  books  that  are  written  on  medicine.  I  think,  in  order  to 
bring  it  within  reasonable  compass,  we  must  confine  ourselves  to 
the  literature  of  homosopathy.  Now  we  have  representatives 
here  from  all  the  countries  of  Europe,  and  those  representatives 
of  homoBopathy  are  also  the  representatives  of  homoeopathic 
literature,  for  it  is  a  curious  fact  that  the  cacoeth^s  scribendi  is  so 
rife  among  medical  men  that  no  medical  man  thinks  himself 
properly  initiated  into  the  profession  till  he  has  written  a  book.* 
{Laughter).  I  think  we  may  say  '*  so  manj  heads  so  many 
books."  Some  of  the  heads  have  produced  a  good  many  books. 
But  the  literature  of  homodopathy  is  represented  to  night  by 
delegates  from  different  parts  of  the  world.  The  homoeopathic 
literature  of  America  is  enormous,  and  is  represented  by  some 
of  its  most  illustrious  representatives.  The  literature  of  France 
also  is  represented  here  by  Dr.  Claude ;  the  hterature  of  Russia 
is  represented  by  our  friend  Dr.  Von  Dittman ;  and  the  literature 
of  Italy  by  Dr.  Oigliano.  Now  it  would  be  presumptuous  on  my 
part  to  take  upon  mys€df  to  assign  anything  like  discriminating 
honour  to  the  different  countries  as  fsur  as  literature  is  concerned. 
We  are  a  very  small  body  in  this  country,  but  still  we  have 
produced  a  great  deal  of  literature,  and  the  hterature  of  all  the 

Ko.  9,  Vol.  36.  2  F 


670  MEETINGS  OF  SOCIETIES^   ^^Jg^^J^J^ 

other  countnes  is  also  a  verj  oonsiderable  qaaniatj  in  propor- 
tion to  the  number  of  representatives  of  homoeopathy  in  thoeo 
countries.  It  appears  that  those  who  practise  homoeopathy 
write  a  great  deal  more  in  proportion  than  the  old  school,  and 
the  matter  that  we  have  written,  I  think,  will  compare  Tery 
fiayourably  with  anything  that  has  been  written  by  the  professon- 
(or  others)  who  represent  allopathic  literature.  I  will  not  detain 
you  longer,  gentlemen,  because  the  subject  is  too  vast  and  my 
powers  are  too  limited  to  worthily  speak  upon  the  subject,  but  I 
will  call  upon  Dr.  Foster,  who  is  also  one  of  our  transailantus' 
Tisitors,  to  reply  to  this  toast,  and  I  hope  you  will  join  with  me 
ID  drinking  his  health  and  his  success.  (Cheers). 
The  toast  was  cordially  received. 

Dr.  FosTBB  in  reply,  said  there  was  no  sentiment  to  which  he 
could  respond  more  fervently  and  cordiaUy  than  that  of  **  Medical 
Literature."  For  what  was  medical  literature  but  the  consum- 
mated flower  of  all  past  medical  experience  ?  Or,  it  might  perhaps- 
still  better  be  likened  to  the  last  product  of  a  long  series  of  physi- 
cal elaboration — ^the  blood — ^not  only  the  blood  which  supplied 
the  general  system,  but  medical  literature  was  the  blood  which 
supplied  the  cerebral  circulation  in  the  organic  bodies  of  medical 
men.  When  this  cerebral  fluid  was  supplied  in  sufficient  quantity 
and  quality  then  the  medical  organisation  which  corresponded  to 
the  brain  matter  received  their  aliment  therefrom,  rushed  out  to 
feed  upon  it  as  their  natural  aliment,  grew  strong  and  robust  and 
jovial  under  its  influence,  and  then  merely  began  to  express 
themselves  in  rhythmic  thought  and  to  send  forth  hymus  of 
scientiflc  praise.  When  this  medical  literature  was  not  supplied, 
then — as  with  the  brain,  which  would  fedl  if  it  were  not  supplied 
with  blood — they  would  sink  to  sleep  or  it  might  be  to  death.  But 
the  analogy  did  not  hold  good  any  further.  It  had  be^i  weD 
said  that  **  men  die  but  man  lives  ;'*  and  so  while  individuals 
might  sleep,  organisations,  like  the  Omnipotent,  neither  slumber 
nor  sleep.  They  are  eternal,  and  are  made  so  in  great  part  by 
the  power  of  their  constant  aliment,  which  was  supplied  in  t2i« 
form  of  medical  literature.  The  function  of  the  Christian  rdigioa 
was  to  make  all  men  one  by  identifying  them  in  one  of  the  most 
sacred  of  all  sentiments,  mutual  love ;  the  object  of  medical 
literature  to  medical  men  was  analogous  to  that,  if  not  so 
great ;  yet  so  great  was  it  that  he  might  compare  one  with 
the  other,  for  it  was  to  make  all  of  them  intellectua]]^ 
one  in  the  possession  of  common  thought  and  a  common 
intelligence.  (Applause).  They  had  seen  a  noble  exempliflcafckm 
of  that  idea  during  the  meetings  of  the  week,  where  the  intelli- 
gence of  many  nations  became  the  intelligence  of  each  individual, 
and  the  inteUigence  of  many  ages  was  brought  down  to  the 
comprehension  of  the  hour.    France  had  sent  her  fzibute,  and  a 


bS^^H^ST^  meetings  of  sooibtxes.  671 

tribute  worthy  of  her ;  Italy  was  grandly  represented  ;  Russia, 
too,  sent  her  brilliant  contribution  ;  Geimany,  the  ^reat,  power- 
ful, and  philosophical  Fatherland,  they  missed,  but  Germany  had 
mitoed  the  meetings.     America,  too,  the  youngest  of  all  the 
countries — and  the  one  which  he,  amongst  others,  had  the  honour  to 
represent  or  to  misrepresent — (no,  no,) — as  became  her,  had  sent 
her  early  contribution,  somewhat  luxuriant  and  florid,  perhaps, 
but  nevertheless  characteristic  of  her  position  and  her  age ;  at  all 
events,  America  had  done  her  level  best — (cheers) — and  they  might 
flatter  themselves  that  she  contained  within  her  the  promise  and 
the  potency  of  every  form  of  medical  action  in  the  future.    And 
as  for  England  (the  great  mother),  he  must  say  of  her  that 
*<  every  man  **  among  Uiem  **  expected  England  to  do  her  duty," 
as  she  always  had  done  ;  whether  as  a  host,  as  a  friend,  or  as  a 
contributor,  she  had  done  it  gloriously.    But  those  contributions 
of  wisdom  which  they  had  had  from  so  many  ages  and  so  many 
lands,  could  not  have  been  given  except  by  the  perpetuity  of 
medical  literature ;  and  the  good  accomplished  by  the  meetmgs 
of  the  week  would  be  communicated  to  others  by  the  same  means* 
The  topic  of  medical  literature  was  a  large  one,  and  was  inti- 
mately connected  with  medical  education.     That  brought  him  to 
the  question  of  medical  colleges,  and  he  could  not  help  thinking 
of  the  marvellous  effect  that  would  be  produced  upon  the  imme- 
diate medical  future  of  Europe  if  those  splendid  European 
minds  whose  possessors  had  contributed  to  their  instruction 
during  the  we^  could  all  be  busily  engaged,  as  they  ought  to  be, 
in  instructing  the  youth  of  their  respective  countries  in  the 
general  therapy  and  principles  of  homoeopathy ;  he  was  satisfied 
^at  before  long  they  would  see  them  so  engaged,  as  the  effects 
of  their  influence  were  everywhere  seen ;  the  value  of  the  homoeo- 
pathic remedies  were  being  acknowledged,  and  the  remedies 
themselves  appropriated  and  respected  by  members  of  the  old 
school ;  and  he  believed  the  time  was  not  far  distant  when  it 
would  be  impossible  to  distinguish  between  the  medical  literature 
of  homoeopathy  and  that  of  the  r^^ar  school,  for  then  they 
vould  all  be  one,  and  all  be  well  taught  in  general  therapeutics, 
and  they  would  all  derive  that  which  was  their  birthright  as- 
physicians,  from  their  thorough  acquaintance  with  medical  litera- 
ture.   (Applause.) 

The  Chjjbman  :  The  next  toast  we  have  to  take  up  now  is- 
that  of  hospitals,  and  following  the  good  example  set  us  by 
^»  Dudgeon,  we  will  limit  ourselves  for  the  present  to  homoeo- 
pathic hospitals — not  that  we  do  not  love  the  others  a  good  deal, 
but  that  we  love  these  a  littie  more.  (Applause).  I  would  call 
^pon  two  gentlemen,  both  from  the  United  States,  and  both 
connected  with  hospitals,  to  propose  and  respond  to  this  toast. 
The  toast  will  be  proposed  by  Dr.  Bushrod  James,  of  tho 


572  MEETIKOS  OF  SOCIETIES,      i.^.^^  «^  i. 


Hfthnmnann   Hoepital   of   Fldkdelphia,  and  responded  to  hj 
Dr.  MeClelknd,  of  Pittsbnig. 

Dr.  BusHBOD  James,  in  proposing  the  toast,  said  :   If  ^ere  i» 
one  subject  that  is  nearer  my  heart  than  another,  independent 
of  the  edneation  of  young  men  in  the  profession,  and  &ie  pro- 
fession of  homoeopathy,  and  the  Luty  of  homoeopathy,  it  is  this 
subject  of  the  progress  of  our  hospitals.     I  therefore  propose 
*'  Rt)8perity  to  our  Homoeopathic  Hospitals."     About  femieen 
years  ago,  being  in  in-healthy  I  sought  tiiese  shores,  and  haYing 
reached  them,  I  wended  my  way  to  this  great  metropofis — the 
metropolis  of  the  world — ^London ;    and  before  I  visited  that 
sacred  temple,  Westminster  Abbey,   or  that  noble  struetniB, 
8t.  Paul's,  or  that  old  historic  London  Tower,  I  said,  **  Where  if 
the  Homoeopathic  Hospital  ?  "    I  was  told  that  it  was  in  a  street 
called  Great  Ormond  Street.     My  expectations  were  great,  and  I 
soon  found  my  way  there.    I  had  the  pleasure  of  visiting  year 
hospital,  and  I  was  much  pleased  with  it  and  all  its  arrange- 
ments.    I  have  since  enquired  about  it,  and  find  that  it  has 
added  to  its  wards,  and,  further  than  that,  I  find  that  it  has 
made  additional  progress,  thanks  to  that  glorious  old  man,  that 
noble  man,  that  grand  homoeopath,  Dr.  Qnin,  who  has  left  it  a 
legacy  of  so  much  material  wealth.     (Cheers).    I  say  that  that 
certainly  indicates  progress.    Now  let  me  refer  for  a  moment  to 
the  signs  of  the  times  in  my  own  country,  so  that  you  may  see 
bow  we  are  educating  the  people  there.     Oiily  a  few  years  ago 
flome  worthy  people  in  New  York  began  to  remember  that  there 
was  such  a  thing  as  homoeopathy,  and  that  they  had  been 
educated  in  the  science,  and  two  or  three  prominent  men  in 
New  York  said,   "  We  will  give  the  homoeopaths  a  hospital 
here,**  and  they  went  and  picked  out  a  building  that  would 
acconmiodate    700    or    800   patients,    and   they    handed    it 
over  to  the  homoeopaths.      Well,  sir,  just  a  week  or  so  before  I 
left  home  I  was    very  much  pleased  with  a  little  fact  that 
eame    under    my  notice,  showing  that  even  in  Philadelphia 
—dull  as  it  is,   and  fiir  behind  as  it  is  in  homoeopathy-- 
the  people  are  beginning  to  learn,  yes,  have  learnt,  its  value. 
I  saw  a  statement  in  the  papers  to  this  effect.     We  have  what 
we    call    a    grand  jury;    it   is    composed    of  men    selected 
from,  the  more  educated  and  intelligent  of  the  business  comma* 
nity ;  they  were  called  together  and  they  made  a  report  upon  our 
hospitals.     I  should  tell  you  that  charitable  institutions,  among 
other  things,  are  included  in  their  duties.     These  men  in  thor 
visit  to  the  almshouses  discovered  the  fact  that  there  was  no 
homoeopathy  there  and  that  there  never  had  been,  and  they  said 
to  themselves  (sensible  men  that  they  were),  **  Why  do  we  not  put 
the  homoeopaths  in  here  and  let  the  homoeopaths  have  a  ehanoe 
as  wen  as  the  allopaths  ?"  a&d  in  their  r^ort  they  recommended 


aSteSfS^ra?**  MEETINGS  OF  SOCIETIES.  573 

to  the  Judges  of  the  Court  that  this  defect  should  be  rectified,  and 
that  the  subject  of  the  appointment  of  homoeopathic  physicians 
as  part  and  parcel  of  that  insitution  should  be  considered.  We 
have  there  a  club  called  the  Hahnemann  Club,  and  a  very  few 
hours  sufficed  after  that  came  out  in  the  newspapers  to  have  the 
members  called  together.  A  committee  was  appointed  and  that 
committee  was  very  soon  in  consultation  with  another  committee, 
and  those  committees  within  a  few  days  were  at  work.  I  was  so 
busy  the  last  few  days  before  leaving  home  that  I  could  not  meet 
with  that  committee,  but  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  learning  this» 
that  they  had  been  in  consultation,  and  that  they  had  called 
upon  the  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Guardians  which  has  charge 
of  these  almshouses  (which  have  from  8,000  to  4,000  paupers  in 
them  under  the  charge  of  five  men).  The  President  of  the 
Association  said,  '*  I  am  in  favour  of  homoBopathy  going  into  that 
institution,  how  will  you  arrange  it? ''  That  is  a  matter  for 
after  consideration,  but  they  have  consented  to  the  principle  of 
our  admission,  and  I  suppose  the  committee  are  at  work,  anyhow^ 
I  hope  they  are  at  work,  and  I  hope  they  will  accomplish  the 
object  for  which  they  are  working  before  I  get  back.  I  have 
great  pleasure  in  proposing  for  your  cordial  acceptance  the  toast 
of  "  Ihrosperity  to  our  Hospitals." 
The  toast  having  been  duly  honoured, 

Dr.  McClelland  said :  I  can  answer  to  that  toast  with  an 
unction  such  as  one  only  can  have  who  has  been  helping  to  esta- 
blish the  prosperity  of  a  hospital.  We  have  a  little  hospital  in 
Pittsburg  that  has  done  splendid  service  for  humanity,  and  for 
homoBopathy ;  and  let  me  just  say  that  that  is  the  function  of  a 
hospital.  (Applause).  I  beheve  tiiat  the  first  element  of  success 
in  a  hospital  is  that  it  shall  be  established  in  order  that  it  may 
do  good  service  for  humanity.  Let  that  be  the  prime,  the 
cordial  object ;  and  then  see  that  it  does  good  service  in  the 
propagation  of  homoeopathy.  If  it  is  successful  as  a  hospital,  it 
will  be  successful  in  illustrating  the  doctrines  which  we  profess. 
I  do  not  know  of  any  hospital  which  has  been  established  under 
homoeopathic  auspices,  which  has  not  established  the  fact  that 
homoeopathy  is  superior  as  a  system  of  therapeutics  to  allopathy  ; 
and  I  can  tell  you  that  it  is  one  of  the  chief  means  of  establishing 
ours  as  a  system  of  practice,  of  giving  us  dignity  before  the  world 
and  in  the  eyes  of  the  profession  at  large.  Now,  I  say,  in  order 
to  ensure  the  prosperity  of  hospitals,  one  thing  particularly  is 
required,  and  that  is,  hard  work.  (Applause).  Nothing  in  the  wide 
world  will  make  a  hospital  successful  but  hard  work,  and  as  our 
Poet  Laureate  has  recently  established  the  fact  that  there  is  no 
greater  *'  inducer  '*  (if  there  is  such  a  word)  of  medical  quarrels 
than  medical  colleges,  I  can  assure  you  that  there  is  nothing 
that  cements  the  medical  fraternity  to  such  a  degree  as  hospitals* 


674  MEETINGS  OP  B0CIBTIB8.   ^S^^SS^^TSa, 

A  hospital  brings  together  the  best  men  of  the  profession  as  a 
Tole ;  at  any  rate,  those  who  do  come  together  woik  hand  in  hand, 
not  only  for  hnmanity,  bnt  for  homcBopathy.     Therefore,  to 
neutralise  the  effect  of  a  medical  college  (if  it  is  snch  as  I  have 
qnoted)  in  any  community,  I  would  advise  the  immediate  estab- 
lishment of  a  hospital.     But  it  certainly  does  mean  work.    I 
have  been  connected  with  our  little  hospital  abont  14  years,  not 
only  as  a  surgeon,  but  as  one  of  its  trustees  ;  and  I  can  give  yoa 
an  idea  of  what  we  do  in  a  day.    Sometimes  after  a  very  hard 
day's  work,  and  perhaps  very  little  night's  sleep,  the  bell  rings 
and  a  message  comes  up  to  your  door  that  somebody  wants  yoa 
in  great  haste  in  the  office.   Well,  yon  get  up,  feeling  very  tiied, 
and  go  down  stairs,  and  the  first  thmg  &at  greets  you  is — "Hera 
is  a  patient  down  in  the  hospital,  who  is  very  sick,  and  wants 
you."     Ton  hurry  down  there  right  away,  and  periiaps  yoa 
wish  that  that  hospital  was  anywhere  but  in  your  town.     Hinr- 
ever,  you  have  got  your  clothes  on,  and  the  demand  made 
upon  you  is  from  the  hospital,  and  therefore  you  go  down 
there.     Ton  would  not  go  to  see  a  patient  from  whom  yoa 
would  receive  a  fee,  but  you  go  down  to  that  hospital  every  time. 
Well,  you  get  through  with  the  ease  and  come  back  again ;  yoa 
go  into  your  office,  and  while  you  are  prescribing  for  your  patient 
somebody  comes  up  very  politely  and  says,  "  Doctor,  I  believe 
you  are  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  hospital.*' — "  Yes,  sir." — "  We 
have  a  little  account  that  has  been  standing  for  some  time ;  I 
wish  you  would  bring  that  to  the  attention  of  your  board." — *'  Oh, 
yes,  I  will  do  that ;  we  will  have  a  meeting  next  week  and  I  will 
bring  it  to  the  attention  of  the  board."    Well,  next  I  go  and 
look  at  my  visiting  Ust  and  find  that  there  are  a  lot  of  cases  to 
be  seen,  and  there  is  an  operation  set  at  the  hospital  for  twdve 
o'clock  perhaps ;  everything  has  to  be  set  aside  for  that ;  yoa 
must  let  your  private  cases  wait ;  you  are  getting  money  for 
them,  but  that  has  nothing  to  do  with  it — at  the  hospital  there  is 
a  patient  to  be  operated  upon.    Down  you  go,  and  it  may  take 
perhaps  half-an-hour,  or  an  hour,  or  two  hours,  or  five  hours. 
It  does  not  make  any  difference  what  time  it  takes,  for  it  is  the 
hospital,  and  you  must  do  your  work  there  ;   and  so  it  goes  on. 
The  case  is  operated  upon,  you  have  got  through  your  round  of 
patients,  and  you  go  iMtck  home  perhaps  about  midnight,  when 
you  find  a  message  waiting  for  you — "Come  down  to  the 
hospital  at  once ;    tihe  patient  operated  upon  is  worse."     So  yoa 
turn  round  and  drag  off  down  to  the  hospital  again.     People  say 
"  Where  is  the  doctor,"  and  the  reply  is  "Gone  down  to  the 
hospital."    Now,  that  is  all  true,  and  yet  I  tell  you  that  it  is  the 
pleasantest  work  that  ever  a  man  did,  either  for  his  profession  cr 
for  hnmanity.     (Applause).    Yon  go  down,  and  the  patient  says, 
••Doctor,  I  am  mighty  glad  you  are  come,"  and  you  can 


^^^STSSl"  mbbtinos  op  societies.  576 

believe  eyery  word  of  it ;  and  the  naraea,  and  eTerybody,  step 
.aside  and  say,  *'  Doctor,  we  are  migbty  gW  yon  are  come." 
That  yon  ean  believe,  and  it  pays  for  all  the  labonr,  and  you  are 
able  to  say,  '*  It  has  been  a  hard  day's  work  for  the  hospital,  bnt 
ril  start  again  to-morrow,  and  do  jnst  snch  another  if  it  is  neces- 
sary." (Applause.)  Now  I  have  only  another  word  to  say,  and 
I  will  say  it  in  the  langnage  of  the  dassic  Rip  Van  Winkle — ^I 
wish  that  every  hospital,  and  every  hospital  effort  in  England  (or 
all  that  Enj^and  represents,  for  she  represents  three -qoarters  of 
the  globe) r  and  in  every  country  that  is  represented  here  '*  may 
live  long  and  prosper."    (Cheers). 

Dr.  Mbthoffbb  next  proposed  the  toast  of  <' Medical  Societies.'* 
He  said :  I  am  not  going  to  make  a  speech.  There  are  abondant 
reasons  why  I  shonld  not.  The  first  is,  that  I  cannot.  Bat  we 
are  deeply  indebted  to  the  societies  among  as.  In  all  conntries 
wherever  a  society  exists,  it  keeps  alive  signs  of  the  progress  of 
•onr  doctrine.  We  are,  therefore,  all  deeply  indebted  to  them  for 
their  work,  and  for  their  contribations  in  every  respect  in  main- 
taining amongst  ns  that  doctrine.  I  beg  to  as60<nate  with  the 
toast  the  name  of  Dr.  Breyfpgle,  the  President  elect  of  the 
American  Institute  of  Homosopathy. 

The  toast  was  heartily  received. 

Dr.  BaxYFooiiB,  in  response,  said :  No  one  can  deny  that  the 
advancement  of  medical  science  is  due  to  the  prosperity  of  medical 
societies.  They  began  with  medicine,  and  have  been  the  great 
juteries  through  which  the  life  and  spirit  of  investigation  has  been 
•distributed  throughout  the  medical  world.  Homceopathy  owes 
its  present  position  in  my  judgment  to  its  strong  organisation. 
In  America  we  have  sectional  societies  distributed  all  over  the 
States,  and  I  am  proud  to  say  that  our  oldest  and  largest 
national  association  is  the  American  Institute  of  HomoBopaOiy. 
That  body  represents  the  results  of  the  experiments  made  by  our 
brave  Dr.  Gram,  who  in  1625  first  planted  the  banner  of  homoBO- 
l^athy  in  the  great  centre  of  our  then  young  Republic,  and  the 
little  band  of  physicians  who  have  braved  the  perils  of  the  deep 
and  travelled  so  many  thousand  miles  to  be  with  you  on  this 
•occasion,  now  bring  you  greetings  from  the  American  homoeo- 
pathic professsion,  which  numbers  over  6,000  members.  That 
profession  has  its  colleges,  its  hospitals,  its  dispensaries  and 
asylums,  planted  from  one  end  of  our  vast  country  to  the  other ; 
it  has  its  representatives,  both  State  and  National,  on  medical 
boards  and  in  medical  universities ;  and  it  numbers  its  cUeni^ls 
by  the  million,  among  our  best  and  most  intelligent  people.  The 
American  Institute  of  Homoeopathy  has  just  closed  its  session  in 
New  York,  and  whilst  bidding  us  God-speed  in  our  mission  of 
love,  they  bade  us  extend  to  you  the  warm  grasp  of  friendship, 
and  to  convey  to  you  those  sentiments  of  high  professional  regard 


576  MEETINGS  OP  SOCIETIES.  *S2Si^S??S' 


BefTisw,  Sept  1,  laBL 


which  yon  have  so  richly  merited  by  your  devotion  and  zeal  in 
the  cause  of  relieTing  siofreriDg  humanity ;  and  they  hope  ifaai 
onr  meeting  on  this  occasion  mil  mark  an  era  in  omr  histoiy  and 
be  bat  the  beginning  of  another  series  of  brilhant  aehieTemenii 
in  the  medical  world.  In  being  called  upon  to  respond  to  thi^ 
toast  as  the  highest  officer  of  the  American  Institute  of  HonuBO- 
pathy  on  this  occasion,  I  am  moved  by  a  deep  sense  of  the  high 
honour  conferred  upon  me  in  thus  being  placed  before  so  maoy 
of  my  distingnished  colleagues.  I  see  around  me  not  only  many 
of  the  ex-presidents  of  that  institution,  but  men  who  have  dis- 
tingaished  themselves  by  their  learning  and  scientific  attainmenk 
Perhaps  some  of  them  were  present  when,  thirty-five  years  ago, 
that  Uttle  pioneer  band  of  homoeopaths  first  orgaoiised  die 
American  Institute  of  Homoeopathy,  and  with  their  axes  on  tfadr 
shoulders  struck  into  the  vast  wUdemess  of  medical  scienea, 
determined  to  hew  their  way  to  recognition  and  success.  (Cheen)* 
What  obstacles  they  have  encountered,  what  difficulties  tiieyhava 
overcome,  what  results  they  have  accomplished,  history  alone  wiH 
tell.  It  is  sufficient  for  my  purpose  to  point  out  the  fact  that  tiia 
broad  way  hewn  by  those  brave  men  stands,  and  will  ever  ataodi 
as  a  monument  of  their  ability,  industry,  and  scientific  research. 
Mr.  President,  I  cannot  close  my  remarks  without  refeiring  to  the 
very  cordial  welcome  we  have  received  at  the  hands  of  our  BriiiBh 
homoeopathic  physicians,  and  on  behalf  of  our  American  delegpt- 
tion,  it  is  my  privilege  and  my  pleasure  to  extend  to  yon  oar 
sincere  thanks  for  your  liberal  hospitality.    (Cheers). 

The  Chatrman  :  We  hitherto  have  been  acting  as  one  Conven- 
lion,  but  now  we  must  resolve  ourselves  into  a  British  body,  for 
we  are  about  to  drink  the  health  of  our  American  and  then  of 
our  Continental  guests.  The  healths  of  our  American  guests- 
will  be  proposed  by  one  eminent  man  and  responded  to  bj 
another*-it  will  be  proposed  by  Dr.  Drysdale  and  responded  to 
by  Dr.  Conrad  Wesselhoefl. 

Dr.  Drysdale,  in  proposing  the  toast,  said  it  was  one  wMefa 
he  was  siire  would  meet  with  a  warm  reception  from  his  English 
and  Continental  colleagues.  Since  meeting  Dr.  De  Gersdorff  he 
had  been  reminded  of  a  very  pleasing  incident.  As  a  boy  he 
was  educated  in  France,  and  as  a  medical  student  he  was  for  a 
time  studying  in  Germany,  and  he  had  just  learned  that  while  in 
Leipsic  Dr.  De  Gersdorff  was  a  student  of  law  in  the  same  tovUf 
but  that  he  afterwards  abandoned  the  legal  profession  for  that  of 
medicine.  In  proposing  this  tosst  he  felt  that  he  could  not 
include  their  American  brethren  amongst  foreigners,  fortiiey 
spoke  the  same  language  and  possessed  ^e  same  tone  of  tbonght 
as  Englishmen,  though  they  had  their  feet  set  in  a  larger  room. 
With  the  exception  of  that  slight  difierence  they  were  the  samSr 
he  believed,  intellectually,  socially  and  emotionally.    He  eooli 


SSi^sSlTS^  MEETINGS   OF   SOCIETIES.  577 

not  jet  go  the  length  that  Mr.  Gladstone  went  in  saying  thai 
America  had  reached  pre-eminence  in  all  departments,  for  he 
must  say  vith  regard  to  art  and  science,  and  literature,  that  the 
sceptre  still  rested  with  the  mother  country.    But  as  to  medicine 
the  sceptre  of  progress  in  homoeopathy  had  passed  from  the 
English  people  over  to  the  Americans.    Enghmd  and  America. 
heffji  ahout  the  same  time  to  develop  homoeopathy  in  their 
respectiye  countries,  but  they  saw  what  little  progress  England 
had  made  in  the  science.     The  English  practitioners  had  been 
cramped  and  confined  from  the  beginning,  they  had  increased 
slowly  and  had  not  been  able  to  develop  their  principles,  they 
had  been  shut  out  from  the  hospitals,  from  medical  literature  and 
publications,   and  all  the  means  of  development  of  medical, 
training,  and  their  adversaries  had  turned  round  upon  them  with 
unexampled  meanness  and  taunted  them  with  the  assertion  thai 
they  could  not  produce  any  man-'*  great  in  medicine  "  as  they 
called  it,  but  *'  great  in  allopathy  *'  was  what  was  meant.  It  was 
impossible  to  expect  that  homoeopathy  could    be    developed 
witiiout   hospitals,    and  without  literature  and  without  large 
numbers.     In  England  they  had  not  the  large  numbers,  they  were 
not  increasing,  and  he  was  afraid  they  had  now  reached  their  acme 
(No,  no).     He  hoped  not,  but  at  any  rate  the  principles  of 
homoeopathy  were  being  imported  into  medicine  not  through 
confessors  and   martyrs,   but  through  renegades   and    crypto* 
homoeopaths.    In  America  it  was   otherwise,   and  they  there 
counted  hundreds  where  in  England  they  could  be  counted  hj 
tens.    In  the  future,  when  the  history  of  medicine  came  to  be 
written,  he  feared  it  would  be  written  by  those  who  would  say 
that  what  was  good  in  homoeopathy  had  been  imported  into* 
medicine  by  the  crypto-homoeopaths.     He  had  watched  with 
interest  the  great  fight  that  was  going  on  across  the  Atlantic,  and 
in  looking  to  the  future  he  felt  ^at  they  could  leave  their  repu- 
tation and  memory  in  the  hands  of  their  American  brethren. 
From  what  he  had  seen  during  the  meetings  of  the  week  he  now 
felt  no  fear,  for  he  had  been  delighted  to  see  men  in  every 
department  taking  a  leading  part,  and  he  trusted  that  they  would 
in  the  near  future  become  the  majority  of  the  best  educated 
physicians  and  surgeons  of  America,  and  then  medicine  would 
pass  over  to  homoeopathy.     H&re,  homoeopathy  had  been  simply 
lost  in  medicine,  but  there  medicine  would  be  absorbed  into 
homoeopathy,  and  the  progress  of  medicine  would  be  the  progress- 
of  homoeopathy.  (Applause).  It  had  been  well  said  not  long  ago, 
that  homoeopathy  alone  has  the  friture  of  medicine,  and  he 
reminded  his  American  colleagues  that  with  their  great  work 
ihey  had  great  responsibility,  and  upon  them  the  duty  rested 
that  nothing  mean  or  imperfect  should  be  tolerated  in  homoeo- 
pathy.    Being  representatives  of  medicine,  they  should  strain. 


^78  MEETIHOS  OF  SOCIETIES.      jS^^Stu^OL 


•every  point  to  suae  medical  edueation  to  its  lii^^iest  develcfmeiit 
in  homoBopathy ;  they  had  a  great  example  in  Dr.  Talbot,  vfao 
had  laised  the  emrieiilam  to  a  perfection  which  allppatha  had 
not  yet  reached ;  and  the  duty  lay  with  America  of  meeting  the 
allopathH  with  their  own  wet^ona,  and  showing  them  that  the 
fntore  of  homoBopatfay  was  the  fiitoie  of  medicine.     ( Applanse.) 

Dr.  Wbssblhobft,  in  responding,  said  that  tha«  had  been 
many  pleasant  things  spok^  that  evening,  and  his  dnty  simply 
wonld  be  to  thank  them  for  the  cordial  recognition  that  they  had 
given  to  the  toast.  He  mi^t  remark  that  he  had  never  seen  Her 
Majesty's  health  drank  with  more  cordiality  than  it  had  been  by 
the  American  delegates  present  at  that  gathering.  They  f^ 
much  gratitude  for  ^e  kind  reception  with  which  they  had  met 
on  this  side  of  the  water,  for  they  had  been  literally  overwhdmed, 
and  had  been  revelling  in  Inxnry  ever  since  they  airived  in 
England ;  words  fiiiled  him  to  express  in  a  suitable  manner  the 
l^tefol  feelings  of  himself  and  ereryone  who  had  accompanied 
him  over  the  Athmtic. 

Dr.  Pope,  in  proposing  the  health  of  the  visitors  from  the 
Continent  of  Europe,  said  they  could  only  regret  that  some  who 
had  intended  to  be  present  had  been  prevented  from  attending 
the  Convention.  They  could  not  fail  to  remember  that  to  the 
Continent  of  Europe  they  owed  homoeopathy  in  the  first  instance 
— (applause) — and  from  the  Continent  of  Europe  they  hoped  for 
much,  and  expected  much,  in  the  future.  They  bad  been 
gratified  in  seeing  firom  several  countries,  gentlemen  who  were 
well-known  and  able  representatives  of  medicine  in  their  respec- 
tive localities,  and  one  of  those  gentlemen  he  would  ask  to 
respond  to  this  toast  He  referred  to  their  friend  Dr.  Claude, 
of  Paris,  who  was  veiy  well  known,  wherever  homceopathy  was 
appreciated,  as  one  of  the  ablest  contributors  to  the  literature  of 
medicine.    (Applause). 

Dr.  CuLUDB  said  it  was  with  very  great  pleasure  that  he  roae 
to  return  thanks  in  the  name  of  his  Continental  brethren  for  the 
toast  so  kindly  proposed  by  Dr.  Pope.  In  common  with  his 
Continental  coUeagoes,  he  was  very  happy  to  see  at  the  Conven- 
tion the  faces  of  so  many  friends  whom  they  had  known  before^ 
and  to  meet  with  so  many  new  Mends  whose  acquaintance  they 
had  been  happy  to  make.  He  thanked  the  company  for  the 
kind  manner  in  which  they  had  received  the  representatives  from 
the  Contment,  and  assured  them  that  the  time  had  appeared  to 
take  wings  and  fly  away,  so  that,  in  the  words  of  Shakespeare^ 
«<  Pleasure  and  action  make  the  hours  seem  short :  you  make 
the  July  day  short  as  December."  (Applause).  In  conclusion, 
he  would  express  his  very  best  thanks  for  the  reception  accorded 
to   himself  and  others,  and,   again  borrowing  the  words  of 


^dSSfSSTfrSSsi!*    MEETINGS  OF  SOCIETIES.  579 

Shakespeare,  say,  '*  The  best  wishes  that  can  be  forged  in 
jour  thoughts  be  servant  to  you."     (Applanse). 

Dr.  Daks  said  he  now  proposed  a  new  move,  and  in  doing 
80  he  was  about  to  appeal  from  the  President.     He  was  about  to 
propose  the  health  of  one  gentleman  present,  and  it  might  be 
that  the  President  would  rule  him  out  of  order,  and,  therefore,  he 
would  address  himself  directly  to  the  company.     He  rose  to  pro- 
pose the  health,  first,  of  one  who  was  made  known  throughout  the 
Homoeopathic  World  by  his  works  upon  Materia  Medica.     When 
he  began  that  labour  it  was  remarked  by  some  who  were  a  little 
like  Bip  Van  Winkle,  that  he  was  taking  down  the  old  books 
irom  the  shelyes  to  throw  dust  in  their  eyes;    nevertheless  he 
went  forward,  and  in  his  efforts  he  had  done  much  to  dear  away 
the  dust  that  had  accumulated  round  many  of  those  precious 
names  which  they  valued  in  connection  with  the  practice  of 
iiomoBopathy,     He  begged  to  propose  the  health  of  one  who  was 
now  doing  as  much  as  any  living  man  to  give  the  homoeopaths  a 
Materia  Medica  and  therapeutics  of  a  reliable  character  and  a 
;high  order,  and  in  doing  so  he  proposed  the  health  of  one  whose 
biain,  and  hand,  and  head  had  been,  month  after  month  and 
year  after  year,  preparing  for  this  glorious  occasion  which  they 
had  been  enjoying  in  the  City  of  London — (cheers) — one  whom 
the  American  delegation  present  had    had    the    pleasure    of 
welcoming  to  their  own  shores,  when  he  came  into  their  midst 
five  years  previously, — he  referred  to  the  distinguished  and 
honoured  President  of  **  The  World's  Convention,"  Dr.  Hughes. 
{Loud  applause.) 

The  toast  met  with  an  enthusiastic  reception,  and  then 

Dr.  Da£e  continued,  saying  that  he  was  also  going  to  appeal 
from  the  Yice-President,  and  he  would  not  permit  that  gentleman 
to  rule  him  out  of  order  either.  He  would  now  propose  the 
health  of  another  gentleman,  one  who  had  been  a  noble  worker 
in  the  arrangements  for  this  Convention,  a  gentleman  who  was 
v^ell  known  in  the  literature  of  the  profession  as  one  of  the 
brightest  and  most  distinguished  writers  in  the  islands  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,  viz..  Dr.  Pope,  the  Yice-President  of  the 
Convention.     (Cheers). 

This  toast  met  with  an  equally  cordial  reception. 

The  Chaibicax  in  acknowledging  the  complunent  said,  gentle- 
men, when  two  years  ago  I  had  the  pleasure  of  presiding  over  a 
meeting  of  our  own  men,  and  when  they  kindly  drank  my  health 
at  the  end  of  the  banquet  which  closed  our  proceedings,  I  said 
that  since  I  had  become  one  of  those,  known  as  homoeopathists, 
I  had  set  before  me,  as  one  great  aim  of  my  life,  the  resolve  to 
be  useful  to  the  cause  I  had  embraced.  I  said  that  the  honour 
paid  me  on  that  occasion  convinced  me  that  my  efforts  had  not 
been  altogether  in  vain,  and  that  I  was  thankful  for  it.     But  let 


680  MEETIK68  OF  SOCIETIES.   ^^SSSL^S??^ 


Berifcir,  8e|il.  1,  U£l. 


me  say  to  ni^t,  as  pertinent  to  the  present  oecasion,  that 
perhaps  the  seeond  aim  I  have  set  before  me  in  the  same  sphere 
has  been  to  draw  closer  together  and  to  cement  the  onion  of 
homcBopathists  in  all  eonntries.  I  felt  (and  it  is  some  years  ago> 
now)  that  we  were  not  sufficiently  known  to  one  another,  we  did 
not  read  one  another's  joomals  sufficiently,  or  one  another's  books, 
we  did  not  visit  one  another's  coontries  sufficiently,  and  we,  of  the 
British  Jonmal  of  Homoeopathy,  accordingly  set  to  work  some 
time  ago  to  present  as  fall  an  abstract  as  we  could  of  all  that  was 
interesting  in  the  journals  of  other  countries.  Again,  I  sought  to 
plan  how  best  we  could  visit  one  another,  and  accordin^y,  when 
the  World's  Convention  of  1876  was  announced,  I  decided  to  go 
over  and  visit  our  American  brethren,  and  since  that  time  others 
have  visited  them,  and  they  have  been  invited  to  come  here  as 
much  as  possible.  Then,  again,  some  of  us  went  over  to  France 
in  1878,  and  joined  the  Congress  there,  and  so,  bit  by  bit,  in  thia 
way  we  have  become  known  one  to  the  other ;  and  this  occasion, 
I  trust,  will  be  the  beginning  of  many  more  such  gatherings, 
which  shall  bring  us  face  to  face,  hand  to  hand,  mind  to  mind, 
and  heart  to  heart,  so  that,  though  our  brethren  of  the  pro- 
fession at  large  will  not  admit  us  to  their  community,  there  shall 
yet  be  a  unity  in  which  we  can  delight,  in  which  we  can  bind 
ourselves  very  close,  and  that  shall  be  a  union  of  homoeopaths* 
(Cheers).  I  thank  you,  gentlemen,  veiy  much  for  the  kind 
appreciation  you  have  shown,  both  in  the  meetings  of  the  week 
and  again  this  evening,  of  such  efforts  as  I  have  been  able  to  put 
forth  for  the  success  of  this  Convention,  and  my  best  reward  for 
anything  I  have  done  is  that  which  is  conveyed  to  my  mind  by 
your  plaudits,  and  the  great  success  which  I  believe  we  all  feel 
we  have  attained.     (Applause). 

Dr.  Pope  also  acknowledged  the  toast  drank  in  his  honour,  an 
honour  which  he  said  was  entirely  unexpected,  and  for  the 
cordial  response  to  which  he  was  proportionately  unprepared; 
but,  he  added,  I  thank  you  very  much  for  the  appreciation 
shown  of  what  littie  I  have  been  able  to  do  to  further  the 
interests  of  our  meeting  on  this  occasion — a  meeting  which  I 
trust  will  be  fruitftd  of  good  results,  not  only  to  homoeopathists 
in  England,  but  to  homoeopathists  in  all  parts  of  the  world. 
(Cheers).  ''Union,"  gentiemen,  '*is  strength,"  and  depend 
npon  it--a8  one  of  the  Seven  Bishops,  addressing  his  colleagues 
in  misfortune  in  the  Tower  of  London  a  couple  of  hundred  yeais 
ago,  said — '*  We  must  all  hang  together,  for,  if  we  do  not,  we 
shall  all  hang  separately."     (dbeers). 

The  list  of  toasts  being  concluded,  Dr.  Moobb  (Liverpool)  pro- 
posed the  health  of  Dr.  Hamilttm,  Dr.  Hilbers,  and  Mr.  Cameron, 
which,  having  been  drunk,  was  acknowledged  by  each. 


it^^SmS^  CORBESPONDENOB.  681 


Bevfew,  Sept.  1, 1881. 


The  Pbbbidbnt  then  proposed  the  health  of  the  Treasurer 
(Dr.  Black)  and  the  Secretaries  (Dr.  Gibbs  Blake,  Dr.  Hay  ward, 
and  Dr.  Bomett),  which  was  responded  to  by  Dr.  Hatward  and 
Dr.  BuBNSTT,  the  latter  adding  that  he  had  a  toast  of  his  own  to 
propose,  which  he  was  sure  would  be  received  with  all  heartiness. 
Their  American  brethren  liad  most  cordially  honoured  the  toast 
<of  the  Queen  and  Boyal  Family  (and  might  they  live  long  to 
teign  over  us),  but  he  reminded  them  that  on  the  other  side  of 
the  Atlantic  there  lay  a  man,  who,  although  not  a  king,  was 
almost  more  than  a  king,  for  he  was  one  of  Nature's  noblemen. 
He,  now,  by  the  hand  of  a  madman,  was  stretched  upon  a  bed 
of  suffering,  and  he  (Dr.  Burnett)  would  ask  the  British  members 
especially,  to  drink  to  the  speedy  restoration  to  health  of 
General  (rarfield.     (Applause). 

Dr.  Bretfoolb  (Louisville,  Kentucky)  next  proposed  the 
British  Homoeopathic  Society,  and  the  health  of  Dr.  C.  H. 
BiiACELEY,  Vice-President,  who  responded.  The  last  toast  was 
that  of  **  Absent  Friends,"  proposed  by  Dr.  Dycb  Bbown,  which 
having  been  appropriately  honoured,  the  company  separated. 


00RRE8P0NDENCE. 


To  ihe  Editon  of  the  Monthly  HonuBopathio  Eevimo, 

Gentlemen, — May  I  ask  your  kind  insertion  of  enclosed  letter 
in  next  Review.  It  was  forwarded  to  Dr.  Hughes  with  a  request 
that  it  should  be  read  at  the  International  Convention.  But  by 
some  unfortunate  oversight  it  was  not  so  read. 

It  was  my  intention  to  have  been  present  at  the  Convention, 
and  to  have  advocated  the  emancipation  of  medical  teaching  from 
the  present  unworthy  restrictions  by  which  it  has  been  and  still 
is  possible  for  the  dominant  school  to  prevent  the  teaching  of  the 
homoeopathic  system  in  the  only  recognised  schools. 

I  wished  also  to  plead  the  cause  of  free  feUotoship  in  science 
over  the  whole  civilised  worid.  A  subject  perfectly  appropriate 
for  discussion  before  an  International  Convention.  But  my 
health  prevented  my  presence  on  that  occasion,  and  the  President 
omitted  (I  believe  by  inadvertence)  to  read  my  short  letter. 
Hence  I  am  compelled  to  trouble  you  with  it,  as  ihe  best  means 
of  insuring  its  meeting  the  eyes  of  our  brethren  who,  Hving  out 
of  our  htde  Islands,  are  excluded  from  some  of  the  rights  of 
physicians  by  what  I  cannot  but  consider  our  narrow  insularity. 

Yours  truly, 

William  Bates,  M.D. 
88,  Lansdowne  Place,  Brighton, 
ll^i  August,  1881. 


682 OOBBESPOHPBNCE.  '^Sg^fffMS: 

To  the  President  of  ike  Jntemational  HomceopaMc  Convention. 

My  Dear  Dr.  Hughes, — ^I  wish  to  express  throngh  joa  mj  deep 
r^et  that  I  find  myself  nnable  to  be  present  at  the  Intemation^ 
Homoeopathic  Convention,  which  will  bring  together  so  large  a 
nmnber  of  our  colleagues  from  all  parts  of  &e  civilised  world. 

Nothing  less  than  the  plea  of  inability  throngh  ill-health  would 
have  excused  my  absence  from  the  Convention.  I  was  most 
anxious  to  have  opened  the  discussion  on  Tuesday  by  a  reference- 
to  the  great  opportunity  presented  to  us  by  the  Medical  Acta 
Conmiission  (at  present  sitting  at  the  House  of  Commons),  pro- 
vided something  could  be  proposed  by  us  which  should  tend  to 
break  down  the  practical  monopoly  of  teaching  enjoyed  by  the 
established  medical  schools.  It  seems  to  me  we  should  go 
beyond  all  lesser  considerations,  and  ask  for  absolute  freedom  as. 
to  the  acquirement  of  medical  knowledge,  so  that  there  shall  be 
no  monopoly  of  teaching  placed  in  the  hands  of  any  body  of  men. 
Monopolied  corporations  are  certain  sooner  or  later  to  use 
their  powers  in  a  manner  opposite  to  liberality,  towards  those 
who'are  placed  under  their  power. 

We  have  seen  that  the  whole  medical  corporate  bodies  of  fiiia 
kingdom  have,  with  one  accord,  suppressed  the  scientific  teaching 
of  homcBopathy  in  any  of  the  medical  schools.    The  course  of 
conduct  pursued  by  the  medical  corporations  towards  our  science 
and  art  of  homoeopathy  might  as  well  be  employed  against  any 
other  progressive  devdopment  of  the  curative  art ;  and  therefore, 
in  demanding  perfect  freedom  for  the  teaching  of  any  theory  or 
practice  of  medicine  or  surgery,  we  are  fighting  the  battle,  not 
only  of  homoeopathy,  but  of  every  branch  of  medical  and  surgical 
science.     I  would  advise  that  we  should  petition  for  the  right  of 
teaching,  by  lectures  or  otherwise,  of  any  branch  of  medicine  or 
surgery,  by  any  physician  or  surgeon  who  holds  legitimate 
degrees  or  diplomas.     In  fact,  I  would  place  all  private  medical 
or  surgical  schools  on  the  same  legal  footing  as  the  older  institu- 
tions of  universities  or  schools. 

The  word  doctor  signifies  teacher.  Why  allow  such  a  title  to 
remain  a  dead  letter  ?  Let  each  doctor  have  the  inherent  right 
to  teach,  and  let  his  teaching  qualify  any  student  whom  he  has. 
taught  to  present  himself  to  the  examining  body  or  bodies,  and 
give  >>im  a  claim  to  be  examined  as  to  his  fitness  to  receive  a 
diploma  to  practise.  The  present  International  Convention  is  & 
proper  body  to  appeal  to  as  to  the  International  recognition  of 
all  medical  teachmg  within  the  foreign  bodies  recognised  by  the 
State  in  which  they  reside. 

Why  should  we  deny  a  qualifying  power  to  the  teaching  of 
Paris,  Berlin,  Boston  (U.S.)*  Harvard,  New  York,  Philadelphia, 
&c.,  while  we  recognise  as  valid  the  teaching  of  Edinburgh, 
Glasgow,  St.  Andrews,  Aberdeen,  Dublin,  Galway,  Durham,  &c.f 


SS^^TSw?*         CORRESPONDENCE.  SSS* 

Competition  with  foreign  schools  and  with  clever  private 
medical  schools  wotdd  tend  to  energise  the  teaching  of  the 
universities  of  England,  and  to  stimiilate  the  corporate  medical 
bodies  to  seek  for  new  developments  of  medical  and  surgical 
science,  instead  of  (as  at  present)  attempting  to  hinder  aH 
progress  in  new  directions. 

We  must  press  then  iot  free  trade  in  medical  teaching ,  as  the 
only  way  to  prevent  iojury  to  the  public  weal  by  the  opposition 
io  new  developments  and  to  new  systems,  which  will  always  bo 
brought  forward  by  old  corporations  when  they  see  their 
monopoly  of  teaching  threatened. 

We  must — 

**  Ring  oat  the  false. 
Ring  in  the  true," 
by  sounding  the  knell  of  medical  monopoly  of  teaching. 

Yours,  very  sincerely, 

William  Bates,  M.D. 

DR.  BRISTOWE  AND  HOMOEOPATHY. 

To  the  EdUon  of  the  Monthly  Homaopathic  Beview. 

Gentlemen, — ^I  forwarded  enclosed  letter  to  Dr.  Bristowe  on 
reading  the  report  of  his  late  address  on  medicine,  at  Ryde. 

Yours  very  truly, 

William  Bates,  M.D. 
88,  Lansdowne  Place,  Brighton. 
12lA  Atigust,  1881. 

To  J.  S.  Bristowe,  Esq.,  MJ>. 

Dear  Sir, — I  have  read,  with  interest,  the  report  of  your* 
Address  on  Medicine,  delivered  at  the  meeting  of  the  British 
Medical  Association,  at  Ryde. 

In  your  address,  you  speak  of  Hahnemann  as  having  a  ^*  eupreme 
contempt "  for  pathology. 

I  feel  sure  you  have  no  desire  to  misrepresent  either  Hahne* 
mann  or  his  followers. 

You  will  therefore  pardon  my  reminding  yon  that  your  obser- 
vations are  wanting  in  exactness.  Had  you  said  "  Hahnemann 
had  a  supreme  contempt  for  the  pathology  of  his  dayy^'  you  would 
have  given  a  just  idea  of  the  position  Hahnemann  and  his 
followers  held.  But  you  will  also  confess  to  holding  much  of  the 
pathology  of  Hahnemann's  day  (the  end  of  last  century  and  of 
the  earlier  part  of  the  present  century)  in  almost  as  much 
contempt  yourself. 

As  to  the  value  of  *'  similia  similibus  curantur  "  as  a  guide  or* 
indication  for  the  selection  of  a  remedy,  the  true  question  is  not 
quite  accurately  stated  in  the  report  of  your  speech.    Noft  only 
do  homoeopaths  take  the  '*  groups  of  symptoms  "  as  their  indica- 
tion for  selection  of  a  remedy  for  disease,  but  they  avail  them- 


584  CORRBBPONDENTS.         ^B^f^TS 

selves  of  the  pathological  signs  also.  If  they  find  a  medicine 
which  can  produce  similar  pathological  signs  as  well  as  similar 
sabjectiye  symptoms,  snch  a  medicine  wonld  be  preferential^ 
ehosen  as  the  remedy.  I  venture  to  say  that  those  physicians 
who  at  the  present  day  are  followers  of  Hahnemann's  rule  or 
law  do  not  value  pathological  indications  less  than  do  those  who 
oppose  it.  I  was  told  some  years  since  by  the  agent  who  can- 
vassed for  the  sale  of  Eiemssen's  Cyclopadia  that  the  sale  to 
homoBopaths  far  outnumbered  that  to  allopaths  (proportionately). 
For  myself,  I  can  only  bear  my  very  strong  testimony  to  the  hat 
greater  efficacy  at  a  msans  of  cure  of  medicines  given  from  their 
careful  homoeopathic  selection,  when  administered  in  a  sufficiently 
minute  dose  to  insure  against  their  inducing  over-stimulation  odf 
the  tract  on  which  they  exert  their  specific  action. 

I  have  a  right  to  speak  with  authority  on  this  point,  having 
for  the  first  thirteen  years  of  my  practice  used  the  ordinary  allo- 
pathic remedies,  and  for  the  last  twenty-five  years  have  adopted 
and  practised  the  homoeopathic,  both  in  public  and  private 
practice.  Allow  me  to  give  you  John  Hunter's  advice,  *'  Don't 
think,  but  try"  ThanHng  you  for  much  courteous  expression 
in  your  address. 

Believe  me,  yours  very  sincerely, 

William  Batbs,  M.D. 

NOTICES   TO   CORRESPONDENTS. 

^%  We  cannot  undertake  to  return  r^ecied  manuMcrifU. 

GontribatoTS  and  OoireBpondentB  are  requested  to  notioe  the  alteraikn 
in  the  addreaa  of  one  of  the  Editors  of  this  Review. 

We  zegret  that  want  of  spaoe  obliges  ns  to  defer  the  report  of  the 
Hahnemann  Pablisfaing  Society,  and  also  Dr.  Bbbbidob's  paper  on 
'*  Hydrophobinum." 

Commnnieations,  Aw.,  have  been  received  from  Dr.  Batbs  (Briffhton)  i 
Dr.  A.  0.  GuvTOR  (Northampton);  Dr.  EauKSBT  (Blaekheath) ;  Dt. 
BEBRn>OB  (London) ;  JDr.  ELltwabd  (Liverpool) ;  Dr.  Maddbn  (Biimisg- 
ham) ;  Mr.  Pottaoe  (Edinburgh) ;  Dr.  Ghattebton  (Ghioago). 

BOOKS   RECEIVED. 

Practical  Biology ,  dke.  By  Edward  Haughton,  B.A.,  M.D.  London: 
Wade  &  Go. — The  Honueofothic  Ouide  for  Family  Uee,  By  Dr.  Laoxk, 
edited,  Ae.t  by  Dr.  Guttendge.  86th  edition.  London :  Leath  &  Boas. 
— Thirty-fint  Annual  Report  of  the  London  Homceapatkie  Hospital. — Tke 
Annate  of  the  Britieh  Homoupathic  Society. — The  Homaopathie  World. 
— The  StudenU*  JownaL—The  Chemiet  and  BruggieU-^The  New  York 
Medical  Timee. — The  Medical  Advance. — BiHiothique  HomcMpathique.— 
El  Criterio  Medico. — Boletino  Clinieo  del  Institute  Homoeopatico  di 
Madrid. — La  Reforma  Medica. — Mexico.    Rivista  OmicpaHea. 


Papers,  Dispensary  Beports,  and  Books  for  BeTiew  to  be  sent  to 
Dr.  PopB,  21,  Henrietta  Street,  Gavendish  Square,  W.,  or  to  Dr.  D,  Drea 
Bbowv,  29,  Seymour  Street,  Portman  Square,  W.  Advertisements  and 
Business  Gommunications  to  be  sent  to  Messrs.  B.  Qould  ds  Batf 
69,  Moorgate  Street,  E.G. 


M^^mTSS^  sotool  »  homcbopathy,  089 


THE    MONTHLY 


HOMOEOPATHIC    REVIEW. 


THE  LONDON  SCHOOL  OF  HOMCEOPATHY. 

On  the  4th  of  this  months  the  London  School  of  HomoaO' 
pathy  enters  on  its  fifth  session,  the  Hahnemann  oration 
being  delivered  by  Dr.  Bichabd  Hughes  on  that  day.  We 
feel  sure  that  the  oration  will  be  a  masterly  onoi  and  forza 
a  fitting  opening  for  the  new  session,  and  we  trust  the 
attendance  on  this  day  wiU  be  a  large  one. 

The  fact,  however,  that  this  is  the  commencement  of  thp 
fifth  session  of  the  School  involves  considerations  of  special 
interest.  The  School,  as  originally  cpnstitnted,  was  more 
or  less  of  an  experiment,  and  it  was  resolved  that  its 
present  constitution  should  last  for  five  years,  the  sub- 
scriptions being  also,  most  of  them,  for  this  limited  period.. 
This  limit  will  have  been  reached  at  the  end  of  the  session 
which  is  now  about  to  commence,  and  those  interested  in 
the  progress  of  homoeopathy  are  beginning  to  consider  what 
ought  to  be  the  course  pursued  for  the  future. 

Whether  the  School  has  been  a  success  or  not  is  a  dis- 
puted point.  Those  who  look  for  great  things,  for  what 
is  impossible  in  the  nature  of  things,  and  firom  the  feeling 
which  at  present  exists  in  the  minds  of  our  opponents  of 
the  old-school,  consider  that  the  School  is  a  BEdlora,  on  the 

No.  10,  Vol.  25.  3  Q 


586  SCHOOL  OP  HOHCEOPATHT.    "^ eSSiJ^S!mw^ 

'  » ___^ . ^ ^ . 

gronnd  that  the  average  regular  attendance  has  not  exceeded 
seven. 

Those,  again,  who  cahnly  consider  what  we  ought  to 
expect,  and  what  we  cannot  at  present  look  for,  are  satisfied 
that  in  present  circumstances  the  School  has  had  such  a 
measure  of  success  as  to  justify,  naj,  demand  its  con- 
tinuance  in  some  form.  Those  who  take  this  view,  do  so 
remembering  the  difficulties  which  have  to  be  met  m 
carrying  the  war  into  the  enemy's  camp,  in  acting  on  the 
ofTensive  instead  of  simply  on  the  defensive,  and  weighing 
the  antagonistic  influences  at  work,  are  content  to  reckon 
iheir  success  by  comparative  tests. 

The  first  great  difficulty  in  the  way  of  getting  many 
istudents  to  attend  the  lectures  is  that  the  study  of  homoeo- 
pathy is  not  included  in  the  curriculum  which  a  student 
must  go  through  in  order  to  qualify,  and  as  these  subjects 
are  becoming  more  numerous,  and  the  amount  of  study  to 
ensure  success  requires  to  be  greater  in  proportion  than 
formerly,  only  those  who  are  very  hard  workers,  and  are 
already  interested  in  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  homoeopathy, 
can  be  expected  to  attend  our  lectures  and  hospital  practice. 

Secondly,  of  this  limited  number,  many  are  not  unnatn- 
rally  afraid  of  being  known  as  having  even  a  leaning  to 
homoeopathy,  in  case  of  this  possibly  influencing  the  resolt 
of  their  examinations.  Those,  therefore,  who  come  to  our 
School  during  their  student  course  must  be  few. 

Thirdly,  after  students  have  qualified,  comparatively  few 
can  afTord  the  time  or  money  required  to  enable  them  to 
spend  another  year  in  London.  This  class,  then,  most 
likewise  be  limited. 

Lastly,  we  have  the  practitioner,  but  of  these  few  can 
manage  to  get  away  from  practice  for  anything  like  legolar 
attendance  at  hoefpital  practice  or  lectures. 


IKSJfSLMS?^  SiJHOOL  OP  HOMCEOPATHY.  687 

It  seems  to  ns,  then,  that  imtil  the  time  comes  when  the 
fitndent  finds  that  it  is  really  necessary  for  him  to  enter  a 
practice  with  a  good  knowledge  of  homoeopathy,  and  until  the 
feeling  in  the  old  School  is  so  modified  that  attendance  at 
liomoeopathic  lectures  is  a  piece  of  training  which  a  student 
need  not  keep  his  thumb  upon,  we  must  not  expect  to  have 
other  than  small  classes.  But,  however  small  the  class,  the 
School  must  be  kept  up.  At  no  time  in  the  history  of 
homoeopathy  in  this  country,  has  such  attention  been  drawn 
to  it.  We  find  text-books  full  of  homoeopathy  reckoned 
and  used  as  standard  works ;  we  find  the  use  of  homodo- 
pathic  medicines  by  those  still  in  the  old  school  ranks 
daily  increasing ;  pieces  of  practice  which  ten  years  ago 
were  laughed  at,  are  now  considered  en  regie ;  leading 
'Chemists  are  advertising  many  of  the  homoeopathic  remedies, 
**  as  recommended  by  Dr.  Phillips  '* !  the  allopathic 
Journals  are  full  of  discussions  as  to  the  propriety  of  meet- 
ing homoeopaths  in  consultation;  these  journals  show  a 
much  greater  knot\rledge  of  what  homoeopathy  is  than  they 
did  a  couple  of  years  ago ;  while  introductory  addresses  at 
the  annual  meeting  of  the  British  Medical  Association 
clearly  shows  what  a  hold  the  subject  of  homoeopathy  is 
taking  on  the  allopathic  mind,  and  this  in  spite  of  every 
effort  hitherto  used  to  crush  it,  by  silence,  misrepresenta- 
tion, abuse,  and  ridicule. 

Surely,  at  such  a  juncture  there  ought  not  to  be  a  single 
man  in  our  own  ranks  who  does  not  see  the  necessity  of 
supporting  and  encouraging  by  every  means  in  his  power 
the  efforts  made  to  keep  a  School  of  Homoeopathy  alive, 
'even  though  the  School  may  not  be  carried  on  precisely  on 
the  lines  that  certain  of  our  friends  would  wish.  In 
view  of  the  importance  of  any  systematic  course  of 
instruction  in  homoeopathy,  however  imperfect  in  com- 
pleteness it  may  be,  and  as  at  the  present  time  it  behoves 

2  Q— 2 


683  SCHOOL  OP  HOMCBOPATHY.    *a^?g5fggS? 

^ ■  -  " 

all  to  sink  diflferences  of  opinion  as  to  detail^  and  to  unite 
to  make  the  best  of  our  materials  and  opportunitieBy 
qiiasi-friendliness  is  often  worse  than  open  opposiiton,  and 
we  trust  that  during  the  new  lease  of  life  which  the  School 
is  about  to  obtain,  every  one  will  do  his  utmost  to  aid  the 
great  cause  by  unflinching  support. 

The  sub-committee  appointed  in  the  beginning  of  the 
present  year  to  consider  the  best  course  for  the  future, 
submitted  their  report  to  the  general  meeting  in  April. 
In  that  report,  the  discontinuance  of  the  systematic  course 
of  lectures  on  Practice  of  Medicine  was  suggested,  and  the 
substitution  for  it  of  two  courses  of  clinical    lecturas. 
Hitherto,  the  clinical  instruction  at  the  Hospital  has  been 
informal,  the  physician  expounding  extempore  at  the  bed- 
side the  details  of  the  case,  with  the  meaning  of  the  treat- 
ment employed.     Instead  of  this,  or  rather,  to  make  thi* 
more  complete,  it  was  proposed  that  a  formal  clinical  lecture 
should  be  given  once  a  week,  based  on  the  cases  at  that 
time  in  the  wards ;  that  two  such  courses  given  by  two  of 
the  physicians  should  be  made  as  fully  usefiil  as  possible 
by  some  re-arrangement  of  the  number  of  beds  under  the 
care  of  the  three  In-patient  physicians ;  and  that  the  School 
should  be  drawn  more  closely  to  the  Hospital  by  an  altera- 
tion in  the  Executive.    The  lectureship  on  Materia  Medica 
and  Therapeutics  was  to  remain  undisturbed. 

These  changes  were  evidently  not  unanimously  supported 
at  the  April  general  meeting,  and  since  then,  the  sub- 
committee which  was  re-appointed  to  consider  the  matter 
further,  have  found  that  the  feeling  was  by  no  means  so 
unanimous  in  favour  of  their  first  proposals  as  would 
justify  them  in  offering  again  the  report  as  it  then  stood* 
What  the  sub-committee  now  recommend  may  be  seen 
fully  in  the  communication  from  the  Hon.  Secretatji 
Dr.  Bayes,  in  another  part  of  this  Review,  and  we  draw 


fejr^TSau^    SCHOOL  OF  HOMOEOPATHY.  689 

attention  to  it,  so  that  fhll  opportunity  should  be  given  for 
its  consideration  before  the  day  of  meeting.  It  will  be 
seen  by  this  report,  that  the  sub-committee  still  recommend 
that  the  lectureship  on  Materia  Medica  and  Therapeutics 
should  be  left  intact.  They  likewise  adhere  to  their 
suggestion,  that  a  formal  clinical  lectureship  should  be 
instituted,  a  lecture  being  given,  say  once  a  week,  during 
the  winter  session.  But  they  now  advise  the  maintenance 
AS  before,  of  the  lectureship  on  Practice  of  Medicine.  This 
advice  is  given,  as  it  was  deemed  by  some  who  are  much 
interested  in  the  success  of  the  School  and  its  ultimate 
position  as  an  educational  institution,  that  to  abandon  the 
systematic  course  of  Practice  of  Medicine  would  be  a  retro- 
grade step,  and  that  the  School  would  lose  in  position  and 
importance  thereby.  It  is  also  thought  that  while  students 
should  have  the  opportunity  of  as  perfect  clinical  teaching 
as  possible,  they  ought  not  to  be  deprived  of  the  chance  of 
obtaining  likewise  instruction  in  homoeopathy  in  a  syste* 
xnatio  manner,  and  thus  going  over  the  whole  field  of 
^sease.  The  sub-committee  thus  advise  the  addition  to 
(he  present  systematic  courses  of  a  fomial  clinical  lecture- 
.ship,  instead  of  its  substitution  for  one  of  the  existing 
courses.  The  continuance  also  of  the  summer  course  on 
the  Principles  of  Homoeopathy,  as  given  this  year  by 
Pr.  Hughes,  and  also  of  the  Hahnemannian  Lecture,  is 
also  advised.  Lastly,  they  suggest  that  as  soon  as  cir- 
cumstances will  permit,  other  courses  of  lectures  be  insti- 
tuted. The  aim,  in  fact,  is  to  extend,  not  to  limit  the 
operations  of  the  SchooL  We  trust  that  a  full  attendance 
of  Governors  will  be  found  when  the  report  embodying 
these  proposals  will  be  laid  before  the  general  meeting  this 
imonth.  An  alteration  also  in  the  Executive  of  the  School 
IB  also  proposed,  but  the  detail  of  this  plan,  which  will  b6 
Ibund  on  another  page,  we  do  not  enter  into. 


690  SOIENTIFIO  MEWOINE,    "^SSJ?oS??waL 

We  trust  that  a  wider  interest  than  ever  will  be  elicited 
in  the  affairs  of  the  School,  that  subscriptions  will  be 
renewed,  that  all  who  are  acquainted  with  students  or 
their  friends  will  do  their  best  to  induce  them  to  attend 
the  School,  that  they  may  learn  what  will  one  day  be  & 
sine  qua  non  in  the  education  of  eyery  medical  man,  and 
without  a  knowledge  of  which  he  will  find  himself  at  a  dis- 
count in  the  eye  of  the  public  and  also  of  the  profession. 

Magna  est  Veritas  et  prevalebit,  and  happy  are  those  who 
feel  that  they  are  doing  their  utmost,  however  small,  to 
advance  the  spread  of  the  knowledge  of  the  greatest  truth 
in  medicine  Qver  discovered.  Let  everyone  feel  with  the 
poet,  that  ''  the  aim,  if  reached  or  not,  makes  great  the 
life." 

A  SEAUCH  AFTER  "  SCIENTIFIC  MEDICINE." 
By  TH01CA.S  Hatlb,  M.D.,  Bochdale. 

The  art  of  medicine  is  imder  great  obligations  to 
homoeopathy.  The  discovery  that  the  curative  power 
of  medicines  is  due  to  their  power  to  disorder  or  derange^ 
the  actions  of  the  system,  and  that  from  the  latter  you  can 
infer  the  former,  was  a  great  step.  The  power  of  prediction 
and  verification  sets  the  seal  of  truth  on  an  hypothesis, 
and  elevates  it  into  a  theory.  But  your  prediction  mighi 
be  a  guess,  your  verification  an  accident.  Your  law  might 
be  a  truth,  but  how  to  apply  it  ?  How  about  certainty  as 
to  your  similar,  and  how  about  your  dose?  You  have 
evidence  of  the  reality  of  your  law;  your  cures  are  too 
numerous  to  be  coincidences  ;  but  if  you  come  to  particular 
instances,  where  are  you?  overwhelmed  in  the  darkest 
doubt.  You  cannot  tell  a  sceptic  what  to  expect.  You 
eannot  predict  eclipses;  that  is  when  the  symptoms 
of  the  disease  will  be  extinguished  by  that  of  the  medicine. 
Until  you  can  predict  eclipses,  your  system  is  not  a  science ; 
it  is  not  deductive ;  it  is  empirical,  founded  on  observation; 
it  is  true,  and  thus  far  in  advance  of  the  *'  scientific 
medicine  "  boasted  of  by  your  College  of  Physicians,  still 
in  their  sins  ;  but  you  can  see  the  dawn  far  in  advance  ot 


nS^l^oSHi^S^^  SOUfiNTIVIG  MEDicuns*  591^ 

-  - 

you  when  the  trae  sun  of  science  will  rise  to  gladden  the, 
eyes  of  the  watchers  for  truth.      The  reason  of  these 
uncertainties  lies  in  the  tact  that  your  law  is  an  empirical 
law — one  founded  in  ei^rience  and  experience   alone. 
There  are  cases  in  which  you  are  able  to  predict,  as  for 
instance,  the  lowering  of  tiie  pulse   in    certain  cases  of 
fever  from  the  action  of  aconite,  and  in  a  great  variety  of  ^ 
dose ;  but  in  many  cases  of  chronic  disease  you  are  no ' 
wiser  than  the  College  of  Physicians,  quite  as  much  at 
sea,  and  quite  as  innocent  of  the  power  of  prediction. 
Your  attempts  to  find  a  simile  is  in  one  school  overloaded  ^ 
by  a  number  of  minutias  which  may  be  accidental,  while' 
another,  of  which  Dr.  Hughes  is  the  able  exponent,  in  the 
endeavour  to  separate  the  essential  from  the  unimportant 
and  accidental,  often  leaves  us  with  insufficient  guidance.  \ 
The  question  of  the  dose^  also,  is  in  a  very  unsatisfactory ' 
state.   On  the  one  hand  you  have  the  millionth  attenuation, 
on  the  other,  the  crude  material — ^both  professing  to  be 
guided  by  pure  experience.    Now,  if  we  had  a  deductive 
law  founded  in  the  properties  of  the  nervous  system,  we 
should  escape  from  all  these  confasions.    In  the  first 
place,  we  should  see  why  a  homceopathic  law  existed,  and 
be  able  to  explain  the  necessity  of  its  existence.    An  agent 
in  a  large  dose  comes  down  the  nervous  tract,  which  it  is 
fitted  by  nature  to  influence,  like  a  tornado,  and  destroys 
the  harmony  of  the  scene :  nausea,  vomiting,  colic,  and 
diarrhoea  wiUi  cramps,  take  the  place  pf  the  natmral  feelings. 
On  the  other  hand,  an  attenuation,  dififering  in  degree 
according  to  circumstances,  acts  upon  this  disturbance 
when  it  arises  from  another  cause,  and  causes  all  this 
disorder  to  cease,  sometimes  as  by  magic.    I  am  not  sure 
whether  it  will  not  act  with  the  same  efiect  when  the 
disorder  arises  from  the  same  cause.    I  was  once  called  in  * 
to  a  case  of  dysentery,  tenesmus  recurring  every  five 
minutes.     The  patient  was  under  the  influence  of  mere, 
cor.  8.     The  case  was  Dr.  Pybum's,  and  I  recommended  a 
higher  attenuation  of  the  same  medicine.     The  result  was 
marvellous.    All  disturbance  ceased,  and  a  complete  cure 
was  the  result.     Only  one  dose  was  given.    Now,  on  the  [ 
same  principle  that  Hahnemann  argued    from  his  one.' 
instance  of  similarity  to  the  law  of  homoeopathy,  if  this  is 
a  trustworthy  observation,  and  I  have  Dr.  Pybum's  and  the ' 
woman's  word  for  it,  it  is  probable  that  this  law  pervades 
all  medicinal  action.    The  small  dose  always  counteracts 


B92  SCIENTIFIC  MEDICINE.    "'T^^oS'jSn! 

the  action  of  a  large  dose.  This  is  what  Dr.  Sharp  and  a 
large  school  of  homceopathists  assert,  hut  they  assert  also 
that  the  zephyr  overcomes  the  tornado,  a  proposition  which 
appears  to  me  monstroos.  The  doctrine  is,  you  select 
yonr  medicine  by  the  law  of  similars,  bnt  yon  nse  it  as  an 
antipathic  agent  by  the  law  of  contraria  contrarii^,  because 
every  medicine  in  a  small  dose  acts  in  an  opposite  way  to 
the  medicine  in  a  large  dose.  Now,  this  is  meeting  the 
tornado  with  a  zephyr,  and  we  know  what  happens  when 
that  takes  place.  The  less  has  no  chance  with  the  greater. 
On  the  other  hand,  upon  the  theory  I  have  suggested, 
when  a  mnch  smaller  dose  is  given  a  set  of  vibrations  in 
the  direction  of  health  are  set  np ;  everything  abnormal  is 
done  away  with,  and  the  result  is  health.  This  result  is 
countenanced  by  many  observations.  When  Sir  W.  Arm- 
strong, in  his  first  series  of  lectures  delivered  in  Newcastle* 
6h-Tyne,  on  the  hydro-electric  machine,  stated  that  he 
could  change  the  electric  current  generated  by  the  friction 
of  steam  against  a  metal  tube  at  will,  by  the  addition  of 
small  quantities  of  turpentine  or  salts,  &om  positive  to 
negative,  he  asserted,  it  seems  to  me,  a  similar  sequence 
of  facts.  The  properties  of  electricity  also  present  us  with 
positive  and  negative  states  of  opposite  qualities.  The 
attenuations  iseem  to  share  in  this  quality.  They  develop 
different  states  from  those  which  the  crude  drug  pro- 
duces.  Their  influence  running  down  a  nerve  disordered 
by  the  crude  medicine  supersedes  its  action,  whether 
by  a  property  due  to  its  attenuated  state  or  by  some 
property  inherent  in  medicinal  action.  Medicinal  action  is 
probably  closely  allied  to  nervous  action,  for  it  acts  on  it 
without  a  special  apparatus,  unlike  the  air  in  the  production 
of  hearing.  It  seems  to  be  like  the  nervous  fluid  in  being 
able  to  act  on  the  same  parts,  sometimes  deranging  them, 
sometimes  when  deranged  restoring  them  to  healthy  action. 
Whether  this  be  done  by  opposite  or  merely  different  actions, 
I  submit  requires  further  investigation.  They  are  actions 
that  proceed  down  the  same  nervous  tube,  and  they  proceed 
down  it  in  the  same  direction.  It  is  not  a  question  of 
opposing  forces  going  in  opposite  directions.  We  know 
this  to  be  contrary  to  the  fact.  In  a  great  many  cases  they 
enter  into  the  system  in  the  same  way.  Besides,  in  such 
a  case  the  weaker  force  would  always  go  to  the  wall.  The 
tornado  would  always  overcome  the  zephyr.  Now  the 
attenuated  force  is  obviously  the  weaker,  for  it  only  acts 


BSS^iST!^?^  ^AtHOiiOGY  AKD  THERAPEUTICS.     59^ 

nnder  conditions^  The  crude  material  acts  unconditionally, 
and  yet  the  attenuated  force  acts  upon  the  organism  so  aa 
to  modify  its  actions  and  recall  them  to  a  state  of  health, 
sometimes  in  a  very  maryellous  way.  It  has  little  or  no 
power  to  act  when  the  parts  are  jbi  a  state  of  Jiealth ;  but 
when  they  are  morbidly  excited  in  a  peculiar  way  then  it 
€omes  down  and  acts  with  magical  power.  The  quality  of 
the  power  comes  into  play  and  not  its  quantity.  Here  we 
have  an  explanation  of  the  mode  in  which  our  infinitesimals 
act,  or  rather  of  the  possibility  of  their  action.  They  enter 
into  the  realm  of  fluids  which  are  inconceivably  attenuated, 
fiomewhat  akin  to  electricity.  They  have  been  eliminated 
from  the  bodies  in  which  they  dwell,  and  exercise  a  free 
power.  The  &ct  has  been  too  often  avouched  to  be  dis- 
puted. Every  homceopath  knows,  however  he  is  unable  to 
explain,  the  action  of  these  small  doses.  The  fact  is  so 
incredible  that  sometimes  he  is  driven  to  deny  it,  or  at  any 
rate  to  explain  it  away.  It  is  not,  be  it  remembered,  the 
opposite  shock  of  opposed  forces,  where  the  result  is  in 
favour  of  the  lesser.  It  is  the  modifying  influence  of  two 
forces  travelling  the  ^ame  road  and  extinguishing  each 
other  by  negative  and  positive  action,  like  two  currents  of 
opposite  electricities.  The  advantages  then  of  raising  the 
empirical  law  of  homceopathy  into  the  deductive  rank  are 
manifold.  From  the  properties  of  the  nervous  system  and 
of  medicinal  action  you  can  reason  out  the  necessity  and 
conditions  of  the  law.  You  can  appreciate  its  limits ;  by 
an  exact  knowledge  of  drug  action  you  can  predict  results 
in  a  given  case ;  you  can  show  the  necessity  of  small  doses ; 
and  all  need  for  an  apologetic  attitude  will  be  over.  Scien- 
tific medicine  will  be  a  fact,  and  unfounded  claims  to  its 
possession  will  meet  with  their  due  reward. 

THE  RELATION  OF  PATHOLOGY  TO  THERA- 
PEUTICS.* 
By  G.  T.  Campbell,  M.D.,  London,  Ontario. 

To  say  that  a  necessaiy  pre-requisite  to  scientific  thera- 
peutics is  a  knowledge  of  the  cause  and  character  of  disease 
may  sound  like  a  truism.  And  yet,  our  inexact  modes  of 
4^xpres8ion  have  given  rise  to  the  opinion  that  many  of  our 

*  Beprinted  from  tlie  Atmriean  OUerver, 


594  PATHOLOGY  ASD  TBBRASKUTICS. 


echool  consider  a  knowledge  of  pathology  a  seeondaiy  aflbir 
—that  to  ibem  it  is  immatenal  what  the  caose  of  the 
disease  may  he,  or  what  its  character  may  be,  so  long  as 
they  recognise  the  external  symptoms  it  prodooes.  I  say 
this  opinion  is  doe  to  a  lack  of  exactness  and  harmony  in 
onr  forms  of  expression ;  for  there  is  no  donbt  that  onr 
physicians  are  practically  agreed  as  to  the  tme  Tslne  of 
pathology,  and  that  they  utilise  the  knowledge  gained 
therefrom.  But  for  the  consideration  of  any  who  may 
really  be  disposed  to  ignore  pathology,  and  for  the  benefit 
of  those  who  assrmie  that  onr  school  does  so  ignore  it,  I 
purpose  submitting  a  few  ideas  as  to  what  I  conceiye  to  be 
the  true  relation  between  pathology  and  therapeutics. 

Diseases  we  can  only  know  by  their  symptoms.    But 
what  are  symptoms  ?  and 

WHAT  ABE  DISEASES? 

A  person  hAs  a  high  pulse,  a  hot  skin,  a  pain  in  his  ch6st> 
a  cough  and  a  rusty  expectoration.  Do  these  constitute 
the  disease  ?  No ;  they  are  only  symptoms.  His  lung  is 
hypersemic  from  active  congestion,  and  the  air  cells  are 
filling  up  with  coagulable  matter;  there  is  a  condition 
existing  called  acute  pneumonitis.  Is  that  disease  ?  No ; 
these  are  only  symptoms.  Where  and  what,  then,  is  the 
disease  ?  It  must  be  sought  in  the  ultimate  structure,  the 
cell.  There  is  an  abnormal  action  of  the  cell  wall ;  there 
is  derangement  of  its  attractive  and  selective  power,  and 
from  this  follow  the  results  of  the  disease :  inflammation, 
exudation,  pain,  cough,  rusty  sputa,  all  of  which  are  only 
symptoms.     Disease,  then,  is 

AN  ABNORMAL  STATE  OF  ULTHIATE   STEUOTUBE, 

which  we  are,  as  yet,  able  to  recognise  only  through  its 
symptoms,  just  as  we  can  only  recognise  fire  by  its  signs 
and  effects.  In  rude  classification,  there  are  symptoms 
which  may  be  called  external,  and  those  which  may  be 
called  internal.  We  may  call  those  external  which  are 
patent  to  the  senses — ^which  the  physician  can  see  and  the 
patient  can  feel.  Among  intemsd  symptoms,  we  may  class 
those  secondary  pathological  conditions  affecting  tissues, 
such  as  inflammation,  ulceration,  exudation,  &c.  Some  of 
these  internal  symptoms  can  be  recognised  during  life  by 
the  skilled  diagnostician ;  some  can  only  be  detected  by  a 
post  mortem  search ;  while  there  are  cases  of  grave  nervous 


IK^oSTSSttl*'  PATHOLOGY  AND  THERAPSUTJOS*   69d 

disorder  in  which  no  iatemal  symptoma  can  be  found ;  no 
neeondary  pathological  state;  no  connecting  link  between, 
the  disease  and  its  external  signs. 

SOIENTIFIO  THEBAPEimOS 

requires  a  knowledge  of  all  symptoms,  whether  external  or 
internal^  subjective  or  objective,  abnormal  structure,  abuor*- 
mal  function,  abnormal  sensation.  External  symptoms 
alone  will  not  suffice ;  attention  to  aches  and  pains,  aggra- 
vations and  ameliorations,  times  and  localities,  is  not 
enough ;  nor  should  we  be  content  with  an  investigation 
into  what  we  term  pathological  changes.    We  require  the 

"totality  of  the  symptoms," 

as  Hahnemann  termed  it,  and  nothing  less. 

Anything  short  of  this,  is  but  guess-work.  For  example, 
take  the  following  external  symptoms:  Quick  pulse,  in- 
ooreased  temperature,  dyspnoea,  stitches,  as  with  a  knife  in 
right  side  of  chest,  soreness  in  chest,  cough ;  mucus  sputa, 
with  streaks  of  blood.  These  are  among  the  external 
qnnptoms  of  pneumonia ;  and  these  are  symptoms  of  borax- 
But  how  many  cases  of  pneumonia  have  been  cured  by 
lorax  i  The  article  has  not  the  internal  as  well  as  the 
external  symptoms  of  pneumonia,  and  therefore  is  not 
therapeutically  correlated  to  that  disease,  although  a  super- 
ficial observer  might  think  so.  Or,  for  another  example, 
take  the  action  of  a  corrosive  poison.  The  brown  stains  on 
the  lips  and  mouth,  the  vomiting  of  shreds  of  disorganised 
mucus,  and  of  coffee- ground-looking  substances,  are  symp- 
toms of  the  chemical  effect  of  BuLph.  ac,  but  he  would  be 
very  unwise  who  would  attempt  to  cure  with  9ul/ph,  ac.,  a 
diseased  state  in  which  he  found  these  signs,  for  he  would 
not  be  regarding  the  totality  of  the  symptoms — ^those  which 
are  produced  by  the  drug  when  diluted,  and  which  are  not- 
dependent  on  chemical  action. 

It  is  the  boast  of  many  practitioners  of  our  school  that 
they  place  the  most  implicit  confidence  in  the  doctrines  and 

INSTBUCTIOKS   OF  HAHNEMANN. 

Let  us  enquire,  therefore,  what  were  the  views  of  this  great 
teacher  of  medicine  on  this  point.  *'  The  physician  must 
avail  himself  of  all  the  particulars  he  can  learn,  both  respect- 
ing the  probable  origin  of  the  acute  malady  and  the  most 
significant  points  in  the  history  of  the  chronic  disease,  to^ 


if96     PATHOLOaY  AKD  THBRAPEUTIC8.    ''l^i^SLif^. 

aid  him  in  the  discovery  of  their  fundamental  cause." 
Organon,  Sec.  6.  Sections  206,  207,  208,  209  of  the 
Organon  point  ont  the  necessity  for  an  elaborate  search  as 
to  the  cause  of  the  complaint,  as  to  any  preyioas  treatment, 
as  to  habits,  as  to  occupation,  regimen,  &c.,  in  tiauct  to 
everything  connected  with  the  patient  which  may  contribute 
towards  ^*  a  perfect  image  of  the  disease  '* — the  tout  ensemble 
of  the  symptoms. 

''  The  first  duty  of  the  physician  who  appreciates  the 
dignity  of  his  character  and  the  value  of  human  life  is  to 
inquire  into  the  whole  condition  of  the  patient,  the  cause 
of  the  disease,"  &c. — Chronic  Diseases,  p.  162. 

The  necessity  of  attention  to  the  cause  in  the  treatment 
of  disease  is  especially  pointed  out,  as  in  note  to  Sec.  7, 
Organon,  **It  is  taken  for  granted  that  every  in- 
telligent physician  will  commence  by  removing  this  causa 
occasioncdisJ'^ — Chronic  diseases,  he  tells  ns  in  section 
204,  ought  to  be  treated  by  remedies  appropriate  to  their 
originating  miasm.  On  this  subject,  in  the  work  on 
Chronic  Diseases  (p.  166),  he  speaks  of  a  number  of 
'accidents  which  may  interfere  wifli  treatment,  and  t^IIs 
how  these  accidents  are  to  be  met,  not  according  to 
symptoms,  but  to  the  cause.  "  Immoderate  eating — the 
effects  of  which  may  be  remedied  by  taking  thin  broth  and 
a  little  coff. ;  derangement  of  stomach  from  eating  ftt 
meat,  fasting  and  puis, ;  coldness  of  stomach,  consequent 
upon  eating  fruit,  arsen. ;  consequence  of  using  spirituous 
drinks,  nux ;  results  of  fright,  op. ;  chagrin  and  fright 
combined,  aeon, ;  contusions  and  wounds  from  blunt  sub- 
stances, am. ;  weakness  from  loss  of  blood  and  other 
fluids,  china** 

He  also  impresses  upon  us  the  fact  that  the  physical 
symptoms  are  not  a  sufficient  indication  of  the  remedy 
unless  the  mental  condition  corresponds.  As,  for  example, 
when  he  points  out  that  aeon,  seldom  or  never  effects  a 
permanent  cure  when  the  temper  of  the  patient  is  quiet 
and  even ;  or  nux  when  the  disposition  is  mild  and  phleg- 
matic ;  or  pals*  when  it  is  lively,  serene,  or  obstinate.— 
Note  to  Sec.  218,  Organon, 

But  why  go  into  details  ?  Hahnemann's  whole  theoiy 
of  chronic  diseases  involves  this  principle  of  treating  the 
CBxise  of  the  disease  as  well  as  the  symptoms. 

He  takes  care  to  assure  ns  that,  before  his  psoric  thec^y 
was  developed,  the  treatment  of  many  chronic  diseases  by 


jSBS^S?^^?^  pathowgy  and  thbbapbutics.    ^T; 

himsalf  and  his  disciplea  '^  was  carried  ou  b;  those  drags, 
the  pathogenetic  effects  of  which  upon  the  health  system^ 
corresponded  most  accurately  to  the  existing  symptoms^, 
and  had  power  to  remove  them  for  a  time  >  *  *  *  and 
in  this  way  a  sort  of  cure  was  effected."  But  the  remedies, 
were  insufficient  for  a  complete  cure,  despite  the  similarity 
of  the  symptoms  ;  not  being  anti-psoric8."-7-Note  to  p.  15, 
Chronic  Diseases. 

Other  medicines,  even  when  chosen  in  accordance  with, 
the  similarity  of  their  symptoms  to  those  of  the  disease, 
do  not  heal  the  abore-mentioned  chronic  diseases  as 
thoroughly  and  permanently  as  the  so-called  anti-psories. 
-^Note  to  p.  166.  The  medicine  suitable  for  a  psoria 
intermittent  differs  from  that  for  one  in  which  there  is  no 
psoric  taint. — Sec-  262,  Organon. 

In  psoric  diseases  we  are  told  to  **  cure  first  the  internal 
psoric  disease,  upon  the  principle  cessante  causa,  cessat 
pectus."— Page  127. 

For  those  chronic  affections  originating  in  syphilis,  it 
will  be  noticed  that  he  finds  all  the  indications  met  by  a 
Tory  few  remedies,  chiefiy  mere, ;  while  those  from  sycosis 
always  and  only  require  thuja. 

I  haye  quoted  thus  largely  in  order  to  give  full  effect  to 
the  author?l7  of  HahnetnaL^on  this  subjeS.  And  yet  we 
may  have  heard  of  a  few  practitioners  claimmg  to  be 

HAHNEUANKUNS  PAB  BXOBLIiENOE, 

who  assure  us  that  the  study  of  etiology  is  unimportant. 
Such  men,  Hahnemann  tells  us,  are  not  intelligent,  and 
do  not  appreciate  the  dignity  of  their  calling.  It  is 
noticeable,  however,  that  they  practically  contradict  them- 
selves when  they  prescribe  am,  in  chronic  disease  following 
ixyuries,  even  though  no  particular  symptoms  of  that  drug 
be  present;  or  mere,  when  there  is  a  syphilitic  taint;  or 
thuja  in  diseases  of  sycotic  origin. 

That  there  are  cases  where  the  simple  external  symp* 
toms  indicate  the  remedy  is  true.  But  when  called  to 
treat  a  disease,  we  cannot  be  certain  that  the  external 
symptoms  present  the  necessary  tfmt  ensemble  xmtil  we 
have  thoroughly  examined  the  case,  after  the  manner  of 
Hahnemann.  Consequently  it  follows  that  every  case 
should  be  so  examined,  and  that,  without  a  perfect  com- 
prehension of  the  entire  pathological  condition,  scientific 
therapeutics  is  an  impossibility. 


098  CLINICAL  OB8BBYATION8. 


Beffew,  OeL  1,  im. 


The  relation  of  pathology  to  therapentlbs  can  only  be 
^fined  by  a  correct  nse  of  words.  If,  when  we  speak  of 
pathological  conditions,  we  refer  only  to  internal  fonctional 
and  structural  abnormalities,  then  pathology  is  neither 
more  or  less  serviceable  to  therapeutics  than  what  is 
loosely  termed  symptomatology.  But  if  we  take  it  as 
picturing  the  totality  of  the  symptoms — external  and 
internal  cause  and  course  of  disease — ^then 

PATHOIiOaY  IS  INBISPENSABLE   TO   THEBAFBUTICS. 

The  physician  who  confines  his  investigation  to  the  mere 
external  characteristics  of  the  disease  is  as  far  from  a 
scientific  therapy  as  he  who  looks  only  for  oi^^anic  changes. 
To  dull  the  sensitive  nerve  with  narcotics,  to  open  the  con- 
stipated  bowel  with  cathartics,  to  moisten  the  parched  skin 
with  diaphoretics — ^this  is  but  symptom  treatment,  and  at 
best  can  only  be  palliatiye.  Curative  treatment  goes 
farther  back  to  the^bfu  et  origo  mali,  and  gives  the  remedy, 
whose  primary  action  on  the  cell  vmll,  as  indicated  by  the 
train  of  symptoms  it  produces  on  the  healthy  structure, 
corresponds  with  the  disease  for  which  a  cure  is  sought. 

CLINICAL   OBSERVATIONS.* 

A  RADICAL  CURE  WITH  KALI  BICHROMICUM. 

Bt  Db.  Pboell,  of  Nice  and  Oastein. 

(Translated  hy  B.  Lilibnthal,  M.p.,  from  AUgemeine  HomSopaikuehe 

Ziitung^ 

A  NoRTHEBN  lady,  twenty-six  years  old,  was  sent  by  her 
physician  to  Nice  on  account  of  her  throat  and  chest 
affections.  At  a  preceding  consultation  a  high  authority 
on  physical  diagnosis  had  said :  '^  Whether  she  goes  south 
or  not  consumption  will  soon  finish  her."  The  patient 
heard  of  it,  and  was  therefore  the  more  determined  to  try 
Nice.  From  her  father  she  inherited  excessive  nervosity, 
anxiety  at  the  least  ailment,  irritability,  and  tendency  to 
spasm,  and  was  of  a  tearful  disposition.  As  soon  as  she 
caught  cold,  and  this  happened  frequently,  coiyza  and 
cough  troubled  her  for  a  long  time.  Several  years  ago  she 
suffered  from  a  severe  acute  gastric  and  intestinal  catarrh 
with  ulcerations,  for  which  she  took  very  large  doses  of 
nitrate  of  ailver.     This  ulcerative  intestinal  catarrh  left 

*  Bepiinted  from  the  Haknemannian  Monthly. 


SSS^oTirSS^  CLINICAL  OBSEBVATIONS.  599 

lier  with  a  great  sensitiyeness  in  the  rectum  and  obstinate 
transient  rheumatio  pains,  also  a  dangerous  affection  of 
throat  and  chest. 

The  patient  is  a  blonde,  smaQ  figure,  steel-gray  eyes, 
ozygenoid  constitution;    of   gracile,  but  not  phthisicky 
habit;    hce  slightly  flushed;    nasal  mucous  membrane 
irritable,  either  dry  or  secretes  copiously  a  yellow  mucus ; 
eyes  now  healthy,  often  catarrh  in  the  comers ;   teeth  all 
destroyed  (mercurial  sequela),  so  that  she  wears  artificial 
teeth ;  tongue  clear  at  the  tip,  which  is  covered  with  red 
points,  the  root  of  it  covered  with  a  thick  yellow  coating ; 
mostly    great  dryness  of   the    mouth,   alternating    with 
salivation ;    gums  livid ;    mucous  membrane  of  posterior 
fiances    and    pharynx    covered    with    red    granulations, 
interlaced  with  white  streaks  and  reaching  down  to  the 
cesophagus.      These  white  lines  alternate  with  red  ones 
(strongly  injected  bloodvessels).    A  troublesome  sensation 
of  constant  irritation,  as  from  a  foreign  body  in  throat, 
sometimes  severe  burning  and  scratching ;  tonsils  and  soft 
palate  somewhat  reddened;    taste   sour,   often  metallic; 
appetite  good ;  great  thirst,  drinks  black  tea  thrice  a  day ; 
stomach  bloated,  with  sensitiveness',  ftdness,  and  pressure ; 
Tomits  sometimes ;  liver  and  spleen  normal,  the  region  of 
fhe  rectum  sensitive  to  pressure ;    urine  very  acid ;   stool 
mostly  very  hard  and  defecation  difficult  (water  injections 
cause  pains  and  spasms,  probably  unabsorbed  exudations 
from  the  time  of  ulcerations) ;  dysmenorrhcea ;  pulse  and 
skin  normal.    But  the  second  principal  seat  of  msease,  or 
rather  its  localisation,   appeal^  to  be  the  right  upper 
(anterior  and  posterior)  part  of  the  chest,  where  percussion 
gave  a  dull  sound,  especially  below  the  right  clavicle.    In 
the  apex  of  the  right  lung  weak  rattling  murmurs ;  the 
same  sjnnptoms  on  the  left  side,  only  weaker;    cough 
mostly  dry,  but  troublesome,  especially  in  the  morning 
after  dressing  and  late  in  the  evening;  sometimes  thick, 
iongh,  white  expectoration ;  sensation  of  heat  and  titilla- 
tion  in  the  larynx  before  coughing,  making  her  restless 
and  impatient. 

Three  months  in  Nice  did  not  improve  her  much,  though 
she  took  the  full  diet  and  was  very  careful  not  to  expose 
herself  unnecessarily.  As  the  climate  alone  had  failed  to 
be  of  much  benefit  it  was  necessaiy  to  try  other  means, 
and  as  I  considered  the  chief  focus  of  her  disease  to  be  the 
abdominal  mucous  membranes,    her  diet  was   more  re- 


000  CLINICAL    0B8EBYATI0HS.   ^'^mSS, 


•  ObLU 


rtiicted;  all  alcoholic  bereiagea  were  forbidden,  die  was 
adyised  to  take  nonrifihineiit  more  frequently  but  less  sfc 
oncey  and  to  five  especially  on  eggs  and  milk,  some  bread 
and  bntter,  and  once  a  day  rare  meat.  To  qoiet  her 
nenrona  irritability  and  tendency  to  spasms  she  todc 
ignatiay  fifth  centesimal  diliition,  three  times  a  day  thll^e 
drops,  with  good  effect.  Our  radical  remedy  was  kaH 
Ucnromicum,  fifth  cent.,  three  times  daily  (fiye  drops  in 
100  grammes  distilled  water),  ereiy  three  honrs  half  a  tea- 
spoonfdl).  After  two  weeks  slow  and  steady  amelioration 
the  tongne  cleared  np,  the  granulations  in  the  throat 
diminished  as  well  as  tiie  rhenma ;  features  brighter,  only 
the  congh  would  not  cease,  though  she  took  the  tenth  and 
thirtieth  potency  for  three  weeks.  A  more  thorough 
examination  revealed  an  old  habit  of  hers,  to  sponge  her 
chest  with  cold  water  ereiy  morning,  and  then  to  rob 
hard  in  order  to  bring  on  a  reaction.  I  forbade  this 
reactionaiy  process  on  account  of  ubi  irritate  ibi  €idjbijcns. 
She  kept  on  taking  twice  a  day  the  thirtieth  potency  of 
kali  bichromicum,  and  the  cough  left  her  and  she  returned 
hale  and  hearty  to  her  Northern  climate. 

NOTS  BY  DB.  LIUENTHAL. 

January  6th,  1880. — ^A  strong,  hearty  Irishman^  of  about 
thirty,  came  to  the  clinic  and  reported  that  during  the 
day  he  is  able  to  work  and  enjoys  his  breakfast  and  lunch, 
hut  for  the  last  three  years  he  has  a  complaint  for  which 
he  has  taken  a  great  many  remedies  without  any  benefit 
whatever.  He  takes  his  dinner  at  6  p.ii.,  and  about  three 
hours  afterwards  he  is  seized  with  waterbraah,  raises  phl^m 
continually,  vomits  whatever  food  remains  in  the  stomach, 
and  rarely  sleeps  before  midnight,  as  the  phlegm  chokes 
him;  has  cough,  bowels  rather  constipated,  stools  hard 
and  passed  with  some  exertion.  I  had  just  read  the  case 
of  Dr.  Proell,  and  studied  afresh  this  remedy.  He 
received  twelve  powders  kali  bickromicum,  thirtieth,  with 
directions  to  take  a  powder  morning  and  evening  and 
report. 

January  12th. — ^He  reports  alleviation  the  first  night» 
and  constant  and  steady  improvement  since.  He  can 
sleep  immediately  on  lying  down,  and  begs  for  some  mxM 
powders  in  case  the  trouhle  should  return.  Twelve 
powders  kali  bichromicum,  thirtieth,  were  given  with  orders 
to  take  a  powder  every  second  or  third  night,  according  to 
necessity. 


¥S^Jo^T^     HTOROPHOBINUM.  601 

HYDROPHOBINUM. 

By  E.   W.  Bebridoe,   M.D. 

(!)•  Provincial  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal.  yol.i.9p.l34* 

By  Mr.  P.  Bennett  Lucas. 

Case  of  a  Newfoundland  dog. 

The  dog  exhibited  a  heavy,  dull  expression,  restless,  walking 
continually  as  far  ad  his  chain  would  permit ;  it  would  raise 
its  head  in  an  unconscious  manner  when  spoken  to,  and 
when  not  roused  it  would  keep  it  prone  to  the  ground.  It 
was  every  now  and  then  gnawing,  not  snapping,  at  the 
straw^  wood,  earth,  &c.,  by  which  it  was  surrounded ;  it 
had  a  sullen  appearance,  and  was  perambulating  its  confines 
like  the  carnivorous  animals  in  a  menagerie. 

Post  mortem.  The  lining  mucous  membrane  of  the 
tongue  and  mouth  was  dry ;  that  part  of  it  covering  the 
fauces  was  highly  vascular.  The  papill®  of  the  tongue 
were  prominent,  particidarly  at  the  base  of  the  organ.  The 
pharynx  was  slightly  vascular,  the  cesophagus  pale^  the 
stomach  very  vascular  all  through;  the  duodenum  and 
large  intestines  were  also  very  vascular.  The  gall-bladder 
was  distended  with  bright  yellow  bile.  The  nares  were- 
highly  inflamed,  and  beneath  their  mucous  lining  mem- 
brane blood  was  extravasated  in  four  or  fiye  places,  in 
patches.  The  mucous  membrane  of  the  cartilages  of  the 
larynx,  particularly  of  the  arytenoid  cartilages,  was  highly 
vascular ;  below  the  cricoid  cartilage  the  mucous  membrane 
abruptly  assumed  its  natural  appearance,  and  continued  so 
to  the  bifurcation  of  the  trachea,  where  it  again  became 
intensely  red,  and  continued  in  this  condition  into  the 
bronchial  tubes  and  their  ramifications.  The  lungs  were 
highly  congested.  The  interior  of  the  right  kidney  pre* 
sented  no  traces  of  organisation,  but  contained  a  dark 
grumous  fluid;  the  left  was  healthy.  The  bladder  was 
firmly  contracted,  and  did  not  contain  a  drop  of  urine. 
Both  testicles  were  distended  with  semen,  and  their  ex- 
cretory ducts  were  beautifully  convoluted  and  distended 
with  semen.  The  pia  mater  of  brain  and  cord  was  very 
vascular.  The  ventricles  of  brain  contained  a  table-spoonful 
of  serum.  There  was  extravasation  of  blood  beneath  the 
right  conjxmctiva.  The  left  conjunctiva  was  one  sheet  of  red 
from  vascularity,  without  any  extravasation.  The  stomach, 
contained  straw,  chips  of  wood,  dog's  meat  and  earth."^  AL 

No.  10,  YoL  25.  2  b 


•   ( 


602 HYDBOPHOBINUM.        ^'tS&^oSTSS. 

dark  tarry  substance  adhered  to  the  dnodennm  and  to  the 
upper  part  of  the  jejannm ;  tiie  flenm  was  empty ;  the  colon 
and  rectom  were  filled  with  a  tarry  snbstance  similar  to 
that  found  in  the  small  intestines. 

Ca^eofa  boy. 

Post  mortem.  Intense*  of  the  mucous  membrane  cover- 
ing the  rima  glottidis  and  upper  extremity  of  the  larynx,  and 
also  at  the  bifurcation  of  ^e  trachea ;  the  portion  of  the 
trachea  between  these  two  points  being  perfectly  healthy. 
The  stomach  was  very  vascular.  The  urinary  bladder  was 
intensely  contracted. 

(2) .  Provindci  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal,  YoL  i.,  p.  44. 

M.  Breschat's  report,  read  before  the  Academy  of  Sciences, 

Paris,  September  21st. 

A  dog  inoculated  with  the  poison  was  seized  with  furious 
rabies  on  the  S8th  day.  In  general  it  appears  from  the 
20th  to  80th  day  after  the  bite,  but  sometimes  after  three 
months.  In  a  few  cases  aversion  to  water  is  absent.  An 
electric  current  passed  through  the  wound  of  inoculation  by 
means  of  a  metallic  wire  connected  unih  one  pole  of  a 
galvanic  pile  in  a/ction,  the  other  end  of  the  wire  being  ui 
contact  with  some  other  part  of  the  animal^  dissipates  aU 
the  symptoms. 

[Apparently  &om  the  report  this  occurred  in  birds,  in 
wmch  death  followed  inoculation  without  the  usual  symp- 
toms of  rabies.  The  experiment  was  first  performed  by 
M.  Pravaz.— E.  W.  B.l 

The  post  mortem  appearances  are  as  follows :  The  isthmus 
of  the  throat,  the  velum  palati,  the  pharynx  and  oesophagus, 
were  sometimes  found  of  a  rosaceous  tint,  but  more  often 
of  an  intense  red,  bordering  on  violet.  A  irot)iy  secretion, 
similar  to  that  of  the  respiratory  organs,  covered  aU  these 
surfiices,  and  descended  to  the  origin  of  the  (Bsophagus. 
The  distension  of  the  capillary  vessels  of  the  lungs  widi 
black  blood  was  very  marked.  The  vascular  network  of  the 
pia  mater,  of  the  circumference  of  the  brain,  of  the  inter- 
lobular intervals,  has  been  frequently  found  injected.  The 
cellular  tissue  of  the  pia  mater  has  been  found  distended 
with  a  sero-gelatiniform  matter,  chiefly  over  the  course  of 
the  principal  arteries.     The  lungs  are  always  more  or  less 

[*  Note. — ^A  wozd  is  here  omitted  in  my  MS.  which  I  am  at  preseok 
imable  to  supply.— E.  W.  B.] 


^SS^oSST^SS^        HYDBOMOBIKUM, 608 

injected ;  one  of  the  most  frequent  alterations  is  that  of  the 
mncons  membrane  of  the  air-passages,  which  consists  of  a 
red  tint,  sometimes  violaceous,  and  verging  to  brown  in 
the  bronchiflB,  and  occasionally  in  the  trachea.  Emphy- 
sema of  the  cervical  region,  and  especially  of  the  lung,  has 
been  often  remarked.  The  trachea,  bronchisB,  posterior 
fiauoes,  and  pharynx,  contain  the  frothy  secretion  in 
abundance. 

(8)  ProvintAal  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal.  Vol.1.,  p.  196. 

By  Dr.  W.  V.  Pettiobjbw. 

1.  J.  P.,  aged  47.  Po$t  mortem  after  20  hours.  The 
body  seemed  more  rigid  than  usual,  and  a  very  dark 
appearance  of  the  muscles  was  observable  through  the  skin. 
Upon  the  skin  being  raised,  every  muscle  of  the  body 
appeared  of  the  deepest  crimson,  and  overcharged  with 
blood,  and  most  of  the  viscera — ^the  liver,  spleen,  lungs, 
and  kidneys  were  of  the  same  color  and  condition.  With 
the  exception  of  some  coagula  in  the  ventricles,  the  blood 
was  uncoagulated  in  every  part  of  the  body,  and  in  the 
larger  arteries  was  found  staining  their  inner  surfaces. 
The  arm  being  examined,  a  point  of  discolouration  resem- 
bling the  ecchymosis  resulting  from  a  leech-bite  was 
observable  under  the  skin  on  the  left  thumb.  From  this 
•evidence  of  the  bite  of  the  cat,  the  nerves  were  traced  up 
ihe  arm  to  the  axilla,  and  found  to  be  quite  healthy  in 
appearance;  a  small  twig  under  one  of  the  discoloured 
points  was  thotight  to  be  greatly  reddened,  but  it  could 
hardly  be  considered  as  evidence  of  the  inflammation  of 
the  part.  The  dura  mater  had  strong  adhesions  to  the 
calvarium,  and  the  membrane  showed  more  than  usual 
vascularity.  Between  the  tunica  arachnoides  and  the  pia 
mcUer  there  was  some  effusion,  and  minute  portions  of 
coagulable  lymph  were  floating  in  it.  In  certain  parts  the 
tunica  arachnoides  was  opaque;  the  vessels  of  the  pia  mater 
were  full  of  blood :  upon  cutting  into  the  hemispheres  of 
the  brain  the  vessels  were  more  conspicuous  than  usual, 
the  bloody  points  appearing  very  numerous.  The  lateral 
ventricles  contained  about  8^  ozs.  of  fluid,  and  the  sub- 
stance of  the  brain  was  in  general  of  a  soft  consistence. 
At  the  base  of  the  brain,  the  investing  membranes  over  the 
pone  varolii  and  the  medulla  oblongata  were  highly  injected, 
and  bright  red ;  they  adhered  with  great  firmness  to  the 
parts  they  immediately  covered,  but  these  parts  when  cut 

2  B  -2 


604  HTDBOPHOBINUH.         ^'"^^^JF^ST!^ 


Bericw,  Oct.  1. 18BL 


into  were  quite  healthy.    The  membranes  inyeeting  the 
origins  of  the  8th  and  9th  pairs  of  nerves  were  gorged  with 
blood.     The  vessels  of  the  spinal  oord  seemed  foUer  than 
ordinary.     The  papilhe  of  the  tongne  were  much  enlarged. 
The  mucons  membrane  covering  the  fnenum  was  healthy, 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  gltmdolar  enlargements :  the 
npper  part  of  pharynx  slighUy  inflamed ;  the  OBSophagos 
presented  several  white  seed-like  glandular  enlargements, 
and  was  bluish.     The  stomach  contained  a  little  macns ; 
it  was  considerably  inflamed  near  the  cardiac  extremitj, 
and  at  the  lower  part  of  the  smaller  end  the  surface  was 
abraded,  the  vessels  being  distinctly  visible,  ramifying 
minutely  at  this  spot.     The  duodenum  was  strongly  tinged 
with    bile,   and    slightly  inflamed.      The   jejunum  was 
inflamed.   The  gall-bladder  was  full,  and  its  ducts  pervioaq, 
The  spleen  was  enlarged  and  gorged  with  blood.    The 
kidneys  were  more  than  usually  injected  with  blood,  and 
vessels  were  observed  ramifying  on  their  pelvis.     The 
bladder  was  found  strongly  contracted.     The  trachea  was 
inflamed,  particularly  between  the  rings ;  a  similar  condi- 
tion existed  in  the  bronchisB  and  their  termination.    The 
pleura  was  healthy,  but  contained  a  pint  of  fluid.    The 
lungs  were  gorged  with  serum,  and  blood,   and  sputa. 
The  substance  of  the  heart  was  softer  than  natural,  and 
the  right  side  contained  several  coagula ;  the  left  aoricle 
was  of  a  deeper  colour  than  the  right ;  the  aorta  was  of  an 
uniformly  high  red  colour,  which  increased  in  depth  as  it 
approached  nearer  the  heart,  and  the  pulmonary  artery  of 
a  deeper  hue ;  but  this  appearance  of  the  arteries  seemed 
due  to  post'Tnortem  staining  by  the  fluid  blood. 

2.  G.  G.,  aged  18.  Post  mortem  in  20  minutes  [?  boms' 
— ^E.  W.  B.]    The  external  surface  where  the  muscles  wew 
in  greatest  bulk  was  rather  darker  than  usual.    It  was  par- 
ticularly observed  in  the  calf.      On  cutting  into  these 
muscles,  they  were  all  found  to  be  full  of  blood,  and  much 
darker  than  usual.     The  dura  mater  adhered  with  great 
firmness  to  the  skull.      The  longitudinal  sinuses  were 
empty ;  a  small  quantity  of  blood  was  seen  in  a  fluid  state 
in  some  of  the  lai*ge  veins  leading  to  the  sinuses.    The 
hemispheres  of  the  brain  had  a  mil%- white  appearance  od 
the  removal  of  the  dura  mater,  and  this  was  observed  to  be 
greatest  in  the  intergyral  spaces  between  the  convolutions; 
the  general  milkiness  of  the  membranes  disappeared  in 
some  degree  upon  exposure  to  air.    The  membranes  were 


l£!SgS^<5T3if^        HTOBOPHOBINUM. 605 

much  less  injected  with  blood  than  could  be  expected.  The 
snbBtance  of  the  brain  was  very  firm^  and  less  yascnlar  than 
ordinary ;  there  were  fewer  bloody  points  from  division  of 
yessels  than  nsnal.  Between  two  and  three  drachms  of 
flnid,  not  bloody,  were  found  in  the  ventricles.  The  plexus 
choroides  was  turgid  with  venous  blood,  and  the  vessels  in 
the  left  ventricles  were  much  fuller  than  these  of  the  right. 
The  pineal  gland  contained  no  sabulous  matter,  but  was 
very  tough  in  its  substance,  and  did  not  break  down  under 
the  pressure  of  the  fingers  as  usual.  The  greatest  vascu- 
larity observed  throughout  the  brain  was  of  the  pia  mater 
over  the  pons  varolii  and  medulla  oblongata.  Here  the 
vessels  were  highly  injected  with  arterial  blood,  particularly 
on  the  right  side,  and  they  were  very  strongly  adherent  to 
the  parts  beneath.  The  membranes  over  the  optic  nerves 
and  the  crura  cerebri  were  also  very  vascular.  The  absence 
of  vascularity  in  the  brain  generally  was  remarkable,  and 
not  a  drop  of  fluid  was  found  at  the  base.  The  lateral 
sinuses,  like  the  longitudinal,  were  empty.  The  muscles 
of  the  neck  were  dark,  and  fuller  of  blood  than  usual.  The 
papillsB  of  tongue  were  very  large;  particularly  at  the  root. 
Tonsils  much  enlarged,  but  not  vascular.  There  was  slight 
redness  at  the  bifurcation  of  trachea.  The  inner  surfaces 
of  larynx  and  trachea  were  smeared  with  a  dark  fluid,  which 
appeared  to  be  a  portion  of  a  dark  bilious  fluid,  a  small 
quantity  of  which  was  found  in  the  stomach,  and  of  which 
a  considerable  quantity  had  been  vomited,  prior  to  death. 
The  lungs  contained  an  unusually  small  quantity  of  blood. 
The  pericardium  contained  about  |  oz.  of  a  light  straw- 
ooloured  fluid.  The  left  ventricle  was  empty,  firm,  and 
thick ;  and  its  substance  of  a  dark  colour ;  the  right  ventricle 
had  some  small  portions  of  coagula.  The  gall-bladder  was 
distended  with  bile,  perfectly  black.  The  stomach  was  very 
much  contracted,  and  on  opening  it,  it  was  found  to  contain 
About  4  oz.  of  a  greenish  fluid.  The  rugce  were  very  strongly 
marked,  and  the  glands  about  the  cardia  and  pylorus  un- 
usually  conspicuous,  and  contained  a  whitish  deposit,  giving 
them  a  strumous  appearance.  The  mesenteric  glands  were 
much  enlarged,  and  the  pancreas  was  more  firm  than  usual. 
Slight  redness  towards  the  pylorus*  Intestines  were  dis- 
tended with  air,  and  looked  very  dry.  The  whole  of  the 
descending  colon  and  rectum  were  powerfully  contracted ; 
there  was  also  a  contraction  in  the  centre  of  the  transverse 
arch  of  the  colon.    The  urinary  bladder  was  very  firmly 


606  HTDBOPHOBIHUM.      ''aSSv^oSlZ 

eontraeted,  and  as  hatd  to  the  fed  as  a  dense  fleshy  mass; 
the  mnscnlar  fibres  were  obserraUe  through  the  peritonaal 
GOTering  firmly  contracted.    The  penis  was  in  a  stale  of 
tension  that  might  be  considered  semi-priapism. 
The  bite  in  this  case  was  on  the  right  pidrn* 

(4)  Provincial  Medical  and  Surgical  JovmaL  YoL  L,  p.  227* 

By  Mr.  Jok&than  Toooood. 

A  BOYy  aged  12,  was  bitten  slightly  nnder  the  left  eye  by  a 
dog.  Angast  Slst,  about  six  weeks  after  the  bite,  he  ML 
indisposed,  and  refused  to  take  his  supper,  but  was  per- 
suaded to  drink  some  warm  cyder.  On  getting  into  bed 
he  shuddered  considerably.  On  the  morning  of  September 
1st  he  refused  to  take  his  tea,  though  he  complained  of 
thirst,  and  stated  his  surprise  that  he  could  not  swallow. 
He  took,  howeyer,  a  little  bread  and  butter.  About  noon 
on  this  day  he  was  found  to  be  afiected  with  sli^^t 
headache,  slight  sickness  at  stomach,  and  a  spasmodic 
convulsiye  affection  of  the  muscles  of  the  throat.  The 
countenance  was  anxious,  the  tongue  white,  the  pulse 
firequent,  and  the  skin  hot.  On  offering  him  a  glass  of 
water  he  was  seized  with  a  Yiolent  couTulsion  of  the  face, 
head,  throat,  and  trunk  of  the  body  whilst  attempting  to 
bring  the  gkss  to  his  lips.  After  repeated  attempts  to 
swallow,  each  of  which  was  attended  with  a  degree  of 
shuddering  and  horror,  he  succeeded  at  length  in  taking  a 
spoonfdl  into  his  mouth,  but  was  immediately  seized  with 
a  spasmodic  affection  of  the  throat,  threatening  suffocation. 
He  took  3  grains  of  tartar  emetic,  which  caused  yomiting 
and  purging.  In  the  afternoon  all  the  symptoms  were 
increased.  The  spasms  were  induced  by  slight  causes, 
such  as  an  agitation  of  the  bed-clothes.  The  pulse  was 
110,  and  there  was  much  thirst.  On  September  2nd,  at 
10  a.m.,  the  boy  was  found  sitting  up  in  bed,  the 
countenance  flushed  and  the  skin  hot.  The  sight  of  the 
water,  of  the  spoon  by  means  of  which  it  was  intended  to 
inspect  the  &uces,  a  draught  of  air,  the  rapid  motion  of 
any  object  near  the  face,  the  opening  of  the  window — all 
induced  immediate  spasmodic  catching  motions  of  the 
&ce,  neck,  and  arms,  and  a  sort  of  swinging  movement  of 
the  trunk  of  the  body.  Occasionally  these  convulsive 
movements  took  place  spontaneously,  without  any  f^parent 
external  cause.      Articulation  was  sometimes  easy  and 


Bg^TJiff^        HTOBOPHOBCTXTM, 607 

distinety  bni  sometixnes  difficnlt,  agitated,  htimed,  with 
hesitatiozi  and  a  spasmodic  effort*  The  countenance 
denoted  great  anxiety.  The  patient  always  sat  up  in  bed. 
The  tongue  was  protruded  easily  and  was  whitish.  Pulse 
120.  !l^morrhage  from  the  nose  had  occurred.  SO  os. 
of  blood  were  taken  from  the  arm.  About  5  p.m.  every 
symptom  appeared  in  an  aggravated  form.  The  coun- 
tenance was  suffused,  except  about  the  nose  and  upper  lip, 
which  were  pretematurally  white ;  the  eyes  started  and 
were  glossy  [?  glassy — ^E.W.B.].  There  was  an  ex- 
pression of  anxiety,  amounting  to  agony.  A  quantity  of 
mucus  and  saliva  now  collected  constantly  in  the  fauces 
and  on  the  tongue,  which  he  protruded  out  of  the  mouth 
in  a  hurried  manner,  and  seemed  anxious  and  impatient  to 
have  removed  (sic).  The  sight  of  this  frothy  fluid  seemed 
indeed  to  aggravate  all  his  sufferings,  and  he  requested 
repeatedly,  in  an  eager  and  impatient  manner,  to 
have  it  removed  by  means  of  a  handkerchief.  This  he 
sometimes  did  himself  too,  with  the  same  impatience,  until 
at  length  the  lips  presented  an  abraded  surface.  The  body^ 
arms,  &c.,  were  now  almost  constantly  affected  with  strong 
spasmodic  affections ;  sometimes  he  requested  to  be  held 
still.  The  respiration  became  frequent;  the  hands  and 
feet  were  cold  and  clammy ;  pulse  160,  and  small.  At 
this  time  he  attempted  to  get  out  of  bed  to  go  to  stool,  in 
doing  which  the  motions  of  the  body  and  limbs  were  rapid, 
hurried,  convulsive,  and,  apparently,  little  under  his 
control.  The  sight  of  water,  &c.,  stiU  induced  the  same 
painful  effects  as  before.  There  were  occasionally  moments 
of  delirium,  but  in  general  he  was  rational  and  sensible  to 
external  objects,  and  recognised  the  bystanders.  He  had 
been  occasionally  much  exasperated  at  his  mother,  whom 
he  had  hurt  on  the  hand,  by  the  finger  nail ;  in  general  he 
manifested  no  disposition  to  hurt  or  bite  anyone.  About 
8  p.m.  the  countenance  appeared  fallen,  the  surface  was 
cold,  the  pulse  imperceptible.  There  were  stiU  constant 
but  feeble  spasms,  and  still  the  protrusion  of  frothy  mucus 
from  the  mouth.  There  was  at  this  time  a  constant 
muttering  dehrium;  the  voice  had  become  inarticulate. 
Soon  afterwards  he  assumed  the  supine  recumbent  posture, 
the  spasms  became  still  feebler  and  smaller,  and  confined 
to  the  mouth,  throat,  and  neck ;  the  eyes  were  opened  and 
unfixed,  the  pupils  throughout  the  disease  were  unusually 
dilated.    In  this  state  of  debility  and  feeble  spasmodic 


606 HYDBOPHOBIHUM.       ''igS^^gg^Tm! 

agitation  he  remaiiied  for  a  short  time,  and  died  48  hours 
a^T  the  first  symptoms. 

During  the  attack  the  boy  complained  of  pain  in  the 
region  of  the  bite. 

(5)   Provincial  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal,  1842. 

Vol.  8.,  p.  442. 

Extraots  from  Bulletin  Therapeutique. 

A  man,  who  had  been  bitten  by  a  mad  dog,  was  seized 
with  rabies  twelve  months  afterwards.  He  was  bled  to  32 
ozs.y  and  took  large  doses  of  opium  daring  24  hoars,  which 
only  made  him  stupid.  The  veratrum  cevadiUa  was  given 
in  doses  of  12  grs.  at  9  a.m.  The  sense  of  heat  and 
burning  in  stomach  was  increased ;  16  ozs.  of  blood  were 
taken  by  cupping  from  behind  the  ears.  At  1  p.m.  he 
complained  of  weakness,  constriction,  and  burning  heat 
about  the  throat,  and  difficulty  of  breathing ;  at  8  p.m.  he 
had  another  attack  of  suffocation;  at  10  p.m.  he  was 
tranquil,  and  slept  for  three  hours,  and  was  able  to  drink 
some  fluid ;  he  complained  less  of  the  epigastrium  and 
throat.     He  recovered. 

(6)  Lancet,  1864.    Vol.  1.,  p.  26. 

By  the  Liverpool  Correspondent  of  the  Lancet. 

A  boy,  aged  16,  was  bitten  over  the  eye  by  a  dog.  Five 
weeks  after,  on  December  12th,  he  complained  of  having 
felt  ill  all  day,  and  that  the  side  of  the  £ace  where  he  had 
been  bitten  was  numb  and  hot.  That  night  he  had  great 
difficulty  of  breathing,  and  felt  as  if  he  should  choke.  The 
symptoms  which  followed  were  characteristic: — a  succession 
of  fits,  during  which  he  barked  like  a  dog  and  foamed  at 
the  mouth.  In  the  intervals  he  was  sensible^  and  always 
on  returning  to  consciousness,  anxiously  enquired  of  his 
mother  if  he  had  bitten  her,  as  he  thought  all  the  time  he 
was  in  the  fit  he  was  worrying  her.  He  could  neither  bear 
the  door  to  be  opened  nor  ihe  sight  of  water.  The  fits 
succeeded  each  other  more  rapidly,  and  he  died. 

(7)  Lancet,  1864.    Vol.  1.,  p.  607. 

From  the  Liverpool  Correspondent  of  the  Lancet. 

A  man,  aged  40,  was  bitten  close  to  the  wrist  in  October. 
On  April  18th,  nearly  six  months  after,  he  did  not  feel  well, 
and  on  19th  was  admitted  into  the  Southern  Hospital  with 


^S^J^STSS!^      HTPBOPHOBIHUH, 609 

sll  the  B^pioma  of  hydrophobia.  The  inhaktion  of 
chloroform  oansed  ticdent  spasms*  At  7  p.m.  the  thirst 
and  desire  to  clear  the  throat  had  become  greater.  At  10 
p.m.  the  thirst  and  constriction  about  the  tiiroat  were  more 
intense.  He  died  about  86  hours  from  the  commencement 
of  the  attack. 

(8)  Lancet,  1864.    Vol.  1.,  p.  733. 

From  the  Liverpool  Correspondent  of  the  Lancet. 

Two  other  fatal  cases  reported.  The  cases  were  charac- 
terised by  a  peculiar  susceptibility  about  the  pharynx  and 
Tipper  part  of  windpipe,  which,  as  it  increases,  gives  rise  to 
constant  efforts  to  clear  the  throat,  and  in  doing  so  to  the 
peculiar  noises  which  are  sometimes  heard. 

(9)  London  Medical  Gazette,  1837-8.    Vol.  1.,  p.  73. 

By  Mr.  Fbedebick  Chableb  Jomss. 

About  five  weeks  ago,  E.  L.,  aged  26,  was  bitten  by  a 
dog  in  the  cheek  and  upper  lip  ;  the  wound  on  the  lip  was 
immediately  excised.  On  September  28rd,  in  the  evening, 
after  drinking  two  or  three  pots  of  beer  (his  habits  are 
temperate),  he  was  seized  with  a  fit  of  vomiting,  and 
loathed  the  sight  of  meat. 

September  24th.  Was  very  unwell  all  day,  and  in  the 
afternoon  feU  into  a  deep  sleep,  from  which  there  was 
fiome  difficulty  in  waking  him.  No  spasms,  but  had  a 
restless  night. 

September  25th.  In  the  morning  spasms  took  place, 
and  he  grew  worse.    No  stool. 

September  26th.  Was  taken  into  hospital  at  9  a.m. 
At  9.46  a.m.  a  turpentine  enema  was  given,  the  greater 
part  of  which  was  retained.  At  10.15  a.m.  his  pulse  was 
soft,  slow,  and  irr^ular ;  feeling  of  great  lassitude ;  could 
drink  no  water,  but  took  a  tablespoonful  of  milk ;  sense  of 
constriction  of  the  throat ;  voice  feeble,  and  when 
speaking  it  resembles  a  loud  whisper;  skin  moderately 
warm,  extremities,  cold;  pupils  dilated;  countenance 
anxious.  On  the  approach  of  anyone  a  slight  spasm  takes 
place,  and  he  appears  as  if  being  choked.  At  noon 
symptoms  were  much  aggravated  ;  tongue  slighted  coated, 
but  moist :  breath  of  an  acid  odour ;  every  two  or  three 
minutes  was  seized  with  spasms,  characterised  by  violent 
and  gasping  efforts  at  respiration.  A  high  degree  of 
nervous  irritability  was  apparent,  and  was  increased  by*  the 


610  KlBBOnKHURlllff.      ^^^SSL^OBti^nau 

presanoe  of  Tintors,  and  0101  by  Eght,  so  thai  he  kept  his 
Mod  timed  from  the  wmdowB  and  hia  eyes  cloeed. 
Carbonate  of  irtm  waa  ordBred,  and  the  spine  nibbed  with 
camihaTide$,  followed  by  a  belladonna  plaster.  While 
theae  preparattona  were  being  made  the  spasms  became 
more  frequent,  and  were  excited  by  the  most  triTial  eaoaes, 
snch  as  opening  a  door,  the  moTement  of  a  person  about 
the  room,  &c.,  owing  probably  to  the  vibration  of  the  air 
upon  the  face.  Even  flies  seemed  to  canse  him  much 
annoyance.  Abont  2.30  p.m.  he  slept  for  three-qiiarters 
of  an  hour.  At  5  p.m.  he  complained  of  great  prostra- 
tion of  strength ;  the  spasms  were  greatly  increased  in 
intensity;  tongne  moist;  poke  54,  irregular  and  inter* 
mittent ;  sMn  rath^  warm ;  no  pain  in  the  lip,  but  had 
the  sensation  of  a  baU  rising  in  the  throat ;  when  he  spoke 
it  was  with  great  exertion,  and  like  a  man  out  of  breath ; 
quite  sensible ;  has  passed  rather  high-coloured  urine 
Uiree  or  four  times.  At  7  p.m.,  getting  rather  more  rest- 
less ;  pulse  84,  sharp ;  tongue  dry ;  mouth  parched  ;  skin 
hot,  but  no  sweat*  Once,  when  taking  the  bolus  of  iron, 
he  experienced  great  difficulty  in  swallowing,  in  eonse* 
quence  of  the  flatus  meeting  the  substance  passing  into 
Ihe  oesophagus.  Pulse,  while  I  was  writing  the  aboTO,. 
sunk  to  64.  He  appeared  very  much  conrulsed,  and  could 
not  bear  anyone  to  stand  before  him,  but  did  not  mind  my 
standing  at  his  back.  At  10  p.m.  he  was  more  conyulsed* 
Gave  8  grains  of  chloride  of  morphia  every  thirty  minutes^ 
and  the  cantharide$  and  belladonna  applied  also  to  the 
chest  and  region  of  diaphragm ;  pulse  64,  but  rather  fulL 
He  was  more  restless ;  could  not  bear  to  have  the  candle 
brought  into  the  room  ;  his  voice,  however,  was  more 
natural,  and  there  was  no  rigidity  of  the  muscles.  His 
cries  were  loud  and  frequent,  and  he  did  not  like  anyone 
but  his  wife  to  come  near  him. 

September  27th. — ^Has  been  restless,  but  quieted  by  the 
morphia.  At  6  a.m. :  Has  passed  a  quiet  night  on  the 
whole,  crying  out,  however,  at  intervals.  Pulse  68 ;  said 
fdt  better,  but  rather  sick.  Asked  for  a  cupful  of  milk,  but 
swallowed  with  difficulty.  No  stool  since  admission  into 
hospital  [possibly  the  eflbct  of  the  morphia. — ^E.  W.  B.] 
At  7  a.m.  getting  more  restless ;  pulse  80 ;  tongue  dry  and 
fdrred ;  urinated  freely ;  skin  hot ;  but  no  sweat ;  felt  no 
pain,  only  a  weakness  at  heart.  At  8  a.m.  asked  for  some 
water ;  took  2  oa.,  but  immediately  jumped  up  in  bed  and 


aSS^SntSn!'^  HYDBOPHOBINUM.  611 

appeared  choking.  Papila  contiacted  [?  effect  of  morphia^ 
— -E.  W.  B.J  ;  spasms  more  yiolent.  At  10  a.m.  was  leerj 
Tiolent ;  when  Dr.  B.  entered  the  room,  jumped  oat  of  bed. 
in  a  frantic  manner,  but  apparently  without  any  definite 
object.  No  persoasion  could  induce  him  to  return,  till  at 
length  he  promised  to  do  so  if  left  alone.  The  experiment 
was  tried,  but  no  sooner  had  all  parties  retired  than  he 
bolted  the  door,  made  a  rush  at  the  high  wooden  railing 
which  separated  him  from  the  windows,  and  before  an 
entrance  through  another  door  could  be  obtained,  thrust 
through  two  squares  of  glass  oyer  the  railing  which  he  had 
forcibly  torn  away.  EUs  wife  succeeded  iUr  inducing  hint 
to  return  to  bed.  His  limbs  were  now  secured ;  the  con- 
finement excited  him  much  at  first,  but  he  gradually  became^ 
reconciled  to  it.  He  was  particularly  anxious,  however, 
that  only  one  person  should  enter  his  room  at  a  time.  At 
11  a.m.  tongue  was  parched,  skin  moist ;  pulse  86.  Has- 
had  no  stooL  Hallooed  out  yery  loudly  in  a  deep  hoarse 
▼oice;  after  each  paroxysm  he  became  very  low;  his 
countenance  was  expressive  of  great  anxiety,  and  his 
manner  extremely  irritable.  He  was  decidedly  much  worse. 
At  12.80  p.m.,  stiU  keeps  crying  out,  and  asks  for  milk,, 
but  cannot  bear  the  sight  of  the  cup,  which  he  directs  to  be 
kept  under  the  bed.  The  fluid  makes  him  sick,  or  rather 
is  forcibly  ejected  from  his  gullet.  Morphia  has  been  con- 
tinued. Skin  moist.  Voice  is  becoming  thicker,  the 
breathing  more  laborious,  and  the  feeling  of  oppression 
much  increased.  The  pulse  140  after  the  paroxysms,  but 
he  expresses  no  more  horror  at  liquids  than  of  anything 
else  he  is  requested  to  swallow.  He  bit  a  piece  out  of  an 
apple,  but  was  unable  to  masticate  it.  At  1.46  p.m.  the 
angles  of  his  mouth  were  continually  elevated  and  depressed ; 
eructation,  accompanied  by  a  noise  slightly  resembling  the* 
howl  of  a  dog ;  very  much  convulsed ;  face  very  livid ;  eyes 
have  an  upturned  expression ;  breathing  about  eight  times- 
a  minute ;  pulse  180,  small ;  contraction  of  the  occipito- 
frontalis  muscle ;  chest  heaving ;  breathing  veiy  laborious ; 
changing  rapidly  for  the  worse.  The  tobacco  enema  cannot 
be  administered  on  account  of  his  violent  spasmodic  move- 
ments. Pulse  hardly  perceptible.  Appears  perfectly  un- 
conscious of  what  is  taking  place,  but  seems  to  have  some 
idea  of  a  pleasing  nature,  for  now  and  then  the  countenance^ 
assumes  a  serene  smile,  evidently  not  due  to  convulsive 
contractioii.    Pupils  strongly  contractsed,  and  insensible  to* 


^12  UEVUSWS. 


OdLUUBL 


light ;  conjnnctiTa  much  injected.  At  2  p.m.,  pnlae  195 ; 
twitching  at  the  bed-clothes,  and  polling  his  neck  about 
Teiy  mnch.  All  the  bad  symptoms  much  worse.  From 
this  time  till  his  death  at  8.20  p.m.,  his  pnlse  was  con- 
tinnally  yarying.  He  died  comatose,  and  immediately  after 
his  death  his  papils  were  observed  to  be  Tory  mnch  dilated. 
No  blood  conld  be  obtained  from  the  arm  after  death  at 
first ;  but  in  half  an  hoar  tome  serum  flowed,  followed  in 
three  or  four  honrs  by  much  blood. 


REVIEWS. 

TrafuaeUotu  of  The  World^t  HcnuBopaikk  Convention^  1876. 
Two  Tols.    PhDadelpbia :  Shennan  k  Co.     1881. 

^Fhese  two  splendid  yolmnes,  containing  1,100  pages  each,  come 
to  ns  seyeral  years  later  than  was  originaUy  anticipated — a  resnlt 
dne  to  the  death,  very  soon  after  the  proceedings  oi  the  Conven- 
tion  terminated,  of  its  widely  esteemed  president,  Ganrofl 
Dunham,  and  the  prolonged  illness  of  the  secretary,  Dr. 
M*Clatchey.  Hence,  the  work  of  editing  has  been  done  by 
Dr.  Joseph  Guernsey.  It  has  been  a  work  of  great  labour,  and 
the  excellent  way  in  which  it  has  been  performed  is  ample 
•evidence  of  the  devotion  of  the  editor. 

To  review  a  book  of  this  character  is  scarcely  possible.  We 
•can  bat  barely  describe  its  contents. 

The  first  volume,  after  sundry  details  of  a  purely  business 
character,  opens  with  the  eloquent  address  of  the  president. 
Then  follow  papers  on  Materia  Medics,  including  one  by  Dr. 
Sharp,  of  Rugby,  on  the  Foundations  and  Boundaries  of  Modem 
Therapeutics;  A  Memoir  on  Arnica,  by  Dr.  Gourbeyre;  an 
Essay  on  Apis  Meilifica,  by  Dr.  Goullon,  Junr.  ;  one  on 
Mezerenm,  by  Dr.  Gerstel ;  on  Hydrocyanic  Acid  in  Epilepsy, 
by  Dr.  Hughes ;  on  Curare,  by  Dr.  Pitet ;  and  others  on  general 
topics  connected  with  the  subject  of  Materia  Medica,  by  Dr. 
Pdilicer  y  Frutos,  Dr.  David  Wilson,  Dr.  Navarro,  and  Dr. 
Conrad  Wesselhoeft.  Next,  we  have  full  reports  of  the  discussions, 
in  which  Dr.  Sharp's  paper  is  especially  assailed  by  Dr.  Lippe 
4Uid  Dr.  Farrington.  The  speeches  in  discussion  are  really 
additional  essays  on  the  questions  taken  up  in  the  original 
papers. 

In  the  department  of  Clinical  Medicine,  several  valuable  essays 
appear,  while  the  discussions  on  pneumonia  and  diphtheria  are 
especially  interesting. 

The  department  of  Surgery  is,  as  might  be  expected  from  a 
Convention  in  the  United  States,  particularly  full.    Ophthahnie 


l£5fi!».SnSS*^  BEviBws.  61  & 


Benew,  Oet.  1, 1681. 


sabjecis  are  discoursed  on  by  Dr.  NoTian,  of  New  Tork,  and  the 
late  Dr.  Woodyatt,  of  Chicago ;  those  relating  to  the  ear,  by 
Dar.  T.  P.  Wilson,  of  Ann  Arbor,  and  Dr.  Houghton,  of  New 
York  ;  while  Dr.  Helmuth  considers  the  influence  of  homoeopathy 
Bpon  snrgery  in  a  very  elaborate  essay,  in  which  he  brings 
together  a  large  number  of  observaticms  fiom  his  own  experience 
and  from  the  records  of  others^  showing  the  advantages  of 
homoeopathy  in  the  treatment  of  diseases  generally  regarded  as 
surgical.  Dr.  Bojanns,  a  Russian  surgeon,  contributes  a 
paper  on  Uro-Litluasis ;  Dr.  Beebe,  one  on  Tumours ;  Dr. 
Franklin,  one  on  Gunshot  Wounds;  Dr.  M'Clelland,  one  on 
Syphilis ;  Dr.  Minor,  one  on  Yaricosis ;  and  Dr.  Jenney,  an 
interesting  case  of  Gunshot  Wound  of  the  SkuU.  The  discus- 
sions which  follow  are  chiefly  Hmited  to  the  consideration  of 
syphilis  and  tumours,  and  several  of  the  speeches  are  replete 
with  interest  and  instruction.  The  remaining  essays  are  on  the 
diseases  of  women. 

The  second  volume  is  occupied  with  a  history  of  homoeopathy 
in  the  different  countries  of  Europe  and  in  the  United  States.  A 
large  amount  of  extremely  interesting  matter  is  brought  together 
in  tiiese  essays.  They  give  one  a  very  fair  idea  of  the  immense 
progress  which  homoeopathy  has  made  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  in 
spite  of  an  amount  of  opposition,  the  extent  and  intensity  of 
which  it  is  impossible  to  calculate. 

Never  do  we  remember  seeing  two  volumes  of  greater  interest 
to  the  homoeopathic  physician,  or  essays  which  may  be  read 
with  much  greater  advantage  than  those  contained  in  the  work, 
before  us. 


The  HoTncBopathic  Phyneian:  A  Monthly  Journal  of  Medical 
Science.     Philadelphia. 

This  recent  addition  to  the  periodical  literature  of  homoeopathy 
is,  we  believe,  intended  to  supply  the  void  created  by  the  sudden 
demise  of  the  Anglo-American  Journal,  called  The  Organan. 
Its  articles  are  of  much  the  same  quality,  its  sneers  at  all 
physicians  who  do  not  believe  in  the  marvellous  efficacy  of  CM. '& 
fully  as  contemptuous  as  were  those  of  its  predecessor. 

Of  the  medical  men  who  took  part  in  the  International 
Homoeopathic  Convention  the  modest  editor  says,  they  **  have 
never  practised  homoeopathically,"  and,  ''for  the  most  part,'' 
they  "  know  nothing  of  the  homoeopathy  of  Hahnemann."  The 
moral  they  seek  to  derive  from  the  proceedings  is  "  the  great 
necessity  for  the  International  Hahnemaimnan  AssoeicUion,** 

English  practitioners  who  like  literature  of  this  type  may  be 
interested  in  hearing  that  Mr.  Heath,  of  Ebuiy  Street,  is  the 
agent  for  its  sale. 


614  NOTABIUA.  "'S£?Sr7S 


Bericfir,  Oet  1,  un. 


NOTABIUA. 


THE  MEDICAL  PBBSS  ON  THE  ADDBESSES  AT  THE 
MEETma  OF  THE  BBITISH  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

Db.  Bbxbtowe  and  Mr.  Jokathak  Hutchinson  have,  by  thdr 
exhibitioii  of  common  sense  and,  as  liiings  go,  Eberal  Tiews  on 
the  question  of  meeting  homoeopaths  in  consnltation,  stiired  iro 
a  large  amount  of  feeling  among  the  more  narrowed  minded 
seetion  of  the  profession.  The  Lancet  has  been  especiaUy 
exercised.  The  ide&  of  snch  opinions  being  so  much  as  mooted 
at  a  large  professional  meeting  has  been  an  extremely  sore 
point.  Only  a  few  weeks  ago  the  editor  counselled  the 
Association  to  re-endorse  the  resolutions  of  1851.  The  reply  to 
this  was  their  practical  repudiation  by  two  members  of  the 
Association,  "uniyersally  recognised,'*  we  are  told  by  tiie 
British  M^Mcdl  Journal^  ''  as  two  of  the  ablest,  most  deeply 
read,  most  philosophical,  most  acute,  and  most  cautious  re- 
presentatives of  medicine  and  surgery."  That  two  such  men 
should  so  reply  to  the  silly  bigotry  of  tiie  Ijancet  was,  we  admit, 
a  somewhat  severe  blow. 

In  an  article,  on  the  20th  August,  the  editor  kindly  says  thai 
he  does  not  wish  to  call  us  "  knaves  and  fools.*'  Such,  indeed, 
was  often  enough  the  language  of  his  predecessor  in  the  editorial 
chair ;  but  so  great  has  been  the  progress  of  education  in  our 
midst,  that  even  the  editor  of  the  Lancet  has  learned  that 
*^  medicine  in  its  most  rational  and  effective  forms  is  imperfect 
enough  to  make  us  modest,  and  to  lead  us  not  to  call  each  other 
names."  After  this  exhibition  of  mildness,  he  continues — "  Tet 
we  maintain  that  the  histoiy  of  homoeopathy  is  the  history  of  a 
delusion  and  a  conceit."  It  is  very  easy  to  assert  anything,  how- 
ever contrary  to  feuit,  but  to  prove  that  homoeopathy  is  either  a 
delusion  or  a  conceit  is  amply  an  impossibility.  No  one  has 
ever  succeeded  in  doing  so  yet,  though  a  goodly  number  have 
tried,  and  no  one  ever  will  so  succeed ! 

The  British  Medical  Association  is  not  only  a  Society  for  the 
discussion  of  all  subjects  bearing  on  the  science  and  art  of  medi- 
cine, except  homoeopathy,  and  a  large  trades-union,  but  it  is 
the  proprietor  of  a  medical  journal  which  competes  with  the 
Lancet  for  professional  patronage  1  The  fact  that  homoeopaths 
had  been  favourably  spoken  of  at  one  of  its  meetings,  and  that 
the  journal  of  the  Association  had  not,  during  the  two  sueceedii^ 
weeks,  repudiated  the  opinions  expressed,  gave  the  Lancet  an 
opportunity  for  a  little  self-glorification  wluch,  it  was  probably 
hoped,  might  re-invigorate  its  circulation  and  take  some  of  the 
sting  out  of  the  existing  competition.  Hence,  on  the  27th  Augustp 
the  editor  attributed  the  opinions  expressed  by  Dr.  Biistowe  and 


SS^iSTW?**         jroTABiLU*  615 


'Bflviflv,  Oflt  1, 


Mr*  Htttdiinflon  to  *^  a  very  deep  and  well  caneerted  scheme  laid 
l>y  the  Cooneil  of  the  British  Medical  Association,  or  those 
irho  govern  the  cooncily  to  reverse  the  ethical  principle  which 
has  regulated  the  attitode  of  the  profession  in  all  civilised 
eonntries  towards  homceopathy."  There  was  not  the  slightest 
reason  for  supposing  anything  of  the  kind ;  bat  to  dronlate  such 
a  notion  mi^t  have  the  efiect  of  weakening  the  confidence  of 
some  members  of  the  Association  in  the  so-called  orthodoxy  of 
their  jonmal,  and  lead  them  to  look  once  more  to  their  discarded 
Lancet  to  sustain  their  prcgudices  and  foster  their  bigotry.  A 
week  later,  and  the  President  of  the  Council  repudiated  all  know* 
ledge  of  ^e  intentions  or  opinions  of  Dr.  Bristowe  and  Mr. 
Hutchinson  ;  and  a  fortnight  after  the  Lancet  admitted  that  its 
4<  fear  never  was  very  great  that  any  considerable  number  of  the 
practical  members  of  the  Council  ever  gave  the  sanction  of  their 
authority  to  the  practice  of  consulting  with  homoeopaths."  One 
would  have  supposed  that  the  suggestion  that  there  had  been,  on 
the  part  of  the  Council,  a  ''very  deep  and  well  concerted  scheme  " 
io  promote  this  very  end,  did  shadow  forth  some  '*  very  grave 
iiBar  "  indeed !  Anyhow,  the  suggestion  in  question  had  a  three 
weeks  ran  before  its  eontradicti^was  anno^oed  in  the  jomnal 
that  made  it.  That  was  something.  Having  in  this  manner 
admitted  the  groundlessness  of  its  ''  suggestion,"  the  editor  goes 
on  to  claim  the  gratitude  of  the  Council  and  to  express  its 
assurance  that  it  has  that  of  the  members  of  the  profession  for 
its  ''  prompt  repudiation  of  the  views  of  Dr.  Bristowe  and 
Mr.  Hutchinson."  ''  Short's  your  friend,  not  Codlin  "  is  the 
moral  the  Lancet  here  appears  desirous  of  impressing  on  those 
who  do  not  take  it  in  as  they  once  did  1 

This  some  article  shows  also  some  advance  in  education  on 
the  paort  of  the  editor.  He  thinks  that  licensing  bodies  are 
properly  prohibited  from  imposing  an  obligation  on  candidates  to 
Adopt  or  refirain  from  adopting  the  practice  of  any  particular 
theory  of  medicine  or  surgery.  A  few  short  years  ago  and  this 
same  Lanoet  insisted  on  tiie  duty  of  all  corporations  refasing 
diplomas  to  candidates  known  to  be  intending  to  practise 
homoeopathy  1     The  world  evidentiy  moves,  even  in  the  Strand  I 

In  the  Lancet  of  the  17th  ult.,  a  considerable  portion  of  a 
leading  article  is  devoted  to  an  endeavour  to  convince  its  readers 
that  there  are  no  homoeopathists  now-a-days,  or,  at  any  rate, 
only  ''  about  a  dozen!"  The  authority  that  our  numbers  are 
thus  reduced  is  *'  a  friend  "  of  an  anonymous  correspondent, 
who  describes  him  as  "a  man  who  practises  strict  homoeo- 
pathy." Who  the  person  is  who  is  responsible  for  this  statement 
we  know  not.  Someone,  we  presume,  who  regards  himself  as  a 
Tery  superior  person — some  one  who  considers  his  conception 


616 NQTABILIA.  ^"SS^^S^X 

of  homoeopathy  the  only  one  poesible  for  an  mtdligent  man  to 
entertain  1 

'< Homoaopathy/'  the  editor  infers,  ''has  been  played  oai 
Eyerything  is  conceded,  by  those  who  practise  it,  but  tbe 
name."  He  further  alludes  to  the  injndioions  letter  addressed 
some  years  ago  by  Dr.  Wyld  (who  happened  at  the  time  to  be 
one  of  the  Yice-f^esidents  of  the  Britu3i  Homoeopathic  Society) 
to  Dr.  B.  W.  Eiehardson,  and  says  that  in  it  Dr.  Wyld 
«  admitted  practically  all  the  Ltmc§t  said  about  the  system  and 
those  who  profess  it  without  practising  it."  Whatever  may 
have  been  Dr.  i^Wyld's  indiscretion,  this  is  a  gross  mis- 
representation of  what  he  did  say. 

What  are  the  facts  ? 

1.  Homoeopathy  consists  in  a  principle  of  drug  selection  of 
well  nigh  universal  application  in  the  treatment  of  disease  by 
those  who  have  a  sufficient  familiarity  with  the  Materia  Mediea, 

2.  A  knowledge  of  the  effects  of  drugs  is  obtained  by  experi- 
ments made  with  them  upon  healthy  human  beings. 

8.  The  dose  of  a  homoeopathicaUy  indicated  remedy  must  be 
smaller  than  one  sufficiently  large  to  induce  its  physiobgieal 
action. 

These  principles  are  held  to  be  true  by  a  very  large,  an 
increasingly  large,  number  of  medical  men.  The  confessioa 
that  they  are  true  involves  that  exclusion  against  which  Br, 
Bristowe  and  Mr.  Hutchinson  protested.  The  discussion  and 
illustration  of  these  principles  is  denied  by  the  medical  press, 
hence  the  ezistence  of  journals,  especially  and  by  title  devoted 
to  these  objects.  These  principles,  though  partially  put  into 
practice  in  some  hospitals,  are  so  in  a  more  or  less  diahomest 
manner — in  a  way  calculated  to  obscure  them.  Hence,  tbe 
existence  of  hospitals  in  which  they  are  put  into  practice — 
hospitals  known  as  such  by  the  name  they  bear.  Facts  denved 
from  these  principles  are  taught  in  some  medical  schools,  bat 
the  principles  themselves  are  not  so  much  as  mentioned,  mocb 
less  expounded  to  students.  Hence,  the  existence  of  a  school, 
the  very  name  of  which  tells  the  student  where  he  may  leam 
what  homoeopathy  is. 

Any  man,  who,  believing  in  these  principles  and  endeavouring 
to  put  them  into  practice,  denies  that  he  is  a  homoeopathist,  is  to 
our  thinking,  a  good  deal  of  a  coward.  The  persons  wbo 
mislead  the  public  are  the  men  who  deny  the  truth  of  homoeo- 
pathy,  when  speaking  and  writing,  and  practise  homoeopatbicallj 
as  far  as  they  know  how  to  do.  There  are,  we  have  reason  to 
believe,  a  very  large  number,  an  increasingly  large  number,  of 
medical  men  who  thus  mislead  the  public,  in  order  to  keep  on 

I  good  terms  with  their  medical  brethren,  and  secure  for  themsdres 

I  the  **  good  things  "  of  the  profession. 

I 


Yfhetn  the  principles  we  haye  set  forth  are  admitted  to  be 
Talid  and  true,  and  reoeiye  proper  consideration  in  hospitals, 
societies,  s<diool8,  and  jomnals,  then  there  will  be  no  necessity 
for  deseribiog  onr  institutions  as  homoBopathic ;  tmtil  that  time 
anives,  however,  the  title  is  alike  wise,  correct,  and  essential. 

Ilts  Medical  Timss  and  Gazette,  of  the  17th  nit.,  has  an 
article,  entitied,  '*  Hahnemann,  Hanuxopathy,  and  HomcBopaths,*' 
This  was  admirably  replied  to  by  Dr.  J.  8.  Clarke  on  the  24th. 
One  or  two  passages  we  also  most  quote.  ''There  is  not  a 
single  remedy,"  says  this  inteDigent  editor,  "  except  among  those 
which  act  only  locally,  as  by  irritating  the  skin  or  the  bowels, 
which  produces  the  same  effect  as  does  disease,  and  at  best  the 
resemblance  is  of  the  most  remote  and  superficial  description  !  ** 
How  about  ttrychnia  and  tetanus  ?  How  about  arsenic  and 
cholera  ?  The  similarity  here  is  so  great,  both  in  the  symptoms 
during  life  and  in  post  mortem  appearances,  that  Yirchow  has 
dwelt  upon  the  difficulty  of  distinguishing  the  conditions 
X»roduced  by  drug  and  disease. 

**  The  proof  and  test  of  the  value  of  a  remedy  in  a  given  form 
of  disease  is,"  we  are  told,  '*  experience  and  experience  alone.*' 
This  is  perfectiy  true.  Apply  this  test  to  homoBopathically 
selected  remedies,  and  the  proof  that  homoeopathy  is  true  is 
provided. 

*^  That  the  physiological  effects  of  a  drug  as  ascertained  by 
experiment  and  observation,  are  of  incontestable  value  as  an 
aid  to  its  application  in  practical  medicine,  no  one  will  seek  to 
deny.**  IJiatno  one  does  now  deny  this,  is  entirely  due  to> 
Hahnemann.  He  it  was  who  first  of  all  worked  out  this  method 
of  drug  investigation.  The  results  which  have  foUowed  this 
method,  have  led  to  its  general  adoption  to-day.  The  plan  pur- 
sued, too,  is  simply  that  described  by  Hahnemann,  plus  the  use 
of  instruments  of  precision  invented  since  his  day. 

Beferring  to  the  comments  made  by  homoeopafluc  journals  on 
the  addresses,  the  editor  says :  '*  The  tone  is  that  of  conquerors 
all  round— a  tone  which  is  probably  premature,  certainly  un- 
pleasant and  thoroughly  misleading.**  It  is  not,  we  may  remark, 
in  such  addresses  as  those  of  Dr.  Bristowe  and  Mr.  Hutchinson 
that  homoBopathists  see  their  victory.  They  can  and  do  con- 
gratulate these  gentiemen  on  their  bcong  able  to  rise  superior  to 
&e  bigotry  of  tibeir  coUeagues,  and  on  their  not  condemning  a 
therapeutic  method  without  taking  some  pains  in  making  an 
effort,  however  imperfectiy,  to  understand  it.  Where  we  do  see 
the  assurance  of  tiie  ultimate  triumph  of  homoeopathy  is  in  the 
general  adoption  of  Hahnemann's  method  of  drug  investigation, 
in  the  popularity  of  such  text  books  of  Materia  Medica  as  those 
of  Dr.  Bingar,  the  d-devant  homoeopath  Charles  Phillips,  and 
Dr.  Barth(2ow*     Mora  than  seven-tenths  of  the  therapeotio 

Ko.  10,  Vol.  25.  2  8 


618  KOTABILIA.  bSS^oSTTSu 

.advice  given  in  these  vohimeB  has  been  derived  from  ihe  pne&e 
of  homceopaihy.  A  few  years  more  and  ihis  proportion  will 
increase ;  a  littile  longer,  and,  the  dost  being  wiped  off  the  eyea  of 
the  profession  by  more  frequent  interconrse  with  homoeopatits, 
it  will  be  made  apparent  where  aU  this  teaching  came  fr(Mn,  and 
where  more  of  the  same  sort  may  be  fonnd,  and  then  will  be  the 
triumph  of  homoeopathy.  For  this  we  can  wait,  doing  oar  best 
to  hasten  it  by  teaching  and  writing. 

We  have  just  had  handed  to  ns  a  bonnd  pamphlet,  issued  by 
Messrs.  Savory  and  Moore,  the  well-known  chemists,  and 
entitled  JVew  Eemedies  and  Special  Preparatiom  by  Savory  and 
Moore.  Among  these  we  find  '*  Tinctures  prepared  at  the 
suggestion  of  Dr.  Phillips,  and  mentioned  in  his  Materia 
MedicaJ*  This  list  consists  (dpubatiUaf  hydrastis;  stapkysagria^ 
aetaa  racemosa,  cocculus^  eanguinaria,  ihujat  kamala^  colocyntk^ 
bryoniaf  ignatia^  spigelia,  and  rhus  ;  and  immediately  afterwards 
Savory  and  Moore  *'  call  attention  "  to  '*  other  important  non- 
officinal  tinctures,"  in  which  list  we  find  gebeminum^  hydrastu, 
hamameliSf  Phytolacca,  sangidnaria,  xarUhoxyUan, 

That  audi  a  long  list  of  remedies,  unknown  till  homoeopathy 
pointed  out  their  value,  should  be  so  far  recognised  by  the  old 
school  as  to  be  advertised  by  Savory  and  Moore,  is  a  fact  which 
speaks  volumes,  and  requires  no  comment. 

These  articles  show  a  great  deal  of  ignorance  of  what  homoeo- 
pathy is.  though  less  so  perhaps  than  existed  a  few  years  ago. 
If  the  readers  of  these  journals  do  desire  to  know  something  of 
Hahnemann  and  homoeopathy,  we  may  inform  them  that  they 
have  now  an  opportunity  of  doing  so  without  much  trouble.  On 
Tuesday  next,  at  4  o'clock,  there  will  be  a  lecture  delivered  at 
the  London  Homoeopathic  Hospital,  on  Hahnemann  as  a  Medical 
FhUosofJier  \  on  Thursday,  at  5  o'clock.  On  ihe  Principles  of 
Drug  Selection  in  Prescribing ;  on  the  day  following,  at  the  same 
hour,  on  The  Scientific  Aspect  of  Homoeopathy  ;  on  Monday,  the 
10th,  at  the  same  hour,  on  The  Study  of  the  Effects  cuid  Mode  ef 
Action  of  Drugs  ;  and  on  the  following  Thursday,  on  Posology  ui 
Belation  to  Homceopathy,  At  these  lectures  all  medical  men  will 
be  heartily  welcome. 

The  recent  discussions  on  the  subject  of  homoeopathy  render 
it  more  imperative  than  ever  that  medical  men  should  possess 
themselves  of  an  intelligent  knowledge  of  its  principles,  and  we 
trust  that  the  present  opportunity  will  be  largely  made  use  of. 


THE  MELBOURNE  HOMCEOPATHIC  HOSPITAL. 

Thb  followers  of  Hahnemann  are  numerous  in  Victoria,  and  it  is 
now  some  years  since  the  believers  in  homoeopathy  founded  a 
dispensary  for  out-patients  in  Collins  Street.    It  was  soon  found 


that  a  very  m^ent  necessity  existed  lor  providing  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  in-patients ;  and  in  1876  a  bnilding  was  procured  for  the 
purpose  in  Spring  Street,  and  the  hospital  has  been  in  existence  oyer 
Binee*  In  the  course  of  a  year  or  so,  the  accommodation  became 
so  limited  that  it  was  determined  to  make  an  effort  to  build  a 
iiospital  that  would  be  sufficient  for  the  requirements,  for  many 
years  to  come,  of  those  who  preferred  the  homoBopathic  treat- 
ment. It  may  be  remarked  that  during  the  time  the  hospital  in 
Spring  Street  has  been  in  existence  nearly  14,000  patients  have 
l)een  treated,  and  in  1879  there  were  no  less  than  7,594  consul- 
tations. The  committee,  impressed  with  the  necessity  of  another 
1>uilding,  applied  to  the  Goveroment  for  a  site,  and  received  a 
most  favourable  reply.  The  Chief  Secretary  granted  a  piece  of 
jground  on  the  St.  Kilda  Boad,  and  further  gave  an  assurance 
that  the  institution  would  be  entitled  to  share  in  the  vote  to  the 
other  charitable  institutions  as  soon  as  a  certain  sum  had  been 
collected.  The  site  secured  is  on  the  St.  Eilda  Boad,  between 
the  military  barracks  and  the  Immigrants'  Home  hospital,  and 
the  committee,  on  obtaining  it,  entrusted  Messrs.  Grouch  and 
Wilson,  architects,  with  the  preparation  of  a  design,  which  was 
itdopted.  The  building,  when  completed,  will  present  a  very 
iiandsome  appearance.  It  will  be  a  two-story  brick  building, 
in  the  early  English  style  of  architecture,  and  will,  when 
finished,  cost  Jg8,000 ;  but  only  what  is  termed  the  adminis- 
trative block,  and  one  wing,  for  the  accommodation  of  forty 
persons,  will  be  undertaken  at  present,  the  cost  being  estimated 
At  Jg5,000.  Some  Jglv200  has  been  received  for  the  building 
fund,  and  a  Bruce  Auction,  lately  held  on  the  Melbourne 
<sricket  ground  in  aid  of  this  fund,  was  such  a  success  that, 
when  the  accounts  are  made  up,  it  is  anticipated  the  amount 
realised  will  be  such  a  handsome  addition  to  the  funds  in  hand 
that  the  work  can  be  gone  on  with  at  once.  Starting  under  such 
favourable  auspices,  it  is  not  too  much  to  expect  that  the  whole 
sum  required  for  the  completion  of  the  building  will  be  speedily 
available,  and  that  another  presentable  and  useful  structure  will 
be  added  to  our  numerous  institutions  of  a  kindred  character. 
A  Bruce  Auction  may  be  briefly  described  as  a  fiancy  fair,  at 
which  a  large  portion  of  the  articles  are  sold  by  auction.  The 
credit  of  initiating  this  sort  of  procedure  to  raise  funds  for  any 
purpose  is  given  to  a  Mr.  Bruce,  many  years  ago  a  prominent 
colonist,  who  was  exceedingly  successful  in  obtaining  a  large  sum 
for  a  charitable  institution  by  this  combination  of  auction  and 
bazaar.  Since  then  the  plan  has  been  adopted  on  many  occasions 
with  marked  success,  but  not  one  of  them  with  greater  than  that 
attending  the  Bruce  Auction  on  the  Melbourne  Cricket  Ground 
on  the  10th  Apnl  last  in  aid  of  the  funds  of  the  homoBopathio 
hospital.    It  was  opened  by  the  chief  secretary,  but  owing  to  the 

g  s— 2 


^0 woTABiLu.      igj&Ji^gygi: 

inclement  state  of  the  weather  only  about  2,000  persons  irere 
present  on  the  first  day.     Shortly  before  noon  Mr.  and  Mn« 
Berry  were  receiTed  at  the  reserve  entrance  by  the  managen, 
and  conducted  to  seats  in  the  space  below  the  grand  stand  set 
apart  as  the  bazaar.      A  considerable  number  of  ladies  and 
gentlemen  assembled    there,    and   the  inauguration  ceremony 
was  commenced  by  Mr.  J.  W.  Hunt,  hon.  b'easurer,  address- 
ing   Mr.  Berry,    and  tendering   the    sincerest  thanks   of  the 
committee  for  the  generous  manner  in  which  Mr.  Berry  had 
responded  to  the  request    that    he    should  open    the    Brace 
Auction  and  Easter  fair.    Mr.  Berry  made  a  suitable  reply, 
and  expressed   his  pleasure   at  the  establishment    of  a  new 
school  of  medicine,   which  had  passed  through  a  great  deal 
of  adverse  criticism  successfully.      After  the  show  had  been 
declared  open,  a  number  of  auctioneers,  who  had  given  their 
services,  were  soon  at  work.     They  had  no  difficulty  in  seeming 
the  attention  of  a  crowd  at  each  tent,  and  they  submitted  sndi  a 
heterogeneous  collection  of  oddities  and  utilities,  and  caused  aa 
much  unusual  merriment  in  forcing  the  transactions^  that  it  was 
quite  amusing  to  participate  in  the  barter.    What  matter  was  it 
tiiat  one  was  asked  to  bid  for  a  decrepit  beer  pump,  or  to  mab 
an  offer  for  a  pair  of  lady's  boots  ?     He  was  not  bound  to  ebim 
his  purchase,  although  it  was  surrendered  if  a  demand  was  made. 
It  was  quite  optional  with  him  to  allow  the  article  to  be  again 
submitted,  always  providing  that  he  satisfied  the  request  of  the 
clerk  for  the  payment  on  his  bargain.     There  was  no  uncertainty 
as  to  the  destination  of  the  money ;  there  were  no  intmaive 
brokers  to  make  everybody  uncomfortable  by  a  rough  scnitinr 
of  the  value  of  the  articles ;  there  were  no  secret  agents  engaged 
to  force  the  bidding;  there  was  nothing  but  goodwill,  and  whflst 
the  patrons  paid  for  their  amusement,  &e  auctioneer  maintained 
his  position.    But  there  were  bargains  and  there  were  people 
who  knew  when  and  how  they  were  to  be  notade.    A  tiinfij 
hoiisewife  could  purchase  a  half  chest  of  tea  on  most  £avoaiable 
terms.      An    addition    of   a    bag    of   flour    or    sugar   eoold 
be  most  advantageously  made  to  the  pantry  stock,  and,  if 
required,  there  were  articles  of  clothing  to  be  had  at  absnrdly 
low  figures.     There  was  some  legitimate  business  intenmzed 
with  the  fun,  and  in  no  instance  was  any  dissatisfaction  expressed 
at  the  result.    The  next  important  attraction  was  the  Bichardson's 
show,  in  which  reigned  all  the  glories  of  an  extra  quaKty  melo- 
drama,  where  murders  and  the  triumphs  of  virtue  were  of 
alarmingly  frequent  occurrence,  and  where  there  prevailed  a 
remarkably  friendly  feeling  between  the  actors  and  the  patrons. 
The  performances  of  a  troupe  of  minstrels  afforded  much,  amuse- 
ment, and  an  enterprising  donkey  owner  hired  his  animals  to  9Bf 
who  were  venturesome  enough  to  ride  them.     Such  an  inddgeneo 


^SS^J&fS^  HOTABILU.  621 


Bevieir,  Oot.  I,  U8t. 


inyariably  resulted  in  the  overtkrow  and  dificomfitore  of  the  rider, 
luad  contributed  much  to  the  amusement  of  the  onlookers.  On 
Easter  Monday  the  eommittee  was  favonred  with  the  finest 
weather,  and  there  was  a  much  more  nomerons  attendance — 
upwards  of  10,000  persons  being  present.  The  bazaar  was  very 
busy  all  the  afternoon,  each  entertainment  and  side  show  was 
liberally  patronised,  and  the  auction  sales  were  Tery  brisk. 
There  was  no  unwillingness  to  take  part  to  the  utmost  in  the 
festivities  of  the  day,  and  wherever  an  opportunity  was  afforded 
of  indulging  in  barter  of  any  kind  there  were  always  plenty  of 
buyers.  On  the  following  day,  the  last  of  the  show,  there  was 
again  a  large  attendance  ;  and  though  no  accurate  account  has 
yet  been  made  out,  there  is  no  doubt  the  undertaking  has,  on 
the  whole,  resulted  satisfactorily,  and  will,  it  is  anticipated,  yield 
a  considerable  profit  to  the  funds  of  the  Homoeopathic  Hospital. 
— Illustrated  Australian  News, 

THE  DEATH  OF  GENERAL  GARFIELD. 

Ik  common  with  Englishmen  everywhere  we  take  the  earliest 
opportunity  of  expressing  our  deep  sympathy  with  the  people  of 
the  United  States  in  the  severe  trial  which  has  recently  visited 
them.  The  intense  interest  with  which  everything  relating  to  the 
illness  of  the  late  President  has  been  received  here  demonstrates 
far  more  conclusively  than  treaties  or  aught  else  can  do  how 
elosely  we  are  as  a  nation  united  to  our  brethren  across  the 
Atlantic.  Struck  down  at  the  very  opening  of  a  career  fiill  of 
promise  of  usefulness  to  his  countiy  by  the  band  of  a  fEtnatical 
assassin,  President  Garfield  has  been  an  object  of  deeper  interest 
throughout  the  world  during  the  last  three  months  than  any 
other  person.  And  now  that  he  has  gone  he  is  mourned  for  on 
this  side  of  the  Atlantic  certainly  with  as  much  sincerity  and 
nearly  with  as  much  intensity  as  he  is  by  his  own  countrymen. 

The  post  mortem  examination  has  abundantiy  demonstrated  how 
impoflsible  his  recovery  was  from  the  moment  the  bullet  entered 
his  body.  His  protracted  illness  likewise  shows  the  wonderful 
vigour  of  his  constitution — a  constitution  unimpaired  by  excesses 
of  any  kind — and  yet  for  all  that  he  was  a  man  who,  from  his 
earliest  childhood,  had  been  a  hard  worker,  both  with  his  brains 
.and  his  muscles. 

The  surgical  treatment  of  the  case  has  been  the  subject  of 
much  severe  and,  we  think,  somewhat  ungenerous  criticism  by 
the  press  of  the  United  States.  Dr.  Bliss,  who  was  chiefly 
responsible  for  the  management  of  the  case,  is,  we  are  informed, 
.a  surgeon  of  ability  and  experience,  and  folly  qualified  to  do  that 
which  was  most  likely  to  conduce  to  the  recovery  of  his  patient. 
Jt  now  appears  that  whatever  had  been  done  the  result  would 
Jiave  been  the  same,  and  he  is  fully  entitied  to  a  share  of  the 


622  hotabuja.  ^^S^ 


Betinr,  Oct  1, 18BL 


credit  oi  faaTing,  by  his  mamgament,  assisied  in  proloi^iDg  tbe 
]ile  of  hiB  patient. 

CriticiBm  of  a  kind  is  alirays  easy — ^bnt  for  newspaper  writeis 
to  take  upon  themselves  to  prononnce  dogmatically  about  ivbat 
onght  to  be  done  and  what  oof^t  not  to  be  done  in  eiieum- 
stances  of  the  natoie  of  which  they  are  necessarily  igaonni,  ii 
a  piece  of  presnmption  which  is  deserving  of  the  bigbesi 
reprobation. 

A  surgeon  of  recognised  ability  and  experience  in  charge  of  % 
difficolt  and  important  case,  to  which  he  doTOtes  himself  day  and 
night  for  weeks  together,  is  entitled  to  the  confidence  and  grati- 
tude of  those  he  is  endeayooiing  to  serve. 


THE  QUEEN  AND  MEDICAL  WOMEN. 

A  PARAOBAFH  Originating  in  an  English  newspaper,  has  obtained 
circulation  through  some  American  joumals  to  the  e£fectthat 
Her  Majesty  threatened  to  withdraw  her  donation  and  patronage 
from  the  International  Medical  Congress  if  medical  women  were 
admitted  as  members  of  it.  We  belieye  that  Sir  William  Jenner 
entirely  denied  the  truth  of  the  assertion. 


STATISTICS  OF  SMALL-POX  AND  VACCINATION. 

Db.  Bebnabd  reports  that  a  total  of  402  patients  were  admitted 
during  the  year  1880  to  the  small-pox  hospital  at  Stockwdl, 
887  suffering  from  smaU-pox,  and  15  from  other  diseases. 
Fifty- two  died,  289  were  discharged,  and  111  remained  under 
treatment  at  the  end  of  the  year.  The  mortality  was  12.9  per 
cent.  Of  292  vaccinated  patients,  19  died,  or  6.5  per  cent; 
of  24  patients  whose  vaccination  was  very  doubtful,  8  died,  or 
88.8  per  cent. ;  and  of  86  unvaccinated  patients,  25  died,  or 
29.0  per  cent.  Dr.  Bernard  gives  a  table  (showing  the  state  as 
regards  vaccination  of  the  children  less  than  ten  years  old  ^(^ 
were  admitted  as  patients)  which  indicates  veiy  strongly  the 
protection  afforded  by  vaccination.  Of  children  showing  good 
vaccination- scars  on  their  arms,  167  were  admitted,  witfi  odIj 
8  deaths;  of  those  with  imperfect  scars,  127  were  admitted, 
with  16  deaths ;  of  those  said  to  be  vaccinated,  22  were  admitted, 
with  8  deaths ;  whilst  of  86  unvaccinated,  there  were  28  deaths. 
Dr.  Bernard  says  that  his  experience  at  the  hospital  daily  shovs 
him  the  urgent  necessity  for  more  stringent  measures  being  taken 
concerning  compulsory  vaccination  and  compulsory  revaccinatioD' 
He  would  also  like  to  see  compulsory  notification  and  registratioa^ 
of  smaU-pox  and  other  infectious  diseases.  Adverting  to  tbe 
statements  made  as  to  the  spread  of  smaU-pox  from  hospitalsr 


mX^ITS^        noxabilu, ^ 

Br.  Bernard  says  thai  ha  has  evidenoe  which  directly  proves 
that  these  statements  are  not  fdanded  on  hci.  He  admits, 
howerer,  that  it  is  very  probable  small-pox  hospitals  may,  directly 
or  indirectly,  be  the  means  of  propagating  the  disease  when 
improperly  conducted.  Eleven  of  the  patients  walked  into 
hospital ;  a  most  fertile  source  of  the  spread  of  the  disease, 
which  is  likely  to  oontinne  unless  o£fenders  are  prosecuted.  A 
very  large  number  of  visits  were  paid  to  the  patients  in  both 
hospitals;  and  Mr.  McEellar  and  Dr.  Bernard  unite  in  saying 
that,  so  far  as  they  have  been  able  to  discover,  no  case  of 
infection  has  been  caused  thereby. — British  Medical  Journal. 


MORNINa  DRAMS. 

If  there  is  one  form  of  *'  drinking  **  more  injurious  than  others, 
it  is  that  which  consists  in  the  frequent  recourse  to  drams  at  odd 
times  between  meals.  That  there  is  a  great  deal  of  this  sort  of 
tippling  in  vogue  cannot  be  doubted,  when  we  take  cognisance  of 
the  very  large  and,  as  it  would  seem,  the  increasing  number  of 
young  men  and  even  women  of  respectable  appearance  who  are 
to  be  met  in  the  streets  of  London  or  any  large  city  as  early  as 
noon,  already  to  an  evident  degree  under  the  influence  of  an  in- 
toxicart.  Discounting  the  multitude  of  such  inebriated  persons 
for  habitual  debauchees,  and  those  who  drink  so  deeply  at  night 
that  they  retain  the  e£fects  of  the  poison  until  late  in  the  following 
day,  it  is  still  only  too  plain  that  a  considerable  proportion  of  the 
staggering  and  half-unconscious  or  unduly  excited  individuals 
about  are  the  victims  of  the  morning  dram.  It  is  a  serious 
question  whether  public-houses  should  be  allowed  to  begin  the 
day  before  noon.  It  is  surely  unnecessary  that  workmen  and 
workwomen  should  commence  their  potations  earlier  than  the 
usual  dinner  hour.  As  it  is,  no  sooner  have  the  bricklayers,, 
painters,  plumbers,  plasterers,  or  carpenters  engaged  in  the  re- 
pair of  a  house  returned  from  their  breakfast,  and  arranged  their 
tools,  than  they  go  or  send  for  beer.  The  result  of  tUs  early 
beginning  of  the  drink  business  is  that  before  the  afternoon  has 
w^  set  in  they  are  apt  to  be  practically  useless,  or  only  able  to 
labour  with  a  great  effort  for  self-control.  While  the  doors  of 
public-houses  stand  open  those  who  have  money  will  enter  and 
buy  drink.  Perhaps  if  the  purveyors  of  intoxicants  were  not  at 
liberty  to  commence  their  dangerous  trade  until  just  before  the 
first  meal  in  the  day  at  which  stimulants  are  legitimately  taken, 
there  would  be  a  less  common  use  of  the  "  morning  dram,**  one 
of  the  most  mischievous  '*  drinks "  in  which  the  multitude 
especially  the  young — can  possibly  indulge. — Lancet. 


624  N0TA«U4. 


OeLi,fln. 


LAUGHING  IS  CATCHING. 

On  the  banks  of  the  river  Delaware,  America  (the  Journal  de 
CondS  informs  its  readers),  lives  a  fJEOining  &milj,  the  members 
of  which  are  troubled  with  a  most  singular  affection.  The 
father  was  seized — it  is  ten  years  ago — with  a  sudden, 
uncontrollable  fit  of  laughter.  As  it  continued  without  apparent 
cause,  the  wife  appealed  to  him  to  tell  her  the  reason,  but  he 
only  laughed  the  more.  His  son  beat  him  between  the 
shoulders,  but  that  was  of  no  use,  so  they  sent  for  a  doctor. 
He  was  unable  to  deal  with  the  case,  said  it  was  a  nerrooB 
disorder  for  whi«di  he  knew  no  precedent,  and  against  it,  he 
thought,  medical  science  was  powerless.  At  sunset  the 
laughing  ceased,  and  the  fanner  fell  exhausted.  But  his 
strength  soon  returned,  he  supped,  and  afterwards  slept  as 
usual;  but,  at  the  end  of  a  few  hours  the  fit  of  laughing 
suddenly  returned,  and  ceased  as  suddenly  at  the  end  of  five 
hours.  On  succeeding  days  and  nights,  the  laughing  fits  came 
on  at  regular  intervids ;  but,  becoming  used  to  them,  and 
feeling  that  they  did  not  impede  his  working,  he  continued 
in  his  fields,  and  took  as  little  heed  of  his  lauglung  as  he  could. 
But  although  the  fits  came  on,  as  a  rule,  at  fixed  hours,  some- 
times one  would  take  him  unexpectedly;  for  instance,  one 
Sunday  at  his  chapel  it  came  on  and  he  could  not  control  it ; 
it  proved  catching ;  gradually  the  congregation  joined  him  ;  ftnd 
after  trying  in  vain  to  quell  the  contagion,  the  preacher  hims^ 
proved  a  victim,  and  he  laughed  also  until  obliged  to  hold 
his  sides.  So  it  went  on  with  the  farmer  for  nearly  two  years ; 
the  young  people  feeling  the  impulse  but  struggling  against  it, 
but  ultimately  they  all,  beginning  with  the  eldest,  have  become 
victims  to  the  disorder. — Journal  du  Magnetisnu, 


A  DEFINITION  OF  ALLOPATHY. 

Dr.  Daniel  Hoopeb,  the  senior  physician  to  the  Surrey  and 
Public  Dispensaries,  in  an  article  in  the  September  number  of 
The  Practitioner^  entitled  '*  Allopathy,  Homoeopathy,  and  No- 
Pathy,'*  thus  defines  allopathy:  *'The  system  of  treatment 
adopted  by  the  non-homoeopathic  members  of  the  profession.*' 
''This  system,'*  he  says,  ''is  based  upon  scientific  knowledge, 
experience,  and  sound  logic ;  it  is  physiolc^cal  medicine  charac- 
terised by  a  strong  belief  in  the  sanative  powers — the  vi»  meH- 
eatrix-^i  nature,  and  very  great  scepticism  as  regards  the 
utility  of  drugs ;  it  takes  care  of,  supports  and  amuses  the  patiait, 
while  nature  cures  his  disease ;  it  makes  much  of  dii^osis. 


Teeogpicdog  ttuU  to  find  out  is  in  miiiy  euei  to  enre  a  disease, 
snd  it  nerer  wearies  of  searching  for  causes  of  symptoms, 
because  causa  whlcud  yery  often  anat  affeetm ;  lastly,  it  admits 
the  existence  of  a  few  specifics,  such  as  quinine  for  ague,  which 
i^re  given  quite  empirically,  without  any  notion  of  their  nux^tit 
x)peraafidi  of  how  or  why  they  produce  their  e&cts." 

Dr.  Hooper  woidd  herein  seem  to  desire  to  pose  as  a  modem 
lioliere  t  It  would  be  difficult,  we  think,  to  pen  a  more  telling 
satire  on  the  present  practice  of  medicine  t  Dr.  Hooper  amuses 
his  patient,  while  nature  cures  the  disease  I  How  very  kind  of 
^*  nature  *'  I  '*  To  find  out  is  in  many  cases  to  cure  a  disease." 
-Cholera  is  traced  to  impure  water— did  that  discovery  ever  cure 
-one  single  case  of  cholera  ?  Prevention  we  admit  is  better  than 
cure,  but  it  is  far  from  being  the  same  thiog  I  Who  ever  cured 
■a  painful  joint,  because  he  had  found  out  &at  it  was  caused  by 
rheumatism  ?  Finding  out  the  cause  of  disease  is,  in  short,  one 
thing,  and  curing  the  results  of  this  cause  is  another. 

He  essays  to  describe  homoeopathy,  and  his  account  of  it  is 
•comic  to  a  degree.  When  he  gives  the  l-4th  of  a  grain  of 
ipecacuanha  to  cure  vomiting  of  food,  he  says  that  he  is  not 
**  granting  the  truth  of  the  law  of  similars."  Perhaps  not,  but 
he  is  giving  a  practical  exhibition  of  it,  which  is  much  more  to 
the  purpose ! 

He  tells  his  readers  that  ''  it  is  quite  certain  that,  under  no 
treatment  whatever  will  80  per  cent,  of  genuine  established  cases 
of  Asiatic  cholera  recover."  For  **  it  is  quite  certain  that  **  read 
'*  I  am  quite  certain  that  so  far  as  my  experience  goes  '* — and 
we  could  credit  Dr.  Hooper  here.  But  ihe  experience  of  Fleisch- 
mann  in  Vienna,  of  Russell  in  Edinburgh,  and  of  the  physicians 
of  the  London  Homceopathic  Hospital  has  proved  clearly  enough 
that  76  per  cent,  of  cholera — ^real  genuine  cases  of  Asiatic  cholera 
—can  be  saved  by  homoeopathic  treatment  1 

The  Arcadian  simplicity  with  which  Dr.  Hooper  concludes  his 
extraordinary  essay  is  delightful — the  more  so  when  we  consider 
that  it  was  written  in  the  Borough  of  Southwark  I  He  writes : 
*'  Can  they  show  us  one  Brodie,  or  Bright,  or  Jenner,  or  Watson, 
or  Paget,  or  GoU,  or  Wilks  ?  No ;  and'  the  reason  is,  homoeo- 
pathy is  not  true ;  for  such  men  as  these  would  sacrifice  (and 
oflben  have  sacrificed)  everything  for  tho  truth — friends  and  fame, 
and  wealth  and  health,  and  even  life  itself."  We  are  happy  to 
know  that  notwithstanding  the  frequency  with  which  these  dis- 
tinguished physicians  and  surgeons  are  said  to  have  sacrificed 
these  five  blessings,  they  have  still  a  very  fair  share  of  each 
remaining  to  them. 


626 


HOTAULU. 


IKniiftHy  HiiiOM|wlliIc 
Bavieir,  Oet.  1,  un. 


HAHNEMANN    PUBUBHINa    SOCIETY. 

Annual  Meport, 

Ths  annual  Meeting  of  this  Society  was  held  at  7,  Argjie  Street, 
London,  Jnly  15,  1881 ;  Dr.  B.  Hnghes,  President,  in  the  chair; 
and  amongst  those  present  were  Ihs.  C.  and  W.  Wesselhoeft, 
Owens,  and  Eaton,  of  Ameriea. 

After  reading  the  minntes  of  the  preyions  annual  meeting,  the 
Secretary  read  a  report  of  the  proceedings  of  the  year  ending 
Jane  80,  1881,  in  which  it  was  stated  that  since  the  previons 
annual  meeting  the  Society  had  published,  at  a  cost  of  £288, 
ToL  1  of  Hahnemann's  Materia  MecUca  Pura^  with  Hahnemann's 
own  introductions^  notes  and  comments,  translated  by  Drs. 
Dudgeon  and  B.  Hughes,  and  of  which  Messrs.  Boeiieke  and 
Tafel,  of  America,  had  taken  500  copies ;  also  that  toI.  2  was 
now  in  the  printer's  hands,  and  would  be  ready  within  the  next 
two  months;  and  of  which  Messrs.  Boericke  and  Tafol  weie 
taking  500  copies,  as  of  vol.  1.  Also  that  chap,  zziv.,  that  is. 
Back  and  Neck,  of  the  Repertory,  prepared  by  Dr.  Stokes, 
was  also  in  the  printer's  hands,  and  would  be  supplied  to  mem- 
bers probably  within  the  next  month;  and  as  this  chapter 
includes  all  &e  reliable  symptoms  of  all  the  trustworthy  medi- 
cines, in  Allen's  Encyclopedia  and  supplement,  and  has  been 
prepared  in  strict  accordance  with  the  original  plan,  it  would  be 
the  most  complete  and  reliable  repertory  of  the  back  symptoms 
ever  published,  and  a  book  essentud  to  every  homoeopathic  prac- 
titioner. Also  that  Dr.  Black  had  arranged  &e  symptoms  of 
digitaUe  for  the  Society's  Materia  Medica,  and  this  arrangement 
was  ready  for  the  printer.  After  some  discussion  on  Materia 
Medica  matters,  it  was  unanimously  agreed  that  as  the  compendious 
character  of  Allen's  Encycloptedia  necessitated  the  collection  of 
even  doubtful  symptoms,  and  the  plan  iuTolyed  the  spUtiing  np 
of  the  symptoms,  it  could  never  be  a  substitute  for  the  Society's 
Materia  Medica,  in  which  all  the  reliable  symptoms  of  each 
medicine  are  selected  and  arranged  in  their  natural  groups,  and 
indexed  ;  and  it  was  therefore  very  important  and  desirable  to 
p*  oceed  with  and  push  forward  the  Society's  Materia  Medica  as 
rapidly  as  possible.  In  response  to  this  demand.  Dr.  Black 
promised  an  arrangement  of  the  symptoms  of  plumbttm,  to  be 
ready  by  Christmas ;  and,  in  conjunction  with  Dr.  Dudgeon,  of 
the  symptoms  of  nux  vomica ;  and  of  murcurixu  corrosivus,  with  a 
survey  of  those  of  mercurial  preparations  generally.  Dr.  Burnett 
promised  the  symptoms  of  phosphorus ;  Dr.  Ker,  those  of  conium  ; 
Dr.  Clark  those  of  argentam  nitricum ;  Dr.  E.  T.  Blake,  those  of 
seeale ;  Dr.  B.  Hughes,  those  of  iodium ;  and  Dr.  Hayward,  those 
of  crotalus.  These  volunteer  workers  promised  to  endeavour  to 
eomplete  these  works  so  as  to  enable  the  Society  to  bring  out  a 


aS^tegTogMSg*  KOTABILIA. 627 

good-flized  Tolmne  by  next  annnal  meeting.  And  it  was  onani- 
monsly  agreed  that  it  is  the  dnty  of  all  Britidi  homoeopathic 
practitionerB  to  assist  the  Society  by  at  least  joining  it  as 
members^-all  its  publications  being  essential  to  their  every  day 
work ;  and  by  being  members  they  would  obtain  these  at  cost 
price. 

The  committees  and  office-bearers  of  the  Society  were  re-elected,, 
and  the  time  and  place  of  next  annnal  meeting  were  fixed  to  bo 
those  of  the  next  Congress. — John  W.  Hayward,  Hon.  Sec. 

THE  HAHNEMANN  CONVALESCENT  HOME, 

BOURNEMOUTH. 

This  Institution  was  re-opened  for  the  winter  season  on  th6> 
20th  nit.  Daring  last  winter  the  Home  was  literally  fall.  The 
committee,  relying  upon  public  generosity,  allowed  themselTes- 
to  exceed  their  income  by  J6170,  which  tiiey  now  owe  to  their 
bankers.  Besides  requiring  funds  to  carry  on  their  work,  they 
haye  therefore  to  appeal  to  the  generous  and  wealthy  to  enable 
them  to  pay  off  their  present  indebtedness.  The  Institution  is 
one  of  great  value.  It  has  not  been  long  in  operation,  but  it 
has  during  this  short  time  done  good  work,  and  shown  that  it 
is  well  worthy  of  that  liberal  public  support  which  we  trust  it 
will  secure. ____^__ 

BRITISH  HOMOEOPATHIC  SOCIETY. 

Ths  First  Ordinary  Meeting  of  the  present  Session  will  be  held, 
on  Thursday,  October  6th,  1881,  at  seven  o'clock.  A  paper 
will  be  read  by  Dr.  Washington  Epps,  of  London,  entitled 
Two  Cases  of  Chronic  Eczeina. 

THE  INTERNATIONAL  MEDICAL  CONGRESS. 

The  Times  of  the  19th  ult.  informs  us  that  one  of  the  German 
papers  has  remarked  as  a  result  of  the  recent  International 
Medical  Congress,  that  '*  during  the  absence  of  the  most 
eminent  medical  men  the  mortality  in  Germany  had  been 
diminished!** ^^ 

PRIZE  ESSAY. 

Db.  Pbateb,  of  London,  offers  a  prize  of  £80  for  the  best  Essay 
on  the  following  subject :  <*  In  the  use  of  copper  plates  worn, 
next  the  skin  as  a  preventive  of  cholera,  is  the  beneficial  result, 
which  is  said  to  be  produced,  due  to  magnetism  excited  by  the- 
copper  ?*'  Dr.  Prater  expects  that  experiments  fully  detailed  be- 
made  to  show  whether  there  is  any  ground  for  supposing  that' 
copper  thus  worn  excites  magnetic  action  or  not,  and  if  it  does, 
with  what  material  in  the  body  the  current  is  generated. 
Secondly,  if  it   can   be    shown  that  magnetism  is  developed,. 


628  NOTABiLiA.  >%!aL 


Benefv.OeL  1,UBI. 


flignmants  for  or  agaiiui  this  being  the  eanse  of  the  bMieficial 
effect  of  the  cagpex  plates  which  is  said  to  exist,  to  be  given. 

Dr.  Prater  expects  that  all  experiments,  original  or  quoted, 
irith  aU  cases,  original  or  quoted,  be  detailed  in  fall.  Dr.  Prater 
would  wish  to  have  Dr.  Swanks  (of  New  York)  cases  (see  Paper 
by  Dr.  Berridge  in  Homceopaihic  World)  related  in  full,  provided 
they  have  been  treated  by  mineral  magnetism.  He  notes,  as 
bearing  on  the  subject,  Jousset's  Paper  in  the  Hamceopatkie 
Review^  March,  1881 ;  the  advertisement  of  Mr.  Seymour's 
Magnetic  Appliances  (Homceopathic  Review^  March,  1881) ;  and 
**  Dr.  Burq*8  Qirdles,"  1829— ^ousset^s  experiments  to  be  if 
possible  repeated. 

No  prize  will  be  given  unless  the  adjudicators  decide  the 
essay  to  be  sufficiently  good. 

Essays  to  be  sent  to  Dr.  Dyce  Brown,  29,  Seymour  Street, 
Portman  Square,  W.,  on  or  before  April  1st,  1882. 

PRIZE   ESSAY. 

A  Pbizb  of  one  hundred  pounds  (£100)  will  be  paid  by  **  The 
Equitable  Life  Assurance  Society  ot  the  United  States  *'  (London 
office,  81,  Cheapside,  E.C.),  to  the  author  of  the  best  Essay  on 
the  subject  named  below ;  and  twenty-five  pounds  (dS25)  to  the 
author  of  the  second  best  Essay. 

Subject,  Life  Assurance  1  With  special  reference  to  its 
influence  in  promoting  habits  of  economy,  thrift  and  sobriety ; 
and  the  consequent  repression  of  intemperance,  poverty  and 
crime ;  its  bearing  upon  the  reduction  of  the  poor  rate,  the  coet  of 
repression  of  crime,  and  in  stimulating  the  productive  industiy 
of  the  country  ;  and  hence  the  national  beneilt  conferred  on  the 
community  in  lessening  taxation,  while  giving  increased  power 
to  pay ;  and  finally,  its  Lofiuence  upon  our  social  sorronndings, 
in  strengthening  family  ties,  and  in  rendering  sacred  the  home. 

Conditions  1  Essay  (not  to  exceed,  when  printed,  the  length 
of  32  octavo  pages  of  long  primer  type)  to  be  sent  to  the  under- 
signed not  later  than  October  1,  1881,  unsigned,  but  marked 
with  a  nom  de  plume  or  number,  by  means  of  which  identity  may 
be  secured.    Endorsed  outside,  **  Prize  Essay  Contest." 

A  Committee  consisting  of  the  following  gentiemen  have  con- 
sented to  acyudicate  upon  the  essays  sent  in: — B.  C.  Haix, 
F.S.A.;  CoBNEuus  Walford,  F.I.A.,  F.S.S. ;  Thomas  Huohbs 
("Tom  Brown"),  Q.C.,  F.S.A.,  umpire,  llheir  award  in 
writing,  and  the  accepted  essay,  will  be  made  public.  The 
names  of  authors  will  not  be  pubUshed  without  their  assent. 

The  Society  reserves  the  right  of  awarding  a  third  prize  of 
ten  pounds  (£10)  to  any  writer  recommended  by  the  '*  Selection 
Committee  **  as  having  produced  an  essay  of  merit,  although  it 
may  not  have  conformed  entirely  to  the  preceding  conditions. 


B09iBWf  Oofe.  if 


NOTABILIA. 


029 


METEOROLOG'IOiLL    OBSERVATIONS 


ZAxm  Jkx  no 


HOTEL  BELVEDEBE.  DAVOS-PLATZ,  SWITZEBLAND, 
From  Ut  July,  1880,  m  IBth  April,  1881. 

Ths  instniments  are  first-raie  (Negretti  &  Zambra,  and  Gasella),  Terified 
at  the  Eew  Observatory  and  plaoed  according  to  the  regolations  of  the 
English  Meteorological  Soeiefy.  The  observations  have  been  taken  with 
the  greatest  accuracy. 

N.B. — ^When  the  force  of  the  wind  is  not  mentioned  a  sli^t  breeze  is 
indicated.    A  complete  cahn  is  denoted  by  O. 

JULY,  1880. 


llinn 

Thennometer. 

Hygnmetar. 

Wrjd. 

womem  of  wxan. 

of 

of 

MIkftW 

Date 

—1 

■uuw 

• 

IMu* 

Mm. 
44.6 

SoImx. 
Max. 

127. 

wulo. 

balb. 

Upper 

CITTeitt. 

VaUey 

wmter 

in 

Sng. 
inche» 

1 

24.896 

73.6 

8.W. 

N. 

2 

24.896 

71.6 

44.6 

128. 

S. 

N. 

A  strong  breese. 

8 

24.897 

69.8 

60.0 

109.6 

s. 

8. 

4 

24.9 

51.6 

40. 

113. 

45. 

42.5 

8. 

N. 

11  a  jn.  2.30  p.m. 
high  wind. 

5 

25.12 

59.5 

62. 

129.6 

66.6 

48. 

W.N.W. 

N. 

A  strong  bzeeze. 

6 

25.10 

71. 

68. 

189. 

66. 

62. 

W.N.W. 

N. 

^m 

7 

26.08 

76.38 

36. 

140. 

71. 

66. 

N.W. 

N. 

8 

24.96 

69.6 

68. 

136.6 

69. 

64.6 

S.D.  Vf  . 

8. 

After4p.m.htgli 
winrl 

9 

25.0 

68.2 

63. 

136.6 

66.76 

66.26 

o»o,^¥» 

8. 

10 

25.12 

67.5 

45. 

122.6 

68.6 

63. 

8.S.W. 

8. 

11 

26.21 

69.3 

46.75 

138. 

68. 

60. 

8. 

N. 

1  strong  breeie. 

12 

26.21 

68.2 

46. 

140. 

67.6 

67.6 

a 

H. 

13 

26.17 

67.5 

48. 

127.6 

65. 

66.6 

w. 

0. 

14 

25.16 

72.76 

40.6 

137. 

70.2 

68. 

8. 

N. 

15 

25.15 

78.33 

42. 

140. 

72.6 

68.6 

N.W. 

N. 

16 

25.12 

81. 

46. 

142.6 

80.6 

62.2 

N. 

N. 

17 

25.18 

80.6 

60. 

146. 

80. 

69. 

N. 

N. 

18 

25.16 

78.26 

48.5 

139.6 

70.6 

60. 

S.W. 

N. 

19 

25.22 

79.33 

49.33 

148.6 

72.5 

67.2 

w. 

8. 

11  a.m.  1  p.m.  a 
strong  hreeae. 

20 

25.26 

76.76 

60.6 

139. 

74.6 

67. 

8.W. 

N. 

21 

25.14 

73. 

61. 

136.6 

64. 

67.26 

8.W. 

N. 

22 

26.04 

66.5 

60. 

122.5 

64.6 

67. 

S.W. 

N. 

23 

25.06 

66. 

46. 

136. 

68.6 

66. 

B.W. 

N. 

24 

25.07 

72. 

37. 

135. 

69.8 

63. 

S.W. 

N. 

25 

25.12 

78. 

44.8 

136. 

69.6 

63. 

w. 

N. 

6  p.m.  5.45  pjn. 
his^wind. 

26 

25.07 

78.5 

45. 

137. 

77. 

69. 

W.S.W. 

S.W. 

27 

25.1 

76.5 

49. 

136. 

60. 

61. 

w. 

N. 

A.  strong  bvsese. 

28 

25.08 

71.6 

48.5 

136.5 

60. 

65. 

8.W. 

N. 

29 

25.01 

76.5 

44. 

144. 

76.6 

66.26 

8,W. 

N. 

• 

80 

25.01 

65. 

63. 

96. 

61.6 

64. 

8. 

N. 

OooaubnaTTy 

strong  gnsts. 
A  hi^  breeze. 

81 

24.95 

59.76 

48.5   127. 

62.33 

49. 

8. 

N. 

680 

1 

KOTABILIA. 

n8VMV| 

^Oet^CiflL 

AVOTR,  UtO. 

1 

1 

A^L 

Date 

Bm. 

24.82 

Thermometer. 

Hygromfltar. 

Wind. 

wkBOH  nv  ^Tvn 

Ami. 
of 

of 

Max. 

68.33 

Min. 
40. 

861w 
Max. 

52.5 

Wet 
bulb. 

TJliper 
oozrent. 

YtJhn 
Wind. 

JrVlH/S   W     WAJiV. 

^^M 

IB 

1 

117.6 

49.6 

8. 

N. 

2 

24.79 

55.5 

48. 

127. 

64. 

49. 

S. 

N. 

8 

24.78 

49. 

40.5 

90.6 

46. 

48.6 

S.W. 

N. 

• 

4 

24.95 

56. 

89.5 

110.6 

46. 

48. 

N.W, 

N. 

6 

24.96 

65.75 

30.88 

130.5 

64.6 

66. 

N. 

N. 

6 

24.96 

66.33 

38.83 

139.6 

65.6 

54. 

S. 

8. 

7 

24.82 

56.2 

47.5 

92.6 

54. 

48.2 

s. 

IT. 

8 

24.74 

63.66 

37. 

93. 

62. 

52. 

s. 

N. 

9 

24.97 

63.8 

41. 

102. 

60. 

44. 

s. 

N. 

10 

25.19 

56.8 

40.88 

186. 

56.6 

47.2 

N.N.W. 

N. 

11 

25.02 

64. 

41.5 

186. 

61.2 

49. 

s.w. 

N. 

12 

24.93 

60.2 

87. 

137. 

60. 

52. 

W.; 

0. 

13 

24.95 

65.2 

46. 

88. 

52.6 

50. 

W. 

0. 

14 

24.93 

61.8 

49. 

125. 

65. 

58. 

N. 

N. 

15 

24.97 

64. 

50. 

143. 

63.66 

56.66 

N. 

0. 

16 

24.98 

70.5 

45. 

141. 

70. 

59.66 

N. 

8. 

17 

26.08 

70.25 

47. 

146. 

70. 

69.5 

W. 

N. 

18 

25.07 

61.66 

50. 

122.6 

59. 

55. 

W. 

N. 

19 

25.05 

65.5 

46. 

138. 

65. 

64.75 

w. 

0. 

20 

25.12 

68.5 

43.5 

142.5 

67. 

55.6 

w. 

0. 

21 

25.11 

69. 

45.33 

140. 

65.66;55. 

w. 

0. 

22 

24.95 

57. 

50. 

70. 

50.     48. 

8. 

0. 

23 

25.07 

68.     47.33 

145. 

66.     I55. 

w. 

0. 

1 

24 

25.01 

68.2   41.5 

75. 

54.5 

58. 

s.w. 

0. 

1 

25 

25.08 

68.     40. 
66.2  40. 

141. 

64. 

54.2 

w. 

0. 

26 

25.07 

127.5 

62.25  51. 

w. 

0. 

1 

27 

25.1 

59.5   47. 

105. 

55.     51. 

w. 

0. 

28 

25.13 

65.3347. 

143.6 

59.5  ;52. 

N.W. 

0. 

29 

25.04 

62.     !42.33 

123. 

61.6 

56. 

8. 

0. 

80 

24.92 

56.8  |46.33 

73. 

56.5 

53. 

8. 

0. 

31 

25.03 

59.7547.2 

101. 

57. 

54.5 

S.W. 

0. 

SBPTSXBEB,  18 

«0. 

1 

25.12 

62.5  47.8 

129.5   60.33 

56.66 

N.N.E. 

0. 

2 

25.32 

69.     ;49. 

139.33  69. 

59.33 

N. 

N. 

3 

25.31 

74.2  44.25 

143. 

69. 

59.33 

0. 

N. 

4 

25.29 

76.5  '44. 

146.5 

70.5 

58.25 

0. 

N. 

5 

25.31 

73.    '43.76147. 

71.66 

59.33 

N. 

N. 

6 

25.2969.3351.5 

142.33 

69. 

58. 

W.N.W. 

N. 

7 

25.14  69.     l48. 

135. 

68.25 

55. 

W.N.W. 

0. 

8 

25.13  65.6648.2 

108. 

64. 

55.25 

8.W. 

N. 

9 

25.05|66.66  50.25 150. 

58.33 

53.33 

S.W. 

N. 

10 

25.02,66.     '44.66 112. 

68. 

53.33 

8. 

N. 

11 

24.9869.6642.33145. 

69. 

56.66 

8. 

0. 

12 

24.94  64.5   40.25 

127. 

60. 

62.6 

8. 

N. 

13 

24.93  64.66  40.25 

120. 

53. 

45.25 

8. 

N. 

1 

14 

26-02  62.33  36. 

80. 

60. 

48. 

S.W. 

0. 

15 

24.8852.     ;35.66 

125. 

50.25 

46. 

S.W. 

N. 

16 

24.79  48.75,33. 

135. 

46. 

41.2 

s.w. 

0. 

17 

24.87  56.75  32.6 

140. 

52.5 

48. 

S.W. 

N. 

18 

25.08  69.6636.2 

134. 

59. 

47. 

.9- 

N. 

19 

25.03 

57.5  31.5 

128. 

56.2 

46. 

S.W. 

N. 

20 

24.88 

49.5  142.5 

92. 

46. 

44. 

8.W. 

K. 

21 

24.98'39.75'33. 

116. 

88. 

85. 

S.W. 

N. 

22 

25.08 

54.5 

32.5 

115.6 

49. 

46.25 

w. 

N. 

,Ootl,li81. 


KOTABILIA. 


681 


1                                          1  Amt. 

Thermometer. 

Hygrometer. 

Wind. 

Amt. 

of 

Date 

BroL 

FOBCB  OF  WIJTD. 

of 

mow 

in 
Sng. 
inches 

]£ax. 
60. 

Min. 

Solar 
Mat. 

137. 

ban>. 
59. 

Wet 
bulb. 

50.5 

Upper 
correat. 

Valley 
WinC 

water 

23 

26.08 

86. 

W. 

N. 

24 

25.04 

58.75 

45. 

90. 

48.5 

47. 

s.w. 

0. 

25 

25.06 

61.75 

43. 

147.5 

59.5 

51. 

N.W. 

N. 

26 

25.09 

61. 

31.5 

136.5 

60. 

48.25 

N.W. 

N. 

27 

25.09 

57.76 

37. 

134. 

57. 

49. 

NN.W. 

N. 

"28 

25.16 

55. 

84.5 

136. 

58.75  48.26 

N.            N. 

29 

26.22 

56.75  29.2 

136.5 

56.25;46.76 

0.            N. 

SO  25.22i 

69.8  i29. 

133. 

68.     i49.26 

0.            0. 

ocTOBXB,  laso. 


1 

25.26l67.76 

29.26 

148. 

61.76 

47. 

N. 

0' 

2 

25.07  65.26 

31.33 

143. 

65. 

48. 

0. 

N. 

3 

24.8647.33  32.83 

110. 

47. 

42.25 

W.N.W. 

N. 

4 

24.88  57.33|40.5 

122. 

62. 

47. 

W. 

0. 

5 

24.9769.76 

42.25 

93. 

66.5 

48. 

s. 

0. 

6 

24.9662. 

46.33 

103. 

60.5 

61.5 

D.O.W. 

B. 

7 

24.9661.76 

63. 

101. 

61. 

51.26 

S. 

0. 

8 

24.8361.5 

44. 

123.5 

57. 

50.25 

S. 

0. 

9 

24.81 47. 

26.2 

122.5 

46. 

44. 

0. 

0. 

10 

24.7 

42.8 

29. 

136 

87.6 

37.6 

s.w. 

N. 

11 

24.85 

49. 

26.2 

114. 

48. 

40.5 

8. 

0. 

12 

24.9 

43.26 

35. 

100.5 

42. 

39. 

S. 

N. 

13 

24.9643.2 

28. 

124.6 

43. 

39.33 

w. 

0. 

14 

26.07 

49.5 

32.5 

185. 

89.6 

37. 

w. 

N. 

15 

26.06 

68.26 

23.5 

134.5 

55.6 

44. 

w. 

0. 

16 

25.04  66. 

32.5 

123.6 

53.25 

48. 

W.N.W. 

0. 

17 

25.04  67. 

31. 

128.6 

61.26 

45. 

S.W. 

0. 

18 

24.98|50.5 

38. 

84.6 

60.6 

46.25 

S. 

0. 

19 

24.98'6d. 

41.66 

136.6 

48.66 

46. 

S. 

s. 

20 

24.7462.2 

37.38 

135. 

52. 

44. 

s. 

S.&N. 

21 

24.8  54.26  39.5 

76. 

50.5 

47. 

s. 

N. 

22 

24.7  .66.8 

41.5 

61.6 

66. 

48. 

s.w. 

0. 

23 

24.83'66.33  41. 

134. 

64.66 

49.25 

w. 

N. 

24 

24.8337.26  34. 

93. 

36. 

34. 

w. 

N. 

25 

24.97  41.26 

26.2 

124. 

39. 

34. 

w. 

N. 

26 

24.87 

51.8 

19.25 

123.6 

48.26 

38. 

w. 

0. 

27 

24.8264.76 

29.25 

94. 

62.6 

47.5 

s. 

N. 

28 

24.74  54.5 

42. 

128. 

53.75 

44. 

s. 

0. 

29 

24.53  60.76 

40.25 

93. 

46.66 

48.66 

s. 

N. 

30 

24.7734. 

24. 

89.6 

31.5 

27.26 

w. 

8. 

81 

24.94  38.5 

25.5 

122. 

38.6 

81. 

0. 

0. 

VOTEMBSB,  1880. 


1 
2 
3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 


26.00  33. 

24.90i38. 

24.7835.5 

24.73|43. 

24.8637.5 

26.07,40. 

25.12  60. 

26.07,50.2 

24.9760.2 

24.94  37.2 


24.96 


24.9945. 


46.5 


13.8 

112. 

19. 

87. 

28. 

81. 

81. 

120. 

28. 

117. 

27. 

119. 

21. 

124.6 

27.6 

105. 

26.33 

122. 

26.6 

86. 

20.25 

117.5 

21.76 

114. 

33. 
36. 
33. 
42. 
36. 
38. 


127.26 


6632. 

!29. 
33,86. 
5  132. 

36. 
26'36. 
26  36. 


46. 
42. 
48. 
36. 
46. 
44.26'37. 


44.66 

36. 

86. 


0. 

N.£). 

0. 

0. 

0. 

0. 

s. 

0. 

s. 

0. 

N.W. 

0. 

o; 

0. 

0. 

0. 

S.W. 

0. 

w. 

0. 

0. 

0. 

0. 

0. 

<»2 


WOTAtPr^fi 


•  O0LI, 


1                           1 

1 

1 

i& 

V^      A. 

Y^^^ 

Thermometer. 

Wind. 

.Ant 
of 

ol 

Date 

Max. 

Min. 
20. 

Solar 
Max. 

70. 

1^. 
48. 

Wei 

bnlb. 

89.6 

TTppcr 
cuxettt. 

TaUey 
WmcL 

lonGBi  ov  wniDk 

in 

18 

24.95  54.25 

S. 

N. 

J3 

14 

24.9558.83120. 

122. 

58. 

41. 

w. 

0. 

15 

24.75;48.75'27.2 

122.5 

46. 

88.38 

fl.W. 

N. 

16 

24.77,48.2  l26. 

100. 

47.6 

87.5 

s. 

8. 

17 

24.89  39.     32. 

46. 

38. 

85. 

0. 

N. 

.4946.75 

18 

24.4238.     {25.2 

136.5 

34. 

28.88 

N. 

8. 

.036 

i 

19 

24.4841.7512.2 

94.5 

39. 

86. 

s. 

8. 

20 

24.7741.2525. 

135.5 

37. 

33.76 

s. 

0. 

21 

24.88;40.33|23. 

139. 

38. 

83. 

s. 

0. 

.47 

22 

24.78  40.66  27. 

128. 

38. 

86.25 

s. 

0. 

28 

24.4   38.5  '17.25 

124.5 

38. 

82.5 

8. 

0. 

24 

26.1441.6617.5 

118. 

89.5 

84.5 

0. 

0. 

25 

25.1643.5  I2O.25 

106. 

40. 

86. 

s. 

0. 

26 

25. 

48.7525.25 

129. 

i2. 

87. 

8.. 

0. 

27 

26.09 

47.     28.33 

136. 

46.26 

89.26 

8. 

0. 

28 

26.03 

39.66  30. 

114.6 

36.5 

84.76 

0. 

0. 

29 

26.04 

44.3324. 

189.6 

43.26 

87.6 

0. 

0. 

30 

25.2842.     25.5 

120. 

42. 

84. 

0. 

0.      I 

BXCXICBSS,  1880. 


1 
2 
8 
4 
6 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 


22 
28 
24 

26 

26 
27 
28 

29. 
80 

81 


25. 
26. 
26. 
26. 
26. 
26. 
26. 
26. 
26. 
26. 
26. 


2  |45. 
08  39.66 


12 
17 
2 
24 


12  26 

18  24. 

14  24. 

16  |24. 

16  24. 

17  24. 

18  24. 

19  24. 

20  l24. 

21  |24. 


38.5 
48.66 
36.8 
40.8 
2836. 
37138.33 
2141.66 
05  38.5 
0437.33 
03  34. 


26. 
24. 
24. 


94 

87 

88 

77 

68 

7 

99 

92 

7 

96 
6 


24.65 


24.6 

24.74 

24.73 

24.73 

24.71 

24.72128 


33.5 

37. 

34.5 

41.66 

42. 

36.66 

31. 

42.26 

39.5 

27. 

82.5 

34.75 


38.25 


23. 

37. 

41.5 

46.6 

40.6 


21.5 

19. 

17. 

17.6 

19.6 

24. 

29.5 

20. 

20. 

24. 

24. 

13. 

14.25 

27.33 

27.5 

17.6 

21.33 

27. 
13.26 
18.76 
24.6 
18.6 
7. 
19. 

21. 

7.26 

7. 
21. 
24.26 
81. 
26.6 


120. 

115. 

117. 

125. 

120.5 

116. 

51. 

120.5 

116. 

102. 

103. 

130. 

46. 

87. 

107.5 

137. 

140. 

106. 

120. 

146. 

109. 

126. 

100.5 

118. 

66.6 

120. 

132. 

181.5 

186. 

68. 

116. 


42. 

84. 

0. 

0. 

39. 

81.5 

0. 

0. 

36.33 

81. 

0. 

0. 

42. 

82. 

N.W. 

0. 

36.33 

21.5 

N.W. 

0. 

40. 

88.66 

N.W. 

0. 

36. 

86. 

W. 

0. 

87. 

82. 

N.W. 

0. 

36. 

82. 

W. 

N. 

32.6 

29. 

S.W. 

N. 

36. 

88. 

W.N.W. 

0. 

30. 

26. 

N. 

0. 

32.25 

81. 

0. 

0. 

84.25 

82.5 

0. 

0. 

34. 

82.6 

N.W. 

0. 

40.6 

38. 

W. 

0. 

40.33 

84.26 

s.w. 

0. 

36. 

84. 

w. 

N. 

27. 

24.26 

w. 

0. 

41.6 

85.5 

8.W. 

0. 

38.26 

84. 

0. 

N. 

21. 

18. 

0. 

0. 

80. 

27. 

w. 

0. 

38. 

80. 

8.W. 

0. 

87. 

81. 

8. 

0. 

20.6 

17.6 

W. 

0. 

36.5 

82. 

W. 

0. 

38.76 

84.76 

w. 

0. 

48. 

87. 

8.- 

0. 

87. 

84. 

8. 

0. 

27. 

23.6 

W. 

0. 

06 

.20 

.04251 


.44 

.49 


8tioDg  gusts. 


Aft6r!4  p.in.tW|^ 
BonlhiriiicL 


.19 
1.83 
.1051 

.8 


.36 
J8 


2i 


|17. 
3. 
L 

4. 


.10 
.085 


1.5 
i 


B«Tiew,  Get.  1, 1881. 


NOTABILIA. 


68S? 


JAVTTABT,   1881. 


1         1  Amt. 

Bate 

Brm. 
24.97 

Thermometor. 

"Wind. 

Amt. 

of 
snow. 

ICax. 

Min. 

Solar 
]!iaz. 

118. 

Drjr 
bulb. 

24. 

Wot 
bulb. 

Upper 
coirent. 

VaUoT 
Wind. 

voBCB  OF  vmny, 

• 

of 
water 

in 

Eng. 

inches 

1 

26.5 

8.25 

22. 

N. 

0. 

2 

25.07 

26. 

^1. 

122. 

20. 

18. 

N. 

0. 

3 

25.02 

32. 

6. 

136. 

25.25 

22^5 

0. 

0. 

4 

25.01 

40.25 15. 

128. 

39.5 

32.5 

S.-S.B. 

N. 

5 

24.78 

42.7518.5 

136.5  40. 

35. 

s. 

0. 

6 

24.9 

41.3322. 

95.    41. 

36. 

8. 

0. 

7 

25. 

28.5 

3. 

120.5  28.5 

25. 

0. 

0. 

8 

24.92 

29.5 

1.66 

121.5l28.25 

23.       0. 

0. 

9 

24.75 

28.66   3.75 

122.  '23. 

20.       0. 

0. 

10 

24.68 

28.5  -5. 

121.  ;23.5 

20.     lO. 

0. 

11 

24.6 

27.33   0. 

120.  |24.33  21.     :0. 

0. 

12 

24.6   27.       0. 

121.    24.6 

21.5  1  0. 

0. 

.126 

.5 

13 

24.37 

26.25   3.5 

62.    24.5 

22.       0. 

0. 

.1 

.5 

14 

24.48 

20.     1  5.75 

114. 

16. 

14. 

W. 

0. 

15   24.27 

22.5  1  4. 

118. 

21. 

17.5 

s.w. 

N. 

f 

.25 

.33 

16  24.48 

11.25   5. 

115. 

11. 

10. 

N.N.W. 

N. 

17  24.72 

21.6610.66 

120.5 

16. 

13. 

0. 

0. 

18   24.43 

30.     -3. 

55. 

25.5   24.5  1  8.W. 

0. 

.10 

2.& 

19  24.4 

30.66   7. 

65.5 

28.25  26.5 

s.s.w. 

0. 

20  |24.27 

23.  ;io. 

112. 

19. 

17. 

8. 

N. 

21   24.78 

18.     -3.9 

118. 

11.1 

9.2 

w. 

0. 

22  24.89 

24.     i-3. 

137. 

23.25 

20. 

0. 

0. 

23  ,24.67 

21.     -2. 

128.6 

19.6 

16.5 

0. 

0. 

24  124.92 

20.     -10. 

123. 

18. 

16.5 

0. 

0. 

25 

24.85 

23.25-5. 

118. 

22. 

17.6 

8.W. 

N. 

A  strong  breease. 

.115 

1. 

26 

24.6 

30.76 10.75 

131.6 

29.25 

26.     !  N.N.W. 

0. 

.55 

1. 

27 

24.58 

40.5     9. 

133. 

40. 

32.5 

W.N.W. 

0. 

.3 

•75 

28 

24.44 

42.25!  9. 

126. 

40.5 

35.5 

S.W. 

0. 

29 

24.51 

42.66 14.5 

130. 

40.25 

32.25 

S.W. 

0. 

30 

24.39 

38.25 19. 

108. 

37.26 

32.5 

8. 

0. 

.135 

2. 

31    24.62 

42.5   18. 

163. 

37.     134. 

S.W. 

0. 

FBBStlAKY,  1881. 


1 

24.62i41.33   9.25134. 

40. 

32.26 

N.W. 

0. 

2 

24.83  40.33 12.25 135. 

37.25 

32. 

N. 

0. 

3 

24.9 

42.     10.66136. 

36. 

32. 

0. 

0. 

4 

24.65 

44.25 13.      135. 

40. 

32.6 

0. 

0. 

5 

24.65 

42.     12.25135. 

36. 

32. 

8. 

0. 

6 

24.55 

25.2   19.       60. 

24.66 

23.5 

0. 

N. 

Strong  gosts. 

.10 

3. 

7 

24.81 

37.     19.5   117. 

26. 

23.5 

W. 

N. 

8 

24.62 

34.     J  7. 

96. 

33.5 

30.6 

W. 

0. 

A  strong  breeze. 
Fromll.l5  a.in., 

.345 

12. 

9 

24.62 

33.5   22.25   98. 

1 

29. 

26.2 

W.N.W. 

0. 

till  1  p.m. 
strong  breeze. 

.26 

4.5 

10 

24.6 

43.     24.25 128. 

42.6 

38. 

W. 

0. 

.15 

2. 

11 

24.32 

36.5   22. 

135. 

35. 

29. 

N.W. 

0. 

A  strong  breeze. 

12 

24.49 

24.     i]3. 

55. 

18.25 

15.2 

N.W. 

N. 

.5 

.75. 

13 

24.86 

32.75 10. 

119. 

28. 

22. 

N.W.      . 

N. 

.226 

.5 

14 

24.78 

32.66-6.6 

142. 

31.5 

24. 

N.W. 

0. 

15 

24.7 

44.     '  1.     144.6 

40. 

32. 

0. 

0. 

16 

24.84 

48.6   12.     144. 

46. 

35. 

B.W^. 

0. 

17 

24.88 

46.7618.5   133. 

45.5 

36. 

8. 

0. 

18   24.92 

44.6620.     134. 

42.8 

36. 

S.S.W.  ' 

0. 

19 

24.9 

46.5   19.5   147. 

43. 

36* 

W.8.  W. 

0. 

20 

24.9845.6   18.25133. 

44. 

85. 

S.W. 

0. 

21 

25.0248.5  25.5 

134. 

46. 

84. 

S.W. 

0. 

22   25.00!43.     20. 

134. 

4a.25 

[84. 

0. 

0. 

Nf 

».  lU. 

Vol.  26: 

2 

T 

IKH 

b 

NOTABILU 

kt 

iSSm 

,  Oat.  Coil 

7XBBVABT,  18S1. 

,  4^ 

Btte 

Bnn. 

ThtrmooMter. 

Hygromater. 

Wind. 

Amt 

if 

VOBCB  or  «!■!». 

OK 

• 

25.00 

Max. 

48. 

Wn. 
17. 

Solar 
Max. 

188. 

InSb. 

Wet 
bnlb. 

flnxsnt. 

TallflT 
Wind. 

& 

23 

46.5 

88.25 

S.W. 

0. 

24 

25.00 

42.75 

13.75 

129. 

40.6 

82. 

0. 

0. 

25 

24.85 

42.25 

18.6 

133. 

89. 

32. 

0. 

0. 

26 

24.76 

43.66 

12. 

180. 

42.6 

84. 

w. 

0. 

27 

24.7 

41.66 

16. 

79. 

41. 

84.26 

s. 

0. 

.S5 

.7S 

38 

24.64 

41.66I22.5 

129. 

40. 

85. 

s. 

0. 

.d6  '8.5 

MASGH,  1881. 

1 

24.55 

25.33 

24.25 

67. 

28. 

22. 

0. 

0. 

.3 

.5 

2 

24.84 

24. 

12. 

140. 

22. 

19. 

N. 

N. 

8 

24.75 

35.66 

-.4 

126. 

82.6 

26. 

N. 

N. 

4 

24.8 

36.33 

11.33 

76. 

34.26 

32.25 

0. 

0. 

3 

.5 

5 

24.7 

42.25 

24. 

82. 

40. 

36. 

0. 

0. 

6 

24.74 

46. 

29.25 

82. 

40. 

33. 

8. 

0. 

.5 

7 

24.85 

54.5 

34.38 

118. 

47.25 

43. 

W. 

0. 

17. 

L 

8 

24.87 

40.5 

32.5 

136. 

40.25 

37.5 

N. 

0. 

9 

25.02 

37.66 

27.26 

117. 

32. 

30. 

0. 

0. 

.146 

U 

10 

25.04 

39. 

28.5 

69. 

38. 

32. 

0. 

N. 

.966|U.5 

11 

25.06 

39.66  28. 

89. 

39.6 

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0. 

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12 

24.92 

52.5   22. 

156. 

48.5 

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0. 

13 

24.81 

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140. 

44.5 

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N. 

N. 

14 

24.81 

49.5 

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140. 

47. 

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0. 

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15 

24.98 

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44.5 

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17 

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18 

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114. 

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19 

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50.5 

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180. 

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21 

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120. 

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.305 

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23 

24.95 

39. 

14.5 

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84. 

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24 

24.95 

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126. 

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25 

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142. 

43.6 

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0. 

.1 

26 

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28.75 

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27 

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28 

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52.25 

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From  12  ajn.  a 
strong  fareeae. 

.65 

81 

24.65  50.5 

81. 

120. 

46.5 

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S. 

N. 

APSII,   1881. 

1   24.65 

53.5 

88. 

187. 

61.6  41. 

S.          ,  0. 

■  .6    i 

2   24.67 

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8 

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.285 

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15   24.97149.6  188.     "116.  1 

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~  1 

lSS^^:rrS^  HOTABILIA.  685 


AN  EDINBUBGH  PBOFESSOB  ON  H0M<E0PATH7. 

Tax  following  passage  ttppean  in  The  SeoUman  of  2nd  Angoat 
as  a  part  of  the  Yidedictoty  Address  to  the  graduates  of  the 
Uiiiversity  of  Edinburgh  by  the  Professor  of  Surgery,  Mr.  Amriif* 

**  It  is  probably  expected  that  I  should  here  say  something  in 
regard  to  homoeopathy  and  homoeopathic  practitioners.  My 
difficulty  in  regard  to  homoeopathy  is,  that,  judging  from  the 
recent  correspondence  and  discussions  on  the  subject,  the 
majority  of  homoeopathic  practitioners  no  longer  acknowledge  or 
practise  in  their  entirety  the  principles  of  the  original  founder  of 
the  system.  I  understand  that  they  now  make  use  of  homoeo- 
pathy, allopathy,  or  any  other  treatment  which  they  consider 
likely  to  be  useful — ^I  might  in  some,  I  hope  not  in  many, 
instances,  say  agreeable— to  their  patients.  Why,  then,  call 
themselves  homoeopaths  ?  and  why  do  they  let  it  be  understood 
that  their  treatment  is  a  special  one,  or  is  in  any  way  superior 
to  that  practised  by  the  ordinary  practitioner  ?  The  position  of 
homoeopathic  practitioners  is  at  present  both  illogical  and 
inconsistent  as  regards  the  practice  of  medicine ;  and  I  say  that 
ihey  should  either  hold  to  the  original  principle  of  homoeopathy, 
and  call  themselyes  true  homoeopathic  practitioners,  or  they 
flhonld  retire  from  the  ranks  of  homoeopathy,  return  to  the  field 
of  the  ordinary  profession,  and  give  up  their  pretensions  to  cure 
all  diseases  by  any  special  system  which  is  peculiar  to  them- 
selves. You  wOl  meet  homoeopathy  not  infrequently  in  your 
future  professional  life.  You  will  meet  it  in  the  form  of  your 
patients  leaving  you  in  order  to  undergo  a  course  of  this  special 
treatment.  You  will  meet  with  it  by  being  told  that  homoeo- 
pathy has  cured  patients  whom  you  have  failed  to  cure,  the 
fact  being  that  patients  become  cured  sometimes  without  any 
treatment,  after  treatment  of  aU  kinds  has  failed — nature  having 
at  last  got  a  chance.  And  you  will  meet  with  it  in  your  patients' 
houses  by  seeing  pretty  little  bottles  and  boxes  of  bottles  containing 
minute  portions  of  fluids  or  solids  lying  on  the  tables  of  their 
dressing-rooms.  (Laughter.)  I  cannot  resist  likening  homoeo- 
pathy to  what  is  now  termed  Aesthetics.  Both  are  amusing  and 
absurd  to  those  not  practising  them ;  both  are  harmless  when 
used  in  moderation,  and  both  apparently  please,  entertain,  and 
occupy  the  minds  of  those  who  have  the  time  and  money  to 
spend  on  them.  Perhaps  the  best  advice  I  can  give  you  in  regard 
to  the  treatment  of  homoeopathy  is  to  treat  it  as  most  sensible 
people  treat  aesthetics.  I  have  no  desire  to  say  anything  that  is 
discourteous  or  personal  in  regard  to  homoeopathic  practitioners 
themselves.    Many  of  them  are  educated  gentlemen,  and  are 

3 1— 2 


636  NOTABILIA*  ^"^i^o^^St 


qualified  members  of  our  profession ;  but  it  is  impossible,  mider 
present  oircumstances,  that  yon  can  haye  any  tme  sympalhy 
with  them  in  the  matter  of  medical  practice.  Yon  cannot  meet 
them  in  consultation,  because,  although  yon  might  agree  mik 
them  as  to  the  natore  or  diagnosis  of  a  case  of  disease,  one  or 
other  of  you  must  consent  to  sacrifice  your  principles  and  belitf 
when  the  treatment  of  the  disease  has  to  be  decided,  and  no  man 
with  any  proper  feeling  will  do  this,  or  should  do  it,  more  par- 
ticularly when  the  health  or  life  of  a  human  being  is  concerned. 
Your  assistance  as  surgeons,  or  in  other  departments  where 
medicine  is  not  required,  may  be  sought  by  homoeopathic  prac- 
titioners, and  in  these  cases  the  question  of  homoeopathic  treat- 
ment does  not  arise,  for  homoeopatiiy  will  not  cut  off  a  leg  or  set 
a  fractured  bone  ;  but  even  under  these  circumstances,  although 
you  may  sometimes  be  justified  in  meeting  a  homoeopath,  I 
would,  from  experience,  advise  you  to  insist  upon  taking  sole  and 
special  charge  of  the  patient  as  long  as  your  particular  treatment 
is  required." 

Why  Mr.  Annandale  should  be  *'  expected  to  say  something 
about  homoeopathy,"  we  are  not  aware.  It  is  angeneronsto 
expect  a  man  to  discourse  on  a  subject  regarding  which  he  is 
very  ignorant.  Ne  sutor  ultra  crepidam  is  a  maxim  Mr.  Annan- 
dale  would  do  well  to  bear  in  mind,  when  he  is  next  called  npon 
to  address  either  medical  students  or  any  other  body  of  persons. 
If  he  does  so,  he  will  not  again  touch  upon  homoeopathy  without 
haying  gone  through  a  course  of  study  relating  to  it. 

Mr.  Annandale  states  that  his  ''  difficulty  in  regard  to  homoeo- 
pathy is  that,  judging  from  the  recent  correspondence  and  dis- 
cussions on  the  subject,  the  majority  of  homoBopathic  practitioners 
no  longer  acknowledge  or  practise  in  their  entirety  the  principles 
of  the  original  founder  of  homoeopathy."  K  Mr.  Annandale  had 
known  anything  about  the  "  principles  of  the  original  founder  of 
homoeopathy,"  he  would  haye  been  aware  that  these  embraced 
many  subjects  besides  homoeopathy.  Homoeopathy  is  a  role  or 
principle  of  drug  selection — and  this  alone.  Thiis  rule  or  principle 
homoeopathic  practitioners  now,  as  ever,  carry  into  practice  in 
all  cases  where  it  is  possible  so  to  do.  They  know  perfectly 
well,  that  in  a  few  instances  a  parasiticide  will  remove — not 
disease — but  its  cause ;  they  also  know,  that  in  cases  of  incurable 
Kufifering  palliatives  can  alone  reheve,  and  use  such  medicine  in 
such  cases  accordingly.  Further,  there  are  cases — though  far 
less  numerous  than  Mr.  Annandale  supposes — in  which  a  soipcal 
operation  is  requisite,  and  they  avail  themselves  of  such  a  dernUr 
ressort  in  such  instances.  There  is,  however,  no  novelty  here — 
such  measures  have  been  used  by  homoeopathists  throughout  the 


ItSSS'Sn^^SS^  NOTABILIA.  637 


X«fieir,  Oet  1, 1881. 


entire  history  of  this  method — as  the  literature  of  the  subject 
-abimdaxitly  proves. 

Why,  then,  Mr.  Axmandale  wants  to  know,  do  those  who 
practise  homoBopathy  admit  that  they  do  so  ?  Because  so  to 
admit  is  the  only  method  within  their  reach  of  forcing  the  subject 
upon  the  attention  of  the  medical  profession.  Their  experience 
assures  them  of  its  importance  aJike  to  the  physician  and  the 
patient.  They  know  that  homoeopathy  is  superior  to  the  methods 
ordinarily  practised — and,  knowing  this,  they  are  bound  to  say 
80.  They  do  not,  however,  keep  the  principles  of  homoBopathic 
practice  secret,  they  do  not  assert  their  personal  superiority  to 
their  medical  neighbours ;  on  the  contrary,  their  method  has  been 
explained  in  the  most  public  manner  possible,  and  in  every 
variety  of  way,  and  is  as  open  to  their  medical  neighbours  as  it 
is  to  tiiemselves. 

Mr.  Annandale's  account  of  the  various  ways  in  which  his 
young  friends  will  meet  with  homoeopathy  is  amusing,  whatever 
else  may  be  said  regarding  it.  ''  You  will  meet  with  it,'*  he  said, 
'**by  being  told  that  homoeopathy  had  cured  patients  whom  you 
have  failed  to  cure,  the  fact  being,''  he  continued,  '*  that  patients 
become  cured  sometimes  without  any  treatment,  after  treatment 
of  all  kinds  has  failed — nature  having  at  last  got  a  chance.'' 
The  experience  Mr.  Annandale  tells  the  graduates  they  will  have 
to  encounter  in  after  life,  is  probable  enough,  but  his  explanation 
is  a  pure  assumption.  Far  wiser  would  it  have  been  for  him  to 
have  advised  his  hearers  carefully  to  examine  each  case  of  the 
kind  that  comes  before  them,  and  to  ascertain  for  themselves  how 
far  the  resources  of  homoeopathy  have  been  of  advantage  to  the 
patients.  There  would  be  more  common  sense  in  so  doing  than 
in  taking  it  for  granted  that  it  was  a  simple  abstinence  from 
traditional  drugging  that  had  been  beneficial. 

Mr.  Annandale's  comparison  of  homoeopathy  to  aesthetics  is 
sheer  nonsense,  and  serves  only  to  exhibit  his  ignorance  of  it  in 
a  yet  more  glaring  Ught. 

His  advice  regarding  consultations  is  a  little  mis-timed.  It  is 
hardly  probable  that  the  opinion  of  an  inexperienced  Edinburgh 
graduate  would  be  sought  by  an  experienced  practitioner,  either 
fis  to  the  nature  or  diagnosis  of  disease,  and  still  less  as  to  its 
treatment.  When  these  young  gentlemen  have  had  the  expe- 
rience which  can  alone  render  their  opinion  worth  having,  they 
will  probably  feel  more  disposed  to  act  upon  their  own  judgment 
than  upon  the  ex  cathedra  utterances  of  a  professor,  ignorant  of 
the  subject  on  which  he  essayed  to  instruct  them. 

The  Edinburgh  graduate  of  1881  will  do  well  to  examine  the 
4}ue8tion  involved  in  homoeopathy  for  himself.  Let  him  ascertain 
by  personal  clinical  experience,  whether  he  cannot  cure  diseasie 
more  completely  and  more  frequently  by  a  homoeopathically 


^8 HOTABILU.  ^"SS^.'SZtml- 

selected  drag,  than  by  the  mere  paUiatiTes  on  T^dihe  has  bees 
hitherto  taught  to  rely.  To  all  who  wish  to  form  an  independeDi 
opinion  on  the  subject,  the  London  School  of  Homoeopathy  and 
the  wards  of  the  London  HomcBopathic  Hospital  are  open.  Li 
both  institutions  medical  enquirers  will  be  heartily  welcome. 


THE  NEW  YORK  STATE  HOM(EOPATHIG  ASYLUM 

FOR  THE  INSANE. 

Ths  following  extract  from  the  annual  report  of  this  very  weQ 
managed  institution  is  interesting : — 

'*  The  results  of  the  year  prove  anew  the  striking  benefits  (^ 
benign  medication,  combined  with  the  most  modem  of  hygienie 
and  sanitary  measures  for  promoting  the  physical  and  mental 
restoration  of  insane  patients.  Increased  experience  in  the  use 
of  drugs  after  the  homoeopathic  formula  demonstrates  the  cer- 
tainty of  their  action  on  the  part  of  some  remedies  in  some 
classes  of  insanity,  mania  and  melancholia,  notably  melancholia 
with  stupor  being  particularly  susceptible  to  the  beneficial 
action  of  appropriate  medicines.  It  is  with  peculiar  satisfaction 
that  we  record  the  cure  of  several  cases  of  melancholia  with  stupor, 
during  the  past  year,  with  baptisia  Hnetoria;  for  thus  the  uses  d 
this  remarkable  drug  have  been  developed  in  a  new  and  untned 
field.  I  now  use  this  remedy  with  that  confidence  which  happy 
experience  warrants.  The  domains  of  dementia,  general  paresis, 
and  epileptic  insanity  still  form  '  debatable  grounds '  as  to 
whether,  any  remedies  have,  to  any  marked  extent,  any  prompi 
or  beneficial  effect. 

<*  Medicine  has  its  happy  uses,  and  a  wide  and  benign  scope 
of  power ;  but  it  has  its  limits  likewise,  beyond  which  it  cannot 
pass.  And  yet,  even  when  medicine  fails,  our  efforts  to  afford 
relief  may  not  stop,  for  we  have  still  always  present  the  vast 
resources  of  diet,  air,  exercise  and  diversion.  The  physician  to 
the  insane  who  would  neglect  these  and  rely  upon  a  course  of 
drugging  (which  sometimes  proves  more  hurtiEhl  than  otherwise^ 
since  drugs,  like  water  and  fire,  are  dangerous  elements  when 
misapplied),  will  often  meet  with  bitter  disappointment,  and  &il 
in  accomplishing  the  fullest  results  for  good  which  are  at  his 
command. 

«« Most  of  our  patients,  when  admitted,  present  the  appearances 
of  physical  as  well  as  mental  degeneration.  They  are,  in  fact, 
simply  worn  out  and  shattered  wrecks  of  humanity.  We  find 
here  both  disease  to  combat  and  dreary  wastes  to  be  repaired* 
Drugging  can  no  more  meet  the  demands  of  a  wasted  system  for 
repair  than  the  oiling  of  machinery  can  become  a  substitute  for 


agoSgyaii!^  ROTABILIA, 689 

the  eoal  and  water  that  aie  zieeded  for  the  generatioii  of  steaia 
in  the  engine.  That  which  Tnannfactares  good  blood,  keeps  it 
pure  in  its  eonises,  Bends  it  in  a  eeaseless  and  Tigoroos  enrrent 
throng  the  arteries,  and  eansee  it  to  give  tone  and  enei^  to  the 
nerves,  is  a  necessity  for  recuperating  from  exhaustion.  It  is  a 
just  demand  which  the  debilitated  insane  make  upon  ns  for 
supply.  We  reiterate  what  we  have  stated  in  our  former  reports 
that,  in  addition  to  cautious  medication,  we  rely  largely  for  the 
cure  of  our  eases  upon  abundant  and  nourishing  food,  an  un- 
failing supply  of  pure  air,  a  constant  attention  to  personal  clean- 
liness and  the  free  use  of  the  bath,  appropriate  out-door  exercise, 
moderate  and  judicious  labour  for  ^ose  who  are  strong  enou^ 
to  work,  profound  and  protracted  rest  where  that  is  deemed 
advisable,  and  proper  and  agreeable  diversion  for  all. 

**  These  are  the  methods  adopted  for  the  treatment  of  the 
insane  at  this  asylum.  To  get  the  weak  and  wasted  fat  and 
strong  is  our  first  endeavour.  Then  comes  regular  exercise  in 
the  form  of  walks,  drives,  strolls  over  the  hills  and  practice  in 
the  gymnasium.  To  out-door  exercises  are  added  in-door 
amusements  of  an  exhilarating  nature  in  the  form  of  weekly 
dances.  To  those  accustomed  to  toil,  and  to  those  who  are 
willing,  we  furnish,  as  far  as  possible,  agreeable  and  moderate 
employment.  We  do  not,  however,  drive  our  patients  to  uncon- 
genial tasks,  since  our  supreme  effort  is  to  restore  them  to  health, 
not  to  make  them  a  source  of  profit  or  excessive  economy  to  the 
asylum. 

"Yet  the  aggregate  of  work  cheerfuUy  performed  at  this 
institution  amounts  reaUy  to  a  large  and  notable  sum.  The 
men  have  been  engaged  on  the  farm,  in  the  garden,  in  keeping 
the  walks  trimmed,  in  cultivating  flowers,  in  aiding  the  genertd 
work  of  the  wards,  kitchen,  laundiy  and  boiler-house ;  and  the 
sum  total  of  this  labour  for  the  year  amounts  to  4,950  days' 
work.  This  is  a  good  showing,  especiaily  when  we  consider 
that  by  far  the  greater  number  of  our  men  are  unable  to  work  at 
all. 

« In  the  department  for  female  patients  there  have  been  per- 
formed 5,820  days'  work  of  sewing.  Nearly  all  the  plain  work 
of  the  house,  such  as  the  manufacture  of  sheets,  pillow-cases, 
towels,  napkins,  dresses  and  aprons,  together  with  the  necessary 
mending,  has  been  done  by  patients.  More  than  this,  they  have 
assisted  in  keeping  the  wards  in  order,  and  in  beautifying  the 
same  by  tastefal  decorations  of  autunm  leaves  and  other  orna- 
mentation for  the  waUs  and  furniture.  Everyone  who  is  willing 
and  able  can  be  furnished  with  something  light  and  agreeable  to 
do,  even  if  it  is  not  remarkably  profitable." 


640  ifOTABOU.  *S!SJ*S?72? 


fieiiew.  OeL  1.  IflBL 


THE  CABLSBAD  WATERS  TREATMENT. 

In  a  paper  read  at  the  Philadelphia  Medical  Society  (PhU,  Med. 
Times,  May  7th),  Dr.  Bmen,  after  admittmg  the  Valae  of  the 
Oarisbad  salt  (especially  when  administered  highly  dOnted  vhilst 
fasting),  observes  that  it  docs  not  represent  the  waters  as  they 
issne  from  their  natural  sonrces.  It  is,  indeed,  afler  all,  only 
Glauber's  salt;  while  the  waters,  in  addition,  also  contain  (in  the 
pint)  thirteen  grains  of  carbonate  of  sodinm  and  two  of  stdph&le 
of  sodium,  besides  a  fair  amount  of  chloride  of  sodium,  some 
carbonate  of  lime  and  magnesium,  with  free  carbonic  acid,  at  a 
temperature  varying  from  122^  to  166^  F.  Speaking  from 
personal  experience  at  Carlsbad,  he  says  that  the  cases  resortmg 
thither  may  be  divided  into  three  classes — 1.  Enlargement  of  the 
liver  and  spleen,  as  a  consequence  of  repeated  congestions,  induced 
by  chronic  dyspepsia  or  chronic  malarial  disease ;  interstitial 
hepatitis,  or  the  primary  stage  of  cirrhosis,  especially  wbeo 
jaundice  and  insufficient  intestinal  digestion  persist ;  and  the 
cases  of  chronic  indigestion  with  deficient  assimilation,  whether 
or  not  constipation  be  a  prominent  symptom.  2.  Case^  of 
chronic  rheumatism  or  gout.  8.  Cases  of  the  gouty  state,  or 
those  obscure  cases  attended  with  renal  congestion  or  inactivity, 
as  evidenced  by  the  passage  of  a  deficient  amount  of  urine  of  low 
specific  gravity,  usually  associated  with  deficient  vaso -motor  tonus. 
These  cases  are  subject  to  transient  attacks  of  headache  as 
hysterical  nervousness. 

The  springs  differ  from  each  other  chiefly  in  temperature  and 
in  the  amount  of  carbonic  acid.  Patients  usually  rise  at  six,  and 
spend  about  two  hours  at  the  springs,  taking  at  fifteen  minutes' 
interval  three  or  four  ounces  of  the  water.  Beginners  usually 
indulge  in  from  twelve  to  sixteen  ounces  a  day,  and  the  amount 
is  often  carried  up  to  twenty-four  or  thirty  ounces.  Exercise  is 
taken  while  drinking  the  waters.  A  strict  diet  is  necessary  for 
the  success  of  '*  the  cure,'*  and  consists  of  a  light  breakfast  of 
eggs,  bread,  and  coffee,  with  meat  (steak  or  chi<^en)  at  noon ; 
the  same  meal  being  repeated  in  the  evening.  No  one  under 
treatment  must  venture  on  a  table  d'hote,  or  even  a  more  liberal 
meal.  Early  hours  and  moderate  exercise  are  insif^tcd  upon. 
Most  persons  experience  a  laxative  action,  ajthough  some  require 
compound  liquorice  powder  to  obtain  motions.  Without  exception, 
individuals  experience  the  most  profound  exhaustion,  and  extreme 
anaemia  usually  ensues.  The  urine  is  usually  notably  increased, 
and  is  sometimes  of  a  blackish-green  colour,  the  stools  also  being 
often  greenish.  Notwithstanding  these  effects,  the  treatment  is 
contLDued  for  three  or  four  weeks,  when  the  patient  is  sent  to 
Ischl,  St.  Moritz,  or  some  other  springs,  the  waters  of  which 
contain  iron,  and  then  the  blood  crasis  is  restored.     In  persons 


lK3SSf<Sras?**        ;»0TABiLUi  641 

^wi^akened  by  previous  long  illness,  recuperation  is  very  slow ; 
and  I>r.  Bmen  believes  that  often  the  treatment  is  pushed  too  far 
in  such  cases.  Sir  Henry  Thompson  believes  that  as  good  an 
effect  is  produced  by  six  to  eight  ounces  of  the  water  daily  for  six 
•or  seven  weeks  as  by  the  usual  three-weeks  course  of  larger  doses. 
In  serious  cases  a  repetition  of  the  course  every  three  or  four 
months  is  desirable  if  the  patient's  strength  will  bear  it,  and  too 
much  mjast  not  be  expected  from  a  single  course.  Dr.  Bruen 
believes  that  the  restriction  placed  on  articles  of  diet  contributes 
much  to  the  favourable  results.  Thus,  alcohol  or  fermented 
liquors  must  either  be  relinquished  or  given  only  in  the  most 
diluted  and  purest  form ;  sugar,  fatty  matters,  butter,  cream,  and 
fruits  are  prescribed ;  while  vegetables  and  good  fish  are 
unattainable. 

The  '<  after-cure  "  consists  in  sending  the  patient  to  some 
mountainous  resort  possessing  a  ferruginous  spring,  two  places 
being  just  now  in  vogue — ^viz.,  Ischl  in  the  Tyrol,  and  St.  Moritz 
in  the  Engadine.  Dr.  Bruen  gives  the  preference  to  Ischl  on 
account  of  its  equable  climate,  good  hotels  and  interesting 
adjacent  country.  At  St.  Moritz  the  climate  is  variable,  and 
there  is  but  one  month  in  which  it  is  really  comfortable — viz., 
July  or  August,  as  the  case  may  be ;  and  even  then  the  temper- 
ature may  vary  fifteen  or  twenty  degrees.  The  climate  is  too 
cold  (60°  to  65°  Fahr.)  for  amemic  people,  while  the  hotel 
accommodation  and  the  drainage  are  bolli  bad.  The  waters  are, 
however,  good,  and  containing  only  a  small  proportion  of  iron, 
are  well  digested ;  and  baths  consisting  of  the  same  water,  heated 
as  required,  are  very  agreeable  and  exhilarating.  As  a  careful 
reparative  diet  is  of  high  importance,  and  is  not  obtainable  in 
this  locality,  Dr.  Bruen  believes  it  preferable  after  the  "  cure  ** 
to  return  home,  even  at  the  cost  of  having  to  repair  to  Carlsbad 
a  second  time. — Medical  Times  and  Gazette. 


HOM(EOPATHY  IN  THE  ISLE  OF  THANET. 

While  discussions  on  homoeopathy  versus  allopathy  have  been 
going  on  of  late  in  the  medical  journals  and  tiie  Times^  and  in 
many  of  the  provincial  papers,  the  battle  has  likewise  been 
•carried  on  in  the  KerU  Argus  by  our  esteemed  confrh-e.  Dr. 
Harmar  Smith,  of  Bamsgate.  Dr.  Smith,  in  a  very  spirited 
manner,  gave  a  public  lecture  on  homoeopathy,  and  this  has 
been  the  casus  belli.  Dr.  Smith  has  waged  .the  war  almost 
single-handed,  and  of  course  has  the  best  of  the  argument. 
[Newspaper  controversies  may  be  thought  by  many  to  be  futOe, 
but  we  think  otherwise.  The  profession  as  well  as  the  public 
require  to  be  enlightened,  and  the  more  clearly  and  frequently 
4he  doctrines  of  homoeopathy  are  brought  before  the  public. 


642  irOTABILIA. 


',  otL  t,  isn. 


iogeXtker  with  the  flhallow  lepKes  of  the  oU-fldiool,  ihe  moro  is 
the  good  cause  of  Hahnemeim  forwaided.  We  eongrsiohle 
Br.  Hannar  Smith  on  the  paUie  spirit  he  has  shown,  and  tmsi 
he  wiU  find  his  reward  in  the  conseqnent  spread  of  a  desire  for 
honuBopathie  treatment  in  Bam^gate  and  the  neighbooring 
important  watering  pkees. 

BUTTERFLIES  AND  ALPINE  FLOWERS. 

Db.  Hkbmamk  Muixeb,  who  has  long  been  well  known  as  one  of 
the  most  zealoas  stadents  in  the  new  flower-lore,  has  jnst 
published,  at  Leipzig,  a  most  interesting  volnme  eontaining  the 
resnlts  of  six  years'  inrestigations  of  plant  fertilisation  among 
the  high  Alps.  What  mainly  engages  Dr.  MuUer's  attention  is 
the  modification  which  flowers  of  the  plains  undergo  in  adaptation 
to  a  mountain  fife ;  and,  in  order  to  arrive  at  definite  oondosiona, 
he  has  stationed  himself  day  after  day,  during  the  summer 
months,  among  the  belt  of  pastures  which  intervenes  between 
the  snow-line  and  the  highest  limit  of  pine  forests,  watching, 
noting  down,  and  if  possible  catching  all  tiie  insects  which  visited 
certain  special  groups  of  blossoms  during  many  hours  etxi' 
secutively.  He  is  thus  enabled  to  show  by  regular  statistics — 
which  he  schedules  with  true  German  patience  and  accuracy — 
what  are  the  particular  set^  of  insect  fertilisers  to  which  eadi 
species  of  mountain  plant  has  adapted  itself.  It  has  long  been 
noticed  that  while  bees  and  beetles,  two  of  the  most  important 
groups  of  flower-fertilisers  are  relatively  most  numerous  on  the 
plains,  flies  are  somewhat  more  common  at  greater  heights,  while 
butteiflies  are  relatively  far  more  frequent  along  &e  hi^er 
mountain  slopes.  But  Dr.  MiUler  goes  much  beyond  such  rou^ 
generaHsations  as  these.  He  treats  the  matter  numerically,  and 
gives  actual  per-centages  in  place  of  mere  records  of  general 
impressions.  For  example,  he  finds  that  for  every  100  visits 
of  butterflies  to  flowers  in  the  plains  there  are  614  above  &e 
forest-line ;  while  for  every  100  visits  of  bees  and  their  allies 
in  the  plains  there  are  only  85  above  the  forest-line.  In  other 
words,  on  the  mountains  the  butterflies  increase  more  than 
sixfold,  whereas  the  bees  decrease  by  nearly  two-thirds. 

From  these  difierences  in  the  insect  fauna  of  the  plains  and 
the  mountains  it  naturally  follows  that  many  plants  which  spread 
from  the  valleys  to  the  Alpine  pastures  must  undergo  certain 
changes  of  form  'or  colour,  in  adaptation  to  their  new  haunts* 
For  §  flowers  which  lay  themselves  out  for  bees  or  beetles  make 
their  way  into  regions  mainly  tenanted  by  moths  and  butterfliet, 
they  must  either  fit  themselves  for  fertiHsation  by  new  agencies 
or  else  die  out  altogether  for  want  of  setting  seed.  Dr.  Muller's 
observations  now  show  almost  conclusively  that  all  the  peea- 
Marities  of  larger  size  and  more  brilliant  colour  which  ererjboij 


NOTABIUA.  048 


has  notified  in  the  flowers  of  the  upland  paatoree  are  striotly 
oorrelated  with  this  difference  in  the  insect  fertilisers.  In  short, 
Alpine  blossoms  are  in  many  oases  valley  blossoms  adapted  to- 
bntterfly  tastes  and  butterfly  habits.  Sometimes,  it  is  trae,  the 
normal  form  and  hne  of  certain  flowers  are  eqnally  adapted  to 
either  class  of  visitor.  Thns  the  pea*blossoms»  vetches,  and 
other  like  species,  are  fertilised  in  the  lowlands  by  seventy-three 
bees  to  every  seventeen  butterflies ;  while  in  the  Alps  they  are* 
fertilised  in  the  proportion  of  only  forty  bees  to  every  fiffy-six 
butterflies.  But  in  an  immense  number  of  cases  the  flowers 
necessarily  undergo  special  modification,  because  their  lowland 
shape  prevents  the  possibility  of  their  fertilisation  by  any  insects- 
except  bees.  For  instance,  the  gentians  of  the  plains  have  wide 
tubes,  through  which  the  bees  creep  to  get  at  tibe  honey,  and  in 
so  doing  brush  the  pollen  from  one  blossom  against  the  stigma< 
of  anotibter.  But  in  such  blossoms  a  butterfly  can  insert  his 
slender  proboscis  and  steal  all  the  honey  without  touching  the 
stamens  at  all,  and  so  without  doing  the  plant  any  service  in. 
return.  Accordingly,  Dr.  MiiUer  points  out  that  the  mountain 
gentians  have,  on  the  contrary,  long  and  narrow  tubes,  so 
arranged  that  the  proboscis  of  the  butterfly  must  come  in  contact 
with  &e  pollen  before  it  can  reach  the  nectary.  In  another  genua, 
the  mouth  of  the  lowland  blossom  has  been  entirely  closed  in  the 
mountain  form,  and  a  special  butterfly-door  has  been  developed 
on  the  upper  lip  for  the  accommodation  of  the  new  guests  ;  while  a- 
pair  of  bright  violet  valves  on  either  side  help  to  attract  the 
colour-loving  butterflies,  and  to  point  out  to  ^em  the  path  to- 
the  honey.  An  intermediate  form,  growing  in  the  mid-slopes,, 
has  both  the  bee-mouth  and  the  butterfly-door,  and  is  fertilised 
by  both  kinds  of  insects  alike. 

It  is  not  only  in  such  structural  details  that  mountain  blossoms 
undergo  modification  in  adaptation  to  their  altered  habitat. 
Alpine  flowers  are  almost  always  larger  and  more  brilliantly 
coloured  than  their  congeners  of  the  plains ;  and  they  tend  to 
grow  gregariously,  in  considerable  patches,  as  in  the  case  of 
those  masses  of  blue  gentians  which  every  traveller  must  have 
observed  hanging  in  belts  on  the  sides  of  Uie  Bernese  Oberland 
in  early  spring.  The  reason  is  that  butterflies  flit  very  high  and 
far,  and  so  require  large  fields  of  bright  colour  to  attract  them: 
while  bees,  which  fly  low  and  pass  from  one  flower  to  another  in 
its  immediate  neighbourhood,  are  sufficiently  enticed  by  small 
and  relatively  inconspicuous  blossoms,  such  as  thyme  or  lavender.. 
Dr.  Mtdler  shows  how  the  brilliant  and  scented  pinks,  which  are 
butterfly-flowers,  have  been  probably  developed  from  certain 
pale  and  scentless  congeners  which  are  fly-flowers.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  butterfly  is  not  particular  as  to  minutei  distinctions  of 
hue ;  all  it  asks  for  is  plenty  of  red,  blue,  or  yellow,  and  it  is- 


644  OBITUABY.  ■*'S!£, 


Benbw,Oet.l,tBBL 


satisfied  as  long  as  it  can  see  its  blossoms  a&r  off:  whereas  the 
careful,  honey-storing  bee,  having  to  make  provision  for  the 
hive,  not  only  to  gratify  its  own  errant  tastes,  sticks  closely  to 
one  kind  of  flower  at  a  time,  and  is  therefore  benefited  by 
marked  distinctions  of  colom*  between  one  species  and  its  nearest 
allies.  Hence.it  happens  that  bee-flowers  are  distingoished  by 
great  variety  of  hne  between  jthe  different  species  of  a  single 
genus.  In  this  way  Dr.  Miiller  acconnts  for  the  very  varied 
colours  of  the  dead-nettles  and  the  clovers.  The  German  investi- 
gator also  confirms  an  observation  already  pabUshed  in  this 
country  that  many  butterflies  display  a  marked  liking  for  flowers 
of  the  same  colour  as  themselves :  a  point  of  taste  which  is  of 
importance  from  its  bearing  on  the  curious  question  of  selective  pre- 
ference on  the  part  of  insects  for  beautiful  or  variegated  mates,  which 
Mr.  Darwin  has  so  fully  worked  out  from  another  stand-point. 

It  is  worth  notice,  too,  that  enquiries  of  this  sort,  purely 
otiose  and  of  mere  scientific  interest  as  they  seem  at  first  sight, 
are  yet  not  always  without  some  practical  value.  For  many 
years  common  English  clover  had  been  sown  annually  in  New 
Zealand  from  imported  seed  ;  but  the  plants  had  never  set  any 
seed  of  their  own,  and  the  cost  of  importation  was  a  serious  item 
to  the  sheep-farmers.  Mr.  Darwin  had  already  pointed  out, 
however,  that  clover  is  entirely  fertilised  by  humble-bees,  which 
do  not  exist  in  New  Zealand ;  and  some  seasons  since  a  small 
cargo  of  humble-bees  was  shipped  to  the  colony,  where  they 
established  themselves  as  readily  as  all  European  plants  and 
animals  almost  invariably  do  there.  The  clover  has  since  began 
to  sow  itself.  In  fact,  every  year  horticulturists  are  now  more 
and  more  distinctly  recognising  the  great  importance  of  insects 
in  all  matters  of  acclimatisation  and  ^e  setting  of  fruit  or  soeds. 
— St.  James's  QazetU,  Feb.  19th,  1881. 

OBITUARY, 

THOMAS  R.  LEADAM,  M.D.,  M.R.C.S.  (Eng.) ;  L.R.C.P.(Edin.) 

We  regret  to  have  to  record  the  death,  at  the  age  of  72,  of  one  who 
was  for  many  years  a  prominent  figure  in  the  homoeopathic  worlds 
Thomas  Robinson  Leadam  was  bom  on  the  22nd  November, 
1809,  and  was  the  third  of  a  generation  of  medical  practitioners, 
his  father  and  grandfather  having  been  in  the  profession.  After 
leaving  Merch^t  Taylors'  School  he  studied  at  Guy's  and  the 
London  Hospitals,  and  had  charge  of  a  maternity  charity  before 
commencing  private  practice,  with  the  view  of  perfecting  him- 
self in  midwifery,  which  branch  he  always  made  a  speciality.  He 
took  the  diploma  of  the  Apothecaries'  Company  in  1680,  and 
that  of  the  College  of  Surgeons  in  1832.  During  the  first  oai- 
i)reak  of  cholera,  he  had  charge  of  a  ward  in  the  workhouse  of 


ISS^^graSr  OBITUABY. e45- 

Bt.  John's  parish,  specially  set  apart  for  eholera  patients.  In 
1886,  he  entered  into  partnership  with  his  father,  married  his 
first  wife  in  that  year,  but  was  left  a  widower  with  two  sons  in 
1889.  This  affliction  seriously  affected  his  health  for  some  timeT 
In  1888,  he  met  a  homceopathio  doctor,  whose  name  is  forgotten, 
at  the  table  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  ElHotson,  who  succeeded  in. 
interesting  Leadam  in  homoeopathy  so  far  as  to  induce  him  to 
buy  a  book  and  a  case  of  medicines.  He  made  six  trials  of  it, 
three  were  successful,  the  other  three  being  failures,  and  he  then 
gave  up  further  thought  of  the  new  system.  In  1844,  he  was 
appointed  an  out-door  parochial  medical  officer,  which  post  he 
retained  for  five  years. 

His  father  died  in  1845,  leaving  Leadam  with  the  whole  burden- 
of  the  practice.  In  1846,  he  married  a  second  time.  In  1848,  he 
bad  a  case  which  caused  him  much  anxiety.  A  middle-aged  woman 
was  liable  to  frequent  threatenings  of  apoplexy ;  she  l^ed  being 
enpped,  but  Leadam  felt  that  he  was  really  doing  her  harm,  the  good 
being  only  apparent  and  temporary.  He  then  bethought  him  of  his 
former  homoBopathic  studies,  resolved  to  give  the  system  another 
trial,  and  with  the  aid  of  his  new  remedies  he  cured  his  patients 
speedily.  This  result  induced  him  to  study  homoeopathy  thoroughly, 
and  to  put  it  anew  to  the  test  in  several  severe  cases  of  acute 
disease.  Mrs.  Leadam  well  remembers  his  mingled  anxiety  and. 
delight  at  the  results  he  obtained,  his  large  private  and  parish  prac- 
tice affording  him  ample  field  for  testing  the  truth  of  homoeopathy. 

From  this  time  he  became  an  enthusiastic  homoeopath,  working' 
away  quietly  till  he  was  prepared  to  come  out  openly  as  a 
homoeopath,  which  he  did  in  1850,  settling  in  Wyndham  Place, 
Bryanston  Square,  and  disposing  of  his  former  practice  to  a 
partner  whom  he  had  previously  taken.  Before  leaving  his 
practice,  the  cholera  broke  out  again  in  1849,  and  Mr.  Leadam 
had  wonderful  success  from  homoeopathic  treatment  in  the  cases 
under  his  charge.  He  treated  over  1,500  oases,  many  of  them 
of  a  very  severe  type.  On  his  coming  out  opesJy  as  a  homoeo- 
path, Mr.  Leadam,  being  of  a  sensitive  nature,  felt  keenly  the 
loss  of  many  of  his  former  professional  acquaintances,  but  when 
truth  was  at  stake,  he  considered  private  feelings  of  secondary 
importance.  He  started  a  dispensary  in  Adam  Street,  and  another 
in  Welbeck  Street,  and  when  the  hospital  in  Golden  Square 
was  opened,  he  was  appointed  to  the  care  of  the  diseases  of 
women  and  children,  which  post  he  retained  till  1878.  During 
this  period  he  delivered  a  course  of  lectures  on  diseases  of 
women.  From  the  time  that  he  began  homoeopathic  practice, 
he  devoted  himself  specially  to  his  favourite  branch,  obstetrics- 
and  gynaecology,  his  knowledge  and  skill  in  this  department  being 
universally  recognised  and  appreciated  by  his  patients  and  his  con- 
frhreSf  and  eamingfor  him  the  leading  consultingpractice  in  this  line- 


In  1858,  he  pablithed  a  -wciA  oa  "  Diseeues  of  Women  and 
Ckildrm"  for  which  he  reeehred  the  diploma  of  H.D.,  from 
<IleTehmd,  Ohio,  U.S.  In  1867,  he  took  the  diploma  of  L  JLCP., 
^Edinborgh. 

Till  the  aatomn  of  1878,  Dr.  Leadam  eonftisaed  to  eajaj  as 
ertenaiTe  practice,  and  was  never  so  happy  as  when  he  was  hard 
^woik.  In  that  year,  owing  to  severe  amieties  and  heavy 
peemiiary  losses  in  New  Zealand  investments,  he  had  a  sli^ 
paralytic  stroke,  Mrs.  Tieadam  noticing  when  he  came  down  to 
hreakfost  on  his  birthday,  that  his  face  was  drawn  to  one  side. 
He  always  had  a  presentiment  or  dread  of  being  paralysed,  and 
though  he  rallied  from  this  attack,  he  was  maeh  depressed, 
-owing  to  the  onset  soon  after  of  a  large  carbmiele  in  his  right 
hand.  From  this  time  it  was  noticed  that  he  began  to  fidl,  both 
mentally  and  bodily,  and  thon^  he  was  able  to  hold  on  in 
practice  till  1876,  his  friends  then  strongly  advised  him  to  retire. 
This  he  did,  finally,  in  March,  1877,  retiring  to  Mortimer,  in 
Berkshire.  Ld  1878,  he  had  another  stroke  of  paralysis,  and  again 
in  1879,  leaving  him  in  an  almost  h^less  condition.  In 
Avgost,  of  the  present  year,  he  had  another  attack,  and  he  sank 
peacefolly  on  the  6th  of  September. 

Dr.  Lctfidam  was  nniversally  beloved,  and  we  know  that  when  he 
retired  from  practice  his  patients  felt  his  loss  deeply,  not  only  as 
a  physician,  skiUiilandkmd,  but  as  a  friend  in  whom  they  could 
tmst.  He  was  always  looked  up  to  by  his  professional  brethren 
as  the  soul  of  honour,  and  now  that  he  is  taken  to  his  rest,  we, 
from  onr  personal  knowledge  of  him,  can  look  back  on  hia  life  as 
that  of  a  perfect  gentleman,  a  genial  and  kind  friend,  and  a 
hardworking  physician,  who  did  maeh  for  the  caose  of  homoeo- 
pathy. HeHvedto  a  good  age,  and  we  can  only  regret  that,  after 
so  many  years  of  hard  work,  his  years  of  retirement  afforded  him  so 
little  enjoyment,  owing  to  the  gSradoal  breaking  np  of  his  health. 

Dr.  Leadam  leaves  a  widow  and  a  frunily  of  five  sons  and  seven 
daughters  to  deplore  his  loss. 

CORRESPONDENCE. 


LONDON  SCHOOL  OP  HOMOEOPATHY. 
To  ths  Editon  of  ths  Monthly  HomaopaMe  Btoimo. 

Gentlemen, — ^Will  yon  kindly  insert  the  following  report,  which 
it  is  intended  to  bring  forwajrd  for  discussion  at  tiie  Special 
(General  Meeting  of  the  School. 

I  hope  those  interested  in  the  maintenance  of  a  school  for  the 
teaching  of  medicine  frx)m  its  homoeopathic  point  of  view  will 
rally  ronnd  the  carefrdly  revised  scheme,  and  not  only  continae 


saygnrag*    «>BMflPowi>BHCT. 647 

iheir  Babaoriptions,  bat  indnee  their  Mends  and  patients  to  ffve 
Jiberally  acooiding  to  their  means  towards  not  only  the  support 
of  the  presMit  school,  bat  to  its  increase,  so  that  it  may 
ultimately  become  an  established  medical  school,  with  complete 
recognition. 

Yonrs  truly, 

William  Bates,  M.D.9 
B89  Lansdowne  Place,  Brighton*  Hon,  8sc. 

To  BB   BUBUITTED   TO   THB    BfECIAL   QbNBBAL  MsBTIMa  TO  BS 
BBLD  ON   TUBSDAT,    OoTOBBB  4tH,   AT   5   P.M. 

lUport  of  the  8ub'eommitte$  appointed  on  March  14th  to  draw 
up  a  report  of  the  changes  needed  in  the  Constitution  and  Rules 
of  the  London  School  of  Honueopathy  at  the  end  of  the  proba- 
tUmary  period  of  five  years,  ending  December  15^,  1881,  and 
re^appointed  at  the  Annual  Meeting. 

The  snb-committee  have,  as  requested  at  the  annual  meeting 
lield  April  12th,  1881,  reconsidered  the  whole  question,  and 
conclude  that  it  is  betteor  to  continae  the  delivery  of — 
Isily*     The  Annual  Hahnemann  Lecture,  as  the  introductory 

lecture  to  the  winter  session. 
:2ndly.    The  Lectureship  on  Materia  Medica  and  Therapeutics, 
embracing  a  complete  exposition  of  the  art  and  science  of 
homcBopathy  in  relation  to  remedial  agents. 
■Srdly.    The  Lectureship  on  Principles  and  Practice  of  Medicine, 
embracing  a  complete  exposition  of  the  art  and  science  of 
homoeopathic  medicine. 
4thly.    A  Lectureship  on  the  Institutes  of  Homoeopathy,  em- 
bracing its  literature  and  principles. 
4>thly.    The  practical  instruction,  by  clinical  lectures  and  other- 
wise, of  students,  at  the  bedside  and  in  dispensary  practice, 
in  any  hospital  or  dispensary  in  which  homoeopathy  is 
practised  in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  satis&ctory  to  the 
medical  council  of  the  school. 
6tbly.    That  such  other  lectureships  as  may  from  time  to  time 
appear  to  the  authorities  to  be  desirable,  may  be  added  to 
the  school  until  a  complete  medical  school  is  constituted. 
As  to  the  constitution  of  the  school,  it  appears  to  the  sub* 
•committee  that  it  will  be  desirable  to  simplify  its  executive. 

The  following  modification  would  probably  meet  all  require- 
ments: a  President;  a  Treasurer;  three  Trustees  and  two 
honorary  Secretaries ;  an  Executive  Committee,  consisting  of  not 
less  than  six  Governors,  elected  at  the  annual  meeting  each  year ; 
A  Finance  Committee,  consisting  of  three  members,  one  being  a 
Trustee,  the  Treasurer,  and  one  of  the  Honorary  Secretaries.  A 
Medical  Council,  consisting  of  medical  Governors — also  elected 
fit  the  annual  meeting  each  year. 


648  OOBBESPOHPfiNTS^        *'*'^ 


Bcww,  OoL  1,  U8L 


The  sub-commiUee  zecommend  that  the  roles  add  laws  of  the 
London  School  of  HonuBopaihy  should  be  remodelled  on  the 
aboYe  basis,  and  that  a  sab-committee  shoold  be  appointed  bj 
the  meeting  to  prepare  and  submit  revised  rules  for  the  fdtme 
guidance  of  the  school  to  the  next  general  meeting  of  Bubscribas 
and  donors  on  Thursday,  15th  of  December,  next  ensuing.  It 
will  be  seen  that  the  aboye  scheme  differs  materially  from  that 
submitted  to  the  last  annual  meeting.  On  enquiry  it  seems  thai 
the  scheme  then  presented  does  not,  at  present,  meet  with  una- 
nimity of  approval  from  those  deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  of 
the  hospital.  In  the  absence  of  absolute  unanimity  it  is  better 
to  defer  the  question  of  closer  union  of  the  school  with  the 
hospital,  for  future  consideration. 


NOTICES   TO   CORRESPONDENTS. 

^%  We  eamnot  undertake  to  relntm  tweeted  manmeripte* 

GontribatorB  and  GoRespondeDtB  an  requested  to  notice  the  alteration 
in  the  address  of  one  of  the  Editors  of  this  Review. 

Dr.  Bebbidob,— We  axe  obliged  to  yon  for  yonr  ooireetion.  The  faet 
of  TTaiiinATTiatin  bavlng  been  acquainted  with  the  existence  of  the  acaziu, 
liiyi  escaped  the  notice  of  the  writer  of  the  article. 

Commnnications,  Ac,  have  been  leoeiTed  from  Dr.  Hashkos,  Major 
Vauohan-Moboan,  and  Captain  Matcock  f London);  Dr.  Baixs 
(Brighton) ;  Dr.  Hati<e  (Bocbdale) ;  Dr.  Shabp  (Bagby) ;  Dr.  StaiOiEX 
WxiiDB  (Nottingham) ;  Dr.  Leb  (Philadelphia);  Dr.  Casaii  (Mentone),  ko^ 


BOOKS  RECEIVED. 

The  Tratuaetiotu  of  the  Intematumal  Convewtum  held  in  I^ondan^  188U 
— The  Homaopathie  World.  London. — The  Students*  Journal,  London.— 
The  Chemitt  and  Druggist.  London. — Burgoyne*8  Monthly  Journal  of 
Pharmacy,  London. — Annual  Report  of  the  Canterbury  Homaopathic  Dit- 
pewary. — The  Hahnemannian  Monthly.  Philadelphia. — The  New  England 
Medical  Gazette.  Boston. — The  Medical  Advance.  CindnnatL — The  Medi- 
cal Call.  De  Qnincy. — The  United  States  Medical  Investigator.  Chicago. — 
The  Homaopathic  Physician.  Philadelphia. — The  Clinical  Review.  St 
Louis. — The  Therapeutic  Gazette.  Detroit. — The  Medical  Counsellor. 
Chicago. — The  American  Observer.  Detroit. — Homaopathic  Journal  of 
Obstetrics.  August.  NewTork. — Addrees  of  the  Prendent  of  the  American 
instituU  of  Homaopatky.  1881.~XMrt  Medical.  Paris.— BiUiotAdffiM 
Homaopathique.  Paris. — Revue  Bomaopatthique  Beige.  Brussels. — AUge- 
meine  Horn.  Zeitung.  Leipsio. — El  Criterio  Medico.  Madrid. — BolOiM 
ClinicodellnetitutoHomaopatieode Madrid. — LaReforma Mediea.  Medoo. 


Papers,  Dispensary  Beports,  and  Books  for  Beview  to  be  sent  to 
Dr.  PopB,  21,  Heniietta  Street,  Cavendish  Square,  W.,  or  to  Dr.  D.  Drcv 
Bbowm,  29,  Seymour  Street,  Portman  Square,  W.  AdYertiaements  and 
Business  Communications  to  be  sent  to  Messrs.  £.  Gould  &  Soy* 
£9,  Moorgate  Street,  B.C. 


SSSSf^T^^rS?^*  PWSBDOM  OP  OPINION.  649 


THE    MONTHLY 


HOMOEOPATHIC    REVIEW, 


THE    DAWN   OF  FREEDOM  OF  OPINION   IN 

MEDICINE. 

The  events  of  the  last  few  months,  so  far  as  they  have 
borne  upon  homoeopathy,  have  done  good  service  in 
drawing  professional  attention  to  the  subject.  They  have 
brought  into  prominence  the  ignorance,  which  so  exten- 
sively exists  among  medical  men,  as  to  what  homoeopathy 
means,  what  it  is,  and  how  it  is  carried  into  practice ;  and, 
at  the  same  time,  have  displayed  the  intolerance  with  which 
it  is  regarded.  ''  Intolerance,"  said  Mr.  EDlward  the  other 
day  at  St.  George's  Hospital,  '*  has  always  been  associated 
with  ignorance."  We  know  no  more  striking  example  of 
this,  than  that  afforded  by  the  resolutions  of  the  British 
Medical  Association,  passed  thirty  years  ago.  They  were 
essentially  intolerant  of  homoeopathy,  and  of  all  who, 
understanding  and  appreciating  it,  practised  homoeopathi- 
cally,  while  they  were  passed  by  a  body  of  men  not  one  of 
whom  imd^rstood  anything  whatever  about  the  subject 
he  denounced,  and  vehemently  refused  to  tolerate.  Of 
these  the  late  Dr.  Hobneb,  of  Hull,  was  one.  On  his 
return  from  Brighton,  after  the  meeting,  he  was  requested 
by  a  few  of  his  medical  friends  in  Hall  to  strengthen 
them  in  their  opposition  .to  homoeopathy  by  giving  them  a 
lecture  upon  it,  so  as  to  provide  them  with  arguments- 
No.  11,  Vo].  25.  2  IF 


650  FEBBDOH  OF  OPINIOS.    *S^!r^.' ifim. 

j^ainst  it.  For  the  first  time  h«  felt  hie  igooranoe.  He 
knew  nothing  about  homceopabhy.  Bot,  as  he  had  pro- 
mised to  lectore  on  it,  be  set  to  work  to  examine  the 
eabject,  and  this  with  the  Role  object  of  exposing  what, 
he  aeenmed,  were  its  folhicies.  To  this  end  he  read  several 
bookBf  setting  forth  its  principles  and  method.  And,  hj 
wa;  of  demonstrating  its  worthlessneBs,  he  tested  homceo- 
pntbically  indicated  medicines  in  disease.  To  his  sarfttise 
his  patients,  so  treated,  improved  as  he  had  never  seen 
them  improved  by  medicine  before.  Suffice  it  to  say,  his 
lecture  was  not  delivered.  He  could  but  have  told  his 
friends  what  he  had  seen,  and  the  conclusions  at  which  he 
had  arriyed — and  these  were  precisely  the  reverse  of  those 
they  desired  to  hsten  to  I 

Every  member  of  that  Association  was  as  ignorant  of  the 

subject  as  was  Dr.  Hobneb.   This  ignorance  is  slowly  being 

dispelled,  and,  in  proportion  as  it  is  so,  does  toleration 

become  more  pronounced.     Dr.  Bbibtowe,   for  example, 

though  far  from  accepting  bomceopathy  as  true,  chiefly  we 

^oabt  not  because  he  has  merely  read  about  it,  and  has 

not  seen  homceopatbically  selected  medicines  prescribed, 

knows  yet   enough   to  compel  him  to   exhibit,    towards 

medical  men  practising  homieopathy,  a  degree  of  toleration 

previously  unknown  in  this  country.     Not  only  does  he 

exhibit  such  toleration  himself,  but  he  advocates  its  eshi- 

bitioQ  by  others;  and  he  does  this  at  the  aonaal  meeting 

of  the  very  Association  which  has  made  a  resolution  not  to 

tolerate  homteopathy  a  sine  qud  non  of  memberahip ! 

'^hat  there  are  many  members  of  the  profession  who  view 

elations  which  ought  to  subsist  between  bomceopathie 

Qon-homceopathio  practitioners  much  in  the  same  way 

)  Dr.  Bbistowe  and  Mr.  Hutohinsoh,  we  do  not  doubt, 

they  have  hitherto  felt  unable  to  speak  out,  or  have 

unwilling  to  risk  a  possible  loss  of  professional  statni 


S^yjrrSr  fbebdom  of  opinion. 651 

by  doing  so.  They  hare  been  nnoonsciouB  of  their  real 
strength.  Now,  however,  that  men  so  prominent,  and  of 
snch  reputation,  have  expressed  snch  sentiments,  they  are 
beginning  to  show  that  courage  of  their  opinions  which 
required  some  well  ascertained  sense  of  safety  to  display 
itself  openly. 

A  large,  and  we  doubt  not  a  very  large  proportion  of  the 
profession,  are  as  ignorant  now  of  what  homceopathy  is,  as 
were  the  members  of  the  Association  who  met  at  Brighton 
thirty  years  ago ;  and  therefore  they  are  as  intolerant  of 
any  discussion  of  its  principles,  of  any  intercourse  with 
those  who  believe  it,  as  were  their  fathers.  Some  of  these 
men  have  essayed  to  show  that  all  their  fellow  membi^rs 
are  as  ignorant,  as  narrow,  and  as  intolerant  as  themselves. 
For  example,  we  find  that  a  special  meeting  of  the  Lanca* 
shire  and  Cheshire  Branch  of  the  British  Medical  Associa- 
tion was  held  at  Liverpool  on  the  21st  of  September,  for 
the  purpose  of  once  more  condemning  homoeopathy  and 
homoeopaths  to  perpetual  ostracism.  Dr.  B.  G.  Bbown,  of 
Preston,  occupied  the  chair. 

The  meeting  was  summoned  by  circular  :  '<  To  take  into  con- 
sideration the  subject  of  consultations  with  homoeopathic 
practitioners,  bearing  in  mind  the  resolutioDS  passed  thereon  by 
the  Association  in  1858  and  1861,  and  also  the  late  editorial 
articles  in  the  Journal,  as  well  as  the  addresses  in  Medicine  and 
Surgery  delivered  at  the  late  meeting  at  Ryde ;  and  to  pass  snch 
resolutions  as  may  be  deemed  desirable  in  the  interests  of  the 
profession  and  the  Association." 

Nearly  eighty  members  were  present. 

The  resolutions  on  this  subject,  passed  by  the  Provincial 
Medical  and  Surgical  Association  in  1851  and  1852,  and  those 
passed  by  the  British  Medical  Association  in  1858  aud  1861,  were 
read  by  the  Secretary. 

Dr.  Fitzpatrick  of  Liverpool  moved,  and  Mr.  Lund  of 
Manchester  seconded,  the  following  resolutions. 

2  u— a 


652  FREEDOM  OF  OPINION.    ^£SL 


jB0Vi0Wf  KOT*  If  ibBI« 


1.  ''That  this  meeting  repeats  and  confirms  the  resohildans 
passed  hy  the  Association  at  the  meetings  held  at  Brighton  m 
1851,  and  at  Oiford  in  1852,  and  at  Canterbniy  in  1861,  in  all 
that  relates  to  the  practice  of  homoeopathy  and  the  recognition  of 
its  practitioners  by  the  members  of  the  medical  body." 

2.  *'  That  this  meeting  considers  that  it  is  inconsistent  with 
professional  honour  and  honesty  for  practitioners  of  medieine  or 
surgery  to  meet  homoeopathists  in  consultation,  and  r^udiates 
the  views  expressed  by  the  readers  of  addresses  in  medicine  and 
surgery  of  the  late  meeting  at  Byde." 

On  the  consideration  of  the  first  resolution,  an  amendment 
was  moved  by  Dr.  H.  Lowndes,  of  liverpool,  and  seconded  bj 
Mr.  Hakes,  of  Liverpool : 

**  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  meeting,  every  member  of  the 
British  Medical  Association  is  entitled  to  the  freest  exercise  of 
his  own  individual  judgment  in  regard  to  the  question  of  meeting 
in  consultation  gentlemen  who  practise  homoBopathy.*' 

After  a  prolonged  discussion,  in  which  Drs.  Waters  and  Glaze- 
brook  and  Mr.  Manifold  of  Liverpool,  Drs.  Leech,  Borchardi, 
Samelson,  Boss,  CuUingworth,  Sinclair,  and  Messrs.  Walmsley 
and  Emrys  Jones  of  Manchester,  Dr.  Colley  March  of  Bochdale, 
Dr.  Godson  of  Cheadle,  and  others,  took  part,  the  vote  was 
taken,  when  23  voted  for  the  amendment  and  26  against. 

The  amendment  being  lost,  the  previous  question  was  then 
moved  by  Dr.  Harris  of  Birkenhead,  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Dacre 
Fox  of  Manchester.  Dr.  Fitzpatrick  then  withdrew  his  resola- 
tions,  and  the  previous  question  was  agreed  to  nsm,  con. 

One  can  easily  imagine  the  consternation  v^ith  which 
sach  a  revelation,  as  that  with  which  this  meeting  termi- 
nated, must  have  been  received  by  those  who,  trusting  too 
implicitly  that  their  fellow  members  had,  like  themselves, 
learned  nothing  and  forgotten  nothing  during  thirty  years, 
Iiad  called  upon  them  once  more  to  repudiate  homoeopatfay 
and  homoeopaths !  We  can  fancy  the  look  of  happy  con- 
fidence with  which  the  proposer  of  the  resolution  and  his 
Mrlier  Bupporters  would  have  addressed  the  meeting,  and 


JSSSSfyjrrSff^  fbbedom  of  opinion, 658 

liow  this  would  gradually  give  way  as  views  broader  and 
more  intelligent  foand  expression,  nntil  a  sense  of  dismay 
•and  bewilderment  took  possession  of  them  when  they 
fonnd  that  in  a  large  meeting  of  the  Branch,  one  in  which 
forty -nine  members  took  part  in  the  discussion^  they  could 
not  carry  their  resolutions ! 

We  have  little  or  no  doubt  that  this  meeting  very  fairly 
reflects  medical  opinion  everywhere.  The  report  of  the 
meeting,  which  we  have  quoted  from  the  Association 
Journal,  is  brief,  and  hence  Dr.  Lowndes,  who  moved  the 
amendment,  thought  it  right  to  send  for  publication  in  the 
journal  a  statement  of  the  line  of  argument  he  took  in 
proposing  it.     This  he  did  in  the  following  letter : — 

Sib — ^At  the  meeting  of  the  Laneashire  and  Cheshire  Branch 
held  here  a  few  days  ago,  the  amendment  I  brought  forward  in 
favour  of  perfect  freedom  of  individual 'judgment  was  rejected  by 
a  narrow  majority.  The  excellent  but  brief  report  of.  the  meeting 
did  not  and  could  not  give  the  speeches  delivered  on  the  occasion^ 
though  some  of  them  were  extremely  interesting. 

I  simply  explained  that  I  had  long  felt  that  all  practitioners,  as 
soon  as  they  were  duly  qualified,  were  entitled  to  perfect  freedom 
-of  thought  and  action,  might  freely  use  all  such  remedies  as  com- 
mended themselves,  and  might  meet  whoever  could  give  them 
assistance  in  their  art,  and  might  avail  themselves  freely  of  aQ 
the  discoveries,  of  whatever  kind,  the  unknown  future  may  bring 
forth ;  that  absolute  freedom  of  thought  was  the  very  breath  of 
our  nostrils.  Also,  that  an  association  fomided  for  scientific  and 
social  purposes  degraded  itself  into  a  trades*  union,  or  a  Boycott- 
ing machine,  when  it  hampered  and  harassed  its  members  by 
telling  them  what  line  of  practice  they  were  not  to  adopt,  and 
what  kind  of  practitioners  they  were  not  to  meet. 

I  wish  now  to  be  permitted  to  expatiate  a  little  more  freely  on 
this  subject,  and  I  will  try  not  to  be  tedious.  The  question 
then,  to  my  mind,  we  have  to  consider  is,  not  whether  it  is  right 
4xr  expedient  to  meet  certain  practitioners  ourselves,  but  whether 


654  FBEEDOM  OF  OPINION.    ^'tS^ 


aBfiew.KaT.  UiaSL 


it  18  right  for  Qfl^to  compel  others  not  to  meet  them ;  to  aaj  to 
others,  **  You  must  not  and  shall  not  meet  them,  and  jou  must 
aot  and  shall  not  meet  anyone  ebe  that  meets  them.'*  ''  Most " 
and  **  shall "  are  words  highly  distasteM  to  the  En^ish  mind. 
•  And  what  is  the  penalty  to  he  exacted  for  meeting  these 
tabooed'  gentlemen  ?  Expulsion  from  this  Association,  the  only 
association  that  bands  the  profession  together,  and  one  which, 
looked  at  in  its  scientific  and  social  aspects,  commands  onr  hi^ 
respect,  and  with  many  of  us,  a  much  warmer  feeling.  It  is 
difficnit  now  to  conceive  how  resolutions  of  so  arbitrary  a  cha- 
racter  could  ever  have  been  passed  unanimously  by  our  meetings. 
If  some  despotic  monarch  had  commanded  us  not  to  meet  these 
gentlemen,  or  for  that  matter  if  he  had  commanded  us  to  meet 
them  (a  thing  not^one  whit  more  tyrannical),  how  we  ^ouM 
have  rebeUed,  or  how  servile  we  should  have  thought  ourselves  if 
we  had  submitted. 

It  may  be  said  that  we  live  in  strange  times,  and  that  strange 
diseases  demand  strange  remedies.  But  the  times  are  always 
strange.  Th^re  have  been  the  days  of  Dr.  Sangrado ;  there  hare 
been  the  grand  times  of  Louis  XIY.,  when  the  state  of  the  pro- 
fession  afforded  so  delightful  a  field  for  Moliere  to  revel  in.  And 
here  I  must  venture  to  give  a  translation  1  once  made  of  a  little 
scene  from  this  writer's  U Amour  Medeciny  which  sounds  strangeiy 
familiar  to  medical  ears. 

A  consultation  of  doctors  is  going  on  ;  each  has  already  relaled 
what  a  long  round  of  visits  he  has  paid,  and  what  distances  into 
the  country  he  has  been;  then  M.  Tomes  says,  *' By-the-bye, 
now,  what  do  you  think  of  the  quarrel  between  the  two  doctors, 
Theophraste  and  Artemius,  for  it  is  a  matter  on  which  the 
whole  profession  is  divided  ?  " 

M.  Defonandres  :  '*  For  my  part,  I  am  for  Artemius.'* 

M.  Tomes  :  And  so  am  I.  Very  true,  his  advice,  as  people 
say,  may  have  killed  the  patient,  and  that  of  Theophraste  may 
have  been  much  better;  stifl,  the  latter  did  wrong  under  the 
eircumstances,  and  ought  not  to  have  had  a  different  opinioD 
from  his  senior.     What  say  you  ?  " 


bS^ncTHSS!^  fbeebom  of  opinion.  665 

M.  Defonandres :  ''I  quite  agree.  Formalities  must  be 
observed,  happen  what  may." 

M.  Tomes :  *'  For  my  part,  I  am  as  strict  as  the  deuce, 
nnlesB  it  be  among  Mends ;  and  one  day  we  had  met,  three 
others  of  us,  with  a  strange  physician,  for  a  consultation,  when 
I  stopped  the  whole  affair  and  would  not  allow  an  opinion  to  be 
given  on  the  case  if  things  were  not  done  in  order.  The  people 
in  the  house  pressed  us  all  they  could,  and  the  malady  was  veiy 
urgent,  but  I  would  not  yield  a  bit,  and  the  patient  died  bravely 
during  the  dispute." 

M.  Defonandres :  '*  It  is  very  right  to  teach  people  how  to 
conduct  themselves,  and  to  bring  them  to  a  sense  of  their  errors." 

M.  Tomes :  ''A  man  dead  is  but  a  man  dead,  and  makes  no 
matter;  but  a  formality  neglected  does  a  notable  mischief  to  the 
whole  medical  profession." 

The  public  in  those  days,  as  in  these,  may  have  reasonably 
been  puzzled  with  the  formalities  of  the  profession  ;  and,  while 
they  laughed,  it  must  still  have  been  with  an  uncomfortable 
feeling  that  things  were  not  altogether  arranged  for  their  benefit. 

I  have  a  strong  opinion  that  the  relations  between  tiiie  pro- 
fession and  the  public  can  never  be  quite  satisfactory  until  every 
practitioner  has  the  free  use  pf  his  own  independent  judgment  as 
to  whom  he  shall  meet,  and  whom  he  shall  decline  to  meet.  He 
can  then  give,  if  he  pleases,  reasons  that  may  commend  them- 
selves to  people's  common  sense,  and  not  be  obliged  to  confess 
that  he  is  simply  obeying  the  dictum  of  others.  But,  inde- 
pendently of  the  question  of  expediency,  every  man's  right  to 
this  measure  of  freedom  is  surely  indefeasible. 

My  amendment,  as  your  readers  may  know,  was  simply  this : 
'*  That,  in  the  opinion  of  this  meeting,  every  member  of  the 
British  Medical  Association  is  entitled  to  the  freest  use  of  his 
own  independent  judgment  in  regard  to  the  question  of  meeting 
gentlemen  who  practise  homoeopathy." 

In  conclusion,  I  willingly  concede  to  the  &amers  of  the  reso- 
lutions, that  seem  now  so  archaic,  the  merit  of  the  best  inten- 
tions, and  of  a  perfervid  zeal  for  the  honour  and  dignity  of  a 


656  FBEEDOM  or  opnnoN.  "SSIjSSJTmS! 

profesnon  that  happens,  however,  to  be  not  altogether  miable  to 

stand  without  artificial  bnttressea. — ^I  am,  air,  yoim  obedieatij, 

lirerpooU  September  26th,  1881.  Hxxbt  Lowxdes. 

Other  letters,  exhibiting  precisely  the  same  kind  of 
feelingy  have  appeared  in  the  medical  jocumals.  Mean- 
while the  jonmal  of  the  Association  makes  no  sign,  hnt 
ihe  Lancet  and  the  Medical  Press  and  Circular  are 
obTionsly  much  depressed  at  the  oatlook.  The  comments 
of  the  former  on  the  Liverpool  meeting  are  as  follows : — 

'*  The  ill-advised  utterances  of  leading  members  of  the  profes- 
sion at  Byde,  following  upon  the  line  of  action  pursued  by  another 
leading  member  in  the  recent  case  of  an  '  illustrious  invalid,' 
have  already  borne  bad  fruit.  The  Lancashire  and  Cheshire 
Branch  of  the  British  Medical  Association  has — ^by  a  very  small 
minority,  it  is  true,  but  substantially — ^refused  to  affirm  the 
unwritten  law  of  the  profession,  that  the  practitioners  of  sdeu- 
tific  medicine  shall  not  meet  homoeopaths  in  consultation.  This 
is  a  grave  decision,  and  one  of  the  first  questions  which  it 
suggests,  after  the  regrettable  episodes  of  the  General  Meeting  at 
Byde,  is  whether  the  profession  is  to  understand  that  the  British 
Medical  Association,  with  its  branches,  is  wholly  given  over  to  a 
libertine  disregard  of  honour  and  consistency  ?*' 

In  the  teeth  of  each  an  expression  of  opinion  on  die 
part  of  the  members  of  the  Lancashire  and  Cheshire 
Branch,  it  further  says :  ^'  If  the  British  Medical  Asso- 
ciation is  to  be  nnderstood  as  sanctioning  the  contempt  of 
moral  obligation  involved  in  the  pretended  consultation  of 
ordinary  practitioners  of  medicine  with  the  professors  of  a 
*  system,*  it  will  become  a  question  whether  those 
members  of  our  cloth  who  retain  their  self-respect  can 
continne  members  of  the  Association."  Does  the  Lancet 
mean  to  suggest  that  men  like  Dr.  Lowndes  and  Mr. 
Hakes,  and  those  who  supported  them,  have  lost  their 
"  self-respect?" 

On  more  than  one  occasion  have  the  Lancet  andAfedicol 
Press  appealed  to  the  Committee  of  the  Council  of  the 


iBS^Jr^TuM^  FB1BI>0M  OF  OPINION.  667 

ABSociation  for  a  pronunciamento  deBonncing  all  pro- 
fessional intercourse  between  homoeopathio  and  non- 
homoeopathic  practitioners,  and  repudiating  the  more 
liberal  views  uttered  at  Byde;  bat  the  Council  has  met, 
■and  its  members  have  separated  without  perpetrating  such 
an  act  of  stupidity,  such  an  anachronism. 

It  is  thus  perfectly  clear  that  the  knell  of  intolerance 
•has  begun  to  toll.  It  has  done  so  in  obedience  to 
increased  knowledge.  Knowledge  of  a  subject  and  in- 
»tolerance  of  its  discussion  are  incompatibles.  We  desire 
that  the  existing  knowledge  of  homoeopathy  should 
increase  until  we  have  not  merely  toleration  of  it,  but  its 
fall  and  complete  appreciation.  To  this  end  it  behoves  us 
to  use  every  means  in  our  power.  Oar  literature  must  be 
increased  and  more  freely  disseminated.  Our  school  must 
.be  supported,  and  enquirers,  as  to  what  homceopathy  is 
and  how  it  is  practised,  invited  and  encouraged  to  attend 
its  lectures.  We  are  glad  to  know  that  the  classes  this 
year  are  much  more  fully  attended  than  they  have  been 
previously.  The  school  forms  a  centre  at  which  in- 
struction is  not  only  given  by  lecturing,  but  by  replies  to 
questions  put  by  enquirers,  and  by  assisting  them  to  test 
homoeopathy  for  themselves.  Its  organisation  is,  as  our 
readers  will  have  learned  from  our  last  number,  about  to  be 
revised.  The  tentative  or  experimental  shape  it  received 
five  years  ago  is  about  to  be  re-modelled,  and  to  be  so 
framed  as  to  ensure  its  permanency.  We  trust  that  it  will 
receive  a  full  measure  of  support  from  all  who  are  in- 
terested in  extending  a  knowledge  of  homoeopathy.  Never 
before  was  an  institution  of  the  kind  more  necessary,  never 
before  did  the  one  we  have  show  more  evident  signs  of 
beiog  a  success,  or  of  being  fftvourably  regarded  by  those 
4m  whose  behalf  it  has  been  instituted. 


668  -  BAPTI0IA  TIKCTORIA.   ^^bI^^vSHuws^. 


STUDIES  IN  THE  MATERIA  MEDICA. 
By  D.  Dyge  Brown,  MJu>  M.D., 

PbyaiciAa  to  tbe   London  Homoeopathic  Hospital,   and   Lectnxer  oa 
Praotice  of  Medicine  in  the  London  School  of  Homceopathy. 

No.  XI, — Baptisia  Tinctoria  (Wild  Indigo  J. 

Baptisia  is  one  of  the  most  valaable  gifts  we  have  fix)iii 
America.  It  takes  a  very  high  rank  in  our  Materia 
Medica,  being  beautifully  limited  in  its  sphere  of  action^ 
but  of  inestimable  service  in  that  sphere.  It  is  one  of 
the  few  medicines  we  possess  which  produce  a  genuine 
pyrexia.  It  has,  in  fact,  two  great  foci  of  action. 
1,  in  fever  of  a  certain  type,  and  2,  in  acute  catarrh  of 
mucous  membrane.  It  meets  several  medicines  at  certain 
points,  viz.,  aconite,  beUadonna,  bryoniay  rhus,  mercuriui, 
gelseminmy  arsenicum,  kali  hichromieum,  pvdsatiUa,  and 
eupaiorium  perfoliatum^  while  it  diflPers  from  all  these  in  a 
marked  manner. 

The  fever  of  baptisia  is  characterised  by  chilliness, 
and  great  restless  uneasiness,  followed  by  full,  frontal 
headache,  diy  heat  of  skin,  increase  of  pulse,  and  excited 
action  of  the  heart,  approach  to  delirium,  sleeplessness 
after  2  a.m.,  and  most  noteworthy  of  all,  extreme  aching 
in  tbe  muscles  of  the  back,  from  the  neck  to  the  sacrum, 
and  with  such  an  amount  of  tenderness  in  the  back, 
that  the  ordinarily  soft,  restful  bed  feels  hard,  and  as  if 
he  were  lying  on  a  board,  inducing  a  painful  restlessness 
and  tossing  about  in  order  to  obtain  an  easy  position,  and 
yet  the  headache  and  backache  are  worse  on  movement. 
Wherever  this  condition  exists,  baptisia  acts  like  a  charm, 
and  is  more  indicated  than  any  of  the  allied  remedies  I 
have  named. 

Still  more,  of  course*,  will  baptisia  be  called  for  if  there 
is  present  the  acute  mucous  catarrh,  which  forms  the 
second  great  sphere  of  this  medicine.  We  trace  this- 
irritation  of  the  mucous  membrane  all  the  way  down  from 
the  eyes.  The  eyes  are  red,  and  water  easily,  with 
aching  in  them;  there  is  sneezing  and  nasal  catarrh, 
extenoiing  down  to  the  pharynx,  which  is  red,  feels  raw 
and  dry,  and  then  secretes  much  mucus.  The  mucous, 
membrane  of  the  mouth  is  involved,  even  to  ulceration,, 
the  tonsils  and  fauces  are  red  and  swollen,  causing  desire 


iSTtoiS'lSnr^"     BAPTI8IA  TINCTORIA.  65^ 

for  deglatition,  and  pain  in  swallowing.  The  tongue  is  at 
first  white,  with  red  papillae,  then  becomes  yellow  in  the 
oentre,  while  the  edges  are  clean  and  red.  Viscid  saliva  is 
secreted,  and  there  is  a  flat  taste  in  the  mouth.  In  the 
stomach  baptigia  causes  much  pain  and  tenderness,  nausea, 
flatulence,  and  vomiting,  with  loss  of  appetite  and  thirst* 
The  duodenum  is  tender,  and  causes  pain,  whidi  is  referred 
to  the  right  hypochondrium.  The  liver  also  is  probably 
affected  also,  through  the  propagation  of  the  catarrh  along 
the  common  bile-duct.  The  whole  intestinal  mucous  mem- 
brane is  involved,  causing  not  only  the  duodenal  pain  just 
mentioned,  but  pain  in  the  whole  abdomen,  tenderness  on 
pressure,  distension  from  flatulence,  rumbling,  desire  for 
stool,  with,  in  some  cases,  constipation,  but  more 
frequently  soft  papescent  diarrhoea.  The  patient  sleeps  in 
the  first  part  of  Uie  night  restlessly,  then  wakes  in  a  state 
of  febrile  heat  about  2  a.m.,  and  lies  awake,  tossing 
uneasily.  There  is  some  heat  in  passing  urine. 
The  respiratory  mucous  membrane  is  also  affected, 
though  in  a  less  degree.  Hoarseness,  slight  mucous- 
coQgb,  and  feeling  of  tightness  in  the  chest,  are  felt, 
with  pains  referred  to  one  or  other  lung,  generally  the 
right. 

We  see,  then,  how  clearly  baptisia  is  the  remedy  for 
acute  gastro-intestinal  catarrh,  or  for  what  is  correctly 
termed  "  gastric  fever,*'  in  opposition  to  true  typhoid. 
This  may  be  either  looked  upon  as  a  fever,  with  gastro- 
enteric catarrh,  or  as  an  acute  gastro-enteric  catarrh,. 
of  which  the  fever  is  a  symptom. 

We  see  also  why  baptisia  should  be  of  value  in  the  early 
stage  of  true  typhoid  fever,  being  symptomatically  homceo- 
pathic  to  it.  Whether  it  has  the  power  it  is  credited  with^ 
of  cutting  short  true  typhoid  in  the  first  week,  is  a  point 
on  which  different  opinions  are  held,  and  into  which  I  do 
not  here  enter ;  suffice  it  to  point  out  how  homoeopathic 
it  is  to  the  early  stage  of  it,  while  clinically  it  certainly  is 
of  great  value  in  the  amelioration,  at  least,  of  the 
symptoms  then  present.   " 

.  Again,  in  cases  of  acute  mucous  catarrh,  oven  though 
bot  involving  the  whole  gastro-intestinal  tract,  baptisia 
ought  to  be  of  the  greatest  service,  and  will  rival  aconite. 
Thus,  m  febrile  ''  cold  in  the  head,"  in  acute  naso-faucio- 
pharyngetd  catarrh,  in  acute  gastric  catarrh,  and  acute 


660  BAPTiaiA  TINCTOBIA.         KSSSrjSS^MS! 

enteritis,  or  enteric  catarrh,  or  in  gimple  febrile  diarrhoBa 
with  soft  pappy  stools,  baptida  is  well  indicated^  ought  to 
be,  and' is  of  the  first  importance. 

That  these  statements  are  borne  oat  by  the  provinga 
will  be  seen  from  the  detailed  summary  of  the  patho- 
genesis, which  I  now  proceed  to  giye.  I  may  add  that, 
if  the  case  is  complicated  by  a  certain  amonnt  of  bronchial 
irritation  and  sense  of  tightness  in  the  chest,  so  mnch  the 
more  will  baptisia  meet  these  conditions. 

Mind, — The  effect  of  baptisia  on  the  mind  is  to  produce 
first  a  doll  gloomy  feeling,  with  low  spirits,  with  weakness 
of  brain  function.  ^'Cannot  confine  his  mind;  sort  of 
wild  wandering  feeling."  ^*  Mind  seemed  weak  rather 
than  confused.*'  "  Indisposed  to  think,  want  of  power  to 
think.*'  This  is  seemingly  the  preliminary  to  the  second 
stage  of  febrile  excitement — **  a  sort  of  excitement  of  the 
brain  which  is  the  preliminary,  or  rather  the  beginning  of 
delirium.  With  him  it  never  fails  to  take  place  if  the 
fever  continues,  and  increases  to  considerable  intensity.'* 
This  state  is  in  harmony  with  the  febrile  condition  which 
baptisia  so  markedly  produces. 

Head. — There  is  a  dull,  confused,  heavy  feeling  in  the 
whole  head,  with  swimming  sensation.  Headache  is 
prominent,  almost  entirely  frontal,  with  pressure  at  the 
root  of  the  nose.  The  frontal  pain  is  of  a  dull,  pressive, 
full  character;  worse  from  noise,  or  on  stooping.  Sharp 
pains  are  also  felt  in  both  temples.  One  prover  notes — 
*'  Vertigo  and  sensation  of  weakness  in  the  entire  system, 
especially  in  the  lower  limbs,  with  weak  knees.**  A  sensa- 
tion as  if  the  skin  of  the  forehead  was  too  tight,  is  noted 
several  times.  This  state  of  the  head  is  evidently  a  febrile 
one,  and  just  such  as  is  experienced  in  the  onset  of  fever. 

Eyes. — The  eyes  look  shining,  and  the  conjunctival 
vessels  are  dilated,  causing  redness.  The  eyeballs  ache, 
feel  ''  soie  and  lame  '*  on  moving  them,  and  feel  as  if 
pressed  into  the  head.  Prover  feels  difficulty  in  keeping 
the  lids  open.  There  is  pain  also  over  both  eyes ;  some 
confusion  of  sight,  and  lachrymation  in  the  open  air. 

These  also  are  evidently  symptoms  of  the  general  fever; 
the  redness  and  lachrymation  being  indications  of  the 
mucoup  membrane  irritation  that  exists  everywhere. 

Ears. — ^Dnlneas  of  hearing  is  all  that  is  noted* 


iSS^NjnrS^      BAPTISIA  TINOTOBIA. 661 

Nose. — ^Here  we  find  the  mucous  catarrh  showing  itself 
by  sneezing  and  ^^  feeling  as  after  taking  a  severe  cold/*^ 
mucous  discharge,  and  dull  pain  and  pressure  at  the  root 
of  the  nose.  These  symptoms,  with  those  of  the  eyes  and 
head,  show  that  baptiaia  will  rival  aconite  in  the  beginning 
of  an  acute  febrile  ''  cold  in  the  head." 

Face. — The  face  not  only  feels  flushed  and  hot,  with 
burning  of  cheeks,  and  ''  burning  and  prickling  of  left  side 
of  face  and  head,"  but  it  is  noticed  that  the  face  is  per- 
ceptibly flushed  and  hot. 

Mouth. — The  tongue  indicates  distinctly  the  ^tate  of 
febrile  mucous  catarrh ;  it  is  at  first  white,  with  reddish 
papillsB  seen  here  and  there,  then  becomes  yellow  in  the 
centre,  the  edges  being  red  and  shining.  The  tongue  feels 
dry,  swoUen,  and  as  though  it  had  been  scraped.  The 
gums  become  sore.  Ulcers  also  form  in  the  mouth,  there 
is  increased  flow  of  viscid  saliva,  the  lips  stick  together, 
and  there  is  a  **  flat,"  bitter  taste  in  the  mouth. 

Throat. — The  condition  here  is  very  marked.  There  is 
a  feeling  of  contraction  and  soreness,  causing  frequent 
efforts  at  deglutition,'  a  scraped,  burning  feeling,  and 
tickling,  causing  cough.  The  fauces  and  tonsUs  are 
distinctly  red.  The  pharynx  is  red  and  congested,  with  a 
sense  of  dryness  and  roughness,  a  raw  sensation  or  pricking 
there.  This  extends  up  to  the  posterior  nares,  and  is 
followed  by  increased  secretion  of  viscid  mucus. 

We  thus  see  how  homoeopathic  boiptisia  is  to  an  acute 
febrile  catarrh  of  the  nose,  involving  the  mucous  mem* 
brane  of  the  mouth,  tonsils,  fauces,  and  pharynx.  In  this 
its  action  calls  to  mind  aconite,  heUadonna,  mercuriusj  and 
kali  bichromicum — ^in  fact,  it  would  seem  to  combine  the 
effects  of  a£on.,  bell.,  and  mercurius,  and  ought  to  be 
valuable  given  alone  in  such  cases. 

Stomach. — ^In  this  organ  we  notice  the  extension  of  the 
mucous  membrane  irritation  of  an  acute  type,  causing  loss 
of  appetite,  thirst,  nausea,  and  desire  to  vomit,  very 
marked  pain  of  a  drawing  character,  and  ''  distress  "  in 
the  epigastrium  and  rigUt  hypochondrium.  The  pain  in 
the  latter  is  probably  partially  from  the  liver,  as  we  shall 
see  in  the  next  section,  but  chiefly  from  catarrh  of  the 
duodenum,  extending  along  the  common  bile-duct.  Bap- 
Usia  stands  thus  almodt  unrivalled  in  acute  gastric  catarrh^ 


668  BAPTISIA  TINOTOBIA.    *SSS5.^aJ!T 

whether  existing  alone  or  as  part  of  a  general  aente 
catarrh  of  the  whole  gasfero-mtestinal  tract,  and  also  in 
.acnte  daodenal  catarrh. 

Abdomen. — ^Severe  pain  is  felt  at  the  liver,  of  a  dull 
character,  with  soreness,  and  is  much  aggravated  hj 
walking.  This  pain  is,  as  I  have  said,  probably  as  mneh 
•or  more  from  the  dnodenmn  as  from  tlie  liver.  There  is 
dull  aching  pain  in  the  umbilical  and  hypogastric  r^ons* 
with  pain  on  pressure,  distension,  flatulence,  rumbling,  and 
desire  for  stool.  The  pain  goes  into  the  groin  and  testicle^. 
Here  again  we  have  evident  enteric  catarrh,  the  pain,  ten- 
derness, distension,  rambling,  and  desire  for  stool  being 
characteristic  of  this  state,  and  pointing  out  hapiUia  as  a 
most  important  remedy  in  this  condition. 

Stool  and  Anus. — The  marked  feature  here  is  the 
diarrhoea;  the  stools  being  dark,  soft,  papescent,  with 
much  mucus.  In  other  cases,  there  is  constipati<Hi. 
These  two  conditions  are  not  .antagonistic,  as  we  know  that 
catarrh  of  the  upper  portion  of  the  bowel  is  attended 
by  rambling  and  desire  for  stool,  but  actual  constipation, 
while  diarrhoea  exists,  when  the  catarrh  affects  the  ileum 
and  colon.  In  one  case,  when  constipation  was  produced, 
piles  became  troublesome.  It  is  to  be  noted  that  ihe  colour 
of  the  stools  is  only  once  mentioned,  and  then  they  are  said 
to  be  ''  dark."  This  supports  the  view  I  have  expressed 
that  the  pain  in  the  right  hypochondrium  is  as  much,  if 
not  more,  duodenal  than  hepatic.  If  the  liver  were  much 
involved,  the  stools  would  probably  have  been  pale. 

Urinary  Organs. — ^There  is  "  a  sort  of  burning  "  when 
urinating;  the  urine  is  high-coloured,  and  in  one  case  was 
neutral  to  test-paper.  The  *'  sort  of  burning  "  is  what  is 
usually  felt  in  a  febrile  condition. 

Respiratory  Organs. — The  catarrh  of  the  mucous 
membrane  is  also  here  visible,  though  not  nearly  so 
marked  as  in  the  digestive  apparatus.  There  is  hoarseness, 
tendency  to  cough,  increased  secretion  of  bronchial  muous ; 
with  feeling  of  oppression,  tightness  and  difiSculty  of 
breathing,  and  in  one  case,  '^  soreness  of  right  lung." 

This  tightness  and  oppression  is,  in  fiict,  the  most 
nuirked  feature.  One  prover  thus  describes  it.  ''On 
lying  down,  difficulty  of  breathing,  in  half  an  hour, 
becoming  so  great  that  he  was  obliged  to  rise ;  afraid  to 
go  to   deep  from    feeling  of  certainty  that  he   shoaM 


BS^vTumL^    BAKTIBU  TINOTORIA.  688 

immediately  have  nightmare  and  snffoeation.  This  dif* 
fieolty  of  breathing  is  not  so  much  from  constriction  of 
the  chesty  as  from  a  feeling  of  want  of  power  in  the 
respiratory  apparatus^  snch  as  he  had  only  felt  daring 
A  fever." 

Chest, — ^In  this  section  are  repeated  the  symptoms 
'Of  tightness  and  oppression,  with  diffioolty  of  breathing, 
-and  pains  referred  to  both  longs,  chiefly  the  right. 

Heart  and  PuUe, — There  is  increased  throbbing  in  the 
heart,  felt  distinctly  by  the  prover,  and  feeling  as  if  filling 
the  chest.  The  palse  becomes  qnick,  np  to  100,  in  some 
weak,  in  others  fnll  and  soft.  This  is  in  keeping  with  the 
general  state  of  fever. 

Neck  and  Back. — The  symptoms  in  this  region  are  very 
important  to  notice,  as  they  form  the  key  to  the  nse  of 
baptisia  in  cases  of  fever  when  there  may  be  no  marked 
acnte  macons  catarrh.  The  muscles  of  the  neck  and  back 
feel  stiff,  and  ache  severely.  This  aching  and  stiffness  is 
worse  on  walking.  That  in  the  lambar  and  sacral  regions 
is  particularly  severe.  A  proving  is  thus  recorded:  ^'  Dull 
pain  of  the  sacrum,  compounded  of  a  feeling  as  from 
pressure  and  fatigae  from  long  stooping,  and  soreness  ex* 
tending  around  hips  and  down  right  leg."  Other  provings 
in  the  same  strain,  classed  under  "  Generalities  "  in  Allen, 
ought  really  to  be  named  m  this  section  of  the  back.  As 
they  are  important,  I  quote  them  entire.  ''  Bheumatic 
pains  and  soreness  all  over  the  body."  ''  Stiffness  of  aO 
the  joints,  as  though  strained."  ''  Feel  stiff  and  sore  all 
over ;  dread  to  move."  "  Each  time  after  waking  firom 
the  nightmare,  the  parts  on  which  he  lay  soon  became 
exceedingly  painful,  especially  the  sacral  region  and  hips. 
After  lying  for  not  more  than  ten  minutes  upon  the  back, 
the  sacral  regions  became  intolerably  painful,  as  though  he 
liad  lain  upon  the  bare  floor  all  night,  and  inducing  the 
conviction  that  a  short  continuance  of  the  position  would 
produce  bed-sores.  When  turning  on  the  other  side,  the 
«ame  sensation  was  produced  in  the  hips,  obliging  him  at 
last  to  turn  on  his  face  to  relieve  these  parts."  ''In- 
tolerance of  pressure  on  all  parts  on  which  pressure  was 
made.  Gould  not  rest  back  against  chair  without  pain 
from  the  pressure.  Obliged  to  change  sitting  position  eveiy 
few  minutes  from  same  cause.  Even  the  feet  became 
equally  painful  from  resting  on  the  floor."     These  symp- 


664 BAPT18IA  TmoTOMA.    ^SSaS^.TTTS^ 

toms  are  yeiy  majrked,  are  freqaenily  met  with  in  a  ease  of 
fever,  when  one's  attention  is  drawn  to  them  as  indicating 
a  medicine,  and,  as  I  have  jnst  said,  when  present  with 
ferer  they  indicate  bajrtina.  Clinical  results  amply  con- 
firm this  statement.  Patients  often  describe  it  as  tiiat 
the  bed  feels  so  hard. 

Upper  and  Lower  ExtremitieB, — Aching  and  drawing 
pains  are  felt  in  all  the  muscles,  sometimes  nnmbiiass  ct 
hands  and  feet ;  prickling  nmub  feeling,  as  if  the  parts 
were  going  to  sleep. 

OeneraUties. — There  is  a  yeiy  restiess  state.  He  cannot 
sleep  qniedy.  "Wants  to  sleep,  and  yet  does  not  want 
to."  In  evening  restless,  uneasy  feeling.  Wants  to 
move  about  from  place  to  place.  With  this  restless 
feeling  there  is  a  sense  of  weakness  and  prostration  and 
utter  weariness,  with  general  sore,  tired,  bruised  feeliug. 
"Indescribable  sick  feeling  all  over."  In  one  case, 
"  paralysis  of  the  whole  left  side  "  is  noted.  This  weaij 
weakness  is  evidenUy  part  of  the  incipient  febrile  state. 

Skin. — Only  the  following  is  noted: — "Livid  spots 
appear  all  over  the  body  and  Umbs,  size  of  pea  to  three- 
cent  piece ;  thickest  on  body ;  without  sensation ;  not 
elevated,  and  irregular  in  shape — after  six  weeks. 

Sleep  and  Dreams. — The  provers  almost  all  record  the 
same  condition,  namely,  sleeping  till  one,  two,  or  three 
o'clock  a.m.,  waking  uneasily,  sometimes  with  a  feel- 
ing of  tightness  in  chest  or  suffocation,  oftener  after  a 
nightmare  or  frightful  dreams,  and  then  lying  awake, 
tossing  about,  or  sleeping  very  restiessly,  with  troubled 
uneasy  dreams.  This  form  of  sleeplessness  is  common  in  a 
febrile  state.  It  is  also  common  in  other  states  of  dis- 
health,  and  is  much  more  difficult  to  cure  than  sleepless- 
ness  occurring  in  the  first  part  of  the  night.  Baptuia, 
then,  will  be  one  of  our  few  medicines  which  meet  this 
form  of  sleeplessness. 

Fever. — There  is  marked  chilliness  in  the  evening, 
followed  by  dry  heat,  the  face  particularly  feeling  hot,  with 
which  the  prover  wakens  at  two  or  three.  a.m.  Only  once  is 
perspiration  said  to  have  followed  the  heat,  and  then  it 
was  accompanied  by  vomiting  and  diarrhcea. 


bS^Js^^S^  phosphorus  in  pneumonia.         665 

PHOSPHORUS  m  PNEUMONIA  AND   SOFTENING 

OF  THE  BRAIN. 
By  Dr.  W.  Arnold,  Heidelberg. 

Translated  from  the  Horn.  Vierteljahrschrift  IIl.^  161, 1852,  by  Dr.  Lilien- 
THAL,  and  reprinted  frum  the  North  American  Journal  of  Homoeopathy r 
Aog.,  1881. 

There  must  be  an  internal  as  well  as  an  external  similarity 
between  the  morbid  manifestations  and  the  action  of  the 
drug.  As  an  example  for  onr  study  let  us  take  phosptior. 
This  drug  offers  many  symptoms,  which  according  to- 
the  law  of  similarity  hmt  its  application  in  inflammation 
of  the  respiratory  organs.  It  has  been  recommended  in 
pneumonia  complicated  with  bronchitis,  in  pleuritic  exuda* 
tions,  in  exudations  into  the  parenchyma  of  the  lungs,  in 
hepatization,  even  when  well  advanced,  in  pneumonia  during 
the  course  of  tuberculosis,  in  great  depression  of  the  yital 
force,  a  weak  cough,  when  pulmonary  paralysis  threatens, 
when  nervous  symptoms  appear  or  are  already  present,  in 
lung  fever  during  typhus  epidemics,  in  those  of  old  people, 
especially  when  they  had  been  troubled  for  a  long  time 
with  chronic  nervous  cough  and  shortness  of  breath.  I 
acknowledge  that  such  indications  are  not  of  much  import- 
ance to  us,  though  nobody  denies  that  phospltor.  did  good 
work  in  some  such  cases,  but  too  often  in  similar  cases 
other  drugs  are  better  indicated,  and  the  reason  of  ib  is, 
because  such  expressions  fail  to  show  a  state,  evincing  itself 
as  a  pathologico-therapeutical  specialty.  GL  Muller  truly 
designates  phosphorus  only  suitable  for  those  cases  of  pneu- 
monia where  with  the  dyspnoea  and  difficulty  of  breathing 
we  meet  also  pains,  especially  stitching,  caused  or  increased 
Dy  coughing  and  breathing,  or  in  pleuro-pneumonia,  where 
the  scanty  expectoration  contains  mucus  or  bloody  mucus 
and  breathing  is  rendered  difficult  even  in  the  pulmonary 
parts  free  from  inflammation.  In  such  cases  we  also  meet 
depression  of  the  mental  faculties,  light  bland  delirium  with 
carphologia  and  subsaltus  tendinum,  rapid  loss  of  strength,, 
cold  clammy  sweat,  with  rapid  pulse,  lustreless  eyes,  sunken 
hippocratic  face,  dry  lips  and  tongue  without  thirst,  short 
laboured  respiration  with  slight  and  difficult  cough  and 
expectoration,  oppression  and  anguish,  involuntary  defeca- 
tion. In  his  essay  on  pneumonia  (H.  F.,  J.,  158)  the 
same  author  leads  our  attention  to  the  changes  in  the  blood 
produced  by  phosphor.,  and  I  may  be  allowed  to  add  that 
phosphor,  not  only  diminishes  the  coagulability  of  the  blood,. 
No.  11,  VoL  25.  2  z 


666  PHOSPHORUS  IN  PNEUMONIA.    "^S^fjSKITSE 


dissolTing  the  blood  corpuscles  and  changing  the  colour  of 
the  blood  into  violet,  but  it  also  causes  a  discharge  of  it 
into  the  tissue  of  the  organs  and  hemorrhage  by  its  passage 
from  the  blood-vessels.    We  mast  not  forget  that  pho9phm. 
cannot  produce  an  inflammation  in  its  strict  sense  in  order 
to  understand  fully  when  phosplior,  is  indicated  in  pneu- 
monia.    Because  phosplior.  produces  in  animals  poisoned 
by  it  redness  of  different  parts  of  the  body,  some  physiciaiiB 
•considered  it  as  a  stimulant  indicated  in  different  inflamma- 
tions.   In  all  my  experiments  in  the  cadavers  of  animals 
killed  with  phosphor.  I  never  witnessed  an  unusually  strong 
development  of  the  capillaries  nor  a  stagnation  of  the 
increased  bloodmass  accumulated  therein,  I  rather  found 
in  the  lungs  of  these  animals  livid  spots,  often  more  than 
usual  filled  with  blood,  which  hypersBmia  caused  in  some 
cases  a  firmer  state  of  the  lung-tissue,  so  that  on  some 
parts  crepitation  was  absent.     I  never  observed  a  folly 
formed  hepatization  of    the  lungs,   but  Bibra   observed 
hepatization  and  partially  tubercular  formation,  perhaps 
because  he  used  the  phosplior.  in  the  form  of   vapour 
immediately  on  the  lungs  for  some  time.      The  blood 
accumulated  in  the  lungs  was  darker,  violet,  of  a  bad  colour 
and  fluid.     He  found  also  larger  and  smaller  spots  of  the 
same  colour,  caused  by  the  exuded  blood,  which  were  also  in 
the  pulmonary  mucous  membrane,  and  the  mucus  was 
often  mixed  with  blood.     Totally  different  are  the  changes 
in  the  lungs  afl;er  the  action  of  aeon.    I  found  considerable 
accumulation  of  blood  in  the  lungs  after  the  application  of 
^leon.  or  extract  of  aeon.,  especially  in  strong,  well  nour- 
ished animals ;   far  less  so  in  weaker  or  poorly  nourished 
animals  and  none  at  all  after  loss  of  blood.    I  found  the 
blood  accumulated,  especially  in  the  blood  vessels,  in  ihe 
arteries  as  well  as  in  the  veins,  where  it  coagulated,  so  that 
copious  coagula  could  be  found  in  either  one.    The  quantity 
of  blood  in  the  pulmonary  blood  vessels  was  often  so  large, 
that  decided  pulsations  and  lateral  movements  could  be 
seen  in  the  pulmonary  arteries,  when  opening  the  chest  of 
such  animals  during  life.     Flow  of  blood  into  the  tissue  of 
the  lungs  or  upon  ihe  mucous  membrane  is  more  rarely 
observed  with  aeon,  than  with  phosphor.    Hence,  the  oases 
suitable  for  a^on.  toe  diametrically  opposed  to  those  suitable 
for  phosphor.    By  comparing  the  changes  in  the  lungs 
with  the  manifestations  which  these  drugs  produce  during 
life  and  with  observations  on  the  sick  bed,  we  find  a  great 


iS^K^JT^I^  PH0BPH0RD8  IN  PNBUMOKIA.  667 

similarity,  and  to  find  out  the  internal  changes  of  the  organ 
affected  mast  be  therefore  of  great  importance,  and  only 
thns  the  selection  of  the  drug  can  be  justified.  According 
to  commonplace  expression  we  might  say  that  aeon. 
corresponds  to  pure,  genuine  inflammations,  phosphor,  to 
the  so-called  typhoid  ones  with  dissolution  of  the  blood. 
But  I  do  not  consider  such  differentiation  of  great 
importance,  as  it  is  neither  scientifically  nor  practically  of 
great  ¥alue«  Every  physician,  practising  according  to 
the  specific  method,  knows  that  besides  aeon,  other 
remedies  may  be  indicated  in  pure  pneumonia,  and  that 
phosphor,  is  not  the  only  remedy  in  the  so-called 
typhoid  pneumonia.  We  discard,  therefore  all  such 
nomenclature,  and  also  that  old  misleading  definition 
of  inflammation.  We  keep  in  yiew  rather  the  hyper- 
samia  and  then  by  studying  all  the  cases  of  intoxication 
we  find  pliosphor.  indicated  according  to  the  law  of  similarity 
where  the  following  state  is  present :  Fulness  of  blood  in 
the  lungs,  fluid  quality  of  the  blood,  diminished  calibre  of 
the  blood-corpuscles,  or  more  or  less  their  dissolution, 
decrease  or  loss  of  the  coagulability  of  the  blood,  its  exit 
into  the  tissue  of  the  lungs,  pleura  or  pulmonary  mucous 
membrane,  admixture  of  dissolute  and  miscoloured  blood 
with  the  bronchial  mucus,  bloody  expectoration,  especially 
iiuch  of  bad  quality ;  fulness  of  blood  with  the  presence  of 
pulmonary  tubercles.  The  degree,  the  duration  and  form- 
ation of  the  hypersBmia  gives  no  hint  for  or  against  the  use 
of  the  drug»  it  is  applicable  in  hypenemia,  stasis  and 
hepatization,  when  the  blood  is  of  the  quality  just  mentioned. 
Where  physical  examination,  observation  of  the  sputa  and 
of  the  quahty  of  the  blood  exuded  from  this  or  that  part  of 
the  body,  where  the  state  or  mode  of  life  of  the  patient  as 
well  as  the  noxte  to  which  he  was  exposed,  or  the  endemic 
and  epidemic  influences  prove  that  the  lungs  are  the  part 
Affected,  and  if  we  then  also  find  the  manifestations  pro- 
duced by  phospluyr.  on  the  healthy  body,  showing  a 
dissolution  of  the  blood  and  a  peculiar  hypersmic  state  in 
the  lungs,  we  may  in  such  a  case  prescribe  this  drug  with 
the  greatest  confidence,  and  its  effect  will  leave  nothing  to 
be  desired.  I  succeeded  best,  where  with  the  characteristic 
symptoms  in  the  lungs  I  also  found  more  or  less:  sensation 
of  oppression,  rendering  breathing  difficult,  complaint  of 
weakness  in  the  chest  which  with  the  impossibility  of  taking 
a  deep  inspiration  causes  a  fear  that  breathing  may  stop 

2x  -9 


668  PHOSPHORUS  IN  PNEUMONIA,    ^t^f^i^^u^. 

entirely;  sensation  of  fulness  in  the  chest,  of  increased 
heat,  sometimes  of  homing;  stitches  here  and  there  in  the 
chest  (not  so  yeiy  characteristic,  but  not  contra-indicating 
the  drug),  respiration  with  rattling  murmnrs  and  difScuh 
expectoration  of  mncns  mixed  with  blood ;  rare  dry  congh 
and  laboured  expectoration  though  the  chest  may  be  filled 
with  bloody  mucus,  which  in  other  cases  may  be  easily  and 
copiously  expectorated ;  cough  followed  by  oppression  and 
anguish ;  hemorrhage  from  other  parts,  especially  epistaxis, 
with  the  same  bad  quality  of  the  blood ;  dull  pain  in  the 
head,  especially  in  forehead,  dulness  of  head,  stupefiiction, 
even  loss  of  consciousness,  delirium;  great  lassitude,  a 
paretic  loss  of  power  in  the  extremities  ;  cool,  placid  sidn, 
especially  coldness  of  the  extremities  with  heat  of  the 
head ;  cool  sweat  with  the  sensation  of  malaise,  accelerated 
pulse,  more  frequent  than  rapid,  mostly  soft,  sometimes 
small,  easily  suppressed.  In  such  cases  a  rapid  cure 
followed  its  application,  though  it  also  acted  well  in  other 
cases  where  its  peculiar  bloodcrasis  was  not  so  fully  de- 
veloped, and  where,  therefore,  the  manifestations  during 
life  were  not  so  decided.  This  is  especially  remarkable  in 
so-called  pneumonia  when  typhus  is  prevfloling ;  whereas, 
many  cases  undoubtedly  need  phosphor.^  others  show 
no  such  characteristic  symptoms  so  that  the  prescriber  may 
hesitate  to  select  it,  and  still  they  find  in  phosphor,  their 
best  remedy.  Such  observations  might  have  been  the  cause 
of  the  general  recommendation  o{  phosphor,  in  pneumonia, 
but  they  ought  only  to  urge  us  on  to  study  diligently  the 
epidemic  constitution. 

In  softening  of  the  hratn,  phosphor,  is  also  of  great 
value.  In  my  experiments  on  animals,  I  constantly 
observed  softening  of  the  central  parts  of  the  animal 
nervous  system,  especially  of  the  brain,  less  so  of  the  cord 
(Hygea  28).  This  is  nothing  astonishing,  as  phosphor, 
acts  as  a  resolvent  on  different  organic  tissues,  especially 
albuminous  matter,  and  as  it  is  an  essential  part  of  the 
central  mass  of  the  animal  nervous  system.  This  is  not 
only  of  great  interest  in  relation  to  science,  but  practically 
I  demonstrated  its  great  value  in  softening  of  the  brain. 

A  farmer,  set.  40,  rather  delicate  from  infancy  up,  and 
who  could  well  stand  the  hard  labour  of  a  fiEirmer's  life,  is 
married  for  ten  years,  but  never  had  any  issue.  Since  his 
marriage  his  bodily  vigour  is  still  more  &iling;  coition 
always  weakens  him  for  several  days,  and  latterly  even  for 


iSSSSfM^nS^  PH08PH0BUS  IN  PNEUMONIA.  669 

weeks ;  bnt  only  the  last  tweWe  months  he  is  really  sick. 
His  morbid  state  deyeloped  gradually,  and  his  attending 
physician  diagnosed  it  as  an  incarable  softening  of  the  brain. 
I  saw  the  patient  for  the  first  time  in  February,  and  found 
him  paralyzed  on  the  left  side.     The  paralysis  attacked 
•especially  the  extremities  of  the  left  side,  the  upper  and 
lower  one,  less  the  face  and  the  tongue,  though  speech  was 
somewhat  difficult.    Paralysis  was  not  total,  as  the  patient 
could  make  some  motions,  had  sensitiveness  to  the  touch, 
.and   without   any   cause   he  felt  pain,  which  sometimes 
became  severe    in  the   affected  arm  and  leg,  with  short, 
involuntary  movements.     There  is  a  kind  of  stiffness  in 
the  affected  parts  so  that  it  costs  some  effort  to  flex  or  to 
move  them.    He  complains  of  paroxysms  of  vertigo,  dulness 
of  head,  the  faculty  of  thinking  is  not  free  and  memory  is 
imperfect  and  slow.     When  questioned  it  takes  him  a  long 
time  to  answer ;  replies  are  short  and  imperfect,  as  much 
from  inhibition  of  the  mental  faculties  as  from  the  heaviness 
of  speech.     Little  appetite,  defecation  rare  and  laboured,  so 
that  he  used  purgatives  frequently.     Sleep  restless,  often 
interrupted,  and    after  awaking   patient  felt  the  worst, 
whereas  formerly,  when  he  passed  most  of  the  time  out  of 
bed,  he  arose  usually  very  late.     The  right  non-paralyzed 
•side  could  be  moved,  but  he  never  felt  safe  in  his  move- 
ments ;  if  he  wanted  to  grasp  something  he  did  it  tremblingly, 
.and  had  no  power  to  hold  it  with  firmness.     The  patient 
.showed  everywhere  the  picture  of  lassitude  and  powerless- 
ness.    Vision  had  decreased,  he  complained  of  a  veil  being 
before  his  eyes.     Features  pale,   only  overspread  by  a 
transient  redness  after  an  exertion  or  when  taking  some 
hot  nourishment.     The  change  of  temperature  was  remark- 
.able,  heat  and  cold  were  equally  disagreeable  to  him,  and 
when  chilly  he  felt  inclined  to  stretch,  in  which  also  the 
paralyzed  limbs  participated.     I  prescribed  phosphor.,  2d 
dec,  in  solution,  to  take  ten  drops  three  times  a  day  in 
water.    After  sixteen  days  I  saw  him  again  and  found  him 
remarkably  improved ;  the  right  extremities  felt  stronger 
and  more  moveable,  and  also  more  sensitive  to  impressions ; 
the  head  was  more  clear ;    he  replied  more  easily  and 
quicker,   and  expressed  hopes  of  returning  health ;    he 
looked  better,  ate  better,  and  was  able  to  be  up  each  day 
for  a  few  hours  ;  well  supported  he  could  walk  about  the 
room,  though  he  dragged  the  left  leg  considerably.     Medi- 
cine repeated  twice  a  day.    Amelioration  progressed  steadily 


670  PHOSPHOBUB  IN  PNEUMOKIA.  *Sffl^%??^ 


SwisWt  Not.  l«  IflBl. 


for  the  next  two  weeks,  but  the  patient  complained  of  pains 
in  the  affected  limbs,  and  the  skin  over  them  was  coTered 
with  red  spots,  siniilar  to  scarlatina.  Phosphor,  was 
now  omitted  and  bellad.  6x,  given  twice  a  day,  one  drop,  and 
after  five  dajs  changed  it  to  the  fourth.  The  pains  and 
redness  disappeared,  I  do  not  know  whether  to  ascribe  it  to 
the  2>ho8phor.  or  to  the  action  of  bellad.  As  no  amelior- 
ation followed  I  returned  to  phosphor.y  twice  a  day  ten 
drops  of  the  third  decimal  solution,  but  still  improvement 
was  slow,  but  steady.  He  perspired  copiously  every  night, 
and  pocks  appeared  here  and  there  on  the  skin.  After  teai 
days  I  found  the  patient  greatly  changed;  he  was  up  nearly 
the  whole  day,  walked  about  without  support  in  his  garden. 
All  medicine  omitted  and  good  nourishing  diet  with  plenty 
of  fresh  air  recommended,  and  he  hoped  soon  to  attend 
again  to  his  business.  Six  months  have  passed,  and 
though  not  entirely  cured  he  feels  comfortable  and  satisfied 
with  his  present  state  of  health. 

A  delicate  girl,  sBt.  19,  not  fully  developed,  with  scanty,, 
watery  menstruation  or  amenorrhoBa,  had  chlorosis  for  the 
last  two   summers.     She  lives  with  her  mother  and  two 
sisters  in  a  smaU,  damp  room,  has  to  work  hard  notwith- 
standing her  insufficient  nourishment.     For  the  last  two 
weeks  her  strength   entirely  left  her;  she  complains  of 
dizziness,  restless  sleep,  general  malaise,  is  forgetful  and 
replies  slowly.    Nov.  20th.     She  fell  from  her  chair,  was 
unconscious  for  quarter  of  an  hour,  made  some  spasmodic 
motions,  felt  somew^hat  stiff  when  consciousness  returned, 
and  complained  of  vertigo,  so  that  she  feared  to  fall.    Nov.^ 
24th.     She  had  another  attack,  moaned  in  breathing,  ih» 
left   side    moved  spasmodically,  the   right  side  was  stiff. 
She  got  pulsaU    After  two  days  consciousness  returned, 
but  the  whole  right  side  was  paralyzed,  motorily  as  well 
as  sensorily.     The  paralyzed  limbs  were  stretched  out  and 
it  took  some  force  to  bend  them ;  the  lower  maxilla  could 
only  be  moved  with  difficulty,  for  if  requested  to  put  out 
her  tongue,  she  pressed  the  lower  jaw-bone  down  with  her 
hand,  and  then  succeeded  only  imperfectly;  the  tongue 
could  hardly  be  protruded  and  she  could  only  utter  inarticu- 
late sounds ;  the  faculty  of  speech  was  lost.    Phosphor. 
Sx,  four  times  a  day,  ten  drops  in  some  water.    Dec«  6th. 
I  observed  the  first  traces  of  sensation  and  motion  in  the 
paralysed  thigh  and  leg.     Dec.  8th.   She  could  move  the 
leg  slightly,  though  only  with  great  exertion ;  the  month 


B^ji^U^''   PHOSPHORUS  IN  PNEUMONIA.  671 

eonld  be  opened  a  little  and  the  tongne  somewhat  protruded, 
rather  more  to  the  right  side.  Dec.  10th.  The  right  hand 
was  more  sensitive  to  the  touch,  and  she  tried  to  move  it ; 
she  also  could  pronounce  some  words,  as  apple,  bread.  Dec. 
15th'.  Sensitiveness  had  returned  nearly  to  the  upper  arm, 
motion  was  easier  but  not  perfect,  supported  she  could 
walk  a  little  about  the  room,  but  hardly  any  improvement 
in  speech.  Dec.  24th.  Amelioration  had  steadily  progressed, 
though  there  was  some  weakness  still  in  the  axillary  joint. 
Walking  was  nearly  perfect,  speaking  easier,  only  she  com- 
plained of  a  weakness  in  the  larynx,  and  she  could  not 
open  her  mouth  fully.  She  looked  well  though  it  took  her 
some  time  yet  to  feel  well.  Jan.  10th.  Menstruation  ap- 
peared with  some  pains,  after  haying  been  gone  for  six 
months.  It  lasted  a  few  days,  showed  no  influence  on  the 
motory  apparatus,  but  speech  was  a  trifle  less  clear  during 
its  continuance.  Sometimes  the  girl  could  not  find  the 
right  word  and  used  a  similar  expression  instead.  Towards 
the  latter  part  of  January  she  could  speak  plain  enough 
when  quiet,  and  only  some  emotional  disturbance  prevented 
her  from  speaking  plainly.  She  took  the  pJiosjjhor.  up  to 
the  15th  of  December  when  she  complained  of  some  frontal 
headache  and  pain  at  the  upper  part  of  the  right  arm, 
when  the  drug  was  omitted  for  five  days  and  resumed  on 
the  20th.  From  that  time  forward  all  medicine  was  left 
off. 

In  both  cases  according  to  mere  external  similarity  many 
more  drugs  might  seem  to  be  indicated,  and  considering 
only  the  superficial  appearance  of  these  manifestations,  the 
selection  would  be  difiicult.  But  keeping  in  view  the 
origin  of  the  disease,  which  in  its  symptoms  suggested 
softening  of  the  brain  and  knowing  from  my  experiments 
on  animals  that  phosphor,  produced  it,  I  prescribed  it  in 
both  cases  with  confidence,  in  as  much  as  the  external 
manifestations  corresponded  well. 


A  CLINICAL  CASE. 

By  S.  H.  Blaee^  M.E.C.S.,  Liverpool. 

Besides  the  well  known  application  of  hryonia  to  the 
dyspepsia,  bronchial  affection,  and  chest-wall  symptoms 
characteristic  of  this  medicine,  there  occasionally  occurs  a 
peculiar  cesophageal  symptom  which  is  much  more  rarely 


672  CLIKICAL  CASE.         "SS^^S~?»^ 


Beview.  Nor.  1, 18BL 


met  with  in  practice,  bat  which,  when  found  associated  with 
the  other  conditions  indicating  hryonia^  may  be  effectually 
cored  by  it,  as  the  following  case  will  illnstrate : — 

Margaret  B.,  aged  15,  of  sanguine  temperament,  and 
sedentary  occapation,  presented  marked  anssmia.    Ferrum 
earh.  3  x  dose  ter  die  was  ordered,  and  continued  for  a 
fortnight,  when  she  came  again,  and  now  complained  of 
indigestion,  with  flatulent  distension  of  the  epigastrinm, 
and  in  addition  pain  in  the  left  side  at  the  sixth  and 
seventh  ribs,  the  pain  catching  her  when  making  inspira- 
tion.    Besides   this,  there  was  the  peculiar   oesophageal 
symptom — ''  the  food  when  eaten  seems  to  lie  on  the  chest, 
as  if  it  had  not  gone  down  "  the  gullet,  giving  to  her  the 
sensation  as  if  it  continued  to  lie  at  a  spot  corresponding 
with  the  upper  third  of  the  sternum,  just  as  if  '*  choking 
her,"  to  quote  her  own  words.     She  even  had  to  *'  take  a 
drink  "  after  eating  solid  food,  in  order  ''  to  get  the  food 
down."     Bryonia  1  x  a  dose  every  third  hour.     This  was 
on  August  23rd.     She  did  not  find  it  necessary  after  this 
to  get  more  medicine,  and  so  did  not  come  again  until 
October  11th,  when  she  came  with  a  slight  cough,  having 
felt  quite  well  in  the  interval,  and  she  reported  that  the 
indigestion  and  other  symptoms  had  been  quite  cured  by 
the  medicine.     No  doubt,  however,  but  some  anaemia  had 
still  remained,  as  I  observed  it  on  the  date  last  named. 
The  sesophageal  symptom  referred  to  is  not  a  common  one 
in  my  experience.    Perhaps  it  may  only  occur  a  few  times 
in  some  hundreds  of  cases  treated,  but  it  occasionally  crops 
up  so  that  it  is  interesting  to  confirm  the  clinical  use  of 
bryonia  for  this  symptom. 

The  most  like  to  this  that  I  find  recorded  in  Hahne- 
mann's Materia  Medica  Pura,  run  thus :  **  Pressure  in  the 
oesophagus,  as  if  he  had  sw^allowed  a  hard  angular  body." 
Again,  *'  she  cannot  get  the  food  and  diink  down  [for?] 
she  has  a  choking  in  the  oesophagus  (sensation  when 
swallowing  as  if  the  throat  were  swollen  internally,  or  were 
full  of  mucus,  which  cannot  be  got  rid  of  by  hawking)," 
these  symptoms  being  recorded  among  the  provings  of 
bryonia  alba.  Taken  with  the  stomach  symptoms,  and 
especially  if  superadded,  to  cough  with  bronchitis  of  the 
upper  chest  region  they  appear  to  me  to  give  good  reason 
for  the  selection  of  this  medicine.  How  different  is  this 
condition  of  swallowing  from  that  indicating  jUwric  acid, 
the  dysphagia  of  which  may  be  traced  in  certain  cases  to  the 


SiSi^^rns:*  clinical  oabe.  67a 

lower  end  of  the  gollet  and  oesophageal  orifice  of  the 
stomach  with  its  symptom  noted  during  swallowing,  as  if 
the  solid  food  passed  over  a  wound  or  sore,  causing  intense 
pain,  and  how  different  again  from  the  burning  pain  of  the 
dysphagia  of  oxalic  acid !  But  again,  as  regards  substances 
possessing  medicinal  yirtues  of  closer  resemblance  to  those 
of  bryonia,  we  have,  for  dysphagia  of  solids,  bell,,  ign.y  loch., 
lycopod.,  $tram.  (Cypher  By.).  Belladonna  causes  a 
sensation  of  contraction  in  the  gullet,  or  as  if  it  were  drawn 
i;ogether  which  prevents  swallowing ;  and 

Ignatiay  a  neurosis,  with  the  sensation  of  a  lump  rising 
up,  and  actually  worse  when  not  swallowing. 

Lachesis — constriction  feeling  of  suffocation  ;  symptoms 
increased  by  pressure  on  the  throat,  and  there  may  be  an 
•opposition  offered  to  the  food  at  the  cardiac  orifice.     With 

Lyeopodium,  the  pharynx  feels  contracted,  as  if  nothing 
•could  be  swallowed,  and  a  paralytic  inability  to  swallow. 

Stramonium. — The  aversion  to  water,  and  spasms  of 
the  throat  on  attempting  to  swallow,  or  the  paralytic 
inability  to  swallow  (Cypher  By.)  are  characteristic  of  this 
medicine  of  the  group  when  compared  with  the  foregoing, 
And  for  a  group  of  medicines  such  as  this,  the  symptoms 
of  each  medicine,  even  so  clearly  defined  as  these  are  in  the 
Materia  Medica^  serve  well  to  differentiate  our  ideas  con- 
•ceming  their  therapeutic  uses,  and  the  extent  to  which 
they  may  prove  of  value  in  various  diseases  of  the  throat. 
When  we  consider  these  local  throat  symptoms,  and  add  to 
them  any  gastric,  hepatic,  cardiac  or  cerebral  symptoms, 
-.should  the  patient  present  such — and  this  will  often  be  the 
case — ^to  further  confirm  our  selection ;  then  we  are  in  a 
-capital  position  to  effect  the  object  we  have  in  view.  In 
this  manner  we  may  obtain  a  group  of  medicines  separated 
off  clinically  from  others  by  a  general  character,  so  far  as 
the  group  is  concerned  in  itself,  yet  of  a  specified  or 
peculiar  quality  as  compared  with  other  drugs,  viz.,  by 
the  symptom,  the  dysphagia  of  solid  food  (Cypher  Ry.)  : 
yet,  nevertheless,  this  group  forms  but  a  small  numerical 
proportion  out  of  a  great  number  of  medicines  bearing  the 
homoeopathic  relationship  to  dysphagia  in  some  shape  or 
other.  Nor,  on  the  other  hand,  can  we  say  that  these  few 
medicines  are  the  only  ones  absolutely  that  cause  dysphagia 
for  solids.  Fluoric  acid,  for  instance,  possesses  this 
symptom  in  reality,  and  especially  painful  dysphagia  for 
Jbread,  and  doubtless,  for  most  if  not  for  all  solid  foods. 


674  A8THBM0P1A.  "Sll!^"Sl"??S!^ 


Beriew,  Not.  1,  IflBI. 


ASTHENOPIA* 

By  W.  H.  WiNSLOW,  M.D.,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

Thebe  are  many  senffltive  women  who  have  a  great  deal  of 
tronble  with  their  eyes,  out  of  all  proportion  to  any  canse 
apparent  in  the  organs.  They  cannot  read  or  sew  without 
suffering  from  an  aching  of  the  eye*ballSy  heat  and  twitching 
in  the  hds,  and  more  or  less  head-ache,  both  frontal  and 
occipital.  There  is  shrinking  from  bright  light,  and  the 
glare  of  snow-iields  and  sheets  of  water ;  giddiness  is  not 
infrequent,  and  nausea  occurs  occasionally. 

These  symptoms  and  some  others,  are  grouped  under  the 
term  Asthenopia,  a  Greek  derivative,  signifying  "  weak  eye."" 

The  history  of  a  patient  affected  by  asthenopia  varies 
with  each  case,  but  will  be  something  like  this :  She  has 
used  her  eyes  too  long  in  a  dim  light,  has  strained  them 
over  fine  work ;  has  worked  too  assiduously  upon  a  black 
dress,  or  has  been  obliged  by  her  occupation  to  use  her  eyes 
many  hours  every  day.  Another  lady  will  confess  that  she 
has  used  her  eyes  during  illness  or  convalescence,  to  glance 
over  the  paper  or  read  a  new  book,  to  finish  a  bit  of  em- 
broidery, or  just  to  mend  a  rent  in  Johnnie's  pants. 

The  first  giving  way  of  the  eyes  is  sudden,  and  laid  at 
the  door  of  some  extra  work,  or  some  imprudence  ;  but  the 
patient  will  recall  that  the  eyes  have  felt  a  little  strained 
and  watery,  perhaps,  months  before,  especially  if  the 
asthenopia  has  occurred  when  there  has  been  continuoua 
fair  health. 

Steady  work,  strain,  illness,  predispose  to  the  affection, 
but  there  frequently  exists  some  defect  in  the  curvature  of 
the  cornea  or  lens.  The  patient  can't  see  to  read  or  sew 
without  pain  ;  the  ciliary  muscle  has  lost  some  of  its  power 
to  accommodate,  and  the  harmonious  relation  between 
accommodation  and  the  convergence  of  the  eyes  has  been 
destroyed.  The  ciliary  muscles  and  the  internal  recti  are 
correlated  parts  of  the  ocular  apparatus,  and  contract  and 
relax  together.  The  strong  lose  power  of  accommodation 
through  excessive  demands  upon  the  ciliary  muscles  ;  the 
weak  through  inherent  weakness  of  muscular  fibre. 

The  invalid  don't  beUeve  she  has  abused  her  eyes.  To 
be  sure,  the  room  was  darkened  a  little,  she  was  bolstered 

*  Bead  before  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society  of  AlIegheDj  Go.,. 
July,  1881.    Beprinted  from  the  New  York  Medical  Timet, 


1 


is:^^^:i:^s^       abthbnopia. 675 

np  in  bedy  or  redining  in  a  chair,  and  her  eyes  felt  a  little 
weak  at  the  time  ;  bat  it  was  so  short  a  time,  she  was  so 
tired  doing  nothing,  and,  then,  it  didn't  hurt. 

She  kept  all  her  other  mnscles  at  rest,  by  peremptory 
order  from  the  doctor,  and  didn't  know  that  the  ciliary 
muscles  and  the  recti  got  weak  with  their  kind  of  tissue, 
and  also  demanded  rest.  She  didn't  know  how  these 
muscles  have  to  work  to  see  near  objects ;  she  thought 
seeing  was  as  easy  and  effortless  as  sleeping. 

Thus  necessity,  in  those  whose  livelihood  depends  upon 
much  visual  labour,  and  ignorance  and  imprudence  in  the 
invalid,  lead  to  troublesome  eye  symptoms ;  which,  in  some 
neurotic  persons,  prove  very  obnoxious  to  treatment. 

Asthenopia  occurs  in  both  sexes,  and  requires  a  long 
disquisition  to  do  justice  to  the  subject,  but  this  is  neither 
the  time  nor  place  for  such  a  work.  I  have  said  that  an 
organic  defect  exists  in  many  eyes  that  show  symptoms  of 
asthenopia.  This  defect  is  of  such  a  nature,  generally,  that 
the  individual  who  uses  the  eyes  much  for  near  work  is 
almost  sure  to  find  it  out  sooner  or  later,  without  having 
done  anything  imprudent. 

The  most  common  defect  is  hyperopia,  or,  so-called  far- 
sight, i.«.,  the  patient  can  see  far  away  better  than  near ;. 
in  contradistinction  to  myopia,  in  which  the  far  sight  is  not 
so  good  as  the  near.  The  far  sight  in  hyperopia,  however, 
is  not  80  good  as  with  the  perfect  eye.  It  is  the  attribute  of 
the  uneducated  and  uncivilized,  and  found  most  commonly 
in  sailors,  Indians  of  the  plains,  and  desert- wandering  Arabs. 

Myopia,  on  the  contrary,  is  the  attribute  of  the  educated 
and  refined,  and  is  most  prevalent  where  schools  flourish  and 
culture  is  broad. 

Hyperopia  consists  of  a  shortening  of  the  antero-posterior 
diameter  of  the  eye,  in  comparison  with  the  refraction  of 
the  media.  The  ball  may  be  too  short,  or  the  cornea  and 
lens  too  flat,  the  effect  wUl  be  the  same  :  parallel  rays  of 
light  will  not  be  focussed  upon  the  retina — will  not  come 
together — and  the  images  of  objects  will  be  blurred,  unless- 
the  ciliary  muscle  does  an  extra  amount  of  work.  When 
the  ciliary  muscle  contracts,  it  makes  the  lens  more  convex. 
In  the  normal  eye,  the  muscle  can  change  the  shape  of  the 
lens,  so  that  a  small  object  may  be  seen  when  brought  within 
a  few  inches  of  the  eye.  In  the  hypermetropic  eye,  the 
muscle  makes  the  lens  convex  enough  by  extra  effort,  so* 
that  the  defect  is  masked,  and  one  can  see  near  for  a  time> 


^676  A8THSN0PIA. 


Btviaw,  Nor.  U  mi. 


yery  well.  This  demands  much  work  of  the  muscle ;  and 
as  age  adranoesy  and  the  lens  stiffen,  or  the  mosele  becomes 
weak  from  improper  nse  of  glasses,  excessire  demands  for 
fine  work,  or  trinal  nse  during  a  debilitated  state  of  the 
system  ;  seeing  things  near,  or  accommodating  for  the  near 
point,  requires  considerable  effort,  causes  strain  and  pain, 
and  is  often  impossible.  Any  attempt  to  nse  the  eyes  in 
snch  a  condition  causes  yarioas  unaccountable  neuralgias 
^bout  the  eyes,  forehead,  and  occiput,  and  is  likely  to  injure 
the  visual  organs  permanently. 

The  ciliaiy  muscle  gets  in  a  spasmodic  condition  by  the 
patient's  attempts  to  see  near,  and  it  is  a  very  difficult  task 
for  those  who  have  not  studied  eye  diseases  carefully  to 
-determine  what  is  the  matter.  The  accommodatiTe  asUie- 
nopia  may  be  simple  weakness  in  the  muscle,  it  may  be 
weakness  of  the  muscle  attended  by  the  hyperopia  described 
or,  with  one  or  both  of  these,  there  may  be  another  refrac- 
tive anomaly  called  astigmatism. 

This  consists  in  a  lack  of  symmetry  in  the  different 
meridians  of  the  cornea  or  lens.  The  radius  of  curvature 
in  one  meridian  is  shorter  than  that  of  the  meridian  at 
right  angles  to  it.  It  greatly  complicates  a  case,  and 
often  requires  hours  of  careful  examination  to  arrive  at  its 
correction. 

Astigmatism  diminishes  the  vision  greatly,  and  the  per* 
son  affected  will  necessarily  hold  things  nearer  and  nearer, 
in  proportion  to  its  degree,  in  order  to  enlarge  the  visual 
angle,  and  to  see  plainer,  This  will  give  the  friends  and 
physicians  a  false  impression  that  the  person  is  near-sighted 
or  myopic.  Be  on  your  guard  about  this.  A  good  many 
doctors  have  been  fooled.  It  is  the  family  physician's  duty 
to  recognise  all  the  curious  eye  symptoms  which  his 
patients  present,  and  not  pass  them  over  lightly,  nor  treat 
them  with  medicine  continuously,  until  satisfied  by  a 
critical  examination  at  the  hands  of  an  expert  that  no 
physical  defect  exists.  The  physican  is  not  honest  with  his 
patient  nor  just  with  himself,  who  goes  on  treating  a 
sufferer  in  the  dark,  when  perhaps  an  examination  would 
reveal  an  organic  defect,  that  can  be  corrected  by  glasses. 

In  all  suspicious  cases,  it  will  not  hurt  any  physician's 
practice  or  reputation  to  call  the  specialist  to  his  aid.  I 
do  not  say  this  because  I  am  a  specialist,  but  because  it  is 
true.  These  eye  troubles  will  go  the  specialist — ^if  not  to 
me,  to  others  in  Pittsburgh  and  the  east ;  and  the  physicians 


SSSS^iSn:^**^"  ASTHENOPIA.  677 


Beview,  Nov.  1, 1881. 


of  both  Bohools  baye  been  bitterly  blamed  by  patients,  ia 
my  officei  because  they  did  not  send  them  for  examination 
sooner. 

The  treatment  of  accommodative  asthenopia  is  mechani- 
cal, hygienic,  and  medicinal.  I  place  these  in  the  order 
of  their  importance.  The  refraction  of  the  eye  must  be 
examinedi  and  a  proper  glass  ordered.  This  is  a  difficult 
task.  The  opticians  do  it  after  a  fashion,  and  make- 
distressing  mistakes.  It  seems  a  simple  thing.  The 
patient  can't  see  near,  a  convex  glass  will  make  her  do  it ; 
that's  the  thing,  then.  So  the  optician  decides ;  but  the 
number  of  glasses  that  will  help  a  patient  to  read  at  eight 
to  twelve  inches,  frequently  bring  on  terrific  pains,  even 
when  they  relieve  the  ciliary  muscle  considerably.  The 
muscle  gets  in  a  spasm  often,  and  then  all  glasses  except 
concave  ones  are  refused  emphatically.  Who  would 
suppose  a  person  requiring  a  convex  glass  to  relieve  dis- 
tressing asthenopia  would  see  better  both  far  and  near  with 
a  concave  one?  Yet  it  is  even  so;  and.  Gentlemen,  I 
assure  you  that  not  only  scientific  opticians,  but  oculists  of 
considerable  reputation,  make  mistakes  in  selecting  glssses 
for  asthenopia.  I've  done  it  myself,  and  am  not  ashamed 
of  it.  Every  oculist  sympathises,  especially  young  ones. 
I^  order  about  two  hundred  pair  of  glasses  a  year ;  and  at 
least  two-thirds  of  the  cases  have  worn  from  one  to  six  pair 
before,  according  to  the  advice  of  some  "  scientific  opticiany^ 
or  some  oculist  with  the  hay  seed  still  in  his  hair. 

The  proper  use  of  glasses  preserves  sight,  and  is  the 
sine  qua  non  in  all  cases  of  asthenopia. 

Build  up  the  general  health,  improve  the  personal  and 
local  hygiene,  and  diminish  the  use  of  the  eyes  to  a 
minimum  for  awhile.  There  is  no  need  to  expatiate  in 
this  direction ;  every  educated  physician  knows  the  import- 
ance  of  good  food  and  clothing,  a  healthy  homci  and  rest^ 
for  a  damaged  organ. 

Medicines  have  a  limited  value  in  this  affection.  Conium 
has  proved  very  valuable,  especially  in  women  with  some 
uterine  disorder,  and  a  very  exquisitely-tuned  nervous 
system.  The  retina  is  very  hyperaesthetic,  the  patient 
shrinks  from  bright  light,  and  even  the  glare  of  a  mirror ; 
and  the  other  symptoms  of  asthenopia  are  marked. 

Cedron  has  done  good  service.  Shooting  pains  in  and 
about  the  eyes,  extending  to  the  back  of  the  head ;  pain  and 
pressure  from  temple  to  temple,  and  weakness,  dependent 


'678  BBA  SICKNESS.  "'SS^^SSTiSS! 

Upon  the  malarial  cachexia,  are  leading  symptoms  calling 
for  this  remedy.  Spigelia  coyers  mnch  the  same  symptoms, 
occurring  in  a  rheumatic  patient.  Cincfiona  is  one  of  the 
best  remedies  in  debility  and  anaBmia  of  the  retina  and 
nenre  ;  and  phospliorus  cannot  be  dispensed  with.  Agar- 
icus,  euphrasia,  ignatiay  physoi.,  and  rutay  are  occasionally 
indicated*  These  medicines  will  relieve  temporarily,  but 
nothing  will  cure  till  the  proper  glass  is  ordered. 

SEA-SICKNESS.— ITS  CAUSE  AND  CURE.* 
By  B.  N.  FosTEBi  M.D.,  Chicaoo. 

It  would  be  wholly  unprofessional  for  any  physician  to 
cross  the  Atlantic  and  return  without  bringing  with  him  a 
theory  of,  and  cure  for,  sea-sickness.  Hence,  these 
remarks,  which  are  founded  upon  an  observation  of  about 
fifty  cases  of  that  malady.  Before  witnessing  these  cases, 
I  had  always  entertained  the  notion  (which  I  think  is  the 
prevailing  one),  that  sea-sickness  was  invariably  a  disturb- 
ance of  tibe  stomach— consisting  essentially  in  a  state  of 
extreme  nausea,  accompanied  by  more  or  less  vomiting. 
But,  in  fact,  there  are  many  forms  of  sea-sickness,  in  some 
of  which  nausea  is  not  present  at  all.  Without  attempting 
anything  like  a  pathological  classification  of  these  forms,  I 
may  say  briefly  that  the  one  only  and  essential  factor  of 
sea- sickness  in  every  form  is 

Motion, — ^By  which  I  mean  that  it  is  not  primarily  a 
disease  of  the  gastric  mucous  membrane,  or  of  tiie  liver,  or 
of  the  cerebellum,  or  of  the  nerve  periphery.  Any  organ 
in  the  body  may  be  diseased  or  sensitive,  and  this  fact  may 
^cause  such  organ  to  feel  more  quickly  the  influence  that 
occasions  sea-sickness,  or  it  may  not.  The  nervous  system 
is  perhaps  that  part  of  the  organism  most  generally 
involved,  but  it  is  not  necessarily  the  first  or  only  part 
.affected.  The  circulatory  apparatus  may  in  many  cases  be 
the  first  to  feel  the  disturbance  of  motion  ;  which  it  then 
transmits  to  the  terminal  nerves.  The  whole  body  of  a 
terrene  animal  is  by  habit,  and  by  nature,  accustomed  and 
adapted  to  life  on  a  motionless  foundation.  All  of  the 
movements,  automatic  and  volitional,  of  such  organisms, 
are  accustomed  to  refer  themselves  to  a  fixed  pan  etc  or 
.basis,  which  is  the  constant  fiilcrum  of  their  operations. 

•  Beprinted  from  the  United  States  MMeal  Ifivutifftttor,  Sept.,  18S1. 


It^^ST^?^  SBA  SICKNESS.  679 


Vtoview,  Not.  1, 1881. 


And  wheneyer  this  foundation  or  falcnim  is  itself  set  in 
motion,  as  in  earthquakes,  carriage*riding,  swinging,  or 
-sailing  (all  of  which  alike  canse  the  same  symptoms),  then 
ibis  motion  of  the  animal's  resting-place,  clashes  with  the 
motions  of  the  animal  fluids,  and  solids,  with  the  move- 
ments mnscnlar  and  molecular  of  the  whole  frame,  and 
with  the  sense  of  security  to  which  they  have  been  accus- 
iomed — ^in  a  word,  the  little  animal  world  is  thrown  into 
ntter  confusion  by  the  introduction  of  this  one  new  element 
of  a  moving  basis.  It  is  as  if  every  element  in  the  body 
•experienced  the  sensation  that  the  individual  feels  when  in 
^descending  a  stairway  he  miscalculates  the  number  of  steps, 
:and  unexpectedly  descends  one  step  more  when  he  thought 
he  had  taken  the  last.  Everyone  has  experienced  the  brief 
but  unpleasant  sinking  at  the  epigastrium,  or  "  all-gone  "- 
ness,  occasioned  by  su6h  a  mis-step.  Now,  the  motion  of 
a  ship  on  the  water  is  an  endless  series  of  such  mis-steps, 
with  the  additional  mischief  that  the  steps  are  irregular  in 
time,  inconstant  in  direction,  and  of  ever-varying  length. 
'Something  similar  also  is  witnessed  in  the  sudden  taking 
away  of  any  mental,  moral,  or  emotional  support,  to  which 
we  are  accustomed.  In  such  cases  as  when  shocked  by  the 
quick  announcement  of  the  death  of  a  much  beloved  friend 
or  relative,  the  subject  whirls  around  us  from  vertigo,  falls 
helpless,  and  is  oftentimes  attacked  with  nausea  and 
vomiting.  When  Robert  Dale  Owen  learned  that  Katie 
King,  the  wonder  working  medium,  was  an  impostor,  his 
belief  in  spiritualism,  upon  which  he  had  built  the  whole 
-of  a  life-long  series  of  thoughts  and  philosophies,  tottered 
to  its  base,  and  the  whole  fabric  tumbled  into  the  chaos  of 
insanity — ^in  his  case  a  mental  sea-sickness,  not  seldom 
•encountered  by  those  who  go  down  into  deep  waters. 

The  peculiar  swells  of  the  vessel  are  thought  by  some  to 
have  much  to  do  with  sea-sickness,  and  doubtless  they  do 
^gravate  the  condition.  But  that  is  all.  The  sick  stomach 
is  the  more  easily  nauseated,  whether  by  the  odour  of  food 
or  by  the  mere  thought  of  it,  or  by  the  odour  observed  on 
boaid  of  ships. 

This,  then,  is  probably  the  sole  cause  of  sea-sickness, — 
ihe  motion  of  the  vessel. 

But  let  me  not  forget  another  illustration,  which  is  this: 
We  all  know  how  variations  of  altitude  affect  the  heart's 
action,  and  how  intimately  such  disturbance  is  associated 
with  nausea.    It  is  probable,  therefore,  that  the  sudden 


680  SEA  SICKOTISS.         "SSSL^S^TSt. 

variations  of  altitnde  experienced  on  ship-board  haye  mndi 
to  doy  by  suddenly  altering  the  blood  pressure  in  various 
organs,  ivvith  the  phenomena  of  sea-siekness.  That  a  very 
slight  increase  or  decrease  of  the  normal  blood-pressure 
will  cause  very  great  disturbance,  we  know  from  many 
illustrations  furnished  by  pathology. 

Furthermore,  sea-sickness  is  not  always  a  su?&-ness. 
Some  are  rendered  very  nervous,  apprehensive,  and  sleep- 
less;  some  enter  into  a  state  of  torpor  or  semi-somnolence; 
some  are  a£9icted  with  diarrhoea;  and  some  with  nausea  and 
vomiting.  All  these  phases  of  the  disease  may  be  observed 
among  any  twenty  passengers  selected  at  random  from 
those  on  board.  At  least,  it  was  so  on  my  voyage  out,  and 
also  on  the  voyage  back.  There  are  probably  other  forms 
of  the  malady,  which  I  did  not  detect. 

But,  howsoever  numerous  the  disturbances  may  be,  they 
all  refer  to  one  cause, — the  undulations  of  our  temporaiy 
habitat.     A  final  negative  evidence  of  this  fact  is  shown  in 
the  sudden  sickness  which  seizes  upon  many  when   the 
vessel  suddenly  ''  heaves- to  '*  in  mid-ocean.     By  this  time 
many  organisms  have  adjusted  themselves  nioely  to  the 
undulatory  regime,  and  likewise  to  the  forward  movement 
of  three  hundi*ed  miles  daily.    But  the  instant  this  rapid 
forward  movement  ceases,  the  adjustment  is  broken,  and 
there  is  a  sudden  surge  of  cerebral  congestion,  flushings, 
vertigo,  and  nausea.     A  similar  feeling  arises  when  an 
earthquake  shock  is  felt,  although  this  arises  from  an  exact 
reversal  of  conditions.     In  both  cases,  however,  the  dis- 
turbance is  due  to  the  interruption  of  the  long-established 
equilibrium   between  the  motions  and    so-forth    of   the 
organism  and  the  motion  of  its  environment.     Doubtless, 
if  the  rotary  movement  of  the  earth  were  to  be  slightly 
altered  at  any  time,  a  universal  sickness  would   ensue. 
How  many  of  our  physical  ailments  are  due  to  causes  of 
some  such  character,  we  have  no  means  of  knowing.     At 
all  events,  neither  the  sewer  nor  the  germ  theory  have  aa 
yet  explained  the  rates  of  mortality. 

The  Cure. — If  the  above  is  the  correct  theory  of  sea- 
sickness, and  certainly  it  approximates  thereto,  then  is  it 
quite  unnecessary  to  exhibit  our  idiocy  by  seeking  the- 
similimum.  The  one  certain  and  scientific  remedy  is  that 
proposed  by  a  Boston  medicus,  viz.,  stay  on  shore.  The 
next  best  remedy  is  a  little  thing  of  my  own,  viz.,  stay  of* 
board.     This  latter  is  a  cure :  the  former  is  merely  a  pre- 


?£i^^iSrr25?^  SEA  SICKNESS.  681 


Jtaview,  Nor.  1,  IWl. 


Tentive ;  which,  in  this  case,  is  not  better  than  the  cnre* 
For  many  persons  are  wonderfally  benefited  in  more  ways 
than  one  by  a  sea-voyage,  and  the  Boston  man's  prescript 
tion  robs  them  of  this  gain,  while  mine  does  not. 

The  third  cure  is  motor-pathic.  Stay  on  deck.  Keep 
on  your  feet.  Keep  moving.  Walk  all  yon  can.  In  thi» 
case  the  energetic  movements  of  the  body  and  of  its  organs 
are  set  actively  against  the  sickening  movement  of  the  ship. 
This  latter  movement  is  not  given  entire  control.  It  is  in- 
terrupted every  moment  by  counter  and  accustomed  move- 
ments of  the  body  and  its  parts.  This  treatment  must 
be  continued  until  the  adjustment  of  movements  is  com» 
plete,  when  we  have  again  a  cure.  Moreover,  this  proves 
that  something  may  be  done  to  moderate  sea-sickness. 

The  fourth  cure  is  to  stay  in  bed.  This  is^  the  necessary 
course  for  those  who  have  not  the  strength  for  the  heroic 
treatment  just  set  forth.  In  this  case  the  motion  of  the 
vessel  is  allowed  to  rule,  and  the  organism  is  allowed  by 
its  involuntary  resources  alone  to  adjust  itself  to  the  new 
conditions,  which,  sooner  or  later,  it  nearly  always  does. 

The  fifth  cure  is  by  symptomatic  treatment,  disregarding 
the  cause,  if  we  like,  and  seeking  for  a  remedy  which  will 
produce  a  similar  disturbance.  This  is  Homoeopathy.  In 
a  certain  number  of  cases,  perhaps  in  a  large  percentage^ 
this  treatment  will  ameliorate  very  promptly,  and  so  will 
aid  to  hasten  the  coming  adjustment.  In  the  milder  cases 
of  nausea,  or  of  cerebral  disturbance,  it  will  prove,  according 
to  what  I  have  seen  and  heard  on  careful  enquiry,  a  ver7 
great  relief,  and  it  would  be  my  own  first  experiment.  It 
is  not  unreasonable  to  infer  that  an  equal  amelioration 
occurs  in  severe  cases  also,  but  in  such  cases  the  result 
falls  so  far  short  of  the  desideratum  that  neither  physician 
nor  patient  feels  much  confidence  in  the  method.  At  all 
events,  the  physician  who  has  gone  to  sea  with  his  pocket 
case  and  cured  ttUo,  cito,  etjucundcy  every  case  of  sea-sick- 
ness, has  not  yet  been  heard  from.  But  let  us  not  wholly 
despair.  We  have  some  few  on  land  who  come  pretty  near 
to  that  standard  of  precision,  and  why  should  they  not  yet 
be  found  at  sea  ? 

The  sixth  cure  is  the  administration  of  sedatives,  such 
as  apomorphia,*  opiums  ehoraly  and  the  bromides  of  sodium 

*  We  would  refer  our  friend,  Dr.  Foster,  to  experiments  made  -mtib 
afomorphia^  and  we  think  that  these  wiU  show  him  that  it  is  not  merely 
an  antipathic  sedative,  bat  strictly  homeopathic  to  many  cases  of  sea-aiok- 
ness.— {Ed.  M.  H.  B.] 

No.ll,yoL35.  2t 


682 8BA  Bicpnsgs,       ^'HS&.^SS^TSi 

and  potash.  This,  I  am  informed,  is  "  regokr  "  treatanent, 
ihongh  I  see  no  d^erence  in  the  regol&rity  involved  in  any 
of  these  methods.  Experience  mnst  decide  for  or  against 
them  all  alike.  Several  persons  told  me  that  th^  obtained 
a  little  relief  from  the  bromideiy  bst  that  the  remedy  was 
idmost  as  unpleasant  as  the  disease ;  while,  in  other  caseSj 
ihey  certainly  make  matters  worse.  This  is  still  more 
tme  of  the  opiates  and  hypnotics. 

Finally,  after  all  these  ''cnres"  have  been  iaried  faitfafdlly, 
except  the  first,  there  will  still  remain  a  lai^e  number  of 
patients  who  experience  no  sense  of  relief  from  any  of 
Ihem,  and  who  have  come  doggedly  to  the  conclusion  that 
*'  nothing  does  any  good  but  time  and  patience."  In  severe 
cases  this  is  so  nearly  tme,  that  no  amount  of  medication, 
high  or  low,  regular  or  irregular,  theoretical  or  practical, 
-can  disprove  it.  In  which  respect  there  is  a  goodly  amount 
of  similar  sickness  on  land. 

To  this,  it  may  be  added,  that  while  some  persons  daim 
a  decided  benefit  from  the  sedative  treatment,  and  many 
more  from  the  homoeopathic  treatment,  yet  the  **  cures  " 
are  most  frequent,  with  that  class  who  would  doubtless  do 
just  as  well  under  the  motor-pathic  system,  or  under  a 
strictly  expectant  regime.  However,  we  must  admit  that 
up  to  this  time  systematic  observations  and  comparisons 
are  wholly  wanting,  and  that  opinions  are  therefore  of  veiy 
little  value.  They  are  all  liable  to  be  vitiated  by  erroneous 
notions,  by  faith,  or  prejudice,  and  some  even  by  fitiud.  If 
ten  thousand  victims  could  be  systematically  treated  by  one 
method,  and  as  many  more  by  another,  and  so  on,  and  if 
^^arefully  compiled  records  of  the  results  could  be  compaied, 
the  merits  of  the  various  methods  of  treatment  might  then 
be  estimated  to  some  purpose.  But  nothing  less  can  be  of 
much  value.  Meanwhile,  like  Bunthome  in  the  new  play, 
we  must  continue  ''  to  long  for  whirlwinds,  and  have  to  do 
the  best  we  can  with  the  bellows." 

Finally,  I  am  sure  that  many  of  my  readers  would  be 
happier  if  I  should  wind  up  with  a  series  of  "  indications  ** 
for  certain  remedies.  For  such  I  will  simply  say  thai 
ipecac,  is  good  for  nausea  and  vomiting,  belladonna  for 
cerebral  congestion,  gel$.  for  occipital  congestion,  and  any 
drug  for  any  sj^ptom  that  it  characteristically  produces. — 
(Vide  Allen's  Materia  Mediea.) 


ItSi^^aHT^SS!^   MOLBCULAB  PROPEBTIES,  688 


B0Ti««,  Not.  U  18B1. 


ON    THE    CONNECTION    OF    THE    MOLECULAR 

PROPERTIES    OF    INORGANIC    COMPOUNDS 

WITH  THEIR  ACTION   UPON  THE 

LIVING  ANIMAL  ORGANISM. 

By  James  Blake,  M.D.,  F.R.C.S. 

DuBiNO  my  prolonged  researeheson  the  phenomena  elicited 
by  the  direct  iutroductioa  of  inorganic  matter  into  the 
^irccdation  of  living  animals,  I  have  arrived  at  results  which, 
as  I  believe,  open  a  new  path  to  the  solution  of  certain 
riddles  of  molecular  chemistry.  The  researches  were  begun 
with  the  intention  of  applying  these  simpler  and  better 
known  snbstances  for  the  analysis  of  physiological  facts,  but 
in  the  course  of  my  experiments  it  became  clear  that  living 
matter  might  serve  as  a  means  for  giving  a  clue  to  the 
molecular  properties  of  inorganic  matter.  In  a  discourse 
•delivered  in  1889  before  the  Academy  of  Sciences  of  Paris, 
I  cdbowed  that  when  solutions  of  different  salts  are  intro- 
duced into  the  blood  of  living  animals  the  physiological 
Action  depends  on  the  electro-positive  component  of  the 
•salt,  and  little  upon  the  acid  with  which  it  is  combined.  A 
^onmiunication  which  I  read  at  a  meeting  of  the  Royal 
Society  in  June,  1841,  proved  that  the  action  of  inorganic 
bodies  introduced  directly  into  the  blood  of  living  animals 
depends  on  their  isomorphous  relations ;  and  in  a  memoir 
communicated  to  the  California  Academy  of  Sciences  in 
1878, 1  showed  that  among  the  compounds  of  the  metallic 
bodies,  strictly  speaking,  the  physiological  efficacy  of  sub- 
stances belonging  to  one  and  the  same  isomorphous  group 
was  proportionate  to  their  atomic  weight ;  the  greater  the 
atomic  weight  the  more  intense  the  physiological  action. 
This  is  not  the  place  to  enter  closely  into  the  physiological 
action  of  the  bodies  employed  in  these  experiments.  They 
included  salts  in  41  elements,  and  their  action  was  tested 
upon  horses,  dogs,  eats,  rabbits,  geese,  and  hens  with 
identical  results.  Aqueous  solutions  of  llie  different  salts 
were  injeeted  into  the  blood-vessels  of  the  living  animals. 
Among  those  of  the  monatomic  metals  were  salts  of  lithium, 
sodium,  rubidium,  thallium,  calcium,  and  silver.  They  all 
agree  exactly  in  their  physiological  action.  The  fatal 
quantity  of  lithium  sulphate  for  a  rabbit  is  1  grm.  per  kilo* 
of  the  animal's  weight ;  whilst  of  silver  nitrate,  0.06  grm. 
was  &tal.    Among  the  diatomic  metals  tried  were  salts  of 


684  VOLECCTLAB  PBOPEBTIES.    '^^^^ 


Beview*  Nor.  1, 1881. 


magnesium^  iron,  manganese,  cobalt^  nickel,  copper,  zinc, 
and  cadmium,  as  also  calcium,  strontium,  and  bariam. 
In  the  salts  of  the  magnesium  series,  the  analogy  of  phy- 
siological action  is  very  numifest,  and  their  actiidty  is 
enhanced  with  the  increase  of  the  atomic  weight,  rising 
from  0.97  grm.  per  kilo,  for  magnesium  sulphate  to  0.06 
grm.  for  cadmium  sulphate.  The  salts  of  calcium,  stron- 
tium, and  barium  form  likewise  a  group  in  which  the- 
increasing  physiological  action  is  very  distinct,  being  0.47 
per  kilo,  in  calcium  chloride  and  0.04S  grm.  per  kUo.  for 
barium  chloride.  The  physiological  reactions  of  the  lead 
salts  resemble  those  of  the  barium  group,  though  agreeing 
in  certain  reactions  with  the  salts  of  silyer.  (Similar 
transition-reactions  were  obsenred  in  the  salts  of  mag- 
nesium, calcium,  silver,  and  gold.) 

Among  the  tetratomic  metals,  the  salts  of  thorium^ 
palladium,  platinum,  osmium,  and  gold  were  examined. 
All  showed  great  similarity  in  their  physiological  action, 
ranging  from  0.029  grm.  per  kilo,  in  thorium  sulphate  to^ 
0*003  grm.  per  kilo  in  gold  chloride.  The  decided  and 
characteristic  effect  of  this  class  of  substances  upon  the 
action  of  the  heart  was  shown  in  the  most  suiprising 
manner  by  the  compounds  of  gold,  which  even  in  the 
minute  dose  of  0.003  grm.  per  kilo,  kept  up  the  action  of 
the  heart  for  several  hours  after  death,  though  the  tein- 
peratare  of  the  body  had  sunk  13^  below  the  normal  heat 
of  the  animal. 

Among  the  hexatomic  metals,  the  salts  of  glucinum, 
aluminium,  and  iron  (ferricum)  agree  perfectly  in  their 
physiological  reactions.  The  fatal  dose  per  kilo,  ranges 
from  0.023  in  glucinum,  0.007  for  aluminium,  and  O.W)4 
grm.  in  ferricum,  all  in  the  state  of  sulphates.  The  phy- 
siological action  of  glucinum  confirms  the  view  that  glu- 
cinum  is  a  hexatomic  metal. 

Among  the  rarer  earths,  experiments  were  tried  with 
ytterbium,  cerium,  didymium,  lanthanum,  and  erbium. 
There  was  found  a  marked  difference  between  the  cerous 
and  eerie  salts  as  in  those  of  iron.  The  difference  is, 
however,  less,  being  1 : 3  in  cerium  and  1 :  28  in  iron. 
Among  the  non-metallic  elements,  compounds  of  chlorine, 
bromine,  iodine,  phosphorus,  arsenic,  antimony,  sulphur, 
and  selenium  were  examined.  Chlorine,  bromine,  and 
iodine  agree  closely  in  their  physiological  reaction,  but 
instead  of  an  increase  there  is  here  a  decrease  in  intensity. 


bS^^STuS*'  a  case  of  poibonino.  686 

Phosphorns,  argenio,  and  antimony  do  not  induce  any 
immediately  perceptible  physiological  reaction.  Arsenions 
acid,  injected  in  the  proportion  of  0'660  grm.  per  kilo. 
4sheck8  tiie  pulmonary  circulation.  Sulphur  and  selenium 
-are  similar  in  their  action,  the  latter  being  the  more 
powerful.  The  only  exceptions  to  the  rule,  that  isomor- 
phous  substances  act  in  an  analogous  manner,  are  the  salts 
•of  potassium  and  ammom'um.  The  latter  produce  results 
resembling  those  of  certain  nitrogenous  alkaloids.  If  the 
carbon  compounds  exhibit  similar  phenomena  in  their 
manner  of  action  upon  the  living  animal  body,  researches 
concerning  molecular  relations  will  be  greatly  facilitated. 
Pujardin  has  already  demonstrated  in  this  direction,  that 
in  alcohols  of  one  and  the  same  series  the  intensity  of  the 
physiological  action  is  directly  as  the  atomic  weight. — 
Translated  in  the  Chemical  News  from  the  Berichte  der 
Deutscherij  Chem.  GeseUschafU 

A  CASE  OP  POISONING  WITH  BELLADONNA. 

Bt  Pbotheboe  SidXH,  M.D.* 

On  September  1st,  1881,  Mrs.  K — ,  a  highly  nervous 
patient,  suffering  from  chronic  metritis,  inadvertently  swal- 
lowed from  half  an  ounce  to  an  ounce  of  belladonna 
liniment,  equivalent  to  about  half  an  ounce  of  the  root, 
about  5  or  6  a.m.,  just  before  which  her  bowels  had  acted 
copiously.  She  was  seen  by  her  attendant  between  9  and 
10  A.H.,  who  administered  a  mustard  emetic,  which  caused 
her  to  vomit  freely.  I  first  visited  her  at  2  p.m.,  when  she 
was  insensible,  with  wild,  scared,  and  pinched  features, 
^nsomic,  with  lips  blue  and  pale,  the  pupils  being  fully 
dilated,  and  not  acting  to  the  light ;  her  tongue  was  rough 
and  diy;  the  pulse  was  ISO,  thready  and  intermittent; 
the  heart's  action  feeble,  especially  the  first  sound ;  respir- 
ation BO  in  the  minute;  temperature  normal.  When 
roused  she  was  quite  incoherent :  pain  in  the  pit  of  the 
stomach,  calling  out  when  it  was  pressed;  frequent 
retching;  large  quantities  of  light-coloured  urine  have 
been  passed  unconsciously.  I  prescribed  one  drachm  of 
aromatic  spirit  of  ammonia  with  four  minims  of  sedative 
solution  of  opium  (the  only  suitable  remedies  at  hand),  and 
jurrowroot  or  beef  tea  and  brandy  every  ten   or  fifteen 

*  Beprinted  from  The  Lancet,  October  1st,  1881. 


686  A  CASE  OF  POISONING.    ^'S^ 


Bflvtov,  Kor.  1,  18BL 


minutes.  At  4.15  p.m.  slie  looked  better,  more  oolomr  in 
her  cheeks  and  lips,  which  eontinne  pale  but  pink.  She 
has  taken  the  food  ordered  every  ten  minutes;  sickness 
less ;  pulse  112,  fuller,  without  intermission ;  respiration  28; 
pupils  remain  dilated.  She  is  still  incoherent,  but  is  able 
to  retain  her  urine. 

September  2nd. — 11  a.m.  :  Has  passed  a  very,  restless 
night,  and  is  still  incoherent,  imagining  she  has  committed 
murder,  &c.  Pulse  fuller,  without  intermission  :  heart'a 
first  sound  louder,  still  rhythm  imperfect;  tongue  somewhat 
moister ;  excessive  itching  of  the  nares.  Cheeks  flushed, 
lips  red ;  the  fingers  and  nails,  which  at  first  were  blue, 
are  more  natural  in  colour.  Abdominal  pains  mitigated ; 
when  roused,  says  she  hears  eveiybody  as  though  at  a^ 
great  distance,  and  sees  them  as  greatly  magnified ;  talks 
rapidly  and  incoherently.  Gatamenia  appeared  this 
morning  before  due.  Ordered  half  a  drachm  of  hydrate  of 
chloral,  with  one  ounce  of  water  every  four  hours,  with 
twenty  minims  of  aromatic  spirit  of  ammonia. — 5.45  p.m.  : 
Soon  after  taking  the  chloral  she  became  rational.  Pupils 
act  better.  Pulse  80,  and  full  without  irregularity ;  says 
she  has  not  slept  since  she  took  the  poison.  To  take  forty 
minims  of  chloral,  ten  minims  of  nepenthe,  with  water  at 
bed-time,  and,  if  necessary,  repeat  every  six  hours. 

September  Srd. — 11  a.m.  :  Says  the  medicine  (chloral) 
has  acted  like  magic,  the  first  dose  restoring  her  senses  in 
half  an  hour.  She  has  slept  all  night,  and  is  now  restored 
to  her  usual  bright  and  intelligent  expression,  and  is  quite 
herself  again. 

In  the  above  instance  it  is  worthy  of  remark  that  the 
domestic  remedies  generally  at  hand — ^viz.,  mustard  emetic, 
sal  volatile,  brandy,  and  opium — so  far  modified  the  urgent 
symptoms  as  to  render  the  case  less  dangerous  to  life,  and 
gave  time  for  procuring  more  efficient  remedies ;  that  the 
extreme  feebleness  and  irregularity  of  pulse  were  at  once 
relieved  by  small  doses  af  liquid  food,  brandy,  ammonia, 
and  opium,  but  that  for  several  hours  it  was  found  neces- 
sary to  exhibit  them  at  first  every  ten  minutes,  and  after- 
wards every  fifteen  or  twenty,  in  order  to  sustain  the  heart's 
action  and  prevent  its  intermitting.  But  the  remedy  which 
of  all  others  produced  the  most  happy  result,  restoring 
quickly  the  normal  action  of  the  heart  and  iris,  and  effecting 
a  rapid  cure,  was  the  hydrate  of  chloral^  in  half-drachm 


ItSa^^m^  BBVIEWS.  687 


Mi&ritm,  Not.  1,  iffil. 


doaes,  with  a  small  qnautitj  of  solution  of  opiunii  &c., 
every  four  to  six  hours,  and  a  larger  dose  at  night. 

A  case  of  poisoning  by  belladonna  is  reported  in  The 
Lancet,  of  January  8th,  1881,  suggested  by  Dr.  Trocqaart, 
of  Bordeaux,  in  which  chloral  hydrate  was  successfully 
employed  as  an  enema. 

Another  case  is  published  by  N.  Grattan,  L.B.G.P.  Ed., 
in  the  British  Medical  Journal,  of  April  16th,  1881,  in 
which  one-fifth  of  a  grain  of  pilocarpin  was  hypodermically 
injected  every  fifteen  minutes,  with  equally  favourable 
results.  As.  however,  the  chloral  is  shown  to  be  such  an 
efiScient  antidote,  I  should  be  disposed  in  cases  of  poisoning 
with  belladonna  always  to  prefer  it  to  the  new  and  powerful 
remedy  of  pilocarpin,  which  in  unskilled  hands  might  not 
be  altogether  exempt  from  risk. 


REVIEWS. 


A   Guide  to  the  Clinical  Examination  of  Patients.     Boericke 
and  Tafel,  New  York. 

Thrbe  is  much  in  this  work  which  will  amply  repay  perusal. 
Intended  by  the  author,  Dr.  Hagen,  of  the  University  of  Leipsic, 
as  a  text-book  for  students,  it  is  full  of  information  which  is  of 
great  help  to  the  practitioner. 

The  general  plan  of  the  work  is  excellent,  and  easily  followed. 
The  first  part  of  the  book  is  devoted  to  the  various  methods  of 
examining  patients,  and  the  several  departments  of  physical 
diagnosis.  The  section  on  percussion  is  most  carefully  and 
minutelv  written.  The  author  seems  to  attach  much  more 
importance  to  the  pleximeter  than  is  commonly  done. 

Copious  and  valuable  information  is  given  as  to  auscultation 
also,  but  this  is  a  subject  of  which  but  little  can  be  learned  by 
reading.  A  student  can  gather  more  knowledge  of  rales  and 
murmurs  by  one  hour*s  work  in  a  hospital  ward  or  out-patient 
room,  under  the  guidance  of  a  competent  teacher,  than  in  a 
week's  reading  of  the  most  scientific  treatise  on  the  subject. 

In  the  section  devoted  to  thermometry  and  fever,  much  useful 
instruction  is  condensed.  The  import  of  a  given  range  of 
temperature  is  well  impressed  on  the  student.  In  the  present 
day  it  is,  of  course,  rare  to  meet  with  anyone  who  is  not  in  the 
habit  of  constantly  using  the  thermometer,  but  we  fear  there  are 
practitioners  who  do  not  attach  due  importance  to  the  relative 
value  of  collateral  indications  or  circumstances  in  taking 
temperatures.      For  instance,  in  cases  of  fever  occurring  in 


688  BEYIEWS. 


Berinr,  Nor.  1,  IflBI. 


children,  a  temperature  of  108  at  7  p.m.  might  not 
nearly  as  much  danger  as  a  similar  temperature  in  the  case  of  an 
adult.  It  is  mnch  to  be  regretted  that,  in  presenting  this 
▼alnable  little  manual  to  the  English  reader,  the  translator  has 
retained  the  centigrade  scale.  There  are  bat  few  of  ns  who  are 
accnstomed  to  its  nse,  and  it  is  not  always  easy  to  make  the 
necessary  calculation  if  the  temperature  be  a  fractional  one. 

The  chapter  dealing  with  the  examination  of  the  urine  is  most 
clearly  and  scientifically  written.  After  treating  of  the  normal 
constituents  of  the  urine,  both  organic  and  inorganic,  the  author 
proceeds  to  a  carefully  detailed  description  of  all  the  abnormal 
products  which  may  be  found  under  different  diseased  conditions 
of  the  body.  Then  the  various  deposits  are  described  in  order, 
with  their  various  microscopical  characteristics.  The  various 
morbid  states  in  which  these  deposits  occur  are  carefully  noted. 

Many  practitioners  will  welcome  the  directions  given  for  short 
special  chemical  tests  to  detect  the  presence  of  albumen  and 
sugar,  for  which  latter  five  tests  are  given.  An  interesting, 
though  rather  rare,  substance  in  the  urine  is  tyrosin.  This  sub- 
stance is  specially  found  in  the  urine  in  acute  atrophy  of  the 
liver,  phosphorus  poisoning,  sometimes  also  in  gangrene,  typhus, 
or  small  pox.  Its  presence  should  generally  induce  us  to 
administer  pJiosph,  as  an  appropriate  simillimum. 

Passing  from  general  clinical  considerations,  we  come  to  the 
second  part  of  the  book,  which  embraces  the  actual  clinical 
examination  of  patients  and  the  actual  diagnostic  indications  of 
all  bnt  the  most  unusual  diseases.  Most  minute  directions  are 
given  for  the  palpation  and  percussion  of  various  regions.  Many 
of  us,  however,  will  scarcely  venture  to  follow  the  author's 
directions  for  palpation  of  the  pylorus.  He  advises  the 
administration  of  a  powerful  purgative  the  evening  before. 
This  would  be  hardly  advisable  in  advanced  cases  of  cancer  or  of 
obstruction. 

The  latter  part  of  the  work  in  its  arrangement  is  somewhat 
like  'Fenwick's  Manual,  but  instead  of  beginning  with  the 
symptoms  and  ending  each  section  with  the  name  of  the  disease, 
the  author  heads  each  section  with  the  name  of  the  disease  and 
then  proceeds  with  the  description  of  the  various  clinical  signs. 
Obpcure  and  rare  forms  of  disease  are  briefly  conmiented  on,  the 
author  keeping  more  to  diseases  of  wide  range  and  firc^ent 
occurrence.  Cardiac  diseases  are  well  described,  but  with 
perhaps  a  little  too  much  compression.  General  interstitial 
fibrous  hepatitis  is  not  a  very  ordinary  term  for  cirrhosis  of  the 
liver,  although  strictly  scientific.  Three  pages  suffice  for  skin 
diseases,  of  which  merely  the  names  and  classes  are  given. 
Brain  and  nervous  diseases  are  described  next,  but  the  same 


B^SSS^^^'nffi?*'    MBETIKGS  OF   SOOIETIBS.  689 


Bflfiew,  Not.  1, 1881. 


tendency  is  seen  as  in  the  section  devoted  to  cardiac  diseases. 
Books,  like  brains,  sometimes  snffer  from  too  much  compression. 

The  chapter  on  acute  infections  disease  includes  intermittent 
fever.  This  we  should  hardly  term  an  infectious  disease  in  the 
sense  which  the  author  has  implied,  although  as  a  matter  of  £Mt 
it  arises  from  malarial  infection,  still  we  would  not  be  disposed  to 
rank  it  with  variola,  scarlatina,  measles  and  typhus.  We  notice, 
too,  the  omission  entirely  of  rotheln,  which  is  nowadays  regarded 
4W  a  distinct  malady.  With  these  few  exceptions  the  book  is 
:fioundly  and  scientifically  written,  and  will  be  valued  by  many  for 
the  useful  hints  which  abound  in  its  pages.  It  is  a  book  to 
which  one  can  turn  after  examining  a  patient,  as  an  aid  to 
memory,  a  refresher,  so  to  speak,  of  the  powers  of  diagnosis. 

Although  we,  as  homoeopaths,  perhaps  more  than  allopaths, 
recognise  that  no  two  cases  of  a  given  disease  run  the  same 
course,  yet  there  are  always  salient  diagnostic  points  and  features 
which  this  little  manual  brings  into  strong  relief,  enabling  the 
practitioner  in  a  minute  to  run  over  the  various  symptoms  and  to 
determine  whether  any  have  been  omitted  from  his  clinical 
examiiid,tion.  It  is  highly  valued  in  Germany,  having  been 
adopted  as  a  text  book  in  many  of  the  Universities,  and  we  have 
no  doubt  will  make  many  friends  in  its  new  form. 

MEETINGS  OF  SOCIETIES. 

LONDON  SCHOOL  OF  HOMCEOPATHY. 

A  SPECIAL  General  Meeting  of  the  Governors  and  Subscribers  of 
the  London  School  of  Homoeopathy  was  held  on  October  4th, 
1881,  in  the  Lecture  Room  of  the  London  Homoeopathic  Hospital, 
■<^eat  Ormond  Street,  on  the  termination  of  the  Hahnemann 
Address  by  Dr.  Richard  Hughes,  to  receive  and  discuss  the 
Report  of  the  Sub-Committee  appointed  to  revise  the  constitution 
and  laws  of  the  School.  Lord  Ebury  being  unable  to  be  present, 
the  chair  was  occupied  by  the  Treasurer,  M%jor  Yaughan  Morgan. 
Among  those  present  were  Dr.  Matheson,  Dr.  Dyce  Brown, 
Mr.  Pite,  Dr.  Buck,  Mr.  Boodle,  Dr.  Baynes,  Mr.  Harris,  Dr. 
Hughes,  Dr.  Burnett,  Dr.  Woodgates,  Dr.  Pope,  Dr.  Bayes. 

The  Secretary  (Captain  Maycock)  having  read  the  notice  con- 
vening the  meeting,  the  chairman  called  upon  Dr.  Bayes,  to 
make  a  statement  and  bring  forward  the  report  of  the  Sub- 
dommittee. 

Dr.  Bates  said  that  those  gentlemen  who  were  present  at  the 
last  annual  meeting  would  remember  that  it  was  proposed  to 
reconstruct  the  School  at  the  expiration  of  the  five  years  for  which 
it  was  originally  instituted.  It  would  be  hardly  worth  while 
reading  again  the  whole  report,  which  had  been  submitted  to 
4he  annual  meeting.     There  were  some  objections  raised,  par-^ 


690  MEETINGS  OF  SOCIETIES.   ^'iS^ 


B«?iew,  Mot.  1,  IGBL 


iicularlj  by  Dr.  Yeldham,  and  after  they  bad  been  discossed,  it 
will  be  recollected  that  the  annual  meeting  appointed  the  Sob- 
Committee  to  reconsider  the  whole  question,  and  to  report  again 
to-day.  Some  of  the  snggestions  made  at  the  annual  meeting 
yriih  regard  to  the  appointment  of  clinical  lectures  in  the  Ho^tal 
proved  unacceptable  to  certain  iriends  of  the  Hospital,  who  feared 
they  would  inyolve  an  ^*  imperium  in  imperio  "  within  the  HospitaL 
Under  these  circumstances,  the  scheme  of  endowing  the  dinical 
lectureships  was  abandoned.  The  present  lecturers  had  in  an 
exceedingly  generous  manner  promised  to  continue  their  courses 
of  lectures  without  fee  should  the  interests  of  the  School  necessi- 
tate it,  and  that  had  put  the  authorities  of  the  School  at  eaae,  so- 
far  as  the  question  of  money  was  concerned.  It  was,  howeT^ , 
hoped  that  the  School  would  be  possessed  of  enough  means  to 
provide  for  the  continuation  of  lectures  without  so  complete  a 
sacrifice.  The  whole  matter  had  been  carefully  ccmsidered  by 
the  Sub- Committee,  who  had  embodied  their  decision^  in  the 
report  which  he  would  now  read. 

[The  report  of  ihe  Sub- Committee,  was  printed  at  full  length 
in  the  last  month*s  Review,  and  need  not  be  repeated  here.~^£ds.] 

Dr.  Bayes  then  proposed  that  this  report  should  be  formally 
adopted. 

The  proposition  having  been  seconded  by  Dr.  Bubneit,  Dr. 
Dtce  Bbown,  in  response  to  a  call  from  the  chairman,  said  that 
he  would  not  detain  the  meeting  by  any  lengthy  statement  of  his 
views,  as  they  entirely  coincided  with  those  of  the  Sub-Conunittee 
as  expressed  in  the  report  which  they  had  heard. 

The  Chairman  asked  whether  any  gentleman  wished  to  make 
any  observations  on  the  other  side  of  the  question. 

Dr.  Hughes  said  he  had  no  remarks  to  make  on  the  other  side,, 
but  it  had  been  suggested  in  another  place  that  we  should  draw 
back  from  the  position  taken  up  by  the  School,  and  acknowledge 
that  the  scheme  has  been  a  failure.  But  while  he  was  prepared 
to  admit  that  it  has  not  yet  fully  succeeded,  he  could  not  allow 
that  it  was  a  failure  (hear,  hear.)  He  quite  agreed  that  it  was 
time  the  School  became  reconstituted,  and  ihe  Sub-Committee 
had  drawn  out  the  outlines  or  skeleton  plan  on  which  they  ought 
to  work.  There  was  only  one  proposition  he  would  like  to 
trouble  them  with,  and  that  was  that  they  should  substitute  for 
the  two  Honorary  Secretaries  a  Dean  and  a  Sub-Dean  (hear, 
hear).  They  knew  on  whom  the  duties  of  Dean  would  devolve 
(hear  hear),  and  they  knew  that  that  gentleman  could  hardly  be 
expected  to  perform  them  without  assistance. 

Dr.  Pope  would  hke  to  ask  Dr.  Hughes  whether  he  derived  the  idea 
that  some  persons  regarded  the  School  as  a  failure  from  the  report. 

Dr.  Hughes  said  he  derived  the  idea  from  the  concluding 
remarks  of  the  late  President  of  the  British  Hommopathic  Society 


S3*?SrrSS*  HOTABILIl.  601 


Beview,  Not.  1,  tau. 


in  his  last  aimoal  address.      Those  remarks  had  seemed  to- 
advise  that  they  should  confess  to  failure,  hide  their  diminished 
heads,  and  alter  their  name* 

Major  yAUOJBAN  Moboan  said  that,  at  the  last  annual  meeting, 
he  had  quite  felt  the  fcnrce  of  the  objections  raised  by  Dr. 
Yeldham,  but  they  had  now  been  removed,  and  he  now  saw  no- 
objections  to  the  proposed  reconstruction  of  the  School  from  the 
Hospital  point  of  view. 

The  motion  that  the  report  of  the  Sub-Committee  be  adopted 
was  then  put  to  the  meeting,  and  carried  unanimously. 

Dr.  Baybs  then  said  there  was  another  matter  upon  which  it 
was  their  duty  to  pass  a  resolution,  and  that  was  the  offer  of  the 
Lecturers  to  continue  their  lectures  gratuitously.  He  had  also 
had  another  ofier  of  fresh  lectures,  and  their  secretary  had 
generously  come  forward  and  offered  to  continue  the  duties  of 
his  office  at  such  rate  of  remuneration  as  could  be  afforded  by 
the  School.  He  thought  that  a  vote  of  thanks  to  those  gentle- 
men ought  to  be  carried  by  acclamation. 

The  proposition,  being  seconded,  was  carried  unanimously. 

Dt,  Bayes  then  said  there  was  one  other  point.  The  report 
having  been  adopted,  it  was  necessaiy  that  a  Sub- Committee  .be 
appointed  to  consider  and  advise  as  to  the  best  methods  of 
carrying  out  its  recommendations.  They  could  not  do  better 
than  re-appoint  the  same  Committee,  and  he  therefore  proposed 
that  Dr.  Pope,  Dr.  Dyce  Brown,  Dr.  Hughes,  Dr.  Burnett,  and 
Dr.  Blaokley  be  appointed  a  Sub-Committee  for  that  purpose. 

Dr.  Matheson  seconded  the  motion,  which  was  carried. 

The  meeting  then  terminated  with  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the 
chairman. 

The  result  of  this  meeting,  therefore,  is  that  the  School  will 
be  continued  as  heretofore.  The  Governors  are  informed  that 
one  guinea  annually  constitutes  a  governor,  but  it  is  hoped  that 
the  wealthy  will  subscribe  for  l^ger  amounts.  The  present 
session  shows  a  considerable  iocrease  of  interest  in  the  subject, 
and  the  number  of  students  attending  the  classes  is  fourteen 
np  to  the  22nd  October.— W.B. 

NOTABILIA. 

THE  LONDON  SCHOOL  OF  HOMCEOPATHY. 
Ths  work  of  this  institution  for  the  current  session  was  inaugu- 
rated on  the  4th  of  October,  by  the  delivery  by  Dr.  Hughes  of 
the  Hahnemannian  Lecture  in  the  Board-room  of  the  hospital,  in 
Great  Ormond  Street.  A  large  and  attentive  audience,  consisting 
chiefly  of  young  men,  was  present — ^the  room,  indeed,  waa- 
thoroughly  well  filled. 


^92 NOTABILU.  ^^SSL,  Nor.  1,  1«L 

Dr.  Hngbes  took  for  his  sabject,  '*  Halmeinaiiii  as  a  Medical 
Philosopher,"  as  exhibited  in  his  treatise  entitled  Orgamm  ef 
Medicine — the   exposition  and  Tindieation  of   his  therapeotie 
method,  appearing  in  fiye  editions  between  1810  and  18dd.  The 
leetnrer  began  by  commenting  on  the  title  Orgamon^  showing 
that  the  an&or  designed  it  to  recall  Aristotle's  treatises  on  logie 
4Uid  Bacon's  great  reform  of  philosophical  enquiry.    Hie  method 
set  forth  in  this  work  was  to  be  a  new  instrument  for  the  dis- 
covery of  specific  remedies,  and  a  sabstitation  of  patient  observa- 
tion and  experiment  for  the  theorising  prevalent  at  the  time. 
Beferring  to  the  motto  at  first  prefixed  to  it,  he  commented  on 
Hahnemann's  hope  for  the  fotore  of  medicine  as  based  on  his 
Adth  in  the  goodness  of  God ;  and  contrasted  this  with  the  hope- 
less scepticism  of  the  present  day,  as  expressed  in  the  **  Address 
-on  Medicine"  recently  deUvered  by  Dr.  Bristowe  before  the 
British  Medical  Association,  and  as  illastrated  by  the  conspienoos 
absence  of  ''  therapy  "  from  the  proceedings  of  the  late  Inter- 
national Medical  Congress.     Passing  now  to  the  Organan  itseU^ 
he  described  it  as  divisible  into  two  parts,  in  each  of  which  three 
4nibjects  were  discussed — in  the  former  doctainally,  in  the  latter 
practically.     These  constitute  the  three  elements  of  his  method, 
and  are — 1st,  the  knowledge  of  disease  ;  2nd,  the  knowledge  of 
medicinal  powers ;    8rd,   the  knowledge  how  to   choose  and 
administer  the  remedy.    The  knowledge  of  disease  which  the 
physician  needs  for  curative  purpoeis  is  declared  by  Hahnemann 
to  consist  in  a  full  and  minute  perception  of  his  patient's  symp- 
toms, to  the  exclusion  of  all  hypothesis.     This  position  was 
•vindicated  against  the  charge  that-  it  ignored  pathology  by 
showing  that    symptoms  are  themselves  a  living  pathology, 
revealing  disease  at  a  stage  when  it  may  be  remediable ;  whereas 
ihe  morbid  anatomy  which  now  goes  by  the  name  exhibits  only 
the   ultimate  results  of  disease  in  incurable  disorganisation. 
Hahnemann's  mode  of  ascertaining  the  virtues  of  medicines  was 
by  '*  proving  "  them  on  the  healthy  human  body — a  proceeding 
now  generally  recognised,  and  to  some  extent  adopted.    He  may 
fairly  be  styled  the  father  of  experimental  pharmacology.     The 
lecturer  next    exhibited    Hahnemann's  view  as    to    how  the 
physician  was  to  use  his  knowledge  of  drug-actien  in  the  treat- 
ment of  disease.     There  are  three,  and  three  only  conceivable 
relations  between  the  physiological  effects  of  a  drug  and  the 
symptoms  of  a  patient,  and  therefore  only  three  possible  ways  of 
applying  the  one  to  the  other.     The  two  may  be  altogether 
diverse,  as  when  an  aperient  is  given  to  relieve  a  headache ;  this 
is  aXLoRopatky.   Or  they  may  be  cdrectly  opposite,  as  when  bromide 
of  potassium  is  used  to  force  sleep  on  a  subject  wakeful  from 
.mental  excitement ;  this  is  antipathy.     Or,  thirdly,  they  may  be 
similar,   as   when  strychnine  is   given  for  tetanus ;   which  is 


^SS^STTS^  NOTABILU.  693 


Beview,  K<nr.  1,  IfiHl. 


homaop<Uhy^  The  first  is  both  anoertain  and  injnrions^  the 
second,  though  often  paUiative,  is  of  limited  applicability,  and 
subject  to  troublesome  re-actions.  Tbe  third  alone  is  harmless, 
inexhaustibly  fertile,  complete  and  permanent.  The  lecturer 
proceeded  «to  meet  objections  which  had  been  made  to  this 
argament  of  Hahnemann's,  the  only  one  of  which  he  regarded  as 
TB^d  being  that  it  is  too  exclosive — ^antipathic  palliatives  hayings 
a  true  and  useful  place  in  medicine.  He  touched  briefly  on  the 
practical  details  into  which  his  author  went,  dwelling  only  on 
that  of  dose.  It  was  not,  he  showed,  until  the  fifth  edition  of 
the  Orpanon  was  published  (1888)  that  the  80th  dilution  was  laid 
down  as  the  best  for  all  medicines  and  in  all  cases.  In  the  former 
issues  the  dose  was  simply  directed  to  be  so  small  as  to  avoid 
needless  aggravations  and  collateral  8uffering8**-its  precise 
amount  varying  with  the  medicine  used. 

Some  remarks  were  then  made  on  certain  features  of  the  later 
editions  of  the  Organon,  which  were  styled  **  the  romance  of 
homoeopathy.*'  They  were  hypotheses — ^physiological,  patho- 
logical, pharmacological,  in  which  Hahnemann  like  other  men 
indulged,  and  which  he  unfortunately  thrust  into  a  work  which 
originally  was  free  from  all  such  elements.  They  were  those  of 
a  ''  vital  force,"  of  the  origin  of  much  chronic  disease  in  psora- 
(itcb),  and  of  the  dynamisation  of  drugs  by  trituration  and 
succussion.  The  lecturer  was  unable  for  lack  of  time  to  dwell 
on  these  points.  He  declared  himself  quite  able  to  clear  Hahne- 
mann from  any  disparagement  in  respect  of  them ;  but  nevertheless 
regretted  their  appearance  in  the  Organon^  and  begged  his  hearers 
to  study  that  work  without  them,  as  might  easily  be  done — ^they 
formiug  but  a  slight  and  no  essential  element  in  it. 

He  concluded  by  exhibiting  the  fruits  of  Hahnemann's  medical - 
philosophy,  after  the  manner  of  Macaulay  describing  what  Bacon 
might  have  beheld  as  the  result  of  the  impulse  he  gave  to  science. 
<* Gould  he" — ^Hahnemann— *-*' have  foreseen  the  medicine  of 
to-day,  how  much  there  would  have  been  to  gladden  his  heart ! 
He  lived  in  a  time  When  heroic  antiphlogisticism  was  in  full  force ; 
when  physicians  *  slew,'  as  in  Addison's  day,  '  some  in  chariots 
and  some  on  foot ' — ^when  every  sufierer  from  acute  disease  was 
drained  of  his  life-blood,  poisoned  with  mercurials,  lowered  with 
autimonials,  and  raked  by  purgatives.  He  denounced  all  this 
as  irrational,  needless,  injurious  ;  and  it  has  fallen — ^never,  we 
trust,  to  resume  its  sway.  The  change  thus  wrought  even  in  the 
practice  of  the  old  school  would  be  a  matter  for  great  thank]Fiil> 
ness  on  his  pa}:t ;  but  how  his  spirit  would  have  bounded  when 
he  looked  upon  the  band  of  his  own  followers  1  The  few 
disciples  made  during  his  life-time  have  swelled  into  a  company 
of  some  ten  thousand  practitioners,  who  daily,  among  the  millions 
of  their  cUenUUf  in  their  scores  of  hospitals  and  dispensaries  and 


«94 WTABILIA^  ^SS^J^C^^ISI^, 

dbaritable  home*,  ewrry  oat  his  beneficeDt  refomi,  makiiig  tin 
treatment  of  dieease  the  Gtiniple  admixiistration  of  a  few  (mostly) 
tasteless  and  odourless  doses,  and  yet  therewith  so  reducing  its 
mortality  that  their  patients'  lives  can  be  assured  at  lower  rates. 
He  would  see  the  acordte  and  belladonna,  the  bryony  and  rAvt , 
the  muB  vomica  and  puhaHUa^  the  ealearea,  mlica,  tulpkur,  which 
he  created  as  medicines,  playmg  their  glorious  parts  on  an 
extensive  scale,  robbing  acute  disease  of  its  terrors  and  cfaronie 
disease  of  its  hopelessness.  He  would  see  his  method  erer 
developing  new  remedies  and  winning  new  victories-— evoking 
lachetis  and  apU,  kali  biehromicum^  geUendum,  gaining  laurels  in 
yellow  fever  as  green  as  those  which  crowned  it  in  the  visitations 
of  cholera.  He  would  see  his  principles  gaining  aeeess  one  by 
one  to  the  minds  of  physicians  at  large — the  proving  of  medidneSy 
the  single  remedy,  the  fraetional  dose  already  accepted,  and 
selection  by  similarity  half  adopted  under  other  ezpianatioDS 
:and  names.  He  might  well  feel,  hke  Bacon,  about  the  PhUosopkia 
Seeunda  which  should  end  his  Instauratio  magna.  He  had  giv«B 
its  prodromi  sive  a$tUcipationes ;  *  the  destinies  of  the  human  race 
must  c<Hnplete  it — in  such  a  manner,  perhaps,  as  men,  looki]^ 
only  at  the  present,  would  not  readily  conceive.'  The  destinies 
-of  the  human  race,  in  respect  of  disease  and  its  cure,  are  com- 
pleting it ;  and  will  be  yet  more  profoundly  modified  for  the 
better  as  that  completion  goes  on. 

''With  these  thoughts,"  the  lecturer  said,  "I  commit  the 
&me  of  Hahnemann  as  a  medical  philosopher  to  the  impartial 
judgment  of  the  great  profession  he  has  adorned." 

On  Thursday,  the  6th  of  October,  Dr.  Pops  commeneed  tiie 
course  of  lectures  on  Materia  Medica,  with  one  on  the  '*  Principles 
•of  Drug-selection  in  Prescribing,"  in  which,  after  describing  the 
several  principles  of  drug-seleddon,  he  explained  at  some  lengtii 
the  principle  of  homoeopathy,  showed  its  advantages.  Hid 
43upported  his  arguments  by  evidence  of  the  success  which  has 
followed  the  adoption  of  homoeopathy  in  hospital  practiee. 

On  the  following  day,  Dr.  Dtcb  Bbcwn  opened  the  lectaiei  on 
the  ''Practice  of  Medicine,"  by  setting  forth  the  sdenlific 
character  ci  homoeopathy. 

On  both  occasions  the  lecture  room  was  well  filled,  andfourtsA 
students  have  entered  their  names  as  regular  attendants  on  flie 
classes.  This,  we  believe,  is  the  largest  number  with  which  any 
session  has  commenced,  and  is  just  double  that  of  last  year. 

TYPHOID  FE7ER  AT  BRISTOL. 

Foe  some  weeks  past  it  has  been  known  that  an  epidemic  of 
typhoid  fever  has  been  prevailing  at  Miiller's  Orphanage  on 
Clifton  Down,  near  Bristol.  This  institution  consists  of  four 
houses,  each  of  which  is  managed  independently  of  the  oth^s, 


^S^^Hf^S^  WOTABIMA. 696 

'Oven  to  the  extent  of  pxoeoring  the  food  rappHes  from  diflerent 
sources.  The  epidemie  has  been  confined  to  one  hooge.  In  it 
eighty  cases  have  occurred.  They  have  all  been  nnder  the  care 
of  Dr.  Enbnlns  Williams,  of  Clifton,  and  all  have  recovered.  The 
testimony  thus  afforded  to  the  value  of  homoBopathy  in  controlling 
A  disease  ordinarily  fatal  in  14  per  cent,  of  the  cases  that  occur 
is  most  important.  Every  effort  was  made  by  Dr.  Davies,  the 
Medical  Officer  of  Health  for  Bristol,  and  by  Dr.  Williams,  to 
trace  the  outbreak  to  its  source,  but  so  far,  we  believe,  without 
success.  Dr.  Davies,  who,  when  visiting  the  house  fbr  the 
purpose  of  sanitary  inspection,  saw  many  of  the  patients  with 
Dr.  Williams,  pointed  to  several  who,  he  thought,  had  littie  or  no 
chance  of  recovery.  Through  homoeopathy,  however,  all  are 
now  well. 

Dr.  Williams  had  the  opportunity  of  seeing  his  patients  in  an 
early  stage  of  the  fever,  and  hence  was  able  to  utilise  to  the  full 
the  curative  power  of  baptisia,  and  this  medicine  he  has  found  of 
inestimable  service. 

Our  readers  will  be  interested  to  know  that  Dr.  Williams  has 
kindly  promised  to  furnish  us,  at  as  early  a  date  as  his  engage- 
ments will  allow,  with  a  paper  giving  an  account  of  the  epidemic 
and  its  treatment. 

HOM(EOPATHY  IN  YELLOW  FEVER. 

HoMCEOPATHzsTs,  says  The  Echo,  will  be  interested  to  learn  that 
homoeopathy  is  supplying  the  best  cure  for  yellow  fever.  Writing 
from  Barbadoes,  a  correspondent  says  : — *'  In  sixty-one  cases 
treated  by  homoeopaths,  only  one  proved  fatal,  and  that  simply 
•on  account  of  the  medicine  not  being  properly  administered." 

HOM(EOPATHY  AND  THE  BRITISH  MEDICAL 

ASSOCIATION. 

On  this  topic  the  Lancet  of  the  15th  ult.  writes: — ''At  the 
Committee  of  Council  of  the  British  Medical  Association,  held  on 
Wednesday  last,  we  understand  that  a  letter  was  read  from  the 
President  of  one  of  the  branches  of  the  Association,  stating  that 
Sk  homoeopathic  practitioner  in  his  neighbourhood  had  been 
admitted  a  member  of  the  Association,  and  that  unless  his  name 
was  removed  from  the  list  of  members,  he,  the  writer,  would 
feel  compelled  to  resign  his  membership.  An  earnest  discussion 
ensued,  in  which  the  opinion  was  generally  expressed  that  it  was 
distinctly  contrary  to  tiie  laws  of  the  Association  to  admit  homoeo- 
paths as  members,  and  opposed  to  the  opinion  and  wishes  of  the 
Committee  of  Council.  As,  however,  the  expulsion  of  any  of 
the  members  on  account  of  homoeopathic  practice  would  give 
Ihose  individuals  both  notoriety  and  a  quasi-grievance,  it  was 


696  HOTABiuA.  "SSSL^^SrrSSf 


Bsriew,  Kor.  1,  UBI . 


i 


considered  best  not  to  adopt  the  step  suggested  by  the  writer  of 
the  letter.  A  resolution  expressing  these  opinions,  moved  by  Mr. 
Husband,  was  earned ;  an  amendment,  moved  by  Mr.  G.  Mae- 
namara,  to  erase  the  said  individual's  name  receiving  only  veiy 
small  support.  We  think  that  the  decision  of  the  Committee  of 
Council  was  wise  ;  at  the  same  time  it  is  evidently  necessary  that 
the  secretaries  of  the  various  branches  should  take  great  care 
that  the  law  of  the  Association  bearing  upon  this  point  be  not 
infringed.  We  are  informed  that  the  views  on  the  subject  of 
consultation  with  homoeopaths  propounded  by  Dr.  Bristowe  and 
Mr.  Hutchinson  in  their  present  addresses  at  Byde  were  not  in 
any  way  discussed  at  this  meeting.  The  Committee  of  Council 
cannot  be  said  to  be  pr^^cipitous  in  its  haste  to  disavow  them  iot 
the  name  of  the  Association.'* 


GERMAN  LAW  AND  HOMCEOPATHISTS. 

The  Cfieinist  and  Druggist  informs  us  that  "  another  interesting 
case  has  been  fought  in  the  Cterman  law  courts  relative  to  the 
rights  and  position  of  homceopathic  practitioners.  Privy  Coun- 
cillor Professor  Dr.  liman,  of  Berlin,  was 'required  by  the 
Landgericht  (Chief  Court  of  Justice),  at  Potsdam,  to  give  his 
opinion  as  to  whether  a  certain  homoeopath  had  or  had  not  acted 
according  to  the  rules  of  homceopathic  art.  Dr.  Ldman  de- 
clined to  express  an  opinion,  saying  that  he  could  not  consider 
that  a  quack  had  any  rule  by  which  he  acted,  and  suggested  ta 
the  Court  that  it  should  apply  in  this  matter  to  a  homoropath  or 
a  quack  for  the  information  it  desired.  Consequent  on  the  pub- 
lication of  this  rather  contemptuous  opinion,  Dr.  Liman  was 
sued  for  damuges  by  eight  homoeopathists,  and  was  in  the  first 
instance  sentenced  by  the  Schoppengericht  (County  Court)  to  a 
fine  of  50  marks.  He,  however,  appealed  to  a  higher  Court, 
and  in  arguing  his  case  he  maintained  that  the  homoeopathists 
belonged  to  no  recognised  society,  that  there  was  at  no  University 
a  section  for  them,  and  that  even  at  the  London  Congress,  where 
all  kinds  of  medical  persons,  even  dentists,  found  a  place, 
homoeopathists  were  excluded,  and  that,  in  fact,  anyone  might 
call  himself  a  homoeopathist  without  any  qualification.  In  acting 
as  he  had  done,  he  considered  he  had  only  defended  the  medical 
profession  without  having  oflfended  any  one  personally.  The 
Court  considered  Dr.  Liman's  views  just,  and  acquitted  him." 

Either  the  '^  higher  Courts  "  in  Germany  must  be  in  the  habit 
of  taking  a  defendant's  statements  as  necessarily  true,  or  the 
*<  eight  homoeopathists  "  must  have  been  singularly  remiss  in  not 
obtaining  evidence  to  rebut  Dr.  Liman's  statements.  Dr.  Liman, 
for  example,  did  not  consider  that  "a  quack,"  by  which  he 
^oant,  we  suppose,  a  homoeopath,  <^  had  any  rule  by  which  he 


■\ 


£^^KT5SS*         NOTABiLu.  697 


Seview«  Not.  1, 18B1. 


acted.'*  Had  this  tmscmpnlons  disdple  of  Ghden  known  any- 
thing aboat  the  subject  on  which  he  spoke,  he  wonld  have  been 
aware  that  homodopathic  practitioners  are  the  only  medical  men 
who  have  any  therapeutic  rale  by  which  they  prescribe.  Then, 
again,  he  says  that  there  is  at  no  nniversity  a  section  for  homoeo- 
pathists.  There  is  such  a  section  at  the  University  of  Pragne,  in 
Hungary — at  those  of  Michigan,  Iowa,  and  Boston  in  the  United 
States.  Finally,  at  the  London  Congress  homooopathists  were  not 
excluded.  It  is  within  our  knowledge  that  a  goodly  number 
attended  the  meetings  of  the  various  sections,  and  at  the  Materia 
Medica  section,  at  least  half-a-dozen  spoke. 

Dr.  Liman  is  at  fully  thirty  years  behind  the  age  in  describing 
the  position  of  homoeopathists.     He  must  be  a  very  ignorant 
person.     How  such  an  one  can  have  become  a  Privy  Councillor 
and  a  Professor,  is  not  easy  to  understand. 

MEMORIAL  OF  THE  LATE  PRESIDENT  GARFIELD,  AT 

THE  BOSTON  UNIVERSITY  SCHOOL  OF  MEDICINE. 

A  MEETING  of  the  faculty  and  alumni  of  the  Boston  University 
School  of  Medicine,  was  recently  held  at  the  College,  East  Con- 
cord Street ;  Dr.  I.  T.  Talbot,  the  Dean,  in  the  chair.  In  calling 
to  order.  Dr.  Talbot  addressed  the  meeting  as  follows : — 

'<  We  need  add  no  words  of  sadness  to  the  grief  of  the  world 
that  President  Oarfield  is  dead.  If  to  the  darkest  cloud  there  is 
a  silver  lining,  may  we  not  find  it  in  the  glorious  example  of  him 
whom  we  mourn  ?  Bom  under  the  most  adverse  conditions,  we 
find  bim  through  the  struggles  of  bitter  poverty  acquiring  a  broad 
and  thorough  education,  which  gave  him  an  elevated  position 
among  scholars.  When  called  to  the  defence  of  the  country,, 
his  wonderful  energies  freely  given  rendered  invaluable  service, 
and,  as  a  legislator  and  statesman,  even  in  the  highest  position 
his  country  could  give  him,  his  efforts  were  untiring  and  his 
faithfulness  knew  no  limit.  Even  in  his  last  days  of  sickness 
and  pain,  his  hopeful  patience  was  such  as  the  physician,  better 
than  others,  can  appreciate  and  admire.  AltogeUier,  his  death 
has  been  a  glorious  example  for  us,  and  his  life  will  be  a  great 
inheritance  to  the  nation  if  it  but  emphasises  and  impresses  that 
example  upon  us.  May  we  not,  then,  first  ask  What  are  our 
duties  /  They  are  not,  of  course,  to  imitate  him  in  the  work  he 
was  called  upon  to  do,  but  in  our  own  work  to  imitate  the  sam& 
energy,  faithfulness,  perseverance,  and  conscientiousness.  As 
physicians  we  owe  him  our  regard  for  the  respect  in  which  he- 
held  our  profession.  As  reformers  in  medicine  we  owe  him 
especial  esteem  for  the  courtesy  and  confidence  he  ever  extended 
toward  us,  exemplified  in  the  positive  request  that  one  of  our 
school  should  remain  with  him  throughout  his  long  sickness. 

Ko.  10,  Vol.  25.  2  z 


\ 


«»8 NOTABILIA,  ^^Sr^rgSi! 

As  physicians,  then,  as  reformers  in  medicine,  as  Mends  of  the 
dead  Qarfield,  who  through  life  was  our  friend,  and,  let  ns  trosi, 
whose  friendship  goes  heyond  this  life,  what  duties  have  we  to 
perform  ?  It  is  not  to  bculd  monnments  of  stone  or  brass,  but 
may  we  not  do  better  far,  and,  in  benefiting  oar  profession  and 
hnmanity,  may  we  not  so  associate  his  name  and  his  example 
that  oar  associates  and  oar  successors  shall  bear  in  mind  his 
worth,  and  feel  his  friendship  ?  '* 

Prof.  Smith  moved  the  adoption  of  the  following  resohitions. 

''  Whereas,  in  the  death  of  President  Garfield,  the  soldier, 
patriot,  and  statesman,  the  nation  has  sustained  an  irreparable 
loss,  and  in  the  demise  of  the  ripe  scholar,  and  staunch  finend  of 
education,  this  school,  in  common  with  every  institution  of 
learning  in  the  land,  has  lost  a  firm  support ;  ther^ore 

' '  Resolved,  that,  in  honour  and  in  memory  of  our  late  President, 
who,  in  spite  of  poverty  and  obstacles,  acquired  unusual  learning 
and  usefulness,  and  who  was  ever  ready  to  assist  those  straggling 
for  the  same  worthy  objects,  we  will  establish  a  fund,  to  be 
known  as  the  Gkurfield  Schohurship  Fund,  the  income  of  which 
shall  be  used  to  aid  worthy  and  needy  students  in  this  school, 
who  are  striving  to  obtain  a  professional  education.*' 

''  Besolved,  that  we  call  upon  all  the  alumni  and  friends  of 
Boston  University  School  of  Medicine  to  unite  with  as  in  adding 
to  this  fund,  and  thereby  not  only  aid  the  school  but  also  assist 
the  meritorious  to  a  life  of  greater  usefulness,  and  serve  to  per- 
petuate the  memory  of  one  whose  whole  life  is  a  noble  example 
to  the  world.*' 

Prof.  Smith  supported  the  resolations  with  brief  remarks,  and 
being  seconded  by  Dr.  Clapp,  they  were  adopted.  It  was  voted 
to  appoint  a  conmiittee  of  two  from  the  faculty,  and  three  from 
the  alumni  to  have  charge  of  the  subscriptions,  and  Dr.  Talbot, 
Dr.  Hastings,  Dr.  Shaw,  Dr.  J.  W.  Clapp,  and  Dr.  M.  L.  Gummings 
were  constituted  the  committee.  IVof.  Smith  moved  that  the 
•executive  committee  prepare  and  forward  to  Dr.  Boynton  resola- 
tions expressive  of  the  appreciation  of  his  conduct  during  bis 
attendance  upon  President  Grarfield,  and  the  motion  was  adopted, 
alter  which  the  meeting  adjourned. 

THE  LADIES*  SANITABY  ASSOCIATION. 

Tms  Association  has  for  its  object  the  educating  of  the  poor  in 
flaniiaiy  matters.  It  was  originally  founded  by  Dr.  Both,  many 
years  ago,  and  has  been  the  source  of  publication  of  numeioos 
tracts  and  books,  all  bearing  upon  the  sanitary  needs  of  a  healthy 
home  and  healthy  children. 

Dr.  W.  B.  BioBABDSOH  is  delivering  a  course  of  lectores,  at 
Exeter  Hall,  in  behalf  of  the  Association,  **  On  Domestic  Sam- 
tatiozi." 


It^SSTfS^  NOTABILIA.  699 


iL&^riiBW,  Not.  It 


The  foUowing  is  an  extract  from  the  eironlar  appealing  for 
fdnds: — 

**  It  is  an  acknowledged  fact,  that  by  far  the  greater  part  of 
the  debility,  disease,  and  premature  mortality  in  this  eonntry, 
.xesnlts  from  preventable  causes ;  but  very  few  preventative 
measures,  bearing  upon  the  personal  habits  of  the  people,  have 
yet  been  adopted. 

'*  The  promoters  of  this  Association,  convinced  that  one  of 
the  principal  causes  of  a  low  physicial  condition  is  ignorance  of 
the  laws  of  health,  have  combined  to  extend  and  popularise 
flanitaiy  knowledge. 

For  this  purpose  :— 
*^  1st. — They  write  and  distribute  simple  interesting  Tracts  on 
sanitary  and  domestic  subjects.     The  greater  part  of 
these  are  written  specially  for  the  poor. 
<<2nd. — They  establish  Loan  Libraries  of  popular  books,  on  sub- 
jects relating  to  health  and  social  well-being. 
**  8rd. — ^They  arrange  for  the  delivery  of  practical  Lectures  on 
Healtii,  Sanitary  Improvements,  and  Domestic  Economy. 
*^  4th — They  form  Branch  Associations  in  various  localities  for 
carrying  on  practical  sanitary  work. 

**  a.  By  distribution  of  the  Tracts  among  the  poor  of  the 
district  and  in  Schools,  Hospitals,  and  Mother's 
Meetings. 

b.  By  collecting  money  for  Sajiitary  improvements, 

such  as  opening  windows,  curing  smoky  chim- 
neys, removing  nuisances,  giving  soap  and  lime 
for  white-washing,  lending  books,  patterns  of 
clothes,  scrubbing  brushes,  saucepans  and 
cooking  receipts. 

c.  By  requesting  the  Medical  Officers  of  Health  and 

otiier  professional  and  well-educated  gentlemen 
to  deliver  popular  free  Lectures. 

d.  By  instituting.  Mothers'  Meetings,  and  Glasses  of 

Adult   Girls,   and  giving  them  sanitary    and 
domestic  instruction. 
s.  By  forming  or  aiding  Penny  Clothing  Clubs,  Coal 
Clubs,  Baths,  and  Wash-houses,  Temperance 
Associations,    Cooking   Depots,  and  Working 
Men's  Clubs. 
/•  By  establishing    Nurseries   for  motherless  babes, 
which  may  serve  as  Schools  for  Mothers  of  all 
classes.  Schoolmistresses,  and  Nurses. 
**  The  Association  is  entirely  dependent  upon  voluntry  contri- 
butions, and  the  Committee  earnestly  solicit  the  aid  of  all  who 
are  interested  in  Sanitary  Reform. 
The  secretary  is  Miss  Bose  Adams,  and  the  office  22  Bemers 

Street. 

2  z-9 


700 


NOTABILIA. 


BmwiBW,  KoT.  1,  un. 


THE   "EPPS"  PRIZE. 

prize  of  JglO,  whicli  was  generonsly  offered  bj  Mr.  James 
EppB,  of  Upper  Norwood,  for  the  best  collection  of  20  cases^ 
fllnstrating  the  action  of  homceopathic  remedies,  has  been  awarded 
to  Mr.  Samuel  Hahnemann  Blake,  of  Liyerpool.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  the  similar  prize  given  last  year  by  Dr.  Prater, 
was  awarded  to  Mr.  Blake.  These  cases  will  be  published  by 
degrees  in  our  pages. 

Should  any  of  our  liberal  subscribers  offer  a  similar  prize  for 
next  year,  we  shall  be  glad  to  hear  from  them. 

MEDICAL  OFFICER'S  REPORT  OF  THE  CANTERBURY 

HOMCEOPATHIC  DISPENSARY. 

We  have  received  the  annual  report  of  this  institution,  and  have 
pleasure  in  observing  its  continued  prosperity  and  usefulness, 
under  the  medical  care  of  Dr.  Barnes.  We  notice  with  mncli 
pleasure  that  a  subscription  of  two  guineas  is  again  sent  to  the 
London  HomoBopathic  Hospital.  Were  aU  provincial  dispen- 
saries to  follow  this  generous  example,  the  fimds  of  the  hospital 
would  be  largely  increased.  The  following  are  the  details : — 
Cases  treated  during  the  year,  217. 

Cured ...     142 


No  Report 
Relieved 
Dead    ... 
No  better 
On  the  books 
Left  Canterbury 


21 

14 

4 

6 

28 

7 

217 


In  addition,  some  500  gratuitous  visits  were  paid. 

Very  many  patients  have  been  treated  who  were  unable  to 
obtain  tickets. 

Three  patients  were  sent  to  the  London  Homoeopathic  Hospital, 
and  two  to  the  Hahnemann  Convalescent  Home  (Bournemouth), 
all  of  whom  were  greatly  benefited  from  their  stay  at  these 
institutions. — ^Donald  Batnes,  A.M.,  M.D.,  F.RG.8. 

DR.  NEALE'S  MEDICAL  DIGEST  FOR  1882. 

One  of  the  most  useful  books  published  by  the  Sydenham 
Society  is  Dr.  Neale's  Medical  Digest.  It  consists  of  references 
to  papers  on  medical,  surgical,  and  obstetrical  subjects,  in  all 
iheir  relations,  which  have  appeared  in  the  leading  medical 
journals  of  this  country  for  forty  years.  On  almost  any  subject, 
physiological,  pathological,  or  therapeutical,  one  ean  find  all 
that  has  been  written  on  it  by  so-called  '^  orthodox"  physicians, 


lS^#.r;nSg!^  NOTABILU. 701 

isnrgeons,  and  professors.  Having  had  frequent  occasion  to  nse 
it,  we  can  testify  to  its  great  valae  to  aU  students  of  medicine. 

A  new  edition  is  in  course  of  preparation,  bringing  the  work 
up  to  the  end  of  the  present  year.  It  will  contain,  we  are  told, 
'20,000  additional  references  to  papers  that  have  appeared  in  the 
medical  periodicals  during  the  five  years  subsequent  to  the 
first  edition  ;  The  British  Medical  Journal^  The  Medical  Record, 
and  the  PraeHtumer  having  been  added  to  the  list  of  journals 
jreferred  to  in  the  first  edition. 

It  is  being  published  by  subscription,  and  only  so  many  copies 
'Will  be  struck  off  as  are  subscribed  for.  There  wiU  be  two  edi- 
iions,  an  octavo,  price  18s.  6d. ;  and  an  oblong  quarto,  with 
-broad  margins  for  future  notes,  price  17s.  Applications  for 
copies  should  be  made  to  the  Secretary,  60,  Boundary  Boad, 
London,  N.W. 

THE  MODERN  MEDICAL  STUDENT. 

The  average  London  medical  student  of  to-day  enters  the 
Jhospital  as  a  boy  of  about  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  is  generally 
fairly  well-dressed,  and  adverse  to  slangy  habits,  though  he  very 
seldom  sets  himself  to  become  the  mirror  of  fashion.  He  is  very 
eager  to  dissect  his  first  **  part,**  and  does  not  object  to  osteology; 
if  of  a  mechanical  or  artistic  turn  of  mind  he  likes  to  prepare 
and  mount  microscopical  specimens ;  but  he  shows  less  energy 
in  the  study  of  physiology,  and  has  Httle  or  no  taste  for  ihe 
collateral  sciences.  It  is  proverbial  that  during  the  winter 
session  the  chemistry  lecture  is,  on  this  accoxmt,  generally  the 
scene  of  the  least  orderly  conduct.  The  first  year's  man  has 
the  deepest  admiration  for  the  medical  staff  of  his  hospital,  and 
an  implicit  belief  in  their  teaching — a  very  wholesome  instinct 
for  a  learner.  His  faith  in  the  superiority  of  his  medical  school 
^ver  all  others  is  often  unbounded.  Hence,  even  if  too  studious 
to  join  in  the  sports  and  games  of  the  athletic  clubs  of  his  hos- 
pital, he  delights  to  see  how  his  '*  team  **  or  **  eleven  *'  have 
beaten  another  hospital  at  football  or  cricket.  Nobody  can 
thoroughly  like  or  trust  what  he  cannot  understand,  hence  the 
junior  student  is  generally  prejudiced  against  the  lay  authorities 
of  his  hospital.  He  cannot  comprehend  why  non-medical  men 
should  be  put  over  the  experts  whom  he  so  deeply  honours.  He 
has  grounds  for  his  prejudice,  but  has  to  learn  that  for  the 
managemeut  of  technical  institutions  the  ruling  body  should  not 
be  wholly  technical. 

The  modem  student  likes  to  pass  his  **  first  college  "  at  the  end 
•of  his  second  winter  session,  and  always  feels  more  or  less  dis- 
concerted if  he  be  not  ready  for  that  ordeal  at  the  earliest 
possible  date.  Owing  to  the  severity  of  the  test,  however,  rejection 
'does  not  involve  so  deep  a  stigma  as  formerly.    During  his  last  two 


702  NOTABU.U.  "^Sa 


JMiiisVt  TXoT.  If 


years  the  stadent  alters  somewhal  from  his  earlior  type.  He  has 
his  preferences,  as  before,  and  likes  surgery  as  a  role  better  than 
medicine  ;  midwifery,  wiUi  all  its  offensive  snrroimdiDgB,  is  not 
so  very  distasteful  to  him,  as  there  is  something  adTentnroas  in 
watching  patients  night  after  night  in  a  back  slum ;  besides,  h» 
knows  that  he  is  training  for  a  veiy  important  brandi  of  practice. 
The  advanced  student  is  apt  to  be  more  critical  than  he  has  the 
right  to  be  over  the  relative  merits  of  members  ef  the  staff.  Hia 
views  concerning  the  lay  governors  are  also,  for  snndiy  reasonB» 
apt  to  undergo  great  modification*  He  always  looks  forward  to 
qualification,  for  then  he  becomes  a  *'  medical  man  *'  or  *'  the 
doctor,"  not  simply  a  student.  Then  he  can  become  house- 
surgeon,  or  take  a  long  holiday,  and  afterwards  join  his  father  as 
a  partner,  or  set  up  on  his  own  account,  according  to  cixcum- 
stances. 

The  average  student  is  never  a  Bohemian ;  indeed,  free  and  easy 
habits,  especially  in  the  wards,  are  looked  on  with  discredit  by 
the  pupils  of  London  schools.  It  was  till  recently  the  minority 
that  wore  short  coats  and  low  hats,  and  smoked  wooden  pipes  in 
the  day-time,  but  of  late  this  style  has  become  more  general 
among  the  youth  of  England  in  every  profession,  and  particularly 
in  high  life,  and  the  medical  student  is  only  faUing  in  with  the 
fashion.  The  student  is,  as  a  rule,  rather  a  hard  than  a  moderate 
worker,  even  in  cases  where  he  works  by  fits  and  starts ;  he  is 
still  too  apt  to  look  on  work  as  consisting  of  learning  text-books 
by  heart,  and  to  love  dry  condensations  in  preference  to  standard 
works. 

The  average  student  does  not  fail  in  his  earlier  examinationSr 
hence  he  is  not  of  the  *' chronic "  type,  which  includes  the 
inert  and  the  still  more  objectiouable  varieties  of  his  coUeaj^es. 
We  do  not  include  under  the  heading  of  *'  average  "  the  students 
who  come  from  the  two  old  English  Universities,  who  can  teach 
much  to  their  hospital  fellow-students  in  matters  of  style  and 
method  of  learning,  but  also  can  sometimes  learn  a  great  deal  from 
those  who  have  not  had  the  same  advantages. 

As  to  the  student's  moral  character,  that  is  entirely  an  indiri- 
dual  question,  and  so  are  his  habits.  In  a  large  hospital  where 
there  is  a  ''  college,"  we  observed,  some  years  since,  resident 
students  who  spent  their  leisure  time  in  the  most  varied  manner,, 
some  playing  Uie  piano  or  violin,  some  studying  the  dead  lan- 
guages, even  Celtic  literature,  some  actively  joining  the  hospital 
athletic  clubs,  and  others  without  any  special  tastes  merely  taking 
long  rambles  when  not  at  work.  Every  one  of  these  students^ 
varied  as  were  their  habits,  passed  their  final  examinations,  and 
have  settled  in  practice  or  in  hospital  appointments.  The  tendency 
to  level  all  to  one  common  type,  even  in  non-technical  matters^ 
does  not  exist  among  medicfd  studentSi  nor  are  the  moderately 


eocentric  so  liable  to  pertinacious  ridicole  as  elsewhere.  Is  not 
this  spirit  rather  advantageous  to  those  who  haye  not,  hereafter, 
to  adopt  the  uniform  method  of  the  pulpit,  the  bar,  or  the  parade- 
ground,  but  have  to  meet  the  innumerable  contingencies  of  prac- 
tice, and  to  deal  in  a  different  manner  with  the  varied  prejudices 
and  tastes  of  patients  ? 

Such  is  the  average  student  of  to-day.  We  have  only  roughly 
sketched  the  outline.  He  has  not  yet  been  fiilly  and  impartially 
discussed  in  print ;  he  has  been  calumniated  as  a  rule,  or  in  very 
exceptional  cases  elevated  into  a  hypothetical  being  wrapped  in 
the  cause  of  abstract  scientific  progress.  As  a  matter  of  fact  the 
average  student  is  nearer  to  the  type  of  which  we  have  given  a 
slight,  superficial  and  hasty  glimpse. — British  Medical  Journal. 


PHYSICIANS  TO  GEORGE  IH. 

'*  The  King  employed  three  doctors  daily — 
Wi}lis,  Hebeitien,  and  Baillie. 
All  exceedingly  skilful  men, 
Baillie,  Willis,  Heberden ; 
But  doubtful  which  most  sure  to  kill  is — 
Baillie,  Heberden,  or  Willis. 


VACCINATION  IN  CHINA. 

A  BEOBMT  speech  of  Sir  John  Pope  Hennessey,  Governor  of 
Hong-Kong,  contains  an  iuteresting  account  of  the  spread  of 
vaccination  among  the  Chinese,  not  only  of  the  colony,  but  of 
the  empire.  No  port  is  more  hable  to  the  introductiou  of  small- 
pox, yet  it  never  spreads  there.  The  health  officer  of  the  colony 
was  also  astonished  to  find  that  nearly  all  the  young  Chinese 
emigrants  had  vaccination  or  inoculation  marks  on  their  arms. 
That  inoculation  has  been  practised  in  China,  as  in  other  Eastern 
countries,  from  time  immemorial,  was  already  known,  but  the 
adoption  of  vaccination  is  quite  recent,  and  he  was  surprised  to 
find  it  so  generally  and  perfectly  performed.  On  inquiry  he  learnt 
that  the  native  doctors  of  the  Tung-wa  hospital — a  charitable 
institution  supported  by  the  voluntary  contributions  of  Chinese 
merchants  and  others — not  only  vaccinated  their  countrymen 
in  the  colony  itself,  but  actually  sent  travelling  vaccinators  over 
the  acyoining  provinces  of  China.  In  this  way  thousands  of 
persons  have  been  vaccinated  during  the  past  four  years.  The 
lymph  is  supplied  to  them  by  the  Governor,  who  gets  it  by  every 
mail  in  his  dispateh*bag  from  Downing  Street. — Medical  Time* 
and  Gazette, 


704  NOTABILIA.  '^SL^i 


Beviev,  Nar.  1«  IflBL 


ABSINTHE. 

The  consumption  of  this  sednctiye,  health-destroying  linear 
appears  to  be  on  the  increase,  and  it  is  now,  according  to  Mr, 
Winter  Blyth,  sold  in  a  large  number  of  places  in  Marylebone, 
for  which  parish  he  is  the  public  analyst  and  medical  officer  of 
health.  It  seemed  to  him,  therefore,  a  right  and  proper  thing 
to  chemically  examine  samples  of  this  liquid,  which  was  done. 
Absinthe  is  a  yellowish  green  liqueur,  which  contains,  as  a 
peculiar  ingredient,  a  poisonous  oil  having  a  deleterious  effect  on 
the  nerrous  system ;  the  oil  is  called  wormwood  oil,  and  is  pro- 
duced in  nature  by  the  Artemisia  Abnntkium.  Other  flavouring 
oils  are  always  added,  such  as  peppermint,  angelica,  cloves, 
cinnamon,  and  aniseed.  The  colour  is  produced  by  the  juice  of 
nettles,  spinach,  or  parsley ;  or,  in  other  words  is  due  to  the 
common  green  **  chlorophyll,*'  found  in  all  green  plants.  Most 
samples  of  absinthe  contain  sugar.  The  average  composition  of 
absinthe  is  as  follows  :  Absolute  alcohol,  in  100  parts,  50.00 ; 
oil  of  wormwood,  .88  ;  other  essential, oils,  2.52  ;  sugar,  1.50; 
chlorophyll,  traces ;  water,  45.65.  Alcohol  causes  drunken  sleep; 
alcohol  and  absinthe  combined  produce  convulsions.  The  poor 
wretches  given  up  to  absinthe  drinking  suffer  from  a  peculiar 
train  of  nervous  symptoms,  the  most  prominent  of  which  is 
epilepsy  of  a  remarkably  severe  character,  terminating  in 
softening  of  the  brain  and  death.  The  last  moments  of  the 
absinthe  drinker  are  often  trulv  horrible.  M.  Yoisin  records  a 
case  in  which  a  man  was  picked  up  in  the  pubhc  street  in  an 
epileptic  fit.  He  was  known  to  be  a  large  consumer  of  absinthe. 
The  convulsions  lasted  until  death — four  days  and  four  nights. 
During  the  last  five  or  six  hours  of  life,  the  skin  of  the  £ace 
became  almost  black. — British  Medical  JotimaL 

THE   DISADVANTAGES   OF  COD-UVER  OIL  FOR 

YOUNG  CHILDREN. 

AccoBDiNO  to  the  Revue  Afedicale,  the  Council  of  Public  Health 
has  recently  submitted  for  the  sanction  of  the  Academy  of 
Medicine  of  Paris  a  report  on  the  disadvantages  of  cod-liver  oil 
administered  to  infants  and  young  children.  The  Commission 
on  the  hygiene  of  infancy  has  not  yet  reported  its  opinion  on 
this  subject ;  but  the  accusatious  brought  against  this  medicine 
by  the  Council  of  Hygiene  are  worth  notice.  All  physicians  are 
aware  what  disastrous  infiuence  is  exercised  on  the  health  of 
young  infants  by  defective  alimentation,  and  especially  animal 
nourishment ;  fatty  matters  are  as  little  suited  to  the  alimentation 
of  the  newly-born  infants  as  albuminoids,  excepting  always  casein, 
which  exists  normally  in  milk,  and  is  found  to  be  perfecilf 
assimilable.      In  fact,  in  the  first  period  of  life,  the   joioes 


Ss^^^rra?*       notabilu.  705 


Baview,  Kor.  1, 1881. 


necessary  for  emulsifying  fatiy  nuitiers  are  almost  entirely 
wanting.  The  liver,  in  spite  of  its  enormoas  development  in 
this  stage  of  existence,  secretes  only  a  smaU  quantity  of  bile ; 
and  the  researches  of  Langendorf  and  Zweifel  have  proved  that, 
in  yoong  children,  pancreatic  juices  possess  an  emulsive  power 
which  is  almost  nil,  or,  at  least,  very  slightly  marked.  These 
physiological  considerations  sufficiently  indicate  that — ^far  from 
being  profitable  to  the  infant — fatty  matters,  and  especially  cod- 
Uye/oS,  can  only  injure  its  hedthfand  gra.ely  co^romiL  the 
integrity  of  its  digestive  functions. — British  Medical  Journal. 

BROMIDE  RASH. 

A  PATIENT,  under  the  care  of  Dr.  Percy  Boulton,  of  the  Samaritan 
Hospital,  suffering  from  pelvic  neuralgia,  took  between  the  12th 
and  19th  of  October,  three  grains  of  hrcnmde  of  iron,  three  times 
a  day,  when  its  discontinuance  was  directed  in  consequence  of  a 
few  spots  appearing  on  the  face,  suggestive  of  a  bromide  rash. 
A  fortnight  afterwards  she  returned  ''with  her  legs  covered 
pretty  uniformly  with  a  discrete  pustular  eruption.'*  Dr.  Boulton 
felt  sure  that  the  eruption  was  non-specific  ;  it  resembled 
pustular  eczema  (ecthyma)  more  than  any  other  kind  of  erup- 
tion. He  then  asked  Dr.  Thin  to  examine  the  skin,  and  on  its 
4K)ndition  he  makes  the  following  interesting  remarks  in  The 
Lancet  of  the  15th  ult. : —        ' 

"  The  chief  interest  in  this  case,  in  so  far  as  the  eruption  is 
4soncemed,  lies  in  the  fact  that,  although  the  diagnosis  was  at 
the  first  glance  by  no  means  easy,  it  was  yet  possible  to  make 
out  the  nature  of  the  rash  from  its  objective  characters  alone. 
I  diagnosed  a  bromide  or  iodide  eruption  before  I  was  informed 
that  either  of  these  agents  had  been  given.  When  the  woman 
presented  herself  to  me  on  November  2nd,  the  anterior  surfaces 
of  both  thighs  and  both  legs  were  thickly  studded  with  papules 
and  pustules.  There  were  a  few  on  the  back  and  on  the 
shoulders  and  arms,  but  none  on  the  rest  of  the  body.  Practi- 
•cally  the  seat  of  the  eruption  was  the  unusual  one  of  iiie  anterior 
surfaces,  exclusively  of  the  lower  extremities.  The  papules,  I 
was  informed,  were  the  early  stage  of  the  pustules,  the  latter 
Attaining  the  size  of  a  large  pea.  The  first  appreciable  stage 
was  a  small  hard  subcutaneous  swelling. 

''The  three  stages  of  the  lesion  were  thus — ^induration, 
imflammation,  and  suppuration  of  a  given  point  in  the  skin. 
The  special  character  of  the  eruption  was  found  in  the  last  of 
these  stages.  The  free  bullous  pustule  in  which  the  infiamma- 
tion  terminated  is  rarely  found  in  any  recognised  form  of  skin 
disease.  The  lesions  in  certain  forms  of  secondary  syphilis  most 
xesembled  it,  but  to  my  mind  they  were  excluded  by  the  uncom- 


I 


706  HOTABILIA. 


.1, 


plicated  ohancter  of  tlie  pastnle  and  by  tlie  localiBiiHwi  A 
syphilitic  dennatiiiB  which  produced  so  much  free  sapecficbl 
postolation  would  have  been  oniYerBal,  and  would  have  led  either 
to  an  abundant  formation  of  nipiai  crusts  or  to  snpecfidii 
ulceration. 

"Bat  whilst  the  emption  differed  from  all  known  forma  of 
skin  disease  it  coincided  in  its  principal  characten  with  the 
lesions  now  known  to  be  characteristic  of  certain  forma  of  iodide 
and  bromide  emptions. 

'*  Further  enquiry  ehcited  the  information  which  is  contained 
in  Dr.  Bouiton's  report  in  regard  to  the  administration  of  the 
bromide  of  iron.  The  patient  further  informed  me  that  the 
eruption  on  the  legs  began  whilst  she  was  taking  the  medicine, 
and  that  new  papules  had  continued  to  appear  up  to  the  time  I 
first  saw  her.  The  eruption  was  left  to  itself,  and  when  I  svr 
her  ten  days  afterwards,  the  smaller  lesions  had  disappeared, 
and  the  position  of  the  larger  pustules  was  marked  by  daik- 
brown  or  copper-coloured  spots,  with  dry  adherent  scales  on  the 
centre." 

HEADACHES. 

The  approach  of  the  winter  season  will,  with  a  lage  number  of 
people,  be  inaugural  of  a  recurrent  headache,  for  which  they  sie 
unable  to  account  at  all  satisfiactorily,  but  which  experience  has 
taught  them  to  expect  as  surely  as  fires  and  "  snugness  "  are 
rendered  necessary  to  personal  comfort.    It  would  be  well  if  all 
such  sufierers  were  to  understand  the  rationale  of  the  complaint 
that  periodically  attacks  them,  and  be  wise  in  time  to  ward  df 
the  return  of  tiieir  old  malady.    In  every  case  where  the  hesd* 
ache  is  not  dependent  on  some  organic  disturbance,  and  when  it 
is  felt  only  during  the  colder  months  of  the  year,  especially  in 
large  towns,  it  is  undoubtedly  due  to  the  vitiated  atmosphere  of 
rooms  lighted  by  gas,  and  rendered  **snug"  by  close-drawn 
curtains  and  draught-excluding  doors,  while  a  brilliant  fire  ia 
maintained  for  heating  purposes.     This  latter  is,  indeed,  the 
only  preventive  under  the  circumstances  of  an  absolutely  poisonona 
condition  of   the   air,   which   is  very  seriously  contaminated 
wherever  a  gas-light  is  employed  for  illumination.     Careful  ob- 
servation of  the  efiects  gradually  produced  by  prolonged  continu- 
ance in  such  an  apartment,  will  reveal  the  fact  that  a  feeling  of 
oppression,  becoming  gradually  more  intense,  steals  over  one; 
and  in  an  increased  degree    accordingly  as  the  number   of 
occupants  of  the  room  is  added  to.     The  atmosphere  becomes 
thus  heavily  laden  with  carbonic  acid,  the  products  of  combustion 
of  the  gas  and  of  the  human  tissues ;  failmg  any  firee  ventilation 
this  rapidly  accumulates,  an  insignificant  amount  alone  finding 
exit  by  the  chimney,  and  acting  on  the  nervous  system  of  those 


^sss^^rrse?^       kotabuja.  707 


BeTi0w,  Nov.  1, 1881. 


UBing  the  room,  indnoes  cerebral  congestion  that  results  in  serious 
disturbances,  which  are  relieyed  only  after  a  more  or  less  painful 
period  of  indisposition.  The  remedy  for  the  e^il  is  in  efficient 
and  constant  ventilation,  a  necessity  that  every  householder 
should  see  is  secured  in  all  the  rooms  of  hiB  dwelling  before  they 
are  transformed  into  winter  habitations. — Medical  Press. 

AUTOMATIC  REGISTRATION  OF  BODY  TEMPERATURE. 

A  Mxw  form  of  thermograph,  capable  of  recording  automatically 
the  rise  and  fall  of  temperature  of  the  body  for  a  given  length  of* 
time,  has  been  recentiy  invented  (we  learn  from  the  Sdeindfic 
American)  by  Dr.  Adams,  of  Colorado  Springs.     Its  principle 
is,  causing  the  electrical  resistance  of  a  fine  powder  in  a  tube  to 
vary  by  means  of  pressure  derived  from  heat.    A  vulcanite  tube 
is  filled  with  a  fine  powder  made  of  plumbago,  gas  carbon,  and 
silver ;  these  contents  abutting  at  either  end  against  a  platinum 
knob.     One  knob  is  attached  to  a  hard  rubber  bracket,  and  the 
other  (which  imparts  the  varying  pressure)  to  the  free  end  of  a 
spiral  spring,  constituting  the  thermometer  proper.     This  spring 
is  made  of  two  slips  of  brass  and  steel,  soldered  together,  the 
brass  occupying  the  outer  side.     The  more  expansible  brass,  on 
rise  of  temperature,  causes  the  free  end  of  the  spring  with  its 
terminal  knob  to  twist,  and  so  exert  increasing  pressure  on  the 
tube-contents.    An  electric  current  is  sent  through  the  substance 
in  the  tube,  entering  and  leaving  by  binding  posts ;   and  its 
variations  with  the  varying  pressure  affect  an  ingenious  electro- 
magnetic mechanism,  which  produces  on  a  moving  surface  a 
sinuous  line,  the  graphic  representation  of  the  changes  of  tem- 
perature.    The  thermometric  part  of  the  apparatus  is  suitably 
enclosed  in  a  circular,  perforated  German-silver  case,  which  is 
secured  in  proper  position  in  the  armpit.     Dr.  Adams  is  arranging 
to  obtain  on  the  same  strip  of  paper,  not  only  a  curve  of  the 
febrile  condition  of  a  patient,  but  also  a  sphygmographic  and 
respiratory  curve,  so  that  the  interrelationship  of  these  cardinal 
symptoms  under  varying  circumstances  may  be  easily  studied. 
—The  Times. 


CENTENARIANS  OF  ANTIQUITY. 

Solon,  Thales,  Pittacus,  Epimenides,  four  of  the  seven  sages  of 
Greece,  exceeded  a  century  in  age,  according  to  Lucian,  who 
fixes  the  date  of  their  deaths  at  600  years  b.c.  Epinides,  poet 
and  historian,  died  at  the  age  of  154  years,  according  to  Pliny. 
Aristarchus,  a  tragic  poet  of  Tegaea,  in  Arcadia,  died  a  century 
old,  about  the  year  460  b.c.  The  comic  poet,  Cratinus,  of 
Athens,  died  at  98  years  of  age,  in  the  year  431  b.c. 
Aeoording  to  Valerius  Maximus,  Sophocles  composed  *<  (Edipus"' 


708 NOTABiLiA.       ''g^^gryg 

when  he  was  nearly  100  years  old,  ahont  405  b.c.  The  satineal 
poet,  Demoeritas,  died  at  the  age  of  109,  in  the  year  861  b.c. 
Gorgias,  of  Leonttnm,  died  at  108,  in  the  year  400  b.c.  !D» 
great  orator,  Isocrates,  is  said  to  have  starred  himsdf  at  99 
years  of  age,  ahont  the  year  888  b.c.  Hippocrates,  tiie  father  of 
medicine,  died  at  the  same  age,  861  years  b.o.  The  philosopher, 
Theophrastas,  died  at  107,  about  the  year  288  b.c.  Cleantbes, 
of  Epims,  disciple  of  Zeno,  died  at  100,  about  1!he  year  ^  b.c. 
The  historian,  Hieronymus,  of  Rhodes,  died  at  the  age  of  104, 
about  254  b.c.  The  immortal  Galen  died  almost  a  eentenariaa, 
like  his  great  predecessor,  Hippocrates,  in  the  year  193.  The 
philosopher,  Demonax,  of  Crete,  starved  himself  to  death  at  100 
years  of  age,  in  the  reign  of  Adrian,  120  ^.d.  The  Bomaos 
have  also  their  centenarians,  but  their  dates  are  often  im- 
recorded.  Juvenal  is  said  to  have  died  a  centenarian,  a  J).  120. 
Terentius  Yarro,  of  Atax,  died  at  98,  a.d.  28.  Quintios  Fabioi 
Maximus  died  a  centenarian  in  the  year  107.  Perennius  Tatos, 
died  at  111  years  of  age,  at  Cornelia,  in  the  year  117.  B 
appears  from  this  list,  as  collected  from  the  Lyon  Medical,  thai, 
in  ancient  times,  some  people  had  already  acquired  a  habit  of 
allowing  themselves  to  die  of  hunger ;  and  Dr.  Tanner,  with  his 
long  fast,  is  only  a  plagiarist.  The  ancients  had,  however,  as  a 
justification,  their  great  age  ;  and  they  might  reasonably  think 
that  they  had  lived  long  enough. — British  Medical  JaurfuU. 

A  NEW  METHOD  OF  REMUNERATION  FOR  MEDICil 

SERVICES. 

Mr.  Henby  Dodd,  a  wealthy  dust  contractor,  lately  deceased,  ^ 
a  far-seeing  man.  By  his  will  he  bequeathed  to  his  medical 
attendant  a  legacy  of  two  thousand  pounds,  to  he  paid  only  in 
the  event  of  his  living  for  two  years  after  the  date  of  the  bequest; 
if  he  lived  for  five  years  the  amount  was  to  be  increased  to 
three  thousand  pounds,  and  had  he  survived  that  period  his  grati- 
tude would  doubtless  have  taken  an  even  more  substantial 
pecuniary  form.  Unfortunately,  however,  for  both  testator  and 
legatee,  the  ingenious  dust  contractor  died  within  a  week  of 
making  the  will,  and  the  bequest  has  consequently  lapsed.  Stifli 
the  notion  was  an  original,  and  by  no  means  a  bad  one.  'Da 
•doctor  is  looked  upon  as  a  necessary  evil.  His  assistance  is  only 
invoked  when  mischief  is  done,  and  he  has  constantly  to  combii 
at  a  disadvantage  disease  which  might  have  been  prevented.  ^ 
instead  of  calling  him  in  when  we  feel  indisposed,  we  were  to 
contract  with  the  family  physician  to  keep  us  in  health,  it  wonU 
be  obviously  better  for  both  parties  concerned.  The  doetor 
would  not  receive,  perhaps,  such  large  fees  for  indiWdav 
attendances,  but  he  would  have  a  less  fluctuating  somce  d 


ISSSil'SrrS^  NOTABILU.  709 


Beriew,  Not.  1, 18B1. 


income  ;  while  the  patient,  on  his  part,  might  introduce  into  the 
compact  a  system  of  fines  by  which  his  medical  attendant  should 
be  mulcted  for  any  pains  or  illness  which  might  attack  him,  the 
amount  of  the  fine  to  be  determined  by  the  gravity  of  the  case. 
It  is  true  that,  like  Sancho  Panza^s  physician,  our  medical 
advisers  might,  now  and  then,  interfere  with  our  diet  and 
habits  in  a  rather  arbitrary  manner ;  but  in  most  instances  we^ 
should  be  the  gainers  by  such  surveillance.  The  system,  again, 
might  lead  to  a  new  form  of  litigation — a  general  practitioner, 
for  instance,  praying  for  an  injunction  to  prevent  a  gouty  Alder- 
man from  attending  a  City  banquet,  or  a  patient  suing  the  doctor 
for  damages  on  account  of  a  toothache  which  should  have  been 
avoided  by  medical  precautions.  The  Chinese  have  a  method  of 
paying  their  doctors  by  results,  and  the  system  is  at  least  worth 
a  trial.  Wealthy  people,  also,  with  too  expectant  or  ungrateful 
heirs,  might  often  make  a  worse  use  of  their  money  than  applying 
it,  like  the  late  Mr.  Dodd,  to  the  potential  prolongation  of  Uieir 
own  lives,  so  far  as  this  lies  in  the  power  of  medical  skill.  It  is 
to  be  regretted  that  the  first  recorded  experiment  of  the  kind  has 
not  been  more  successful. — The  Standard. 

A  MALICIOUS  DRUGGIST. 

A  MAN  who  at  one  time  dealt  in  drugs  and  groceries  at  Rome, 
N.  Y.,  had  the  curiosity  to  keep  the  bulk  of  the  misspelled  notes 
which  he  received  from  various  sources,  and  paste  them  in  a 
scrap-book.  The  Sentinel  publishes  half  a  column  of  specimens, 
from  which  we  cull  the  folloning : 

One  small  scrap  of  paper  contains  simply  the  words,  *'  Car 
boHck  assid.'* 

Another  contains  the  cabalistic  words,  ''  Surep  epcak." 

No  one  except  a  druggist  would  know  that  the  person  who 
wrote  for ' '  perovd  bark  and  alius ' '  wanted  Peruvian  bark  and  aloes . . 

The  person  who  wrote  for  *'  one  ounce  of  grose  of  suppliment ' ' 
wanted  corrosive  sublimate,  no  doubt. 

A  person  with  a  weak  back  writes  for  a ''  Bourous  Plaster." 

A  <*  shamie  leather  skin  "  is  called  for  by  a  person  who  wants 
a  chamois  skin. 

''  Bickrement  of  potash,"  which  is  called  for  in  one  note,  pro- 
bably means  bichromate  of  potash. 

In  another  note,  bichromate  of  potash  is  tortured  into,  *'  prock 
mate  of  potash." 

''  Bludroot "  and  **  liqurash  "  are  called  for  in  another  note. 

Some  persons  wrote  for  '^annff  yellow  to  culler  to  bbls.  of 
cotton  rags." 

Opodeldoc  is  spelled  <*  oberdelduck"  in  one  note,  and  in 
another  seidlitz  powders  come  in  for  the  following :  '*  Sutlife. 
powders.' 


»» 


710  OBITUABY.  Bemw.K*r.i;ia8L 


li  was  a  very  carefol  peracm  who  wrote  magnesia  thus: 
«<  Ifag-ne-cia.'* 

An  ounce  of  "  read  percipitj  "  is  called  for  in  another  note. 

"  Corgal  for  a  baby  "  ia  aalDsd  for  in  one  note,  and  two  omiees 
**  Gamfur  "  in  another. 

The  simple  word  "  Amicky  "  stands  oat  solitary  and  alone  on 
a  small  scrap  of  paper.  It  cannot  be  taken  for  anything  in  the 
dmg  line  except  arnica. 

Here  is  one  that  "  takes  the  cake/*  as  the  boy  says:  "Keyaa 
pepper.  Gam  fore»  Lod  nom,  Bhen  bub.  Pepper  mint.'* 

Dail^  News  f  Ann-Aibor,  Mich.) 

BRITISH  HOMCEOPATHIC  SOCIETY. 

The  next  meeting  of  this  Society  will  be  held  on  Thnrsday  next^ 
the  8rd  inst.,  when  a  paper  will  be  read  by  Mr.  Deane  Batcher, 
of  Beading. 

OBITUARY. 

DAVm  BRAINERD  DALZIELL,  M.D. 

We  deeply  regret  to  annoonce  the  sadden  death,  on  the  11& 
nit.,  of  Dr.  Dalziell,  of  Malvern.  He  was  actively  engaged  in  the 
daties  of  his  profession  on  the  10th.  On  the  morning  of  the 
11th,  he  was  sammoned  to  a  patient  at  five  o'clock.  Not  feding 
well,  he  sent  some  medicine,  and  ordered  a  carriage  to  come 
roond  at  half-past  six.  When  preparing  to  go,  he  was  seised 
with  a  spasmodic  pain  in  the  region  of  the  heart,  and  compelled 
to  lie  down  again.  He  requested  Mr.  Croker,  of  Malvern  Link, 
to  see  his  patient  for  him,  and  to  report  the  condition  soon  after 
nine,  when  he  hoped  to  be  able  to  visit  her  himself.  At  nine 
o'clock,  however,  the  pain  retnmed,  and  death  followed  almost 
immediately.  For  many  years  Dr.  Dalziell  has  been  folly  aware 
that  he  had  valvular  disease  of  the  heart.  It  was,  we  beheve, 
the  relief  he  got  years  ago  from  homoeopathic  treatment 
that  indaced  him  to  study  and  practise  our  method,  of  which 
he  was  ever  a  thorough  though  unobtrusive  advocate.  Dr« 
Dalziell  was  a  member  of  an  old  Scotch  fomily,  and  owned 
an  estate  called  Glenae,  in  Lanarkshire,  we  think.  He  gradu- 
ated at  Marischal  GoUege,  Aberdeen,  in  1858,  and  subsequently 
resided  for  short  periods  at  Warminster,  in  Wiltshire,  tA 
Lympley  Stoke,  near  Bath,  and  at  Buxton,  ehiefly,  we  believe, 
in  search  of  health.  In  1867  he  settled  at  Malvern,  a  loealitj 
which,  in  spite  of  its  hills  putting  undue  stress  upon  the  heart, 
he  found  to  suit  him  better  than  any  other.  There  he  has 
since  resided,  ezgoying  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  as 
•ever  increasing  circle  of  patients  and  friends. 


it^^rrSSS^  OBITUABT.  711 


'^BLenerWt  Nor*  1, 18M. 


In  the  course  of  a  wanxily  appreciative  notice  of  onr  departed 
<K>]leagae,  the  editor  of  the  Malvern  Advertiser  writes  as 
follows :  '*  It  is  bejond  oar  sphere  to  discuss  Dr.  Dalziell's 
merits  as  a  medical  man ;  but  we  may  make  a  passing  note, 
that  no  one  ever  engaged  in  the  important  work  of  a  physi- 
cian, who  used  his  skill  and  knowledge  more  lavishly  for  his 
I)atient's  wefd  and  with  less  regard  for  self-aggrandisement. 
It  is  well  known  that  Dr.  Ddziell's  practice  had  latterly 
^eatly  increased,  but  the  proportion  of  his  gratuitous  services 
more  than  kept  pace  with  his  growing  repute  and  engage- 
ments. To  the  poor  his  advice  and  time  were  as  cheerfully 
|[iven  as  to  his  wealthiest  patients,  and  he  had  the  happy 
art  of  conferring  a  favour  so  delicately  that  the  recipient  was 
never  made  to  feel  the  obligation.  Dr.  Dalziell  was,  however, 
less  known  as  a  skilful  physician  than  as  a  man  of  the  most 
active  sympathy  with  all  the  great  religious  and  benevolent 
agencies  of  the  day.  Eminently  religions,  he  was  free  from  party 
spirit  and  denominational  exclusiveness.  We  suppose  he  was  a 
Nonconformist,  but  he  as  heartily  co-operated  wiUi  churchmen 
as  with  dissenters  in  any  movement  that  commended  itself  to  his 
judgment ;  and  in  the  advocacy  of  any  cause  it  was  enough  for 
him  that  ^e  work  was  good  to  secure  his  help." 


T.  HALE  TUDGE,  M.D.,  M.R.C.S.,  Eng. 

Fbom  the  same  cause,  and,  we  believe,  with  parallel  suddenness, 
occurred  a  few  weeks  ago  the  death  of  Dr.  Tudge,  of  Yeovil,  in 
Somersetshire.  He  was  an  active  and  useful  member  of  the 
profession,  and  much  respected  in  the  district  in  which  he  lived 
and  laboured. 

We  have  been  requested  to  state  that  a  memoir  of  our 
deceased  colleague  will  bo  published  early  next  month  by 
Dr.  Kiddle,  of  Bristol. 


H.  BOBEBTSON,  Esq. 

We  have  also  been  informed  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Bobertson,  of 
Shrewsbury,  in  the  75th  year  of  his  age.  Mr.  Bobertson  was 
well-known  in  London  thirty  or  forty  years  ago  as  the  assistant 
and  friend  of  the  late  Dr.  Hering,  with  whom  he  remained  untlL 
he  retired  from  practice.  Mr.  Bobertson  then  removed  to 
Birmingham,  where  he  was  connected  with  the  Homoeopathic 
Hospital.  About  ten  years  ago  he  settled  in  Shrewsbury,  where 
he  died  on  the  14tii  ult.  Besides  being  a  well-informed 
practitioner,  Mr.  Bobertson  was  possessed  of  highly  cultivated 
literary  tastes.  He  was  one  of  the  most  learned  Shakespearian 
scholars  of  the  day. 


712  COBBESPOIiDENCE.         '^^ 


B0fiev,ir<iT.l,lflBL 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


HAHNEMANN  PUBLISHING  SOCIETY. 

Gentlemen, — ^If  it  will  save  trouble  to  the  physicuuis  who  are 
engaged  on  the  Hahnemann  Materia  Mediea,  my  MSS.  of 
poisonings  extracted  from  the  allopathic  journals  are  at  their 
service. 

Yonrs, 

W.  Bebbidgk. 


NOTICES   TO   CORRESPONDENTS. 


^\  We  cannot  undertake  to  return  rejected  manuseripte. 

Contribators  and  Cozrespondentfl  are  leqneeted  to  notice  the  aUeratkn- 
in  the  address  of  one  of  the  Editors  of  this  Betnew. 

Gommnnications,  &e.,  hare  been  zeeeived  from  Dr.  Bqanara,  Dr. 
BzBBmoE,  Capt.  Matoock,  Miss  Rosa  Apams,  Mr.  Gboss  (London); 
Dr.  Kbnnxdt  (Blackheath) ;  Dr.  WnxuMS  (Clifton);  Dr.  Bates,  Dr. 
Hughes  (Brighton) ;  Dr.  EmnuB  (Bristol) ;  Dr.  WauiACS  (Parsonstovn). 


BOOKS  RECEIVED. 


'  Notes  on  Coneumption,    By  S.  Moznsson,  M.D.,  London.  HomcBopathie- 
Pnblishing  Company. 

British  Journal  of  Homaopathy, 

Homaopathie  World, 

Chemist  and  Druggist. 

Student's  Journal, 

Monthly  Magazine  of  Pharmacy. 

North  American  Journal  of  Homaopathy.    New  York. 

The  New  York  Medical  Times.    New  Tork. 

The  New  England  Medical  Gazette,    Boston. 

The  Hahnemannian  Monthly,    Philadelphia. 

The  United  States  Medical  Investigator,    Chicago. 

The  Medical  Advance.    Cincinnati. 

Weekly  Counsellor, 

BihUotJ^que  Homceopathique, 

VArt  Midieal. 

Revue  Homceopathique  Beige. 

AUgemeine  Horn.  Zeitung, 

El  Criteria  Medico. 


Papers,  Dispensary  Beports,  and  Books  for  Beview  to  be  sent  to 
Dr.  Pope,  21,  Henrietta  Street,  Cavendish  Square,  W.,  or  to  Dr.  D.  Dxci 
Bbown,  29,  Seymour  Street,  Portman  Square,  W.  Advertisements  and 
Business  Commimications  to  be  sent  to  Messrs.  E.  Goxju>  A  Bott 
59,  Moorgate  Street,  E.C. 


h^SS!'uS^  HOM(BOPATHY  A  METHOD.  71S 


THE    MONTHLY 


HOMOEOPATHIC    REYIEW- 


HOMCEOPATHY  A  DISTINCTrVE  METHOD. 

Thirty  years  ago  the  virulent  bigotry  of  a  profession, 
chiefly  remarkable  for  its  crass  ignorance  of  the  subject 
under  discussion,  decided  that  homceopathy  was  not  a 
system  entitled  to  any  consideration,  and  that  its  mere 
existence  would  be  one  of  short  duration.    At  the  present 
time  we  find  men,  whose  names  are  a  tower  of  strength, 
and  who  in  intellectual  capacity  are  certainly  not  inferior  to 
the  grave  and  potent  Dr.  Sangrados  of  the  past,  openly 
announcing  that  they  can  find  no  reason  why  homoeopaths 
should  not  be  treated  as  honourable  men,  and  as  men  fully 
entitled  to  all  the  privileges  of  their  profession.    There  has 
been  latterly  evinced  a  more  kindly  spirit  of  tolerance  and 
less  of  a  disposition  to  regard  as  Pariahs  those  who  stand 
openly  pledged  to  the  method  of  Hahnemann. 

In  those  days  of  bitter  ignorance  homoeopathy  was 
regarded  as  a  system  fit  only  to  be  held  up  to  ridicule,  the 
milder  of  its  opponents  denouncing  it  as  a  mistaken  system, 
whilst  others  did  not  scruple  to  blacken  the  characters  and 
asperse  the  reputations  of  its  practitioners.  The  march  of 
time,  and  possibly  also  the  spread  of  enlightenment,  have 
done  much  to  tone  down  the  angularity  of  professional 

No.  12,  Yo].  35.  8  a 


714  HOMGSOPATHT  A  HBTHOD.    ^''^SL 


Sefi0V,D«e.  1,  U81 


opposition.    The  empirical  use  of  many  of  onr  remedies  by 
allopaths  has  paved  the  way  for  the  admission  that  after  all 
there  really  may  be  some  truth  in  the  doctrines  of  homoeo- 
pathy.    We  can  quite  understand  that  men,  having  read 
only  those  descriptions  of  homodopathy,  hardly  deserving 
the  name  of  caricatures,  written  hy  ignorant  popularity- 
hunting  mongers,  anxious  to  pose  as  self-appointed  execu- 
tioners of  what  they  were  pleased  to  term  an  expiring 
quackeiy,  should  imbibe  such  feelings  as  to  effectually 
prevent  them  from  giving  serious  thought  or  enquiry  to  the 
subject.     But  the  last  three  or  four  years  have  changed  all 
this ;  the  cry  is  no  longer  quackery,  hut  we  are  told  by  snch 
of  our  medical  brethren  as  address  us  or  the  public  on  the 
Buhject,  that  there    is    really  no  difference  now-a-days 
between  us  ;  that  there  are  no  real  homoeopaths  left ;  and 
that  those  who  remain  only  use  the  name  as  a  means  or 
fulcrum  to  lever  money  out  of  the  purses  of  a  credulous 
plutocracy.   They  point  to  the  fact  that  many  remedies  are 
used  in  common  by  both  sections  of  the  profession  as  a 
powerful  proof  that  we,  the    homodopaths,   are    n^idly 
deserting  our  colours  and  trooping  over  to  the  enemy.   They 
utterly  ignore  the  numerous  indications  in  contemporaiy 
medical  literature  and  practice,  that  the  doctrine  "  similia 
similibus  curantur  "  is  permeating  the  schools,  and  mould- 
ing the  daily  practice  of  many  of  the  younger  generation  of 
practitioners.    Or  if  perchance  some  notorious  instance  is 
forcibly  thrust  upon  their  notice,  they  spend  considerable 
time  and  display  ingenuity  worthy  of   a  better  cause, 
in  demonstrating  "  that  things  are  not  what  they  seem/* 
and  that  "  similia  similibus  curantur  "  is  just ''  contraria 
contrariis  curantur  "  in  a  new  garb  suited  to  the  needs  of 
the  age. 

In  the  face  of  tendencies  of  this  nature  it  is  incumbent 
on  us,  and  all  who  own  homoeopathy  as  a  great  medical 


ISSS^SnTSSiI^  HOMOBOPATHT  A  BCETHO0.  715 

iruthy  to  lay  down  dearly  and  incontrovertibly  the  fact  tbat 
homoBopathy  is  a  distinctiYe  method. 

This  is  all  the  more  neoessary,  because  latterly  there  has 
arisen  a  class  of  men,  leaders  in  modem  therapeutics,  who 
resemble  in  many  ways  that  modem  outcome  or  appendage 
of  the  stage,  the  adapter  from  the  French,  save  that  the 
latter  always  acknowledges  the  source  of  his  productions. 
Their  manuals  of  therapeutics  teem  with  instances  of  drugs 
and  methods  imblushingly  filched  without  acknowledgment 
from  homoeopathic  sources.  *^  First  find  your  medicine  in 
a  homoeopathic  author,  and  then  discover  it  in  the  medical 
^ress,"  seems  to  be  their  motto. 

Many  persons  accuse  us  now-a-days  of  taking  up  a  sec- 
tarian position.  No  one,  knowing  the  contumely  attaching 
to  the  word  homoeopath,  would  imagine  that  the  word  was 
adopted  from  choice  as  a  designation  for  those  who  hold  our 
views.  It  was  forced  on  us,  by  that  same  medical  trades 
unionism  and  Boycotting  which  has  hitherto  characterised 
the  old  school  in  its  relations  with  the  followers  of  Hahne- 
mann. We  retain  it  now,  as  a  protest  against  those  who, 
while  willing  to  adopt  our  method  and  to  reap  all  the 
personal  benefit  they  can,  are  still  unwilling  to  publicly 
declare  their  faith  in  the  doctrine  of  similars.  We  do  not 
j>ro-fess  homoeopathy,  but  con-fess  it,  as  a  new  gospel  in 
medicine. 

The  time  is  fast  passing  by  when  it  was  necessary  to 
refute  the  ridiculous  ideas  prevalent  about  our  practice,  but 
none  the  less  must  we  openly  and  firmly  maintain  the 
essence  of  homoeopathy.  That  the  recognition  of  the  trath 
of  Samubl  Hahnemann's  discovery  must  come,  and  that  in 
the  near  future,  is  patent  to  all  who  feel  the  pulse  of  pro- 
fessional opinion.  There  are  still  left  some  old  world  fogies, 
who  will  not  trust  themselves  in  the  perilous  wake  of  a 
locomotive,  preferring  a  pair  of  post  horses  to  the  Flying 

8  JL— 2 


716  HOMiEOPATHY  A  METHOD.    ^^SSSr^Sn^MfflT 

Datchman ;  but  their  existence  matters  but  little  to  the 
iron  horse,  and  when  they  are  dead  and  gone,  men,  if  they 
ever  remember  them,  will  only  smile  at  their  folly.  So  with 
those  who  persist  in  casting  nntmthfdl  and  nnreasoning^ 
aspersions  in  the  path  of  the  advancing  dawn  of  progress  in 
scientific  medicine. 

Thirty  years  ago,  had  Sidnet  Binoeb  dared  to  promul- 
gate the  idea  that  ipecacuanha  in  small  doses  wonld  control 
Tomiting,  he  wonld  have  been  regarded  either  as  a  Innatic 
or  a  homoBopath. 

That  homoeopathy  is  a  distinctive  method  is  amply 
testified  to  by  the  &ct,  that  the  major  part  of  the  dis- 
coveries in  modem  medicine  owe  their  inspiration  (if 
nothing  more)  to  homoBopathic  sources.  Who  that  believes 
in  contraria  contrariis  curantur  would  ever  have  advocated 
the  use  of  small,  aye  infinitesimal  doses,  of  stUpJude  of 
calcium  in  suppurating  glands  of  the  neck  and  elsewhere? 
What  was  the  law  used  in  the  selection  of  small — ^yes,  one 
drop  doses  of  belladonna,  in  nocturnal  enuresis  of  children? 
In  what  allopathic  author  do  we  find  the  use  of  chamonMla 
in  teething  ?  And  how  is  the  use  of  arsenic  in  minute 
doses  for  the  cure  of  certain  skin  diseases,  to  be  accounted 
for  if  not  on  the  ground  that  in  similia  simUibus  curantur 
we  have  a  certain  and  scientific  method  of  drug  selection  ? 

And  these,  forsooth,  are  some  of  the  reasons  why  we  are 
informed  that  homoeopathy  has  ceased  to  be  a  distinctive 
method.  As  well  might  we  accuse  the  French  author  of 
want  of  originality,  because  some  of  his  work  is  recognisable 
in  England  under  another  name.  Turn  we  then  from  these 
eminent  therapeutic  adapters  to  a  class  of  men,  rapidly 
increasing,  who  admit  homoeopathy  to  be  true,  and  employ 
it,  more  or  less  exclusively,  as  a  method  of  therapeutic 
selection,  but  through  some  occult  train  of  reasoning  are 
afraid  to  confess  it  openly.    We  recently  heard  of  one  of 


E^^fDS^rSJ^    HOMOEOPATHY  A  METHOD.  717 

these  ciypto-homoBopaths  who  considered  that  he]  could  do 
more  good  for  homoeopathy  by  this  course  of  procedure 
than  by  admitting  openly  the  truth  of  its  doctrines.  It  is 
just  possible  that  he  may  be  doing  more  good  to  his  patients 
than  formerly,  and  it  is  probable  that  he  is  doing  more 
good  to  his  own  reputation  as  a  therapeutist,  but  we  foil  to 
discern  wherein  lies  the  benefit  to  the  cause  of  scientific 
homoeopathy.  Such  men,  if  they  ever  discoyer  anything  at 
all  of  benefit,  are  obliged  to  lock  it  up  in  their  own  bosoms, 
or  at  best  to  confide  it  to  some  sympathising  fellow- 
Nicodemus.  These  men  should  recognise  the  fact  that  by 
their  practice  they  are  aiding  the  spread  of  that  new  catch, 
word,  ''  that  there  are  no  homoeopaths  left;,  that  there  is 
really  no  difference  between  the  two  methods."  If  the 
public  were  able  to  recognise  the  homoeopathic  truth  under 
the  questionable  guise  in  which  these  crypto-homoeopaths 
clothe  it,  the  evil  might  be  lessened,  or  possibly  eyen 
changed  into  a  benefit. 

The  distinctiye  term  of  '^  homoeopath,"  has  been  rendered 
necessary  in  the  past  by  prejudice  and  professional 
malignity ;  there  are  other  reasons  now  for  its  temporary 
continuance.  We  fully  recognise  that  the  time  is  coming 
when  there  will  no  longer  be  need  of  it,  but  until  that  time 
arriyes  we  must  retain  it  in  order  to  keep  the  doctrine  of 
homoeopathy  before  the  profession. 

Not  until  homoeopathy  is  recoguided  as  a  distinctiye 
method  by  the  profession  at  large,  is  discussed  in  a  spirit 
ef  enquiry  in  medical  societies,  represented  in  our  hospitals 
and  asylums,-  and  taught  in  our  medical  schools,  will  the 
necessity  for  the  terms  "  homoeopathy,"  "  homoeopathic," 
and  "  homoeopathist "  be  remoyed. 

As  homoeopaths,  it  is  our  duty  manfully  to  maintain  the 
integrity  of  our  doctrines,  to  show  that  the  line  of  demar* 
■cation  between  the  two  doctrines  is  as  sharp  as  oyer,  and 


718  HOMCEOPATHY  A  METHOD.  "S^^52f?^ 


Seriefv,  Dee.  1«  tBBl. 


that  allopathy  and  homoeopathy  are  not  assimilating  as 
many  would  hare  ns  believe.  Any  attempt  at  compromise,, 
any  hashing  np  of  truth  nnder  another  name,  must  be 
rejected,  as  it  will  but  reopen  the  bitter  strife  which  has  so- 
long  raged. 

We  are  witnesses  of  the  truth  in  medicine;  a  truth, 
which,  without  witnesses,  would  be  burked  unscrupulously 
or  '*  adapted  "  more  or  less  imperfectly,  and  appropriated 
by  some  imitator  of  Br.  RmGEB. 

The  same  conditions  which  have  brought  about  the  use 
of  the  word  homoeopathist  have  compelled  into  existence 
the  London  School  of  Homoeopathy,  an  institution,  by  the 
way,  which  at  the  present  time  is  more  flourishing  than 
ever.  We  know  of  one  school  in  London  which  might 
with  truth  assume  the  title  of  the  London  School  of 
Empiricism,  but  until  homoeopathy  as  a  distinctiYe  method 
is  taught  and  recognised  by  the  examining  bodies  and 
schools  we  must  continue  to  promulgate  its  practice  through 
the  instrumentality  of  the  school.  It  is  a  matter  for  con- 
gratulation that  its  usefulness  is  rapidly  increasing,  together 
with  the  number  of  those  who  attend  its  lectures. 

A  sectarian  title  is  also  forced  on  all  our  literature  by 
the  rigorous  policy  of  exclusiveness  which  has  always 
characterised  the  medical  press.  In  this  age  of  freedom 
of  the  press  it  seems  almost  ridiculous  to  think  that 
for  all  these  years  no  discussion  of  homoeopathy  has 
been  permitted ;  rarely  have  letters  concerning  it  been 
inserted ;  and  even  advertisements  of  homoeopathic  works 
are  uniformly  excluded  by  the  organs  of  the  most  liberal 
profession  in  the  world  !  But  it  is  true,  nevertheless,  and 
this  it  is  that  has  forced  homoeopaths  to  start  and  carry  on 
societies,  monthly  and  quarterly  magazines,  and  even 
publishing  societies  for  the  spread  of  the  doctrines  of 
Hahnsicakn.     The  distinctive  title  of  homoeopathic  cannot- 


SS^^iSTS^   PODSITB  OF  BBSBMBLANCB.  719 

be  erased  £rom  all  these  until  liberty,  equality,  and  frater- 
nity take  the  place  of  ridicnle  and  exclusion.  Signs  of 
the  times  are  not  wanting  to  show  ns  that  the  dawn  is 
breaking.  But  let  us  not  be  deceived  by  any  show  of 
compromise,  which  as  a  first  condition  requires  the  abjuring 
of  the  word  homoBopathy.  These  efforts  bear  as  much 
relation  to  the  noonday  sun  of  truth  and  honesty  as  a  sky- 
rocket ;  they  go  up  with  a  roar  and  a  flourish  of  sparks, 
describe  a  brief  arc  in  the  heavens  of  popularity,  come  down 
like  a  stick,  leaving  no  trace  behind,  and  making  no  perma- 
nent impression  on  the  Cimmerian  darkness  of  intolerance. 

A  KEVIEW  OF  THE  CHIEF  POINTS  OF  RESEM- 
BLANCE  IN  THE  PHYSIOLOGICAL  ACTION  AND 
THERAPEUTIC  USES  OF  ACONITE,  BELLA- 
DONNA, OPIUM,  HYOSCYAMUS,  STRAMONIUM, 
GELSEMIUM,  CONIUM,  CANNABIS  IND.  AND 
SAT.,  AOARICUS,  AND  GLONOIN* 

By  Alfbbd  C.  Pope,  M.D., 

Lecturer  on  Ifateria  Medics  at  the  London  School  of  HomoBOpathy. 

During  the  last  few  weeks  of  this  session,  I  have  drawn 
your  attention  to  the  physiological  action  and  therapeutic 
uses  of  aconite,  belladonna,  opium,  hyoscyamvs,  stramo- 
nium, cannabis  indica  and  sativa,  gelsemium,  conium, 
agaricus,  and  glonoin,  substances  the  chief  sphere  of  whose 
action  is  on  the  cerebro-spinal  system. 

In  the  instance  of  aconite  and  glonoin,  the  circulation  is 
directly  disturbed  before  the  effects  of  disordered  nerve 
fanction  become  apparent;  but  in  the  remainder,  either 
the  brain  or  spinal  cord  is,  as  I  have  shown  you,  primarily 
affected. 

Such  being  the  case,  the  disturbances  created  by  each 
are  more  or  less  alike,  and  consequently  all  are  indicated 
as  remedies  in  yery  much  the  same  forms  of  disease.  But, 
as  I  have  frequenUy  insisted,  it  is  nevertheless  a  matter  of 

*  A  Lecture  deliTezei  at  tie  London  Ecbool  of  Homoeopatby, 
N^Tembor  Uth,  1881. 


720  POIKTS  OF  BEBEIIBLAHOE.       i5£r7SS!'3uMS 


eonsidenible  importanoe  whidi  yoa  prescribe  in  a  gi^fea 
instance.  As  we  have  gone  along,  I  have  endeaToored  to 
point  out  the  circnmstanoes  wliich  should  guide  yon  in  your 
selection,  in  yonr  preference  for  one  or  other.  It  is  for 
cases  that  yon  have  ultimately  to  prescribe,  rather  than  for 
diseases.  The  differences  betireen  both  diseases  and  medi- 
cines are  caressed  by  the  symptoms.  Hence  it  is  of  the 
utmost  importance  that  you  should  have  a  clear  conception 
of  the  different  modes  in  which  these  drugs  show  their 
analogy  to  diseases  which  are  nosologically  the  same. 

I  have  thought  that  by  reviewing  the  morbid  states  which 
these  remedies  simulate  in  their  action  upon  the  healthy 
body  together,  I  might  perhaps  make  diese  differentia 
clearer  to  you,  and  impress  them  more  emphatically  upon 
your  memories. 

In  carrying  out  my  purpose,  I  shall  first  bring  before 
you  the  febrile  conditions  reflected. 

Of  the  twelve  remedies  we  have  to  consider,  only  fonr 
can  be  said  to  excite  anything  of  a  febrile  state ;  these  are 
aconitey  belladonna,  hyoscyamus  and  gelsemium,  while  of 
these  aconite  alone  produces  a  thoroughly  well  marked 
sthenic  pyrexia.  That  to  which  belladonna  gives  rise  is 
much  less  active,  and  more  purely  sympathetic  than  is  that 
of  aconite ;  while  the  febrile  excitement  of  hyoscyamuXy 
though  Uke  that  of  belladonna^  is  less  pronounced — so 
much  less  so,  indeed,  that  the  phenomena  marking  it  are 
almost  too  transient  to  allow  of  our  speaking  of  them  as 
fever.  One  of  the  chief  distinctions  between  a  belladonna 
poisoning  and  one  produced  hy  hyoscyamus,  is  that  with  the 
former  febrile  excitement  is  fairly  developed,  with  the  latter 
it  is  but  very  slightly  expressed.  The  fever  produced  by 
gelsemium,  again,  is  not  sthenic  and  continuous,  neither 
is  it  truly  sympathetic,  but  distinctly  remittent  in  its  type. 

To  carry  our  distinctions  a  step  further — ^the  fever  of 
aconite  is  well  marked  in  all  its  stages.  The  chill  and 
rigors  are  unmistakable,  the  skin  is  hot  and  dry,  the  thirst 
is  great,  pulse  quick  and  hard,  and  the  process  terminates 
in  perspiration.  Another  marked  feature  in  the  action  of 
aconite  here,  is  the  great  restlessness  it  gives  rise  to,  the 
tossing  to  and  £ro,  and  at  the  same  time  the  great  anxiety 
and  impatience  which  are  present.  Moreover,  evidence  is 
generally  found  in  a  slight  degree  of  the  inflammatory 
process  having  been  set  agoing  in  some  ^rgan  or  tissue. 


lt!^^STS^  JOINTS  OF  BBBBMBLANCB.  721 

Compare  this  state  with  the  fever  of  belladonnay  and  we 
find  that  in  the  latter,  the  chill  and  rigors,  instead  of  being 
-severe,  are  quite  the  reverse ;  they  are  comparatively  slight 
but  the  heat  is  very  great ;  thirst  is  much  less  marked  than 
in  the  fever  of  aconite^  and  the  sweating  which  follows  is 
but  slight.  Neither  do  we  find  the  restlessness,  impatience, 
and  anxiety  which  we  meet  with  in  cases  where  aconite  is 
useful.  The  nervous  excitement  is  altogether  of  a  different 
type,  and  tends  rather  to  delirium. 

In  hyoscyamns,  again,  the  slight  fever  which  it  produces 
is  chiefly  marked  by  the  profuse  sweating  which  succeeds  a 
iaiat  chill,  followed  by  a  slight  increase  of  heat. 

Gelsemium,  as  I  have  already  observed,  differs  entirely 
from  the  previous  three  drugs  in  the  kind  of  fever  it  pro- 
duces— this  being  essentially  one  of  a  remittent  character. 
The  initiatory  chill  is  considerable,  and  is  followed  by  heat, 
or  rather  flushes  of  heat,  with  prickings  in  the  skin,  and 
this  again  by  profuse  perspiration  with  great  prostration. 

We  have,  then,  in  these  drugs,  illustrations  of  fully 
^developed  sthenic  fever,  such  as  ushers  in  most  inflamma- 
tions of  internal  organs ;  of  the  sympathetic  fever  accom- 
panying some  congestions — ^well  defined  in  its  character ; 
of  a  faintly  marked  fever  of  a  similar  type,  and  of  one  of 
the  many  forms  assumed  by  intermittent  or  remittent  fever. 

We  come  now  to  the  direct  influence  they  have  upon 
sleep.  This  influence  is  especially  marked  in  aconite, 
helladonna,  opium,  and  hyoscyamus. 

By  aconite,  the  sleep  is  disturbed,  light,  and  very  rest- 
less. Dreams  abound  of  an  anxious,  worrying,  and  puzzling 
character.  It  resembles  the  sleep  of  a  person  who  retires 
to  bed  somewhat  feverish  and  excited.  Its  chief  character- 
istics are  the  lightness  of  the  slumber,  and  the  restlessness 
of  the  patient.  Belladonnay  on  the  other  hand,  produces  a 
condition  in  which,  while  sleep  occurs,  it  is  frequently 
interrupted  by  sudden  startings,  the  patient  wakes  with  a 
scream,  and  in  a  fright.  There  is  not  actual  insomnia  at 
first,  but  a  disturbed,  excited  sleep,  such  as  is  often  seen  in 
teething  children  when  cerebral  congestion  is  threatening. 

In  opium,  again,  we  find  as  the  primary  effect  a  condition 
of  well  marked  insomnia,  the  symptoms  of  which  suggest 
it  in  cases  where  the  patient  feels  a  desire  to  sleep,  but 
cannot  get  any ;  he  is  not  wide  awake,  without  any  incli- 
nation for  sleep,  but  he  is  sleepy  without  being  able  to 
•obtain  any ;  getting  off  to  sleep  siter  a  time,  he  is  in  a  few 


722  POINTS  OP  BR8EMBLAN0E.  ""^^fSSTiS! 

miBntes  awoke  by  the  least  noise.  Short  naps  aie  aha 
crowded  by  dreams  of  a  more  or  less  horrible  and  alarming 
character.  When,  on  the  other  hand,  the  fall  effects  of 
opium  haye  oocoired  as  shown,  when  complete  congestion 
has  been  set  up,  the  sleep  is  hesTy  and  snoring,  the  patient 
cannot  be  aroused  saye  with  difficulty.  The  dreams  are  yet 
more  ri^id  and  firightful.  Such  a  sleep  as  this  is  genenJly 
followed  by  seyere  headache  of  a  pressive  character. 

Hyoscyamus  gives  rise  to  a  kind  of  sleep  very  much  like 
that  of  opium,  and  one,  in  some  points,  resembling  that  of 
belladonna.  The  sleep  here  is  obtained  fairly  readily,  but 
it  is  restless  and  frequently  interrupted  by  dreams  of  a- 
frightening  character,  causing  the  person  to  start.  It  is  a 
restless,  excited  sleep.  Both  opium  and  hyoscyamus  are 
often  indicated  in  the  restless,  partial  insomnia,  due  to 
excessiye  mental  activity ;  the  decision  as  to  which  is  to  be 
administered  will  depend  upon  ccmcomitant  symptoms. 
Cat.  par.  opium  will  be  more  suitable  in  persons  of  a 
somewhat  lethargic  habit,  while  hyoscyamus  is  indicated 
where  the  aptitude  for  excitement  is  greater.  Lastly, 
opium  is  required  where  the  tendency  to  sleep  heavily  is 
iiie  distinguishing  feature  of  the  case — ^where  heaviness 
and  oppression  are  conspicuous. 

Headache  is  a  prominent  symptom  of  the  pathogenesia 
of  all  the  drags  I  have  brought  before  you.  In  all  the 
pain  is  dependent  on  the  existence  of  more  or  less  cerebral 
blood  stasis.  It  varies  in  degree  of  intensity,  and  manifests 
itself  differently  in  each. 

The  headache  of  aconite  is  marked  by  a  confosed  and 
muddled  sensation,  with  heat  and  throbbing  at  the  temples. 
A  pressive  and  contractive-like  pain  in  the  upper  part  of 
the  forehead,  increased  by  light  and  noise,  is  characteristic 
of  aconite.  It  is,  in  short,  the  sort  of  headache  which 
ushers  in  a  sharp  febrile  attack  of  a  sthenic  type.  There  is 
little  or  no  delirium  with  it,  but  there  is  a  distinct,  though 
not  severely,  increased  blood  pressure  in  the  brain. 

With  belladonna,  on  the  other  hand,  the  presence  of 
congestion  is  very  decided.  There  is  a  sense  of  pressure 
over  the  entire  head,  though  it  is  mostly  felt  in  tiie  fore- 
head, and  involves  the  eyeballs,  which  are  heavy  and 
painfril.  Further,  dizziness  and  vertigo  are  especially 
prominent,  so  much  so  as  to  lead  to  staggering.  Eveiy 
movement  increases  the  pain ;  anything  but  a  dull  light  is 
unendurable.     The  closeness  of  a  room  increases  it,  while 


SSSSf  §STS^  POINTS  OP  BBSBMBLANCB.  728 

fresh  air  gives  relief.  It  is  often^  too,  attended  by  a 
flnshedy  swollen  face — a  very  characteristic  symptom  of 
beliadanna^  When  severe,  this  headache  will  be  followed 
by  a  mild  form  of  deliriam ;  the  patient  talks  irrationally, 
tries  to  get  out  of  bed,  when  it  is  necessary  for  him  to 
remain  there.  But  whether  with  or  without  delirium,  the 
belladonna  headache  is  commonly  followed  by  confusion. 

Belladonna  is  thus  par  excellence  the  remedy  in  con- 
gestive headache  of  the  type  ordinarily  met  with,  where 
tiie  circulation  is  slightly  but  not  seriously  increased.  The 
headache  produced  by  hyo9cyamu$  is  somewhat  like  that  of 
heUadonna,  but  yet  differs  from  it  in  a  few  particulars. 
The  pain,  chiefly  felt  in  the  forehead,  is  pressive  and 
stupefying,  is  felt  also  in  the  eyeballs,  and  renders  vision 
indistinct.  There  is  a  great  deal  of  vertigo  and  confusion, 
and  some  faintness,  wiUi  a  feeling  as  if  a  tight  band  were 
around  the  head.  But  there  is  not  much  heat,  little  or  no 
flushing  of  the  face — which,  on  the  contrary,  is  usually 
pale— and  little  or  no  excitement  of  the  circulation. 
Following  the  headache  is  delirium,  characterised  by 
obscene  acts  and  words,  and  in  some  instances  by  a  greater 
degree  of  violence  than  that  which  marks  the  action  of 
belladonna^ 

Cannabis  indica  gives  rise  to  a  severe  headache,  chiefly 
in  the  forehead  and  occiput.  The  pain  in  the  latter  situa- 
tion is  of  a  stunning  character,  and  gives  the  sensation  of 
something  rushing  from  the  occiput  to  the  forehead.  At 
the  same  time,  there  is  considerable  vertigo,  and  sense  of 
swimming,  aggravated  by  motion.  This,  too,  is  a  headache, 
followed  by  delirium,  with  visions  at  first  gorgeous,  and 
then  horrible  in  the  extreme. 

The  headache  of  stramonium  is  expressed  by  a  sense  of 
fulness,  as  though  the  head  would  burst,  associated  with  a 
stupid  dull  feeling,  and  producing  a  perfect  indifference  to 
anything  and  every  one  around.  This  form  of  headache 
often  terminates  in  a  weakness  of  memory.  The  headache 
which  precedes  the  delirium  so  characteristic  of  stramonium 
is  more  distinctly  of  the  congestive  type,  and  marked  by 
giddiness,  flushed  face,  a  brilliant  eye,  incoherence,  and 
unconnected  chattering. 

In  opium^  we  have  a  headache  of  the  intensely  congestive 
order.  There  is  a  feeling  as  of  a  rush  of  blood  to  the  head, 
with  vertigo,  a  sense  of  weight  and  pressure  referred  to  the 


724  POINTS  OP  BESEMBLANCE.  '"hSS^t^dS'iI^ 

forehead  and  occipat.  With  it  we  have  drowsiness,  inca- 
pacity for  grasping  even  common-place  ideas,  a  total  loss  of 
interest  in  all  that  is  going  on.  The  headache,  here  does 
not  tend  to  delirimny  but  rather  to  coma.  It  is  essentially 
the  headache  of  the  apoplectic  subject. 

Ohnoin  also  produces  a  headache  of  the  purely  con- 
gestive order.  The  seats  of  pain  are  pre-eminenUy  the 
vertex  and  the  occipnt,  where  the  pain  is  throbbing  and 
oppressive,  and  extends  thence  to  the  temples  and  forehead. 
There  is  great  heat  in  the  head,  a  flushed  face,  with  palpi- 
tation of  the  heart,  and  a  sick,  faint  feeling  is  referred  to 
the  stomach.  This  headache  is  remarkably  increased  by 
movement — shaking  of  the  head,  or  jarring  of  the  foot,  or 
noise,  f^gravate  it  greatly — but  it  is  not  associated  with 
•any  delirium. 

The  headache  of  geUemium  is  in  some  respects  like  that 
of  glonoin,  but  the  throbbing  is  much  less  intense.  The 
forehead  and  occiput  are  the  parts  chiefly  affected  by  the 
pain.  In  the  occiput  the  pain  is  throbbing,  dull,  and 
heavy,  and  there  is  at  the  same  time  a  sense  of  numbness. 
It  is  increased  by  movement,  is  worse  on  stooping  and 
towards  evening.  There  is  here,  as  when  hyoscyamus  has 
been  taken,  a  sense  of  tightness  around  the  head,  vertigo, 
with  a  tendency  to  stagger.  The  frontal  headache  is 
associated  with  indistinctness  of  vision,  and  a  loss  of  power 
in  the  orbicular  muscles.  The  pain  here  is  pressive, 
stitch-like,  and  shooting,  not  throbbing  as  in  the  occiput. 

The  headache  of  geUemium  is  not  associated  with  either 
loss  of  consciousness  or  delirium.  It  is  indeed  more  of 
the  neuralgic  type  of  headache  than  one  of  simple  con- 
gestion, like  that  of  beUadanna  or  opium. 

Agaricus  gives  rise  to  a  headache  of  the  neuralgic  type. 
Together  with  a  sense  of  confusion  and  vertigo,  we  have 
pains  in  the  head,  as  if  cold  needles  were  pricking  the  part 
affected,  pain  like  the  boring  of  a  nail  in  the  right  side  of 
the  head,  described  as  boring,  tearing,  cramp-like,  and 
sometimes  throbbing.  As  showing  still  more  clearly  the 
neuralgic  character  of  the  headache,  these  pains  are  con- 
fined to  certain  spots  in  the  head ;  they  do  not  radiate  over 
the  whole  of  it,  but  are  met  vdth  in  one  person  in  one 
part,  in  another  in  another.  Moreover,  this  headache 
is  associated  with  considerable  exhaustion,  and  also  with 
twitching  pains  in  the  muscles  of  the  extremities. 


^^fSSTSw!*'  POINTS  OF  BESBMBLANCE.  725 

Conium  also  prodaceB  a  headache  of  a  nervons  character. 
The  pain  is  described  as  pressive,  squeezing,  and  is  felt 
chiefly  at  the  top  of  the  head  and  in  the  forehead.  It  is 
most  marked  on  the  right  side  of  the  forehead,  and  when, 
as  sometimes  occurs,  it  occupies  the  occiput,  it  is  mostly 
to  the  left. 

How  markedly  the  headaches  of  these  seyeral  drugs 
differ  from  one  another  will  now  be  apparent.  To  sum- 
marise our  analysis  still  further,  I  might  add,  that  aconite 
represents  the  febrile  type  of  headache,  hyoscyamua  that  of 
a  certain  degree  of  congestion,  helladonna^  glonoin,  can- 
nobis,  and  stramonium,  represent  a  more  intense  degree  of 
the  same  condition  ;  while  in  opium  you  have  it  produced 
to  an  extent  culminating  in  coma.  In  some,  the  pain  is 
felt  throughout  the  head ;  in  others,  it  is  most  marked  in 
one  portion  of  it.  Again,  in  gelsemiwn,  agaricus,  and 
conium,  you  hare  drugs  giving  rise  to  a  headache  such  as 
is  commonly  termed  neuralgic. 

In  practice,  these  differences  are  of  the  utmost  im- 
portance; not  only  must  the  pathological  condition  be 
recognised,  but  the  manner  in  which  it  displays  itself,  and 
the  general  condition  of  health  with  which  it  is  associated. 
From  headache  we  pass  to  consider  the  variations  in  the 
character  of  the  delirium  produced  by  some  of  these  drugs. 
Those  in  which  delirium  occurs  are  belladonna,  opium, 
hyoseyamus,  cannabis  indica,  stramonium,  and  agaricus. 
Under  the  influence  of  belladonna  the  patient  is  completely 
lost  to  all  that  is  going  on  around  him ;  he  takes  not  the 
slightest  notice  of  anyone  or  anything,  unless  addressed  in 
a  loud  tone  of  voice,  and  then  he  stares  vacantly  at  the 
person  so  speaking  to  him,  and  relapses  into  his  state  of 
apathy.  During  this  state  he  is  busy  and  restless ;  is 
either  apparently  engaged  in  pursuing  his  ordinary  avoca- 
tion or  is  grasping  at  imaginary  objects ;  he  has  very  vivid 
hallucinations,  seeing  cockroaches  and  the  like.  Again, 
it  is  of  the  sort  called  '*  meddlesome;"  the  patient  picks 
at  and  handles  imaginary  objects  in  the  air,  muttering  or 
smiling  or  chattering  the  while. 

When  hyoseyamus  has  given  rise  to  delirium,  it  is  one 
which,  in  its  early  stages,  is  controlled  with  comparative 
ease.  There  is  a  good  deal  of  muttering  and  lack  of  compre- 
hension ;  to  all  questions  he  answers  simply  '*  yes  "  or 
''no."  There  is  not  the  absolute  indifference  or  uncon- 
sciousness of  belladonna ;  replies  are  made,  but  they  are 


726  POINTB  OF  BS8EMBLANCE. 


simply  ''yes"  or  ''no.*'  He  clntches  with  bis  hands 
at  imsginsry  objecte,  picks  at  the  bedclothes.  Again,  his 
movements  are  sadden,  he  strikes  ont  at  his  attendants,  or 
tries  to  Ute ;  all  is  done  rapidly,  as  if  from  some  sadden 
impolse.  He  becomes  excited,  and  talks  incessantly  on  a 
Tariety  of  absard  topics,  sings,  laughs,  and  freqaentfy  does 
or  says  obscene  things. 

In  opium  poisoning,  the  deliriam  is  marked  by  incessant 
chattering^  great  irritability  and  mach  excitement,  whidi 
is  presently  succeeded  by  deep  melancholy.  Daring  the 
irarioos  phases  of  this  deliriam,  the  person  exhibits  great 
fear ;  he  sees,  or  rather  thinks  he  sees,  ghosts,  frig^tfol 
Miiwiala  and  other  alarming  objects;  all  too  real  to  his 
frenzied  brain,  and  hence  his  temHrs,  his  restlessness,  and, 
80  fur,  his  sleeplessness. 

In  the  deliriam  of  ttramonium,  we  see  the  sense  of 
terror  very  great  indeed.  The  hallacinations  are  alarming, 
«nd  haye  a  reaUty  about  them,  impelling  the  patient  to  fi^t 
his  way  out  of  the  reach  of  his  imaginary  enemies,  thus 
leading  to  the  display  of  great  riolence.  It  is  a  delirium 
that  is  sudden  in  its  onset  and  marked  by  shouting, 
screaming,  gesticulating,  laughing,  and  immoderate  and 
incoherent  talking.  In  the  milder  form  of  the  stramonium 
delirium » the  hallucinations  are  like  those  of  opium — in- 
sects crawling,  and  so  forth.  The  excitement  is,  however, 
greater  and  more  violent  than  that  which  marks  the 
opium  delirium. 

Cannabis  indica  produces  a  delirium,  of  which  im- 
mensity is  as  good  a  definition  as  any  other.  Minutes 
appear  hours,  yards  miles.  Eveiyihing  surrounding  the 
patient  is  grand.  A  hovel  is  a  palace,  a  beggar  a 
millionaire.  On  the  other  hand,  spectres  of  the  most 
horrible  and  revolting  appearance  are  among  the  hallucina- 
tions. Moreover,  in  the  cannabis  delirium,  an  idea 
possesses  the  mind  that  the  person  has  a  double  existence 
— one  is  being  pursued,  while  the  other  is  looking  on. 

In  short,  the  delirium  of  cannabis  seems  more  like  that  of 
some  kinds  of  mania,  than  the  form  of  mental  disturbance 
met  vdth  in  acute  disease.  But  there  are  cases  of  delirium 
tremens  in  which  the  kind  of  delirium  is  very  like  that  of 
cannabis.  As  you  will  have  observed,  it  is  totally  different 
to  either  of  the  other  forms  to  which  I  have  relerred. 

In  agaricuSf  the  delusions  which  mark  its  delirium 
represent  grandeur  and  importancci  in  the  first  instance. 


itl^SSTS^  POINTS  OP  EESBBiBLANOB.  727 


The  patient  is  cheerful  and  good  hnmonred,  and  chatters 
.«  good  deal  of  incoherent  nonsense.  Thronghoat  the 
mascles  of  the  extremities  tremhle.  Presently  excitement 
increases,  and  reaches  its  highest  point  in  screaming  and 
raving — ^to  be  shortly  followed  by  confusion,  prostration, 
and  stupefaction. 

We  observe,  then,  such  leading  points  of  difference  as 
the  following  between  these  several  drugs  in  the  kind  of 
delirium  they  excite.  In  that  of  beUadotma,  the  mani- 
festations of  restless  excitement  are  passed  amid  a  state  of 
perfect  unconsciousness,  and  attended  by  some  excitement 
•of  the  circulation.  That  of  hyoBcyamua  is  accompanied  by 
little  or  no  fever,  is  noisy,  the  violence  of  the  patient  is 
manifested  suddenly.  Thiftt  of  opium  is  characterised  by 
irritability  and  fear.  That  of  ttramonium  by  intense  terror 
^and  violence  and  shouting.  That  of  cannabis  by  visions  of 
^grandeur  on  the  one  hand,  and  horror  on  the  other,  but 
without  violence.  That  of  agarievs  by  cheerfulness  at  first, 
incoherence  in  speech,  then  excitement,  and  finally  stupe- 
fjEtction. 

The  consideration  of  the  delirium  produced  by  these 
medicines  is  separated  by  but  a  narrow  line  firom  the 
condition  of  mania.  It  is,  however,  only  in  three  of  the 
half-dozen  I  have  just  referred  to  that  mania  can  safely  be 
said  to  be  one  of  the  established  effects.  These  are  beUor 
-donna^  hyoscyamus  and  stramcmium. 

The  belladonna  maniac  has  a  wild,  fierce  look,  the  eyes 
sparkling,  and  the  pupils  are  vddely  dilated  ;  the  face  is 
red  and  swollen,  the  pulse  full,  hard  and  quick.  He  is 
^quarrelsome  in  his  violence,  and  yet  exhibits  some  con- 
siderable sense  of  fear.  He  makes  sundry  efforts  to  bite 
iund  strike  those  around  him.  He  is  sleepless ;  and  also 
incoherent  in  his  talk.  The  circulation  is  always  excited, 
it  will  be  remembered,  in  cases  to  which  belladonna  is 
liomoBopathic. 

Strwmonium  produces  a  condition  resembling  mania  in 
ihe  passionate  violence  it  excites.  The  pupils  are  fixed 
and  dilated,  the  person  starts  with  great  suddenness  as  if 
in  terror,  shrieks  and  screams  and  makes  rapid  and 
-energetic  movements  in  efforts  to  carry  out  a  destructive 
purpose. 

Hyoscyamus  produces  a  kind  of  mania  of  a  totally 
different  type.    With  no  small  degree  of  violence,  in  the 


728  POINTS  OP  EESEBCBLANCB.   ^^^^^^^^ 

manifestation  of  which  considerable  canning  is  exhibited, 
the  patient  nms  about  dancing  and  grasping  at  objects  real 
and  imaginary.  He  is  quarrelsome,  and  attempts  to  bite 
and  scratch.  His  conversation,  incoherent  as  it  often  is, 
is  obscene.  There  is  little  or  no  excitement  of  the  circu- 
lation, the  face  is  pale,  the  pulse  rapid  but  small,  the 
pupils  dilated. 

The  essential  points  to  be  noted  here,  as  compared  with 
belladonna  and  stramonium^  are  the  nenre  exhaustion 
rather  than  exaltation,  which  is  typified,  associated  with  & 
comparatiyely  feeble  condition  of  the  circulation. 

I  have,  in  going  through  these  medicines,  pointed  out 
the  similarity  of  the  convulsive  movements  some  of  them 
excite  to  those  which  characterise  a  fit  of  epilepsy  or  an 
attack  of  tetanus  or  chorea. 

Belladonna,  indeed,  gives  rise  to  conditions  simulating 
all  three  disorders  in  certain  instances.  During  the  un- 
consciousness to  which  it  gives  rise,  convulsions  occur 
resembling  those  of  epilepsy.  The  Umbs  contract  spas- 
modically, and  the  face  is  swollen  and  somewhat  livid. 

Then,  without  unconsciousness,  we  find  among  the 
phenomena  of  heUadimna  poisonous  spasmodic  twitchings 
of  the  muscles  of  the  face,  and  extremities,  with  headache 
and  confusion — ^herein  resembling  chorea. 

But  beyond  the  choric  spasm  of  epilepsy  and  chorea, 
belladonna  produces  a  spasm  like  that  of  trismus ;  the  jaws 
are  rigidly  closed,  the  face  is  red  and  swollen,  the  muscles 
of  the  spine  and  the  extremities  are  rigid. 

Hyoscyamus  produces  a  convulsive  action  somewhat  like 
that  observed  in  epilepsy  and  also  in  chorea.  The  muscular 
spasms  are  scarcely  so  violent  as  are  those  produced  by 
belladonna.  The  muscles  of  the  face  twitch  and  jerk ;  there 
is  a  good  deal  of  frothing  of  the  mouth ;  and  the  spasms 
are  often  of  a  somewhat  tonic  character.  The  hands,  for 
example,  grasp  anything  that  may  happen  to  be  in  them 
with  great  force  and  rigidity  for  some  time.  The  distinction 
to  be  observed  in  deciding  between  belladonna  and  hyosey- 
amus  as  medicines  to  be  given  in  convulsions— and  both 
have  their  place  in  the  treatment  of  acute  epilepsy  or 
eclampsia^— are  to  be  found  in  the  force  of  the  convulsion, 
which  is  greater  in  belladonna  than  in  hyoscyamus,  in  the 
excitement  of  the  circulation,  which  is  also  greater  in 
beliadonna,  and  in  the  character  of  the  delirium,  the 


^^jSThtS^''    POINTS  OP  RBSBMBLANCB.  729 

difference  of  which  I  have  just  pointed  out.     In  chorea, 
hyoscyamus  is  less  often  indicated  than  is  heUadonna. 

The  convnlsions  which  mark  a  case  of  stramonium 
poisoning  resemhie  those  of  one  of  chorea  more  than 
either  of  the  drags  nnder  consideration,  except  agaricus^ 
with  which  I  will  compare  it. 

The  chorea-like  spasm  of  siramonium  comes  on  suddenly, 
jnst  as  does  the  delirium  it  excites.  The  jerking  move- 
ments are  rapid  and  frequent,  and  proceed  from  muscles  in 
all  parts  of  the  body — fjace,  mouth,  back,  shoulders,  and. 
extremities;  the  tongue  is  also  affected,  and  suddenly 
jerked  forward  now  and  again ;  curious  noises  are  fre- 
quently made. 

In  agarieuSf  these  t¥dtchings  are  mostly  remarked  in 
the  face  and  extremities ;  the  cerebral  symptoms  noted  as 
occurring  in  ttramonivm  are  not  present,  but  simply 
twitching  and  jerking  of  different  groups  of  muscles,  now 
in  one  limb,  now  in  another.  But  at  the  same  time  there 
is  considerable  nervous  exhaustion.  In  siramonium  casea 
there  is  excitement,  in  those  indicating  aga/ricvs  nervous 
depression. 

Stramonium  is  usefrd  almost  exclusively  in  recent  cases* 
Agaricus  in  such  as  are  more  or  less  free  from  cerebral 
excitement. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  aconite  produces  a  tetanic- 
like  state,  to  a  limited  extent  at  any  rate,  a  degree  indi-- 
cating  its  utility  in  tetanic  states  which  have  been  excited 
by  cold. 

The  cerebral  apoplectic  state  is  the  result  of  poisoning  by 
heUadonna^  opium^  hyoscyamus,  and  gUmoin. 

The  symptoms  of  apoplexy  which  call  for  opium  may  be 
summarised  as  follows : — the  patient  is  comatose  and 
snoring,  his  face  swollen  and  bloated-looking,  red  or  livid 
in  colour,  the  pupils  are  contracted  and  insensible  to  light, 
the  breathing  is  stertorous,  the  surface  cold,  and  the 
pulse  full,  and  heavy,  and  slow,  or  quick,  small  and  feeble. 
In  proportion  as  the  coma  is  great,  the  pupils  contracted 
and  insensible,  is  opium  indicated  here. 

In  belladonna  poisoning  there  is  coma,  but  scarcely  sO' 
heavy  and  complete  as  in  that  from  opium*  The  eyes  are 
closed,  the  pupils  dilated,  the  jaws  fixed,  the  hands  and 
feet  cold,  the  pulse  hardly  perceptible,  the  respiration 
heavy  and  stertorous.  So  &r  the  distinction  to  be  drawn 
between  the  indieationB  for  opium  and  beUadonna  appear 
No.  19,  Yd.  85.  Ba 


780  POINTS  OF  EE8BMBLANCB.    *%SL^te??S" 


Btriew,  Bw.  1»  ISBI. 


&int,  and  are  to  be  gathered  rather  from  other  symptoiiui 
than  those  which  directly  refer  to  the  brain.  The  patient 
in  whom  belladonna  is  the  best  remedy  is  a  more  excitable 
person.  He  is  nsaally  yonnger. .  The  attack  is  the  reanlt 
of  a  more  acnte  congestion  of  the  cerebral  yessels.  In 
cases  calling  for  opium  the  stupor  is  more  complete. 
There  haye  been  premonitory  symptoms  of  the  approach  of 
the  attack  for  a  greater  length  of  time,  and  the  patient  is  of 
a  more  plethoric  habit. 

In  cases  where  yon  will  be  called  npon  to  prescribe 
hyoBcyamus,  the  apoplectic  symptoms  are  those  which  are 
dne  rather  to  the  complete  rupture  of  new  fibres  that  haye 
for  some  time  been  gradually  disintegrating.  The  patient 
is  unconscious ;  the  pulse  is  small,  thready,  and  rapid ; 
the  respiration  is  stertorous  and  difficult,  but  this  rather 
from  spasm  of  the  pectoral  muscle  than  from  cerebral  blood 
stasis;  the  body  is  cold,  and  there  is  a  good  deal  of 
muscular  rigidity ;  the  pupils  are  dilated,  and  their  con- 
junctiya  injected. 

The  apoplexy  in  which  glonoin  should  be  giyen  is  one 
where  the  blood  stasis,  which  has  occurred  in  the  brain,  is 
contingent  upon  an  hypertrophied  heart.  The  suddenness 
of  the  attack  and  the  yiolence  of  the  heart's  action  will 
direct  you  to  the  choice  of  this  medicine  in  preference  to 
others. 

Belladonna  and  opium  are  indicated  in  apoplexies  depen- 
dent upon  direct  cerebral  congestion  ;  hyoscyamus  when 
the  apoplectic  condition  is  traceable  to  ramoUissement 
cerebri ;  and  glonoin  when  an  hypertrophied  heart  is  the 
main  source  of  the  apoplectic  condition. 

In  paralysis,  the  result  whether  of  a  distinct  apoplexy 
or  that  which  follows  a  ramoUiesement  cerebri^  there  does 
not  seem  to  be  much  scope  for  medicinal  action  in  promot- 
ing recoyery  of  power.  Neyertheless,  the  irritation  in  the 
injured  part,  which,  if  unsubdued,  tends  to  keep  up  the 
paresis,  may  unquestionably  be  held  in  check  by  appropriate 
remedies.    Of  such  we  haye  considered  two  or  three. 

Belladonna  is  the  most  useful  when  headaches  of  the 
type  I  haye  already  described  are  present,  t<^ether  with  a 
weight  and  sense  of  inactiyity  in  the  limbs.  It  is,  howeyer, 
less  in  the  paralysis  of  cerebral  than  that  of  spinal  origin 
in  which  this  medicine  is  indicated,  and  in  which  it  has 
been  found  most  useful.  Thus,  in  the  paralysis  of  loco- 
motor ataxy,  when  the  power  of  will  oyer  the  muscles  is 


BSS^^HTrSa^  POINTS  OF  RESEMBLANCE,  731 

•dimiziished,  when  the  moyements,  such  as  they  are,  are 
irregular,  staggering,  jerkj,  when  muscular  co-ordination 
is  lacking,  and  when  at  the  same  time  you  have  such 
symptoms  as  incontinence  of  urine,  injected  conjunctivad, 
pupils  varying  in  size,  and  the  like — ^here  beUadonna  will 
often  do  service. 

Oelsemium  is,  in  some  points,  not  unlike  beUadonna  in 
its  relation  to  paralysis.  It  is,  however,  in  spinal  paralysis 
alone  that  we  have  any  reason  for  using  it.  It  gives  rise 
to  no  loss  of  consciousness,  no  true  cerebral  apoplexy;  but 
the  spinal  cord  is,  by  it,  undoubtedly  congested.  Complete 
motor  paralysis  is  a  well  ascertained  result  of  gelsemium. 
Given,  then,  a  case  of  motor  paralysis  of  the  limbs,  or  of 
the  sphincter  vesic®,  or  both,  with  burning  in  the  spinal 
column  and  tingling  in  the  extremities,  and  you  will  find 
gehemium  of  more  use  than  beUadonna. 

The  paralysis  in  which  conium  effects  some  good,  per- 
chance  not  much,  yet  more  than  any  other  drug,  is  that 
where  softening  is  the  cause  of  paralysis  in  elderly  people. 
Where,  with  loss  of  motor  power,  you  find  an  enfeebled 
memory,  a  weakened  intellect,  you  may,  with  conium,  do 
something  to  relieve  and  tone  the  nerve  debility  which  has 
been  engendered  by  long  continued  wear  and  tear. 

There  is  one  form  of  paralysis,  and  that  a  purely  local 
one,  which  I  ought  not  to  omit  the  mention  of.  I  refer  to 
facial  paralysis — that  induced  by  cold — in  which  aconite  is 
an  admirable  remedy.  A  paralysis  which  can  be  secured 
by  driving  in  a  low  state  of  health  in  an  open  carriage  on  a 
•cold,  snowy  night,  when  the  temperature  of  the  atmosphere 
is  low,  and  its  degree  of  moisture  high.  Here,  aconite  will 
restore  nerve  power  more  surely  than  all  the  brandy  and 
water  that  was  ever  mixed. 

Of  the  medicines  I  have  brought  before  you,  four  have  a 
direct  influence  on  certain  cases  of  neuralgia.  Each  is,  as 
you  will  see,  indicated  in  cases  markedly  differing  the  one 
from  the  other. 

The  neuralgic  pain  produced  by  aconite  is  shooting  and 
darting  in  character,  is  felt  especially  in  the  right  supra- 
orbital ridge,  extends  upwards  over  the  scalp,  and  laterally 
to  the  temple  and  cheek  of  that  side,  passing  into  one  or  two 
teeth.  At  the  same  time  the  cheeks  are  hot,  the  pain  is 
felt  most  severely  during  the  evening,  and  is  increased  by 
any  pressure  exerted  on  the  part.  It  is  a  neuralgia  which 
is  in  all  particulars  acute,  generally  the  result  of  a  chill, 

8b—S 


732  POINTS  OP  BESBMBLAHOB.   ^^S^fSTi^Mffl!^ 

and  ushered  in  with  rigors  and  some  excitement  of  th» 
eiroolation. 

Belladonna  is  homoeopathic  to  a  nenralgia  which  is 
olearly  dependent  on  congestion  or  hyperaBmia.  The  face 
is  bnmingy  swollen  and  flushed.  The  pain  is  hot  and 
darting  in  character,  and  takes  the  direction  of  the  fibres 
of  the  fifth  pair.  Unlike  that  form  cured  by  a^onite^  it  is 
not  necessarily  an  acute  disease  :  on  the  contrary,  chronic 
neuralgias  of  the  face,  associated  with  well  marked  hyper- 
smia,  have  not  unfrequently  been  permanently  relieved  by 
it.  The  belladonna  neuralgia,  too,  is  generally  remarked 
as  being  worse  at  night,  and  occurs  most  frequently  in 
plethoric  persons. 

Gelsemium  is  indicated  in  neuralgia  affecting  nerves  in 
divers  parts  of  the  body.  The  pains  are  sudden,  acute 
and  darting.  They  resemble  electric  shocks,  and  after 
passing  off,  leave  a  line  of  tenderness  in  their  track.  It 
is  a  neuralgia  totally  different  from  that  to  which  aconiU 
and  belladonna  are  homodopathic,  and  resembles  that  which 
sometimes  forms  one  of  the  reUquia  of  a  depressing  fever 
or  other  acute  illness. 

The  neuralgia  to  which  agaricus  is  homoBopathic  differs 
from  either  of  the  three  I  have  noticed.  There  is  a 
good  deal  of  nerve  erethism.  The  pains  are  like  the  effiacts 
of  fine  splinters  driven  into  the  muscles  and  cheeks.  They 
do  not  appear  along  the  whole  track  of  the  nerves,  but,  as 
it  were,  in  individual  points  of  it.  They  are  sudden  and 
sharp — are  felt  sometimes  on  one  and  sometimes  on  the 
other  side  of  the  face,  which  is  hot  and  puffy ;  and  very 
generally  there  is,  in  addition  to  the  pain,  a  constant  jerking 
irritation  and  twitching  in  the  muscles. 

The  pathogenetic  actions  of  the  medicine  I  have  been 
dwelling  on  resemble  one  another  in  several  other  morbid 
states,  but  I  have  time  only  to  refer  to  two. 

The  cough  produced  by.  belladonna  is  mostly  dry,  the 
expectoration  being  scanty.  It  is  paroxysmal,  provoked  by 
tickling  in  the  laiTux ;  comes  on  early  in  the  evening,  or 
when  lying  down  in  bed,  the  larynx  feels  sore  and  the  chest 
somewhat  oppressed.  In  plethoric  persons  it  is  often  indi- 
cated in  congestion  of  the  lungs,  more  especiaUy  when  head 
symptoms  are  present,  and  there  are  much  heat  and  burning 
in  the  face. 

Hyo8cywnm8  gives  rise  to  an  irritable  nervous  cough, 
with  a  good  deal  of  mucus  in  the  throat,  which  comes  oa 


iS^STuSS?**  POINTS  OF  RESEMBLANCE.  783 

after  a  person  has  fallen  asleep^  and  awakes  him.  It  is 
relieved  on  sitting  up,  but  recurs  when  lying  down  again. 
There  is  little  or  no  expectoration  attending  it,  neither  is 
there  any  reason  to  suppose  that  there  is  any  hypersBmic 
condition  of  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  larynx  or  trachea 
as  its  cause — ^bui  that  it  is  the  result  of  simple  nerve  irri- 
tation. 

The  cough  of  conivm  is  hard»  dry,  and  tickling,  and  is 
felt  especially  when  lying  down  at  night. 

The  cough  produced  and  relieved  by  aga/ricuB  is  much 
more  irritating  than  that  caused  by  either  of  the  drugs  I 
have  noticed.  There  is  a  sense  of  constriction  in  the 
larynx,  which  gives  rise  to  a  series  of  irritating  paroxysms 
of  cough,  which  are  easily  suppressed  by  an  effort  of  the 
will,  but  are  otherwise  incessant.  It  is  a  spasmodic  cough, 
often  violent  during  the  day,  but  much  worse  at  night,  and 
frequently  wakes  the  person  out  of  sleep,  producing  at  the 
same  time  a  great  deal  of  breathlessness. 

In  conclusion,  I  will  briefly  compare  the  action  of  helh,- 
donna,  opium,  hyoscyamnSy  and  cannabis  on  the  bladder. 

Belladonna  gives  rise  to  a  certain  degree  of  strangury, 
with  some  retention,  passing  ultimately  to  incontinence. 

Opium  produces  complete  retention  of  urine,  proceeding 
from  paralysis  of  the  fundus. 

Hyoscyamus  excites  great  irritation  at  the  neck  of  the 
bladder,  causing  frequent  micturition,  especially  at  night, 
as  often  happens  in  an  irritated  and  enlarged  prostate. 

Cannabis  sets  up  a  well  marked  inflammatory  state  of 
the  neck  of  the  bladder,  and  of  the  urethral  mucous  mem- 
brane, as  indicated  by  a  constant  desire  to  pass  water  and 
the  passage  of  urine  in  small  quantities  with  considerable 
pain. 

You  will  find,  gentlemen,  that,  by  studying  drug 
symptomatology  in  this  comparative  manner — by  taking, 
as  I  have  endeavoured  to  do  this  afternoon,  several  drugs 
having  a  more  or  less  analogous  action,  and  noting  the 
points  in  which  their  action,  similar  as  it  en  gros,  differs 
en  detail — ^you  will  greatly  add  to  the  facility  and  efficiency 
with  which  you  can  select  your  remedies  in  the  treatment 
x>f  disease. 

21,  Henrietta  Street, 
Cavendish  Square. 


784  CLIWCAL  OASES.         "1S^"2??lS^ 


B«Ti0V,  Ses.  1, 18BU 


CLINICAL     CASES,    WITH    REMAKES.* 

By  S.  H.  Blake,  M.B.G.S.,  Liyerpool. 

Case  n. 

lUvatrating  the  Toothache  of  Sanffuinaria, 

This  is   a  medicine  which  may  prove  of  considerable 
value  to  the  dentist,  for,  judging  from  the  temperament- 
and  constitutional  state  of  a  patient  in  whom  I  have  of  late 
observed  a  toothache  produced  after  taking  the  sangmnariay. 
this  variety  of  dental  pain  would  appear  to  be  one  of  rather 
frequent  occurrence  among  people  with  decayed  teeth.    I 
have  since   employed  the  drug  in  toothache  with   some 
success.     I  had  occasion  to   select  ecmguinaria  for  the 
treatment  of  a  lady  aged  68,  of  sanguine  temperament  and 
disposed  to  rheumatic  gout,  evidenced  by  the  enlarged 
joints  of  the  fingers  and  by  tendency  to  a  painful  swelling 
of  the  face  and  side  of  the  head  (left  side),  and  a  left-sided 
facial  palsy,  attributed  chiefly  to  a  rheumatic  affection  of 
the  head.    But  there  had  been  also  a  history  of  true  gont^ 
in  her  parentage.     Unfortunately  her  husband  was  also 
gouty,  and  one  of  her  daughters  presents  plainly  the  signs 
of  the  same  diathesis.     The  articular  enlargements  of  the 
fingers  do  not  look  so  much  like  the  deposits  of  typical 
gout,  but  correspond  to  the  appearance  of  chronic  rheumatic 
arthritis.     Besides  a  painful  red  swelling  of  the  left  side  of 
the  face  and  head,  lasting  for  about  three  weeks,  there  was 
continuous,  dull  and  deep  seated  pain  in  the  region  of  the 
liver,  about  the  lower  ribs  in  the  right  axillary  line,  together 
with    indigestion    and    constipation.      These    symptoms 
vanished  as  if  by  magic  after  one  dose  of  sanguinariu.   She 
was  ordered  5-drop  doses  of  the  pure  tincture  three  times  a 
day,  but  for  some  reason  of  her  own  she  only  took  one  dose. 
After  that  there  was  no  liver  trouble  and  no  constipation, 
but  the  medicine  developed  a  troublesome  toothache. 

The  symptoms  shall  be  related  as  much  in  her  own 
words  as  possible.  Thus :  on  the  17th  of  December  she 
took  five  drops  of  the  sanguinaria,  and  between  this  time 
and  the  26th  there  came  a  very  bad  toothache,  although 
there  was  great  improvement  in  other  respects,  as  before 
stated.     On  the  26th  it  was  again  ordered  to  be  continued 

*  Being  part  of  a  series  of  oases, 'the  record  of  which  gained   for 
3fr.  Blake  the  •»  Epps  "  prize  of  £10. ' 


S^SSTSw!^     CLINICAL  CASES.  735 

as  at  first  directed,  6  drops  three  times  a  day ;  bat  the 
toothache  increased  and  continued  so  badly  under  this 
medicine  that  she  sent  a  messenger  on  the  28th  to  ask  for 
its  veto,  when  the  dose  was  remitted  to  one-tenth  part  of 
the  former  dose,  t¥dce  daily.  The  following  day  I  obtained 
a  report  as  to  the  kind  of  toothache  experienced,  and  she 
reported  that ''  This  weary  toothache  began  about  a  week 
after  the  new  medicine  had  been  taken.  I  bore  it,"  says 
she,  ^'  as  meekly  as  I  could  until  yesterday,  but  as  I  can 
scarcely  eat  and  it  keeps  me  awake  at  night,  I  thought  it 
best  to  make  a  stir.  I  have  taken  none  to-day,  so  perhaps 
it  may  die  away  pretty  soon.  As  regards  iJbie  previous 
state  of  the  teeth,  there  is  not  a  sound  tooth  in  the  head." 
This  unsoundness  of  the  teeth  is  another  contingency,  but 
not  a  useless  one,  for  it  is  most  conyenient  to  be  able  to 
cure  the  pain  in  the  carious  teeth  of  patients.  **  I  wish," 
she  says,  ''  that  what  teeth  are  left  were  all  out  of  my 
head.  What  with  stumps  and  odds  and  ends" — ^they  ail 
amount  in  number  to  about  a  dozen.  The  pain,  however, 
began  in  a  tooth  which  had  never  ached  before,  although  it 
has  a  **  wee  hole  in  it."  This  is  in  the  right  upper  jaw, 
but  "  the  pain  dug  down  into  every  old  root  I  have,  and 
made  me  remember  where  they  were.  My  gums  throb 
and  nerves  shoot,  and,  altogether,  I  am  in  a  bad  way. 
When  I  open  my  mouth  to  eat,  it  gets  very  bad ;  then, 
after  a  time,  the  great  pain  dies  down,  and  leaves  a  teasing, 
gnawing  pain.  However,  all  the  time,  I  quite  forgive  you 
and  your  medicine  too,  for  it  certainly  did  me  a  great  deal 
of  good.  My  tongue  is  cleaner,  and  I  have  had  no  trouble 
with  liver,  stomach,  or  bowels  since  (constipation).  The 
sound  of  the  distant  sea,  though,  is  still  in  my  ears,  more 
or  less,  and  is  worse  when  lying  down.  No  music  or  singing 
in  the  head  now.     Swelling  of  head  and  face  gone  down." 

She  asked  for  mere.  soL,  as  she  had  on  a  former  occasion 
found  that  good  for  toothache,  which  I  agreed  to  as  an 
antidote.     8rd  attenuation. 

After  an  interval  of  freedom,  she  (on  January  10th) 
again  writes :  "  I  had  quite  lost  toothache,  so  began  san- 
guinaria  let  down  to  one-tenth  of  the  former  dose.  After 
three  days  toothache  came  back  much  worse.  It  is  now 
in  one  tooth.  The  nerve  is  exposed,  but  hole  so  small 
I  could  not  put  anything  into  it  to  stop  the  pain.  Merc. 
eoL  8  seems  no  good — the  tooth  is  so  sensitive,  ,even 
breathing  makes  it  ache.    I  feel  so  done  up  from  so  many 


786  CLINICAL  CASKS*  bS^^SS^uI^ 

honrs  bad  pain  and  loss  of  sleep.  Can  yon  Bend  a  cnre  ? 
Jjast  time  the  pain  only  lasted  some  minntes  and  then  flew 
all  ronnd  and  died  down,  now  it  is  in  one  tooth  and  con- 
stant." 

I  sent  her  rkus.  U  a.  for  an  antidote,  which  proved  soon 
effectual. 

Here  are  these  symptoms  of  safiguinaria  abbreviated  : — 
Pahi  beginning  in  the  right  upper  jaw  in  the  most  recently 
diseased  carious  tooth  ;  extending  thence  to  the  roots  of  all 
the  other  carious  teeth ;  a  digging  pain  with  throbbing  of 
the  gums  and  shooting  in  the  dental  nerves ;  the  pain 
worse  on  opening  the  mouth  to  eat ;  also  keeping  her 
awake  at  night;  and,  after  cessation  of  the  more  severe  pain, 
leaving  behind  a  teasing  and  gnawing  pain,  the  gum  swollen 
and  sore. 

What  were  the  hepatic  and  other  symptoms  so  promptly 
removed  by  this  medicine  ?  These  had  been  very  obstinate 
for  some  time,  failing  to  give  way  to  hryoniay  mercurius, 
and  even  lycopodium.  The  symptoms  were  pain  and  sore- 
ness in  the  hepatic  region,  resistiug  even  strong  mustard 
applications  employed  for  its  relief.  Pain  in  the  right 
hepatic  region,  about  the  lower  three  ribs,  and  extending 
rather  backwards  than  forwards  in  the  site  of  the  liver. 
Pain  rather  deep  in  position.  Is  subject  also  to  a  grip- 
like pain  around  the  head  on  a  line  with  the  pinna  of  the 
ear.  Head  worse  on  hurrying  or  from  any  anxiety.  Head 
sensitive  to  noise — always  the  rush  of  the  sea  in  the 
ears.  Bowels  act  only  every  two  days,  with  diffi- 
culty. Pain  goes  down  the  right  arm  after  using  it« 
Painful  swelling  of  left  cheek,  with  redness,  complicates  a 
previously  existing  palsy  of  the  portio-dura.  The  liver 
(hepatic  region)  feels  swollen  and  especially  so  after  food. 
Her  own  voice  sounds  so  that  she  cannot  tell  how  loud  it 
is — ^it  seems  to  come  from  a  distance.  It  was  from  this 
symptom,  together  with  the  liver  symptoms,  that  sanffuin- 
aria  was  first  prescribed.  See  Cypher  Repertory.  Some  time 
previously  there  had  also  been  singing  noises  and  occipital 
pain,  with  tight  feeling  in  ears  as  if  stuffed.  The  food  all 
*' seems  to  go  into  wind."  Bitter  taste,  tongue  white. 
**  Quinine  never  agreed  with  her,"  she  says. 

Afber  noticing  the  dental  symptoms,  I  turned  with  some 
interest  to  the  Materia  Mediea,  and  to  confirm  my  con- 
viction found  that  they  were  pathogenetic;  that  san- 
guinaria  has  toothache  in  hollow  teeth  when  touched  bj 


SnggrDSTSei!^      CLIHIOAL  0A8ES, 787 

the  food ;  also  a  spongy,  bleeding,  and  fungoid  condition 
of  the  gams*  My  patient  had  also  a  slight  jaundiced  state 
of  conjunctiYa  and  skin,  and  this  symptom,  again,  is  in  the 
pathogenesis  of  sanguinaria.  The  pathological  state  of  the 
teeth  would  seem  to  indicate  inflammatory  action,  extending 
not  only  to  the  gums  and  roots  of  the  teeth,  but  eyen  to 
the  dentine,  pulp  cavity,  and  nerve  ends  of  the  teeth.  The 
pulp,  which  before,  even  though  more  or  less  exposed,  had 
been  in  a  quiescent  state,  is  rendered  highly  irritable  and 
sensitive  by  the  action  of  $anguifuiria,  and  pain  is  ex- 
perienced by  the  least  touch,  by  mastication,  and  is 
increased,  too,  at  night;  and  this  hyper-sensitiveness 
extends  not  only  throughout  the  pulp  cavity,  but  the 
dentine  and  alveoli  appear  also  to  participate  largely  in 
the  disorder.  In  gouty  patients,  perhaps  also  in  the 
gouty-rheumatic,  this  drug,  therefore,  should  be  exceed- 
ingly useful  for  toothache  occurring  in  hollow  or  carious 
teeth,  under  the  conditional  symptoms  before  named. 
Constipation  and  flatulence  are  well-marked  points  for 
sangvinaria,  and  the  urine,  high-coloured,  deposits 
copiously  of  lithates.  The  mental  state,  again,  brings  us 
near  to  that  of  gout;  there  is  the  angry  irritability,  or 
moroseness ;  cannot  bear  a  person  to  walk  in  the  room ;  and 
this  dislike  to  activity,  noise,  and  desire  to  be  perfectly 
quiet,  is  just  characteristic  of  $anguinaria.  There  is  also 
noted  in  Hering's  work,  rheumatic  headache  running  up 
the  posterior  auricular  region ;  also  headache  occipital, 
spreading  upwards  and  settliQg  over  right  eye;  painful 
sensitiveness  to  sounds,  burning  of  ears,  cheeks  red, 
singing  in  the  ears,  and  vertigo ;  so  very  many  of  san- 
guinaria  conditions  are  associated  with  or  dependent  on 
flatus.  Its  action  on  the  chest,  besides  the  well-known 
use  of  it  for  pneumonia,  enables  it  to  control  bronchitis, 
especially  in  persons  suffering  from  inactive  liver,  and 
bowels,  and  flatus,  and  in  persons  with  the  lithic  acid 
diathesis.  In  fi(Vich  persons  where  the  bronchitis  extends 
from  the  throat  pit  down  to  the  minute  ramifications  of  the 
bronchia,  this  is  a  valuable  medicine.  If  the  sputa  be 
yellow,  more  or  less  difficult  to  expectorate,  and  not 
naturally  inclined  to  diminish,  it  aids  the  expectoration, 
and  at  the  same  time  diminishes  the  tendency  to  its  re- 
formation. I  have  not  observed  it  do  much  for  relaxation 
of  the  uvula,  but  it  diminishes  the  spasmodic  asthmatic 
respiration  of  the  bronchial  tubes,  which  often  attends  the 


738  CLINICAL  CASES.  "^R^^n?«S^ 


Biewkm,  Dee.  1, 16B1. 


ftboye-desciibed  form  of  bronchitiB.  It  suits  wdl  after 
tartar  emetic  has  exhaasted  its  good  effects,  and  it  makes 
the  night  eongh  less  troublesome  if  this  be  a  well-marked 
symptom,  and  especially  if  increased  by  flatulence  of  the 
stonuush. 

Comparison  of  Medicines. 

Sangninaria^  as  I  haye  said,  corresponds  to  the  oonsti* 
tutional  state,  and  to  the  local  symptoms  of  the  first  case 
cited.  There  are  also  a  few  other  medicines  allied  to  gout 
and  its  inflammatory  complications.  Benzoic  acid,  for 
instance,  is  so  allied,  and  has  the  inflammatory  facial 
symptoms,  but  its  pains  in  the  hepatic  region  are  mostly 
stitching  pains,  and  its  main  efiects  are  directed  more 
directly  upon  the  urinary  organs  than  the  liyer ;  therefore, 
for  the  giyen  phase  of  my  patient's  illness,  I  prefer  the 
sanguina/ria.  Howeyer,  this  benzoic  add  is  a  great  medi- 
cine for  gouty  conditions.  Again,  actaa  and  macrotin 
would  fail  here  in  the  local  symptoms  and  signs,  althongh 
a^tiea  has  the  mental  ones.  JSryonia  corresponding  to  some 
things  locally  of  the  face,  palliated  only  as  I  found  in  this 
case,  and  it  fails  in  the  general  condition  and  hepatic 
symptoms — ^its  pain  being  stitching,  and  worse  on  inspira- 
tion, not  present  in  the  case  cited. 

Cohhicwm  has  no  su^h  facial  conditions.  Stdphtr 
causes  swelling  of  the  cheek,  but  the  redness  is  circum- 
scribed, or  face  is  pale,  and  erysipelas  begins  at  the  right 
ear,  though  its  action  on  the  liyer  and  general  yitali^ 
would  render  it  a  yery  useful  medicine  to  a  patient  of  this 
kind,  when  passed  out  of  the  acute  illness.  Arnica  acts 
on  the  right  side  of  the  head  and  face,  and  fails  in  the 
mental  symptoms.  Chelidonium,  yery  like  in  many  respects^ 
fails  in  the  facial  symptoms  as  compared  with  sanguinaria ; 
the  swelling,  redness,  stifthess,  and  soreness  of  the  face 
and  head  are  so  yery  extensiye  in  the  preying  of  this  drag. 
China,  the  face  is  alternately  red  and  pale.  Mezereon  is 
deficient  in  hepatic  symptoms.  Sabina  has  flushes  of  heat* 
Colocynth,  arsenic,  and  belladonna  suit  rather  the  neu- 
ralgias of  gout.  Guaiacwni  much  resembles  sanguinarui, 
but  seems  not  so  fully  preyed,  and  its  hepatic  action  is  not 
so  clearly  made  out.  The  redness  of  gvuiacum  is  spotted, 
but  the  power  of  this  drug  to  induce  swelling  of  the  side  of 
head  and  face  is  akin  to  that  of  sanguinaria,  and  its 
suitability  to  gout  about  the  head  is  well  known. 


ISSS^SSTSS^       CUOTCAL  CASES.  739 

Case  m. 

Neuralgia  cured  by  Gelsemium. 

A  yonng  lady,  sat.  19,  daughter  of  the  patient  whose  case- 
was  described  in  case  I.,  once  suffered  from  a  seyere 
neuralgia.  When  the  pain  occurred,  it  began  in  the  occiput, 
then  extended  forward  to  the  forehead,  and  proceeded  to  a 
continuous  cephalalgia.  The  tongue  was  white,  bowels 
constipated,  and  there  was  some  catarrh  of  the  nose.  Pain 
decidedly  worse  from  warmth  of  any  kind,  as  when  near  the 
fire.  It  returned  promptly  at  11  a.m.  each  morning,  left 
her  suddenly  in  the  evening,  and  did  not  trouble  her  during 
the  night.  She  slept  well.  But  it  returned  again  the  next 
morning  at  11  a.m.  Pain  felt  seyerely  across  the  forehead 
and  eyeballs.  Although  this  neuralgia  had  continued 
severely  for  several  days,  it  was  quickly  cured  by  gelsem.  (p 
gtt.  ii.  every  fourth  hour,  acting  in  twenty-four  hours.  The 
complaint  quitted  her  suddenly  at  mid-day,  and  did  not- 
return  again.  The  indication  for  this  medicine  was  found 
in  the  course  and  progress  of  the  symptoms  (Cypher 
Repertory),  viz.,  from  the  occiput  to  the  forehead,  head  and 
eyes.    Her  diathesis  is  the  gouty. 

Selection  of  medicine  and  remarks. 

Why  choose  gehemium  i  From  a  strictly  homoeopathic 
point  of  view,  which  is  our  present  consideration,  where  we 
have  so  definitely  localised  a  neuralgia  as  this  one  is,  it  is 
a  good  plan  to  exclude  at  once  all  medicines  which  have 
not  the  symptom.  Beasons  for  selecting  any  other  would 
be  farther  to  reach  and  more  difiScult  to  give  than  I  am  at 
present  in  a  position  to  account  for.  Therefore,  if  on  turn- 
ing to  the  Repertory  this  symptom  be  found,  it  is  most 
practicable  to  deal  only  with  such  drugs  as  possess  it. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  few  drugs  present  the  characters  of 
this  neuralgia  both  in  kind  and  locality.  Bar.  carb.  (shoot- 
ing pain),  cyclamen  (drawing  pain,  and  through  temple 
also),  and  sabina^  and  kali  carb.  (tearing  pain),  lactic  aicid 
(on  lying  down),  ag.-n.  (compressive  and  cutting),  gUmoin 
(throbbing),  and  mr.'i.  (dull),  and  macrotin  (duU),  and 
dirca  p.  (deep,  congestive,  and  with  throbbing  carotids),  of 
all  these  none  seemed  to  suit  better  than  geUemium,  and 
from  the  fru^t  that  the  catamenia  were  habitually  copious  in 
this  case  and  were  at  that  time  in  suspension,  this  appeared 
to  afford  still  good  grounds  for  its  seleetion»  and,  as  I  ob- 


740  cLnaoAL  cases.        ^'SSSL 


•  Dae.  1,1861. 


seiredy  it  promptly  cared  the  nenralgic  pain.     The  kind  of 
pain  of  gelsemium  is  of  the  dull  land  in  these  localities, 
hnt  it  also  produces  seyere  neuralgic  pains,  that  is,  the 
pain  has  severe  exacerbations,  and  pains  also  which  haye 
been  described  as  drawing,  dragging  and  tearing.      We 
know    that    sometimes   different   persons  describe  pains 
which  are  essentially  of  the  same  nature  by  yery  different 
appellations,  so  that  medicinal  equiyalents  sometimes  have 
their  pains  expressed  under  different  kinds  of  pains.    A 
•definite   seat  and  a  direction  of  pain  is  of  the  highest 
importance,  especially  if  the  character  of  pain  complained 
•of  closely  resembles  that  which  is  described  by  the  patient. 
What  one  person  calls  a  quick,  tearing  pain,  another  person 
not  so  accustomed  to  describe  his  or  her  ailments  may  term 
a  shooting  pain,  or  may  confess  an  inability  to  describe  it 
at  all  until  we  suggest  seyeral  kinds  of  pain  to  him,  or  show 
him  a  printed  list,  when   he  will  often  fix  upon  a  pain 
corresponding  to   his  idea  of   the  meaning  of  the  word 
standing  for  it.   This  renders  the  matter  often  very  doabtM 
to  the  prescriber.     Of  course,  in  other  instances,  there  is 
much  less  liability  to  error.     Most  persons,  for  instance, 
can  distinguish  between  a  "  scraping  pain  "  and  a  **  throb- 
bing pain  "  (or,  as  it  is  called  in  this  locality  of  England,  a 
**  linking  pain  ").     Again,  a  dull  pain  and  an  aching  pain 
are  to  many  persons  about  synonymous,  and  the  same  may 
1)0  said  of  a  bruised  pain,  or  a  pain  as  if  beaten. 


On  Oeneral  Selection  of  Medicine,  and  Remarks. 

In  selecting  a  medicine  for  two  such  cases  as  those  just 
described,   by  what  principles    are    we    to    be    guided? 
Firstly,  it  is  clear  that  in  each  case  we  haye  as  data  a 
given   constitutional   dyscrasia,   or  peculiar  condition  of 
general  bodily  health,  as  a  basis ;  and  secondly,  an  array  of 
local   symptoms  of  a  special  kind  in  each  instance  in 
addition.     For  the  totality  of  these  phenomena  we  have  to 
prescribe.     Now,  of  the  several  methods  which  might  be 
enumerated  of  covering   symptoms  and  conditions,  &c., 
namely,  of  prescribing  in  some  one  way  or  the  other  under 
the  very  wide  canopy  of  the  homoeopathic  formula,  two  at 
least  of  such  methods  naturally  occur  to  our  minds  as 
3>re-eminent  and  superior,  both  in  principle  and  practice^ 
to  all  other  methods  under  this  law  of  similia.     These  two 
methods  are — ^firstly  (a),  a  selection  precisely  for  the  local 
symptoms  according  to  their   exact  nature,  with  their 


^SSi^^^^n^^         CLINICAL  CASES.  741 


Beffiew,  Dec.  1, 1881. 


precise  conditions  and  concomitants,  &c.y  and  this  is  one 
form  of  similia ;  and  secondly  (6),  a  selection  snitable  both 
to  the  general  bodily  health  or  dyscrasia,  plus  all  the  local 
symptoms  precisely,  with  their  exact  conditions  and  con- 
comitants, &o.,  and  this  latter  method,  as  everyone  knows^ 
mast  form  the  highest  and  most  complete  form  of  homoeo- 
pathy, and  for  obvioas  reasons.  If  there  be  seyerol 
medicines  in  the  Materia  Medica  which  will  fall  easily 
into  the  latter  category,  it  is  clear  that  we  are  abundantly 
rich  ;  if  but  one  were  found,  the  course  open  for  selection 
should  still  be  easy.  But  how  often  does  it  happen  that 
we  are  not  able  easily  to  find  this  correspondence,  and  even 
sometimes  perhaps  it  is  not  actually  possible.  We  are 
then  sometimes  compelled  to  fall  back,  against  our  wish,  on 
the  former  method,  knowing  it  to  be  subsidiary,  yet  it  ofben 
affords  us  a  most  material  aid,  enabling  us  to  subdue  all  the 
local  symptoms,  with  great  relief  to  the  patient  and  with 
the  subsidence  of  the  actiye  disease.  To  take  an  illustra- 
tion, I  should  consider  that  belladonna,  when  prescribed 
for  enlarged  glands,  falls  into  this  subsidiary  branch  of  the 
homoeopathic  law.  When  prescribing  this  medicine  for 
swellings  of  the  lymphatic  glands,  whether  cervical  or 
mesenteric,  everyone  ImowB  how  beautifully  this  medicine 
acts,  what  great  things  it  accomplishes  for  the  glandular 
hypersemia— sometimes  subduing  the  swelling  and.  even 
the  inflammation  with  great  rapidity,  and  nearly  always 
doing  good.  No  one,  so  far  as  I  know,  doubts  its 
homoeopathicity  to  such  an  array  of  symptoms,  nor  do  L 
Do  not  let  us  therefore  smash  this  minor  deity  because  he 
may  be  unable  to  avert  for  us  the  entire  plague  of  scrofula. 
Do  not  let  us  seek  to  dishonour  him  even  below  his  proper 
level,  nor  try  to  rob  him  of  his  habitation  and  his  name. 
Let  us  at  least  yield  him  that  respect  which  is  his  just 
due,  lest  we  ourselves  should  be  justly  punished  in 
return. 

Now,  it  is  easy  to  find  a  drug  in  the  Repertory  having 
the  exact  local  symptoms,  compared  with  the  task  of  getting 
one  to  meet  botii  these  and  the  dyscrasia.  For  instance, 
several  medicines  suit  gouty  persons  as  a  general  thing,  but 
the  local  symptoms  may  be  absent  from  the  Repertory  under 
these  very  drugs,  and  considering  that  the  provings  are 
not  as  yet  quite  complete,  what  are  we  to  do  ?  Are  we  to 
throw  overboard  the  local  symptoms  and  give  a  drug,  which 
is  known  as  a  general  thing  to  be  suitable  to  gouty  persons 


742  CLIKICAL  0A8SS. 


Beview,  Dee.  1, 1881. 


— say,  for  instance,  colchicum  or  aetaa,  &c. — for  gtbij 
person  whose  case  we  cannot  at  the  time  completely  caver? 
We  naturally  say  no ;   this  would  be  very  risky  work. 
Again,  are  we  to  select  some  one  special  symptom,  and 
call  it  a  key-note,  and  provided   the  mental   condition 
simply  be  present,  and  even,  if  yon  will,  the  general  suit- 
ability of  snch  dmg  to  the  dyscrasia,  are  we  to  select  ibis 
for  onr  totality,   believing  it  to  be  the  best  medicine? 
This,  again,  would  be  risky ;  the  local  symptoms,  if  not  in 
the  provings,  might  fail  to  give  way,  and  tiie  patient  be  a  long 
time   getting  better.      Except  in  exceptional  instances, 
this  is  so,  because  the  immense  number  of   symptoms 
now   at  our  disposal  enable   us   in  the  great  majority 
of  medicines  to  determine  exactly    in   which    direction 
the  local  symptoms  turn  or  tend.     The  provings  should 
contain  the  evidence  of  this  witiiin  themselves.      They 
are  open  to  everybody's  inspection,  and  if  we  say  that 
because  drug  A  causes  symptom   B — ^that  this  being  a 
purely  mental  symptom,  or  any  other  peculiar  symptom — 
that  it  is  therefore  the  medicine,  because  of  this  key-note, 
we  shall  be  in  serious  danger  of  error.     That  any  person 
of  note  or  distinction  should  have  stated  it  so,  or  told  us 
of  it,  does  not  necessarily  make  it  any  the  more  true.     In 
hcty  the  very  circumstance  that  such  medicme  should  be 
capable  of  setting  up  this  mental  state,  pins  a  state  of 
bodily  health  in  general  allied  to  gout ;  and  yet,  after  having 
accumulated  hundreds  and  perhaps  thousands  of  symptoms, 
that    there    is  not  a  symptom    anything  like  the  local 
symptoms  we  require,  but  instead,  perhaps,  they  all  point 
quite  in  another  direction,  and  sometimes  quite  in  the  oppo- 
site direction,  seems  to  me    to    be  almost  absolute  proof 
that    THB   medicine  is   not  homcaopathy   at  all    accord- 
ing   to    the    higher    conceptions    of    that    term,     and 
that  we  cannot  expect  any  speedy  amelioration  of  the  array 
of  symptoms  then  before  us.     Hahnemann  tells  us  to  pre- 
scribe for  the  totality  in  each  instance.    Let  us  do  so.    For 
instance.     To  state  that  calcarea  has  a  special  homoeo- 
pathic key-note  among  local  symptoms,  observed  only  from 
our  perception  of  a  case  of  cure,  when  amongst  the  enor- 
mous array  of  ccdea/rea  symptoms,  there  is  no  such  one, 
nor  anything  like  it,  but  symptoms  quite  in  the  reverse 
direction  for  the  most  part,  and  to  make  such  an  indication 
without  at  the  same  time  qualifying  it  as  clinical  only,  may 
be  to  mislead  any  persons  seeking  for  information  irbo  may 


¥S^J^X!^    .      CLINIOAL  CASES, 748 

"be  less  well  informed  than  those  who  bring  forward  snch 
symptoms  as  leading  homoBopathic  indications. 

On  the  extremities,  the  pathogenetic  symptoms  of  cole, 
carb.  are  heat,  or  else  heat  and  sweat,  qnite  the  reverse  of 
cold,  damp  feet,  which  finds  no  place  in  the  proyings.  The 
former  condition  is  a  very  common  one,  and  especially  so 
in  young  delicate  children,  in  association  with  some  of  tibeir 
ailments,  and,  as  I  have  verified  over  and  over  again  in 
practice,  calc,  carb.  cares  well  nnder  these  circumstances ; 
but  if  it  be  prescribed  for  cold,  damp  feet,  it  does  not  succeed 
nearly  so  well.  If  it  cure  under  this  last-named  condition, 
it  must  be  quite  exceptional,  and  I  doubt  even  then  if  it 
removes  this  very  symptom  of  cold  dampness.  There  is 
no  conclusive  proof  that  it  is  in  the  higher  homoeopathic 
grade  for  such  a  condition. 

Again,  as  regards  the  head  symptoms  of  perspiration, 
when  we  look  into  the  pathogenesy,  what  do  we  find  ?  Not 
sweating  of  the  head  as  has  been  sometimes  given  as  its 
indication ;  on  the  contrary,  it  is  sweat  on  the  forehead, 
face,  and  back  of  the  neck.  Head  perspiration  especially  is 
lefi;  out.  We  do,  on  the  other  hand,  notice  plenty  of  heat 
about  the  head.  Here,  in  clinical  observation,  we  may  often 
be  led  into  error  unless  guarded ;  for  many  persons  if  asked 
if  the  child  sweats  at  night  about  the  head,  will  say,  '^  0, 
yes,  a  great  deal ; "  whereas  they  have  not  precisely,  under- 
stood our  meaning,  and  give  their  answer  too  readily.  Thus 
they  may  have  seen  sweat  on  the  face,  neck,  and  other 
parts,  and  so  give  us  this  answer  for  sweating  on  the  head. 
As  a  contrast,  iUicea  again  does  cause  sweat  on  the  head 
and  of  the  head  itself,  and  this  is  noted  that  it  may  actually 
run  from  the  head  down  upon  the  forehead.  Here,  then, 
is  a  distinct  difference  between  these  two  drugs  so  far  as 
the  provings  can  at  present  tell  us.  The  sweat  for  col- 
carea  c.  is  on  the  forehead  and  face  per  se,  that  of  Mica  on 
the  head,  streaming  down  to  the  forehead  and  face,  and  the 
latter  is  just  what  we  get  in  ricketty  children  where  silica 
is  so  useful.  Moreover  the  odour  of  the  sweat  is  different 
in  the  two  cases.  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  cases  of  the 
head  perspiration  cured  by  calc.  carb.  may  have  been 
actually  sweating  of  the  forehead,  face,  occipital  region,  &c., 
and  not  essentiidly  of  the  head.  We  must  substantiate  and 
justify  homoeopathy  more  by  the  provings,  rather  than  by 
irrelevant  things. 


744  ON  THE  GEBM  THEOBY.  ""^S^.  ^ee,  i;  iffii. 


ON  THE  GERM  THEORY-* 

By  Pbof.  Pastbub. 

The  subject  of  my  oommimicatiou  is  yaceination  in  rela* 
tion  to  diicken  cholera  and  splenic  fever,  and  a  statement 
of  the  method  by  which  we  have  arrived  at  these  i^snlts — 
a  method  the  fruitfolness  of  which  inspires  me  with 
boundless  anticipations.  Before  discussing  the  question  of 
splenic  fever  vaccine,  which  is  the  most  important,  permit 
me  to  recall  the  results  of  my  investigations  of  chicken 
cholera.  It  is  through  this  inquiry  that  new  and  highly- 
important  principles  have  been  introduced  into  science 
concerning  the  virus  or  contagious  quality  of  transmissible 
diseases.  More  than  once  in  what  I  am  about  to  say  I 
shall  employ  the  expression  virus-culture,  as  formerly,  in 
my  investigations  on  fermentation,  I  used  the  expressions, 
the  culture  of  milk  ferment,  the  culture  of  the  butyric 
vibrion,  etc.  Let  us  take,  then,  a  fowl  which  is  about  to 
die  of  chicken  cholera,  and  let  us  dip  the  end  of  a  delicate 
glass  rod  in  the  blood  of  the  fowl,  with  the  usual  precau- 
tions, upon  which  I  need  not  here  dwell.  Let  us  then 
touch  with  this  charged  point  some  bouiUon  de  potde^  very 
clear,  but  first  of  all  rendered  sterile  under  a  temperature 
of  about  116^  centigrade,  and  under  conditions  in  which 
neither  the  outer  air  nor  the  vases  employed  can  introduce 
exterior  germs — those  germs  which  are  in  the  air,  or  on  the 
surface  of  all  objects.  In  a  short  time,  if  the  litUe  culture 
vase  is  placed  in  a  temperature  of  26^  to  35?,  you  will  see 
the  liquid  become  turbid,  and  full  of  tiny  microbes,  shaped 
like  the  figure  8,  but  often  so  small  that  under  a  high  magni- 
fying power  they  appear  like  points.  Take  from  this  vase  a 
^op  as  small  as  you  please — no  more  than  can  be  carried 
on  the  point  of  a  glass  rod  as  sharp  as  a  needle — and  touch 
with  this  point  a  fresh  quantity  of  sterilized  b<nUUon  de 
poulCf  placed  in  a  second  vase,  and  the  same  phenomenon 
is  produced.  You  deal  in  the  same  way  with  a  third  culture 
vase,  with  a  fourth,  and  so  on  to  a  himdred,  or  even  a 
thousand^  and  invariably,  within  a  few  hours,  tiiie  culture- 
liquid  becomes  turbid,  and  filled  with  the  same  minute 
organisms. 

At  the  end  of  two  or  three  days'  exposure  to  a  tempera- 
ture of  about  80^  G.  the  thickness  of  the  liquid  disappears, 

^  Bead  before  the  Ihtematioiial  Heclioal  Congress,  London,  1881. 


2S5^2r5?SSi*"  ON  THE  GBBM  THBOBT.  745 


Bevifew,  Dec.  1, 1881. 


and  a  sediment  is  formed  at  the  bottom  of  the  vase.     This 
signifies  that  the  development  of  the  minnte  organism  has 
ceased — ^in  other  words,  all  the  little  points  which  caused  the 
tnrbid  appearance  of  the  liquid  have  fallen  to  the  bottom  of 
the  vase,  and  things  will  remain  in  this  condition  for  a  longer 
or  shorter  time,  for  months  even,  without  even  the  liquid  or 
the  deposit  undergoing  any  visible  modification,  inasmuch 
as  we  have  taken  care  to  exclude  the  germs  of  the  atmo* 
sphere.   A  little  stopper  of  cotton  sifts  the  air  which  enters 
or  issues  from  the  vase  through  changes  of  temperature. 
Let  us  take  one  of  our  series  of  culture  preparations — the 
hundredth  or  the  thousandth,  for  instance — and  compare 
it,  in  respect  to  its  virulence,  with  the  blood  of  a  fowl 
which  has  died  of  cholera  ;  in  other  words,  let  us  inoculate 
under  the  skin  of  ten  fowls,  for  instance,  each  separately,, 
with  a  tiny  drop  of  infectious  blood,  and  ten  others  with  a 
similar  quantity  of  the  liquid  in  which  the  deposit  has  first 
been  shaken  up.     Strange  to  say,  the  latter  ten  fowls  will 
die  as  quickly,  and  with  the  same  sjrmptoms  as  the  former 
ten ;  the  blood  of  all  will  be  found  to  contain  after  death 
the  same  minute  infectious  organisms.     This  equality,  so 
to  speak,  in  the  virulence  both  of  the  culture  preparation 
and  of  the  blood,  is  due  to  an  apparently  futile  circum- 
stance.    I  have  made  a  hundred  culture  preparations — at 
least,   I  have  understood   that   this  was   done — ^without 
leaving  any  considerable  interval  between  the  impregnations. 
Well,  here  we  have  the  cause  of  the  equality  in  the  ^mrulence. 
Let  us  now  repeat  exactly  our  successive  cultures,  with  this 
single  difierence,  that  we  pass  from  one  culture  to  that  which 
follows  it — ^from  the  hundredth  to,  say,  the  hundred  and 
first,  at  intervals  of  a  fortnight,  a  month,  two  months^ 
three  months,  or  ten  months.     If,  now,  we  compare  the 
virulence  of  the  successive  cultures,  a  great  change  will  be 
observed.    It  will  be  readily  seen  from  an  inoculation  of  & 
series  of  ten  fowls,  that  the  virul^ice  of  one  culture  differs 
from  that  of  the  blood,  and  from  that  of  a  preceding  culture, 
when  a  sufficiently  long   interval    elapses   between   the 
impregnation  of  one  culture   with  the  microbe  or  the 
preceding.     Mwd  than  that,  we  may  recognise  by  this 
mode  of  observation  that  it  is  possible  to  prepare  cultures 
of  varying  degrees  of  virulence.     One  preparation  will  kill 
eight  fowLs  out  of  ten,  another  five  out  of  ten,  another  one 
out  of  ten,  and  another  none  at  all,  although  the  microbe 
may  still  be  cultivated.    In  fact,  what  is  no  less  strange,  if 

No.  12,  YoL  85.  8  0 


746  ON  THE  GEKM  THEORY.  '*^w!dSW. 

yon  take  each  of  these  cultures  of  attenuated  virolenee  as 
a  point  of  departure  in  the  preparation  of  successiye  enltnres 
and  without  appreciable  internal  in  the  impregnation,  the 
whole  series  of  these  cultures  will  reproduce  the  attenuated 
Tirulence  of  that  which  has  served  as  a  starting  point*  Simi* 
iarly,  where  the  virulence  is  null  it  produces  no  effect.  How, 
then,  it  may  be  asked,  are  the  effects  of  these  attenuating 
virulences  revealed  in  the  fowls  ?  They  are  revealed  by  a 
local  disorder ;  by  a  morbid  modification,  more  or  less  pro« 
found,  in  a  muscle — if  it  is  a  muscle — ^which  has  been 
inoculated  with  the  virus.  The  muscle  is  filled  with 
microbes  which  are  easily  recognised,  because  the  attenuated 
microbes  have  almost  the  bulk,  the  form,  and  the  appear- 
ance of  the  most  virulent  microbes. 

But  why  is  not  the  local  disorder  followed  by  death  ? 
For  the  moment  let  us  answer  by  a  statement  of  facts. 
They  are  these :  The  local  disorder  ceases  of  itself  more  or 
less  speedily,  the  microbe  is  absorbed  and  digested — ^if  one 
may  say  so — and  little  by  little  the  muscle  regains  its 
normal  condition.  Then  the  disease  has  disappeared. 
When  we  inoculate  with  the  microbe,  the  virulence  of 
which  is  null,  there  is  not  even  local  disorder,  the  natura 
Tnedicatrix  carries  it  off  at  once ;  and  here,  indeed,  we  see 
the  influence  of  the  resistance  of  life,  since  this  microbe, 
the  virulence  of  which  is  null,  multiplies  itself.  A  Uttle 
farther  and  we  touch  the  principle  of  vaccination.  When 
the  fowls  have  been  rendered  sufficiently  ill  by  the 
attenuated  virus  which  the  vital  resistance  has  arrested  in 
its  development,  they  will,  when  inoculated  with  virulent 
virus,  suffer  no  evil  effects,  or  only  effects  of  a  passing 
character.  In  fact,  they  no  longer  die  from  the  mortal  viras, 
and  for  a  time  sufficiently  long — which  in  some  cases  may 
exceed  a  year — chicken  cholera  cannot  touch  them,  espe- 
cially under  the  ordinary  conditions  of  contagion  which 
exist  in  fowl-houses.  At  this  critical  point  of  our  manipu* 
lation — ^that  is  to  say,  in  this  interval  of  time  which  we 
have  placed  between  two  cultures,  and  which  causes  the 
attenuation — ^What  occurs  ?  I  shidl  show  you  that  in  this 
interval  the  agent  which  intervenes  is  the  oxygen  of  the 
air*  Nothing  more  easily  admits  of  proof.  Let  us  produce 
a  culture  in  a  tube  containing  very  little  air,  and  close  this 
tube  with  an  enameller's  lamp.  The  microbe,  in  developing 
itself,  will  speedily  take  all  the  oxygen  of  the  tube  and  dt 
the  liquid^  i^t^  which  it  will  be  quite  free  from  contact 


l5riS^D2rvS^    ON  THE  OEKU  THBOBY.  747 

with  oxygen.  In  this  case,  it  does  not  appear  that  the 
microbe  becomes  appreciably  attenuated,  even  after  a  great 
lapse  of  time.  The  oxygen  of  the  air,  then,  would  seem  to 
be  a  possible  modifying  agent  of  the  yirulence  of  the 
microbe  of  the  chicken  cholera :  that  is  to  say,  it  may 
modify  more  or  less  the  facility  of  its  development  in  the 
body  of  animals.  May  we  not  be  here  in  presence  of  a 
general  law  applicable  to  all  kinds  of  virus  ?  What  benefits 
may  not  be  the  result  ?  We  may  hope  to  discover  in  this 
way  the  vaccine  of  all  virulent  diseases  ;  and  what  is  more 
natural  than  to  begin  our  investigation  of  the  vaccine  of  what 
we  in  French  call  charbon,  what  you  in  England  call  splenic 
fever,  and  what  in  Russia  is  known  as  the  Siberian  pest, 
and  in  Germany  as  the  Milzbrand  ? 

In  this  new  investigation  I  have  had  the  assistance  of 
iwo  devoted  young  savants^  MM.  Chamberland  and  Roux. 
At  the  outset  we  were  met  by  a  difficulty.  Among  the 
inferior  organisms,  all  do  not  resolve  themselves  into  those 
corpuscle  germs  which  I  was  the  first  to  point  out  as  one 
of  the  forms  of  their  possible  development.  Many  infectious 
microbes  do  not  resolve  themselves  in  their  cultures  into 
corpuscle  germs.  Such  is  equally  the  case  with  beer 
yeast,  which  we  do  not  see  develop  itself  usually  in  brew- 
eries, for  instance,  except  by  a  sort  of  fissiparity.  One  cell 
makes  two  or  more,  which  form  themselves  in  wreaths ; 
the  cells  become  detached,  and  the  process  recommences. 
In  these  cells  real  germs  are  not  usually  seen.  The  microbe 
of  chicken  cholera  and  many  others  behave  in  this  way,  so 
much  so  that  the  cultures  of  this  microbe,  although  they 
may  last  for  months  without  losing  their  power  of  fresh 
cultivation,  perish  finally  like  beer  yeast  which  has  ex- 
hausted all  its  aliments.  The  anthracoid  microbe  in 
in  artificial  cultures  behaves  very  differently.  In  the  blood 
of  animals,  as  in  cultures,  it  is  found  in  translucid  fila- 
ments, more  or  less  segmented.  This  blood  or  these  cul- 
tures freely  exposed  to  air,  instead  of  continuing  according 
to  the  first  mode  of  generation,  show  at  the  end  of  forty-' 
eight  hours  corpuscle  germs  distributed  in  series  more  or 
less  regular  along  the  filaments.  All  around  these  cor- 
puscles, matter  is  absorbed;  as  I  have  represented  it 
formerly  in  one  of  the  plates  of  my  work  on  the  diseases 
•of  silkworms.  Little  by  little  all  connection  between  them 
disappears,  and  presently  they  are  reduced  to  nothing  more 
than  germ  dust. 

8c-2 


748  ON  THE  GEBM  THBOBT.    *iS&r?D5??Sr 

If  yoa  make  these  corpuscles  germinate,  the  new  enltnre 
reprodaces  the  Tinilence  peculiar  to  the  thready  form 
which  has  produced  these  corpuscles,  and  this  result  is 
seen  even  after  a  long  exposure  of  these  germs  to  contact 
with  air.  Beceutly  we  discovered  them  in  pits  in  which 
animals,  dead  of  splenic  fever,  had  been  buried  for  twelve 
years,  and  their  culture  was  as  virulent  as  that  from  the 
blood  of  an  animal  recently  dead.  Here  I  regret  extremely 
to  be  obliged  to  shorten  my  remarks.  I  should  have  had 
much  pleasure  in  demonstrating  that  the  anthracoid  germs 
in  the  earth  of  pits  in  which  animals  have  been  buried  are 
brought  to  the  surface  by  earth-worms,  and  that  in  this 
fact  we  may  find  the  whole  etiology  of  disease,  inasmuch 
as  the  animals  swallow  these  germs  with  their  food.  A 
great  difficulty  presents  itself  when  we  attempt  to  apply 
our  method  of  attenuation  by  the  oxygen  of  the  air  to  the 
anthracoid  microbes.  The  virulence  establishing  itself 
very  quickly — often  after  twenty-four  hours  in  an  anthra- 
coid germ  which  escapes  the  action  of  the  air — it 
was  impossible  to  think  of  discovering  the  vaccine 
of  splenic  fever  in  the  conditions  which  had  yielded 
that  of  chicken-cholera.  But  was  there,  after  all» 
reason  to  be  discouraged  ?  Certainly  not ;  in  fact, 
if  you  observe  closely,  you  will  find  that  there  is  no  real, 
difi'erence  between  the  mode  of  the  generation  of  the 
anthracoid  germ  by  scission  and  that  of  chicken-chol^:a. 
We  had  therefore  reason  to  hope  that  we  might  overcome 
the  difficulty  which  stopped  us  by  endeavouring  to  prevent 
the  anthracoid  microbe  &om  producing  corpuscle  germs, 
and  to  keep  it  in  this  condition  in  contact  with  oxygen  for 
days,  and  weeks,  and  months.  The  experiment  fortunately 
succeeded. 

Id  the  ineffective  {nevtra)  bouillon  de  poule  the  anthra- 
coid microbe  is  do  longer  cultivable  at  45^  C.  Its  culture, 
however,  is  easy  at  42^  or  43^,  but  in  these  conditions  the 
microbe  yields  no  spores.  Consequently,  it  is  possible  to 
maintain,  in  contact  with  the  pure  air  at  42^  or  43^,  a 
mycelienive  culture  of  bacteria  entirely  free  of  germs^r 
Then  appear  the  very  remarkable  results  which  follow.  In 
a  month  or  six  weeks  the  culture  dies — ^that  is  to  say,  if 
one  impregnates  it  with  fresh  bauiUon,  the  latter  is  com- 
pletely sterile.  Up  to  that  time  life  exists  in  the  vase 
exposed  to  air  and  heat*  If  we  examine  the  virulence  of 
the  culture  at  the  end  of  two  days,  four  days,  «ix  days. 


"iSS^fSnnS^  on  thk  gbbm  theory.  74» 

eight  days,  etc.,  it  will  be  found  that  long  before  the  death 
of  the  cnltnre  the  microbe  had  lost  all  Tirulence,  although 
still  cultivable.  Before  this  period  it  is  found  that  the  cul- 
ture presents  a  series  of  attenuated  yirulences.  Everything 
is  similar  to  what  happens  in  respect  to  the  microbe  in 
chicken  cholera.  ^Besides,  each  of  these  conditions  of 
attenuated  virulence  may  be  reproduced  by  culture  ;  in  fact, 
since  the  charbon  does  not  operate  a  second  time  {ne  reddive 
pas),  each  of  our  attenuated  anthracoid  microbes  constitutea 
for  the  superior  microbe  a  vaccine — ^that  is  to  say,  a  virus 
capable  of  producing  a  milder  disease.  Here,  then,  we 
have  a  method  of  preparing  the  vaccine  of  splenic  fever. 
You  will  see  presently  the  practical  importance  of  this  re- 
sult ;  but  what  interests  us  more  particularly,  is  to  observe 
that  we  have  here  a  proof  that  we  are  in  possession  of  a 
general  method  of  preparing  virus  vaccipe,  based  upon  the 
action  of  the  oxygen  of  the  air — ^that  is  to  say,  of  a  cosmic 
force  existing  everywhere  on  the  face  of  the  globe. 

I  regret  to  be  unable,  from  want  of  time,  to  show  you 
that  all  these  attenuated  forms  of  virus  may  very  easily,  by 
a  physiological  artifice,  be  made  to  discover  their  original 
maximum  virulence.  The  method  I  have  just  explained  of 
obtaining  the  vaccine  of  splenic  fever  was  no  sooner  made 
known,  than  it  was  very  extensively  employed  to  prevent 
the  splenic  affection.  In  France,  we  lose  every  year,  by 
splenic  fever,  animals  of  the  value  of  twenty  million  francs. 
I  was  asked  to  give  a  public  demonstration  of  the  results 
already  mentioned.  This  experiment  I  may  relate  in  a 
very  few  words.  Fifty  sheep  were  placed  at  my  disposition, 
of  which  twenty-five  were  vaccinated.  A  fortnight  after- 
ward the  fifty  sheep  were  inoculated  with  the  most  virulent 
anthracoid  microbe.  The  twenty-five  vaccinated  sheep 
resisted  the  infection  ;  the  twenty-five  unvaccinated  died  of 
splenic  fever  within  fifty  hours.  Since  that  time  my  ener- 
gies have  been  taxed  to  meet  the  demands  of  farmers  for 
supplies  of  this  vaccine.  In  the  space  of  fifteen  days  we 
have  vaccinated  in  the  departments  surrounding  Paris  more 
than  twenty  thousand  sheep,  and  a  large  number  of  cattle 
and  horses.  If  I  were  not  pressed  for  time  I  would  bring 
to  your  notice  two  other  kinds  of  virus  attenuated  by  similar 
means.  These  experiments  will  be  communicated  by-and- 
by  to  the  public.  I  cannot  conclude,  gentlemen,  without 
expressing  the  great  pleasure  I  feel  at  the  thought  that  it 
is  as  a  member  of  an  International  Medical  Congress 


760  BEViEWs.  "Sia.^rf^*" 


Beriev,  Dec  1,  1881. 


assembled  in  England  that  I  make  known  the  most  recent 
results  of  vaccination  npon  a  disease  more  terrible,  perhaps, 
for  domestic  animals  than  small-pox  is  for  man.  I  have 
given  to  vaccination  an  extension  which  science,  I  hope, 
will  accept  as  a  homage  paid  to  the  merit  and  to  the 
immense  services  rendered  by  one  of  the  greatest  men  of 
England,  Jenner.  What  a  pleasure  for  me  to  do  honour 
to  this  immortal  name  in  this  noble  and  hospitable  city 
of  London ! 


REVIEWS. 

TransaetionB  of  the  InUmatumal  Homceopathie  Convention^  held 
iji  London^  JuLy^  1661.  London :  J.  E.  Adlard,  Bartholomew^ 
Close.     1881. 

With  a  degree  of  promptitude  which  is  in  the  highest  degree 
creditable  to  Dr.  Hughes,  the  TranMtctioM  before  us  appeared 
within  two  months  of  the  close  of  the  meetings,  of  which  thej  form 
a  record.  To  have  accomplished  so  arduous  a  task  as  the 
arrangement,  revision,  and  correction  of  800  such  pages  as  those 
in  this  volmne,  must  have  made  large  demands  not  only  on  the 
editor's  time,  but  must  likewise  have  tested  his  ingenuity. 

We  find  at  the  commencement  a  list  of  the  officers  and 
members  of  the  Convention.  Presence  at  the  meetings,  and 
affixing  the  signature  to  the  roll,  was  held  to  constitute  member- 
ship. Of  members,  then,  there  were  among  ourselves  eighty-two.. 
But  these  figures  are  far  from  representing  all  English  prac- 
titioners of  homoeopathy  who  took  an  interest  in  the  proceedings. 
This  is  happily  made  apparent  by  the  list  of  those  who  subscribed 
towards  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  meetings  published  in  our 
Beview  for  June.  Of  those  who  contributed  of  their  substance, 
but  were  from  one  cause  or  another  unable  to  be  present,  there 
were  forty-nine.  So  that  we  may  fairly  say  that  131  British 
practitioners  took  part  in  the  proceedings. 

The  volume  is  divided  into  four  parts.  The  first  contains  the 
minutes  of  the  general  meetings  and  of  the  sectional  meetings.^ 
The  second  is  devoted  to  the  address  of  the  President.  The  third 
to  the  reports  of  the  progress  of  homoeopathy  in  different  parts 
of  the  world.  The  fourth  to  the  various  essays  that  were 
presented  for  discussion,  of  which  there  are  twenty-one. 

The  method  adopted  of  placing  copies  of  the  papers  in  the 
hands  of  a  few  chosen  speakers,  and  of  only  reading  abstracts  of 
them  to  the  members  assembled,  had  several  great  advantages. 
Time  was  saved,  and  a  large  amount  of  discussion  took  place 
which,  had  the  essays  been  read,  would  have  been  impossible*. 


Monthly  Homceopathic                   -nwrv-ssra                                            751 
iWtter,  Dec.  1, 1881.  aEVIbW8> i  OI- 

Further,  the  debaters  being  chosen  beforehand,  firom  among 
those  whose  preTiooa  work  had  shown  them  to  be  especially 
qualified  to  deal  with  the  sul^ects  entrusted  to  them,  was  also 
advantageous.  The  speeches  were  much  superior  to  those  ordi- 
narily heard  on  such  occasions,  were  much  fuller,  and  much 
more  instructive.  They  read  in  the  Transactions  like  brief  but 
carefully  prepared  essays.  Debaters  were  not,  however,  limited 
to  those  appointed  to  speak,  but  these  gentlemen  having  con- 
cluded what  they  had  to  say,  others  had  an  opportunity  of 
expressing  their  opinions,  which  they  did  freely  and  fully,  and, 
as  we  can  well  see  in  the  reports,  with  much  advantage. 

This  plan  of  carrying  on  a  scientific  meeting  is  much  to  be 
preferred  to  that  ordinarily  adopted  of  reading  the  papers  in> 
extensoj  and  debating  them  afterwards.  Doubtless,  to  be  carried 
out  as  fully  as  it  may  be,  a  copy  of  the  paper  to  be  discussed 
should  have  been  in  the  hands  of  every  member  present.  This, 
however,  was  impracticable  on  the  occasion  we  are  considering. 

We  most  confidently  commend  the  reports  of  these  speeches 
to  the  attention  of  our  readers,  feeling  assured  that  they  will  read 
them,  as  we  have  done,  with  great  interest. 

The  reports  of  the  discussions  are  followed  by  the  eloquent  and 
excellent  address  of  the  President,  Dr.  Hughes.  We  listened  to 
the  address  with  much  pleasure,  and  we  have  read  it  with  still 
greater.  The  conception  of  homoBopathy  set  forth  therein  is,  we 
are  sure,  the  correct  one.  The  determination,  come  what  may, 
to  adhere  to  what  we  believe  to  be  true,  expressed  by  Dr.  Hughes, 
is  worthy  of  all  admiration.  While  the  desire  that  differences  of 
opinion  should  not  be  hindrances  to  professional  association,  but 
rather  subjects  of  professional  discussion  which  should  lead  to 
higher,  wider,  and  more  accurate  conceptions  of  what  is  true  in 
medicine,  will  find  an  echo  in  every  breast  not  stifled  by  preju- 
dice, ignorance,  or  narrowness.  All  who  read  this  address  will, 
we  feel  sure,  rise  from  its  perusal  the  better  for  having  done  so. 

The  third  part  is  devoted  to  reports  on  the  history  of  homceo- 
pathy  during  the  last  five  years,  furnished  by  Belgium,  Canada, 
France,  Germany,  Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies,  India,  Italy, 
Bussia,  Spain,  and  the  United  States. 

Dr.  Martiny,  of  Brussels,  describes  the  present  state  of 
homoeopathy  in  Belgium.  His  brief  account  assures  us  thtEt 
the  progress  of  our  views  there  is  eminently  satisfactory,  and 
especially  so  at  present.  Hence,  when  in  1886  the  next  Inter- 
Dational  Homoeopathic  Convention  assembles  in  its  capital,  we 
believe  that  those  who  are  present  will  find  that  its  appreciation 
has  largely  extended. 

Canada  is  reported  on  by  its  provinces.  Dr.  Logan,  of  Ottawa, 
sketches  its  history  in  Ontario ;  Dr.  Nichol,  of  Montreal,  writes  on 
behalf  of  Quebec ;   and  Dr.  Allan  King,  of  St.  John,  for  the 


752  BBTIBWS.  B«fieir,D«s.i.iaB* 

Maritiine  Provinces.  The  result  is  an  eihibition  of  steady  pro- 
gress, both  among  the  more  inteUigent  dasses  of  soeiety  a&d 
among  medical  men. 

Dr.  Glande,  of  Paris,  is  the  author  of  the  report  on  France. 
There,  it  appears,  the  progress  of  homoeopathy  is  not  so 
rapid  as  we  should  expect  it  to  be.  The  reason,  however,  is  all 
too  plain,  and  consists  in  the  propensity  of  our  neighbours  to 
form  themselves  into  groups,  divided  against  one  another,  on 
points  of  secondary  importance.  Dr.  Claude's  account  of  these 
divisions  among  the  800  homoeopathists  who  minister  to  the 
wants  of  their  country  remind  us  of  the  words  of  M.  Thiers,  who, 
when  taking  leave  of  the  deputies  before  the  holidays,  expressed 
a  hope  that  on  their  return  to  Versailles  he  should  find  them 
less  Elepublican,  less  Bonapartist,  less  Legitimist,  and  all  more 
French,  We  would  that  our  colleagues  in  Paris  could  be 
brought  to  feel  that,  by  attaching  supreme  importance  to  minor 
points,  they  are  impeding  the  progress  of  homoeopathy ;  that 
one  large  and  comprehensive  society  would  effect  far  more  good 
than  three  small  and,  as  it  were,  sectarian  associations;  that 
one  good-sized  hospital  would  be  more  useful  than  two  com- 
paratively little  ones  ;  that  a  journal  which  would  give  currency 
to  the  views  of  all  would  do  more  good  than  three  or  four  which 
are  limited  to  the  expression,  each  of  one  set  of  opinions ;  that 
union  is  strength  is  a  lesson  our  French  brethren  have  got  to 
learn  ;  and,  if  homoeopathy  is  to  advance  there,  they  must  both 
learn  it  and  act  up  to  it. 

Germany  was  to  have  been  reported  on  by  Dr.  Goullon,  jun., 
of  Weimar,  but  as  he  failed  to  do  so.  Dr.  Dudgeon,  who  is 
thoroughly  familiar  with  German  literature,  undertook  the  task« 
His  account  is  not  satisfactory.  In  Germany  homoeopa&y 
appears  at  the  best  to  be  stationary.'  The  practice  of  medicine 
there  offers  but  a  slender  chance  of  making  a  livelihood.  Com- 
petition is  great,  and  the  fee,  regulated  by  law  at  two  marks  or 
a  couple  of  shillings  a  visit,  does  not  admit  of  a  homoeopathic 
physician  making  a  living.  Patients  get  well  under  homoeo- 
pathic treatment  too  fast  to  allow  of  a  physician  earning  enough 
to  keep  himself  and  his  family  at  two  shillings  a  visit,  so 
homoeopathy  makes  but  little  progress.  To  be  a  physician  in 
Germany  a  man  must  be  an  allopath  to  make  as  many  visits 
during  an  illness  as  will  enable  him  to  keep  himself.  Just  now, 
however,  a  good  deal  of  attention  is  being  directed  to  homoeo- 
pathy by  allopathic  persecution,  so  that  we  look  for  a  revival  in 
the  &,therland  of  homoeopathy  ere  long. 

The  state  of  homoeopathy  in  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies  is 
set  forth  by  Dr.  Pope,  and  as  that  may  be  fairly  supposed  to  be 
known  by  our  colleague^  here,  we  need  not  further  refer  to  it. 


iSSS'SrrS^  BBViKws.  768 


KiBfiew,  Dm.  1.  IBSL. 


Dr.  Sincar*8  aeconnt  of  the  history  of  homoaopftthy  ia  India 
U  very  interestiiig,  and  from  it  we  gather  that  progreas  there, 
though  Blow,  is  still  satisfactory. 
,  In  Italy  the  spread  of  honusopathy  is»  according  to  Dr. 
Amtdphy,  of  Nice,  restricted  hy  imperfect  organisation.  Never- 
theless, improvement  is  being  daily  manifested,  and  if  Italy  can 
boast  of  a  few  physicians  so  earnest  and  so  accomplished  as 
Dr.  Cigliano,  who  attended  the  Convention,  we  are  sore  that 
homoBopathy  will  ere  long  become  a  power  in  that  country. 

The  account  of  homoeopathy  in  Russia,  by  Dr.  Bojanus,  of 
Moscow,  is  very  interesting.  When  we  consider  the  innumer- 
able restrictions  on  freedom  of  opinion  and  indeed  on  everything 
else  which  exist  in  that  country  of  Imperial  and  Nihihstio  despot- . 
ism,  we  think  his  report  may  be  regarded  as  good. 
.  A  native  having  failed  to  respond  to  the  invitation  to  tell  us 
how  homcBopathy  fares  in  Spain,  Dr.  Tuckey  very  kindly  under- 
iook  to  examine  the  facts  concerning  its  progress.  In  the 
course  of  a  short  but  interesting  narrative,  he  succeeds  in 
showing  that  quiet  but  satisfactory  progress  is  being  made  in  all 
departments  of  the  Peninsula. 

Following  the  easy-going  people  of  Spain,  who  proverbially 
put  off  doing  to-day  what  tiiey  fancy  that  they  can  do  as  well 
to-morrow,  we  come  to  the  report  by  Dr.  Talbot,  of  Boston,  on 
the  state  of  homoeopathy  in  the  energetic  young  giant  of  the 
Western  hemisphere — the  United  States  of  .^erica.  From  this 
we  find  that,  starting  with  one  homoeopathic  physician  in  1825, 
they  have  to-day  upwards  of  six  thousand,  and,  in  addition, 
twenty-six  State  and  more  than  one  hundred  local  societies, 
thirty-eight  hospitals,  forty  dispensaries,  eleven  medical  colleges, 
and  seventeen  journals.  We  trust  that  homoeopathy  will  con- 
tinue to  flourish  there,  and  when  we  note  the  earnestness  and 
ability  displayed  in  the  discussions  by  those  who  came  over  to 
represent  American  homoeopathy  at  the  Convention,  we  have  not 
a  shadow  of  doubt  but  that  it  will  do  so. 

This  portion  of  the  Transactions  concludes  with  a  report  on 
homoeopathy  in  Victoria,  Australia,  by  Mr.  Martin,  of  Mel- 
bourne.    His  account  is  in  ail  respects  satisfactory. 

The  concluding  section  of  this  volume  is  made  up  of  the 
essays  presented  for  discussion.  Of  these  we  gave  a  brief 
resume  in  our  report  of  the  proceedings  in  our  August  number. 
We  need,  therefore,  say  nothing  further  about  them,  save  that  in 
all  therapeutics  is  prominent,  especially  prominent.  The  cure 
of  disease  is  that  which  the  writers  have  aimed  at  discussing—^ 
not  the  post  mortem  appearances  it  displays.  Hence,  these 
papers  are  of  considerable  value,  and  when  read  in  connection 
with  the  criticisms  they  elicited  in  debate,  will  we  are  sure  be 
ibund  very  useful  to  botii  students  and  practitioners  of  medicine^ 


754  BKVIEWS.  Ibefiew*I>ee.l,1ttU 

Finally,  we  mxmt  eongratnlate  Dr.  Hnghee  on  the  complete 
saeceBs  of  the  gathering  he  initiated,  wivked  at  TwiremittiTiglyy 
and  carried  through  with  so  much  gratification  to  eTetyone  ccm- 
cemed.  The  Tohime  we  have  heen  noticing  completes  hia  woik, 
and  does  so  most  worthily.  We  trost  that  all  our  medical 
hrethren  will  purchase  it.  The  coet  most  have  been  con- 
siderable to  admit  of  so  handsome  a  yolnme  being  brought  ont 
in  the  way  it  has  been,  while,  as  is  well  known,  the  fnnds  at  the 
disposal  of  the  committee  were  quite  inadequate  to  provide  for 
the  publication  of  the  TraiwicUons,  We  therefore  trust  that 
Dr«  Hughes  will  not  be  allowed,  through  a  deficiency  in  sales,  to- 
be  any  loser  by  having  so  generously,  so  thorou^y,  and  so 
erediti^ly  finished  the  work  he  had  undertaken. 


The  Homoeopathic  Physician's  Fisidng  Ust  and  Pockst  Esperkny^ 
By  BoBEBi  Fauueseb,  M.D.    Boericke  &  Tafel. 

When,  as  is  usual  at  the  close  of  the  year,  medical  practitioners 
are  beginning  to  think  about  a  new  visiting  list,  we  would  com< 
mend  that  before  us  to  the  notice  of  homoeopathic  practitioners. 
Its  chief  feature  is  that  it  contains  a  Repertory ;  which,  brief 
though  it  is,  will  oftentimes  prove  useful.  In  addition  to  the 
spaces  ruled  for  the  record  of  a  visit  the  corresponding  page  is 
ruled  with  spaces  sufficiently  large  to  allow  of  the  name  of  the 
medicine  being  written  therein — a  very  great  convenience  in 
many  instances. 

NOTABIUA. 


BATH  HOMOEOPATHIC  HOSPITAL. 

A  Bazaab  and  Exhibition  of  Paintings  and  other  Works  of  Art 
was  held  in  the  City  of  Bath,  during  i^e  first  week  of  last  month. 
The  following  report  of  the  proceedings  is  firom  the  Bath  Argus, 
of  the  5th  ult. : — 

*'  The  Bazaar  was  opened  at  noon  on  Wednesday  by  the 
Mayor,  who  was  supported,  amongst  others,  by  the  following: 
gentlemen  :--the  Bevs.  C.  S.  Hort,  G.  Newnham  (of  Corsham), 
and  N.  Numberg ;  Colonel  Black ;  Doctors  Holland,  Newman,, 
and  Norman ;  Messrs.  G.  Cruickshank,  T.  Beeves,  &c. 

''In  his  speech  his  Worship  observed  that  when  he  was  re- 
quested to  open  that  bazaar,  he  decided  to  pay  a  visit  to  the 
hospital.  He  did  not  give  the  management  notice  in  order  that 
a  holiday  appearance  might  be  put  on,  and  everything  put  ship- 
shape, but  quietly  walked  there  one  day  after  his  duties  at  the^ 
Guildhall  were  discharged,  and  asked  permission  to  inspect  tho 
wards.    He  must  congratulate  the  committee  upon  the  arrange- 


SSSS'SrrS^  NOTABILIA.  755 


Beview,  Deo.  1, 1881. 


mentff  that  were  made  for  the  indoor  patients.  Everything 
seemed  in  perfect  order,  the  matron  was  most  attentive  and 
obliging,  and  the  patients  gratefnl.  Since  its  establishment  it 
has  admitted  620  in-patients,  and  treated  15,600  out-patients. 
They  mast  at  once  realise  in  some  slight  degree  the  benefits  the 
committee  had  been  conferring  upon  the  poor  of  onr  city.  Hi? 
Worship  made  complimentary  reference  to  Dr.  Holland,  who  so 
kindly  gave  one  day  in  six  to  the  hospital.  Dr.  Newman,  the 
fomider,  who  was  actively  connected  with  it  for  85  years,  and 
who  is  now  an  honorary  physician,  and  Mr.  Norman,  who 
devoted  two  days  a  week  to  the  institution,  and  then  declared 
the  bazaar  open. 

"  The  Bev.  Q-.  Newnham  proposed  a  vote  of  thanks^  to  the 
Mayor.  Colonel  Black  seconded,  and  after  being  supported  by^ 
Dr.  Holland  it  was  carried. 

*'  The  Mayor  on  returning  thanks  was  presented  with  a 
bouquet  by  Miss  O.  Hort.  Mr.  G.  Gruiokshank  mentioned  that 
after  the  American  war  eight  or  nine  hundred  soldiers  were 
treated  by  the  homoeopathic  system,  and  a  similar  number  by 
the  allopathic  mode.  Under  the  former  5  died  and  15  remained 
in  the  hospital,  while  under  the  latter  120  died  and  189  remained 
in  the  hospital. 

''A  great  feature  of  the  bazaar  was  the  valuable  and  in- 
teresting assemblage  of  objects  displayed  in  the  Octagon  Boom. 
There  were  pictures,  china,  examples  of  work  in  the  precious 
metals,  embroidery,  and  other  things  in  which  the  cultivated 
mind  delights.  The  pictures  were  placed  around  the  room ; 
some  on  tables  rested  against  the  walls,  with  others  hanging' 
above  them,  and  many  found  most  convenient  places  on  the 
well-known  seats  of  the  rooms.  The  contents  of  one  of  these 
seats  were  particularly  attractive,  and  as  they  faced  the  windows 
they  were  well  lighted,  ten  advantage  which,  from  the  construction 
of  the  room,  it  was  impossible  all  these  treasures  could  enjoy. 
The  pictures  we  allude  to  were  part  of  a  large  contribution  sent 
by  Dr.  Dyce  Brown.  They  were  a  remarkably  good  example  of 
Collins — a  very  pretty  picture  with  a  wrong  name ;  a  capital 
Morlaud  called  '  The  Fleecy  Charge,'  a  title  that  will  suggest  the 
subject  to  those  acquainted  with  his  works  ;  and  a  picture  of  the 
present  time,  a  water-colour  by  Wilmot  Pilsbury,  in  which  a 
wheat  field,  with  distant  village,  is  most  skilfully  treated.  Dr. 
Brown  also  sent  a  capital  sketch  of  a  dead  pigeon  by  W.  Hunt, 
one  of  J.  D.  Linton's  single  figure  studies,  entitled  *  Ofif  Guard,' 
a  recent  picture  by  Stocks  of '  Dante  and  Virgil  crossing  tho 
Styx,'  and  several  other  works  of  mark.  Of  Mr.  Blaine's  contri- 
butions, one  struck  us  as  being  particularly  charming ;  it  appears 
to  be  the  portrait  of  a  young  lady,  in  which  the  pretty  face  is 
foil  of  animation.    She  is  c^essed  in  black,  with  a  white  lao& 


766  NOTABILIA.  *SSSL 


Beviev,  Bee.  1,  IBtL 


ruff,  and  a  turban  of  siimlar  material — a  fashion  of  the  last 
^sentoiy.  Mr.  Butcher's  picture  of  *  Cheddar  GUffa,  with  fog 
coming  up  the  Gorge,*  is  a  good  example  of  Hardwiek's  wo^  in 
oiL  The  capital  pictures  of  sheep  and  Scotch  cattiLe  by  Park, 
were  contributed  by  the  Mayor,  who  also  sent,  besides  others,  a 
large  picture  in  which  a  fine  St.  Bernard  is  represented  as  having 
found  a  child  in  the  snow,  but  being  hung  above  a  door  it  was 
out  of  the  reach  of  close  inspection.  Mr.  Milsom*s  very 
pretty  circular  pictures  by  Branwhite  were  unfortunately 
hung  on  the  dark  side  of  the  room.  Mr.  Milsom  also  sent 
a  fine  Syer.  Mr.  G.  H.  Stunney  was  a  liberal  contributor, 
as  was  Mr.  Rainey  and  Mr.  Hill.  In  a  comer,  with  tittle  light 
upon  it,  we  observed  a  large  and  powerM  Bembrandt  etching, 
sent  by  Mr.  Harbutt.  A  set  of  water-colour  drawings,  repre- 
senting the  scenery  of  the  Ottaway,  excited  a  great  deal  of 
interest,  from  their  subjects,  bright  autumnal  colouring,  the 
patience  with  which  they  had  been  studied,  and  also  from  the 
fact  that  they  were  the  work  of  a  member  of  an  old  Bath  &mily, 
Mr.  Alfred  Holdstock,  who  left  his  native  city  for  Canada  many 
years  ago.  We  were  struck  with  the  dexterous  brush-work  and 
pleasant  colour  of  a  small  plaque  sent  by  Mrs.  Holland,  in  which 
a  nymph  is  represented  playing  on  a  flageolet.  It  was  in  one  of 
two  cases  contributed  by  Mr.  Chivers,  containing  fine  specimens 
of  old  and  modem  silver  and  gold  plate,  carved  ivory  tankards, 
pierced  silver  work,  and  who  also  had  a  beautifully  constructed 
'  piping  bullfinch,'  who  every  now  and  then  issued  from  hia 
golden  nest  and  sang  most  merrily.  The  Bev.  C.  Hort  sent 
some  Moorish  china  ;  Mr.  Gk>odman  had  a  large  case  containing 
choice  examples  of  the  Ceramic  art.  Lady  Straubenzee,  we 
noticed,  contributed  beautiful  alabaster  frames,  ivory  carvings, 
and  some  works  in  which  coral  was  mixed  with  silver  filigree, 
producing  excellent  results.  Mrs.  H.  M.  Skrine  sent  many 
beautiful  things.  Mr.  J.  D.  Harris,  besides  some  fine  bronzes, 
sent  most  delicate  and  tasteful  examples  of  goldsmith's  work 
from  Cashmere  and  China;  particularly  we  noticed  an  exquisitely 
wrought  casket  from  the  latter  country.  The  Art  needlework 
from  South  Kensington  appeared  to  us  most  beautifully  executed, 
but  of  course  a  judgment  on  that  must  be  left  to  the  ladies,  and 
they  certainly  seemed  satisfied.  All  that  we  observed  appeared 
to  be  perfect  in  design  and  arrangement  of  colour.  Other 
beautiful  things  were  lent  by  I^dy  Dynevor,  Lady  Jane  Swin- 
burne, Mr.  T.  Owen,  Mrs.  F.  Clerk,  Mr.  E.  T.  Payne,  Mr. 
Tyndale,  and  others.  A  very  beautiful  piano,  the  case  of  which 
was  made  by  Mr.  Knight,  wa^  contributed  by  Messrs.  Milsom 
and  Son.  Mr.  Chapman's  basso  relievos  attracted  much  atten- 
tion. During  each  evening  this  room  has  been  very  effectually 
lighted  by  electricity,  the  machinery  being  under  the  super-. 


jE^g^gTSir  NOTABILIA; 767 

intendence  of  Mr.  Braham.  Prolmblj  in  oase  of  accident  the 
gae  chandeliers  were  lit,  but  the  new  light  paled  them  8adly« 
So  bright  and  pnre  was  it  that  the  pictures  cotdd  well  be  seen  in 
it,  l^e  effect  of  the  delicate  tints  in  Mr,  Holdstock's  Canadian 
drawings  in  no  way  suffered. 

'*  The  following  is  a  list  of  those  ladies  who  kindly  undertook 
the  duties  of  the  stalls : — ^Mrs.  Black,  Miss  Fox,  Mrs.  Hippesley, 
Mrs.  HoUand,  Mrs.  Norman,  and  the  Misses  Newman,  Missea 
Little  and  Orr.  There  was  also  a  host  of  young  lady  assistants, 
who  were  indefatigable  in  their  praiseworthy  endeavours. 

«  The  decorations  were  by  Messrs.  Becket  and  Son,  of  Quiei 
Street.  The  Rhine  Band  performed  at  intervals  in  the  gallery, 
and  a  Glee  Choir,  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Frith  on  a  piano  kindly 
lent  by  Mr.  Soane,  enlivened  the  proceedings  during  the 
evenings." 

PROFESSOR  GREENFIELD  ON  THE  LATE 
PROFESSOR  HENDERSON. 

Db.  W.  S.  Gbeenfobld  is  now  the  occupant  of  the  chair  of 
Pathology  in  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  once  filled  by 
Professor  Henderson.  On  the  occasion  of  his  Inaugural  Address, 
Professor  Ghreenfield  reviewed  the  past  history  and  present  state 
of  the  science  it  is  his  business  to  teach.  In  his  opening 
remarks,  he  referred  to  the  institution  and  conduct  of  the  chair. 
The  first  ^professor,  Dr.  John  Thompson,  is  alluded  to  in  no 
friendly  spirit ;  he  told  his  hearers  that  '*  during  his  tenure  of 
the  professorship,  pathology  did  not  suffer  in  the  school,  but  it 
was  by  the  labours  of  his  colleagues  rather  than  his  own  that  it 
was  enriched."  Of  Professor  Henderson,  he  says,  '*I  know 
not  what  infiuence  may  have  been  exerted  by  it  during  his  long 
tenure  of  office,  but  it  cannot  have  been  marked  in  the  hands  of 
one,  who,  whatever  his  genius  and  accomplishments,  was  in  the 
strange  position  of  professing  a  subject  whose  methods  are 
practical,  and  whose  principles  are  the  basis  of  scientific  medi- 
cine, whilst  he  practised  a  system  of  therapeutics,  originating  in 
groundless  theories,  and  uncontrolled  by  scientific  observation. 
Thus,  for  thirty-eight  years  after  its  foundation,  the  chair, 
instead  of  advancing  on  the  lines  of  observation  and  research, 
which  should  have  made  it  a  distinguished  aid  to  science, 
remained  practically  useless  for  that  purpose.'* 

Dr.  Greenfield  has,  as  all  who  know  anything  of  modem 
pathology  know,  done  good  work  in  that  department  of  science, 
and  has  established  his  right  to  be  regarded  as  an  authority 
tiierein.  As  a  ph3'sician,  as  a  curer  of  disease,  it  is  otherwise. 
Not  one  &ct,  so  far  as  we  are  aware,  has  ever  been  put  forward 
by  bim  calculated  to  render  any  aid  in  the' treatment  of  disease^ 


758  KOTABILIA.  '^^^■iSrfjS?' 


Review,  Dee.  !•  IflBU 


He  has  not  even  done  so  mncli — as  have  others — as  take  a 
clinical  ofoserration  on  the  use  of  dmgs  from  homceopathic  litera- 
tore,  and  lay  it  hefore  the  profession  generally  as  something  new 
And  nsefhl  1     The  distinguished  man  at  whose  memory  he  sneers 
so  indecently  was  not  only  a  pathologist  of  wide  and  varied 
learning,  and  an  original  observer  of  high  repnte,  bnt  he  was  a 
physician   of  large  experience,  one  who  not  only  knew  what 
disease  was,  hnt  how  to  cure  such  as  was  corable.     Of  him  the 
late  Dr.  John  Beid,  of  St.  Andrews,  once  said — ''if  Henderson 
had  not  been  a  homoeopathist,  he  wonld  have  been  the  leading 
physician  in  Scotland."     As  a  diagnostician,  Henderson  had  not 
his  peer  in  Edinburgh.     As  a  snccessfbl  practitioner  he  was 
unrivalled.  As  a  lecturer  there  was  no  professor  whose  addresses 
were  characterised  by  greater  research,  more  acute  criticism,  or 
by  sounder  or  more  practical  learning,  while  none  were  more 
thoroughly  abreast  of  the  science  of  the  day. 

That  Henderson  confined  his  observations  in  science  to  the 
class-room  is  due  to  the  fact  that  the  medical  periodicals  of  the 
day  were  closed  to  him.  The  subject  of  daily  insults  from  his 
colleagues  in  the  Faculty  of  Medicine,  he  withdrew  himself  from 
all  association  with  them,  and  threw  his  energies  into  private 
practice,  a  department  of  work  his  success  in  which  did  much 
towards  exciting  enquiry  into  and  stimulating  the  progress  of 
homoeopathic  therapeutics  some  thirty  years  ago.  Hated  with 
all  the  vigour  that  an  Edinburgh  medical  professor  of  that  day 
appeared  to  feel  so  much  pleasure  in  displaying  towards  one  or 
other  of  his  colleagues,  Henderson  was  equally  the  subject  of  the 
fear  and  envy  of  the  members  of  the  medical  faculty. 

All  this  and  much  more  arose  from  the  fact  that  Dr.  Henderson 
made  homoeopathy  the  subject  of  a  prolonged,  careful,  and  inde- 
pendent investigation,  and  finding  that  he  could  cure  disease 
more  quickly,  more  safely,  and  more  pleasantly  by  employing 
his  medicines  on  homoeopathic  indications,  he  honesUy  and 
openly  confessed  the  results  of  his  enquiries,  and  acted  upon 
them  in  practice.  This  homoeopathy,  of  which  Professor 
Greenfield  knows  nothing  ^hateyer,  into  the  merits  of  which  he 
has  never  made  any  enquiry  at  all,  is  described  by  him  as 
''originating  in  groundless  theories,"  and  as  being  ''uncon- 
trolled by  scientific  observation." 

Is  it  likely,  we  would  ask,  that  a  physician  who  had  devoted 
fifteen  or  sixteen  years  of  his  professional  life  to  scientific  investi- 
gations, who,  as  his  immediate  successor  in  the  chair,  the  late 
Professor  Sanders,  said  of  him  in  his  inaugural  address,  early 
"  distinguished  himself  as  an  original  observer  of  disease ;  "  one 
to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  our  power  to  discriminate  between 
typhus  and  relapsing  fevers,  and  again,  between  typhoid  and 
typhus;  whose  pathological  observations  and  clinical  lectures 


S^'^rriSf^  NOTABILIA.  769 


Beriew,  Bee.  1, 1881. 


-stamped  him  as  a  singularly  aeenrate  observer,  is  it  possible,  we 
would  ask,  that  snch  a  man  wonld  adopt  a  method  of  treatment 
<*  originating  in  groundless  theories  and  uncontrolled  by  scientific 
observation."  We  believe  that  anything  of  the  kind  is  utterly 
impossible,  and  the  mere  fact  that  a  physician  of  Henderson's 
type  did  adopt  homoeopathy  is  a  priori  evidence  of  no  mean 
value  that  it  is  a  method  which  has  a  soHd  foundation  in  fact, 
and  is  in  perfect  harmony  with  scientific  observation. 

Professor  Greenfield  would  be  wiser  were  he  to  reserve  his 
sneers  at  his  distinguished  predecessor  until  he  has  given  proof 
jbhat  he  is  something  more  than  an  observer  of  the  products  of 
disease,  that  he  knows  something  more  than  its  mere  natural 
history.  When  he  does,  he  will,  we  think,  regard  Henderson's 
memory  with  somewhat  more  of  respect  than  he  did  when  he 
delivered  his  inaugural  address  last  month. 


INTERNATIONAL  HOMCEOPATHIG  GONVENTION. 

The  treasurer  requests  us  to  state  that  the  subscription  of  the 
Hon.  Dr.  Allan  Gampbell,  of  Adelaide,  was  erroneously  published 
in  the  Ust  as  one  instead  of  two  guineas. 


The  following  letter,  which  owing  to  an  imperfect  address  only 
reached  the  President  of  the  Gonvention  last  month,  would,  had 
it  arrived  in  time,  have  been  read  at  the  meetings  last  July. 
Germany  was  unfortunate.  One  delegate  firom  Gentral  Germany 
was  stopped  by  the  illness  of  a  near  relative  occurring  suddenly 
just  as  he  was  on  the  eve  of  departure,  and  we  learn  from  the 
letter  we  now  publish  that  the  representative  of  the  Berlin  Society 
of  HomcBopa^c  Physicians  was  detained  by  the  dangerous 
illness  of  his  wife.     The  letter  runs  as  follows : — 

**  Berlin,  9th  July,  1881. 

**  We  deeply  regret  that  Dr.  Walz,  the  member  of  our  Society 
who  has  been  appointed  to  attend  the  International  Homoeopathic 
Gonvention  in  London,  and  to  offer  to  you  our  best  wishes  and 
respects,  is  unable  to  be  present  with  you,  as  his  wife  has 
Ajuddenly  become  dangerously  ill.  We  must  therefore  by  this 
letter  express  to  you  our  sincerest  desire  for  the  success  of  the 
Gongress  in  the  development  of  our  venerated  science,  which  is 
at  present  exposed  to  so  much  insult. 

**  We  also  wish  to  express  our  desire  to  enjoy  the  great  honour 
of  having  the  next  International  Homoeopathic  Gonvention  held 
at  Berlin — a  desire  which  has  been  expressed  in  the  address  of 
ihe  Homoeopathic  Gentral  Society  of  Germany,  and  we  join  in 


760  KOTABHiU.  *%S1S 


Bsnew.  Dec  1,  IflU. 


eipressmg  a  hope  fthat  the  meeiixig  of  the  International  Homceo- 
pi^c  Congrees  may  he  hdd  at  Berlin  on  the  9th  and  lOtfa  of 
Angoflt,  and  that  it  will  he  largely  attended. 

*'  The  Berlin  Society  of  Homoeopathic  Fhysieians^ 
**  Dr.  Fischer,  President. 

**  Knrforstenstr.  58." 

THE  LEE  AND  BLACKHEATH  MEDICAL  AND 
SURGICAL  AID  SOCIETY. 

A  SociETT  on  the  Provident  Aid  principle  has  been  formed  in 
this  district,  under  the  management  of  an  influential  Committee. 
The  object  of  the  Committee  is  to  enable  the  working  classes  and 
others  who  are  unable  to  pay  the  usual  professional  fees,  to 
secure  for  themselves,  on  provident  principles,  efficient  medical 
advice  and  medicine  during  illness  by  their  own  periodical  pay- 
ments, aided  by  the  contributions  of  honorary  subscribers. 

We  are  especially  glad  to  see  that  the  members  of  this  Society 
are  allowed  Uie  choice  of  either  homoeopathic  or  non-homoeopathic 
treatment,  and  that  to  this  end  Dr.  Arthur  Kennedy,  of  Black- 
heath,  has  been  appointed  a  medical  officer  conjoint^  with  Dr. 
Chittenden,  of  Lee. 

The  Committee  draw  especial  attention  to  this  arrangement, 
as  one  that  cannot  be  '<  too  highly  valued." 

We  congratulate  the  Committee  on  the  truly  just  and  liberal 
spirit  displayed  in  their  arrangements,  and  also  on  their  having 
been  able  to  secure  the  services  of  a  homoeopathic  practitioner  in 
whose  skill  and  attention  they  may  confidently  place  full  rehanee. 

THE  PASSION  FOR  PURGATIVES. 

Thb  passion  for  purgatives,  and  the  belief  in  their  universal 
applicability,  has  been  ridiculed  by  satirists  and  surgeons  from 
Voltaire  to  Skey,  but  it  still  survives.  A  boy,  aged  4i  years, 
named  Frederick  Dillnutt,  has  recently  met  wi&  his  death 
through  the  administration  of  a  druggist's  purgative  powder. 
At  the  inquest,  it  was  stated  that  the  deceased  had  been  iU  for  a 
day  or  two,  and  stayed  at  home  firom  school.  It  was  not  thought 
that  he  was  seriously  ill,  and  the  mother  gave  him  a  purgative 
powder.  He  became  worse  after  having  the  powder,  and  died 
during  the  night,  as  he  was  being  carried  from  one  bedroom  to 
another.  Mr.  John  Brighouse,  of  98,  Tollington  Park,  stated 
that  deceased  was  dead  when  he  was  summoned  to  attend  him. 
On  making  a  post  mortem  examination,  he  found  the  whole  of 
the  organs  healthy,  the  death  having  resulted  from  failure  of  the 
heart's  action.  The  stomach  and  intestines  were  quite  empty, 
which  was  no  doubt  owing  to  the  strong  purgative  powder 


^liS'Srf^ef^  NOTABILU.  761 


•Beview,  Deo.  1, 1881. 


which  had  been  given.  From  what  he  had  heard  of  the  case,  he 
had  come  to  the  concloBion  that  death  had  been  actually  caused 
by  the  strong  pnrgatiye  powder.  He  wished  it  to  be  distinctly 
understood  that,  to  give  a  child  a  strong  opening  powder  on  the 
slightest  appearance  of  sickness,  was  to  place  the  life  of  that 
child  in  great  danger ;  and  the  jury  wotdd,  of  course,  know  that, 
in  the  majority  of  instances,  parents  went  to  a  druggist  for  a 
powder.  The  coroner  said  that  his  experience  had  shown  him 
the  truth  of  Mr.  Brighouse's  remarks,  and  he  hoped  the  press 
would  make  the  case  known.  The  jury  returned  a  verdict  that 
the  deceased  died  from  the  administration  of  a  purgative  powder, 
and  appealed  to  the  members  of  the  press  to  use  their  best 
endeavours  in  bringing  a  knowledge  of  the  dangers  of  such 
powders  to  the  public.  The  purgative  powder  is  the  pharma- 
ceutist's panacea,  and  the  apothecaries*  cure-all.  Although  the 
most  common,  it  is  probably  the  most  dangerous,  and  the  most 
often  abused  weapon  in  the  pharmacopoeia.  Prescribing 
druggists  fly  to  it  as  their  first  implement,  and  most  favourite 
nostrum.  How  many  has  it  not  slain,  and  how  many  thousands 
are  yet  doomed  to  die  from  " a  simple  purge"  ? — British  Medical 
Journal, 


CULTIVATINa   SPONGES. 

Messrs.  McKesson  &  Bobbins,  of  New  York,  are  now  showing 
in  their  office  a  sponge  of  fine  texture  and  in  every  respect  perfect, 
measuring  7  inches  by  8  inches,  the  history  of  the  growth  of 
which  is  exactly  known.  This  piece  of  sponge  is  one  which  has 
been  grown  in  Florida  from  a  cutting  about  two  inches  in  length 
and  of  triangular  shape,  ''planted"  only  seven  months  previously. 
It  has  not  been  previously  supposed,  we  believe,  that  sponge 
grew  so  rapidly. 

The  ''  planting  "  was  a  rather  curious  process.  From  a  parent 
sponge  were  cut  24  of  these  triangular  cuttings,  and  through 
each  a  stick  was  thrust,  and  then  stuck  in  the  sand  on  Ihe 
sponge-bar  close  to  the  shore.  The  whole  process  was  conducted 
under  water,  the  sponge  never  having  been  lifted  from  its  natural 
element.  The  experiment  was  carried  out  by  a  gentieman 
residing  at  Pine  Key,  Florida,  who  was  interested  in  the  sponge 
business. 

The  natural  propagation  of  sponge  takes  place  at  certain 
seasons  of  the  year,  when  yellow  jelly-like  grains  sprout  from 
the  substance  which  covers  the  skeleton  of  the  sponge,  projecting 
more  and  more,  and  gradually  increasing  in  size.  Each  germ 
assumes  an  egg-like  shape,  and  a  large  portion  of  its  surface 
becomes  covered  with  cilia  all  endowed  with  the  power  of 
vibration.     These  vibrating  hairs  act  as  oars  to  the  littie  germ 

YoL  25,  No.  12.  8  D 


762 HOTABILIA.  ''^gSJ^Sg^;^ 

to  row  it  away  as  soon  as  it  is  fireed  from  its  parent  to  some 
other  spot  to  which  it  may  attach  itself;  and  then,  having 
answered  the  purpose  for  which  they  were  expressly  dereloped, 
the  cilia  fall  off,  leaving  the  genn  gradually  to  develop  ihe 
peculiar  form  and  qnaJities  of  the  parent  sponge.  This 
experiment  at  Pine  Key  now  proves  that  the  cultivation  of  the 
sponge  artificially  is  not  only  practicable,  but  that  a  "  crop  " 
may,  under  favourable  circumstances,  be  soured  by  this  means 
in  a  much  shorter  time  than  by  awaiting  the  ordinary  course  of 
nature.  The  experiments  will  doubtless  be  continued,  and  it  wiU 
not  be  long  before  ground  will  be  staked  for  "  sponge  beds,"  as 
it  is  for  "  oyster  beds." 

As  the  Mediterranean  sponges  are  generally  fished  from  deep 
water,  it  is  probable  that  the  experiment  could  not  be  so  easily 
repeated  there,  but  the  result  of  the  process  in  America  will  be 
watched  with  much  interest,  especially  as  Florida  sponge  has  of 
late  gone  up  considerably  in  value. — Chemist  and  Druggist. 


INDIABUBBER  GATHERING  IN  COLUMBIA. 

Am  interesting  account  is  given  of  this  process  in  a  report  just 
issued  by  the  United  States  Consul  at  Carthagena.  When  the 
hunter  has  found  a  rubber  tree,  he  first  clears  away  a  space  from 
the  roots,  and  then  moves  on  in  search  of  others,  returning  to- 
commence  operations  as  soon  as  he  has  marked  all  the  trees  in. 
vicinity.  He  first  of  all  digs  a  hole  in  the  ground  hard  by,  and 
then  cuts  in  the  tree  a  Y-shaped  incision,  wiQi  a  machete  as  high 
as  he  can  reach.  The  milk  is  caught  as  it  exudes  and  flows  into 
the  hole.  As  soon  as  the  flow  from  the  cuts  has  ceased,  the- 
tree  is  chopped  down,  and  the  trunk  raised  from  the  ground  by 
means  of  an  improvised  trestle.  After  placing  large  leaves  to 
catch  the  sap,  gashes  are  cut  throughout  the  entire  length,  and 
the  milk  carefully  collected.  When  it  first  exudes,  the  sap  is  of 
the  whiteness  and  consistence  of  cream,  but  it  turns  black  on 
exposure  to  the  air.  When  the  hole  is  filled  with  rubber  it  is 
coagulated  by  adding  hard  soap,  or  the  root  of  the  mechvacan, 
which  have  a  most  rapid  action,  and  prevent  the  escape  of  the 
water  that  is  always  present  in  the  fresh  sap.  When  coagulated 
sufficiently,  the  rubber  is  carried  on  the  backs  of  the  hunters  by 
bark  thongs  to  ihe  banks  of  the  river  and  floated  down  on  rafts. 
The  annual  destruction  of  rubber  trees  in  Columbia  is  very  greats 
and  the  industry  must  soon  disappear  altogether,  unless  the 
Government  puts  in  force  a  law  that  already  exists,  which 
compels  the  hunters  to  tap  the  trees  without  cutting  them  down. 
If  this  law  were  strictly  carried  out  there  would  be  a  good- 
opening  for  commercial  enterprise,  for  rubber  trees  will  grow 


^^^rr?Sf"'  OBITUABT.  763 


Beriew,  Dec.  1, 1881. 


from  eight  to  10  inches  in  diameter  in  three  or  four  years  from 
seed.  The  trees  require  hnt  little  attention,  and  begin  to  yield 
returns  sooner  than  any  other.  Those  that  yield  Ihe  greatest 
amount  of  mbber  floniish  on  the  banks  of  the  Simn  and  Aslato 
rivers.  The  yalne  of  the  whole  indiambber  imported  into  the 
States  annually  is  abont  $10,000 yOOO.-^Ktiowlec^e,  Nov.  18th. 

THE  LONDON  SCHOOL  OF  HOMOEOPATHY. 

A  MEETING  of  the  Goyemors  and  Subscribers  of  this  institution 
will  be  held  in  the  lecture  room  on  Thursday,  the  15th  inst.,  at 
three  o'clock,  for  the  purpose  of  revising  the  rules  and  regula- 
tions by  -which  it  has  hitherto  been  directed. 

THE  BRITISH  HOMGBOPATHIC  SOCIETY* 

The  next  meeting  of  this  Society  will  be  held  this  evening  at 
7  o'clock.  At  eight  o'clock  a  paper  will  be  read  by  Dr.  Burnett 
on  The  use  of  Argentum  and  its  preparations  in  Gastric  Affections, 


OBITUARY. 


T.  H.  TUDGE,  M.D.,  M.R.C.S.  Eng. 

The  following  notice  of  the  late  Dr.  Tudoe  has  been  forwarded 
to  us  by  Dr.  Kiddle,  of  Bristol : — 

**  Timothy  Hale  Tudge  was  bom  of  highly  respectable  parents 
near  Malvern,  in  1822.  Through  family  reverses,  however,  he 
was  deprived  of  the  advantages  of  early  education.  Nevertheless 
courage,  perseverance,  and  a  natural  talent  enabled  him  to 
succeed  well  in  life. 

<*  He  became  connected  after  a  time  with  a  hydropathic 
establishment  in  Malvern.  Here,  under  the  superintendent- 
physician,  he  had  often  the  care  of  gentlemen  of  high  culture  and 
attainments,  and  among  them  the  late  Lord  Lytton.  Frequently, 
too,  he  had  to  travel  with  them.  His  kind,  genial,  animated 
nature,  and  his  macions  and  delightfidly  happy  turn  for  con- 
versation,  soon  made  him  a  general  favourite  with  the  patients, 
who  under  the  circumstances  were  usually  very  communicative 
and  liberal  of  advice.  Hence  he  had  ample,  various,  and  valuable 
opportunities  for  improvement,  and  of  gaining  useful  information 
and  knowledge. 

*'  At  lengUi  one  gentleman  was  so  interested  in  him  as  to 
insist  upon  his  accompanying  him  to  his  residence,  and  ulti- 
mately to  induce  him  to  remain  some  years  with  him  as  his 
quasi-medical  attendant.     He  soon  came  to  be  noted  in  the 

8D-.2 


764  OBITUABT.  "^^JSrWJK" 


Berieir,  Dee.  1, 18B1. 


neighbonrhood  for  his  skill  in  hydropathy,  whieh  brought  him 
many  patients ;  and  it  was  while  praotising  in  this  way  among 
them  that  he  first  was  made  acquainted  with  homoeopathy.  A 
friend  interested  in  the  system  gave  him  a  small  book  on  the 
subject,  and  some  remedies,  and  entreated  him  to  try  them ; 
which  he  did,  and  was  at  once  stmok  by  their  effects.  The  book 
was  then  eagerly  read,  when  his  natorally  astute  mind  canght  at 
the  idea  of  anything  approaching  certainty  in  therapentics. 
Convinced  of  its  validity,  he  became  £EU3cinated  and  delighted 
with  the  wonderful  law  of  similars.  From  that  time  he  was, 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life,  an  ardent  admirer  and  a 
bold  defender  of  the  School  of  Hahnemann. 

<*  He  now  determined  to  study  for  the  profession,  and  accord- 
ingly informed  his  patron-patient,  who  rather  than  be  deprived  of 
his  services  took  up  his  winter  residence  in  London.  Entering 
the  Grosvenor  School,  where  he  took  honours  in  anatomy  and 
physiology,  he  worked  hard,  and  passed  his  final  College  in  1864. 

**  After  taking  a  tour  through  France  and  Germany,  he  first 
commenced  practice  in  partnership  with  a  gentleman  at  Leeds. 

**  In  1865,  after  passing  an  examination  and  producing  an  able 
thesis  in  phthisis,  he  graduated  M.D.  of  Pennsylvania. 

*'  He  remained  a  short  time  only  at  Leeds,  and  then  went  to 
Yeovil,  where  he  quickly  formed  a  large  and  respectable  connec- 
tion, and  was  extremely  successful  in  practice.  Notedly  so  when 
some  four  years  ago  that  town  was  severely  visited  with  small-pox 
— ^when,  though  he  had  a  large  number  of  patients,  he  never,  if 
called  in  &om  the  first,  lost  a  case. 

'*  It  is  extremely  difficult,  especially  in  so  brief  a  sketch,  for  a 
dose  friend  to  adequately  and  rightly  estimate  the  character  of 
the  late  Dr.  Tudge.  He  was  no  ordinary  man.  And  had  he 
only  taken  some  pains  to  make  himself  as  efficient  in  writing  as 
he  did  in  many  other  matters,  he  might  undoubtedly  have 
wielded  a  wide  empire  over  his  fellows.  He  was  essentially — 
notwithstanding  one  or  two  minor  prejudices — a  large-minded  and 
large-hearted  man.  You  had  only  to  convince  his  intellect,  or  to 
touch  his  heart,  to  enlist  his  full  and  strong  sympathy  in  any 
just  cause.  Possessed  of  much  originality  and  force  of  character, 
he  thought  and  felt  deeply  upon  all  important  subjects  that  came 
under  his  notice.  A  brief  period  it  may  be,  and  the  profession 
may  know  how  deeply  he  thought  and  felt,  for  instance,  upon  the 
question  of  the  medical  education  of  the  homoeopath  in  tbis 
country.  To  understand  something  of  the  true  metal  of  the 
man,  it  was  necessary  only  to  do  something  by  the  way,  say,  of 
running  down  a  friend,  or  wilfully  misrepresenting  homoeopathy. 
In  an  instant  his  crest  rose,  his  bold,  fine  head  swung  back  upon 
his  shoulders,  his  dark  eyes  flashed,  when,  in  a  voice  tremulous 
with  emotion,  he  bore  down  upon  his  opponent  with  a  very 


SS^nSTiiSf*'        0ORBB8PONDBNOB.  786 


Beriev,  Deo.  1, 1881. 


torrent  of  eloqoent  inyective.  Occftsions  of  this  kind  aroosed  the 
whole  energy  of  his  being;  called  forth  the  deep,  poweifdlt 
masculine  qoalities  of  his  mind ;  while  his  immense  fond  of  infor- 
mation, his  wide  range  of  knowledge,  his  fertile  and  rich  imagi- 
nation,  and  hia  warm,  Idnd  heart,  were  alike  plainly  and  at  once 
discovered. 

'*  Professionally,  he  had  a  most  hmnble  estimate  of  his  own 
powers,  and  was  never  dogmatic,  even  to  a  junior.  With  a  keen 
insight  into  disease,  and  a  rare  grip  of  the  Materia  Medica,  he 
had  all  the  gifts  attaching  to  the  tme  physician.  His  aim  was 
always  pure,  disinterested,  elevated,  noble — ^without  any  respect 
of  persons,  to  cure  and  to  relieve  suffering  humanity. 

<'  It  was  the  knowledge  of  such  fieicts  as  these,  perhaps,  that 
made  so  many  weep  when  on  the  25th  of  September  last  he 
succumbed  to  heart  disease — a  family  complaint.  Dr.  Tudge 
was  married,  but  had  no  children.  He  leaves  his  widow  and  a 
brother,  as  well  as  many  friends,  to  deplore  his  loss." 

CHRISTOPHER  WILLIAMS,  ESQ. 

We  regret  to  have  to  announce  the  sudden  death,  at  a  com* 
paratively  early  age,  of  another  colleague — Mr.  Williams,  of 
Belfast.  Mr.  Williams  was  bom  in  1885.  His  medical  studies 
were  pursued  at  Qxiy*s  hospital,  and  in  1860  he  was  admitted  a 
member  of  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons,  and  he  received  the 
license  of  the  Apothecaries  Company.  About  1868  or  1869  he 
commenced  the  study  of  homoeopathy,  and  in  the  latter  year 
succeeded  Dr.  Edward  blake  in  his  practice  at  Wolverhampton. 
Here  he  remained  until  1876,  when  he  removed  to  Belfast. 
HomoBopathy  had  few  friends  there  at  this  time,  but  Mr.  Williams 
had  succeeded  in  overcoming  many  difficulties,  and  laying  the 
foundation  of  a  practice  which  gave  promise  of  being  of  con- 
siderable extent.  For  some  three  years  he  has  had  occasional 
attacks  of  cystitis,  which  have  caused  him  both  suffering  and 
anxiety.  Five  days  before  his  death  he  had  to  go  late  at  night 
some  miles  into  the  country  to  attend  a  midwifery  case.  Walking 
home  appeared  to  bring  on  an  attack,  when  complete  retention 
occurred,  followed  by  uremic  poisoning. 

CORRESPONDENCE. 


TYPHOID  FEVER  AT  MULLER'S  ORPHANAGE. 
To  the  Editors  of  the  Monthly  Honueop<Uhic  Review, 

Gentlemen, — ^I  regret  that  I  cannot  redeem  the  promise  yoa 
Jdndly  made  on  my  behalf,  in  your  last  Journal,  to  write  a  paper 


766  COBBEBPONDENCE,        ^^fSSTwrn! 


on  typhoid  fever,  but  gladly  gire  the  results  of  two  epidemics  of 
it  at  the  Orphan  Houses  here. 

The  New  Orphan  Houses,  more  generally  known  as  "  Miiller's," 
are  five  in  number,  detached,  and  situated  in  a  commanding^ 
position  on  the  top  of  Ashley  Hill,  about  two  miles  to  the  north- 
east of  Bristol,  and,  when  built,  were  '*  in  the  country,"  bat 
now  the  town  extends  beyond  them,  though  each  house  is 
situated  in  a  large  space  of  its  own  ground.  All  five  houses  are- 
substantially  built,  well  lighted,  and  thoroughly  ventilated. 

Each  has  its  own  well  of  good  water,  and  some  of  these  give 
an  abundant  supply  at  all  times  ;  the  bread  is  all  baked  in  No.  I 
house.  The  milk  is  from  one  farm,  but  its  channel  of  distribu- 
tion is  distinct  for  each  house.  Each  house  has  firom  400  to 
600  inmates,  besides  officials. 

The  position  of  the  houses,  the  extreme  cleanliness,  the 
thorough  ventilation,  the  complete  absence  of  all  unnecessary 
drapery,  would  lead  one  to  expect  a  high  standard  of  health  ; 
but  this  is  folly  compensated  for  in  the  feust  that  the  children 
are  greatly  predisposed  to  hereditary  disease,  especially  struma, 
or  phthisis,  or  they  have  lost  both  parents,  (and  a  very  large 
number  of  the  children  have  lost  both  parents  by  phthisis), 
which,  we  all  know,  teUs  greatly  against  the  patient  in  any 
illness. 

House  No.  2,  in  which  the  epidemic  of  August  last  took 
place,  is  occupied  by  400  girls ;  these  are  divided  into  three 
sections.  **  Infant  wing,"  **  Girls'  wing,"  and  the  "  Domestic 
Department,"  the  last  occupying  the  centre  of  the  building,  and 
consisting  of  the  older  girls ;  ihere  is  &ee  intercommunication 
between  the  different  parts  of  the  house,  but  the  children  do 
not  mix.  The  management  is  under  one  control  for  all  the  five 
houses. 

The  support  is  from  voluntary  contributions,  and  unsolicited. 
There  is  no  collection,  no  list  of  donors  published,  no  ordinary 
incentives  to  get  money,  and  thesd  contributions  come  from  all 
parts  of  the  world  ;  the  institution  is,  in  fact,  a  standing  monu- 
ment of  a  living  faith  in  God  and  his  promises.  Into  this  part 
I  must  not  further  enter,  though  much  might  be  written  thereon. 

In  the  year  1875,  there  occurred  here  a  sudden  outbreak  of 
typhoid  fever,  confined  to  two  houses,  (Nos.  2  and  5) ;  there 
were  over  500  cases,  with  a  result  of  18  deaths.  They  were 
principally  treated  with  baptisia  in  a  low  dilution,  gelsenduin  to 
allay  restlessness  and  irritation,  and  in  the  after  treatment, 
arsenicum. 

The  well-marked  effect  of  baptina  led  me  to  regard  it  as  & 
great  preventive  to  the  exhaustion  generally  found  during  and. 
after  the  course  of  the  disease. 


SSSt^DSTSS^     OORBESPONDENCB.  767 

The  cause  of  this  attack  was  traceable  to  the  children  drinking 
water  from  a  brook  near  the  orphan  houses  when  out  for  their 
usual  country  walk.  Many  were  prostrated  a  few  days  after- 
wards ;  and  ^e  effects  continued  to  show  themselves  for  five  or 
six  weeks,  with  the  result  I  have  described.  During  the  recent 
epidemic,  which  occurred  during  my  absence,  the  cases  were 
treated  by  Mr.  Salmon,  who  has  charge  of  the  health  department, 
and  who  adopted  the  same  plan  of  treatment  that  proved  so 
beneficial  in  the  former  epidemic ;  Dr.  Nicholson,  of  Clifton, 
attended  for  me  when  sent  for  during  my  absence.  There  were 
101  cases  all  confined  to  No.  2  house,  but  strangely  located  as 
to  their  distribution,  an  equal  number  of  children  being  affected 
in  either  wing,  those  in  tiie  middle  or  domestic  portion  of  the 
building  escaping  entirely ;  this  part  is  occupied  by  girls  from 

15  to  17  years  old ;  one  wing  by  infants  aged  from  a  few  months 
to  children  of  10  years,  and  the  other  wing  by  girls  from  10  to- 

16  years  old.     Of  the  101  cases  all  recovered,  though  in  some 
instances  recovery  was  very  tardy. 

For  this  second  epidemic  no  cause  can  be  discovered,  the 
patients  were  all  supplied  from  one  common  source  with  water, 
milk,  and  bread  and  other  articles  of  diet,  all  of  which  were  care- 
fully tested,  and  their  purity  ascertained,  and  the  affected  were 
fed  in  common  with  the  healthy  and  unaffected. 

From  my  experience  in  the  first  epidemic  in  1875,  and  the 
results  obtained  in  the  last,  I  have  no  hesitation  in  strongly 
urging  on  the  attention  of  our  body  the  desirability  of  the  free 
use  of  baptisia  in  typhoid  fever.  I  believe  in  all  cases  it  modifies 
the  severity  of  the  disease,  and  in  many  shortens  its  duration. 

The  very  interesting  paper  on  this  medicine  by  Dr.  Dyce 
Brown,  in  last  months*  EevteWf  comes  in  very  appropriately  to  the 
subject  in  hand. 

Doubtless  typhoid  fever  is  a  disease  one  would  gladly  obliterate,, 
still  from  a  long  course  of  observation  I  find  that  the  results  are 
generally  favourable  to  the  patient.  I  believe  it  is  a  fact,  and 
think  the  experience  of  others  will  corroborate  mine,  that  a  large 
proportion  of  the  convalescents  from  typhoid  fever  become  more 
healthy  and  stronger  than  before,  and  I  can  point  to  many 
instances  where  children  have  been  very  frail  and  delicate  up  to 
the  time  of  taking  this  fever,  and  after  their  recovery  have 
attained  a  much  higher  standard  of  health.  I  would  even  go 
further,  and  say  there  are  few  who  do  not  benefit  by  it.  I  put 
it  2  per  cent,  risk  of  death  on  the  one  hand,  to  improved  general 
condition  of  health  on  the  other. 

I  am,  yours  &c.; 

ExTBUiiUS  Williams,  M.D. 
Clifton,  Nov.  18,  1881. 


768  COBBESPOHBENTS. 


Bavlev,  Dee.  1, 


NOTICES   TO   CORRESPONDENTS. 


^%  We  eaumot  umdertake  to  retrnn  rtjeeUd  wamcier^rff . 

Commmiicatioiis,  ^.,  have  been  reoeived  from  P.  W.  Sxtmoub,  Esq. 
London);  Dr.  Hatwabd  and  Mr.  Blakb  (Liveipool);  Br.  Bayxb, 
{Brighton) ;  Dr.  ScBmEN  (Dnblin) ;  Dr.  Wilzjamb  (Clifton) ;  Dr.  Eiddlb 
(Lympley  Stoke) ;  Dr.  Hollamd  and  Ifr.  Kobicaii  (Bath) ;  Dr.  Baysbb 
{Ganterboiy) ;  Dn  Gallowat  (North  SliialdB);  Dr.  KzimKDT  (Blaak- 
heath) ;  J.  M.  Wtbom,  Esq.  (London) ;  Dr.  Pboll  (Nioe)  ^. ;  Dr.  £.  IL 
Madden  (Biimingham) ;  Dr.  Bsadshaw  (Tonbridge  WeUs). 

We  are  requested  to  state  that  there  is  at  present  a  first-dass  opening 
for  a  bomoBopathio  practitioner  at  Bombay,  the  present  incnmbent  haying 
io  leaTe  on  aoooont  of  his  heslth.  Particulars  may  be  obtained  from 
Dr.  £.  M.  Biadden,  14,  Islington  Boad,  Birmingham. 

Dr.  Bbadshaw,  late  of  Nottingham,  has  xemoTod  to  Holmrook, 
Tmibridge  Wells. 


BOOKS  RECEIVED. 


The  Guiding  Sympionu  of  cut^  JSlaUria  Medico.    By  G.  Heiing,  MJ). 
ToL  iii.    Philadelphia. 
The  Homaopathie  World. 
The  Chemist  and  Druggist. 
The  Students  Journal. 
The  MontKLy  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 
The  North  American  Journal  of  Homceopatky. 
The  Homaopathie  Times.    New  Tozk. 
The  New  England  Medical  Gazette. 
The  United  States  Medical  Investigator. 
The  Medical  Counsellor. 
The  American  Homaopath. 
The  Medical  Call. 
The  American  Observer. 
The  Medical  Advance. 
Boericke  and  TafeVs  Bulletin. 
Bihliothtque  Homaopathique. 
Jtevue  Homaopathique  Beige. 
AUgemeine  Uom.  Zeitung. 
El  CriUrio  Medico. 
Beforma  Medico. 
Boletino  Clinico. 
Bivista  OnUopatica. 


Papers,  Dispensary  Beports,  and  Books  for  Beriew  io  be  sent  to 
Dr.  Pope,  21,  Henrietta  Street,  Cavendish  Square,  W.,  or  to  Dr.  D.  Dtob 
Bbowk,  29,  Seymour  Street,  Portman  Sqnaze,  W.  AdTertisements  and 
Business  C!ommmucations  to  be  sent  to  Messrs.  £.  Gould  A  SoH» 
^9,  Moorgate  Street,  E.G. 


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