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T  i  i  i : 


(EOPATHIC  RECORDER, 


BI-MONTHLY. 


VOLUME  IV. 


1889. 


PUBLISHED     BY 

BOERICKE  &  TAFEL, 

PHILADELPHIA. 


INDEX  TO  VOL.  IV. 


Abnormal  Menstruation,  125 
Acid  Camphoric,  91 

Acid  Chromic,  (.)_\  221 

Aconite  in  Neuralgia,  271 

Adonis,  198 

JEscnlns  Glabra,  268 

Ague  cured.  286 

Ailanthus  GlandnlOBOS,  64 

Albumen  in  Urine,  172 

Ambra.  161 

Ambrosia  Artemisifolia,  2.56 

Anaemia,  122 

Ancient  History.  238 

Anemone  Pulsatilla,  257 

Angina  Pectoris,  146 

Antidote  Against  Morphiurn,  214 

Antitibrin,  124,  168 

Antimon.  Tart.,  28 

Antipyrin,  125.  160,  161 

Apium  Virus.  278 

Apocyuum  Cannabinum,  142 

Apoplexv,  2^6 

Arnica  Oil.  44,  46,  174 

Arsenic,  165,  169,  222 

Arsenic  in  Hydrophobia,  187 

Arsenical  Paralysis,  30 

Aspidospermine,  252 

Atropine,  220 

Aurum,214 

Basedow's  Disease  Cured  by  Pregnancy,  268 
Blennorrhoea  Urethralis,  126 
Bromide  of  Potassium,  267 
Bromide  of  Potassium,  Action  on  Nerve  Cen- 
tre, 163 

Calcarea  Carbonica,  162,  213 

Calendula  and  Eczema,  249 

Calesthenics,  87 

Calomel  Intoxication,  215 

Camphor  Poisoning,  126 

Cancer,  27,  68,  123,  169 

Cancer  of  the  Tongue,  209 

Cantharidine,  266 

Cerium  Oxalate,  92 

Changes  in  Spinal  Cord,  265 

Cheap  Medicines,  44 

Chimaphila  Umbellata,67 

Chininum  Arsenicosum  Proving,  210 

Chloroform  after  Action,  261 

Cholera  Infantum,  139 

Chromium,  Action  of,  259 

Chronic  Tea  Poisoning,  266 

Cocaine,  216,  219 

Coffee  Poisoning,  268 

Color  Blindness,  170 

Compound  Metallic  Remedies  in  Homceopa- 

thv,  156 
Conein,  168 
Consumption,  43,  95 
Convulsions,  287 
Creosote 
Croup.  70 

Cuphea  Viscosissima,  139,  186 
Cystisine,  Comutine  and  Sclerotic  Acid,  265 

Detection  of  Sugar  in  Urine,  '29 
Diabetes,  120,  140,  173 
Diabetes  Mellitus,  99 
Diadema,  255 
Diarrhoea,  Army,  251 
Diarrhoea,  Chronic,  258 


Digitoxine  and  Phlegmonous  inflammation 
266 

Diphtheria 

Drinking  Wa& 
Drosera  Rotnndifolia,  2 
Dyspepsia,  Remedies  in,  217 
Dyspnoea,  252 

Eclectic  Items,  237 

Eczema  249 

Editorials,  1,49,  (.'7, 1 15.  191 

Effects  of  Injections  ofSolutioni  of  Salt.  166 

Enuresis  in  Females,  161 

Epiphegns,  10 

Eschseholtzia  Californica,  72,  162 

Eserine,  127 

Filix  Mas,  263 

Fern  Extract,  72 

Ferrum  l'hosphoricum,  Schusslers,  81 

Fluorhydrate  of  Sodium,  262 

Fluoride  of  Sodium,  264 

Gall  Stone  Colic,  39,  71,  162.  213 
Gastrodyna,  lis 
Glannlar  Induration.  M 
Gleaned  Suggestions,  286 
Glonoin,  25:5,  256 
Glycosuria,  173 
Gossypium   Herbaceum,121 
Guaiacol,  278 

Hay  Fever,  256 
Hensel's  Tonicnm,  • 

Hepatitis.  Chronic  Interstitial,  2G3 
Hiccough,  285 
Histeronica  Baylahuen,  269 
Homarus,  45,  191 
Hvdatids  of  the  Liver,  252 
Hydrastis,  119 
Byoftcyamine,  73 
Hypericum  Perforatum,  50,  61 
Hypnotism,  124 

Indigestion,  125 

Insomnia.  286 

Inoculations,  Pasteurs.  29 

Iodoform  and  Iodol,  72 

Ipecacuanha,  SO 

Isomeric  Forms  of  Cinchonin,  127 

JacarandaGualandai,  37,  141 
Japanese,  Diet  of,  167 

Kali  Cyanatnm,  209 

Kalmia  Latifolia,  138 

Lactrodeetus  Bfactana,  146,  277 

Legislation,  133 

Lemons,  137 

Limekilns  and  Phthisis  Pulmonale 

Lobelia  Inflata,  23,  123 

Lumbago,  257 

Malarial  Cas, 
Malt  Extracts,  40 
Malt  Extract  Bonbons,  45,  94 
Melilotus,  138 
Mephitis 

Milk.  Elements  of,  167 
Morphiurn,  169 
!  Morphiurn  as  the  Cause  of  Acne  Rosacea 


MAR  14  M0 


INDEX. 


Mullein  Oil.  44,  88,  93,  231,  285 
Mygale  Lasidora,  Kit 

NEW  l'TBLICATIONS: 

A  Rejoinder  to  Dr.  Hughes,  35 

American  Resorts,  132 

Cutter's  Guide  to  Arkansas  Hot  Springs,  77 

Diseases  of  the  Heart,  180 

Hiind-Book  of  Materia  Medica,  179 

Headache  and  its  Materia  Medica,  35 

Klinische  Arsnesmittellehre,  227 

Le  Bord  de  la  Mer,  227 

Psychology,  181 

Report  Middletown  Asylum.  1888,  76 

Report  Westborough  Insane  Hospital,  76 

Secondary  Mixed  Infection  in  Typhoid 
Fever,  35 

Semi-Centennial,  etc.,  75 

The  Homcepathic  Physician's  Visiting 
List,  etc.,  36 

The  Sixteen  Principle  Homoeopathic  Med- 
icines, 227 

Therapeutics  of  Nervous  Diseases,  276 

Transactions  American  Institute  of  Ho- 
moeopathy, 36 

Transactions,  Pa.,  1888,  76 

Visiting  List,  etc.,  36 

Natrum  Muriaticum,  259 

Natrum  Sulphuricum,  262 

Nervous  Headache,  17 

Nettle  as  an  Epispastic,  The,  165 

Neuralgia,  255 

Neuralgia  of  Stumps,  287 

Nitro-Benzole.  264 

Nitroglycerine  in  Bright's  Disease,  168 

Nocturnal  Enuresis,  126 

Nosebleed,  174 

Nuphar  Lutea,  258 

Nux  Vomica  Poisoning,  270 

Obesity,  32 
Oozing,  Fetid,  257 
Oxalic  Acid,  257 
Oxyuria  Vermicularis,  174 

Paralysis,  238 

Passifiora,  136 

Perfumery,  284 

Peridentitis,  50 

Peritonitis,  Puerperal,  63 

Perspiration  in  Acute  Infectious  Disease,  170 

Pharmacodynamics,  281 

Phosphorus,  170,  263 

Phthisis  Pulmonalis,  2 

Podophyllum,  220 

Potency,  241 

Pothos,  101 

Prospective  Provers,  To,  243 

Pulsatilla  in  Labor,  160 

Pustula  Maligna  and  Anthrax,  30 

Pyrogenium,  38,  66 

Rabies,  174 

Raw  Oysters,  70 

Resorcin  in  Keloid,  68 

Rheumatism,  46 

Rhus  and  Rheumatism,  279 

Rhus  Poisoning,  234 

Robinia,  27,  72 

Salicylic  Acid,  220 
Seaside  Headache,  259 
Sedum  Acre,  260 
Semen  Tiglii,  171 
Sewer  Gas,  75 
Sick  Headache,  19 


Silico  Sulpho  Cal.  Al.,  122,  229,  244 

Sinapis  Alba,  27 

Singultus,  75 

Sizygium,  140 

Skookum  Chuck  Lake,  279 

Sleepiness,  66 

Smoking,  142,213 

Snake  Bite  and  Strychnine,  271 

Sodium  Ethylate  for  Removal  of  Hair,  267 

Solidago  Virgaurea,  205 

Southerlandia  Frutescenes, 

Spigelia,  119 

Spieraea  Ulmaria  Against  the  Bite  of  Mad  Dogs, 

218 
Strophanthus  Hispidus,  256 
Sulfonal,  169,  284 
Sunstroke,  253 
Syncosis,  28 
Syphilis,  37 

Tablet  Triturates,  235 
Tarantula  Cubensis,  93, 142 
Test  for  Blood,  166 
Tetanus,  50,  61 
The  Brazils,  5,  113,  195 
Theridon,  28 
Thuja,  64 
Toothache,  286 
Tracheotomy  Case,  62 
Triturations,  42 
Twitching  Eyelids,  287 
Typhoid,  235 
Ulcer,  Rectal,  73 
Ulcer,  Stomach,  159 
Urinary  Test  for  Sugar,  271 

VETERINARY  DEPARTMENT : 
Bronchitis,  79 
Catarrh,  273 
Cerebral  Concussion,  22 
Colic,  273 
Constipation,  176 

Cures  with  High  Potencies,  128,  275 
Diarrhoea,  23 
Dysuria,  80 
Emphysema,  272 
Equine  Colic,  77, 177 
Flatulent  Colic,  131 
Hematuria.  274 
H&emaglobinuria,  225 
Intestinal  Colic,  22 
Keratitis,  20, 178 
Lameness  in  Horses,  223,  224 
Moquillo,  21 
Paraplegia,  22 
Parasites,  23 
Pharyngeal  Paresis,  179 
Poll-Evil,  178 
Prolapsus  Vaginae,  273 
Retention  of  Urine,  224 
Rheumatic  Evil,  174 
Sprain,  with  Effusion, 
Round  Ulcer  of  Stomach,  276 
Tumor,  176 
Tympanitis,  22 
Urine,  Suppression  of,  226 

Vaecine  Virus,  285 
Veronica  Nigritiana,  270 
Vaginal  Alimentation,  34 
Viburnum  Opulus,  55 
Viscum  Album,  138 
Warts,  a  Cure,  68 
Westboro,  86 
Winter  Cough,  140 
Yellow  Fever,  34 
Zinc  Poisoning,  181 


THE 

Homeopathic  Recorder. 

Vol.  IV.  PHILADELPHIA,  JANUARY,  1889.  No.  1. 

EDITORIAL  NOTES. 

The  Recorder,  with  this  issue,  enters  upon  the  fourth  year  of  its 
existence.  Opening,  as  it  did,  a  new  field  in  our  literature,  it  has 
steadily  advanced  in  favor,  until  it  now  reaches  a  far  greater  number 
of  homoeopathic  physicians  than  any  other  journal  in  our  school  of  prac- 
tice. This  should  be  an  inducement  to  those  physicians  who  desire  that 
their  articles  shall  reach  the  greatest  number  of  readers,  to  lend  us  their 
aid  by  contributions.  Articles  upon  materia  medica,  and  those  report- 
ing clinical  cases,  are  particularly  desired,  especially  such  as  bring  before 
our  readers  practical  illustrations  of  the  utility  of  our  least  established 
remedies.  We  have  many  valuable  drugs  that  are  little  known  in 
practice,  many  physicians  using  them  and  gaining  fine  results,  do  not 
enlighten  their  brethren  through  the  raediumship  of  the  medical  p 
It  is  to  those  particularly  that  we  appeal.  Our  materia  medica  is  volu- 
minous, it  is  true,  but  it  is  also  extremely  valuable.  Let  us,  therefore, 
bend  our  efforts  toward  its  development  rather  than  its  enlargement. 

We  shall  strive,  on  our  part,  to  continue  giving  the  profession  ex- 
cerpts of  value  from  our  home  and  foreign  exchanges,  especially  in  view 
of  the  above,  and  to  do  all  in  our  power  to  furnish  interesting  as  well  as 
instructive  reading ;  also  to  present  in  each  number  an  elaboration  of 
one  of  our  new  remedies  in  the  form  of  the  article  upon  Epipl. 
found  in  this  issue.  In  our  Book  Department,  all  works  received  will 
meet  with  impartial  reviews,  the  valuable  ones  praised,  and  those  other- 
wise, criticised,  without  regard  to  their  authors  or  publishers.  By  this 
line  of  action  we  hope  to  help  those  intending  purchase,  toward  the 
completion  of  their  libraries. 


The  Druggist's  Circular  is  one  of  a  class  of  chemical  news  sheets  that 
deserves  the  full  support  of  physicians,  if  for  nothing  more  than  the  ex- 
vol.  iv.— 1 


2  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBBER. 

m 

posures  they  frequently  contain  of  proprietary  articles  and  medicines. 
It  was  through  the  efforts  of  the  above-named  paper  that  the  so-called 
"  Scotch  Oats  Essence,"  shown  to  contain  a  large  quantity  of  morphine, 
has  nearly  reached  the  end  of  its  miserable  existence.  The  October 
issue  contains  full  analyses  of  two  more  highly  advertised  articles,  viz., 
"  Recamier  Balm,"  and  "  Vita  Nuova."  The  former  has  been  found  by 
Professor  R.  G.  Eccles,  in  the  bottle  he  examined,  to  contain,  in  about 
four  ounces  of  water,  one  dram  of  oxide  of  zinc,  and  two  and  one-quarter 
grains  of  corrosive  sublimate!  The  danger  of  this  article,  both  to  the 
user  and  from  the  opportunity  its  presence  in  the  household  would  give 
of  killing  inquisitive  children,  is  only  too  evident.  The  second  article, 
"  Vita  Nuova,"  is  rumored  to  be  responsible  already  for  the  cocaine 
habit  in  many  ;  it  was  gratuitously  "  on  draught  "  in  New  York  as  an 
invigorant  for  ladies  when  shopping.  This  preparation,  "  compounded 
of  an  excellent  brand  of  wine,"  which  "you  will  find  tastes  like  a  wine 
thirty  years  old,"  and  is  claimed  to  be  "  positively  free  from  alcohol" 
(?),  is  proved  by  Professor  Eccles  to  contain  cocaine.  Both  these  prepa- 
rations are  "  analyzed  and  approved  by  eminent  chemists."  We  must 
judge  in  such  matters  as  these  that  the  u  eminent  chemists  "  are  given 
specimens  to  examine  that  are  made  for  the  purpose,  and  free  from  dele- 
terious substances  ;  this,  in  our  charity  ;  for  one  who  would  manufacture 
and  sell  such  nostrums,  would  stoop  to  any  fraud,  while  we  cannot  think 
that  any  chemist  would  defile  himself  with  the  dollars  of  such  people, 
to  the  extent  of  blinding  scientific  justice. 


How  pompously  our  old-school  brethren  now  proclaim  that  they  use 
this  or  that  drug,  "according  to  the  indications!"  When  asked  how 
and  when  they  learned  how  necessary  the  indications  for  each  drug  are, 
they  say,  with  great  unction;  "By  experience,  sir !  "  Should  we  not 
be  thankful  that  they  have  at  last  learned  something  in  therapeutics  by 
"  experience?  "  In  their  present  laudation  of  Gelsemium,  they  have  hit 
upon  a  "  new  drug,"  which  they  are  sure  to  finally  throw  aside  "  by 
experience,"  when  it  would  serve  them  many  a  good  turn  if  they  would 
but  study  the  proven  indications,  and  there  find  experiences  much  more 
scientific  and  valuable  than  their  own. 


TREATMENT  OF  PHTHISIS  PULMONALIS— 
DROSERA  ROTUNDIFOLIA. 

BY    DR.    RENE   SARRAXD.* 

1st.  Phthisis  pulmonalis  is  a  curable  disease  in  all  of  its  stages. 

2d.  Phthisis,  on  the  whole,  is  more  susceptible  of  cure  when  treated 

*  From    the  Spanish  translation  by    Dr.  Udeis,  in  El    Consvltor  Homeopatico, 
October,  188S. 


THE  IIOMCEOPATIIIC  UKCOUDKH. 

from  the  beginning,  when   the  general   condition  of  the  patient  is  hut 
little  changed,  and  the  lesions  are  recent,  and,  as  yet,  quite  limited. 

3d.  Not  alone  is  the  treatment  obliged  to  be  precocious,  but  it  Bbould 
also  be  preventive,  by  any  method   that  can   remove  the   predisposition 

to  pulmonary  seizures,  or  accidents. 

4th.  The  whole  individual  is  predisposed  to  phthisis  ;  existing  signs 
appear  that  permit  recognition  of  the  coming  attack. 

5th.  The  rational  homoeopathic  treatment  of  phthisis.  We  comprise 
iu  the  treatment  the  study  of  all  those  symptoms  of  the  remedy,  the 
action  of  which  seems  to  apply  more  directly  to  the   diatl  ,  the 

essence  of  the  disease  iu  each  individual. 

6th.  Among  those  remedies,  particularly  adapted  to  certain  diatheses, 
we  have  the  already  famous  Sulphur.  There  are  also  other  powerful 
medicines  derived  from  the  vegetable  kingdom,  such  as  Dro8erat  whose 
name  is  associated  with  that  of  phthisis. 

Drosera  rotundifolia  has  been  the  subject  of  much  interesting  study  on 
the  part  of  Dr.  Curie.  He  communicated  to  the  Academy  of  Sciences 
the  results  of  his  experiments  upon  three  cats,  to  which  daily  doses  of 
Drosera  were  given,  and  in  which  autopsies  revealed  tubercular  condi- 
tions of  the  pleura.  These  investigations,  in  connection  with  the  obser- 
vation that  sheep  that  have  eaten  the  leaves  of  Drosera  have  developed 
night  cough  and  symptoms  of  consumption,  would  give  sufficient  indi- 
cation that  Drosera  would  yield  curative  results  iu  such  cases. 

Drosera  rotundifolia  is  an  essential  remedy  iu  phthisis  ;  indications 
for  it  exist  in  all  stages  of  the  disease.  Dr.  Curie  affirms  that,  in  the 
initial  period  of  phthisis,  it  is  nearly  always  possible  to  gain  a  cure 
through  Drosera  :  this  remedy  is  not  alone  able  to  retard  the  evolution  of 
tuberculosis,  but,  if  given  before  the  manifestation  of  the  first  signs,  it 
is  able  to  check  its  appearance  (prophylaxis).  Drosera  is  a  preventive, 
and  at  the  same  time  curative  agent  in  phthisis  ptdmonalis. 

For  our  part,  we  are  accustomed  to  prescribe  Drosera  to  children  whose 
parents  are  tuberculous,  and  to  all  those  who  present  an  inherited  or 
acquired  debility. 

Outside  of  these  conditions,  it  is  necessary  never  to  forget  that  there 
may  exist  signs  that  indicate  in  a  certain  manner,  the  more  or  less 
threatening  appearance  of  phthisis  pulmoualis,  and  the  necessity  of 
summoning  medical  aid. 

We  have  the  necessary  agent  at  our  command.  Therefore,  it  is  well 
to  urgently  combat  the  symptoms  of  phthisis,  nor  is  there  a  more  useful, 
as  yet  known  and  recognized ;  if,  after  months  or  years  of  trouble,  a 
patient  is  encountered  with  this  disease,  this  permits  the  establishmeut 
of  a  treatment  before  pulmonary  lesions  result. 

Behold  a  child,  whose  state  awakens  the  fear  of  its  parents  !  It  is 
pale,  debilitated,  the  appetite  is  defective,  its  antecedent  heredity  does 
not  permit  of  suspicion  ;  auscultation  gives  no  indication  at  all  of  affec- 


4  THE  H0MCE0PATH1C  RECORDER. 

tion  of  the  chest.  Is  this  sufficient?  Should  it  limit  here  our  exami- 
nation, and  satisfy  us  without  precise  data,  now  that  no  sound  demon- 
strates the  actual  state  of  the  chest  ?  This  is  the  general  practice. 
Frequently,  but  a  sjjort  time  after  such  an  examination,  there  appears 
in  the  case  a  short,  dry  cough,  followed  by  emaciation,  and  presently 
the  whole  accompaniment  of  phthisis  pulmoualis;  treatment  intervenes, 
then  tuberculosis  becomes  evident. 

What  does  he  now  say  to  the  parents  whom  he  has  pacified  by  his 
first  examination  ?  It  happeus  to  be  a  cold,  a  prolonged  catarrh  of  the 
chest,  bronchial  disorder ;  a  congestion  has  taken  place  in  the  apex  of 
the  lung,  etc.  Nothing  more  than  the  manifestation  of  a  series  of  accidents 
that  were  foreseen.  If,  after  the  first  day,  an  examination  of  the  chest 
is  made,  and  carried  on  to  the  larynx,  he  will  have  reached  revelations, 
or  certainly  signs,  that  will  impress  a  distinct  line  of  conduct. 

Many  years  ago,  we  proceeded,  in  all  diseases,  to  examine  the  larynx, 
and  these  numerous  examinations  in  different  individuals  resulted  in 
the  fact  that  further  examination  of  these  diseases  proved,  with  absolute 
certainty,"  That,  in  those  persons  destined  to  suffer  phthisis  pulmonalis, 
there  always  exist  pharyngo -laryngeal  signs,  very  positive,  very  constant, 
that  precede  by  much  the  pulmonary  signs. 

These  signs  are  three  :  1st.  Pharyngeal  anaemia  ;  the  pharynx  is  pale, 
discolored  and  blanched,  instead  of  the  normal  coloration.  2d.  Faulty 
approximation  of  the  inferior  vocal  chords,  with  atony  of  the  constrict- 
ors. 3d.  Local  congestion  of  the  mucosa  aritenoidea  and  inter aritenoidea, 
changing  to  an  inflammation,  and  a  cherry-red  coloration  of  this  region. 

These  three  signs  may  exist  separately,  or  reunite.  The  existence  of 
one  alone  indicates  a  great  presumption  in  favor  of  a  future  pulmonary 
tuberculosis  ;  always  when  the  physician  encounters  all  together,  this 
prognostication  is  certain. 

The  pharyngeal  anremia,  the  faulty  approximation  of  the  inferior 
vocal  cords,  the  congestion  in  the  arytenoidal  region,  signs  that  we 
never  have  in  common  with  laryngeal  phthisis,  are  the  precursory  signs 
of  pulmonary  phthisis.  The  physician  who  reads,  may  know  of  the 
larynx  in  this  disease,  and  will  avoid  many  mistakes,  and  knowing, 
moreover,  the  imminence  of  the  disease,  he  will  be  able  to  establish  the 
prophylactic  treatment,  and  repress  phthisis  in  its  earliest  stages. 

It  is  here  that  Droserarotundifolia,  given  perseveringly,  produces  re- 
markable effects,  and  where  this  remedy  merits  the  name  of  &  preventive 
of  phthisis  pulmonalis. 

Later,  if  we  encounter,  face  to  face,  the  evolution  of  tuberculosis,  we 
still  turn  to  Drosera,  not  because  we  have  in  it  a  new  remedy  for  phthisis 
(we  might  almostproposeitas  a  specific  in  this  disease),  but  that  Drosera 
occupies  the  place  we  desire  to  fill,  a  power  over  tubercular  diatheses. 
In  the  meantime,  some  other  remedy  may  be  used  in  alternation  to 
combat  special  conditions : 


THE  IIOMCEOPATITIC  BEC01il>EU. 

Aconite,  to  abate  cardiac  erethrisms. 

Bryonia,  to  dissipate  pulmonary  and  bronchial  congestions  ; 

Silphium  cyrinaicum,  to  aid  the  expectoration. 

Mercuriw  dulcis,  to  contest  the  diarrhoea. 

Ckininum  tulphuricum,  to  combat  the  evening  fever. 

Agaricu8,  the  night  sweats. 

Some  other  time  we  will  indicate  the  treatment  of  phthisis  according 
to  its  symptoms  ;  on  this  occasion  we  are  limited  to  establishing : 

1st.  That  there  are  certain  signs  which  permit  us  to  recognize  if  a 
person  is  threatened  with  phthisis  pulmonalis. 

2d.  That  the  knowledge  of  these  signs  is  of  the  greatest  importance  ; 
that  the  treatment  of  phthisis  may  be  at  the  time  prophylactic,  and  de- 
termine the  extinction  of  the  disease  before  there  is  any  local  lesion  in 
the  constitution. 

3d.  That  Drosera  rotundifolia,  as  a  remedy  in  phthisis,  is  always  to 
be  employed  as  a  preventive,  when  the  symptoms  here  described  are 
encountered. 


THE   BRAZILS.* 
Outward  Bound. 


On  one  of  the  hottest  of  that  succession  of  humid  days  occurring  in 
the  month  of  July,  1887,  when  everything  seemed  to  steam  as  in  a  Rus- 
sian vapor-bath,  the  steamer  "  Advance  "  cast  off  her  cables  from  the  dock 
at  Brooklyn,  and  slowly  swung,  with  the  aid  of  a  tug,  out  into  the  channel 
of  the  East  river,  bound  for  Rio  Janeiro.  The  sweltering  passengers, 
busied  in  closet-like  state-rooms  arranging  their  baggage  in  the  most 
convenient  way  to  meet  the  requirements  of  a  twenty-eight  days'  floating- 
home,  soon  determined  that  a  view  of  the  bay  was  much  more  pleasant, 
and  sought  the  deck  with  their  lorgnettes  and  marine-glasses  to  lengthen 
the  time  during  which  they  might  feast  their  eyes  upon  the  land  and 
homes  they  were  leaving. 

The  complement  of  passengers  was  small  compared  with  the  numbers 
that  leave  New  York  at  this  season  for  European  travel,  consisting  in  the 
main  of  five  missionaries,  a  doctor,  a  merchaut  in  the  rubber  industry  at 
Para,  a  San  Paulo  Padre  returning  to  his  church  after  a  visit  to  the  great 
United  States,  a  German  tradesman  of  St.  Thomas,  an  English  merchant 
of  Barbadoes,  two  commercial  "tourists,"  a  gentleman  bent  upon  a  mis- 
sion to  procure  a  number  of  Patagouians  for  show  in  New  York,  and  an 
old  lady  and  her  sou  going  to  Buenos  Ayres  to  meet  a  son  and  brother 

long  from  home. 

— , _ — . 1 — _ — i 1 

*  A  continuation  of  the  Editor's  articles,  entitled  "  Homoeopathy  under  the 
Southern  Cross,"  which  appeared  in  this  journal  last  year. 


6  THE  HOM(EOPATIUC  BECOBDEB. 

Having  passed  the  narrows  the  sea-breeze,  combined  with  that  caused 
by  the  rapid  motion  of  the  vessel,  so  diminished  the  heat  of  the  stifling 
atmosphere  as  to  bring  comfort,  and  the  delights  of  an  ocean  trip  fairly 
begun.  It  was  not  until  Sandy  Hook  was  reached  that  the  first  sea- 
rolls  became  evident,  and  a  slight  discomfort  began  to  pervade  the 
interior  economy  of  a  number  of  the  passengers;  then  an  hour's  time 
served  to  remind  many  that  "  the  sweet  seclusion  the  cabin  grants"  is 
more  a  fact  than  a  poetic  fancy.  This  feeling  is  greatly  enhanced  in  the 
morning,  when  the  vessel  heaves  to,  yawing,  and  lolling  about,  while  the 
compasses  are  being  corrected  preparatory  to  so  long  a  cruise. 

Although  the  day  is  beautiful,  the  sea  air  bracing,  and  everything 
new  and  interesting,  our  breakfast-table  this  morning  shows  that  Nep- 
tune has  claimed  acquaintance  with  a  number  of  our  shipmates  ;  even 
many  who  do  breakfast  with  us  are  found  in  their  steamer-chairs  amid- 
ships, a  half  hour  later,  their  upturned  noses  and  retracted  lips  giving  a 
glimpse  of  yellowish  teeth  as  the  sea  more  and  more  asserts  its  claim 
upon  their  sympathies.  Sea-sickness  has  a  true  bilious  effect  upon  the 
minds  of  those  who  are  attacked,  a  constant  symptom  being  a  lack  of 
desire  to  live,  a  perfect  willingness  to  die,  and  an  anger  at  their  ina- 
bility to  do  so;  a  peculiar  dryness  of  the  mucous  membranes,  a  disgust 
for  food,  and  a  general  internal  upheaved  condition.  The  good  old- 
school  ship's  doctor  advocates  champagne,  the  weather-beaten  sailor,  salt 
pork,  and  the  steward,  beef-soup,  to  all  of  which  the  cabin-boy  gives 
large  discount  as  he  opens  upon  your  plate  your  unadvised  order  of 
boiled  eggs,  one  of  which  is  found  antiquated  and  a  near  relative  of  the 
sulphuretted  hydrogen  you  once  knew  in  the  chemical  laboratory  at  col- 
lege. As  a  homoeopath,  however,  we  had  preceded  this  voyage  by  a  four 
days'  course  of  Petroleum  and  Cocculus  in  alternation,  so  that  even  the 
egg  fails  in  its  heinous  design,  and  those  untainted  are  eaten  with  good 
relish. 

For  the  next  four  days  whist,  chess,  music  and  popular  fiction  serve  to 
dispel  the  tedium  of  the  beat  of  the  screw  and  regular  striking  of  the  bells 
on  our  contracted  deck.  Busily  engaged  at  one  of  these  occupations  a 
stoppage  of  the  vessel  is  suddenly  apparent,  a  strange  sensation  to  us, 
and  we  find  ourselves  hove  to  on  the  edge  of  one  of  those  terrific  West  In- 
dian tornadoes,  the  air  is  ominously  still  and  fearfully  heavy ;  all  about 
us  has  a  peculiar  brownish  orange  hue  ;  the  incessant  lightning  strikes 
the  sea  around  us,  and  a  painful  hush  pervades  between  the  flashes. 
Thus  for  an  hour  we  lay,  momentarily  expecting  to  be  struck  by  the 
wind  and  waters.  They  do  not  come,  however,  and  the  atmosphere 
clearing,  the  ship  comes  about  and  continues  her  way.  soon  bringing  us 
into  the  track  of  the  now  spent  hurricane,  where  the  beautiful  blue 
waters  are  lashed  into  a  foam,  and  the  waves  pitch  and  toss  in  every 
conceivable  form  and  direction. 

There  is  plenty  of  elbow-room  at  dinner,  and  it  is  needed  ;  the  storm- 


THE  KOMCEOPAimC  BECOBDEB.  7 

racks  are  under  the  cloth,  and  each  of  the  few  at  table  has  a  compart- 
ment partitioned  off  for  his  soup-plate  and  Bide  dishes,  while  the  hanging- 
rack  above  our  heads  swings  interruptedly  hither  and  to,  and  the  view 

through  the  port-hole  opposite  is  first  a  glimpse  of  the  zenith,  then  one 
of  the  greenish  sea-water  beneath.  To  the  uninitiated  the  feal  of  eating 
soup  from  a  position  alternating  between  above  the  table  and  underneath 

it,  is  trying  in  the  extreme,  and  one  from  which  the  author  of  dinner- 
table  "don'ts"  would  shrink  entirely  vanquished. 

Midnight  of  the  sixth  day  out  finds  us  moored  to  the  coaling-dock  in 
the  quiet  harbor  of  St.  Thomas,  and  >till  awake,  witnessing  the  weird 
effect  of  about  an  hundred  negroes  and  Amazonian  negresses  loading  the 
bunkers,  running  forth  and  back  by  the  light  of  two  large  flambeaux  of 
bituminous  coal,  with  large  baskets  borne  upon  their  lead-.  Several  of 
these  women  are  far  advanced  in  gestation;  one  whom  we  questioned, 
and  whom  sve  had  watched  carrying  twenty-three  baskets  during  the 
loading,  amounting  to  over  two  tons,  said  she  expected  to  be  confined  the 
next  day,  as  she  already  felt  the  premonitory  symptoms.  These  women 
were  arrayed  iu  very  short  skirts,  with  a  sleeveless  waists  and  very  low 
necks,  showing  magnificent  shoulders  and  chests,  and  strong,  muscular 
thighs  and  legs.  They  do  the  work  of  a  strong  man,  singing,  laughing 
and  jesting  constantly  while  at  their  labors. 

The  Island  of  St.  Thomas  as  seen  from  the  ships'  deck  is  a  pretty, 
irregular,  verdure-clad  bit  of  volcanic  land,  having  only  the  one  port 
of  any  importance,  that  of  Charlotte  Amalia,  with  its  beautiful  land- 
locked bay,  in  which  our  vessel  lays  as  calm  and  lifeless  as  if  she  had 
never  moved.  The  quiet  little  city  is  a  short  distance  off,  with  its  Dutch- 
tiled  roofs  and  whitened  buildings,  nestled  in  a  notch  between  two  moun- 
tain bases.  The  inhabitants  are  mostly  squalid  negroes,  with  a  number 
of  Danish  families  and  English  merchants.  The  produce  of  the  port  i- 
principally  bay-oil  and  bay-rum,  though  it  is  also  one  of  the  important  re- 
ceiving ports  for  the  sugar,  molasses,  and  rum  of  the  Island  of  .Santa  Cruz, 
whose  dim  outline  can  be  seen  across  the  channel  to  the  westward.  A 
short  distance  from  the  city  is  a  pretty  little  quarantine  hospital,  with  de- 
lightful surroundings  of  mountain,  forest,  rocky  and  sandy  beach,  a  place 
in  which  any  one  might  delight  to  spend  a  month  or  so  of  convalescence. 
Here,  about  the  forest  grounds,  the  bay  myrtle  flourishes  in  luxuriance, 
while  palms,  palmettos,  pineapples,  bananas,  oranges,  and  many  flower- 
ing herbs  serve  to  vary  and  beautify  the  landscape.  One  can  hardly 
imagine  a  more  peaceful,  airy,  and  health-giving  spot,  where  the  days 
are  always  warm  and  mostly  pleasant,  and  the  nights  cool  and  refreshing. 

The  next  day  is  spent  passing  along  through  the  Leeward  group,  giv- 
ing now  and  again  glimpses  of  the  different  islands,  either  at  great  dis- 
tance or  quite  near,  as  our  course  lays.  Martinique,  as  we  pass,  seems 
indeed,  one  of  the  emerald  gems  of  the  sea,  with  its  verdant  mountains 
and  volcanic  cones  rising  in  constantly  changing  outline.     The  verdure 


8  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDEB. 

extends  down  to  the  very  sea  itself,  and  is  here  and  there  dotted  with 
pleasant  villas  and  strips  of  white  sandy  beach.  This  beautiful  island, 
the  birthplace  of  Empress  Josephine  and  Madame  de  Maintenon,  will 
always  be  a  bright  spot  in  our  memory  of  this  delightful  voyage. 

The  island  of  St.  Lucia,  enshrouded  in  a  rain-cloud,  gives  us  no  idea 
of  its  appearance.  Night  comes  on,  and  we  again  experience  the  appa- 
rent paradox  of  pitching  and  tossing  about  all  night,  though  really 
sleeping  as  peacefully  as  a  tired  child.  Nothing  is  quite  so  hypnotic  as 
a  voyage  at  sea,  with  its  pure  air,  invigorating  sun,  and  constant  mental 
surroundings.  Morning  comes,  and  we  find  ourselves  quietly  lying  at 
anchor  in  the  almost  transparent  bay  of  the  principal  port  of  Bar- 
badoes.  Here  we  see  some  of  the  wreckage  caused  by  the  hurricane  we 
escaped  three  days  ago  ;  nine  vessels  are  disabled,  one  being  driven  quite 
up  on  the  shore. 

The  island  of  Barbadoes,  which,  according  to  the  inhabitants  thereof, 
is  England,  and  England  itself  merely  one  of  its  provinces,  is  notably 
one  of  the  hardest  islands  of  the  group  to  make  a  landing  at,  providing 
the  passenger  is  from  South  America.  The  quarantine  laws  are  so  outra- 
geously stringent  that  on  one  occasion  a  vessel,  forty-six  days  out  from 
Buenos  Ayres  during  a  cholera  scare  at  that  port,  was  not  allowed  even 
to  anchor  in  the  bay ;  and  clean  papers  carried  by  American  steamers 
from  Southern  ports  are  often  disregarded,  and  their  passengers  forced 
to  pass  on  to  the  next  port,  and  ship  back  as  best  they  can.  This  island 
is  one  of  the  flattest  of  the  group,  and  doubtless  one  of  the  healthiest, 
an  excellent  winter  resort  for  invalids,  far  exceeding  Florida  ;  the  bath- 
ing beaches  are  not  only  excellent,  but  the  water  is  probably  the  clearest 
and  most  beautiful  in  color  and  purity  of  any  within  the  reach  of  our 
shores.  The  hotels  are  spoken  of  as  excellent,  and  the  rides  about  the 
island  very  fine.  The  only  drawback  I  know  of  is  the  intolerable  im- 
pudence of  the  negro  inhabitants. 

Leaviug  the  harbor,  after  landing  a  passenger  and  the  mails,  we  skirt 
its  coast-line  for  some  distance,  enjoying  the  beautiful  scenery,  passing 
the  large  Marine  Hotel,  and  then  lay  our  course  direct  for  the  Salinas 
lightship  at  the  mouth  of  the  Amazon. 

The  next  day  we  experience  a  peculiar  condition — the  trade  winds 
being  very  light  and  blowing  upon  our  port  bow,  instead  of  the  star- 
board as  usual  in  this  latitude.  Flying  fish  (a  delicacy  of  which  we  failed 
to  get  the  usual  mess  at  Barbadoes)  are  about  us  in  great  schools.  The 
sight  of  them,  and  opportunity  afforded  by  the  almost  calm  sea  of  study- 
ing their  flight  from  swell  to  swell,  interest  us  greatly,  as  there  is  much 
discussion  as  to  whether  they  really  fly,  or  only  leave  the  water  under  the 
impetus  of  their  caudal  fin,  to  strike  it  again  as  soon  as  the  force  of  the 
impulse  is  lost.  After  studying  their  flight  for  over  six  hours,  with  the 
aid  of  a  powerful  and  very  wide-angled  marine  glass,  we  conclude  that 
the  latter  view  of  the  case  is  the  correct  one,  though  we  must  admit  that 
some  of  the  flights  were  astonishingly  extended,  some  estimated  at  from 


THE  JIOMCEOPATIIIC  RECORDER.  9 

300  to  500  feet,  over  the  crests  of  from  five  to  twelve   Bwellfl  that 
about  45  feet  apart  ;  again, one  was  found  upon  the  deck  the  next  morn- 
ing, to  gain  which  it  must  have  risen  at  least  20  feet  from  the  surfa< 
the  water.     Our  reasons  for  concluding  that   their  flight  is  only  dt 
the  forcible  action  of  the  caudal  fin  on  leaving  the  water  are:  first,  they 
always   fly  in  a  direct   and  unvaried  line    from  the  point  of  issuance  to 
that  of  entrance ;  second,  they  never  rise  higher  than   the  point   first 
gained  on  leaving  the  water;  third,  if  a  swell  higher  than  the  plane  of 
their  flight  is  met  it  is  never  mounted  by  the  fish,  but  often  pierced,  after 
which  the  fish   strikes  the  water  between  it  and  the  next;  fourth,  they 
almost  invariably  re-enter  the  water  with  a  confused  splash,  not  neatly 
as  they  undoubtedly  would  do  if  able  to  further  sustain  and  guide  them- 
selves while  in  the  air. 

About  400  miles  from  Barbadoes  we  encounter  a  large  tree,  with  roots 
and  branches  nearly  intact ;  the  captain  gives  two  reasons  for  its  ap- 
pearance here  in  his  report  to  the  Hydrographic  Department — first,  our 
nearness  to  the  current  formed  by  the  Orinoco  river ;  and  second,  the 
influence  of  the  hurricane  previously  mentioned.  Usually  these  trees 
soon  become  waterlogged,  and  do  not  travel  many  hundred  miles  from 
the  mouth  of  the  river. 

In  latitude  10°  45'  N.  and  longitude  54°  51'  W.  we  are  in  the  dol- 
drums, that  usually  calm  sea  between  the  northwest  and  southeast  trade 
winds  ;  here  we  pass  a  Portuguese  brig  with  sails  idly  flapping  about  the 
masts,  and  the  always  sleepy  sailors  napping  on  the  deck  ;  what  an  ap- 
pearance of  helplessness  she  presents  compared  with  our  steamer;  we 
watch  her  through  our  glasses  until  she  is  hull  down  beyoud  the  eastern 
horizon. 

A  slight  shower,  followed  by  a  gentle  breeze,  somewhat  varies  the  mo- 
notonv  of  the  swell  at  evening.  The  beautiful  evenings  on  deck  in  this 
latitude  are  full  of  poetry  and  beauty,  the  stars  are  as  bright  as  on  a  calm 
November  night  in  the  north,  and  appear  to  bear  out  that  once  advanced 
theory,  that  we  exist  in  the  centre  of  our  earth  and  not  upon  the  surface, 
and  that  the  stars  and  planets  are  simply  the  light  streaming  in  to  lis 
through  perforations  in  the  crust.  At  noon  the  next  day  we  pass  into 
the  southeast  trades,  which,  with  a  head  sea  and  the  Amazonian  or  Equa- 
torial current  against  us,  somewhat  retards  our  speed.  Our  trip  through 
the  doldrums  was  often  enlived  by  the  Padre,  who  affords  much  amuse- 
ment everywhere,  except  at  table,  where  his  gastronomic  feats  are,  in- 
deed, surprising,  and  often  disgusting;  his  devotion  to  snuff  is  so  com- 
plete that  he  partakes  even  at  table,  and  the  trumpet-like  notes  shortly 
after,  only  partially  smothered  in  his  large  bandanna,  do  not  inspire 
the  followers  of  Epicurus,  neither  does  his  habit  of  soaking  large  blocks 
of  layer  cake  in  his  soup,  particularly  flavor  our  luncheon.  He  is, 
nevertheless,  an  excellent  story-teller,  and  reminds  one  forcibly  of  the 
engraving  so  often  seen,  entitled  "  A  Good  Story,"  as  he  has  much  the 
appearance  of  a  Jesuit  monk.     He  is  often  found  asking  the  cabin-boy 


10  THE  HOMOEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

for  a  little  fish-line,  that  he  may  "  catena  nicea  litta  fisha,"  much  to  their 
amusement. 

At  5°  31/  N.  and  47°  32'  W.  we  cross  the  dark  waters  of  the  Orinoco 
river,  and  approach  the  equator  which  we  shall  cross  early  to-morrow 
evening.  The  voyage  is  becoming  tiresome  in  its  monotony,  nothing 
whatever  occurring  of  interest  outside  of  the  vessel  itself;  the  circle  of 
the  horizon,  and  the  blue  dome  of  the  sky  remaining  the  same  hour  after 
hour  and  day  after  day. 

Awakening  early  the  next  morning  we  find  the  sea  beautifully  turbu- 
lent, and  a  delightful  breeze  blowing  in  our  faces.  The  glorious  sunrise 
tints  the  eastern  sky  with  crimson,  in  which  shortly  after  a  few  dark 
clouds  float  like  dross  upon  a  pot  of  liquid  gold  ;  anon  orange,  green, 
and  rose  creep  in  like  threads  in  a  silken  weft;  then  suddenly  the 
disc  of  the  noble  orb  appears,  and  it  is  day.  The  abruptness  of  the 
rising  and  setting  of  the  sun  is  always  a  theme  of  conversation  on  board. 
The  captain  and  mate,  sextants  in  hand,  stand  in  statuesque  posture 
upon  the  bridge,  until,  suddenly  calling  "  time,"  they  descend  to  their 
cabins,  work  out  their  reckonings,  call  to  the  helmsman  M  to  hold  her  so," 
and  we  have  little  else  to  interest  us  all  the  long  day  except  the  beat 
of  the  dinner-gong  and  the  eternal  chumming  of  the  constantly  revolv- 
ing screw. 

At  eight  o'clock  this  evening,  as  expected,  we  cross  the  "  line  "  during 
a  spiteful  little  gale  of  wind,  which  sweeps  the  deck,  carrying  with  it 
the  salty  crests  of  the  waves,  and  driving  us  all  indoors. 

Night  closes  in  nasty,  and  worrying  to  the  captain,  who  sets  the  lead, 
going  at  regular  intervals  throughout  the  murky  hours,  for  in  near- 
ing  the  lightship  at  Salinas  we  pass  over  a  constantly  shifting  bottom, 
composed  of  sand  bars  never  to  be  found  alike  on  any  two  trips.  The 
night  is  too  wild  to  see  land  when  we  approach,  so  all  retire,  faithfully 
convinced  that  when  we  awake  in  the  morning  our  vessel  will  be  quietly 
laying  at  anchor  off  the  city  of  Para  at  the  mouth  of  the  Amazon. 

(to  be  continued.) 


EPIPHEGUS  (Beech  Drops). 

Epiphegus  Virginiana,  Bart. ;   E.  Americamis,  Nutt. ;    Orobanche 
Virgin  icuia,  Linn. 

(COPYRIGHT  SECURED.) 

Plate  I. 

There  is  no  plant  in  our  newer  materia  medica  that  is  attracting 
more  attention  at  present  than  this  curious  member  of  the  small 
natural  order  Orobanchacece,  the  Broom-rapes. 

This  parasitic  family  of  plants  is  represented  by  only  11  genera,  con- 


PLATE  1. 


EPIPHEGUS  YIRGINIANA,  BART. 


12  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

taining  in  all  about  150  species,  all  except  12  of  which  belong  to  the 
Old  World.  The  characteristics  of  the  family  lie  in  the  absence  of  foli- 
age and  green  color  in  all  its  species ;  and  the  presence  of  a  two-lipped 
corolla,  didynamous  stamens,  and  a  one-celled  capsular  fruit,  having  two 
or  more  many-seeded  placenta  attached  to  its  inner  walls ;  this  last 
character  only,  distinguishes  its  flowers  from  those  of  its  nearest  neighbor, 
the  Scrophulariacese  or  fig-worts.  The  genus  Epiphegus — so-called  from 
its  species  growing  upon  the  roots  of  the  beech  tree  (Fagus ;  Greek 
phegos) — consists  of  slender  herbs,  having  a  purplish  or  yellowish-brown 
color,  greatly  branching  stems,  with  only  a  few  scattered  scales  to  rep- 
resent leaves,  and  long  wand-like  branches,  with  their  flowers  arranged 
more  or  less  irregularly  along  the  sides  to  the  tips ;  of  these  flowers  the 
upper  are  tubular  and  generally  sterile,  while  the  lower  have  only  a 
short  corolla,  seldom  opening,  but  gradually  torn  off  from  its  base  by 
the  developing  fruit  pod,  which  has  been  fertilized  in  the  bud.  The 
species  under  consideration,  commonly  known  as  Beech-drops,  from  its 
place  of  growth  and  the  globular  shape  of  its  root,  has  a  whitish  and 
purplish  corolla  to  the  upper  flowers,  which  is  from  one-half  to  one  inch 
long,  somewhat  curved,  and  its  free,  open  border  shallowlycut  into  four 
unequal  teeth. 

This  species  has  received  many  vulgar  names  in  different  localities, 
both  from  its  mode  of  growth  and  its  supposed  medicinal  qualities.  Of 
these  the  following  will  be  most  frequently  heard  :  Broom-rape,  a  name 
common  to  many  species  in  this  order,  but  not  applicable  to  this,  mean- 
ing a  plant  that  preys  upon  the  broom  (Cytissus  scojmrius,  Link),  a  woody 
shrub  cultivated  throughout  Great  Britain  ;  Cancer-root,  from  its  effi- 
cacy in  open  cancerous  sores ;  Clap-wort,  from  a  reputation  the  plant 
gained  in  the  West  as  a  specific  in  gonorrhoea  and  syphilis ;  Earth-club, 
from  the  peculiar  shape  of  its  root-stalk  ;  and  Flux  plant,  from  its  ability 
to  check  diarrhoea.  The  plant  grows  wherever  the  beech  tree  is  found, 
from  Canada  to  Florida,  Mississippi,  and  Kentucky ;  flowering  in  the 
north  from  August  to  September. 

Mr.  Fergus,  who  has  made  a  study  of  the  growth  of  this  species, 
says  :*    "  The  plant   lives   but  a  short  time,  perhaps  not   more  than 

a    month    passing   between   germination  and    maturity It  has 

no  true  roots,  and  cannot  live  where  there  are  no  assimilating  plants  ; 
this   would   indicate  its  being  a  parasite,  which,  indeed,  it  is,  but  a 

curious  one.     Having  no  sucking  rootlets,  how  does  it  live? 

This  parasite  takes  a  tight  hold  of  the  beech  root  with  its  grapplers  (the 
antler-like  apparent  rootlets  in  our  drawing),  bending  them  over  the 
host's  root,  as  if  to  hold  the  plant  in  position.  We  break  the  grapplers, 
and  find  the  bulbous  portion  of  the  root-stalk  adhering  to  the  root  as  if 
glued ;  a  thin  slice  and  a  microscope  shows  that  the  beech  root  has  ap- 

*  Botanical  Gazette,  1882,  p.  11 ;  1883,  p.  154. 


TIIE  IIOMCEOPATHIC  RECORD  EU.  11} 

parently  reversed  the  order  of  things,  and  kindly  mothered  the  parasite 
by  throwing  up  into  its  bulb  an  umbilical  canal,  terminated  by  a  pla- 
centa-like enlargement,  thus  offering  such  a  full  supply  of  its  juices  that 
the  bulb-cells  (which  hardly  differ  from  those  of*  the  parent  b<  ech  )  always 

contain  quantities  of  starch.  If  the  beech  root  is  small,  that  portion 
lying  beyond  the  parasite  withers  away  un nourished  :  if,  however,  the 
root  is  larger,  and  there  is  substance  enough  after  the  parasite  is  supplied, 
it  will  live,  but  will  be  retarded  in  its  growth." 

It  would  seem  that,  as  soou  as  the  seed  comes  in  contact  with  the  beech 
root,  and  all  proper  conditions  of  heat  and  moisture  are  present,  and  ger- 
mination begins,  the  root  kindly  lends  its  aid  by  furnishing  a  food  supply 
from  its  own  generous  storehouse  to  its  insignificant,  half-starved,  and 
beggarly  pauper  neighbor.  Being  thus  dependent  upon  another  for  its 
support,  and  not  having  the  faculties  necessary  to  guide  it  in  its  choice 
of  a  host  root,  this  species  naturally  differs  much  in  its  individuals.  The 
four  plants  in  my  herbarium  show  well  the  forms  which  may  be  usually 
met  with.  No.  1,  collected  at  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  is  6  inches  tall,  has 
13  branches,  and  no  tubular,  sterile  flowers.  No.  2,  collected  at  Ithaca, 
N.  Y.,  is  9  inches  tall,  has  9  thrifty  brauches,  and  but  four  sterile  flowers. 
No.  3,  also  collected  there,  is  17  inches  tall,  spare,  and  apparently  badly 
fed,  has  7  scrawny  little  branches  at  the  summit  of  a  long  stem,  and 
but  few  of  each  kind  of  flowers.  No.  4  is  a  fine  specimen,  healthy  and 
decided  in  all  its  parts;  it  is  over  2  feet  high,  and  has  eight  fully  devel- 
oped branches,  all  well  flowered  and  fruited.  This  individual  was  col- 
lected by  my  friend  Prof.  W.  R.  Dudley,  at  Ithaca,  and  the  summit  of 
its  stem  and  root-stalk  furnished  the  material  for  our  drawing,  where 
these  portions  are  reduced  once  in  all  measurements. 

History. 

The  empirical  history  of  this  plant  is  not  an  extended  one,  and  as 
Prof.  S.  A.  Jones,  in  Boericke  cv.  Tafel's  Bulletin,  has  fully  covered 
the  ground  as  far  as  I  can  find  references,  we  can  do  no  better  than  use 
his  compilation  : 

1804. — Prof.  B.  S.  Barton,  Collections  for  an  Essay  toward*  a  Materia 
Medica  of  the  United  States.  Part  Second,  p.  6,  et  sen.,  says:  "It  has 
been  celebrated  as  a  remedy  in  dysentery,  and  that  it  is  the  chief  ingre- 
dient of  Dr.  Martin's  celebrated  powder  for  cancer.  The  recent  plant 
is  'considerably  astringent,' and  also  has  a  '  peculiar  and  extremely  nau- 
seous bitterness.'  "  1818. — Prof.  W.  P.  C.  Bartou,  VegetabU  Materia 
Medica  of  the  United  States,  etc.,  Vol.  II.,  p.  25,  et  seq.  This  author  adds 
nothing  to  our  knowledge,  but  gives  "  An  account  of  the  late  Dr.  Hugh 
Martin's  cancer  powder,  etc.  By  Benjamin  Rush,  M.D."  This  is  the 
somewhat  celebrated  paper  read  before  the  Philosophical  Society,  and  is 
well  worthy  of  the  student's  attention.  1820. — Wm.  M.  Hand,  The 
House  Surgeon  and  Physician,  p.  239.     "  Substance,  infusion,  and  decoc- 


14  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

tion,  all  good  applied  to  foul  ulcers,  cancerous  affections,  sore  mouths. 
Internally,  in  secondary  stages  of  dysentery,  diarrhoea."  (Italics  ours.) 
1822. — Eberle.  A  Treatise  of  the  Materia  Medica  and  Therapeutics.  The 
Fourth  edition,  Vol.  I.,  p.  384,  is  now  quoted.  "In  aphthous  ulcera- 
tions of  the  mouth  I  have  known  it  to  be  highly  beneficial.  I  have  also 
used  a  strong  decoction  of  this  root  as  a  wash  in  an  obstinate  cutaneous 
affection  of  the  herpetic  kind  with  complete  success.  Internally  I  have 
never  employed  it ;  I  do  not  doubt,  however,  of  its  applicability  to  all 
the  purposes  for  which  vegetable  astringents  may  be  useful.  In  some 
parts  of  this  country  it  is  a  common  remedy  for  diarrhoea  and  dysentery." 
1829. — Togno  and  Durand  in  Edwards  and  Vavasseur's  Manual  of  Ma- 
teria Medica,  p.  94.  In  domestic  practice  used  for  diarrhoea,  dysentery, 
and  haemorrhages  (italics  ours).  "  We  are,  however,  better  acquainted 
with  its  external  than  its  internal  employment,  and  therefore  it  has  been 
occasionally  employed  with  some  success  in  obstinate  ulcers  and  in  aph- 
thous and  in  chronic  cutaneous  affections."  1830. — Rafinesque,  Medical 
Flora,  etc.,  Vol.  II.,  p.  248.  "  Astringent,  antiseptic  and  anti-syphilitic, 
deemed  in  the  West  a  specific  for  gonorrhoea  and  syphilis.  Useful  for 
obstinate  ulcers,  aphthous  and  herpetic  sores,  diarrhoea  and  dysentery." 
1830. — Elias  Smith.  The  Botanic  Physician,  etc.,  p.  422.  "The  beech 
drops  are  a  powerful  astringent,  and  cancers  have  been  effectually  cured 
by  the  application  of  the  fresh  bruised  root,  frequently  applied.  It  is 
very  beneficial  in  the  cure  of  St.  Anthony's  fire  and  canker  in  the  throat. 
After  proper  evacuations,  persons  subject  to  the  erysipelas  may  take  a 
teacupful  of  this  decoction*  four  times  a  day,  at  the  same  time  applying 
to  the  inflamed  part  cloths  wet  with  the  decoction,  not  sweetened,  and 
continued  until  well.''  1881. — Prof.  H.  G.  Piffard.  Materia  Medica  and 
Therapeutics  of  the  Skin,  p.  51.  This  erudite  author,  who  is  exceedingly 
well  versed  in  the  literature  of  our  indigenous  remedies,  recognizes  its 
repute  in  "  obstinate  ulcers." 

"  Just  here  a  brief  digression  concerning  curability  of  cancer  is  appro- 
priate. We  who  are  guided  by  the  law  of  similars  are  many  of  us  too 
fond  of  "old  clothes;"  for  what  are  prognoses  deduced  from  the  imbe- 
cility of  "  regular  "  practice  other  than  the  shabbiest  and  the  seediest 
of  "  old  clothes  ?"  With  a  "  regular  "  of  the  regulars  the  only  unerring 
diagnosis  of  a  "cancer"  is  that  it  has  killed  the  patient.  If  a  patient 
having  a  diagnosticated  "  cancer"  dies  the  diagnosis  is  valid  and  "sci- 
entific ;"  if,  however,  the  said  patient  recovers  under  treatment,  then  the 
"  cancer  "  diagnosis  is  iguominiously  discarded.  Of  such  "  science  "  the 
world  is  weary,  and  the  homoeopath  should  wash  his  hands  of  it.  Con- 
sider the  pathology  of  cancer:  it  is  terra  incognita  wherein  humoralist 
and  solidist  may  fight  their  battles  without  end.     It  is,  however,  an 

*  Prepared  by  boiling  down  eight  ounces  of  the  herb  to  two  quarts  of  water,  and 
sweetening. 


THE  HOMOEOPATHIC  RECORD  EH.  15 

anomaly  of  nutrition — on  thai  all  arc  agreed.  To  us  a  vaso-motor  dis- 
turbance in  the  affected  territory  is  thesimplesl  hypothesis,  for,  if  cancel 
is  only  an  "humoral"  product,  why  Bhould  it  localize;  what  occult 
"affinity"  attracts  the  "humors"  to  one  special  part  of  the  organism? 
Then,  again,  the  "  humor  "  is  an  hypothesis — who  has  ever  seen  the 
"humor" — whilst  the  vaso-motor  phenomena  by  which  nutrition  is 
effected  and  affected  are  visibly  demonstrable.  As  a  nutrition  change 
(though,  indeed,  one  of  the  most  profound)  cancer  comes  within  the 
sphere  of  curable  conditions,  and  undoubtedly  has  been  '  cured.1  " 

"It  is  pioper  to  mention, "  writes  Prof.  B.  S.  Barton,  "  that  the  oro- 
banche  has  been  supposed  by  many  persons  to  have  formed  a  part  of 
the  celebrated  cancer  powder  of  Dr.  Hugh  Martin,  whose  success  in  the 
management  of  many  cases  of  this  dreadful  disease  has  been  acknowl- 
edged by  the  regular  physicians  of  Philadelphia,  etc It  may 

be  said,  and  it  is  not  impossible,  that  Martin  added  the  vegetable  matter 
merely  to  disguise  the  arsenic,  reposing  at  the  same  time  all  his  confi- 
dence in  the  arsenic  alone.  I  think  it  more  probable,  however,  that  the 
superior  efficacy  of  Martin's  powder,  and  of  the  powders  in  the  hands 
of  other  empirical  practitioners,  has  been  in  part  owing  to  the  addition 
of  something  to  the  arsenic.  If  there  be  no  foundation  for  this  suspicion 
how  has  it  happened  that  in  the  management  of  cancers  the  empirical 
practitioners  have  oftsn  succeeded  so  much  better  with  their  medicines 
than  the  regular  paysrjip.ns  have  done  ?"-    Botji  ube  arsenic.    (Our  italics.) 

The  point  is  well  taken,  a;id  .-arely  any  substance  which  can  thus  en- 
ergize the*  action  of  arsenic  is  worthy  of  serious  consideration;  and, 
further,  that  Martin's  Cancer  Powder  was  of  singular  efficacy  is  beyond 
question.  Hugh  Martin  had  be^n  a  sv;u'de'iif  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Ben- 
jamin Rush,  and' from  personal  observation  Dr.  Rush  says:  "It  gave 
me  great  pleasure  to  witness  the  efficacy  of  the  doctor's  applications.  In 
several  cancerous  ulcers  the  cures  he  performed  were  complete.  Wlxere 
the  cancers  were  much  connected  with  the  lymphatic  system,  or  accompanied 
with  a  scrofulous  habit  of  body,  his  medicine  always  failed,  and  in  some  cases 

did  evident  mischief. Most  of  the  cancerous  sores  cured  by  Dr. 

Martin  were  seated  on  the  nose,  or  cheeks,  or  upon  the  surface  or  ex- 
tremities of  the  body.  It  remains  yet  to  discover  a  cure  for  cancers  that 
taint  the  fluids,  or  infect  the  whole  lymphatic  system.  This  cure  I  ap- 
prehend must  be  sought  for  in  diet,  or  in  the  long  use  of  some  internal 
medicine."  He  then  gives  this  golden  line  :  "  To  pronounce  a  disease- 
incurable  IS  OFTEN  TO  RENDER  IT  SO." 

Lastly,  we  have  from  him  this  valuable  practical  observation  :  "  It  is 
not  in  cancerous  sores  only  that  Dr.  Martin's  powder  has  been  found  to 
do  service.  In  sores  of  all  kinds,  and  from  a  variety  of  causes,  where 
they  have  been  attended  with  fungous  flesh,  or  callous  edges,  I  have  used  the 
doctor's  powder  with  advantage." 

On  analyzing  all  the  evidence  of  its  empirical  applications  we  find 


16  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

vaso-motor  paresis  to  be  the  conditio  sine  qua  non  of  the  action  of  Epi- 
phegus, or  Orobanche.  In  this  connection  note  especially  the  observa- 
tion of  Togno  and  Duraud  that,  in  domestic  practice,  it  was  used  in 
haemorrhages,  and  with  that  clue  the  pathological  basis  in  all  the  condi- 
tions of  its  use  is  seen  to  be  essentially  one  and  the  same.  Attention  is 
called  to  this  fact  because  it  affords  the  test  by  which  one  can  determine 
the  validity  of  any  and  every  proving  of  Epiphegus.  This  test  may  be 
expressed  in  the  following  postulate : 

The  genuine  "proving"  of  Epiphegus  must  evidence  that  the  physiologi- 
cal action  of  this  agent  is  primarily  effected  in  and  by  the  vascular  mech- 
anism. 

We  may  add  that,  as  Dr.  Martin  used  his  powder  mostly  in  open  can- 
cerous sores,  it  is  quite  probable  that  he  used  Epiphegus  as  his  vehicle 
for  the  arsenic,  on  account  of  its  own  powers  exhibited  in  the  cure  of 
such  open  and  ulcerous  conditions. 

Our  eclectic  brethren  use  a  decoction  of  the  plant  as  a  general  astrin- 
gent, but  especially  in  haemorrhage  of  the  bowels  and  uterus,  in  diar- 
rhoea, in  gonorrhoea,  and  in  gleet.  In  erysipelas  they  claim  that  a  de- 
coction drunk  freely,  and  at  the  same  time  used  externally  as  a  wash, 
has  effected  many  cures.  As  a  topical  application  in  obstinate  ulcers, 
aphthous  ulcerations,  leucorrhoea,  etc.,  it  is  claimed  also  to  be  useful. 

,.  ,  Thk  Tincture,  .  .  .  , 
Our  tincture  is  made  fjom  the  fresh,  .plant,  gathered  during  the  full 
flowering  season ;/pounded  to  a  pulp  and;  weighed.  Then- two-  parts  by 
weight  of  alcoho^are  taken,  and  after  thoroughly  mixing  the  pulp,  with 
one-sixth  part  of  it,  the  rest- of- the  alcD.hoj  padded,  the  whole'. poured 
into  a  well  stoppered  bottle,  and'  allowed  to  stand  for  eight  days  in  a 
dark,  cool  place,  being  shaken  twice  a  day.  The  resulting  tincture, 
after  filtration,  is  opaque  in  quantities  of  an  ounce  or  more,  thin  layers 
have  a  rich  red-brown  color  by  transmitted  light.  It  has  a  woody, 
vinous  odor,  an  acid  reaction,  and  a  slightly  astringent  taste,  the  astrin- 
gency  becoming  more  marked  a  short  period  after  touching  the  tongue. 

Chemistry. 
The  intimate  chemistry  of  this  plant  is  as  yet  unknown.  An  analysis 
made  for  Tilden  &  Co.  showed  in  7000  parts  of  the  plant:  286.96  albu- 
men and  gum  ;  263.20  starch  ;  898.72  bitter  principle  ;  338.40  extractive 
matter;  474.08  tannin;  175.04  soluble  salts;  144.96  insoluble  salts; 
4414.64  lignin,  etc.  The  large  percentage  of  bitter  principle  and  tan- 
nin, as  well  as  the  soluble  salts,  point  to  a  drug  that  deserves  a  most 
thorough  proving,  in  connection  with  which  some  inquiry  into  the  beech 

itself  would  not  be  amiss. 

Action. 

The  first  attempt  to  get  at  the  true  action  of  Epiphegus  was  made  by 
Dr.  Ralph  Morden,  of  Groveport,  Ohio.  A  compilation  of  his  work 
here  follows: 


THE  HOMCEOPATIIIC  BECORDEIt.  17 

Proving  or  Epiphegus. 

(1)  Effects  of  a  drachm  of  the  tincture ;  (2)  Effects  of  1  drachm  of 
the  lx;  (3)  Effects  of  half  drachm  of  the  tincture;  (4)  Effects  of  balf 
drachm  of  t tie  lx;  (5)  The  effects  of  the  drug  (dose,  aol  Btated  I  on  a 
friend  who  would  not  repeat  the  experiment  on  account  of  the  headache 

caused  ;  (6),  Effect  of  overdose  in   a  case  of  headache  in  .Mrs.  8 ; 

7  |  Effects  of  dosage  in  Mrs.  D . 

Mind. — When  writing  could  not  make  the  desired  letters.2  Found 
himself  using  wrong  words  in  writing.2  Sensation  as  though  something 
was  wrong  in  his  head,  especially  in  the  forepart  (morning  after  head- 
ache).2 Fears  death  from  the  palpitation  of  the  heart.6  Fears  injury 
to  her  health  from  the  drug.7 

Head. — Pain  in  right  temple.1 2  Slight  pain  in  left  temple,  lasted  until 
bed-time.12  Marked  pain  in  right  temple,  with  slight  pain  in  left,  which 
lasted  for  three  hours,  and  left  a  dull  heavy  pain  in  the  temporal  regions, 
worse  on  the  right  side.1  Pain  in  both  temples  as  if  from  pressure  of 
the  finger-ends  in  the  temporal  fossre,  worse  left  side,  and  lasting  from  3 
p.m.  until  evening.2  Piercing  pains  in  right  temple.2  Headache  in  left 
temple  during  the  night  while  in  bed,  especially  on  rising  up.2  Head- 
ache worse  in  right  temple.2  Pressing  in  right  temple  from  without  in- 
ward.5 Sensation  of  fulness  in  the  forepart  of  the  head.12  Severe  pain 
in  middle  of  forehead  ;34  came  on  suddenly  and  lasted  only  a  few  mo- 
ments.* Severe  headache  in  forepart  of  head  for  several  days.3  (Clini- 
cal) headache  brought  on  by  visiting  and  over-exertion. 

External  Head. — Scalp  feels  tight  during  the  headache.3 

(Notes  by  Prof.  S.  A.  Jones.) 

[Nervous  Headache. —  Vide  Day.  Headaches;  their  Nature,  Causes 
and  Treatment,  Chapter  VII.,  Third  edition.  The  victims  of  this  spe- 
cies of  headache  are  not  equal  to  auy  unusual  demand  upon  their  energy; 
any  slight  departure  from  "  the  even  tenor  of  their  way  "  determines  an 
attack.  It  is  the  headache  of  exhaustion — neurasthenia,  as  it  is  termed, 
hence  the  slight  excitement  of  a  visit,  or  a  day's  shopping,  or  an  un- 
wonted over-exertion,  exhausts  their  limited  capital  of  energy  and  pre- 
cipitates an  attack. 

Locality. — Anterior  third  of  cerebrum.  Xotably  the  temples,  and 
probably  more  markedly  the  right  side. 

Direction  of  Evolution.  -  From  right  to  left,  and  probably  upper  right 
and  lower  left,  thus  following  the  physiological  law  of  decussation.  'This 
element  affords  valuable  "  internal  evidence  "  as  to  the  genuineness  of  a 
proving.) 

Sensations. — Fulness  (forepart  of  head)  ;  dull,  heavy  pain  (ultimately 
becoming  severe);  pressure  from  without  inivards (as  if  compressed  with 
finger-tips);  tight  feeling  of  scalp.] 
vol.  iv.— 2 


IS  THE  HOMOEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

Eyes. — Could    not  read  because  the  words   seemed  to  be  blurred.2 

Smarting.2 

{Note  by  Prof.  S.  A.  Jones.) 

[The  proving  is  incomplete,  as  the  pupils  were  not  observed,  but, 
caeteris  paribus,  pressure  from  without  inwards  denotes  cerebral  ansemia 
from  vaso-motor  spasm.] 

Mouth. — Saliva  viscid.*5.  Almost  constant  desire  to  expectorate.1 
Sticky,  viscid  taste  in  the  mouth.1 2  Bitter  taste  in  the  mouth  (sec- 
ondary).3 

(Note  by  Prof.  S.  A.  Jones.) 

[The  adept  will  have  seen  before  this  that  Epiphegus  is  unique,  and 
that  it  is  most  distinctly  distinguished  from  all  other  known  remedies  by 
the  feature:  Almost  constant  desire  to  spit;  saliva  viscid.] 

Heart. — Palpitation  which  makes  her  feel  very  weak.6 

Stomach. — Nausea.3 

Stool. — Passed  with  difficulty  although  the  faeces  were  soft.3 

Superior  Extremities. — Pain  in  left  shoulder.3 

Inferior  Extremities. — Pain  in  left  knee.3 

General. — Languid  feeling.3 

Aggravation. — Headache  aggravated  by  working  in  the  open  air  f 

rising  up  in  bed.2 

(Note  by  Prof.  S.  A.  Jones.) 

[Aggravation. — On  rising  up  from  supine  position.  "Walking  in  the 
open  air.  (If  the  pathology  is  correct  which  ascribes  the  symptoms  in 
Epiphegus  chiefly  to  cerebral  anaemia  (quantitative  not  qualitative),  then 
the  aggravating  element  is  in  temperature,  not  motion.)  ] 

Amelioration. — After  sleeping.2     Morning.1 

(Note  by  Prof.S.  A.  Jones.) 
{Amelioration. — A  good  sleep.     (Simply  a  restoration  of  energy.)  ] 


We  see  by  this  fragmentary  proving  that  we  have  a  drug  of  value, 
and  one  giving  beside  a  few  good  characteristic  symptoms.  The  follow- 
ing cases  from  practice  show  enough  of  the  workings  of  the  drug  where 
the  symptoms  are  indefinite,  to  prove  to  us  that  there  is  much  more  to  be 
learned  of  its  action  by  further  provings,  especially  upon  women. 

Cases  Cured  by  Epiphegus. 

1.  Mrs.  S ,  set.  about  26.     Nervous  temperament.     Slight  figure  ; 

dark  hair  and  eyes.  For  a  long  time  has  been  subject  to  headache  when- 
ever she  went  from  home  a-visiting,or  was  subjected  to  any  excitement, 
or  from  any  extra  physical  exertion.  The  pain  was  through  the  tem- 
ples, and  all  over  the  head  ;  it  was  always  accompanied  by  great  nausea 
and  vomiting,  which   did  not  relieve.     Gave  Epiphegus  ox,  gtt.  5,  in 


THE  SOM(EOPATHIC  RECORDER.  lfi 

p,  twice  a  day  between  the  attacks;  and  when  she  fell  the  paroxysm 

coming  on  I  directed  her  to  take  the  above  f  twenty  or  tl 

minutes.  She  complained  that  the  medicine  gave  ber  palpitation  and 
made  her  feel  very  weak.     Said  Bhe  thought  it  would  Uir.  her. 

I  then  reduced  the  dose.     Result:  Entire  relief, and  for  a  Iqng  tin. 
would  always  carry  her  "headache  medicine"  with  her  when  she 
visiting,  which  she  can  now  do  with  an  immunity  before   unknown  to 
her.     This  case  occurred  over  a  year  ago,  and  only  once  ha  1  an 

attack,  and  then  it  was  in  a  mild  degree. — Dr.Morden. 

2.  Mrs.  D ,  ait.  35  or  40,  consulted  me  last  fall.     Said  she   had 

been  subject  to  "  sick  headache"  from  her  girlhood  whenever  she  went 
away  from  home,  or  underwent  any  unusual  exertion.     She   had  I 
found  any  relief  until  she  had  a  night's  rest.     Prescribed  as  in  I 

and  did  not  hear  from  her  for  several  months,  when  she  said  Bhe  was 
very  much  better,  but  had  not  continued  with  the  medicine  "  for  fear  it 
would  injure  her  health."  Has  since,  under  direction,  continued  the 
remedy,  and  is  now  entirely  exempt  from  her  headaches. — Dr.  Mordi  n. 

3.  Mr.  N came  in  the  night  for  medicine  for  his  wife.     Said  Bhe 

had  come  from  town  with  a  terrible  headache.  Could  give  no  symp- 
toms. Prescribed  Epiphegus  3x,  which  entirely  relieved  after  the  third 
dose. — Dr.  Morden. 

4.  Mr.  K ,  set.   38,  had  been  complaining  of  headache  for  some 

time.  I  had  given  Nux  vom.,  on  account  of  gastric  disturbances,  with 
only  temporary  relief.  Epiphegus  3x  cured  permanently  after  the  second 
dose.  "I  have  treated  a  number  of  other  cases  with  marked  bi 
and  have  not  failed  in  any  case  where  the  headache  was  induced  by 
going  from  home,  or  from  exertion.  Have  tried  it  incases  of  headache 
coming  on  at  the  menstrual  period,  but  have  failed  to  obtain  any  results.'1 
— Dr.  Morden. 

5.  A  lady  had  for  years  been  a  martyr  to  sick  headaches.     All 
without  exception  she  would  have  an  attack  every  time  she  went  from 
home.     Let  her  go  to  church — which  she  did  regularly — go  shopping, 
take  a  day's  visit,  entertain   company  at  home,  or  in  fact  do   anything 
which  called  for  a  little  extra  or  unusual  exertion  on  her  part,  and  the 
headache  was  sure  to  follow.     The  pain  was  located  in   the   foreb 
there  was  a  blurring  of  the  vision,  inability  to  sit  up  or  go  about. 
great  nausea  attended  by  vomiting.     A  period  of  rest,  like   a   nig 
sleep,  always  dissipated  the  trouble.     I  sent  her  Epiphegus  3d  on  disks, 
with  the  direction  to  take  one  disk  for  a  dose  when  the  first  Bymptom 
of  the  headache  was  felt.     Repeat  the  dose  every  twenty  or  thirty  min- 
utes until  three  doses  were  taken.     Then  stop  and  await  results*. 
years  this  lady  had  seldom  missed  having  an  attack  of  headache  once 
a  week,  and  frequently  several   times  a  week.     What  was  my  surprise 
and  delight  to  hear  at  the  end  of  two  months  that  every  attack  had  been 
warded  off  by  taking  a  few  doses  of  the  remedy My  friend, 


20  THE  HOMCEOPATH1G  BECOBDEB. 

who  has  now  used  the  remedy  for  over  two  years,  reports  that  she  has 
had  but  one  attack  of  sick  headache  since  using  the  remedy,  and  that  was 
when  she  was  out  of  it. — H.  P.  Holmes,  M.D.,  in  Horn.  World,  Novem- 
ber, 1886. 

6.  B.  M ,  a  lad  of  10,  awoke  in  the  morning  with  a  very  severe 

frontal  headache,  so  severe  as  to  keep  him  groaning  and  moaning  when 
not  sharp  enough  to  cause  him  to  cry  outright.  He  kept  up  a  constant 
spitting  of  frothy  saliva,  and  once  remarked,  "  Plow  my  spit  does  stick 
in  my  mouth."  He  also  complained  of  a  taste  in  the  mouth  "  like  sour, 
greeny,  mouldy  bread."  The  pupils  were  dilated,  his  usually  quite  red 
cheeks  blanched,  and,  as  he  expressed  it,  there  was  a  "  thick,  sicky," 
full  feeling  in  his  throat.  He  also  complained  that  yawning  (which 
was  quite  a  prominent  objective  symptom)  made  his  head  ache  "twice 
as  bad."  I  prepared  and  gave  him  a  disk  of  Epiphegus  Ix  every  twenty 
minutes  for  three  doses.  An  aggravation  followed  the  first  dose,  then  a 
spell  of  quiet ;  greater  aggravation  followed  the  second  dose,  and  I  de- 
cided not  to  give  the  third.  Relief  of  all  symptoms  soon  followed,  and 
no  further  complaint  was  heard.  This  was  the  first  headache  the  lad 
ever  had,  except  during  a  catarrhal  cold,  a  type  that  always  yielded 
either  to  Bell,  or  Calc.  carb.  The  headache  this  time  seemed  to  follow 
three  day's  excessive  playing. — C.  F.  M. 


VETERINARY    DEPARTMENT. 

Introduction. 

The  publishers  of  this  journal  have  decided  that,  as  there  is  roucb 
valuable  matter  pertaining  to  the  homoeopathic  treatment  of  dumb  ani- 
mals, in  the  foreign  press  especially,  and  as  we  have  excellent  suc- 
cess in  the  treatment  of  such  cases,  to  open  a  department  devoted  to 
Veterinary  Homoeopathy.  In  this  department  attempt  will  be  made  to 
present  actual  cases,  and  to  awaken,  as  much  as  possible,  an  interest  in 
this  practice  among  our  practitioners.  They  realize  how  many  suffering 
animals  could  be  quickly  and  pleasantly  relieved,  and  many  valuable 
ones  saved,  did  our  physicians  but  feel,  that  though  they  may  not  be 
veterinarians,  excellent  prescriptions  might  be  confidently  made  from 
the  objective  symptoms  displayed,  even  though  diagnostic  ability  may 
not  have  been  gained  by  a  thorough  veterinary  schooling.  Contribu- 
tions to  this  department  will  be  thankfully  received,  with  the  hope  that 
it  can  be  made  a  valuable  department. 

Cases  from  Practice. 

Keratitis — Equine. — On  the  7th  of  June  I  was  called  to  a  livery 
stable  to  see  "  Kitty,"  a  valuable  pacing  mare, whose  left  eye  was  claimed 


THE  UOMCEOPATHIG  RECOBDEB.  21 

to  be  weeping.  On  examination,  I  found  that  lachrymation  had  been 
constant  for  about  a  week,  during  which  t ho  animal,  most  of  the  time, 
kept  the  lids  dosed,  and  was  very  shy  on  the  approach  of  the  hand  to 
that  Bide.     Opening  the  lids,  i   found   the   lower   portion  of  the  cornea 

opalescent,  and  that  there  was  an  indentation  about  the  size  of  a  pin's 
head  in  its  lower  and  inner  portion.  The  sclerotic  vessels  were  not  in- 
flamed nor  injected.  Photophobia  was  not  great,  except  on  first  issuing 
from  the  stable,  though  light  greatly  increased  the  flow  of  substance  from 

the  eye.  I  was  told  that  there  was  a  little  stringy  exudation  from  the 
inner  canthus  every  morning,  and  that  the  trouble  had  not  seemed  to 
affect  the  animal's  "feed."  I  prescribed  grain-doses  of  Kali  hid 
-dry,  upon  the  tongue,  every  three  hours.  No  improvement  was  noticed 
until  the  third  day,  though  the  disease  appeared  checked.  On  the  fourth 
day  the  other  eye  began  to  show  symptoms  (lachrymation  |  of  the 
trouble,  and  the  first  seemed  to  grow  worse.  I  then  prescribed  Kalibich., 
SO  centesimal,  gtts.  3,  in  a  little  water,  every  four  hours.  From  this 
time  improvement  became  marked,  and  on  the  eighth  day  of  treatment 
all  signs  of  the  disease  had  disappeared.  c.  P.  K. 

Moquillo  (Pip) — Canine. — A  dog  from  the  River  Plate  (Brazil), 
property  of  Don  Jaime  Ginesta,  captain  of  a  merchant  vessel,  was 
brought  to  my  place  for  examination.  I  observed  that  his  nose  was  dis- 
charging freely,  and  that  the  alas  were  glued  with  a  sticky  secretion  ; 
his  muscles  were  stiffened,  his  movements  stupid,  and  eyes  dull,  symp- 
toms characteristic  of  the  disease.  Fixing  upon  a  symptom  which  I 
had  not  noticed  in  any  other  animal  suffering  from  this  disease,  nor  in 
any  treatise  upon  it,  that  inspiration  was  normal  but  expiration  was 
short  and  quick,  with  a  sound  greatly  resembling  a  cough,  I  questioned 
Seiior  Ginesta  as  to  how  many  days  he  had  noticed  this  ;  he  answ 
that  for  six  or  eight  days  he  had  noted  that  the  animal  was  melancholy, 
and  had  a  diminished  appetite,  and  that  he  had  used  remedies  that 
advised  during  an  epidemic  of  pip  in  the  place  from  which  the  dog  came, 
but  as  no  benefit  followed,  he  determined  to  call  and  get  my  opinion,  it 
having  been  suggested  to  him  that  I  would  cure  the  animal  if  possible. 
I  remarked  that  I  foresaw  a  dismal  end  of  the  affair,  as  the  dig 
at  a  very  advanced  stage,  and  the  symptom  of  expiration  might  be  con- 
sidered a  fatal  one;  nevertheless,  I  would  attempt  homoeopathic  medi- 
cation, as  it  had  many  recourses  in  cases  of  this  kind.  I  cl 
3d  decimal,  and  ordered  three  doses  to  be  given  at  intervals  of  an  hour, 
and  if  relief  followed  to  continue  the  same  at  iutervals  of  two  to  four 
or  six  hours.  This  remedy  not  only  relieved  the  principal  symptom, 
but  gradually  removed  all  the  others  without  the  necessity  of  any  other 
means,  and  in  three  days,  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  keeper,  the 
dog  fully  recovered. — Don  Jose  Blanch,  in  El  ConsuHor  Homeopatico, 
November,  1888. 


22  THE  HOM  (EOT A  THIC  BECOBDEB. 

Paraplegia — Canine. — Don  Pedro  Saguer,  in  the  September,  1888, 
number  of  El  Consultor  Homeopatico,  gives  a  case  of  a  dog  whose  pos- 
terior half  was  totally  paralyzed.  The  animal  was  unable  to  walk,  wag 
its  tail,  or  sit  upon  its  hind-quarters;  when  an  attempt  was  made  to  lift 
him  he  cried  out  as  if  from  pain.  Arnica  Z  was  given,  to  be  followed 
by  friction  of  the  same  over  the  affected  parts.  This  was  continued  up 
to  the  ninth  day,  when  a  dose  of  Bhus  tox.  3  was  given  and  friction  made 
with  spirits  of  turpentine.  On  the  tenth  day  the  dog  walked  perfectly 
well,  and  has  had  no  return  of  the  disease. 

Cerebral  Concussion — Equine.—  At  the  last  manoeuvring  of  the 
Grand  Army  Corps,  the  horse  of  a  superior  officer  while  leaping  a  ditch 
sustained  a  violent  fall  upon  its  head,  soon  followed,  by  vertigo,  which 
progressed  until  when  on  the  streets  the  horse  staggered  upon  and  threat- 
ened to  overturn  carriages,  and  finally  stood  with  all  four  legs  wide 
spread,  in  which  position  he  attempted  to  remain.  These  symptoms  con- 
tinued, until  finally  a  loss  of  appetite  set  in,  and  I  was  consulted.  I 
prescribed  Arnical,  hourly,  10  drops  upon  sugar.  After  ten  days  the 
sickness  entirely  disappeared. — H.  Fischer,  in  Zeitschrift  fur  Homoopa- 
thisclie  Thierheillcunde,  11, 1888. 

Intestinal  Colic — Equine. — Don  Pedro  Saguer,  in  El  Consultor 
Homeopatico  for  September,  1888,  mentions  a  case  of  intestinal  colic  in 
a  horse  that  was  led  to  his  office  on  the  7th  of  July.  The  animal  suffered 
great  pain  in  the  bowels,  caused  by  drinking  cold  water  and  standing 
thereafter  while  fatigued.  Pulse  weak,  ears  and  legs  cold,  coat  sweaty 
over  the  whole  body,  anxious  and  restless  expression,  and  appeared  to 
suffer  greatly.  AconiteZ  was  administered  ;  at  the  end  of  ten  minutes 
the  animal  appeared  more  quiet,  and  manifested  a  cessation  of  pain;  in 
thirty  minutes  the  dose  was  repeated,  and  two  clysters  with  soap  and 
vinegar  administered.  At  the  expiration  of  fifteen  minutes  a  dose  of 
Arsenicum  6  was  given,  followed  in  a  short  time  by  a  disappearance  of 
the  symptoms.  The  horse  desired  its  food  in  the  afternoon,  and  returned 
to  its  ordinary  tasks. 

Tympanitis — Bovine. — A  cow  belonging  to  Herr  R,  turned  into  a 
pasture  of  young  dewy  clover,  was  attacked  with  acute  tympanitis.  The 
attack  was  very  rapid,  and  at  the  end  of  ten  minutes  the  suffering  had 
reached  its  height,  so  that  the  animal  was  scarcely  able  to  keep  upon  its 
legs.  Happily  I  was  in  the  neighborhood,  and  therefore,  forthwith 
upon  the  spot,  prepared  to  puncture  the  abdomen,  if  it  became  necessary, 
with  a  knife  (no  trocar  being  at  hand).  In  the  meantime,  I  prescribed, 
every  five  minutes,  5  drops  of  Colchicum0  in  a  spoonful  of  water.  Only 
four  doses  in  the  space  of  twenty  minutes  were  prescribed,  when  the 
animal  was  completely  restored. — H.  Feldmann,  in  Zeit.fur  Horn.  Their^ 
11,  1888. 


THE  H0MCE0PATIJ1C  RECORD  Kit.  23 

Diarrhoea — Paittine. — Prau  von  Si.  begged  me  ooe  day  to  call  and 
see  her  sick  parrot.  As  I  arrived  at  the  lady's  boose  I  found  Jocko  in 
his  cage,  Bitting  upon  bis  perch,  his  feathers  ruffled  and  his  eyes  clouded  ; 

he  appeared  indeed  an  invalid.  He  had  no  appetite  whatever,  :ind  the 
evacuations  of  the  bowels  were  thin,  watery,  and  slimy.  The  lady  wept, 
as  she  expected  to  lose  her  pet,  which  had  been  in  her  possession  for 
twenty  years.  I  prescribed  Are.  albAO,  and  ordered  two  globules  I 
put  into  the  bird's  bill  every  two  hours.  The  next  day,  Jocko  was  hotter, 
his  appetite  had  returned,  and  he  called  out  tome,  "Schdn  Dank 
Jocko."  I  gave  him  the  four  globules  that  remained  for  him  from  the 
day  before,  and  allowed  his  food  to  be  given  him  until  he  waa  satisfied. 
Ou  the  next  day  I  dismissed-  him  as  cured,  much  to  the  joy  of  his  mis- 
tress.— H.  Fischer,  in  Zeit.  jar  Horn.  Thier.,  10, 1888. 

Parasites — Oallinine. — The  bird-mite  (Sarc.opJia  mutana)  grows  to 
the  greatest  perfection  on  fowls ;  it  however  travels  from  these  upon  other 
animals,  even  to  man.  It  is  very  small,  being  but  one-third  to  one-half 
a  micromillimeter  long.  It  multiplies  particularly  fast  in  summer,  and 
lives  in  the  squamous  portion  of  the  epidermis,  upon  the  comb,  and  under 
the  horny  plates  of  the  feet.  Animals  affected  with  this  mite  become 
covered  at  the  points  of  attack  with  a  corneous  membrane,  forming 
thick  crusts,  inducing  tumefaction,  and  malposition  of  the  feathers.  The 
mites  live  in  groups  under  the. epidermis,  in  the  same  manner  that  the 
itch-mite  does  in  man.  Upon  longer  duration  of  the  affection,  the  suf- 
fering emaciates  the  fowls  until  finally  they  die  of  tuberculosis. 

One  should  know,  that  when  horses  kept  in  the  neighborhood  of  hen- 
roosts first  begin  to  rub  violently  and  chafe,  that  it  is  most  likely  this 
mite  that  is  to.blame  for  it,  and  not  some  other  parasitic  animal  like 
the  louse. 

The  success  of  the  treatment  in  both  the  fowls  and  the  horses  depends 
upon  killing  the  mite,  and  through  its  death  only  can  such  a  die 
be  cured.  To  accomplish  this,  embrocate  with  Benzine.  Such  poultry- 
raisers  as  have  washed  the  animals  well  with  creolin  soap  have  found 
that  it  killed  the  mites  effectively. — H.  Fischer,  in  Zcit.fur  Horn.  Thier., 
10,  1888. 


THERAPEUTICS. 


Lobelia  Inflata — a  New  Sphere  of  Action. — Dr.  R.  T.  Cooper, 

in  the  Homoeopathic  Review,  1888,  p.  717,  says  :  "  My  acquaintance  with 
Lobelia  may  be  said  to  date  back  some  twenty  years.  Prior  to  this 
period  I  had  used  it,  but  never  with  that  success  that  its  provings  led 
me  to  anticipate.  About  this  time  I  fell  in  with  Mr.  Ash  worth,  of 
Southampton,  an  herbalist,  whose  success  I  had  known  to  be  very  great 


24  THE  HOMOEOPATHIC  BECOBDER. 

in  the  treatment  of  many  apparently  hopeless  cases  of  disease.  I  put 
the  very  plain  and  direct  question  to  him,  How  is  it  that  you  obtain  such 
good  results  from  Lobelia,  and  that  I  am  invariably  unsuccessful  with  it? 

His  reply  was  perfectly  satisfactory  and  noteworthy:  "I  use,"  said 
he,  "a  solution  of  the  lobelia,  made  with  common  vinegar."  I  there- 
fore determined  to  put  this  acetous  preparation  to  the  test  of  experience, 
and  may  safely  say  that  from  that  time  to  the  present  there  have  been 
but  few  days  in  which  I  have  not  resorted  to  the  acetum  lobelice  inflated 
as  a  remedy.  Consequently,  I  claim  to  be  in  a  position  to  speak  with 
authority  on  the  subject. 

On  further  interrogating  my  friend,  the  herbalist,  I  was  surprised  to 
find  him  expressing  himself  in  regard  to  Lobelia  in  a  manner  almost  ex- 
actly similar  to  what  we  were  in  the  habit  at  that  time  of  doing  regard- 
ing Sulphur;  for  example,  he  claimed  for  Lobelia  that  it  changed  the 
character  of  a  disease,  that  the  interposition  of  Lobelia  during  the  treat- 
ment of  a  diseased  state,  rendered  the  patient  more  susceptible  to  the 
influence  of  other  remedies,  and  that  it  might  be  given  with  advantage 
in  all  forms  of  disease. 

Upon  making  trial  of  it  I  found  there  was  some  ground  for  his  asser- 
tions, and  that  in  some  cases,  e.g.,  in  tubercular  meningitis,  and  in 
mesenteric  disease  of  childhood,  it  really  had  an  influence  over  and  above 
what  might  be  expected  from  the  provings. 

Soon  after  coming  to  London  a  case  came  under  my  care  which 
caused  me  considerable  anxiety.  The  notes  taken  at  the  commencement 
were  as  follows : 

L.  N.,  aged  23  ;  ill  three  years;  occupation  at  home;  mother  weak 
but  not  delicate  ;  consumptive  history  from  both  parents ;  patient  of  a 
nervo-sanguine  temperament;  complexion  bilious;  reddish  hair;  ad- 
mitted to  a  dispensary  then  held  at  Nottiug  Hill,  27th  July,  1874. 
Diarrhoea ;  last  year  was  in  bed  continuously  during  the  months  of  July, 
August,  September  with  this  affliction,  and  has  been  under  constant 
treatment  since  the  beginning  of  last  year. 

Three  years  ago,  went  to  stay  in  Lincolnshire,  and  there  got  diarrhoea 
which  could  not  be  stopped  ;  returned  to  London,  and  in  spite  of  this 
change  of  abode  the  diarrhoea  persisted. 

At  14  to  15  years  old  used  to  have  severe  pains  in  the  left  and  some- 
times in  the  right  side,  and  round  the  lower  abdomen,  with  faint  feeling 
till  monthly  period  came  on  regularly,  and  from  then  up  till  20  years 
old  was  in  good  health. 

Symptoms  run  thus:  Pain  all  round  the  abdomen,  and  up  the  back, 
very  much  worse  after  taking  off  her  clothes,  and  a  feeling  of  exhaustion 
or  falling  to  pieces  inside  and  out;  cannot  bear  anything  to  touch  her. 

Every  day  four  or  five  motions,  even  when  taking  medicine;  if  she 
leaves  it  off,  continual  motions  all  day  long;  it  literally  runs  from  her. 
Motions  generally  watery,  sometimes   light-colored,  sometimes  dark, 


THE  ITOMGSOPA TJIIC  BECO B D  ////. 

never  bloody.  Monthly  period  very  irregular,  Bometimes  five  or 
weeks  between,  generally  lasts  but  two  days.  Aggravation  of  all  the 
symptoms,  especially  of  the  diarrhoea,  at  these  times  ;  very  much  tender- 
ness overall  the  abdomen,  the  tenderness  is  principally  in  the  ovarian 
regions.  Legs  ache  fearfully,  pains  all  over  the  body,  faints  continually. 
Subject  to  neuralgia  of  the  face,  sometimes  right,  sometimes  left,  some- 
times both  sides,  and  the  pains  extend  to  the  chest,  and  have  troubled 
her  since  she  took  ill.  The  neuralgic  pains  come  at  all  hours  of  the 
day  and  night,  and  come  and  go  suddenly,  but  has  been  free  of  them 
for  the  last  month.  Tongue  clean,  appetite  generally  bad,  but  some- 
times very  good.     Prescribed  Ac  sulphur.  3x. 

31st  July.  Is  better,  if  anything.  Shooting,  aching  in  the  right  side 
of  the  face,  and  aching  diffused  tenderness  with  soreness  in  anal  and 
vulvar  regions,  preventing  her  sitting  down  (an  old  symptom).  It  would 
be  superfluous  to  go  on  giving  weekly  reports  ;  the  apparent  benefit  from 
sulphuric  acid  soon  wore  off;  in  a  subsequent  occasion  Hydrastis  Beemed 
to  act  beneficially,  and  caused  her  to  feel  stronger;  and  Graphites  3x 
seemed  to  lessen  the  local  pains;  these  effects,  however,  are  hardly 
worth  noticing,  and  the  record  of  other  drugs  was  simply  that  of  return 
of  all  her  most  violent  symptoms,  after,  it  might  be,  temporary  amelio- 
ration. 

The  discharge  poured  away  from  her  night  and  day,  and  no  prescription 
could  be  said  to  have  proved  distinctly  remedial.  As  to  astringents,  I 
did  not  make  trial  of  them,  for  these  had  always  made  her  state  unbear- 
able when  under  allopathic  treatment,  and  the  patient's  preference  for 
my  treatment  arose  from  its  enabling  her  to  get  on  without  them. 

Perhaps  I  should  add  that  good  draught  stout  up  to  this  time  had 
relieved  her  to  a  greater  extent  than  any  more  truly  medicinal  agent. 

The  symptoms  were  so  complex  and  confusing  that  it  seemed  to  me  a 
case  typically  suitable  for  one  well  acquainted  with  repertory  work  ; 
accordingly  I  requested  my  patient  to  place  herself  under  a  well  known 
and  skilful  repertorian.  For  three  months  she  remained  under  him, 
and  returned  to  me  not  in  the  least  improved. 

Soon  after  this  she  was  admitted  into  an  hospital  for  women,  where 
an  irritating  pile  was  discovered   high  up  in  the  rectum,  and  removed. 

Ihis  was  to  be  the  solution  of  all  difficulties  ;  and  indeed  after  this 
she  improved  for  a  time.  The  amelioration  proved,  alas!  to  be  quite 
temporary,  for  on  getting  up  from  bed  she  became  worse  than  ever. 
The  vagina  as  well  as  the  rectum  began  to  discharge  copiously,  the  ad- 
jacent parts  becoming  excoriated.  This  went  on  night  and  day,  and 
rendered  her  a  complete  invalid  in  every  sense. 

On  reviewing  my  notes  of  her  case,  I  was  struck  by  the  fact  that  the 
only  remedy  which  had  appeared  to  give  her  decided  relief  was  Lobi  liai 
and  I  determined  therefore  to  give  it  in  doses  of  eight  drops  of  the 
acetum,  well  diluted,  thrice  daily.     The  effect  was  almost  marvellous. 


26  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECORDEB. 

From  the  moment  of  taking  it  she  began  to  improve,  and  in  a  few  weeks 
was  quite  well.  She  is  now  and  has  been  for  some  eleven  years  a  healthy 
active  woman,  earning  her  bread  as  a  hospital  nurse. 

A  year  or  two  after  completing  the  treatment  of  this  case,  a  lady, 
aged  52,  was  placed  under  my  care,  who  appeared  to  suffer  in  a  some- 
what similar  fashion.  Here,  however,  the  entire  vesico-vaginal  region 
was  affected.  This  lady  had  been  under  the  best  homoeopathic  treat- 
ment during  the  nine  months,  in  which  she  had  been,  she  assures  me, 
completely  bedridden,  and  no  one  prescription  gave  her  the  least  relief 
during  this  time,  except  a  palliative  effect  from  Apis  mellifica. 

The  history  of  her  case  is  particularly  instructive.  At  37  years  old 
was  exposed  to  a  severe  chill,  which  checked  the  catamenial  flow;  after 
this  had  threatened  phthisis  with  bronchorrhcea,  which  after  two  years 
gradually  went  off,  leaving  her  subject  to  severe  constantly  recurring 
seizures  of  vertigo.  Nine  months  before  coming  to  me,  felt  as  if  some- 
thing were  forming  in  the  utero-vaginal  region,  causing  rruch  bearing- 
down.  Was  obliged  to  go  to  bed,  and  then  there  occurred  a  profuse 
pouring  away  of  apparently  serous  fluid  from  the  utero-vaginal  and 
vesical  mucous  membranes,  with  paroxysms  of  agonizing  burning  and 
scalding,  coming  on  chiefly  in  the  evening.  The  vagina  was  swollen, 
extremely  tender,  and  bathed  in  moisture,  and  urination  was  always 
very  painful  and  followed  by  a  paroxysm  of  general  scalding.  She  was 
unable  to  sit  up,  and  decubitus  could  be  maintained  only  with  the  knees 
drawn  up  or  on  the  left  side.  At  night  she  would  be  awoke  by  finding 
her  back  resting  in  a  pool  of  water,  and  the  sense  of  general  bearing 
down  in  the  uterine  region  was  almost  intolerable.  The  bowels  were 
unaffected,  and  the  urine  was  free  from  all  but  a  very  slight  trace  of 
albumen.  A  hardness  and  dulness  to  percussion  existed  down  the  right 
side  of  abdomen. 

In  this  case  I  cannot  say  that  Lobelia  was  entirely  instrumental  in 
effecting  a  cure,  but  certainly  it  was  the  agent  that  broke  down  the 
severity  of  the  paroxysms  and  that  lessened  and  finally  prevented  the 
excessive  discharge.  It  was  here  given  in  doses  of  a  £  of  a  drop  of  the 
acetum  every  fourth  hour.  The  sense  of  bearing  down,  for  example,  was 
most  relieved  by  small  doses  (3  drop)  of  soda  chlorata,  the  hypochlorite 
of  soda.  Still,  I  can  aver  that  from  the  time  of  beginning  with  Lobilia, 
not  a  single  day  was  passed  in  bed,  and  that  from  then  till  now  she  has 
been  quite  free  from  her  old  symptoms,  except  that  a  slight  weakness 
is  still  felt  every  autumn  in  the  lower  abdomen.  Her  health  generally 
has  been  better  than  for  the  fifteen  years  previous  to  her  illness. 

The  writer  goes  on  to  state  that  the  good  effects  of  acetum  lobelice  are 
most  evident  where  there  are  serous  discharges,  especially  those  associated, 
as  is  often  the  case,  with  serious  affections  of  the  uterus  and  its  append- 
ages. He  also  claims  it  to  be  an  antipsoric,  and  an  excellent  remedy 
in  the  suppression  of  natural  and  also  morbific  discharges,  especially 


THE  110MCE0PA  TIJ1C  BECOli  !>  E  ft  27 

those  of  a  catarrhal  nature,  and  hereto  we  belli  76  great  good  can  be 
pained  from  careful  clinical  experience  with  the  drug  ;  the  dosing, how- 
ever, should  be  very  carefully  proceeded  with,  as  alarming  Bympl 
of  depression  will  often  follow  the  giving  of  even  apparently  moderate 
doses. 

Robinia  in  Gastric  Cancer. — Among  the  many  remedies  over- 
looked in  practice,  is  Robinia.  It  is  the  only  remedy  that,  in  my  hands, 
has  ever  modified  the  intensely  acid  vomiting  in  cancer  of  the  stomach. 
In  four  cases  of  this  disease — diagnosis  confirmed  by  autopsy — the  ro- 
binia held  this  acidity  thoroughly  in  check,  and  did  much  to  ameliorate 
the  sufferings  of  the  hopelessly  sick.  In  many  cases  of  acid  dyspepsia, 
it  has  been  highly  curative.  Have  used  only  the  3d  dilution. — A.  L. 
Fisher,  M.D.,  in  Homoeopathic  Journal  of  Obstetrics,  November,  1888. 

Note. — Robinia  is  a  very  near  relative  of  THfolium  prat.,  which  has, 
in  domestic  practice,  so  often  relieved  symptoms  caused  by  gastric  cancer. 
— C.  P.  M. 

Sinapis  alba. — Dr.  A.  L.  Fisher  says  of  this  drug:  For  several 
years  Sinapis  alba  has  been  in  quite  frequent  use  by  me  and  some  of  my 
medical  acquaintances,  whose  attention  I  have  called  to  this  truly  use- 
ful and  often  indicated  remedy.  Allen  gives  the  symptoms  on  which 
we  have  based  our  prescriptions.  Symptoms  33  to  41, inclusive,  58,  7, 
91,  98  and  many  more  that  are  so  closely  similar  that  they  really 
amount  to  repetitions. 

Add  to  these,  as  clinical  observations,  verified  repeatedly,  ulcers 
throughout  the  mouth,  especially  upon  the  tongue,  with  violent,  burning 
pain,  and  the  whole  buccal  cavity  so  sensitive  that  even  the  blandest 
food  or  drink  is  unbearable. 

The  two  following  cases  are  fairly  typical  and  illustrate  its  sphere  of 
action  as  well  as  would  a  dozen  : 

Mrs. ,  pregnant  eight  months.     Has  taken  no  exercise  for  we 

instead,  has  sat  in  a  cushioned  rocker  from  morning  to  night  for  many 
weeks,  though  she  is  a  strong,  healthy  woman. 

After  another  physician  had  been  in  attendance  without  any  material 
benefit  to  patient,  I  was  called  in  to  relieve  her  of  the  following  symp- 
toms:  Burning  in  the  stomach  all  the  time,  extending  up  the  oesophagus 
to  throat  and  mouth,  the  latter  full  of  "canker  sores,"  and  mouth, 
throat,  and  stomach  burn  fearfully  whenever  she  takes  any  food  or  drink. 
Sinapis  alba  2x  was  given  with  almost  magical  effect,  curing  her  rap- 
idly and  completely.  She  continued  to  rock  till  labor  set  in,  which  I 
terminated  with  forceps.     Child  was  plump  and  well. 

In  a  social  letter  to  me  Dr.  C.  F.  Ellis,  of  Ligonier,  Indiana,  writes 
as  follows  :  "  Made  a  most  beautiful  and  rapid  cure  with  my  preparation 
of  Sinapis  albas.     She  was  a  lady  with  a  three-months-old  child,  who  had 


28  THE  HOMEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

been  suffering  intensely  with  sore  mouth  accompanied  by  hot,  burning, 
sour  eructations.  Had  been  under  old-school  treatment  all  the  time  (three 
months)  without  any  relief.  The  burning  started  in  her  stomach  and 
would  come  up  throat  and  mouth,  with  sour  eructations.  The  mouth 
was  very  sore  all  over,  with  little  white  points  surrounded  by  red  mucous 
membrane.  Gave  Slnapis  alba  3x  three  times  a  day.  The  sour  eructa- 
tions stopped  the  first  day.  The  mouth  was  entirely  well  on  the  third 
day. 

The  homceopathicity  of  the  drug  to  these  cases  cannot  be  disputed  by 
any  person  of  average  intelligence  who  will  compare  the  symptoms 
given  with  those  I  have  referred  to  in  Allen's  Materia  Medica. — Horn. 
Jour,  of  Obstetrics,  November,  1888. 

Cases  of  Sycosis  Healed  by  Antimon.  Tart.  200.— C.  B , 


11  years  old,  a  cloakrnaker's  daughter,  4th  January,  1888  ;  had  a  pus- 
tulous eruption  upon  the  right  cheek,  composed  of  clear  pustules  like 
chickenpox.  almost  the  size  of  an  English  crown.  This  eruption  had 
already  continued  seven  or  eight  years,  and  the  efforts  of  allopathic 
practice  fouud  useless.  The  child  looked  healthy  and  vigorous.  I  gave 
Ant.  tart.,  200  in  water  with  a  little  spirit  of  wine  and  half  a  drachm  of 
tincture  of  Tangier's  orange  peel  to  render  it  more  durable  (!)  strict  in- 
junctions were  given  to  keep  the  remedy  in  a  dark  and  cool  place,  and 
to  take  a  teaspoonful  nights  and  mornings.  She  took  the  liquid  until 
the  8th  of  February — until  every  trace  of  the  disease  had  disappeared. 
No  outward  remedies  were  applied.  Diet. — Ham,  sausage,  and  pork 
were  forbidden.  Plentiful  enjoyment  of  fruit  and  vegetables,  as  well  as 
the  juice  of  half  a  citron  or  more  in  water  daily,  were  allowed.  The 
disease  has  not  since  returned. 

E.  G ,  14  years  old,  a  blacksmith's  little  daughter,  26th  December, 

1887;  had  a  muco-purulent  eruption,  from  her  birth,  upon  both  nares. 
Since  14  days  whole  ranks  of  pustules  appeared  upon  the  nose  and 
upper  lip,  so  disfiguring  it  that  she  was  compelled  to  cover  her  face  with 
a  thick  veil  to  avoid  observation.  The  same  treatment  as  in  the  pre- 
vious case. — Th.  Wilson,  M.D.,  in  Allg.  Horn.  Zeit.,  November,  1888. 

Theridion. — During  my  residence  in  Cheltenham,  England,  I  was 
called  to  attend  two  sisters,  both  suffering  from  measles.  Up  to  the  fifth 
day,  the  cases  seemed  to  be  of  the  ordinary  character,  but  on  the  sixth, 
seventh  and  eighth  days,  the  patients  becoming  steadily  worse,  I  was 
asked  to  re-visit  them,  when  I  found  the  following  state  present:  High 
fever,  rapid  pulse,  great  thirst,  ivith  desire  for  wine  or  beer ;  restlessness, 
complete  sleeplessness  caused  by  a  feeling  of  intense  giddiness,  directly 
the  patients  attempted  to  close  their  eyes;  frequent  convulsive  cough, 
during  which  their  heads  were  spasmodically  jerked  forward,  the  knees 
at  the  same  time  being  jerked  up  toward  the  abdomen. 


THE  IIOMCEOPATIIIC  RECORDED.  20 

Their  whole  state  gave  me  great  anxiety,  afl  I  have  Beldom  Been  pa- 
tients, after  measles,  so  ill.  Theridion  200  (Leip)  in  water,  one  tea- 
epoonful  every  two  hours,  produced,  within  twenty-four  hours,  tranquillity, 

sleep,  perspiration  ;  on  the  second  day  of  the  remedy,  the  dose  interval 
was  lengthened.  Both  made  a  rapid  recovery.  The  cough  mentioned 
above  is  peculiar;  it  disappeared  under  the  influence  of  Theridion.  The 
patients  were  total  abstainers,  but  craved  the  stimulants  during  the 
attack. — 13.  Simmons,  M.D.,  iu  Horn.  Rhys.,  Dec,  1888. 


ITEMS  OF  GENERAL   INTEREST. 

Detection  of  Sugar  in  Urine. — The  conclusions  of  Dr.  Fowler, 
in  regard  to  glycosuria  are  as  follows :  (1)  Normal  urine  contains  no 
sugar.  (2)  The  reducing  power  of  normal  urine  upon  cupric  oxide 
and  picric  acid,  is  due  to  uric  acid,  \,  and  kreotiuin,  :].  Both  these 
bodies  are  removed  by  adding  to  the  unconcentrated  urine  one-twentieth 
its  volume  of  a  cold  saturated  solution  of  sodic  acetate,  and  then  one- 
fourth  its  volume  of  a  cold  saturated  solution  of  mercuric  chloride. 
(3)  Any  reduction  of  either  cupric  oxide  or  picric  acid,  after  this 
manipulation,  is  due  to  the  presence  of  sugar.  (4)  Sugar  may  persist 
in  traces,  unaccompanied  by  the  diabetic  element  (chronic  or  temporary 
glycosuria,  produced  by  a  rapid  absorption  of  an  excess  of  starchy  or 
saccharine  food,  slight  nervous  derangement,  physical  exercise,  etc.). 
(5)  Diabetes  may  be  warded  off  by  recognition  of  the  first  appearance 
of  sugar  as  a  persistent  ingredient  of  the  urine.  (6)  The  detection  ol 
traces  of  sugar  in  the  urine  requires  skill  and  care,  and  a  low  specific 
gravity  should  not  be  considered  conclusive  evidence  of  the  absence  oi 
sugar. —  The  Dietetic  Gazette,  October,  1888. 

Pasteur's  Inoculations. — The  "  Annals  of  the  Pasteur  Institute," 
of  September  25th,  contains  a  remarkable  case  of  death  from  hydropho- 
bia, occurring  in  a  patient  of  M.  Pasteur,  twenty-seven  months  after 
the  bite,  and  twenty-six  months  after  M.  Pasteur's  inoculations.  These 
14  Annals/'  it  should  be  noted,  contain  the  official  record  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  M.  Pasteur  and  his  collaborate  in-*,  and  the  following  is  a  trans- 
lation of  what  they  had  to  say  as  to  what  was,  up  to  the  last  week  of 
September,  their  latest  failure: 

"  Person  Treated  Dead  of  Hydrophobia. — Alphouse  Sinardet, 
twenty-six  years  of  age,  a  husbandman  at  Poillot,  Department  of  Ain, 
was  bitten,  the  26th  April,  1886,  in  the  little  finger  of  the  right  hand, 
having  three  wounds  on  the  outer  side.  The  dog  which  bit  him,  attacked 
some  other  dogs  and  also  a  child,  after  which  it  disappeared.  The  bites 
were  cauterized  with  a  red-hot  iron,  two  days  after.  Sinardet  was  treated 


30  THE  HOMCEOPATHIG  RECORDER. 

(at  the  Pasteur  Institute)  from  the  3d  to  the  12th  of  May,  1886  (seven 
days  after  the  bite.)  On  the  24th  of  July,  1888  (twenty-seven  months 
after  the  bite),  following  upon  a  chill,  he  felt  in  the  bitten  arm  a  pain, 
which  began  at  the  little  finger,  and  extended  to  the  shoulder  and  the 
right  side.  Next  day  there  was  difficulty  of  swallowing.  On  the  27th 
the  patient  was  removed  to  the  Hotel  Dieu  de  Bourg,  suffering  from 
convulsive  hydrophobia.  On  the  28th  July,  he  died.  Sinardet's  case 
belongs  to  the  statistics  of  the  year  1886."  Of  course,  until  the  date  of 
his  symptoms  he  had  been  counted  as  one  of  the  cases  cured. — Horn. 
World,  November,  1888. 

Pustula  Maligna  and  Anthrax— Their  Local  Treatment 
with  Ipecacuanha. — Dr.  Edwin  Muskett  reports  that  he  has  suc- 
cessfully treated  during  the  last  fifteen  years  50  cases  of  malignant 
pustule.  In  the  five  cases  which  he  singles  out,  he  invariably  had 
excellent  success,  inducing  a  decided  amelioration  of  the  general  con- 
dition within  a  few  hours  ;  the  delirium  ceases,  fever  diminishes  ;  the 
pustule  becomes  smaller  the  next  day,  the  eschar  loosens,  and  the 
wound  heals  rapidly.  The  doctor  contrasts  these  good  results  with  the 
method  of  energetic  cauterization,  and  declares  cataplasms  to  be  abso- 
lutely dangerous. 

Just  as  quinine  is  a  specific  for  intermittents,  and  mercury  for  lues, 
just  so  the  writer  declares  ipecacuanha  to  be  a  specific  for  malignant 
pustule  and  anthrax.  The  fact  that  similar  good  effects  do  not  obtain 
in  furuncle,  is  accepted  as  evidence  that  anthrax  and  furuncle  are  not 
identical. 

Muskett  mixes  the  powdered  ipecac  with  water  and  glycerine  to  a 
paste,  using  more  glycerine  than  water,  this  paste  is  then  spread  direct 
upon  the  pustule  and  its  surrounding  (edematous  tissues.  Internally  he 
prescribes  at  the  same  time  2  to  3  grains  of  ipecac,  twice  or  thrice 
daily. — Allg.  Horn.  Zeitung,  December  6,  1888. 

A  Case  of  Arsenical  Paralysis,  with  Symptoms  of  Loco- 
motor Ataxia. — The  following  case  of  arsenical  paralysis,  narrated 
by  Dr.  Peterson,  of  New  York,  in  the  New  York  Medical  Record,  August 
4th,  with  unusual  symptoms  of  locomotor  ataxia,  is  of  interest: 

"  E.  A.  D ,  female,  42  years  of  age,  admitted  February  15th,  1887. 

A  week  or  ten  days  after  a  second  marriage  in  November,  1886,  she 
became  acutely  melancholic  and  made  several  attempts  at  suicide. 
Father  and  sister  insane.  A  week  after  the  onset  of  melancholia  the 
patient  took  a  tablespoouful  of  Rough  on  Rats,'  which  is  a  mixture  of 
arsenious  acid  and  starch  paste.  Vomited  two  or  three  hours  afterwards, 
the  vomiting  continuing  the  first  night  and  following  day.  In  a  day  or 
two  she  had  haemorrhages  from  the  bowels.  Paresis  of  all  four  extremi- 
ties was  manifested  in  two  or  three  days,  and  gradually  grew  worse. 


THE  I10MCE0PA  TJI1C  RECORDER.  8 1 

For  weeks  afterwards  she  complained  of  'crampy-pains '  in  feet,  calves 

of  legs,  hands,  and  abdomen.  Oil  admission  these  pain-  were  -till 
severe,  and  she  hud  no  use  of  arms  and  legs.  There  was  great  muscular 
atrophy,  marked  arsenical  tremor,  no  patellar  reflex,  no  anaesthesia  or 

analgesia,  hut  a  slight  hyperesthesia. 

"Feb.  17th.  Hands  and  feet  feel  uumb  and  have  a  prickling  sensa- 
tion in  them.    Has  had  itching  feeling  over  body  and  limbs,  formication 

in  feet,  and  the  sensation  of  a  cord  drawn  tightly  round  her  waist. 
'  Throat  feit  as  if  gone  at  times'  (anaesthesia).  At  present  in  bed.  Legs 
are  flexed  and  somewhat  contracted,  extension  causing  great  pain  in 
flexor  muscles  and  tendons.  No  tenderness  over  spine  at  any  point. 
Muscse  volitantes  often.  Drop  wrists  and  ankles.  Farad ic  reactions 
of  nerves  and  muscles  of  limbs  lost.  A  general  treatment  was  begun 
with  iodide  of  potash,  massage,  and  electricity,  which  was  continued 
throughout  the  case. 

"Feb.  25th.  Subject  about  once  daily  to  a  fainting  spell,  lasting 
some  fifteen  miuutes,  with  dyspnoea.  Cardiac  sounds  feebler  than 
normal. 

"March  6th.  Feet  slightly  ©edematous.  Urine  examined  now  and 
at  other  times  for  sugar  and  albumen,  with  negative  result. 

"March  19th.     Begins  to  move  fingers  and  feet  somewhat  better. 

"March  25th.  Able  to  feed  herself  and  is  trying  to  knit.  Pains  in 
extremities  still  great  at  times. 

"April  19th.  Gradual  but  very  slow  increase  of  motor  power. 
Gaining  in  flesh.     Feet  much  swollen. 

"  May  17th.     Walks  a  short  distance  alone. 

"July  lGth.  Sews,  kuits,  writes  letters,  but  fingers  still  straighter 
than  normal,  and  tremor  still  very  marked.  Cannot  flex  fingers  into 
palms  with  ease  or  force. 

"August  30th.  Walks  without  assistance  any  ordinary  distance. 
Motor  power  still  increasing  gradually.     Tabetic  gait. 

"September  26th.  In  bed  several  days:  weak,  feverish,  great  in- 
crease of  muscular  tremor,  vertigo,  accelerated  pulse,  nausea,  anorexia. 
(A  crisis  ?)  * 

"  November  15th.  Still  suffering  from  effects  of  relapse.  Up  only 
afternoons.     Cannot  walk  as  well  as  formerly,  but  gaining. 

"  December  2d.  Walks  now  as  well  as  at  any  time  since  residence  in 
the  hospital,  and  seems  quite  strong. 

"January  7th,  1888.  Has  tabetic  gait  and  an  entire  absence  of  the 
tendon  reflexus  (the  break  in  the  reflex  is  on  the  sensory  side).  Use  of 
arms  also  imperfect.     Legs  slightly  cedematous. 

"January  21st.     Physical  condition  improved. 

"February  16th.     (Edema  of  lower  extremities  has  disappeared. 

*  AVe  would  say,  No!  The  symptoms  now  and  up  to  last  date  of  record  show 
plainly  the  effects  of  iodide  of  potash. — C.  F.  M. 


32  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

"  March  11th.     Able  to  walk  a  little  more  steadily. 

"March  13th  and  14th.  Attacks  of  acute  indigestion;  diarrhoea, 
nausea,  and  colic. 

"  March  26th.  Has  apparently  passed  through  one  of  the  gastric 
crises  of  locomotor  ataxia  with  an  unusual  amount  of  tremor,  which  is 
still  present  when  she  sits  up. 

"April  17th.  Discharged.  Patient  lost  her  hair  to  a  considerable 
extent,  and  was  cachectic.  There  are  some  points  of  difference  between 
this  case  and  those  of  Seligmuller  and  Dana.  The  occurrence  of  two 
apparent  gastric  crises  is  particularly  noteworthy.  There  is  no  reason, 
in  my  opinion,  why  arsenic  should  not  attack  the  spinal  cord  as  well  as 
the  peripheral  nerves,  and  produce  a  condition  very  much  like  true 
locomotor  ataxia." 

The  Treatment  of  Obesity.— Dr.  I.  Burney  Yeo,  in  the  Sep- 
tember number  of  the  Nineteenth  Century,  in  discussing  the  Schweninger 
(Oertel)  treatment  of  obesity,  concludes  as  follows  : 

The  consumption  of  alcohol  favors  polysarcia  ;  so,  also,  does  an  indo- 
lent, inactive,  luxurious  life.  Alcoholic  stimulants  restrain  waste  on 
well-known  principles,  and  an  indolent  life  promotes  accumulation  of 
force-making  materials  far  in  excess  of  expenditure. 

That,  the  "  Banting"  system,  rests  on  an  erroneous  scientific  founda- 
tion, which  overlooks  the  fact  that  fat  can  be  formed  out  of  nitrogenous 
food,  out  of  the  lean  of  meat,  for  instance,  as  well  as  out  of  carbo- 
hydrates. "  Not  only  does  it  often  induce  subjective  feelings  of  discom- 
fort and  bodily  feebleness,  a  great  loathing  of  the  constant  and 
exclusively  meat  diet,  as  well  as  digestive  disturbances,  which  necessi- 
tate its  interruption,  but  it  fails,  in  the  more  serious  cases,  to  relieve  the 
feebleness  of  the  heart,  the  tendency  to  congestion  of  the  lungs,  and 
even  dropsy,  which  complicate  the  graver  forms  of  excessive  corpulency." 
Ebstein's  "  cure  "  allows  all  kinds  of  fatty  food, — the  fat  of  meat,  butter, 
cream,  fatty  sauces,  and  soups, — but  prohibits  the  carbo-hydrates,  such 
as  sugar,  potatoes,  and  all  forms  of  starchy  food,  and  of  bread  permits, 
at  most,  three  and  a  half  ounces  a  day.  All  kinds  of  meat  in  small 
quantity,  as  well  as  asparagus,  spinach,  and  cabbage,  are  permitted. 
Dr.  Yeo  remarks  that  the  success  which  has  attended  the  Ebstein  method 
must  be  referred  mainly  to  the  abstinence  from  the  carbo-hydrates  which 
it  enforces,  but  it  is  hardly  sufficiently  supporting,  and  fails  to  relieve 
the  heart  disturbances  which  attend  extensive  obesity. 

The  Schweninger  (or  rather  the  Oertel)  method  not  only  provides  for 
the  removal  of  excess  of  fat,  but  it  also  prevents  its  re-accumulation, 
and  at  the  same  time  restores  tone  to  the  organs^of  circulation,  which 
so  often,  in  cases  of  excessive  obesity,  is  lost.  Oertel's  system  agrees 
with  those  above  given  in  reducing  the  carbo-hydrates  in  the  diet  of  the 
obese.     It  allows  more  fat  than  the  Banting  formula,  and  nearly  twice 


THE  H0MGS0PATE1C  RECORDER. 

as  much  albuminous  food  as  Ebstein's,  less  than  half  as  much  fat  as  the 
latter,  and  about  twice  as  much  car  bo  hydrates.  "This  amount  of  fat 
and  carbo-hydrates  is  admissible  in  tie  -  where  activi 

can  be  and  is  taken,  as  muscular  exertion  is  attended  with  a  consider- 
able destruction  of  fat,  ami  the  relative  excess  of  albuminous  food  in 
this  formula  leads  to  the  displacement  of  the  fat  accumulated  in  the 
Bubstance  of  the  muscles,  and  to  a  new  formation  of  muscular  tissue  in 
its  place.  At  the  same  time,  this  diet  protects  the  nitrogenous  ti 
from  waste,  a  condition  of  health  which  is  lost  Bight  of  in  Ebstein's 
method  ;  indeed,  the  central  idea  in  this  cure  is  to  strengthen  the  muscle 
of  the  heart,  and  this  is  aimed  at,  not  only  by  a  carefully  considered 
dietary,  but  by  the  prescription  of  regular  active  bodily  exercise  and 
suitable  gymnastics. 

This  method  is  somewhat  modified  in  the  management  of  those  grave 
cases  where  the  accumulation  of  fat  about  the  heart  has  led  to  great  em- 
barrassment, or  perhaps  degeneration,  of  that  organ,  and  to  subsequent 
visceral  congestion,  and  even  to  dropsy.  In  such  cases,  the  fat  and  carbo- 
hydrates of  the  food  are  still  further  reduced,  and  the  amount  of  fluid 
consumed  is  severely  restricted,  and  perspiration  is  promoted  by  vigorous 
bodily  exercise,  especially  in  climbing  graduated  ascents.  The  following, 
then,  are  the  objects  aimed  at  in  this  cure: 

1.  To  improve  the  muscular  tone  of  the  heart. 

2.  To  maiutaiu  the  normal  composition  of  the  blood. 

3.  To  regulate  the  quantity  of  fluid  in  the  body. 

4.  To  prevent  the  deposit  of  fat. 

f    These  objects  are  attained  by  the  following  means : 

1.  The  muscle  of  the  heart  is  strengthened  by  enforced  exercise,  such 
as  climbing  height*.  This  requires  great  care,  and  the  exere'<e>  must  be 
graded,  the  amount  of  work  being  increased  as  the  patient  can  bear  it. 

2.  To  preserve  the  normal  composition  of  the  blood  the  food  should 
be  chiefly  albuminous.  It  may  consist  of  the  lean  of  roast  or  boiled 
beef,  veal,  mutton,  game,  and  eggs.  Green  vegetables  (as  cabbage  or 
spinach)  may  be  taken;  fat  and  carbo-hydrates  only  in  very  limited 
quantities;  from  four  to  six  ounces  of  bread  per  diem. 

3.  To  regulate  the  quantity  of  fluid  in  the  body  the  amount  of  fluid 
drunk  daily  must  be  limited.  One  cup  (rather  less  than  six  ounces)  of 
coffee,  tea,  or  milk  morning  and  evening,  and  about  twelve  ounces  of 
wine,  and  from  eight  to  sixteen  ounces  of  water,  shall  comprise  all  the 
fluid  consumed  in  twenty-four  hours.  Beer  is  entirely  forbidden.  The 
discharge  of  fluid  from  the  body  is  promoted  by  active  exercise,  and 
occasionally  by  a  course  of  baths,  with  packing. 

4.  To  prevent  the  'deposit  of  fat  the  principles  of  diet  already  set 
forth  must  be  carried  into  practice  as  follows : 

Morning. — One  cup  of  tea  or  coffee,  with  a  little  milk,  altogether  about 
six  ounces;  bread  about  three  ounces. 
vol.  iv.— 3 


34  TEE  HOMCEOPATIIIC  RECORDER. 

Noon. — Three  to  four  ounces  of  soup,  seven  to  eight  ounces  of  roast 
or  boiled  beef,  veal,  game,  salad,  or  a  lighter  vegetable,  a  little  fish 
(cooked  without  fat)  if  desired,  one  ounce  of  bread  or  farinaceous  pud- 
ding (never  more  than  three  ounces),  three  to  six  ounces  of  fruit,  fresh- 
preferred,  for  dessert.  It  is  desirable  at  this  meal  to  avoid  taking  fluids, 
but  in  hot  weather,  or  in  the  absence  of  fruits,  six  to  eight  ounces  of 
light  wine  may  be  taken. 

Afternoon. — The  same  amount  of  coffee  or  tea  as  in  the  morning,  with, 
at  most,  six  ounces  of  water,  an  ounce  of  bread  as  an  exceptional 
indulgence. 

Evening. — One  or  two  soft  boiled  eggs,  an  ounce  of  bread,  perhaps,  a 
small  slice  of  cheese.  Salad  and  fruit,  six  to  eight  ounces  of  wine,  with 
four  to  five  ounces  of  water. 

Such,  briefly  summarized,  are  the  principles  of  this  peculiarly  German 
anti-fat  regimen,  for  which,  as  Dr.  Yeo  rightly  affirms,  the  credit  almost 
entirely  belongs  to  Professor  Oertel,  the  main  features  of  it  having  for 
years  been  set  forth  in  his  writings.  These  principles  seem  to  commend 
themselves  as  sound,  though  their  practical  application  will  require  con- 
tinued modification  to  adapt  them  to  the  stage  of  the  affection,  to  the 
constitution  and  habits  of  the  patient. — Boston  Medical  and  Surgical 
Journal,  September  20th,  1888. 

Yellow  Fever. — Dr.  Sternberg,  who  is  investigating  yellow  fever 
in  the  South  under  governmental  orders,  found,  while  visiting  the  Hospi- 
tal Garcina  at  Havana,  that  the  contents  of  the  stomach,  intestines  and 
bladder  of  the  sufferers  was  highly  acid.  Deciding,  therefore,  that  the 
peculiar  micro-organism  of  the  disease  must  require  a  fluid  of  such  re- 
action for  its  development,  he  formulated  the  following  as  a  bactericide 
in  these  cases : 

R.  Sodii  bicarbonas, grs.  CI. 

Hydrargyri  chlor.  corr., gr.  ^. 

Aqua, Oij. 

M. — Fiat  sol. 

and  advocated  the  dosage  of  II  5>  hourly,  the  solution  to  be  given  ice- 
cold.  Dr.  Francis  Cabera,  the  hospital  director,  tried  this  treatment  in 
twelve  cases,  all  of  which  recovered,  while,  of  eight  cases  conducted  in 
the  usual  way,  five  died. 

Vaginal  Alimentation.  {Weekly  Med.  Review).—!.  The  vagina 
may  be  used  to  supplement  rectal  feeding. 

2.  When  the  entire  alimentary  canal  is  disabled,  the  vagina  may  be 
used  advantageously  for  feeding. 

3.  For  the  rectum  or  vagina  the  food  must  be  thoroughly  digested 
previously  to  being  used. 


THE  UOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB, 

4.  The  vagina  may  often  be  utilized  for  medication,  saving  the  Btom- 

ach  for  food. 

5.  The  vagina   is  made   more  tolerant  than    the    rectum,  and   can   be 

utilized  for  an  almost  unlimited  time  without  revolting. 


BOOK  REVIEWS. 


A  Rejoinder  to  Dr.  Hughes.  By  Prosper  Bender,  M.D.,  Boston. 
From  the  writer. 

"  In  truth,  dear  Dr.  Hughes,  you  have  sought  to  give  your  readers  an 
easy  system  of  homoeopathy,  a  dependence  upon  which  will  frequently 
lead  to  professional  failure.  Your  system  is,  in  a  measure,  the  old- 
school  generalization,  exempting  one  from  the  laborious  method  of  the 
differentiating  of  the  elements  of  the  case  and  of  drug-action." 

Secondary  Mixed  Infection  in  Typhoid  Fever.  By  Bayard 
Holmes,  M.D.  Reprint  from  Western  Medical  Reporter,  September, 
1888. 

The  text  of  this  article  is  based  upon  the  supposition  that  "  pyogenic 
and  other  forms  of  infection  take  place  through  the  primary  lesion,  and 
result  in  more  than  ordinarily  serious  consequences  on  account  of  the 
diminished  resistance  of  all  the  tissues  of  the  body." 

Headache  and  its  Materia  Medica.  By  B.  F.  Underwood,  M.D. 
A.  L.  Chatterton  &  Co.,  New  York.     Pp.  212. 

In  the  opening  chapter  on  headaches,  the  author  divides  the  affection 
into  seven  classes,  "  according  to  the  exciting  causes  from  which  they 
spring:"  1.  ansemic;  2,  hypenemic ;  3,  nervous  ;  4,  reflex;  5,  rheu- 
matic; 6,  toxic;  7,  catarrhal.  These  classes  will,  of  course,  intermix 
to  a  greater  or  lesser  extent,  still  the  classification  is  a  good  one,  and 
had  he  arranged  his  text  on  the  different  remedies  more  or  less  in  the 
same  grouping,  and  given  us  an  index,  the  work  would  have  been  a  very 
useful  one.  As  it  is,  he  has — beginning  with  bell.,  and  ending  with  /lu- 
crum salicyl. — thrown  the  remedies  together  with  an  idea,  evidently,  of 
arranging  them  according  to  their  most  frequent  use,  a  very  doubtful 
method,  and  in  the  end  given  the  reader  no  index  whatever  to  find  them 
by.  Leafing  over  150  pages  to  find  what  one  seeks,  is  laborious  and 
wasteful  exercise. 

The  repertorial  pages  are  not  sufficiently  comprehensive,  while  the  ar- 
rangement of  the  "  sensations  "  is  as  unsatisfactory  as  that  of  the  reme- 
dies themselves.     To  commence  a  list  of  symptoms  with  "  feels  as  if,"  or 


36  THE  HOMEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

"as  if,"  furnishes  no  guide  in  our  search.  "As  if  a  nail  were  thrust  in," 
should  begin  with  the  word  "nail."  Arnica  stands  alone  with  the 
symptom,  "sensation  as  if  in  a  thick,  smoky  atmosphere,"  should  begin 
with  "  smoky  ;"  "  sensation  "  already  heads  the  page.  Over  nine  page3 
are  thus  arranged  without  a  key. 

The  matter  in  substance  is  really  good,  especially  in  the  citation  of 
cases  under  some  of  the  remedies  ;  but,  as  "a  help  to  the  busy  practitioner," 
the  book  does  not  "  fill  a  long-felt  want." 

The  Homoeopathic  Physician's  Visiting  List  and  Pocket 
Repertory.  By  Robert  Faulkner,  M.D.  2d  edition.  Boericke 
&  Tafel,  New  York  and  Philadelphia. 

Besides  the  admirably  arranged,  perpetual,  daily  engagement  and 
prescription  record,  for  thirty-eight  patients  per  page,  this  list  contains 
among  its  ruled  pages,  the  usual  obstetric,  death  and  vaccination  records, 
address-sheets,  and  by  an  ingenious  device,  a  packet  of  interchangeable 
memoranda  pages  for  bedside  records.  The  printed  pages  merit  especial 
praise,  first  in  eighty  pages  of  clearly  typed  and  well  arranged  "  Reper- 
tory," so  often  valuable  in  giving  hints  at  a  time  when  they  are  most 
needed;  a  pulse  table;  Marshall  Hall's  method  in  asphyxia;  a  table  of 
poisons  and  antidotes ;  an  obstetric  calendar ;  and  reference  calendar 
for  1887-1890,  complete,  This  handy  list  which,  notwithstanding  its 
250  pages,  is  only  five-eighths  of  an  inch  thick. 

Visiting  List  and  Prescription  Record,  Perpetual.  Otis  Clapp 
ct  Sons,  Boston. 

Again  we  welcome  this  bandy  companion,  with  its  125  pages  of  visiting 
and  prescription  lists,  arranged  tor  thirty  patients  per  page;  its  four- 
teen pages  for  fever  record  ;  its  consultation  list ;  and  obstetric,  death, 
vaccination  and  address  sheets.  The  special  feature  of  the  printed  pages 
is  an  abbreviated  and  numbered  list  of  remedies,  very  useful  in  keeping 
a  record  of  the  drug  given  on  each  prescription  or  visit.  Beside  the 
usual  calendar,  obstetric,  poison  and  pulse  tables,  some  valuable  hints 
are  given  on  dentition  and  disinfectants,  making  in  all  a  very  complete 
pocket-book  of  its  type.. 

Transactions  of  the  Forty-first  Session  of  the  American  In- 
stitute of  Homoeopathy.  1888.  Edited  by  Pemberton  Dudley, 
M.D.     Pp.  820. 

This   volume  contains  its  usual   quota  of  well-written   articles  con 
tributed  to  its  different  bureaus.     The  report  of  the  Bureau  on  Proving 
is  especially  interesting.     The  editor  is  to  be  congratulated  upon  the 
excellent  typography  of  the   volume,  as   well   as   upon  his  meritorious 
compilation  of  reports  and  articles. 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT. 

The  New  Work. — Dr.  Timothy  F.  Allen's  long  looked   for 
the  Hand-book  of  Materia  Medica,  is  now  going  through  the  press 
as  the  Publisher  announces.     It  will  make  about  1-400  quarto  pa     - 
which  is  equivalent  to  about  3000  octavo  pages.     The  selling  price  is 
not  determined  yet,  but  will    be   between   $15.00   and  $20.00.     M( 
Boericke  &  Tafel  are,  however,  prepared  to  furnish  subscriber.-  already 
in,  and  those  who  may  send   in  their   names  before  tiie  book   is  com- 
pleted, a  copy  for  $15.00  net.     Send  name  to  1011  Arch  St.,  Philadel- 
phia, Pa. 

A  New  Remedy  for  Syphilis. — 

Bogota,  November  24th, 
U  :  88RS.  Boericke  &  Tafel,  New  York. 

Dear  Gentlemen: — Please  to  accept  the  leaves  of  a  tree  of  the 
Bignoniacea  family,  called  Jacaranda  Gualandai,  that  I  send  you  with 
this,  because  it  is  very  much  used  by  our  natives  to  cure  illness  of  a 
syphilitic  character.  I  have  used  the  mother  tincture  (5  drops  pro 
dosi),  and  the»od  dilution  of  it  in  the  treatment  of  blennorrhagia  and 
chancroids  with  the  greatest  success.  In  my  experience  I  have  found 
that  this  medicine  is  a  complementary  and  antidote  to  mere.  v. 

Mr.  Jose  M.  Reyes,  who  proved  the  9  and  the  3x  dilution  during 
more  than  one  month  three  times  a  day,  found  the  following  results  : 

Head. — Vertigo  on  rising  after  stooping,  with   momentary  lose 
sight,  and  sensation  of  heaviness  in  the  forehead.    Weakness  of  memory 
and  inability  to  study. 

Eyes. — Pains  and  inflammation  of  the  eyes,  with  redness  more  marked 
in  the  left  eye.  Sensation  of  sand  or  forcing  body  in  both  eyes.  Ophthalmia, 
which  begins  in  the  left  eye,  with  lachrymation  and  night  agglutination 
of  the  eyelids.     Weakness  of  sight.     Syphilitic-like  ophthalmia. 

Stool. — Diarrhoea  with  dark  mulberry-colored  stools  without  pain 
or  tenesmus,  but  with  mucus. 

Urinary  and  Sexual  Organs. — Increased  secretion  of  the  urine. 
Pain  in  the  penis.  Blennorrhagia  with  a  discharge  which  stains  the 
linen  of  a  dirty  yellow  color.      Chancroids. 

Throat. — Pain  and  burning  of  the  larynx,  when  laughing  or  read- 
ing loud,  and  small  vesicles  in  the  pharynx. 

Back. — Weakness  of  the  lumbar  region. 

These  are  not  doubtful  symptoms. 

N.B. — This  remedy  acts  on  the  head  at  first,  afterwards  on  the  intes- 
tines, and  on  the  eyes  last. 

Please  try  it,  and  make  it  known  to  our  colleagues.     Should  it  prove 
to  be  there  as  good  as  here,  I  assure  you  it  will  be  a  valued  remedy. 
Truly  yours,  Dr.  Julio  F.  Cony 


3S  THE  HOMEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

Pyrogemum. — Along  with  a  great  deal  of  affirmative  testimony  as 
to  the  great  value  of  Pyrogenium  in  typhoid  and  other  fevers  and  blood 
poisoning,  we  have  received  the  following  letter  from  Dr.  St.  Clair 
Smith,  of  New  York  City,  giving  another  view  of  the  matter: 

"Since  reading  the  article  on  'Pyrogen,  or  Pyrexin,  in  Typhoid 
Fever,'  which  appeared  in  the  next  to  the  last  number  of  your  journal, 
I  have  had  an  opportunity  to  test  it  in  a  case  of  real  typhoid  fever,  and 
I  must  say  that  after  giving  it  what  I  consider  a  fair  trial — gave  it  con- 
tinuously for  five  days — I  am  not  as  much  inclined  to  be  enthusiastic 
concerning  it  as  I  was  before  I  tried  it. 

Of  course  I  don't  feel  that  I  ought  to  condemn  it,  but  I  am  strong 
in  the  belief  that  it  is  of  little  or  no  value  in  real  typhoid  fever,  and 
that  on  further  trial  it  will  be  found  that  it  will  not  shorten  the  dura- 
tion of  the  disease  one  hour.  I  also  believe  that  it  will  soon  fall  into 
disuse,  unless  it  is  proved  like  any  other  drug,  and  an  accurate  symp- 
tomatology obtained. 

The  case  I  gave  it  to  was  one  of  relapsed  typhoid.  The  patient  had 
passed  safely  through  one  of  the  worst  attacks  of  typhoid  I  have  ever 
seen,  and  when  I  felt  that  she  was  well  out  of  the  woods,  her  tempera- 
ture and  pulse  began  to  rise,  and  at  the  end  of  a  week  she  was  in  the 
toils  of  the  monster,  with  all  the  features  of  the  disease — eruption 
tympanitis,  subsultus,  etc. — well  established'. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  I  saw  the  article  on  Pyrogen,  and  I  lost 
no  time  in  getting  from  Messrs.  B.  &  T.,  some  of  their  tablets  of  the 
6th.  I  dissolved  half  a  dozen  in  a  half  a  glass  of  water  and  gave  the 
patient  a  teaspoonful  every  two  hours,  and  patiently  waited  for  the 
temperature  to  fall. 

After  waiting  until  it  fell  from  102°  to  105.55°,  and  remained  at  this 
point  for  three  days  with  only  a  fall  of  a  fraction  of  a  degree  towards 
morning,  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that  this  was  not  the  kind  of 
typhoid  that  Pyrogen  cured,  and  discontinued  it. 

"When  I  first  read  the  article,  I  confess  to  a  considerable  doubt  con- 
cerning the  nature  of  the  cases  mentioned  by  Dr.  Burnett — and  he 
himself,  I  notice,  is  cautious  about  committing  himself  in  regard  to 
diagnosis. 

I  hope  he  will  pardon  me  if  I  say  I  don't  believe  they  were  cases  of 

typhoid  fever,  for  not  one  of  them  has  the  ring  of  the  true  metal. 

Yours  truly, 

St.  Clair  Smith,  M.D. 

New  York,  December  10,  18S8. 

We  gladly  publish  Dr.  Smith's  interesting  letter  as  a  contribution 
towards  a  true  knowledge  of  this  remarkable  remedy.  We  have 
already  given  in  this  place  the  testimony  of  Doctors  Burnett  and  Shuld- 


PUBLISH K US'  DEl'A  UTMENT. 

f 
ham,  of  England,   Kiiersteiner,  of  North   Carolina,   and    Fulton,  of 
Colorado,  all  Btrongly  commendatory  of  Pyrogenium  in  typhoid. 
What   Dr.  Fulton,  of  Monte  Vista,  Colorado,  wrote  arrived  bo  late 

that  we  put  it  in  our  supplementary  pages,  last  issue,  and  it  may  be 
well  to  reproduce  it :  "This  medicine  {Pyrogenium)  is  having  a  great 

success  in  my  hands,  every  case  having  recovered  in  two  weeks  or  less. 
I  am  using  it  iu  typhoid." 

In  the  "  Foreign  Letter  "  of  the  Medical  Advance,  November,  written 
by  Dr.  Alfred  Drysdale,  we  find  the  following  :  "  I  hope  my  American 
conferees  will  lose  no  time  in  trying  the  new  drug,  Pyrogen,  or  Pyro~ 
genium,  upon  that  opprobium  medicines,  typhoid  fever.  Pyrogen  is  a 
ptomain,  prepared  by  precipitating  the  watery  solution  of  putrescent 
matter  with  alcohol.  Injected  under  the  skin  of  mice,  it  produces  all 
the  symptoms  of  typhoid  fever,  culminating  lethally  in  four  or  five 
hours." 

In  addition  to  all  the  foregoing  there  is  the  testimony  afforded  by 
the  repeated  calls  at  the  pharmacies  for  the  remedy.  When  order 
after  order  is  given  by  one  physician,  it  is  evident  he  is  meeting  with 
success  in  practice  with  the  remedy. 

It  would  be  very  desirable  to  have  Pi/ro.  proved,  but  who  will  vol- 
unteer to  do  it? 

The  remedy  may  be  obtained  now  in  any  form  not  lower  than  the 
4th  decimal  dilution. 

GALL-STONE  COLIC. 

Editor  Homoeopathic  Recorder: 

In  the  November  number  of  the  Recorder  I  notice  an  article  on 
"  The  Treatment  of  Gall-stone  Colic,"  in  which  the  writer  says  :  "  In 
the  presence  of  gall-stone  colic  we  have  two  chief  indications:  1st,  To 
dissolve  the  stone,  or  at  least  to  so  soften  it  that  it  can  pass  out  of  the 
'  gall-bladder,1  and  2d,  To  relieve  the  often  described  pain."  I  will  admit 
that  "  the  pain  has  often  been  described,"  but  I  will  venture  the  assertion 
that  it  has  not  been  described  often  enough  to  enable  the  average  prac- 
titioner to  recognize  it  on  his  first  or  second  visit.  After  we  have  once 
recognized  and  successfully  treated  it,  cannot  most  of  us  look  back  and 
remember  cases  of  it,  that  we  or  some  one  else  amongst  °ur  colleagues 

»  DO 

have  treated  for  cramp-colic,  or  neuralgia  of  the  stomach.  I  well  re- 
member the  first  case  of  it  that  I  came  in  contact  with.  The  patient 
was  a  married  lady,  who  had  been  treated  by  a  very  intelligent 
"  Eclectic"  for  a  number  of  years  at  each  recurring  attack  for  neuralgia 
of  the  stomach.  During  his  absence  from  home  I  was  called  in  and 
failed  to  recognize  the  true  state  of  the  case.  Of  course  I  had  to  be 
careful,  as  his  shadow  was  over  me,  and  as  prompt  relief  was  demanded 
(a  cure  was  not  expected  where  he  had  failed).  I  promptly  used  my 
hypodermic  syringe,  and  made  the  best  prescription  I  could  from  the 


40  THE  HOMCEOPA  THIC  BECOBDEB. 

% 
symptoms  and  history  of  the  case,  and  came  home.     That  evening,  on 

opening  my  new  journal,  I  found  what  was  called  a  painless  cure  for 
gall-stone.  On  reading  the  paper,  which  very  minutely  described 
an  attack  of  gall-stone  colic,  I  was  struck  with  the  picture  drawn 
of  my  case  of  neuralgia  of  the  stomach.  The  remedy  was  olive  oil 
in  14-ounce  doses.  Shades  of  Mahomet,  thought  I,  what  a  dose!  The 
directions  were — give  the  oil  at  one  draught,  and  let  the  patient  sit  up 
about  twenty  minutes.  Then  put  her  to  bed  lying  on  the  right  side,  the 
hips  elevated  at  least  ten  inches  (this  was  intended  to  allow  the  oil  which, 
by  that  time  would  have  begun  to  pass  out  of  the  stomach,  to  run  back 
through  the  duct  into  the  gall-bladder),  and  keep  the  patient  in  this  po- 
sition for  at  least  one  hour.  Well,  not  long  after  this  I  was  called  in 
haste  to  see  the  same  patient,  and  resolved  to  try  the  oil,  but  only  in 
eight-ounce  doses.  You  can  imagine  the  looks  of  consternation  on  the 
faces  of  all  present  when  I  poured  out  the  oil  with  a  quiet  order  to  the 
lady  to  drink  it  down  at  once,  which  she  did  only  after  my  firm  an- 
nouncement that  she  should  take  that  or  nothing  from  me,  and  the 
further  statement  that  her  family  physician  was  mistaken  in  his  diag- 
nosis, and  that  if  I  did  not  prove  mine  correct  by  the  presence  of  gall- 
stones in  the  stool  I  would  charge  nothing  for  the  case.  Finally  she 
took  the  oil,  but  I  am  afraid  I  kept  her  there  on  her  side  more  than 
what  I  promised  (one  hour).  But  the  result  justified  me  ;  her  bowels 
moved  copiously  in  two  or  three  hours,  and  I  had  the  satisfaction  of 
counting  fourteen  gall-stones,  one  of  them  as  large  as  a  hazel-nut,  in 
the  vessel.  She  has  never  had  an  attack  since,  and  that  was  eight  years 
ago.  Since  then  I  have  treated  two  cases  (all  I  have  had)  with  like 
results.  Now  how  does  the  oil  act — as  a  solvent?  I  think  not.  But  as 
a  lubricant.  I  think  the  oil  lubricates  the  stones  and  the  duct,  and  pos- 
sibly relaxes  it  somewhat,  by  which  means  the  stones  pass  out  without 
pain,  for  when  I  gave  the  oil  I  gave  nothing  else,  and  the  passage  was 
painless.  Dr.  F.  E.  Coffee. 

AVAIiON,  Mo. 

Malt  Extracts. — In  malt  extract  we  have  a  medicinal  substance 
of  which  it  can  justly  be  maintained  that  it  ascended  from  the  dubious 
existence  of  a  proprietary  preparation  to  the  honorable  position  of  an 
officinal  medicine,  sanctioned  by  the  Pharmacopoeia.  And  indeed  a 
concentrated  extract  of  barley-malt  fully  deserves  to  be  denominated 
"  liquid  bread,"  and  was  destined  from  the  start  to  prove  to  be  a  wel- 
come ally  to  the  progressive  physician  in  his  battle  with  those  ailments 
resulting  from  an  irritation  of  the  digestive  organs,  also  in  indigestion 
arising  from  a  sedentary  mode  of  life,  in  gastric  affections,  in  ailments 
of  infants  and  children,  in  short,  whenever  the  administration  of  an 
easily  digestible  aliment  seems  to  be  called  for. 

The  views  entertained  as  to  the  criterion  of  a  good  malt  extract  un- 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT,  41 

derwenf  considerable  changes  in  the  course  of  time.  Formerly  its  out- 
ward appearance  was  deemed  to  be  of  most  importance.  A  light  color 
was  thought  to  be  essential — such  as  is  easily  obtained  by  careful  evapo- 
ration sub  vacuo,  as  well  as  a  clear  solution  in  water,  resulting  from 
repeated  boiling  of  the  liquor — properties  which  are  easily  obtainable 
by  suitable  appliances  and  apparatus. 

The  clarifying  of  the  extracted  liquor  by  repeated  ebullition  previous 
to  its  inspissation  is,  however,  irrational,  as  it  is  tantamount  to  elimi- 
nating important  constituents,  notably  albumen  and  diastase.  Both  of 
the  latter  it  is  the  endeavor  at  the  present  day  to  retain  as  much  as  pos- 
sible, and  the  value  of  the  extract  is  now  based  on  its  composition.  In 
a  modern  malt  extract  the  highest  possible  degree  of  saccharification  ifl 
sought  to  be  obtained  Le.t  a  large  percentage  of  maltose  and  consequent 
small  proportion  of  dextrine,  and  in  addition  all  the  diastase  it  is  pos- 
sible to  secure.  This  desideratum  the  manufacturer  can  only  secure  by 
au  adroit  and  careful  regulation  of  the  temperature  during  the  malting 
process. 

But  not  all  malt  extracts  meet  these  expectations,  as  is  well  illustrated 
by  the  results  of  Schweissinger's  investigations  (see  his  yearly  report  for 
1888,  p.  18),  which  show  that  the  commercial  malt  extracts  contain  on 
an  average  only  52  per  cent,  of  maltose  (malt  sugar)  together  with  17 
per  cent,  of  dextrine.  (!)  Five  different  malt  extracts  which  he  analyzed 
contained  no  diastase  at  all,  some  others  only  traces,  and  only  one  was 
capable  of  decomposing  two  parts  of  starch  to  one  of  extract.  Dr. 
Henry  Leffman,  the  well  known  expert  chemist  to  the  Board  of  Health 
of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  investigated  eleven  different  preparations 
and  published  the  results  in  Annals  of  Hygiene,  No.  2,  vol.  iii.  He 
found  six  to  contain  alcohol,  but  to  have  no  diastatic  power;  one  sample 
contained  salicylic  acid,  and  also  failed  in  diastatic  power,  while  four 
non-alcoholic  preparations  showed  good  diastatic  power. 

We  are  justified  in  demandingan  exceptionally  favorable  position  for 
the  "  Excelsior"  malt  extract  lately  introduced  to  the  public,  for  it  con- 
tains 68  per  cent,  of  maltose  and  only  2^  per  cent,  of  dextrine,  while 
of  diastase  it  contains  .25  per  cent.,  a  remarkable  result. 

Based  on  the  extensive  researches  and  experiments  of  Dunstan  and 
Dimmock,  Hager  demands  that  100  parts  of  extract  of  malt  of  normal 
quality  should  decompose  10  parts  of  starch.  Of  the  "Excelsior"  ex- 
tract one  part  decomposed  five  parts  of  starch  at  a  temperature  of  50- 
60°,  maintained  during  five  hours,  or  fifty  times  the  amount  demanded 
by  Hager.  We  would  add  that  Hager's  standard  has  also  been  adopted 
in  the  German  Pharmacopoeia.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  Excelsior 
Malt  Extract  is  head  and  shoulders  in  point  of  quality  over  its  compeers, 
and  yet  it  is  sold  at  a  very  moderate  price — not  higher,  in  fact,  than 
other  similar  preparations  on  the  market. 

The  qualities  of  a  good  malt  extract  as  an  easily  assimilable  and 


42  THE  HOMOEOPATHIC  RECORDER, 

highly  nutritious  article  of  diet  have  been  extolled  for  twenty  years 
or  more,  but  one  peculiar  property  we  have  not  seen  specially  mentioned, 
and  that  is  its  remarkable  efficacy  as  an  appetizer.  Every  physician 
will  have  met  with  hundreds  of  cases  of  want  of  appetite  and  lack  of 
proper  assimilation  of  what  little  is  eaten;  here  the  Excelsior  Malt 
Extract  comes  in  with  wonderful  effect.  One  spoonful,  given  one 
hour  before  meals,  will  quicken  the  appetite  most  effectually.  We 
have  witnessed   three   cases  in  our  immediate   surroundings.     Albert 

S ,  a  spare-built,   swarthy-complexioned   young   man  of  nineteen 

years,  was  troubled  with  loss  of  appetite;  had  to  compel  himself  to  the 
little  he  did  eat.  A  ten  days'  use  of  the  extract  made  him  desist  from 
taking  it  longer;  he  not  only  ate  hearty  meals,  but  became  ravenously 

hungry  between  meals.     Nellie  T ,  a  tall  blonde,  rapid  growth,  a 

very  small  eater,  was  immediately  affected  after  the  3d  or  4th  dose; 
she  eats  a  hearty  meal  since  then,  looks  very  well,  and  whenever  her 
appetite  fails  a  few  days'  use  of  the  extract  will  bring  it  around  all  right 
again.  A  similar  effect  was  produced  upon  her  oldest  brother,  set  20. 
He  always  was  a  very  small  eater  and  prone  to  catching  colds.  A  few 
weeks'  regular  use  of  the  extract  seems  to  have  permanently  corrected 
his  appetite ;  he  is  now  considered  a  hearty  eater,  and  is  becoming  more 
robust  and  healthier. 

Triturations  vs. ? — Those  familiar  with  homoeopathic  medi- 
cal journals  must  have  noticed  lately  in  their  advertising  pages,  and  in 
some  instances  amoug  their  articles,  the  claims  made  for  the  "  new  mul- 
tiplex-pestle" triturator,  and  the  fact  that  its  product  is  called  a  "  tritu- 
ration." Whatever  else  that  product  may  be,  it  is  not  a  trituration  as 
we  purpose  proving  from  the  patentee's  own  words. 

The  first  claim  made  for  these  "  triturations"  has  a  scientific  flavor, 
that  is  quite  new  :  "  They  are  lighter  in  specific  gravity,"  is  the  claim 
made  for  them.  For  years  the  scientific  world  has  been  laboring  under 
the  delusion  that  the  specific  gravity  of  any  substance  is  an  inherent  prop- 
erty of  that  substance's  being,  over  which  man  has  no  control.  For  in- 
stance, the  specific  gravity  of  gold  is  19,  and  we  have  never  heard  it 
asserted  that  beating  it  into  gold-leaf  changed  that  figure. 

It  is  next  claimed,  among  other  things,  that  they  are  "  impalpable  to 
the  touch,"  which  condition  is  caused  by  the  fact  that  "  the  pestles  have 
a  uniform  pressure  which  is  never  so  great  as  to  bring  them  in  contact 
with  the  surface  of  the  mortar.  We  thus  avoid  the  wearing  off  of  the 
mortar,  the  charring  of  the  milk-sugar,  and  the  chemical  changes  in  the 
medicine  which  takes  place  in  all  hand  trituration,  as  well  as  in  the  work  of 
machines  having  pestle  handles."  The  words  we  have  taken  the  liberty 
to  italicize  admit  what  we  have  asserted,  namely,  that,  whatever  else  the 
product  of  these  machines  may  be,  it  is  not  a  trituration,  as  Samuel 
Hahnemann  used  the  word,  nor  is  it  a  medicine  that  any  of  our  text- 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT.  43 

hooks  give  instructions  for  using,  for  the  advertiser  says:  u  We  thus 
avoid  ....  the  chemical  changes  \n  the  medicine  which  takes  place  in 
all  hand  trituration  as  well  as  in  the  work  of  machines  having  pestle 
handles."  There  is  no  escaping  the  conclusion  :  The  medicines  which 
Hahnemann  used,  and  which  homoeopathic  physicians  have  been  using 
from  his  day  until  the  present,  and  on  the  provinga  of  which  all  our 
text-books  are  founded,  are  chemically  different  from  those;  called  by  the 
same  name,  produced  by  the  new  multiplex-pestle  process.  Hence,  it 
would  seem  to  follow,  that  physicians  cannot  use  them  until  they  have 
each  been  proved  and  the  effect  on  the  human  system  of  their  different 
chemical  properties  noted.  Another  proof  that  this  new  product  is  not 
a  trituration,  is  the  asserted  fact  that  it  is  "  impalpable  to  the  touch," 
and  yet,  we  are  told,  that  "  the  pestles  have  a  uniform  pressure  which 
is  never  so  great  as  to  bring  them  in  contact  with  the  surface  of  the 
mortar.  (This  is  another  bit  of  "  science  :  "  A  number  of  solid  bodies 
have  a  "  uniform  pressure"  against  another  body,  and  yet  never  come 
in  "  contact"  with  it !).  Now  it  is  a  fact  that  sugar-of-milk  cannot  be 
reduced  to  an  impalpable  j)oivder  by  trituration.  The  work  may  be  con- 
tinued for  days  or  weeks,  but  the  result  will  never  be  an  impalpable 
powder.  On  the  other  hand  we  know  very  well  that  sugar-of-milk  can 
be  reduced  to  an  impalpable  powder,  for  in  that  form  it  is  offered  to 
the  trade,  and  may  be  purchased  by  any  one.  There  are  several  pro- 
cesses by  which  this  is  accomplished,  and  two  of  them  simpler  than  that 
of  the  "  multiplex-pestle  "  system,  but  in  any  of  them,  though  the 
sugar-of-milk  be  reduced  to  an  impalpable  powder,  the  result  sought 
and  achieved  by  Hahnemann,  is  not  gained.  By  trituration  the  par- 
ticles of  the  drug  and  the  sharp,  cutting  particles  of  the  sugar-of-milk 
are  alternately  ground  together,  and  then  scraped  (see  Hahnemann's 
directions),  and,  whether  done  by  hand  or  machine,  the  result  is  never 
an  impalpable  powder.  There  is  one  machine,  into  which,  if  nails  or  any 
other  hard  substance  be  thrown,  they  are  in  a  short  time  reduced  to  an 
impalpable  powder,  and  yet  no  one  would  ever  claim  the  product  of 
such  a  machine  to  be  a  trituration.  The  multiplex-pestle  system  is  but 
a  cumbersome  way  of  achieving  the  same  end  ;  its  pestles  (why, pestles?) 
do  not  touch  the  mortar,  the  machine  revolves  at  a  high  rate  of  speed, 
and  the  product  is  an  impalpable  powder,  and,  hence,  not  a  trituration. 

Three  Items. — "  Something  may  be  learned  from  everybody,"  is  a 
maxim,  to  which  the  experienced  man  is  more  apt  to  give  assent  than 
he  who  has  more  theory  than  practice.  In  a  little  chat  we  had  recently 
with  several  who  do  not  write  M.D.  after  their  names,  we  gleaned  a  lot 
of  information  which  we  cheerfully  impart  to  those  who  do,  for  their 
amusement,  or  edification,  as  they  chose.  The  conversation  turned  on 
sickness,  and  one  related  a  case  of"  consumption  cured  by  unfermented 
grape-juice."     "Mrs.  —  was  dying  with  consumption,  and  her  doctor 


44  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

put  her  on  unfermented  grape-juice,  and  it  has  built  her  up  so,  that  she 

may  live  for  another  generation.     And   Mr.  ,  who   knew  her,  and 

had  a  bad  cough,  and  was  very  weak,  is  taking  it  too,  and  says  it  helps 
him  so  much!"  It  would  be  hard  to  shake  our  informant's  faith  in 
unfermented  grape-juice  as  a  cure  for  consumption.  This  led  another 
to  relate  the  case  of  an  old  man  who  had  "cramps  in  his  hands," 
brought  on  by  hard  work,  and  which  gave  him  "so  much  pain,"  which  he 
cured  by  rubbing  well  with  arnica  oil.  This  led  to  the  relation  of  how 
"  my  grandmother,  who  is  nearly  seventy  years  old,  and  has  been  very 
deaf  for  over  a  year,  and  had  queer  buzzing  sounds  in  her  ears,  tried 
Mullein  Oil,  and,  after  using  it  two  times,  she  could  hear  as  well  as  ever, 
and  she  wants  to  use  it  now  every  night,  because  she  hopes  it  will  cure 
the  buzzing  sounds  also." 

These  three  cases  are  all  in  a  line  with  the  character  of  the  articles 
used.  Unfermented  grape-juice,  when  preserved  without  the  aid  of 
antiseptics,  is,  undoubtedly,  one  of  the  best  things  obtainable  for  inva- 
lids, and  this  almost  without  regard  to  the  disease.  Among  external 
remedies,  arnica  oil  stands  in  the  front  rank,  and,  since  attention  has 
been  directed  to  it,  its  uses  are  widening  every  day.  As  for  Mullein 
Oil,  its  status  is  pretty  well  known  :  there  are  many  cases  of  deafness  it 
will  relieve  or  entirely  cure,  and  there  are  few  cases  of  enuresis  that 
will  withstand  its  inward  use  in  drop  doses. 

Cheap  Medicines. — The  tendency  to  make  everything  cheap,  though 
at  the  expense  of  quality,  so  prevalent  in  business  circles  in  general 
has,  as  we  all  know,  long  ago  also  invaded  the  department  of  medicines. 
Many  an  unsatisfactory  course  of  treatment  may  be  attributed  to  using 
poorly  prepared  or  spurious  medicines  and,  considering  the  small  doses 
dispensed  in  homoeopathy,  it  seems  almost  incredible  that  so  many  still 
use  such  doubtful  preparations.  Here  is  a  point,  apropos  of  tinctures, 
worth  knowing  by  physicians.  Chlorophyll,  the  green-coloring  matter 
in  plants,  is  soluble  in  stronger  alcohol,  and  is  retained  in  solution  for 
a  length  of  time.  In  fresh-plant  tinctures  the  alcohol  is  so  much 
diluted  by  the  juice  of  the  plant,  that  it  is  not  held  in  solution,  but  is 
precipitated.  The  exceptions  to  this  rule  are  less  than  ten,  and  these 
are  prepared  with  stronger  alcohol,  on  account  of  the  resinous  or  vola- 
tile constituents  of  the  plant.  They  comprise  oleander,  cannabis  sat., 
indica,  thuja,  rhus,  and  pulsatilla,  if  made  according  to  Class  III.  If 
these  were  made  with  weak  alcohol,  they  also  would  yield  a  brownish 
tincture,  but  of  inferior  quality. 

And  yet  there  are  certain  salesmen  who  go  about  the  country,  and 
have  a  good  deal  to  say  about  green-plant  tinctures.  "Look  at  my 
tinctures;  they  are  green-plant  tinctures;  see  their  bright  green  color; 
that  tells  the  story.  Look  at  this  aconite  and  belladonna,  how  nicely 
green;  compare  with ;  why  theirs  are  a  reddish-brown,  conclusive 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT.  46 

evidence  that  they  are  made  from  dried  plants."     Just  //>< 

is  tni<\  as  every  practitioner  can  easily  prove  to  bis  own  satisfad ; 

liim  buy  five  cents  worth  of  aconite,  belladonna  or  hyoseiamua  leave-  in  the 

nearest  drug  store,  and  pour  alcohol  upon  it  and  h<'  will  obtain  a  bright 
green  tincture,  while  if  he  uses  the  fresh,  juicy  plant,  ho  will  obtain  a 
reddish-brown  preparation.  Yet  a  great  many  physicians  Buffer  them- 
selves to  be  imposed  upon.  From  this  it  may  be  seen  how  easily  cheap 
"  imported"  tiuctures  may  be  produced  and  sold  at  a  fat  profit,  though 
low  price. 

Another  great  difference  between  dried-plant  and  green-plant  tinc- 
tures, is  that  the  former  remain  clear  for  almost  any  length  of  time, 
while  fresh -plant  tinctures,  almost  without  exception,  throw  down  a 
sediment  for  several  years,  which  consists  chiefly  of  starchy  and  gummy 
substances.  Hence  fresh-plant  tinctures,  no  matter  how  clear  when 
sent  out,  usually  show  a  sediment  after  a  few  weeks.  It  has  been 
observed  and  demonstrated  time  and  again  that  the  elimination  of  these 
sediments  does  not  seem  to  alter  the  efficacy  of  the  remedy. 

Malt  Extract  Bonbons. — It  looks  odd  that  we  should  take  an 
interest  in  "candy:"  but  this  malt  extract  preparation  has  such  un- 
doubted intrinsic  merit,  as  we  know  from  personal  experience,  that  it- 
introduction  into  this  country  is  desirable.  Anyone  troubled  with  mucus 
in  the  throat  or  chest,  accompanied  by  cough  or  otherwise,  who  once 
uses  these  bonbons,  will  not  be  without  them  afterwards,  if  he  can  help 
it.  The  bonbons  contain  from  22  to  25  per  cent,  of  Malt  Extract,  and 
have  a  pronounced  taste  of  malt  sugar.  In  malting  grain  a  peculiar 
substance,  "diastase,"  is  formed,  which  is  similar  to  pepsin  in  dissolving 
or  digesting  quality,  if  you  please.  Carefully  prepared  malt  extract 
retains  this  diastase  unimpaired  or  unaltered,  and  to  its  presence  the 
remarkable  properties  of  dissolving  mucus  and  allaying  the  irritation 
occasioned  by  its  presence  seems  to  be  due.  Ministers  and  lawyers  suffer- 
ing from  accumulation  of  phlegm  in  the  throat,  in  consequence  of  pro- 
tracted use  of  their  vocal  cords,  find  invariable  relief  from  its  use.  It 
is  of  benefit  in  many  cases  of  humid  asthma,  as  well  as  in  almost  all 
coughs.  These  bonbons  are  pleasant  to  the  taste,  <4ud  never  molest  or 
sour  the  stomach. 

Without  having  ever  been  advertised  in  print,  their  use  in  Germany 
has  spread  so  quickly  that  they  are  to  be  found  in  every  drug  store; 
the  writer,  who  was  never  without  them  during  a  three  months' sojourn, 
obtained  them  at  every  druggist's  on  whom  he  called  for  them. 

Homarus. — The  provings  of  this  remedy,  by  Dr.  A.  M.  Gushing, 
Springfield,  Mass.,  it  will  be  remembered,  appeared  in  the  Recorder 
for  May,  1888,  and  were  of  such  a  nature  as  to  indicate  that  homarus  is 
destined  to  be  what  we  may  call  one  of  our  active  medicines.    There  are 


46  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

reports  of  but  two  cases,  as  far  as  we  have  heard,  where  this  remedy- 
was  used,  both  furuished  by  Dr.  Cushing  : 

"  Case  I. — Mrs. .     No  appetite,  distress   iu   stomach,  restless 

sleep,  very  tired  in  morning,  throat  sore.  Gave  homarus  4x.  One  week 
later,  appetite  first  rate,  stomach  well,  throat  well,  sleeps  nicely,  can 
work  all  the  time." 

"  Case  II. — Mr. ,  aged  50.    Has  frequent  attacks  of  indigestion  ; 

calls  them  bilious  spells.  For  two  years  I  had  given  him  occasionally 
nux  vomica,  dioscorea,  etc.,  with  relief  for  awhile.  Gave  homarus  3x,  and 
in  three  days  returned,  asking  me  to  remember  what  I  gave  him  the 
last  time,  as  '  it  was  just  the  medicine.'  " 

The  first  case  was  originally  published  in  the  Recorder,  and  the 
second  in  Medical  Advance. 

For  "  Rheumatics." — Arnica  is  one  of  our  oldest  remedies  for 
rheumatism,  that  unwelcomed  visitor  and  long  stayer  in  old  systems, 
but  we  believe  no  one  has  ever  thought  of  it  in  this  connection  as  an 
external  application.  The  following  case  has  come  to  our  attention.  A 
gentleman  of  over  70  was  taken,  early  this  fall,  with  severe  rheumatic 
pains,  at  times  so  bad  that  he  could  scarcely  walk.  He  put  himself  under 
the  treatment  of  a  homoeopathic  physician,  and  at  first  thought  he  was 
being  greatly  benefited,  but  after  the  lapse  of  five  weeks  or  so  he  realized 
the  fact  that  his  rheumatism  was  no  better,  and  his  croaking  friends  pre- 
dicted that  he  would  have  to  wait  until  the  coming  of  summer  to  be  free 
from  his  trouble.  About  this  time  he  heard  from  a  friend,  who  had  been 
troubled  for  some  time  with  severe  rheumatic  pains  in  the  shoulder,  that 
he  had  rubbed  his  shoulder  with  arnica  oil,  with  the  gratifying  result  of 
being  very  soon  freed  from  the  pain.  A  bottle  of  arnica  oil  was  procured, 
and  each  night  before  going  to  bed  the  patient  in  question  would  go  into 
a  warm  room  and  gently  but  thoroughly  rub  the  parts  afflicted  with  a 
little  of  the  oil,  spread  on  the  palm  of  his  hand.  He  says  the  effect  was 
very  marked  from  the  start,  the  rasping  rustiness  of  the  disease  being 
much  alleviated,  and  in  three  weeks'  time  every  vestige  of  the  complaint 
had  disappeared.  The  beneficial  effects  of  arnica  oil  on  men  who  in- 
dulge in  violent  exercise,  such  as  racing,  rowing,  baseball  playing,  etc., 
is  becoming  very  generally  recognized  in  sporting  circles,  both  pro- 
fessional and  amateur.  One  gentleman,  who  had  just  returned  from  a 
run  of  several  days  on  his  wheel,  told  us  that  he  had  used  this  oil  during 
his  trip,  and  it  was  the  first  one  he  had  ever  made  of  any  duration  from 
which  he  returned  entirely  free  from  soreness  and  stiffness. 

Verbascum  vs.  Mullein  Oil. — Our  esteemed  Pacific  Slope  con- 
temporary, The  California  Homoeopath,  under  the  heading,  "Clinical 
Items,"  has  an  item  which  may  be  misleading  to  a  number  of  physicians, 
namely :    "  Verbascum.      Incontinence   of  Urine ;    Cures   nearly  every 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT,  17 

case. —  Cushing,"  So  runs  the  item.  Now  Mullein  Oil  is  one  thing 
and  verbascum  is  another,  and  the  former  is  the  remedy  which  Dr, 
Cushing  recommends.  The  difference  between  the  two  i>  this:  Mullein 
Oil  is  u  dark-colored  aromatic  Liquid  obtained  from  mullein  flowers, 
while  verbascum  is  nothing  more  than  the  regular  alcoholic  tincture 
obtained  from  parts  of  the  green  plant.  We  deem  it  important  to  call 
attention  to  this  matter  because  mullein  oil  has  become  BO  important  a 
remedy  in  many  cases  of  deafness,  incontinence  of  urine,  and  painful 
urination. 

11  M.  D." — Pharmacists,  book  publishers,  and  all  dealers  in  things 
medical,  will  thank  us,  we  know,  for  suggesting  to  the  gentlemen  of  the 
medical  profession  the  desirability  of  having  "M.D."  somewhere  about 
their  letters.  A  great  many  physicians  write  on  plain  note  paper,  and 
sign  their  names  only,  and  thus  the  receiver  of  the  letter  is  thrown  in 
doubt  whether — where  prices  are  asked  for — to  quote  physicians'  rates 
or  not. 

Oxytropis  Lamberti  ("  Loco  "  Weed).— In  the  number  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Record  of  July  2d,  Mr.  Kennedy  asserts  that  the  Mexi- 
cans believe  that  this  drug  has  an  influence  upon  human  beings.  "It 
is  said  that  when  a  seiiora  no  longer  loves  her  liege  lord  senor,  and  fain 
would  rid  herself  of  him,  she  procures  some  '  herba  loco,'  prepares  a 
decoction  of  it,  and  beguiles  his  innocence  into  imbibing  it,  after  which 
he  becomes  permanently  insane  or  dies  in  a  short  time."  A  proving  of 
this  remedy  by  W.  S.  Gee,  M.D.,  it  will  be  remembered,  appeared  in 
the  September  Recorder,  1887,  vol.  ii.,  No.  5. 

Fraud. — In  a  number  of  cases  recently  where  physicians  have  pre- 
scribed mullein  oil  the  patients  have  gone  to  drug  stores  for  it,  and 
been  supplied  with  au  article  that  neither  resembled  nor  was  mullein 
oil.  These  druggists  probably  knew  nothing  about  the  article,  but 
rather  than  miss  a  beggarly  sale  they  preferred  to  deliberately  swindle 
the  purchaser  by  giving  .him  unknown  stuff.  The  only  safety  from  phar- 
macists of  this  ilk  is  to  keep  away  from  them,  or  make  them  furnish 
unbroken  packages  of  well  known  and  responsible  firms. 

Homoeopathy  in  Venereal  Diseases.  By  Stephen  Yeldham, 
L.R.C.P.,  cd.,  M.R.C.S.,  Eng.  Pp.  188.  Price,  $1.50.  Sent  free  by 
mail  on  receipt  of  $1.42  by  Boericke  &  Tafel. 

(From  The  Allgemeine  IIomceopathi^che  Zeituxg,  December  13th . 
We  have  before  us   the  fourth  edition  of  a  work  of  188  pp.,  which 
makes  the  best  impression  as  regards  arrangement  and  contents.     This 
edition  was  edited  by  Dr.  Henry  Wheeler,  who  contributed  an  original 
chapter  on  spermatorrhoea,  in  addition  to  valuable  annotations. 


43  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

Whoever  possesses  Jab r's  admirable  work  on  venereal  diseases  might 
be  tempted  to  ask  whether  we  Germans  evince  a  necessity  to  hear  an- 
other author  on  the  same  theme.  However,  even  a  cursory  glance  at 
Dr.  Yeldham's  work  discloses  that  essentially  new  information  is  here 
given.  Especially  is  this  the  case  with  the  not  to  be  avoided  local 
applications.  I  here  would  merely  mention  injections  of  hydrastis  in 
gleet, —  to  these  are  added  clinical  observations  interspersed  here  and 
there,  which  always  form  a  welcome  addition  for  the  practitioner. 
Yeldham  belongs  to  the  dualists,  i.e.,  he  holds  that  there  are  two  specific 
venereal  poisons.  With  us  gonorrhoea  and  syphilis  are  separated  from 
chancre,  while  he  joins  the  latter  to  syphilis.  We  note  that  he  dif- 
ferentiates four  varieties  of  chancre  ;  for  he  treats  separately  the  soft, 
the  hard,  the  phagadsenic  chancre,  and  the  urethral  ulcers.  Separate 
chapters  are  also  devoted  to  infantile  syphilis  and  to  syphilitic  diseases 
of  the  eye.  The  syphilitic  cachexia,  the  syphilitic  brain  and  spinal 
abscesses,  as  well  as  bone  and  periosteal  syphilis,  their  pathology  and 
therapia  are  exhaustively  and  thoroughly  treated  of,  and  are  far  ahead 
of  "Jahr."  For  what  could  the  latter  say  of  cocaine,  iodoform,  eu- 
calyptus oil,  etc.,  hence  the  parole  of  homoeopathy  on  this,  as  on  so  many 
other  fields,  must  ever  be  semper  prorsus  nunquam  retrorsum,  inasmuch  as 
better  success  has  undoubtedly  followed  the  exhibition  of  more  massive 
doses.  For  it  is  notable  that  this  author  recommends  stronger  doses  of 
two  of  the  most  important  remedies,  mercury  and  iodide  of  potash? 
which  doses  are,  however,  still  far  enough  removed  from  those  tradi- 
tionally employed  by  allopaths. 

The  gonorrhoea  of  the  female  sex  might  have  been  treated  more 
exhaustively,  especially  because  of  its  serological  relation  to  the 
dreaded  ophthalmia  neonatorum. — Dr.  H.  Goullon,  of  Weimar. 

The  Recorder  is  getting  to  be  the  recognized  medium  of  For  Sale 
and  Wanted  advertisements  among  physicians.  This  is  a  necessary 
consequence  of  a  big  circulation  (10,500  copies  went  out  in  November). 
When  a  man  wants  to  buy  or  sell,  the  wider  the  facts  are  known  the 
better  chance  he  has  of  accomplishing  his  purpose.  We  have  concluded 
to  reduce  the  price  hereafter  for  this  service  to  $3.00  each  insertion. 
Turn  to  the  first  advertising  page,  after  cover  of  this  number,  and  it  will 
be  seen  that  these  advertisements  are  set  in  a  place  to  command  atten- 
tion. Specialists  will  find  it  well  to  let  their  address  be  known.  Card 
$5.00  a  year,  including  a  subscription  to  the  journal.  It  would  be  well 
for  hospitals,  also,  to  keep  their  address  before  the  homoeopathic  med- 
ical world. 

Subscriptions  to  The  Recorder — $1.00  per  year — may  be  sent 
to  any  of  Boericke  &  Tafel's  pharmacies,  most  convenient  to  the  sub- 
scriber. 


THE 

Homeopathic  Recorder. 

Vol.  IV.  PHILADELPHIA,  MARCH,  1889.  No.  2. 

EDITORIAL  NOTES. 

Is  a  recent  letter  to  the  "Medical  Standard"  Prof.  Austin  Flint 
being  called  upon  to  defend  Bellevue  College  against  the  imputation 
that  it  had  endorsed  diplomas  issued  by  "  irregular"  colleges,  he,  as  sec- 
retary, says:  "  In  no  instance  has  the  college  endorsed  a  diploma  issued 
by  or  purporting  to  be  issued  by  an  irregular  college,  using  the  term 
irregular  in  the  sense  it  is  understood  by  the  regular  profession.  In 
many  instances  the  college  has  been  applied  to  endorse  the  diplomas  of 
Homoeopathic,  Eclectic,  and  other  irregular  colleges,  and  has  invariably 
declined  to  endorse  such  documents."  We  wonder  if  Austin  Flint, 
secretary,  could  explain  what  constitutes  a  "regular  college,  as  under- 
stood by  the  regular  profession;"  but  our  wonder  is  greater  when  we 
learn  that  a  physician,  with  a  diploma  granted  by  a  Homoeopathic  col- 
lege, has  stooped  to  such  condescension  as  to  ask  a  "  regular"  college 
to  endorse  so  valuable  a  document.  When  the  laws  of  the  State  of  New- 
York  under  which  all  diplomas  are,  or  should  be,  endorsed,  proclaim 
that  Bellevue,  including  Austin  Flint, secretary,  <t  <ii,  is  holier  than  we, 
then  we  will  understand  why  such  a  college  can  refuse  to  endorse  any 
legal  medical  diploma. 


One  of  the  most  pitiable  >i^bts  in  this  declining  century,  is  the  deep- 
rooted  hatred  of  the  old-school  practitioners,  as  a  class,  against  the 
modern  and  scientific  practice  of  medicine,  expressed  on  every  occasion, 

while  they  creep  in  and  steal,  without  credit,  the  remedies  and  methods  of 
prescription  of  such  new  practice.  When  we  examine  into  the  list  of  the 
remedies  so  pilfered  we  find  such  well-known  drugs  as  Aurum,  Phosphorus, 
Graphites,  Mereurius  sol.  Hahn.,  Gelsemium,  Aconite,  and  many  others, 
even  including Natrum  muriaticum.  These  are,  it  is  tiue,  not  used  by  the 
vol.  iv.— 4 


50  THE  HOMGEOPA  THIG  RECORDER. 

"  common  herd,"  but  by  the  allopathic  leaders  aud  professors.  There  is 
one  professor,  a  justly  famous  specialist  upon  diseases  of  the  skin,  whose 
name  should  be  ever  honored  by  all  true  physicians,  one  who  believes  in 
giving  credit  to  whom  it  belongs,  who  uses  homoeopathic  remedies  in 
homoeopathic  form  and  dose,  and  whom  we  once  heard  say  to  his  class 
of  would-be  Galeus.  "Yes,  gentlemen  !  laugh  when  I  Bay  Graphites  30th 
will  help  this  case  ;  I  know  it  is  a  homoeopathic  remedy,  but  when  you 
are  older  you  will  know  more,  and  laugh  less." 

About  two  years  ago  we  read  in  an  old-school  journal  an  article  by 
a  certain  Dr.  Smith,  in  which  he  claimed  to  be  the  discoverer  that  phos- 
phorus was  a  very  valuable  remedy  in  fatty  degenerations,  and  suited  to 
all  the  symptoms  arising  from  such  conditions.    Shades  of  Hahnemann! 


Bryonia  in  Peridentitis. 
To  the  Editor  of  Homoeopathic  Recorder. 

Bryonia  200  (Lehrmanns)  has  just  cured,  in  my  bauds,  a  severe 
case  (caused  by  the  too  forcible  insertion  of  a  tooth-pick  between  the 
teeth)  of  inflammation  of  the  perideutum  of  the  first  upper  molar,  right 
side.  The  tooth  showed  no  signs  of  decay.  There  were  constant  and 
intense  pain,  high  fever  aud  a  greatly  disordered  system.  Cure  effected 
in  three  days  ;  drug,  administered,  for  the  first  twenty-four  hours,  at 
three  hours  intervals,  then  at  six  hours  intervals.  This  medicine  alone 
carried  the  case  through  to  complete  cure. 


Rufus  Choate.  M.D. 


Rockville.  Md. 


HYPERICUM  PERFORATUM  IN  TETANUS. 

BYr    DR.    HEUSER.* 

In  the  southern  part  of  the  United  States,  tetauus  is  rightly  a  much 
feared  affection,  as  it  often  appears  in  consequence  of  the  most  insignifi- 
cant injuries,  scratches,  the  penetration  of  a  splinter  of  wood  into  the 
finger,  etc.  During  my  sojourn  in  Xew  Orleans,  I  regularly  observed 
that  the  difficulty  of  movement  of  the  lower  jaw  was  the  first  symptom 
of  tetanus,  appearing  first  and  regularly  on  the  ninth  day  after  the 
injury.  The  latter  had  not  infrequently  long  since  healed,  aud  the 
patient  and  his  relatives  would  scarcely  think  any  more  of  the  injury, 
in  spite  of  which,  on  the  niuth  day,  the  fearful  and  alarming  symptoms 

*  Translated  from  the  (i  Allg.  Horn.  Zeit.,  18S9,  pp.  4  and  10,  by  Albert  Pick  and 
F.  Pritchard,  B.U.S.M. 


THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER.  51 

of  tetanus  would  appear,  and  on  the  tenth  day  the  tetanus  would  Dearly 
always  be  fully  developed  and  the  termination,  after  week-  of  suffering, 
when  treated  allopathically,  always,  and  bornoeopathically,  frequently, 

would  b< — death,  especially  during  the  heated  term. 

In  the  year  1866,  the  four-year-old  bod  of  a  friend  of  mine,  a  German 

pastor  in  New  Orleans,  was  bitten  slightly  in  th<>  band  by  a  dog.  A 
solution  of  Arnica  and  water  was  applied  to  the  wound  to  prevent  the 
development  of  traumatic  tetanus.  Arnica  was  also  givea  internally. 
In  spite  of  this  treatment,  on  the  evening  of  the  ninth  day  after  the 
injury,  difficult  mobility  of  the  lower  jaw  beeame  apparent,  although 
the  slight  wound  had  healed.  The  father,  in  his  anxiety,  telegraphed 
to  Lutze,  of  Kothen,  and  he  answered,  Hypericum.  Although  the 
despatch  was  sent  on  the  evening  of  the  ninth  day,  yet  the  answer  did 
not  come  until  the  evening  of  the  tenth  day,  during  which  time  com- 
plete tetanus  had  developed  in  the  child.  The  child  received  at  once 
Hypericum,  which  I  gave  in  the  first  decimal  dilution,  two  drops  every 
hour. 

Already,  on  the  next  morning,  the  child  having  not  slept  the  whole 
night  through  and  having,  from  every  half  to  one  hour,  very  violent 
tetanic  convulsions,  it  appeared  somewhat  quieter.  During  the  day, 
tetanic  convulsions  appeared  but  three  times,  which  were  of  shorter 
duration  and  less  violent  than  those  of  the  former  night.  The  next 
night  was  passed  sleeplessly,  and  shortly  before  midnight  another  very 
violent  spasmodic  attack,  lasting  over  twenty  minutes,  appeared,  being 
the  last  which  he  had.  On  the  morning  of  the  twelfth  day  the  child 
was  already  able  to  open  its  teeth  a  few  lines.  The  night  from  the 
twelfth  to  the  thirteenth  day  passed  favorably  and  the  patient  slept 
well.  On  the  morning  of  the  thirteenth  day  the  child  nearly  recovered  ; 
it  could  again  chew  solid  food  and  was  completely  well,  there  only 
remaining  a  difficult  mobility  of  the  lower  jaw,  which,  however  dis- 
appeared in  the  course  of  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth  days. 

Since  then,  I  have  always  given  Hypericum  with  sure  results  at  the 
first  signs  of  trismus  as  well  as  in  completely  developed  tetanus. 

Iu  Germany  the  cases  which  have  come  under  my  care,  were  only 
those  of  more  or  less  developed  trismus,  which  were,  however,  quickly 
cured  by  Hypericum. 

Hence  the  following  case  will  be  the  more  interesting,  which  I  take 
the  liberty  of  reporting  here. 

On  October  6th,  1888,  I  received  the  following  letter  of  one  Mr.  W., 
of  G.,  near  Kassel : 

"Please  send  me  a  few  powerful  remedies  against  traumatic  tetanus. 
The  nineteen-year-old  daughter  of  my  neighbor  has  been  suffering  since 
fourteen  days,  hopelessly,  from  traumatic  tetanus.  The  patient  is 
entirely  rigid  from  head  to  foot,  only  the  arms  being  movable.  Imme- 
diately alter  this  rigidity  she  has  such  fearful  convulsive  attacks  that 


52  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECOBDEB. 

three  men  have  to  hold  her.  She  cannot  be  made  to  go  to  bed,  for  if 
she  does  she  says  she  will  suffocate  there.  During  the  attacks  her  mind 
is  entirely  clear  and  she  complains  of  the  most  fearful  pains.  On  the 
first  of  September  the  index  and  middle  finger  of  her  right  hand  were 
accidentally  caught  in  the  machinery  of  a  fodder  cutting  machine. 
The  index-finger  was  only  slightly  injured  at  its  tip,  but  the  middle 
finger  was  so  crushed  that  it  had  to  be  amputated.  The  wound  was  at 
first  neglected  by  the  allopathic  attending  physician  as  well  as  by  the 
patient  herself,  aud  nothing  but  a  dressing  of  carbolized  oil  was  used. 
On  the  tenth  of  September,  trismus  appeared,  aud  a  few  days  later  the 
spasms,  which  contiuued,  became  more  violeut.  The  physician  in 
attendance  administered  Opium  and  Morphine,  yet  if  the  patient  slept 
after  its  administration  the  attacks  reappeared  with  greater  violence. 
The  stool  was  only  to  be  passed  by  the  aid  of  enemas,  and  the  urine 
was  always  passed  involuntarily  during  the  spasms.  Her  appetite  is 
present,  yet  she  can  only  take  fluids  through  a  gap  in  the  teeth,  as  the 
teeth  were  tightly  closed  together.  Sometimes  she  becomes  hot  and  has 
a  violent  fever,  and  then  sweat  appears,  principally  on  the  head.  The 
wound  itself  has  a  rose-red  color  and  apparently  is  healing." 

I  prescribed  Hypericum  lx,  to  be  alternated  hourly  with  Ledum 
pal.  lx  ;  the  latter  because  the  patient  could  not  remain  in  bed. 

On  the  fourteenth,  I  received  a  letter  of  Mr.  W.,  in  which  he  expresses 
his  thanks  for  the  remedies  sent  which  yielded  such  remarkably  excel- 
lent results.  After  the  first  dose  the  convulsions  became  less  frequent 
and  violent,  and  within  three  days,  from  the  seventh  to  the  tenth  of 
October  they  nearly  ceased ;  only  once  in  a  while  there  appeared 
twitchings  of  the  arms  and  legs.  On  the  morning  of  the  tenth  of  Octo- 
ber, after  the  patient  had  slept  well  throughout  nearly  the  whole  night, 
she  was  able  to  open  her  teeth  far  enough  so  that  small  pieces  of  biscuit 
could  be  introduced,  which  she  was  able  to  chew  aud  swallow. 

The  physician  was  so  delighted  with  the  apparent  success  of  his 
treatment — the  patient  had,  of  course,  taken  no  more  of  the  allopathic 
medicine — that  he  declared  the  patient  as  cured  and  merely  prescribed 
her  a  tonic. 

The  delusion  of  the  parents  and  the  girl  herself  was  so  great  that 
they  followed  this  advice.  Perhaps  they  believed  that  the  success 
would  have  also  appeared  without  the  homoeopathic  medicines. 

The  result  was,  that  on  the  evening  of  the  twelfth  of  October,  the 
teeth  were  again  tightly  pressed  together  and  during  the  night  the  most 
violent  spasmodic  attacks  appeared. 

Mr.  W.  asked  now  again  for  advice  and  aid.  Unfortunately,  the 
remedies  were  not  well  kept,  and  No.  1  (Hypericum)  had  beeu  poured 
out;  No.  2  (Ledum)  had  not  acted  properly. 

Mr.  \V.  reported  as  follow-: 

"The   patient   lies   now  in  bed,  which   she   bears  very  well,  aud  the 


THE  UOJUaWPATIIIC  RECORDER.  58 

attacks  less  fearful,  but  violent  twitchings  take  place  continually  through- 
out the  whole  body.  No.  2  I  Ledum  |  Beems  to  have  caused  this  remission, 
but  I  think  decidedly  that  No.  1  (Hypericum)  is  the  chief  remedy. 

I  was  dot,  however,  to  be  misled,  being  taught  by  the  many  sorrowful 
experiences  of  earlier  years,  to  use  Nnx  vom.,  but  I  sent  Hypericum  lx 

with  the  direction  that  this  one  remedy  be  used  at  first  hourly,  on  im- 
provement appearing,  less  often,  every  two  hours,  then  three  times  a 
day,  and,  finally,  morning  and  evening. 

On  the  sixth  of  December,  the  patient  herself  wrote  me,  Baying  that 
she  had  entirely  recovered.  After  the  wound  of  the  amputated  finger 
had  completely  healed  and  all  symptoms  of  trismus  and  tetanus  long 
since  disappeared,  under  the  persistent  use  of  Hypericum* morning  and 
evening,  a  crop  of  vesicles  made  their  appearance  on  the  injured  hand. 
The  vesicles  renewed  themselves  continually  and  were  marked  by  burn- 
ing sensations.  These  vesicles  had  already  been  healed  over  eight  days, 
yet  there  persisted  a  slight  burning  of  the  skin  at  the  places  where  the 
vesicles  were.  All  the  four  fingers  of  the  right  hand  were  yet  somewhat 
stiff,  for  she  begged  me  to  excuse  her  on  account  of  her  bad  writing. 
It  was  the  first  letter  she  was  able  to  write  after  her  sickness,  yet  the 
writing  was  energetic  although  somewhat  stiff. 

Now,  according  to  my  opinion,  a  dose  of  Nux  vom.  high  will  be  suf- 
ficient to  also  remove  this  stiffness. 

This  experience  reminds  me  of  the  duty  which  I  have  long  since 
owed  to  the  shade  of  Lutze,  viz.:  to  recommend  the  employment  of 
Hypericum  in  tetanus  to  my  colleagues,  the  more  as  it  is  not  mentioned 
at  all  in  Lutze's  Lehrbuch  der  Homceopathie  (Lutze's  Homoeopathic  Theory 
and  Practice.)  Von  Fallenberg-Ziegler  says  in  his  small  Homa  opatischen 
ArzneimitUUchre  under  "  Hypericum,"  that  it,  according  to  American 
reports,  may  be  classed  with  Arnica  as  an  equally  good  vulnerary. 

Should  the  cure  of  tetanus  in  New  Orleans,  described  above,  possibly 
have  been  the  cause  of  its  coming  into  especial  favor  in  America,  then 
I  should  be  the  more  glad  to  prove  here  the  German  origin  of  the 
recognition  of  this  remedy  as  a  vulnerary. 

[Note  by  the  Translators. — Dr.  Th.  Bruckner,  of  Basel,  in  his 
small  pamphlet,  Die  Anwendung  der  Vorbeugungsmittel  in  der  llomceo- 
pathie,  p.  6,  recommends  Hypericum  perforatum  in  injuries  in  which 
tetanus  is  to  be  feared,  especially  after  injuries  of  the  hands  and  feet, 
where  these  parts  have  been  badly  crushed  and  torn,  or  if,  for  example, 
splinters  of  glass  or  needles  have  been  run  under  the  fingernails  and 
then  broken  off,  followed  by  an  unusually  violent  pain  running  upward* 
along  the  course  of  the  nerve,  in  which  condition,  if  given  in  time,  it  may 
ward  off  the  attack  of  tetanus.] 


PLATE  2. 


VIBURNUM  OPULUS,  L. 


THE  1I0MCE0PATH1C  RECORDER. 

VIBURNUM  OPULUS  (High  Cranberry). 
Viburnum  Opulus,  Linn.  ;  V.  Oxycoccus,  Pureh. 

(COP!  SIQH1    SECT  RED.) 

Plate  II. 

Tiik  plant  from  which  this  drug  is  derived,  belongs  to  a  large  family 
of  shrubs,  the  caprifoliacece,  from  which  we  gain  but  four  others,  Sam- 
bucus,  Adoxa,  Triosteum,. and  Symphoricarpus. 

Viburnum  Opulus  is  a  generally  smooth  spreading  shrub,  that  usually 
attains  a  height  of  from  3-10  feet.  The  leaves  are  very  characteristic 
being  dilated  and  strongly  three-lobed,  pointed,  toothed,  and  furnished 
with  sleuder  leaf  stalks.  The  flowers  are  arranged  in  radiant  cymes, 
and  are  of  two  sorts,  those  of  the  centre  of  the  clusters  being  small  and 
fertile,  those  of  the  circumference  large,  showy,  and  sterile.  The  fruit 
is  a  globular,  bright  red,  acid,  edible  berry,  having  a  flattened  orbicular 
seed. 

The  European  representative  of  this  species  is  varied  in  its  foliage, 
but  does  not  differ  sufficiently  to  form  a  true  species  ;  it  is  the  original 
of  the  Snowball  and  Guelder  Rose  of  our  conservatories  and  gardens. 

Viburnum  grows  in  swampy  places  and  along  streams  in  the  north 
from  New  Brunswick  to  Saskatchewan,  British  Columbia  and  Oregon, 
and  southward  along  the  eastern  seaboard  as  far  as  Pennsylvania,  and 
even  as  far  south  as  Maryland,  along  the  Alleghanies.  It  blossoms  from 
June  to  July  and  matures  its  fruit  about  the  end  of  September. 

The  vulgar  names  for  this  species  in  most  localities  are  High  Cran- 
berry and  Cranberry  Tree,  from  the  resemblance  in  form  and  taste  of  the 
berries  to  that  fruit.  In  some  places  it  is  called  Cramp  Bark  Tree,  from 
the  use  of  the  bark  in  decoction  for  the  relief  of  spasmodic  cramps  in 
hysteric  females. 

History. 

This  species  is  much  more  used  in  general  practice  than  any  other  of 
the  genus,  probably  from  its  being  more  energetic  from  the  quantity  of 
valerianic  acid  it  contains.  One  of  the  first  uses  of  the  plant  was  as  a 
diuretic  ;  later  it  was  found  beneficial  in  relaxing  cramps  and  spasms  of 
various  kinds.  Its  use  in  spasmodic  asthma  is  one  of  more  recent  date. 
Its  particular  usefulness,  however,  seemed  to  be  in  hysteria,  as  well  as  in 
all  forms  of  spasms  and  cramps  where  the  exciting  cause  lies  at  the  ute- 
rus. In  the  cramps  of  the  lower  extremities  occurring  during  preg- 
nancy or  parturition  it  proved  almost  a  specific  ;  and  was  even  claimed 
to  thwart  puerperal  convulsions  in  those  predisposed  to  such  condition, 
if  taken  persistently  for  the  last  two  mouths  of  gestation. 

The  later  uses  of  the  drug  have  proven  it  to  be  of  decided  benefit  in 
most  cases  of  hysterical  convulsions  from  uterine  irritation  ;  in  general 


56  TEE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

irritation  of  the  nervous  system  when  not  due  to  special  mental  or  trau- 
matic shocks  ;  in  spasmodic  dysuria  of  hysterical  subjects,  and  in  spas- 
modic dysmenorrhea.  In  all  its  uses  its  sphere  of  action  is  particularly 
upon  the  female  economy,  being  found  useful  in  all  forms  of  general 
nervous  irritation,  cramps,  spasms,  and  like  pains  in  the  stomach,  bowels, 
bladder,  or  other  organs,  when  proven  reflex  from  uterine  irritation. 
Dysmenorrhea  when  the  ovaries  are  irritable,  or  with  spasmodic  or  neu- 
ralgic characters.  In  pseudo-membranous  dysmenorrhcea  it  plays  an 
important  part  in  the  relief  of  the  pains,  haemorrhage,  and  extreme  ner- 
vous erethrism  (Hale). 

In  spasmodic  or  membranous  dysmenorrhcea,  when  before  the  menses 
appear  there  is  much  drawing  in  the  muscles  of  the  thighs  and  lower 
abdomen,  sharp  pains  in  the  ovarian  regions,  and  excruciating  cramp- 
ing pains  in  the  lower  abdomen  and  uterus  (Simmons). 

The  Southern  Medical  Record,  says  of  this  drug,  "This  remedy  is 
one  of  our  very  best  when  the  following  symptoms  are  present;  Hyster- 
ical condition  from  uterine  irritation,  cramps  in  the  extremities  during 
pregnancy,  dysmenorrhcea  of  a  spasmodic  character,  and  painful,  scanty 
menses."  (Am.  Jour.  Phar.) 

The  Tincture. 

The  fresh  bark  of  the  root  is  taken,  pounded  to  a  pulp  and  weighed. 
Then  two  parts  by  weight  of  alcohol  are  taken,  and  after  thoroughly 
mixing  the  pulp  with  one-sixth  part  of  it,  the  rest  of  the  alcohol  is 
added.  After  having  stirred  the  whole,  it  is  poured  into  a  well-stop- 
pered bottle  and  allow  it  to  stand  eight  days  in  a  dark,  cool  place. 

This  resulting  tincture  after  filtration  has  a  light  brownish-orange 
color  by  transmitted  light,  a  strong  odor  of  valerianic  acid,  a  bitterish 
aromatic  taste,  and  a  strong  acid  reaction. 

Chemistry. 

Valerianic  acid, — HC5H902.  This  body  is  one  of  the  prominent  con- 
stituents of  Viburnum,  and  may  be  extracted  by  distilling  the  bark  of 
the  root  with  water,  saturating  the  distillate  with  carbonate  of  soda, 
evaporating  to  dryness,  and  distilling  the  product  with  sulphuric  acid 
and  a  little  water.  The  acid  will  then  be  found  in  concentrated  solu- 
tion in  the  water  distilled  over.  This  is  the  trihydrate.  Distilling  this 
solution  a  milky  fluid  passes  over  followed  by  a  clear  liquid,  the  mono- 
hydrate.  This  monohydrate  is  a  thin,  colorless,  oily  liquid,  smelling 
more  disagreeable  than  valerian,  and  somewhat  like  putrid  cheese.  It 
has  a  burning  and  acid,  soon  followed  by  a  sweet  aromatic,  apple-like 
taste.     It  is  soluble  in  alcohol  and  in  30  parts  of  water. 

The  bark  also  contains  a  resin,  volatile  oil,  tannin,  and  some  earthy 
salts. 


THE  II0MCE0PAT1IIC  RECORDER.  57 

Symptoms. 

Mind. —  Irritable  mood,  wishes  to  be  alone.  Inability  to  perform 
mental  labor. 

Head. — Vertigo  on  rieiog  from  Bitting  posture,  feels  as  though  she 
would  fall  forward.  Dizzy  feeling  all  the  time.  Dull,  sluggish  bead- 
ache.  Dull,  supraorbital  and  frontal  headache,  with  profuse  (low  of 
clear,  watery  urine.  Severe  left-sided  headache.  Severe  pain  in  parie- 
tal region.     Coughing  makes  head  ache. 

Eyes. — Sore  feeling  in  the  eye  balls.  Heaviness  over  the  eyes  and  eye- 
balls. 

Ears. — Sharp  jerking  pain  in  the  ears,  as  if  stabbed  with  a  knife. 

Chest. — Suffocative  spells  at  night.  Seems  as  if  the  muscles  of  the 
chest  ceased  to  act,  causing  great  dyspnoea. 

Heart. — Palpitation  of  the  heart.  During  menstrual  pains  a  sensa- 
tion as  if  the  breath  would  leave  the  body,  and  the  heart  cease  to  beat. 

Stomach. — Nausea  and  uneasiness.  Constant  nansea,  relieved  by  eat- 
ing, or  by  lying  quiet.  Deathly  nausea  and  sickness  at  the  stomach, 
principally  at  night. 

Abdomen. — Crampy,  colicky  pain  in  the  lower  abdomen  during  men- 
struation. Cramps  and  colic  pains  come  on  suddenly  and  with  terrible 
severity  just  preceding  menstrual  flow.  Crampy  pains  in  lower  abdomen 
as  if  going  to  be  "  unwell."  Darting  pains  in  the  abdomen  which  finally 
settle  about  the  navel.  Bearing  down  pains  in  the  pelvis  as  during 
menstruation.     Heavy  aching  over  the  pubis. 

Sexual  Organs.  Ovaries. — Pain  in  the  ovaries.  Uterus. — Cramps  and 
bearing-down  pains  before  the  menses  appear.  Excruciating  colicky 
pains  through  the  womb  and  lower  abdomen,  lasting  10-12  hours. 
Bearing-down  sensation  as  if  the  menses  would  appear.  Congested  feel- 
ing as  if  the  courses  would  come  on.  Severe  bearing-down  pains,  ac- 
companied by  drawing  pain  in  the  anterior  muscles  of  the  thighs,  and 
occasionally  sharp  shooting  pain  over  the  ovaries.  Menses. — Too  early, 
too  profuse,  and  offensive  in  odor.  Discharge  jelly-like.  Flow  stains 
permanently.  Menses  scanty,  thin,  light  colored,  and  continue  but  a 
few  days.  Menses  retarded.  Spasmodic  and  membranous  dysmenor- 
rhea. During  severe  menstrual  pain,  seems  as  if  her  heart  would  n  asc 
to  beat,  and  the  breath  leave  her  body.  Leucorrhcea. — Discharge  thin, 
whitish-yellow,  or  thick,  white  and  copious.  Discharge  excoriating, 
producing  redness,  smarting,  and  itching  of  the  genitals.  Discharge 
thin,  colorless,  except  when  coming  on  during  a  passage  of  the  bowels; 
then  it  is  thick  and  white. 

Urine. — Frequent  urging  to  urinate,  passing  large  quantities  of  clear, 
light  colored  urine.     Spasmodic  dysuria  in  hysterical  subjects. 

Stool. — Alternate  constipation  and  diarrhoea.  Constipation  with  great 
tenesmus. 

Back. — Pain  gradually  extending  to  the  hypogastric  region,  and  down 


58  THE  HO  MYOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

the  thighs.  Aching  as  if  the  back  would  break.  Heavy  aching,  sacral 
pain.     Stiff  sore  feeling  in  the  nape  of  the  neck. 

Superior  Extremities. — Buzzing  feeling  in  the  hands,  as  if  they  would 
break. 

Inferior  Extremities. — Sensation  of  great  weakness  and  heaviness  in 
the  lower  extremities. 

Sleep. — Restless  and  unrefreshing.     Sleep  disturbed  by  a  slight  noise. 

Case. — Mrs.  R ,  five  months  pregnant,  while  out  driving  received 

a  severe  strain  from  holding  her  frightened  horse.  Three  days  after 
severe  bearing-down  pains  began  in  the  abdomen  and  back,  interspersed 
with  colicky,  crampy  pains  through  the  abdomen  from  the  hip  promi- 
nences downward  toward  the  vagina.  An  hour  afterward,  when  called, 
I  found  her  suffering  all  the  preparatory  pains  of  a  miscarriage.  She 
was  irritable,  would  hardly  answer  my  questions,  and  twisted  about 
when  the  pains  came  on,  placing  her  fists  under  her  hips,  and  raising 
them  from  the  couch.  She  complained  of  nausea  and  dizziness  when 
rising  from  her  couch  ;  twice  within  an  hour  she  felt  all  the  preparatory 
symptoms  of  vomiting,  which,  however,  did  not  occur.  Her  face  was 
flushed  (probably  from  straining),  her  pupils  dilated,  and  a  warm  per- 
spiration stood  out  upon  her  forehead.  There  was  some  frontal  head- 
ache, some  crampy  pain  down  the  face  of  the  thighs,  with  a  heaviness 
of  the  lower  limbs.  After  two  attempts  to  rise  (on  account  of  dizziness) 
she  finally  accomplished  the  erect  posture,  and  with  the  support  of  her 
husband's  arm  about  her  excused  herself  and  left  the  room  for  a  few 
moments.  Upon  her  return  the  pains  again  came  on.  Her  leaving 
the  room  completed  the  picture  of  Viburnum,  as  to  its  symptoms  upon 
the  bladder,  and  I  prescribed  the  3d  in  water,  a  teaspoonful  every  20 
minutes,  and  awaited  results. 

The  pains  gradually  lost  their  edge  and  became  more  bearable.  At 
the  end  of  forty-five  minutes  they  were  slight  and  far  apart,  the  dizzi- 
ness and  nausea  ceased,  and  the  patient  returned,  as  much  as  consistent, 
to  her  usual  happy  talkative  mood. 

I  left,  with  directions  to  take  the  medicine  if  the  pains  returned,  or 
any  of  the  unpleasant  symptoms  came  on. 

The  next  morning  I  found  the  patient  passing  slowly  about  the  house, 
at  her  usual  duties.  I  ordered  rest  for  twenty-four  hours,  stopped  all 
medication,  and  the  patient  attended  an  evening  party  the  succeeding 
day.  c.  f.  m. 

PROVINGS  OF  COCAINE  * 

We  have  in  this  drug  an  agent  which  profoundly  affects  both  the 
sensory  and  motor  nervous  systems.     Its  primary  stimulant  effects  are 

*  Percy  Wilde,  M.D.,  in  the  Monthly  Horn.  Review,  January,  1889. 


'I'llE  EOMCBlOPATHIC  BECOBDEB.  60 

rapidly  followed  by  the  secondary  depressive  action,  and,  as  is  usual 
with  sueli  agents,  the  depressive  action  takes  place  more  rapidly  in  the 
sensory  nerves  than  in  the  motor.  If  we  aim  at  maintaining  its  stimu- 
lant effects  it  is  necessary  to  give  it  in  very  minute  doses,  the  third  deci- 
mal dilution  answering  well  for  the  purpose  except  in  sensitive  sub- 
jects, when  it  is  necessary  to  use  a  higher  attenuation.  For  its  (  Sects  on 
the  motor  nerves  it  will  be  found  necessary  to  use  the  lower  attenuation. 

Its  action  upon  the  muscular  fibre  of  the  heart  points  to  its  probable 
value  in  fatty  degeneration  of  this  organ,  not  only  as  a  remedy  for  the 
symptoms  which  its  action  resembles  very  markedly,  but  as  a  curative 
agent.     It  should  also  be  found  useful  in  some  cases  of  angina. 

Its  symptoms  also  point  to  its  value  both  in  organic  ami  functional 
diseases  of  the  nervous  system.  In  the  migraine  of  anaemic  girls — 
which  are  rather  "  nervous  sick-headaches"  than  the  true  migraine  we 
find  in  persons  of  a  gouty  history — it  is  a  very  useful  agent,  and  it 
should  also  prove  of  value  in  many  of  the  manifestations  of  hysteria, 
neurasthenia,  and  spinal  neuralgia.  Its  actual  destructive  action  upon 
the  ganglionic  cells  of  the  spinal  cord  would  give  the  impression  that  it 
may  be  useful  in  the  early  stage  of  locomotor  ataxy  and  some  forms  of 
paralysis. 

The  action  of  the  drug  is  somewhat  unique  and  well  deserves  a  place 
in  our  materia  medica. 

Symptomatology* 

Authorities  and  Explanations :  (1)  Symptoms  following  local  appli- 
cation. (2)  Symptoms  following  internal  use.  (3)  Recorded  by  va- 
rious observers.  (4)  Nikolai  Unkovsky.  (5)  Mayerhaussen.  (0)  Dr. 
H.  Hall.  (7)  Dr.  F.  Schilling.  (8)  Dr.  G.  Bock.  (9)  Von  Ploss. 
efTectsof  a  dose  of  22  grains.  (10)  Zanchevski,  experiments  upon  dogs. 
(11)  Wurdinger.  (12)  Dr.  Bresgen.  (13)  Dr.  L.  E.  BellarminofT, 
(14)  J.  L.  Calligan.  (15)  Spear,  effects  of  the  injection  of  10  grains  in  a 
drunken  man.  (16)  Ramsden  Wood,  effects  of  1  grain.  (17)  H.  C. 
Wood,  effects  of  a  quarter-grain  dose.  (18)  Effects  of  the  injection  of 
1  diachm  of  a  20  per  cent,  solution  in  the  urethra  preparatory  to  ure- 
throtomy ;  death  followed  in  20  minutes. — Philadelphia  Medical  News, 
1888,  p.  70. 

Mind. — Restlessness37;  excitement37;  unconsciousness  from  which  the 
patient  cannot  be  aroused  even  by  shouting7.  Hallucination  or  mania 
presented  in  only  a  few  cases.  Cerebral  anaemia  with  semi-conscious- 
ness7. Patient  lay  as  one  asleep,  talking  as  if  in  delirium6;  makes 
foolish  remarks18. 

Brain. — Much  congested;  membranes  thickened  for  2  square  inches 
around  longitudinal  sinus,  and  adherent  to  brain  (post-mortem)18. 

*Kearranged  with  additions  from  Dr.  Wilde's  article. 


60  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

Face. — Con  jested18.     Twitching  of  facial  muscles1 8. 

Head. — Giddiness3;  vertigo37:  faintness3;  supraorbital  headache3. 

Eye. — Sensibility  of  conjunctiva  lost27;  pupils  normal8;  dilation  of 
the  pupils  and  almost  complete  amaurosis2318.  Papilla  of  optic  nerve 
normal  and  full8;  retinal  veins  normal,  but  the  arteries  rather  thinner 
and  paler  than  usual8.  (Opacity  of  the  true  corneal  substance,  and 
vesication  and  desquammation  of  the  epithelial  layer);*  eyes  staring18. 

Mouth. — Intense  salivation13;  dryness24;  frothiug  at  the  mouth18. 

Tongue. — Loss  of  powei5. 

Throat. — Spasm  of  abductor  muscles16.  Weakness  and  thickness  of 
the  voice3. 

Stomach. — Tendency  to  vomit  but  the  effort  useless,  only  the  move- 
ments of  retching  are  produced12.  Recurring  vomiting  lasting  two  or 
three  days'3.     Cramps  in  the  stomach10. 

Liver. — Atrophy  of  the  hepatic  cells  {pod  mortem)™ ;  much  con- 
gested |  post-mortem)™. 

Abdomen. — Severe  abdominal  pains9. 

Respiration. — Convulsive16.  Irregular,  hurried,  deep  and  full17. 
Dyspnoea*.  Respiration  unaffected8.  Paroxvsmal  dyspnoea  (cardiac?)4. 
Increased  frequency  of  respiration  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour  during 
acceleration  of  the  heart's  action10.  Respiration  9  per  minute  and 
stertorous15.  Respiration  interfered  with,  followed  by  failure  of  the 
respiratory  muscles18.     Lungs  much  congested  (post-mortem)1*. 

Heart  and  Pulse. — Excitement  quickly  followed  by  weak  action3; 
often  intermittent  palpitation3.  Albuminoid  degeneration  of  cardiac 
ganglia  {post-mortem)10.  Heart's  action  not  much  interfered  with,  or 
only  secondarily  so18;  action  of  the  heart  irregular  and  slow  (near 
death)18.  Heart  normal;  right  side  empty,  left  side  filled  with  currant- 
jelly  clots  (post-mo7'tem)18. 

Bloodvessels. — Cellular  proliferation  and  hyaline  degeneration  of 
the  coats  of  the  bloodvessels  in  the  spinal  cord  (post-moiiem  i10. 

*  Some  experiments  made  by  Wurdinger,  Klin.  Monat.  fur  Awjcnhcilk.,  April, 
18S6,  seem  to  prove  that  the  superficial  lesions  are  due  to  the  dryness  of  the  cornea 
which  follows  the  use  of  cocaine — a  dryness  which  is  caused  in  part  by  the  conjunc- 
tival anaemia,  and  probably  in  part  by  the  increased  evaporation  from  the  surface, 
produced  by  the  wide  opening  of  the  palpebral  fissure  and  the  absence  of  the  natural 
blinking  movements.  Experimenting  upon  rabbits.  Wurdinger  found  that  if  the 
eyelids  were  kept  closed  between  the  instillations  of  the  cocaine,  no  changes  took 
place  in  the  appearance  of  the  cornea:  but  that  if  the  eye  remained  open,  and  a 
five  per  cent,  solution  were  dropped  upon  the  cornea  at  intervals  of  four  minutes, 
after  twenty  or  twenty-five  minutes  the  whole  surface  presented  a  fine  roughness. 
and  the  epithelium  desquammated  in  places.  The  commencement  of  these  changes 
could  be  seen  three  or  four  minutes  after  the  first  application,  and  their  increase 
could  be  prevented  by  keeping  the  cornea  constantly  wetted  with  distilled  water. 
It  seemed  clear,  therefore,  that  the  epithelial  changes  were  due  to  the  dryness  of 
the  corneal  surface. 


THE  HOMCEOJ'A'J  IIJC  BBCOBDEB.  61 

Urine. — Suppressed  for  24  hours*. 

Back. — Agonizing  pain  along  the  spine,  especially  marked  in  the 
lumbar  region4. 

Extremities,  lower. — Complete  inability  to  move  t he  limbs4;  great 
weakness  of  the  legs;  theanimal  remained  in  a  sitting  posture10.  Cold- 
ness*. 

Muscles. — Twitching  convulsive  movements*.  Tetanic  spasms  of 
muscles*.  Fatty  degeneration  of  muscle  (post-mortem)1*.  The  whole 
muscular  system  took  part  in  the  violent  epileptiform  convulsions  which 
increased  and  lasted  some  minub 

Nerves. — Albuminoid  degeneration  in  cases  of  chronic  poisoning, 
especially  marked  in  the  ganglionic  cells  of  the  spinal  cord  and  cardiac 
ganglia,  less  marked  in  the  gray  cells  of  the  medulla  oblongata  post- 
mortem/0.    Violent  epileptiform  convulsions  lasting  some  seconds18. 

Skin. — A  rash  about  the  body  especially  affecting  the  neck  and  re- 
sembling scarlatina1'.  Numbness  of  the  skin1*.  Blanching  of  the 
skin*. 

General.  —  Cyanosis3 18.     Sweating13  3. 

Sleep. — I  m  mediate9. 


HOMOEOPATHIC  THERAPEUTICS. 

Tetanus. — Hypericum. — Apropos  of  the  article  in  this  issue  upon 
"Hypericum  in  Tetanus:"  At  9  a.m.,  on  the  '20th  of  February,  I  was 
called  in  ha.^te  to  the  office  of  a  neighboring  dentist.  On  arrival  I  round 
him  applying  ice  to  the  head  of  a  lady  about  32  years  of  age,  who  laid  back 
in  his  chair  perfectly  rigid.  Noting  that  the  pulse  and  respiration  were 
normal,  1  asked  the  history  of  the  case,  lie  said  that  the  lady  had  had 
some  toothache  the  night  before  ami  was  sleepless  from  the  pain  ;  that 
she  came  in  and  he  extracted  the  molar  without  an  anaesthetic,  and  that 
after  once  expectorating  in  the  cuspidor  at  the  arm  of  the  chair,  she  had 
sunk  back  on  the  head-rest,  her  jaws  became  rigid,  and  with  a  shudder 
she  became  as  she  then  was,  perfectly  rigid  in  every  muscle;  thus  she 
remained  for  an  hour,  in  spite  of  breathings  of  ether  and  chloroform, 
which  had  only  slight  and  very  temporary  effect  in  relaxation.  While 
we  talked,  her  body  slowly  rose  into  opisthotonos,  and  the  open  eyes 
rolled  back  into  the  sockets  until  only  a  small  portion  of  the  iris  could 
be  seen;  then  with  a  tremor  her  body  sank  back  into  the  chair,  and 
pleurosthotonous  slowly  came  on,  remained  a  few  moments,  and  with 
once  more  a  shudder,  her  body  relapsed  into  the  old  rigid,  straight 
position. 

I  at  once  prepared  Hypericum  1  cent.,  and  poured  a  teaspoon  of  a 
solution  of  twenty  drops  in  half  a  glass  of  water  into  her  mouth,  closing 


62  THE  HOMCEOPATIUG  RECORDEB. 

the  lips  until  it  slowly  trickled  through  the  spaces  of  lost  teeth  into  her 
throat.  This  dose  was  repeated  at  intervals  of  fifteen  minutes  for  an 
hour  and  a  half,  during  which  time  the  archings  of  the  body  twice 
occurred,  and  once  somewhat  clonic  spasms  came  on  for  a  moment. 
There  was  almost  constant  rigidity  of  all  muscles,  absolute  insensibility 
of  the  body,  even  including  the  eye,  and  total  unconsciousness.  She 
was  then  carried  to  a  lounge,  and  in  half  an  hour  longer,  just  as  we 
were  preparing  a  dose  of  a  grain  of  opium  in  a  little  brandy  and  milk 
for  her,  she  gave  a  sigh,  and  moving  her  hands  to  her  head,  brought 
her  eyes  to  direct  line  and  appeared  conscious.  On  calling  her  name 
loudly  and  asking  in  a  loud  voice  how  she  felt,  she  answered  slowly, 
"pretty  good."  We  then  reduced  the  Hypericum  to  the  2d  centesimal, 
and  gave  another  dose.  She  now  gradually  spoke  more  freely  and 
could  open  her  jaws  a  little,  was  free  of  spasmodic  action  except  when 
a  door  opened,  or  her  hands  or  face  were  touched,  then  a  short  clonic 
spasm  would  convulse  her. 

At  2.30  p.m.  a  sleigh  was  procured  and  we  took  her  home ;  this  threw 
her  into  a  state  of  perfect  rigidity  again,  which  lasted  with  intermissions 
of  spasms  of  short  duration,  coming  on  at  intervals  of  about  an  hour 
(when  the  clock  struck  or  other  sharp  sound  occurred)  until  midnight, 
when  she  came  out  of  all  tonic  spasms.  All  this  time  she  received  Hy- 
pericum 2. 

On  calling  the  next  morning  I  found  her  still  shaky,  but  up  and 
dressed  in  a  wrapper.  She  complained  of  feeling  sore  all  along  the 
spine,  and  in  her  muscles  generally  ;  her  pupils,  that  had  been  dilated 
all  through  her  trouble,  were  now  normal  or  somewhat  contracted;  her 
gait  was  very  unsteady  ;  she  was  nauseated,  dizzy,  and  felt  a  "  strange 
faint"  pervading  the  whole  body. — Hypericum  30. 

The  following  day  she  felt  still  quite  "  used  up,"  but  generally  much 
better.  She  said  that  once  before  she  had  had  such  a  "  time"  after  the 
extraction  of  a  tooth,  during  which  she  had  been  given  opium,  and  it 
always  brought  on  worse  spasms  than  before  it  was  given.  That  time 
she  lay  in  the  spasms  two  weeks  and  did  not  recover  sufficiently  to  be 
dressed  for  three  months.  She  said  that  she  remembered  nothing  in 
this  attack  from  the  time  the  forceps  were  applied  to  the  tooth  until 
midnight.  I  gave  Hypericum  30,  a  dose  every  3  hours,  and  on  the 
fourth  day  she  appeared  quite  herself  again,  and  has  had  no  trouble 
since.  c.  f.  m. 

A  Tracheotomy  Case. — A  venerable  colleague,  in  a  letter  to  us  ex- 
pressing freely  his  disapprobation  of  Sir  Morel  1  Mackenzie's  book,  relates 
the  following  interesting  case: 

"  A  gentleman  was  taken  with  sore-throat  and  difficult  breathing; 
and  on  a  consultation  of  doctors  being  held,  and  a  laryngoscopical  exami- 
nation being  made,  the  glottis  was  found  to  be  cedematous.    They  decided 


THE  HOMCEOPA  TIIIC  RECORDER.  63 

if  the  breathing  became  worse  to  have  recourse  to  tracheotomy,  or  open- 
ing t  he  wind-pipe.  A  clever  young  operator  was  engaged,  and  he  u<  w\ 
to  see  the  gentleman  and  informed  him  that  the  operation  wasvery sim- 
ple. Ho  inquired  what  the  doctors  had  said,  and  was  informed  '(edema 
about  the  glottis,'  and  they  said  if  it  went  en  swelling  lie  must  he  suffo- 
cated. The  operation  was  fixed  for  the  evening.  The  intended  operator 
said,  '  I  will  give  you  a  dose  of  medicine  that  will  keep  you  quiet  until 
then.'  He  gave  him  a  dose  of  Apis  Mel.  the  poison  of  the  bee,  which 
acts  specifically  on  such  an  affection.  In  the  evening  when  the  doctors 
came  the  patient  said,  'I  feel  so  much  relieved  by  what  the  young  doc- 
tor gave  me  that  I  won't  have  the  operation  to-night.'  They  went  out 
of  the  room  for  a  talk,  rated  the  operator  for  his  unprofessional  conduct 
in  presuming  to  prescribe,  and  more  especially  a  vile  homoeopathic  rem- 
edy.    The  patient  got  quite  well."—  The  Horn.   World,  Dec.  1888. 

Puerperal  Peritonitis. — Count  Gerardo  Freschi  relates  the  follow- 
ing case:  On  the  7th  of  March,  1888,  a  call  advised  me  that  Catalina 
Stephani,  wife  of  one  of  my  young  farmers,  had  been  delivered  eight 
days  previously  of  a  child  that  died  shortly  afterward.  She  was  now  so 
ill  and  without  the  hope  of  relief,  that  spiritual  consolation  had  been 
administered.  Surprised  at  this  unexpected  notice,  and  my  deteriorated 
health  rendering  impossible  my  going  to  the  house,  I  entreated  Sefiora 
M the  good  sister  of  charity  of  my  colonists,  to  please  me  by  pro- 
curing complete  information  as  to  how  much  trouble  had  come  to  this 
excellent  family,  and  to  ascertain  the  precise  state  of  the  patient,  and 
find  out  the  exact  history  of  the  patient's  disease. 

She  reported  that  no  grave  symptoms  had  presented  in  the  patient 
until  the  night  of  the  6th,  when  at  twelve  o'clock  she  had  an  attack  of 
cold  chills  followed  by  great  heat  and  thirst,  distension  of  the  abdomen, 
aggravated  by  movement  and  touch,  sleeplessness  and  groaning,  and 
fear  of  death  ;  this  state  of  things  had  been  present  day  and  night  since 
the  onset.  The  allopathic  physician  who  attended  her  had  advised  the 
offices  of  the  priest,  and  had  left  her  morphine  and  sulphate  of  quinine 
without  much  hope  that  they  would  afford  any  permanent  relief,  prog- 
nosing  a  fatal  termination  aud  saying  that  he  would  return  while  on  his 
morning  rounds. 

The  symptoms  now  presenting  were:  high  fever,  unquenchable  thirst 
for  cold  water,  sopor  interrupted  by  sighiug  aud  delirium,  painful  breath- 
ing, face  flushed,  abdomen  tumid,  tense,  and  extremely  sensitive  to  any 
touch  or  movement;  she  was  obliged  to  remain  quietly  upon  her  back; 
the  lochia  had  been  entirely  absent  since  the  first  day  of  the  fever,  and 
the  breasts  were  flaccid. 

Five  globules  of  Aconite  30,  were  ordered  to  be  dissolved  in  eight 
spooufuls  of  water,  and  a  spoonful  given  every  hour,  requesting,  mean- 
while, if  there  was  no  mitigation  of  the  fever  and  thirst  to  increase  the 


64  THE  HOMEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

intervals  until  morning,  charging  that  if  in  five  hours  no  better  condi- 
tion prevailed  to  let  me  know.  The  time  having  passed  without  notice 
I  rested  tranquil  and  confident  of  success.  The  following  morning  the 
allopath  returned,  bringing  with  him  auother  physician, and  a  neighbor; 
he  greatly  admired  the  alleviation  of  the  fever,  which  had  come  down 
almost  to  normal  temperature,  and  the  general  better  appearance  of  the 
patient ;  he,  however,  was  very  guarded  in  his  prognosis,  and  ordered 
thecontinuance  of  the  same  prescription  that  appeared  so  efficacious. (?) 
After  the  consulting  physicians  had  gone,  message  was  sent  me  that 
though  the  symptoms  had  abated,  and  the  patient  had  passed  a  more 
quiet  night  with  less  fever,  thirst,  and  abdominal  suffering,  but  now  had 
a  billious  diarrhoea,  with  frequent  greenish,  frothy,  foetid  passages,  and 
no  return  of  the  lochial  discharge.  This  evidenced  the  further  useless- 
uess  of  Acouite  and  determined  the  prescription  of  Pulsatilla,  of  which 
the  200th  was  ordered  at  intervals  of  three  to  four  hours.  The  fever 
still  farther  abated  under  this  remedy,  the  diarrhoea  also  ceased  the  fol- 
lowing day,  together  with  most  of  the  abdominal  symptoms,  and  on  the 
tenth  the  lochia  returned  normally,  and  a  complete  restoration  followed. 
— El  Consultor  Homeopatico,  Dec,  1888. 

Glandular  Induration. — Thuya. — L.  N.,  11  years  old,  began 
treatment  in  August,  1881  ;  he  complained  of  a  cough  which  continued 
day  and  night;  it,  however,  did  not  awaken  him.  Perspired  profusely 
about  the  head  nights;  over  the  upper  half  of  the  lungs  moist  crepitaut 
rales  could  be  heard.  The  cervical  glands  of  the  left  side  of  the  neck 
and  over  the  apex  of  the  lung  were  indurated  so  as  to  be  distinctly  per- 
ceptible.    He  weighed  5  stone  4. 

The  scar  of  vaccination  was  found  upon  the  left  arm,  and  the  glands 
of  the  right  side  were  not  indurated.  This  will  always  be  noted,  that 
the  cervical  lymphatic  glands  will  be  found,  even  in  sound  children,  to 
be  indurated  after  the  application  of  virus,  on  the  side  upon  which  the  vac- 
cination was  made,  and  remain  so  for  some  time,  even  when  the  virus  is 
pure.  This  case  showing  faulty  virus  or  a  phthisical  diathesis  called  for 
Thuya,  of  which  he  got  the  30Lh,  2  drops  upon  sugar  of  milk,  and  made 
into  24  powders,  of  which  one  was  ordered  three  times  a  day. 

On  the  27th  of  August  the  cough  had  disappeared,  but  the  perspira- 
tion continued.     No  medicine. 

On  the  6th  of  September,  the  most  rigorous  examination  failed  to  dis- 
close the  crepitant  rales.  Coughs  none.  Tiie  perspiration  had  nearly 
disappeared  ;  the  cervical  glands  were  no  longer  perceptible.  The  child 
now  weighed  5  stone  8,  showing  a  gain  of  4  pounds  since  taking  the 
remedy. 

He  is  now  entirely  cured  of  the  above  symptoms. — Allg.  Horn.  Zeit., 
26,  1888. 

Ailanthus  glandulosus. — Dr.  McNeil,  of  San  Francisco,  has  pub- 


TIIE  UOMiEODA  THIO  RECORDER.  65 

lished  an  instructive  study  of  this  remedy,  Hitherto  Ailanthus  was 
mostly  known  and  advocated  in  certain  forms  of  scarlatina  (gangrenous 
diphtheritis,coma,and  retroceding  exanthemata).  Now  weknowthrough 
proviogs  upon  the  healthy  that  it  is  often  indicated  in  typhoid  fever, 
organic  affections  of  the  heart,  and  diphtheria. 

The  form  of  scarlatina  in  which  it  is  indicated  is  far  different  from 
that  calling  for  Belladonna.  In  the  latter  form  we  find  all  the  symp- 
toms of  active  congestion  ;  delirium  ;  the  skin,  mucous  membranes  and 
eruption  are  highly  red  ;  this  redness,  however,  disappears  under  the 
pressure  of  the  finger,  and  returns  quickly  upon  removal  of  that  pres- 
sure; the  rash  is  uniform,  and  the  skin  hot. 

With  Ailanthus  the  skin  and  mucous  membranes  are  bluish  through 
venous  congestion,  and  the  circulation  returns  but  slowly  after  finger 
pressure.  The  eruption  is  livid  ;  at  times  mixed  with  vescicles,  at  others 
scarcely  evident,  or  disappears  altogether  for  some  time. 

With  Belladonna  there  is  active  delirium,  the  patient  strikes,  bites, 
etc. 

With  Ailanthus  the  patient  sleeps,  though  he  may  awaken  when  spoken 
to.  Stupor  and  insensibility  ;  the  glottis  is  livid  and  swollen  ;  the  tonsils 
are  prominent  and  show  deep  ulcerations  secreting  fetid  pus.  The  glands 
of  the  neck  are  swollen  and  painful,  the  tougue  bluish  on  the  tip  and 
edges.  Urine  and  faeces  pass  involuntarily.  The  state  of  the  patient 
shows  a  deep  adynamia. 

Ailanthus  is  indicated  in  diphtheria  when  the  throat  is  livid,  and  the 
passage  of  air  becomes  painful ;  the  cervical  glands  become  swollen  and 
painful  ;  and  great  prostration  presents. 

Ailanthus  is  demanded  in  typhoid  states  by  lividity  of  the  skin  and 
tongue  as  described,  and  when  cerebral  symptoms  are  as  above  men- 
tioned ;  lastly  also  by  the  great  redness  of  the  face,  the  vertigo,  nausea 
and  vomiting. 

Ailanthus  corresponds  also  to  several  known  forms  of  organic  diseases 
of  the  heart,  which  present  a  livid  complexion  ;  dull  pain  and  a  sense 
of  contraction  at  the  base  of  the  heart  aud  iu  the  centre  of  the  left 
lung;  swelling  of  the  left  arm  ;  formication  in  the  arms  and  fingers  on 
waking;  and  by  weakness  and  irregularity  of  the  pulse. 

[Note. — In  the  Transactions  of  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society  of 
Pennsylvania  for  1884  we  find,  on  page  281,  an  exceedingly  careful 
tabulation  of  the  action  of  remedies  upon  the  occiput.  Under  this 
Ailanthus  plays  a  part  (the  occipital  pain  being  characteristic  of  diphthe- 
ritis),  which  we  cite  on  account  of  its  completeness. 

"  Electric  shocks  from  the  brain  to  the  extremities.  Darting  through 
the  temples  and  occiput  with  confusion  of  ideas.  Occipital  pain  ;  stu- 
pefying contractive  pain  in  the  forehead;  left  side  of  the  face  swollen; 
face  erysipelatous  ;  patient  dull,  drowsy,  and  very  ill.  Throbbing  of 
the  occipital  artery. 
vol.  iv.— 5 


66  THE  HOMCEOPATHIG  RECORDER. 

"  Useful  in  the  recedence  of  scarlatina  and  erysipelas  ;  and  in  typhoid 
states  with  occipital  pain;  dull  mind;  and  dusky,  livid,  or  mahogany- 
colored  face."]— Allg.  Horn.  Zelt.  26,  1888. 

Sleepiness. — Phellandrium  aquaticum. — Dr.  Ussher  reports  in  the 
Horn.  World,  Jan.,  1889,  a  case  of  a  patient  under  his  care  who  suffered 
from  abnormal  sleepiness  for  years,  following  the  birth  of  her  last  child. 
She  would  go  to  sleep  over  her  wash  tub.  Rhus,  formerly  relieved  her, 
until  the  following  symptoms  were  found  in  Allen  :  "Sleepy  so  that  she 
would  fall  asleep,  standing  at  work,  lasting  an  hour."  "She  could 
hardly  keep  her  eyes  open,  on  account  of  weariness  and  sleepiness."  His 
patient  thereupon  received  PheUand.,0  which  at  once  relieved.  The  second 
week,  for  experiment,  she  was  given  the  200th,  3  globules  three  times 
daily,  and  this  kept  her  most  comfortable."  On  reducing  the  dosing  to 
twice,  and  finally  once  daily,  the  sleepiness  returned,  and  the  former 
dosage — thrice  daily — had  to  be  resorted  to. 

Pyrogen. — The  following  letter  upon  the  clinical  action  of  thi3 
remedy  records  another  case  where  it  has  been  used  with  beneficial  result. 
The  true  value,  however,  of  the  drug,  will  never  be  known,  until  a  prov- 
ing has  been  made  ;  as  without  it  the  next  case  where  it  is  exhibited 
upon  general  principles  may  result  in  a  dismal  failure.  In  the  light  of 
many  cases  of  typhoid,  and  other  diseases  accompanied  by  septicaemia, 
that  have  been  benefited  by  its  use,  the  profession  appeals  for  a  more 
positive  schema  of  its  usefulness.  Dr.  Alfred  Drysdale  says,  that  when 
injected  under  the  skin  of  mice  it  produces  all  the  symptoms  of  typhoid 
fever,  culminating  lethally  in  four  or  five  hours.  As  it  is  impossible 
for  any  one  drug  to  give  the  symptoms  of  every  case  of  typhoid  a  great 
desire  evinces  to  know  just  what  symptoms  this  indubitably  valuable 
remedy  gives  : 

"  The  article  by  Dr.  St.  Clair  Smith,  iu  last  number  of  The  Recorder, 
regarding  his  failure  to  obtain  good  results  from  "Pyrogen  in  Typhoid 
Fever,"  induced  me  to  put  upon  record  the  positive  success  I  have  had, 
in  a  purely  typical  case  of  the  above  disease,  now  rapidly  conva- 
lescing. 

"The  case  was  one,  which  from  the  first  gave  me  considerable  appre- 
hension as  to  ultimate  recovery,  because  of  an  extremely  nervous  tem- 
perament, and  a  general  make-up  of  constitution  indicating  the  "poor 
subject  for  such  a  disease."  Not  one  characteristic  symptom  of  true 
enteric  fever  was  missing.  The  peculiar  eruption,  great  delirium,  tym- 
panites, intestinal  haemorrhage,  diarrhoea,  subsultus,  and  bronchial 
catarrh  were  all  well  marked.  Maximum  rate  of  pulse  130,  of  tempera- 
ture 105.3  F. 

"As  soon  as  I  found  it  to  be  true  Typhoid  fever  I  sent  through  a  local 
agent  to  Messrs.  B.  &  T.  for  500  tablets  Pyrogen  6.     Owing  to  delay  in 


THE  HOMCEOPAimG  RECORDER.  07 

mail  I  did  not  receive  the  remedy  until  the  disease  was  firmly  estab- 
lished.    Firs!  day  of  Pyrogen — morning  temperature,  101.5;  eveniug, 

rate,  103.  Second  day  100  and  101.5,  and  these  latter  temperatures 
were  maintained — excepting  as  further  described — until  close  of  third 
week,  when  the  gradual  subsidence  toward  normal  heat  and  pulse 
began. 

"On  four  different  occasions  during  the  time  of  administering  the 
Pyrogen,  I  ceased  giving  it,  with  the  uniform  result  of  having  within 
ten  hours  a  rise  of  one  or  two  degrees  of  temperature,  accompanied 
with  all  the  usual  distressing  and  alarming  symptoms  usually  attend- 
ing decided  increase  of  bodily  heat.  The  thermometer  marked  at  two 
of  these  suspensions  of  the  Pyrogen  105.3.  Upon  each  renewal  of  the 
remedy,  and  after  about  ten  hours,  the  register  would  show  for  morning 
100,  and  evening  101.5.  Pulse  rate  was  not  so  favorably  influenced, 
but  was  distinctly  under  the  controlling  action  of  the  medicine. 

"This  is  the  only  case  in  which  I  have  prescribed  Pyrogen,  but  am  so 
pleased  with  its  perfect  work  in  this  one  that  I  shall  certainly  appeal  to 
it  again  with  the  utmost  confidence.  It  is  my  opinion,  based  upon 
twenty-five  years'  experience,  that  this  case,  through  the  action  of  Py- 
rogen was  not  only  very  much  simplified  and  benefited,  and  comfort  of 
patient  greatly  enhanced,  but  had  not  temperature  been  kept  within 
reasonable  bounds,  we  would  have  had  intestinal  perforation  and  all 
that  that  implies. 

"The  Pyrogen  was  given  dissolved  in  water,  each  teaspoonful  of  which 
represented  three  tablets  of  the  remedy.  One  teaspoonful  every  two 
hours  was  generally  enough  to  control  the  temperature.  On  two  or 
three  occasions  I  gave  one  and  a  half  teaspoonsful  every  hour  for  two 
or  three  doses. 

"The  duratiou  of  the  disease  was  not  shortened. 

"Other  remedial  agents  were  Bryonia  alb.,  Rhus  tox.,  and  'Oxygen- 
ated water.'  "—J.  V.  Riggs,  M.D. 

Chimaphila  umbellata.  —  Chronic  Stricture  of  the  Urethra. — S.  U., 
30  years  of  age,  complained  of  a  difficulty  in  passing  urine,  accom- 
panied by  severe  pain,  scalding  and  burning.  At  times  the  urine  was 
voided  in  a  large  gush,  at  others  in  a  thready  stream,  and  toward  the 
end  drained  off  drop  by  drop.  Merc.  corr.  and  Canth.  were  followed  in 
a  short  time  by  improvement  but  were  always  succeeded  by  a  relapse. 
Chimaphila  produced  a  complete  cure.  Prostatitis:  This  trouble  ap- 
peared in  a  patient  alter  sitting  upon  a  cold,  wet,  stone.  The  symp- 
toms were  pain  and  chronic  dysuria,  increasing  until  ultimately  com- 
plete retention  of  the  urine  resulted,  and  enlargement  of  the  prostate 
took  place.  The  patient  then  complained  of  pain,  and  a  sensation  in  the 
parts  as  if  he  had  bruised  one  of  the  testicles.  This  induced  me  to  ad- 
minister Chimaphila,  which  produced  immediate  relief,  dissipating  the 


C8  THE  HOMOEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

symptoms  in  the  inverse  order  to  which  they  had  appeared.  I  have 
given  this  remedy  in  senile  hypertrophy  of  the  prostate  with  palliative 
effect,  but  many  times  it  is  not  sufficient  to  cure. 

Giwer  of  the  Breast. — W.  T.,  age  21  years.  Tumor  in  the  left 
breast,  hard,  movable,  and  not  compressible;  with  sharp  pains  at  the 
site.  For  four  months  the  patient  took  Am.,  Ars.,  Cicuta,  and  Thuya; 
during  which  time  the  skin  in  the  neighborhood  became  contracted, 
the  nipple  retracted,  and  tumor  augmented,  both  in  size  and  sensibility. 
Eight  months  after  the  first  manifestations,  the  tumor  opened  and  dis- 
closed a  little  persistent  ulceration,  irregular  in  shape,  and  having 
irregularly  lacerated  edges,  the  center  suppurating  with  fetid  pus. 
The  axillary  glands  were  very  much  swollen.  I  now  prescribed  Chima- 
phila  in  doses  of  10  drops  of  the  tincture  every  four  hours,  and  a  topical 
application  of  the  same  preparation.  The  pains  diminished;  it  reduced 
the  size  of  the  tumor  and  the  breast  as  well,  and  finally  in  six  months 
the  patient  obtained  a  cure. 

This  remedy  is  also  indicated  in  ptyrigion. — Dr.  Coburn,  in  El  Con- 
suitor  Homeopatico,  Dec,  1888. 


ITEMS  OF  GENERAL  INTEREST. 

-  Resorcin  in  the  Treatment  of  Keloid. — Audeer  has  recently 
published  a  note  in  which  the  application  of  resorcin  was  of  great  ser- 
vice in  the  treatment  of  keloid.  The  patient  was  a  woman,  whose  right 
foot  was  curved  over  two-thirds  of  the  dorsum,  with  an  irregular  star- 
shaped  mass  of  scarry  tissue  raised  in  demi-relief.  It  was  very  tender, 
so  that  progression  was  impeded.  At  night,  when  in  bed,  or  a  hot  sum- 
mer's day,  and  at  the  changes  of  the  weather,  the  pain  of  the  keloid 
was  almost  unbearable,  so  that  at  times  the  patient  could  not  do  her 
housework.  A  1  per  cent,  ointment  of  resorcin  was  applied,  and  the 
foot  bandaged.  The  patient  was  soon  relieved,  and  the  continued  appli- 
cation of  the  treatment  brought  about  a  permanent  cure  of  the  pain. 
Von  Nussbaum  has  also  experienced  a  good  result  from  the  use  of 
resorcin  in  keloid. — British  Medical  Journal,  Oct.  27,  1888. 

The  Sun  Spurge  ;  A  Cure  for  Warts. — The  Euphorbia  helio- 
scopia,  a  member  of  the  euphorbia  family  as  its  first  name  implies,  is  a 
common  plant  on  waste  places  and  in  kitchen  gardens.  It  varies  in 
height  from  two  inches  to  two  feet,  and  bears  in  July  and  August,  com- 
paratively large  heads  of  greenish-yellow  flowers  having  the  character- 
istics of  the  British  euphorbias.  When  any  portion  of  the  plant  is 
injured,  it  exudes  from  the  wound  a  thick  milky  juice,  which  hardens 
and  turns  black  on  exposure  to  the  air.     It  has   been  variously  termed 


THE  HOMtEOPAlWTC  BECOBVJES. 

the  wart  weed,  or  wart  wort,  and,  though  occasionally  used  by  the  I 

an  try  for  tlto  removal  of  warts,  is  not  generally  recognized  a-  a  useful 
remedy.     I  have,  however,  successfully  and  painlessly  removed  verrucse 

from  the  hands  and  fare  by  the  external  application  of  its  juice,  the 
modua  operandi  being  extremely  Biro  pie,  and  is  as  follows:  Having 
pared  away  with  a  sharp  knife,  or  removed  with  a  scissors,  the  upper 
strata  of  the  growth,  I  nip  a  stem  off  the  wart  weed  (preferably  near 
the  top  of  the  plant,  as  that  port  Jon  contains  stronger  juice  and  more 
of  it  than  an  other  portion),  and  apply  it.  to  the  part;  as  it  dries  more 
is  applied,  and  so  on  at  least  three  or  four  times  daily.  When  a  scum 
forms,  consisting  of  inspissated  juice  and  disintegrated  epithelium,  it 
must  be  removed  before  again  using  the  remedy.  If  the  growth  is 
recent  or  small,  paring  is  unnecessary,  in  fact,  I  merely  use  the  knife 
when  the  patient  desires  a  more  rapid  cure,  as  the  process  is  otherwise 
rather  slow  (but  sure).  This  treatment  has  the  advantage  of  being 
painless,  and  further  leaves  no  mark  ;  which  must  be  my  excuse  for 
drawing  attention  to  the  therapeutics  of  this  insignificant  but  disfiguring 
affection.— G.  E.  Grkene,  in  By-itish  31edical  Journal,  Oct.  27,  18S8. 

[Note. — Euphorbia  helioscopia  grows  in  many  of  the  eastern  United 
States  and  in  Canada,  especially  in  the  neighborhood  of  large  bodies  of 
water,  both  fresh  and  salt.  It  is  notable  that  the  juice  of  many  other 
species  of  the  genus  Euphorbia  is  credited  in  various  localities  with  a 
like  power  of  curing  warts.  This  when  coupled  with  the  observation 
that  the  juice  of  the  common  milkweed  (Asclepias  cormiti),  that  of  tlte 
American  Hemp  (Apoeynwn  cannabinum),  and  of  the  Mexican  poppy 
Argemone  Mexicana),  is  credited  with  the  same  property,  would  seem  to 
class  them  all  with  the  majority  of  the  "  Voodou  "  and  "  charm  "  cures 
for  warts,  so  common  in  domestic  practice. — C.  E.  M.] 

A  further  note  concerning  this  species  appears  in  the  Horn.  World, 
Jan.  1889:  H.  C.  writes  that  his  father  once  used  the  sun  spurge  for  a 
wart  near  the  eye,  when  some  of  the  juice  got  under  the  eyelid.  It 
gave  him  such  agonizing  pain,  that  he  was  nearly  out  of  his  mind  for  a 
time. 

[This  irritative  action  of  the  juice  upon  the  conjunctival  membrane 
and  optic  nerve  has  been  noted  before  in  species  of  this  genus,  and  of 
other  genera  in  Euphorbiaceje.  The  tropical  American  sand-box  (Hura 
crepitans)  is  said  to  produce  blindness  in  a  few  days  after  application  of 
juice  to  the  eye.  The  Indian  Exaecaria  Ayallocha,  says  Rumphius,  has 
a  very  strong  action  upon  the  eye,  and  adds  that  sailors  that  were  sent 
ashore  in  Amboyna  to  cut  wood,  sometimes  became  furiously  mad  from 
pain  produced  when  the  juice  of  the  plant  spattered  in  their  eyes,  aud 
some  cases  of  blindness  resulted.  The  juice  of  the  Braziliau  Euphorbia 
linearis,  is  said  to  cure  wounds  of  the  cornea  directly  it  is  applied. — 
C.  F.  M.] 


70  THE  HOMEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

Croup. — Turpentine. — In  a  dangerous  case  of  diphtheritic  croup, 
which  had  extended  to  the  larynx,  after  treatment  with  urguentum  acidi 
boraiei  and  applications  of  muriatic  acid  without  result ;  Dr.  E.  Lew- 
entaner,  of  Constantinople,  previous  to  the  operation  of  tracheotomy, 
gave  turpentine  as  advised  by  Demolro.  He  administered  to  the  patient 
two  teaspoonfuls  of  essence  of  turpentine,  followed  by  a  little  warm  milk. 
A  quarter  of  an  hour  after  the  patient  breathed  normally,  and  fell  asleep 
without  cough.  On  the  following  day  a  complete  cure  was  established, 
all  traces  of  false  membrane  had  disappeared  from  the  larynx,  which 
presented  a  superficial  injected  appearance.  The  convalescence  was 
very  rapid.  The  turpentine  determined  an  eruption  upon  the  face, 
trunk  and  extremities,  having  an  appearance  greatly  resembling  measles, 
but  less  red.  The  spots  disappeared  in  two  days  without  desquamma- 
tion. — El  Consultor  Homeopatico,  Dec,  1888. 

[Note. — We  remember  reading  a  year  or  two  ago  of  some  severe 
cases  of  diphtheria  that  recovered  nicely  under  the  treatment  of  Dr. 
Sellden,  of  Stockholm,  who  gave  a  tablespoonful  of  oil  of  turpentine  in 
a  cup  of  milk  as  a  last  resort.  He  also  recommended  teaspoonful  doses 
of  a  solution  of  y^th  grain  of  cyanide  of  mercury  to  the  ounce  of  water, 
and,  if  we  remember  the  figures,  lost  but  three  out  of  sixty-one  cases  of 
contagious  diphtheria. — C.  F.  M.] 

Raw  Oysters. — The  practice  of  cooking  is  not  equally  necessary  in 
re'gard  to  all  articles  of  food.  There  are  important  differences  in  this 
respect,  and  it  is  interesting  to  notice  how  correctly  the  experience  of 
mankind  has  guided  them  in  this  matter.  The  articles  of  food  which 
we  still  use  in  the  uncooked  state  are  comparatively  few,  and  it  is  not 
difficult  in  each  case  to  indicate  the  reason  of  the  exemption.  Fruits, 
which  we  consume  largely  in  the  raw  state,  owe  their  dietetic  value  chiefly 
to  the  sugar  which  they  contain  ;  but  sugar  is  not  altered  by  cooking. 
Milk  is  consumed  by  us  both  cooked  and  uncooked,  indifferently,  and 
experiment  justifies  this  indifference;  for  we  have  found  on  trial  that 
the  digestion  of  milk  by  pancreatic  extract  was  not  appreciably  hastened 
by  previously  boiling  the  milk.  Our  practice  in  regard  to  the  oyster  is 
quite  exceptional,  and  furnishes  a  striking  example  of  the  general  cor- 
rectness of  the  popular  judgment  on  dietetic  questious.  The  oyster  is 
almost  the  only  animal  substance  which  we  eat  habitually,  and  by  pref- 
erence, in  the  raw  or  uncooked  state,  and  it  is  interesting  to  know  that 
there  is  a  sound  physiological  reason  at  the  bottom  of  this  preference. 
The  fawn-colored  mass  which  constitutes  the  dainty  part  of  the  oyster  is 
its  liver,  aud  this  is  little  else  than  a  heap  of  glycogen.  Associated  with 
the  glycogen,  but  withheld  from  actual  contact  with  it  during  life,  is  its 
appropiative  digestive  ferment — the  hepatic  diastase.  The  mere  crush- 
ing of  the  dainty  between  the  teeth  brings  these  two  bodies  together, 


TEE  BOMCEOPA  11IIC  BECOBDEB.  71 

audthe  glycogen  is  at  once  digested,  without  other  help,  by  itfl  own  dias- 
tase. The  oyster  in  the  uncooked  state,  or  merely  warmed,  is,  in  fact, 
Bel f- digestive.  But  t ho  advantage  of  this  provision  is  wholly  lost  by 
cooking,  for  the  heat  employed  immediately  destroys  the  associated  fer- 
ment, and  a  cooked  oyster  lias  to  he  digested,  like  any  other  food, by  the 
eater's  own  digestive  powers. — Med,  Classics,  Feb.,  1888. 

In  the  Maternity  Department  of  the  Women's  Hospital  in  Phila- 
delphia the  eyes  of  new-born  babes  are  washed  with  an  antiseptic  solu- 
tion at  the  earliest  opportunity.  Warmly  covered,  the  baby  is  laid  in  a 
little  bed  by  itself,  and  neither  washed  nor  dressed  until  twenty-four 
hours  have  elapsed,  when  it  is  carried  to  the  babies'  bath-room  (which 
is  properly  heated),  and  there  its  toilet  is  performed  for  the  first  time. 
The  physician  in  charge  states  that  since  this  plan  has  been  adopted  the 
babies  thrive  to  a  far  greater  degree  and  cry  less. 

Olive  Oil  in  Gall-stone  Colic— This  remedy,  first  made  known 
through  American  homceopathists,  also,  among  other  things,  recom- 
mended by  this  publication,  is  now  noticed  by  another  physician,  who 
has  deigned  to  agitate  its  use.  Dr.  Rosenberg  reports  a  case  in  the  Ber- 
liner Medici/iichen  Gesellschoft  of  the  18th  April,  1888.  He  had  found 
all  attempts  to  mitigate  the  patient's  sufferings  fruitless,  until  he  gave, 
during  a  violent  attack  of  gall  stone  colic,  at  one  dose,  100  grams  of 
olive  oil.  On  the  next  day  he  found  in  the  stool  three  gall-stones  about 
the  size  of  lentils.  The  day  after  he  gave  180  grams,  after  which  about 
200  stones  were  passed,  among  which  was  one  about  the  size  of  a  hazel- 
nut. On  a  repetition  of  the  same  dose  243  stones  were  brought  away. 
This  patient  took,  in  the  course  of  time  in  five  doses,  820  grammes  of 
the  oil,  and  passed  in  all  over  600  gall-stones.  The  gall-bladder,  which 
had  before  risen  above  the  margin  of  the  liver  to  the  size  of  one's  fist, 
could  not  now  be  felt.  Dr.  Rosenberg  avoided,  through  the  use  of  this 
6imple  remedy,  a  dangerous  operation. — Pop.  Zeit.fur  Horn.,  1888,  194. 

The  olive-oil  treatment  for  gallstones,  mentioned  in  yours  of  January 
loth,  is  good,  I  am  sure.  But  here  is  a  preventive,  by  means  of  the  same 
remedy,  in  lesser  doses.  Give  at  night  lj  ounces  olive  oil  in  §  of  a 
tumbler  of  warm  milk.  Stir  before  drinking,  and  it  is  not  bad  to  take. 
The  next  morning  give  three  Seidlitz  powders  a  half  hour  apart.  If  gall- 
stones do  not  come  away  it  will  be  because  they  are  not  there.  But  if 
there  is  danger  of  them,  fatty  balls,  such  as  must  needs  obstruct  the  ducts, 
and  may  turn  into  stoues,  will  appear  by  the  score.  You  can  easily  be- 
lieve, if  you  believe  the  above,  that  by  taking  preventive  doses  every 
month  or  so  the  terrible  dolor  may  be  averted.  In  the  case  where  I  tried 
the  remedy  the  incipient  stones  (that  floated)  were  at  first  of  dark  olive 
color,  which  gradually  changed  in  a  year  to  lightish  yellow-green. — 
William  S.  Flagg. 


72  THE  HOMOEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

Fern  Extract. — In  the  Prager  Medizinischtn  Wochenschrift,  Dr. 
Bayer,  of  Reichenberg,  cautions  against  large  doses  of  extracturn  filicis 
maris  cethereum,  used  for  the  expulsion  of  tape  worms,  without  the  super- 
vision of  the  physician,  upon  the  authority  and  directions  of  the  drug- 
gist only.  He  claims  that  numerous  symptoms  of  disease  have  been 
caused  by  the  lay  use  of  the  druggists'  preparations  in  gelatine  capsules. 
The  diseases  caused  show  phenomena  of  irritation  of  the  cerebrum,  kid- 
neys, stomach,  and  intestines  ;  and  in  one  case  was  followed  by  death. 

Robinia,  Poisoning  by. — Thirty-two  boys  at  the  Brooklyn  Orphan 
Asylum  were  poisoned  by  chewing  the  inner  bark  of  this  tree.  Dr.  Z. 
T.  Emery  reports  on  the  cases  that  in  the  mildest  vomiting  of  ropy 
mucus  was  observed,  together  with  dilation  of  the  pupils,  dryness  of  the 
throat,  and  flushing  of  the  face.  In  the  severest  cases  the  vomiting  was 
of  the  same  character,  but  more  copious,  and  mixed  with  blood  ;  other 
symptoms  exhibited  were  retching,  pain  in  epigastrium,  debility,  stupor, 
coldness  of  the  extremities  which  were  pulseless,  heart's  action  feeble 
and  intermittent,  pupils  dilated,  and  dusky  pallor  to  the  face.  These 
symptoms  were  counteracted  by  bismuth  subcarb.,  brandy,  morphine 
hypodermically,  sinapisms  over  the  stomach,  and  heat  applied  to  the 
extremities.     Recovery  in  two  days. — N.  Y.  Med.  Jour.,  January,  1887. 

Eschscholtzia  Californica. — One  of  our  homoepathic  journals  of 
February,  1889,  contains  the  following  item:  "An  American  plant, 
Eschscholtzia  Californica,  has  been  found  to  contain  morphine,  which 
has  never  been  found  before  except  in  the  papaverace ;"  as  a  matter  of 
fact,  Eschscholtzia  does  beloug  to  the  papaveracese  ;  thus  the  discovery  of 
morphia  among  its  principles  is  not  so  astonishing.  Eschscholtzia,  by 
the  way,  is  a  plant  that  deserves  proving.  The  Indians  of  California 
claim  that  the  leaves  rubbed  upon  the  head  will  cause  severe  headache, 
and  bind  them  about  the  head  to  cure  headache. 

Iodoform  and  Iodol. — H.  Sattler  has  made  extensive  investiga- 
tions of  the  antiseptic  properties  of  these  two  remedies  on  sterilized  silk 
threads,  which  were  impregnated  with  cultures  of  various  pathogenetic 
micro-organisms,  staphylococci.'  He  found  that  Iodoform,  in  the  form 
of  a  powder,  distinctly  prevents  in  many  cases  the  development  of  mi- 
cro-organisms, but  that,  in  this  property,  it  is  very  much  inferior  to  the 
Corrosive  sublimate  solution,  1 :  1000,  Carbolic  acid  solution,  5 :  100, 
and  hot  water.  But,  in  this  respect,  it  is  superior  to  all  other  antiseptics 
excepting  the  above  mentioned.  Also,  Iodol  as  a  powder  is  much  in- 
ferior to  Iodoform,  not  regarding  that  it  irritates  the  wound  somewhat 
more  than  Iodoform.  But,  however,  Iodoform-  and  Iodol-vaseliue  act 
differently  from  the  powder;  Of  these  two  medicaments,  Sattler  gives 
Iodol-vaseline  by  far  the  preference,  as  it  has  a  much  more  preventive 


THE  BOMCSOPJ  IIIW  RECORD  Kit.  73 

action  upon  the  development  of  bacteria  than  Iodoform -vaseline.  Th<  re- 
fore,  he  goes  farther  than  de  Ruyter,  who  explains  the  efficacy  of  Iodo- 
form in  that  it  decomposes  the  ptomaines,  and  thinks  that  he  musl  also 
give  it  a  certain  anti-bacterial  action.  Hence,  It  also  only  right  to  say, 
thai  theoretically,  in  spite  of  apparently  contradictory  experiments  in 
the  laboratory,  Iodoform  will  not  be  driven  out  of  surgical  practice.  As 
an  antiseptic  in  Burgical  operations  on  the  mouth,  rectum,  and  Lr«'iiito- 
uriuary  tract,  as  well  as  in  the  treatment  of  purulent  ulcers  of  the 
cornea,  and  especially  in  ulcus  cornece  serpens,  Iodoform  has  no  equal. — 
Dr.  H.  Sattler,  " Fortschritte  der  Medwin"  v.  &P. 

Hyoscyamine  and  Atropine. — When  sixty  years  ago,  M  in,  and, 
independently  of  him,  Geiger  and  Hesse,  isolated  Atropine  from  the 
plant  Belladonna,  it  was  believed  that  in  this  alkaloid  we  possess  the 
active  principle  preformed  in  tin1  plant,  and  this  view  held  good  up  till 
to-day.  From  a  communication  from  the  chemical  laboratory  of  Wm. 
E.  Sehering,  of  Berlin,  we  now  learn  that  this  is  not  the  case  at  all,  but 
that  there  is  no  Atropine  in  Belladonna,  but  merely  an  isomeric  Hyos- 
ciamine.  It  is  also  asserted  that  Atropine  is  nothing  more  than  a 
transformative  product  of  the  Hyosciamine  previously  formed  in  the 
root  of  the  Belladonna  plant.  According  to  the  method  of  preparation 
one  may  obtain  from  the  Belladonna  root  only  Atropine,  only  Hyos- 
ciamine, or  a  mixture  of  these  two  substances.  The  transformation  of 
Atropine  into  Hyosciamine  may  easily  be  done  by  heating  it  for  some 
length  of  time  at  100°  C,  or  by  treating  it  with  alkalies.  Thus,  the 
Atropine  used  by  us  so  many  years  is  merely  the  product  of  an  insuf- 
ficient and  false  method  of  preparation. 

Hence,  we  must  be  prepared  to  hear,  in  the  near  future,  similar  dis- 
coveries in  regard  to  other  alkaloids.  The  following  cautions  are  es- 
pecially to  be  followed  in  the  preparation  of  alkaloids: 

1.  The  avoidance  of  strong  mineral  acids. 

2.  The  avoidance  of  high  temperature. 

3.  Evaporation  should  take  place  at  the  lowest  possible  temperature 
in  vaciio. 

4.  Strong  bases  should  be  avoided  in  separating  the  free  alkaloids. — 
Therapcut.  Monats-Hefte,  VI.,  1888.  p.  &  p. 

Forcibly  stretching  the  sphincter  ani  with  the  thumbs  or  forefingers, 
and  pulping  the  muscles  between  the  fingers  and  thumbs,  if  done  thor- 
oughly, will  almost  always  cure  that  distressing  disease,  irritable  rectal 
ulcer  or  fissure.  What  more  will  it  do?  A  condition  frequently  present 
in  females  is  the  following:  An  aching,  disagreeable  feeling  about  the 
rectum,  with  occasional  sharp,  darting  pains ;  pain  in  the  back,  some- 
times extending  down  the  thighs;  a  feeling  as  though  the  womb  was 
retroverted  and  pressing  upon  the  rectum.  The  womb  is  enlarged  some- 
what and  inflamed.     A  slight  leucorrhcea  is  present.     There   is  head- 


74  THE  HOMCEOPA 1 HIG  MEGOBD  ER. 

ache;  the  scalp  is  sore.  There  are  more  or  less  dyspeptic  symptoms 
present,  nervousness,  constipation,  etc.  This  category  of  symptoms  is 
almost  invariably  attributed  to  some  disease  of  the  womb  or  its  attach- 
ments. Treatment  of  the  womb,  however,  does  not  always  cure  or 
relieve  the  symptoms.  I  have  in  several  instances  anaesthetized  the 
patient,  and  forcibly  dilated  the  sphincter  ani,  and  by  this  means  cured 
the  trouble.  I  have  done  this  even  in  cases  where  I  have  been  unable 
to  find  any  abnormal  rectal  condition  other  than  a  contracted  condition 
of  the  sphincter  muscle. 

Some  months  ago  I  was  sent  for  to  see  a  lady  in  a  neighboring  city, 
who  had  been  an  invalid  for  a  number  of  years.  She  had  been  treated 
by  some  of  the  best  physicians  of  the  State,  but  without  benefit.  The 
local  treatment  received  was  uterine,  and  general  treatment  for  ner- 
vousness. She  could  not  sleep  nor  eat.  She  was  very  nervous  and 
anaemic.  She  suffered  no  very  acute  pain  anywhere  all  of  the  time,  but 
claimed  she  had  some  pains  constantly  in  the  womb,  ovaries  and  rec- 
tum. Sometimes,  but  at  no  apparent  regular  intervals,  there  would  be 
severe  exacerbations  of  pain,  as  she  asserted,  in  womb,  lasting  several 
hours.  This  would  leave  her  very  much  prostrated.  On  examination, 
I  found  but  very  little  uterine  displacement,  but  some  falling  and 
enlargement ;  no  ulceration.  It  seemed  to  be  very  sensitive  to  the 
touch.  On  account  of  sensitiveness  sexual  intercourse  was  impossible. 
I  introduced  the  finger  into  the  rectum  in  order  to  find  the  position  of 
the  uterus.  I  found  the  sphincter  ani  muscle  very  much  contracted  and 
extremely  sensitive.  Chloroform  was  given  in  order  to  make  a  more 
careful  examination.  By  means  of  the  finger  and  speculum  in  the  rec- 
tum, I  could  find  no  ulceration  or  abrasion  of  any  kind  ;  no  piles,  nor 
anything  but  a  contracted  condition  of  the  sphincter  ani,  very  much 
less  under  anaesthesia  than  it  was  before  its  administration.  With  the 
index  fingers  I  stretched  the  muscles  very  completely,  and  pulped  it 
between  my  fingers  and  thumbs.  I  was  surprised  to  find  within  a  few 
days  that  all  her  aches  and  pains  were  gone.  The  nervousness  subsided 
and  soon  entirely  disappeared.  The  patient  could  sleep  all  night,  and 
the  dyspeptic  symptoms  and  constipation  disappeared.  In  fact,  every 
unfavorable  symptom  passed  away. 

She  is  now  in  good  health  and  spirits  and  gives  perfect  satisfaction  to 
her  husband. 

What  was  the  matter?  It  is  my  opinion  that  at  some  time  there  had 
been  an  ulceration,  or  perhaps  a  mechanical  injury  of  the  rectum,  and 
in  healiug  some  nerve-fibre  was  caught  in  the  cicatrix,  thus  producing 
the  pain.  Or  it  may  have  been  purely  rectal  neuralgia. — Geo.  J.  Mon- 
roe, M.D.,  in  Medical  Standard,  February,  1889. 

Dr.  Jacobus,  of  Buffalo,  resently  removed  the  entire  stomach  from 
a  seventy-year-old  woman.  The  patient  has  survived  the  operation  a 
month. 


THE  HOMEOPATHIC  RECORDER.  75 

Sewer  Gas. — The  presence  of  sewer  gas  in  ;i  room  may  be  detected 
ms  follows:  Saturate  unglazed  paper  with  a  solution  of  one  troy  ounce 
of  pure  acetate  of  lead  in  eight  fluid  ounces  of  rain-water;  [el  it  par- 
tially dry,  then  expose  in  the  room  Buspected  of  containing  sewer  . 
The  presence  <>t  this  gas  in  any  considerable  quantity  soon  blackens  the 
test-paper. — Burgoyne's  Mo,  Jour,  of  Pharm, 

A  New  Cure  for  ;  Singultus. — Dr.  Dresch  of  Faix,  France, 
describee  a  new  and  sure  method  of  curing   hiccough.     The  sufferer 

closes  his  ears  with  the  tips  of  his  fingers,  making  firm  pressure.  At 
the  same  time  he  is  given  water  to  drink  in  small  swallows.  The  hic- 
cough ceases  instantly. — Bulletin  General  de  Th&rapeutique. 

Open  the  Windows. — The  "great  anatomist,  Langenbeck,  says: 
''I  am  sure  now  of  what  I  suspected  long  ago,  viz.:  That  pulmonary 
diseases  are  nearly  exclusively  (if  we  except  tuberculous  tendencies  in- 
herited from  parents,  I  say  quite  exclusively)  produced  by  the  breath- 
ing of  foul  air.  The  lungs  of  all  persons,  minors  included,  who  had 
worked  for  some  years  in  close  workshops  and  dusty  factories,  showed 
the  germs  of  the  fatal  disease;  while  even  confirmed  inebriates,  who 
had  passed  their  days  in  open  air,  had  preserved  their  respiratory 
organs  intact,  whatever  inroads  their  excesses  had  made  on  the  rest  of 
their  system.  If  I  should  go  into  practice,  and  undertake  the  cure  of 
a  consumptive,  I  should  begin  by  driving  him  out,  and  prevent  him 
from  entering  a  house  for  a  year  or  two." 


BOOK  REVIEWS. 


Semi-Centennial  Celebration  of  the  Introduction  of  Homoe- 
opathy West  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains.  Published  by 
the  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society,  of  the  county  of  Allegheny, 
Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

This  report  is  very  neatly  gotten  up  and  reflects  great  credit  upon  its 
editor,  J.  C.  Burgher,  M.D.,  and  the  society  from  which  it  emanates.  Its 
frontispiece  is  a  lithograph  of  Gustavus  Reichhelm,  M.D.,  the  western 
homoeopathic  pioneer,  whose  settlement  the  celebration  commemorates. 
It  contains,  beside,  fine  steel  engravings  of  Drs.  H.  H.  Hoffmann,  J.  H. 
McClelland,  J.  P.  Dake,  A.  R.  Thomas,  William  Tod  Helmuth  and  J. 
F.  Cooper,  and  photo-lithographs  of  Drs.  J.  W.  Dowling,  D.  8.  Smith 
aud  J.  C.  Burgher.  The  text,  neatly  printed,  consists  of  Dr.  Dake's 
oration  on  the  passage  of  Homoeopathy  west  of  the  Alleghenies;  Dr.  A. 
R.  Thomas's  Address;  and  those  of  Drs.  Smith,  Dowling  and  Burgher. 


76  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

Dr.  Hel moth's  pleasing  satire  in  rhyme  entitled  "Dogmatic  Doctors," 
written  for  the  occasion,  and  Dr.  T.  P.  Wilson's  happy  verses  ''West- 
ward the  Star  Similia  takes  its  Way."  This  neat  volume  is  an  ornament 
to  our  table  and  will  prove  an  accession  to  any  homoeopathist's  library. 

Proceedings  of  the  Twenty-Fourth  Annual   Session  of  the 
Ohio  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society.     1888. 

The  reports  of  the  different  bureaus  in  this  volume  are  very  interest- 
ing and  instructive,  containing,  as  they  do,  excellent  and  carefully  pre- 
pared papers.  We  congratulate  our  Ohio  brethren  upon  the  appearance 
of  their  year's  report. 

Transactions  of  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society  of  Penn- 
sylvania.    1888. 

Two  of  the  most  important  features  of  this  annual  report  are  the 
elaboration  of  Arsenicum  albvm,  by  the  Farrington  Club,  of  Pittsburgh, 
and  a  proving  of  Zirvcum  picricum,  by  Charles  Mohr,  M.D.  In  the  100 
pages  upon  Arsenicum,  each  member  of  the  club  has  taken  a  part  of  the 
system  and  worked  it  up  thoroughly,  and  the  whole  is  brought  together 
in  the  usual  order  of  such  matter  in  our  materia  medicas.  This  is  ex- 
cellent work  and  well  done  ;  how  much  more  profitable  is  such  work 
than  the  discussion  of  potencies  and  conjectures  concerning  micrococci, 
etc.,  that  so  often  occupy  the  time  of  our  societies  and  labors  of  our 
physicians!  There  are  a  goodlv  number  of  excellent  papers  in  this 
volume  contributed  by  some  of  our  most  active  and  energetic  physicians 
of  the  state,  and  the  whole  forms  a  valuable  publication. 

Fourth  Annual  Report  Westborough  Insane  Hospital. 
I  Beside  the  usual  tables  of  statistics,  this  report  contains  an  account 
of  three  cases  of  operation  upon  lacerated  cervices  with  the  hope  that 
good  results  would  follow  upon  the  mental  condition.  All  the  cases 
were  apparently  relieved  during  the  surgical  illness  that  followed,  but 
relapsed  again  on  recovery.  An  account  of  three  autopsies  performed, 
with  wood-cuts  of  the  morbid  brains  is  very  interesting  and  valuable. 

Of  about  628  patients  treated  during  the  past  year,  there  were  78 
recoveries  (12  inebriates),  or  66  recoveries  from  insanity  out  of  about 
600  patients,  a  goodly  proportion  of  11  per  cent.  The  death-rate  was 
6.87  per  cent. 

Eighteenth    Annual     Report    of    the    State     Homoeopathic 

Asylum  for  the  Insane.     Middletown,  N.  Y. 

In   this   report,  Dr.  Talcott  adds   twelve   more   remedies   to   his  list 

formerly  published  in  the  16th   and   17th  annual  reports,  in  which  he 

first  mentions  their  general  action,  then  their  special  sphere  in  relation 


THE  IIOMCEOPA  T1I1C  H  FA  '<>  Ul>  ER.  11 

to  disturbed  mental  conditions.  The  result  of  treatment  in  this  asylum 
daring  tin-  year  is  a  very  encouraging  one;  of  the  155  patients  treated, 
loi)  were  discharged  cured,  a,  proportion  of  about  2'2  per  cent.  21.97  , 
while  th'1  death-rate  was  only  5.35  [ m^ r  cent. 

Cutter's  Guide  to  the   Hot  Springs  of  Arkansas.      1888. 

We  have  received,  through  the  kindin^s  of  the  Doctors  Dike,  this 
interesting  guide,  which  with  its  statistical  tables  and  analyses  of  the 
waters,  as  well  as  its  illustrated  descriptions  of  the  surroundings  of  this 
noted  region  is  worthy  of  careful  and  studious  reading. 


VETERINARY  DEPARTMENT. 
Equine  Colic. 

BY  H.  FISCHER. 

One  of  the  most  alarming  diseases  to  the  owner  of  horses  is  colic.  It 
demands  by  its  acute  onset  and  numerous  victims  very  energetic  and 
prompt  treatment.  It  often  runs  its  course  iu  an  hour,  though  its  dura- 
tion may  be  several  days,  or  indeed  a  whole  week. 

Colic  may  be  recognized  by  a  constant  restlessness  of  the  animal,  an 
anxious  look,  a  refusal  of  both  food  and  water,  a  desire  to  lay  down, 
and  a  restless  pawing  with  the  feet.  When  it  lays  down,  it  rolls  itself 
about  on  its  litter,  groans  and  sighs.  When  the  attendant  notices  that 
the  animal  smites  its  abdomen  with  the  hind  foot,  he  may  be  assured 
that  the  seat  of  the  pain  is  there.  Urination  and  defecation  are  inter- 
rupted, and  often  the  back  portion  of  the  trunk  is  considerably  tumid. 

The  causes  of  colic  are  various  ;  it  may  originate  from  greedy  eating, 
from  chilling,  from  improper  or  spoiled  fodder,  or  from  an  acumulation 
of  gas  in  the  intestines;  or  it  may  be  due  to  a  stoppage  in  the  arteria 
colica,  thus  cutting  off  the  influx  of  blood  to  the  intestines,  and  engen- 
dering this  dangerous  affection. 

The  frequent  recurrences  of  colic,  in  spite  of  regular  feeding  and 
watering,  mostly  have  their  cause  in  this  obstruction  of  the  arteria  colica, 
and  deserve  especial  consideration;  colic  will  only  cease  when  the  cir- 
culation again  takes  place  normally  iu  the  bloodvessels  where  its  course 
has  been  broken.  A.  chalky  deposit  which  is  secreted  here  from  the 
blood,  may  take  place  in  the  entire  artery,  impediug  circulation  and 
predisposing  to  colic  symptoms  that  defy  all  remedies  until  death  super- 
venes through  carbonic  acid  poisoning,  that  eveu  a  good  circulation  in 
the  lungs  cannot  obviate. 

He  who  has  an  opportunity  in  a  horse  that  died  of  colic,  should  make 
a  careful  post-mortem  dissection  of  the  deceased  animal,  and  convince 


78  THE  H0MCE0PATH1C  BECOBDEB. 

himself  whether  or  not  a  stoppage  has  taken  place  in  the  arteria  colica. 
He  should  follow  along  the  sides  of  the  colon,  and  pursue  the  exposed 
artery  until  he  comes  to  the  spot  where  the  closure  occurred.  Here  he  will 
find  either  a  roughened  portion  of 'the  artery  or  a  thrombus.  It  is  now 
that  he  begins  to  take  an  interest  in  his  animals,  and  should  never  omit 
such  dissection.  The  more  one  sees  the  more  one  learns  of  anatomical 
relations  ;  and  the  better  one  learns  to  recognize  and  diagnose  diseases, 
the  easier  will  his  practice  become. 

In  all  horses  in  natural  condition  one  will  hear  on  placing  his  ear 
upon  the  abdominal  walls,  a  cooing  or  slight  gurgling  sound  caused  by 
peristalsis  as  the  food  passes  along  the  intestines  ;  in  a  horse  afflicted 
with  colic  this  sound  is  lost  and  deep  stillness  prevades  the  abdomen. 
In  every  case  one  must  assure  himself,  whether  fever  is  present  or  not, 
by  seeing  whether  the  tongue  is  moist  and  cool,  or  is  hot  and  dry;  and 
satisfy  himself  concerning  the  passage  of  excrement  and  urine,  the 
frequency  and  character  of  the  same.  After  he  has  learned  to  know  all 
the  symptoms  accurately  and  thus  cover  the  points  in  the  case,  he 
may  have  recourse  to  the  choice  of  a  remedy  and  use  carefully  but  en- 
ergetically all  the  means  at  hand. 

We  hold  it  useless  to  attempt  to  demonstrate  the  various  complicated 
forms  of  colic  from  the  symptoms  displayed  ;  we  shall  therefore  confine 
ourselves  to  the  treatment  of  the  symptoms  as  they  appear  in  different 
animals,  being  assured  that  if  our  remedy  proves  to  have  an  exact 
counterpart  of  those  symptoms,  no  matter  what  species  of  colic  exists, 
success  will  follow  its  administration. 

Flatulent  Colic. — As  soon  as  one  is  convinced  that  colic  is  imminent, 
should  make  the  animal  a  high,  soft  litter,  remove  all  food  from  the 
crib  and  rack  ;  and  rub  both  sides  of  the  abdomen  thoroughly  with 
wisps  of  straw  and  cloth.  When  an  appearance  of  external  warmth  is 
noticed,  cover  the  animal  well  with  a  warm  blanket.  jNow  give  inter- 
nally Aconite  1,  upon  a  wafer,  a  little  piece  of  bread,  or  in  a  spoonful  of 
water,  and  alternate  with  Arsenicum  4.  If  the  disease  does  not  quickly 
abate  give  the  remedies  every  quarter  or  half  hour.  Should  stoppage 
or  retention  of  urine  present,  then  give  Hyoscyamus  3,  10  drops  on 
appearance  of  this  trouble;  if  severe  constipation  sets  in  give  Plumb, 
acet.  2;  continue  the  Aeon,  and  Ars.  in  alternation,  as  they  will  in  most 
part  prove  successful,  especially  when  there  is  swelling  of  tympanitis. 
In  the  latter  case  one  should  also  think  of  Colchicum. 

Improvement  first  shows  itself  in  a  mitigation  of  the  restlessness,  and 
a  return  of  the  peristalsis,  with  its  sounds,  in  the  abdomen.  When 
this  occurs  one  should  be  careful  that  the  animal  receives  no  food  under 
any  circumstances.  Should  improvement  continue,  then  after  an  hour 
has  passed  a  little  food  and  water  may  be  allowed,  and  the  clothing  re- 
moved little  by  little  from  its  body. 

Rheumatic  or  Cramp-colic. — The  symptoms  of  this  form  of  colic,  as 


THE  H0M(K0PATH1G  BECOBDEB.  70 

intimated  above  are  very  similar  to  those  of  flatulent  colic,  especially 
so  when  the  attack  is  on.     In  this  Conn,  however,  the  pain  is  intermittent, 

each  attack  coming   on    more    severe    than    the    previous    ones.      In  this 

disease  the  treatment  should  be  very  careful,  and  particular  pains  must 
be  taken  to  exclude  both  nourishment  and  drink,  as  long  as  a  trace  of 
the  disease  remains. 

Internally  one  should  give  Aconite  4,  10  drops,  alternated  hourly  with 
Chamomi/la  2,  in  the  same  dose,  this  during  the  intermission;  during 
the  attack  at  much  shorter  intervals.  Wet  bandages  made  in  the  man- 
ner described  below  are  also  particularly  recommended. 

The  usual  method  of  bandaging  is  .to  take  a  sack,  dip  it  into  cold 
water,  and  after  wringing  out  the  surplus,  tie  it  strongly  about  the 
middle  of  the  abdomen  with  a  large  straw  wisp,  and  apply  a  quantity 
of  woollen  cloth  overall.  These  bandages  should  be  re-applied  about 
every  2  hours  by  lifting  the  woollens,  withdrawing  the  sack,  shifting  a 
newly  wet  one  in  its  place,  and  carefully  re-adjusting  the  cloths  over  all. 
This  should  be  continued  as  long  as  the  attack,  and  all  finally  removed 
carefully  little  by  little  to  accustom  the  animal  to  the  change. 

Colic  from  Stoppage. — The  form  of  colic  due  to  stoppage  in  the  arteria 
colica  should  be  treated  in  the  same  general  manner,  and  will  often  be 
followed  by  as  beneficial  results.  Internally  Silicea  4th  trit.,  should  be 
given,  followed  by  Sulphur  1st. 

Should  it  be  desirable  during  the  treatment  of  this  disease  to  give  a 
clyster,  one  made  of  soap  only  should  be  used. 

When  an  animal  recovers  from  an  attack  of  colic,  great  care  should 
be  observed  in  the  feeding;  mashes  and  gruels  with  small  allowance  of 
unchilled  water  should  be  continued  until  it  is  judged  safe  to  return 
little  by  little  to  the  usual  feed,  as  the  animal  regains  its  normal  con- 
dition.— Zeitjur  Horn.  Thier.,  6,  1887. 

Bronchitis— Equine. — On  the  10th  of  June,  1888,  I  was  called  to 
see  Tom,  a  livery  horse,  aged  about  10  years.  Two  days  previous  he 
had  been  allowed  by  some  one  who  drove  him,  to  stand  without  a 
blanket,  on  a  cool  damp  day,  and  in  a  draught,  while  overheated.  On 
the  first  visit  I  found  him  breathing  rapidly,  and  on  ascultation  heard 
whistling,  or  hissing  sounds  at  the  sides  of  the  chest,  aud  louder  similar 
sounds  in  front,  all  denoting  bronchial  and  bronehiolar  inflammation, 
the  pulse  was  hard  and  quicker  than  normal,  beating  75  to  the  minute. 
The  mucous  membrane  of  the  nostrils  was  dry  and  red,  and  the  mouth 
dry.  Prescription,  Aconite  30,  two  disks  every  two  hours,  a  box  stall 
and  heavy  blanket.  The  next  day  the  moist  stage  of  the  disease  was 
fully  established;  the  animal  coughed  in  a  sort  of  semi-suppressed  man- 
ner; the  pulse  was  decreased  in  tension  and  frequency;  the  mucous 
membrane  of  the  mouth  and  nostrils  showed  some  moisture,  but  expec- 
toration was  not  established,  though  the  bronchial  rales  were  coarse  and 
loud  ;  respiration  seemed  impeded  by  the  mucous  acumulations.     The 


80  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

animal  now  showed  signs  of  weakness,  standing  with  his  legs  slightly 
apart;  his  appetite  had  decreased.  Prescription,  one  dose  of  Calc. 
carb.  6x,  followed  by  Kali  bichrom.  3x,  a  dose  of  2  grains  every  three 
hours,  and  a  steaming  of  the  air  tubes  by  pouring  hot  water  over 
chopped  hay  in  a  bag  and  strapping  the  same  over  his  face,  every  6 
hours.  Third  day. — The  animal  was  found  much  weaker  and  lying 
down  in  his  stall,  coughing  frequently  and  discharging  large  lumps  of 
yellow,  stringy  mucous;  his  breathing  was  quite  rapid,  and  his  nostrils 
distended,  discharging  yellowish  mucus,  and  quite  sensitive;  his  eyes 
were  moist  and  with  but  little  expression  ;  the  chest  rales  were  moist 
but  still  loud  ;  he  had  refused  his  morning  feed  ;  the  bowels  were  some- 
what constipated.  Prescription,  Kali  bich.  30,  in  water,  a  tablespoonful 
every  four  hours  for  three  doses.  Fourth  day. —  Found  Tom  this  morn- 
ing with  all  symptoms  somewhat  relieved  ;  he  had  taken  a  small  allow- 
ance of  mash  and  a  better  look  to  the  eyes  was  apparent ;  he  still  kept 
the  recumbent  position.  Prescription  ;  five  numbered  powders  four  of 
Sac.  lac.  and  one  of  Kali  bich.  30,  to  be  given  at  9  P.  M.  Fifth  day. — 
The  animal's  breathing  is  now  quite  normal,  both  inspiration  and  expi- 
ration;  he  took  his  morning  mash  nicely,  and  his  eyes  look  as  if 
knowingly  interested  at  what  passed  around  him  ;  the  rales  are  fiuer, 
and  his  nostrils  are  no  longer  dilate;  Sac.  lac.  Sixth  day. — Fouud  the 
horse  upon  his  feet,  the  passages  of  the  bowels  more  natural  ;  the  cough 
greatly  improved  and  general  appearance  better;  gave  Sac.  lac.  and 
ordered  a  more  generous  diet.  Improvement  now  became  general;  on 
the  eighth  day  he  was  walked  about  under  a  blanket,  the  weather  being 
somewhat  cool.  On  the  tenth  day  he  was  driven  short  stages  with 
care.  On  the  fifteenth  day  he  was  put  to  his  ordinary  tasks  of  miscel- 
laneous driving,  his  coudition  being  normal. — C.  F.  M. 

Dysuria — Equine. — On  the  2d  of  August,  1888,  Senor  Miguel  Plana 
asked  me  to  visit  a  horse  at  his  house.  Ou  arriving  there  I  asked  that 
the  animal  be  walked  to  the  square  that  I  might  observe  his  actions. 
He  was  able  to  but  poorly  support  himself  upon  his  fore-legs,  and  upon 
examination  I  found  that  he  suffered  an  inflammation  of  all  the  soft 
parts  within  the  pelvis,  and  determined  the  case  to  be  one  of  "  hard- 
water."  I  administered  a  dose  of  Aconite,  and  ordered  a  bath  in  the 
river  morning  and  night,  placing  the  animal  in  the  water  above  the  knees  ; 
ordered  also  a  dose  of  Arsenicum  at  noon  and  another  at  night,  and 
that  a  cataplasm  of  chimney  soot  and  viuegar  be  administered  while  in 
the  river,  as  there  seemed  to  be  faulty  nutrition  from  his  food.  The 
third  day  a  dose  of  Arsenicum  at  6  a.m.,  noou  and  8  p.m.  was  ordered 
and  the  baths  and  cataplasms  continued.  The  fourth  day  a  morning 
bath  and  a  dose  of  Nux  vomica;  in  the  evening  another  dose  of  Arsenicum. 
On  the  fifth  day  all  symptoms  disappeared,  and  the  horse  returned  on 
the  sixth  day  to  his  ordinary  labors. —  Don  Pedro  Saguer,  in  El  Con- 
suitor  Horn.,  1888,  363. 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT. 

Schussler's  Ferrum  Phosphoricum. — Schuyler  first  communi- 
cated his  views  and  experiences  with  the  now  celebrated  "tissue  reme- 
dies "  in  1872,  and  Dr.  Constantine  Hering  translated  this  first  edition 
of  the  brochure  into  Euglish  early  iu  1874,  adding  thereto  a  small  re- 
pertory. 

At  that  time  there  was  only  one  preparation  of  Ferrnm  phosphoricum 
mentioned  in  the  German,  Austrian,  British,  and  U.  S.  Pharmacopceitu, 
namely,  the  Ferroso-ferric  phosphate,  under  the  name  of  Ferrum  phos- 
phoricum, or  Phosphate  of  iron — and  that  was  used,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  by  all  pharmaceutists,  to  supply  the  demand.  Schussler  merely 
speaks  of  it  as  Phosphorsaures  eisen,  or  as  Ferrum  phosphoricum.  Had 
there  been  more  than  one  preparation  known  under  this  name  at  the 
time,  he  surely  would  have  given  the  chemical  formula  or  other  de- 
scription of  it,  but  down  to  the  last,  the  thirteenth  edition  of  his  little 
work,  he  did  not  feel  called  upon  to  do  so,  for  the  same  preparation 
is  still  the  only  one  of  its  kind  mentioned  iu  the  Pharmacopoeia  Ger- 
man ica  of  to-day.  It  is  there  called  Ferrum  phosphoricum,  or  Phos- 
phorsaures eisen  oxydul — other  authorities  more  precisely  style  it  Phos- 
phorsaures eisen  oxdul-oxyd,  as  it  is,  according  to  the  British  Pharma- 
copoeia, a  Ferrous  phosphate  partly  oxidized.  Squire  states  that  it  con- 
tains 45  per  cent,  of  Ferrous  phosphate. 

The  chemical  formula,  according  to  Dr.  J.  T.  O'Connor,  in  the  Ameri- 
can Homoeopathic  Pharmacopoeia,  is:  Fe32P04,FeP04, 12H20.  It  is  a 
bluish-gray  powder  without  odor  or  taste.  It  is  soluble  in  acids,  but 
insoluble  in  water  or  alcohol.  The  powder  becomes  a  greenish-gray 
when  warmed,  and  at  a  higher  temperature  grayish-brown. 

This  preparation  triturated  has  been  furnished  to  the  medical  pro- 
fession throughout  the  whole  world  for  the  last  fifteen  years,  and  with 
this  preparation  have  been  achieved  the  remarkable  results  which  made 
out  of  Ferrum  phosphoricum  a  polychrest,  rivalling  only  Aconite  in  the 
frequency  of  application. 

Dr.  J.  C.  Morgan,  of  Philadelphia,  made  a  proving  of  it  in  1876, 
which  was  first  published  in  the  Journal  of  Horn.  Mai.  Med.  of  that  year, 
and  has  also  been  incorporated  into  Alltn's  Encyclopaedia  of  Pure  Mat. 
Med. 

Iu  the  revision  of  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia,  of  1882,  a  new  prepa- 
ration of  Phosphate  of  iron  has  been  introduced  also  under  the  name 
of  Ferrum  phosphoricum.  This  comes  in  yellowish-green  scales,  is 
odorless,  of  a  slightly  saline  and  acidulous  taste,  and  readily  soluble  in 
water.  Remington  says  of  this:  "This  is  a  scaled  salt,  and  very  dif- 
ferent from  the  insoluble  slate-colored  powder  of  Phosphate  of  iron 
vol.  iv.— 6 


82  THE  H0MCE0PATH1G  BEGOBDEB. 

formerly  officinal.  It  is  not  a  definite  chemical  compound,  but  is  some- 
times termed  Sodio-ferric  citro-phospbate." 

Oldberg  and  Wall  (in  their  commentary  on  the  latest  edition  of  the 
U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia)  speak  of  this  scale  preparation  as  follows,  p.  489: 
"  This  is  a  new  preparation  not  heretofore  described  in  any  book.  The 
fact  that  it  has  received  the  name  of  Phosphate  of  iron,  without  any  ad- 
jective to  distinguish  it  from  the  familiar  Phosphate  of  iron  of  the 
Pharmacopoeia,  of  1870,  is  liable  to  cause  more  or  less  confusion.  The 
old  Phosphate  of  iron  (the  slate-colored)  is  the  only  Phosphate  of  iron 
at  this  writing  known  to  the  trade,  the  new  preparation  described  above 
being  known  only  to  a  comparatively  limited  number  of  pharmacists, 
and  although  the  old  preparation  is  now  dropped  from  the  Pharma- 
copoeia, it  will  be  many  years  before  it  will  cease  to  be  a  common  article 
of  trade  under  the  same  name." 

There  is  still  another  preparation  known  as  Ferrum  phosphoricum, 
and  this  is  the  Ferric  phosphate  generally  called  Ferrum  phosphoricum 
album,  or  Phosphas  ferricus.  This  is  a  white  or  faintly  cream-colored 
powder,  which  is  not  officinal  in  any  country  to  our  knowledge.  Dr. 
John  L.  Moffatt,  of  Brooklyn,  read  a  report  of  some  provings  made  of 
it  under  his  directions  before  the  Thirty-eighth  Annual  Meeting  of  the 
New  York  State  Society.  He  maintains  that  this  is  the  preparation  that 
Schussler  used,  but  fails  to  make  good  this  claim,  or  to  give  any  reasons 
for  his  statement. 

As  mentioned,  already,  the  first  translation  of  Schussler's  work  was 
made  by  Dr.  Constantine  Hering,  and  he  always  used  the  Ferroso-ferric 
phosphate  as  furnished  by  Boericke  &  Tafel.  In  1885,  Dr.  J.  T. 
O'Connor  made  a  translation  of  the  12th  edition  of  Schussler,  and  he, 
like  his  predecessor,  simply  gives  "  Ferrum  phospho  "  same  as  Schussler 
did,  without  special  description.  In  1888,  Drs.  Boericke  and  Dewey  made 
another  translation, adding  much  clinical  information,  thus  swelling  the 
book  to  three  times  the  size  of  its  predecessors.  They  mention  distinctly 
under  Ferr.  phosphoricum,  the  Ferroso-ferric  phosphate  as  the  proper 
preparation.  In  1880, 84,  and  86,  different  editions  of  a  translation  by  Dr. 
M.  D.  Walker  have  been  issued.  In  this  work,  for  the  first  time,  we 
find  Ferric  phosphate  mentioned,  and  all  through  the  book,  wherever 
Schussler  says  "Ferrum  phosphoricum"  this  translator  puts  in  "Ferric 
phosphate."  He  puts  that  in  without  authority,  for  no  Pharmacopoeia, 
either  allopathic  or  homoeopathic,  mentions  this  preparation.  It  is  of 
course  found  in  general  works  on  chemistry,  but  has  not  been  in  use  as 
a  medicine.  We  therefore  maintain  that  Ferric  phosphate  is  not  the 
Ferrum  phosphoricum  of  Schussler,  but  that  the  slate-colored ''Ferroso- 
ferric  phosphate  "  is  the  proper  preparation. 

The  several  editions  of  the  British  Homoeopathic  Pharmacopoeia  of 
1870,  76,  and  82  mention  the  Ferroso-ferric  phosphate,  same  as  the 
American  Homoeopathic  Pharmacopoeia,  in  its  three  editions  of  1882,  83, 


P  UBLI8 11  EB&  1)  EPA  R I  M  SNT.  83 

and  85,  tlif  U.  -s'.  Homoeopathic  Pharmacopoeia  of  1878,  also  gives  a  cor- 
rect description  of  the  Ferroso-ferric  phosphate.  The  American  I/omceo- 
pathic  Dispensatory  gives  as  synonym  of  Ferrum  phosporicum,  correctly 
enough,  Ferroso-ferric  phosphate,  but  with  characteristic  bungling,  ap- 
pends to  it  directions  for  making  a  totally  different  preparation, t.6.,  the 
soluble  ecale-salt,  the  Sodio-ferric  citro-phosphate  of  the  revised  U.  & 
Pharmacopoeia. 

Other  Homoeopathic  Pharmacopoeias,  like  Drs.  Schwabe's  Polyglotta, 
Gonuer's,  Deveuter's  and  Buchuer's  don't  mention  any  Phosphate  of 
iron  at  all.  T. 

Moschus. — We  recently  imported  three  sacs  of  Tonquin  musk, 
weighing  41]  grammes  (about  1}  ounces),  which  cost  us  $37.35.  This 
is  the  kind  physicians,  who  make  quality  of  more  importance  than 
price,  use.  The  cheap  article  comes  much  less — here  are  exact  figures: 
a  47 -gramme  lot  cost  $8.55.  It  will  take  the  sale  of  a  good  maDy 
ounces  to  make  up  the  difference  between  the  cost  of  the  two.  It  also 
indicates  why  we  do  not  "defy  competition,"  as  the  cheap  shops  are  so 
fond  of  doing. 

Epiphegus. — "  Have  tried  Epiphegus  for  sick  headache,  and  it  works 
splendidly,"  writes  L.  B.  Woolson,  M.D.,  Atwater,  Minn. 

Radical  Cure  of  Fistula  Ano. — The  N.  E.  Med.  Jour.,  says  : 
"Wash  out  the  track  with  a  5-per-cent.  solution  of 'hydrogen  perox- 
ide.' Inject  a  95-per  cent,  solution  of  carbolic  acid,  plus  an  equal  quan- 
tity of  a  10-per-ceut.  solution  of  muriate  of  cocaine.  Draw  about  ten 
to  fifteen  minims  in  the  syringe.  Push  the  flexible  needle  to  the  depth 
of  the  fistuli,  then  inject  slowly  as  you  withdraw  the  needle.  Inject 
oleum  eucalyptus  and  glycerin,  equal  parts,  and  the  operation  is  finished." 

The  Prescriber,  by  J.  H.  Clarke,  M.D.  (2d  edition,  207  pages, 
$1.25),  has  had  a  remarkable  success,  the  first  edition  being  quickly 
taken,  and  the  second  one  is  fast  going.  It  starts  with  "A"  and  runs 
through  every  ill  known — "  Abdomen,  distended,"  "Abortion,"  "Ab- 
scess "  to  "  Yawning,"  "  Yellow  fever,"  "  Zona,"  with  treatment  of  each 
concisely  given.     May  be  carried  in  the  pocket. 

A  Trio  of  Books. — Fifty  Reasons  for  Being  a  Homoeopath;  Given 

by  J.  Compton  Burnett,  M.D.,  is  the  title  of  one  of  the  most  fascinating 

little  books  in  the  literature  of  homoeopathy  and  one  that  no  physician 

should  forego  the  luxury  of  owning.     (It  isn't  a  very  expensive  luxury, 

as  we  furnish  it  by  mail  for  86  cents.)     It  is  written  in  a  style  that 

carries  the  reader  without  effort  and  bristles  with  clinical  cases  of  most 
i 

decided  value — of  very  great  value,  indeed — and  thus  not  only  is  highly 
interesting  and  even  amusing,  at  times,  but  decidedly  instructive  also. 
The  way  the  book  came  to  be  written  wras  this :  Dr.  Burnett  was  dining 


84  THE  HOMOEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

at  the  table  of  a  genial  M.P.  and  in  the  company  was  another  M.D.  of 
the  "  regular"  sort.  A  good-natured  controversy  sprang  up  over  the 
almonds  and  raisins,  and  Dr.  Burnett,  among  other  things,  said: 

"  Why,  I  could  give  fifty  reasons  for  being  a  homoeopath,  that,  if  not 
singly,  at  least  collectively,  would  convince  a  stone." 

"Fifty  reasons  for  being  a  homoeopath!"  was  the  response,  "My 
dear  doctor,  pray  let  us  have  them  ;  I  have  never  heard  one  good  reason 
yet."  This  banter — there  is  more  of  it — led  to  the  publication  of  the 
book  in  question.  Opening  at  random  to  "  Reason  the  Twenty  second," 
we  read:  "You  tell  me  you  are  much  mistaken  in  me,  for  you  had 
always  thought  I  was,  'for  a  homoeopath,  a  very  big  doser!'  and  that 
the  Phosphorus  I  once  mixed  in  a  tumbler  for  your  aunt,  actually 
'smoked!'  Perfectly  true;  I  cannot  discuss  homoeopathic  (or,  if  you 
will),  my  posology  with  you,  but  I  will  give  you  my  rule,  viz.  :  The  dose 
depends  upon  the  degree  of  similitude.  The  greater  the  similitude,  the 
higher  the  dilution  and  the  less  frequent  the  administration  ;  the  smaller 
the  degree  of  similitude,  the  lower  the  dose.  My  own  range  of  dose  is 
from  a  few  globules  of  the  two  hundredth  dilution  at  eight-day  intervals, 
down  to  ten  drops  of  the  mother-tincture  (of  weak  drugs,  of  course)  four 
times  a  day.  The  dose  is  often  quite  as  important  as  the  remedy,  and 
your  exclusively  low,  as  well  as  your  exclusively  high,  dilutionists  are 
only  one-eyed  practitioners,  though,  of  course,  kings  among  the  blind, 
i.e.,  the  allopaths."  Then  follows  the  clinical  case,  of  which  one  or  more 
go  with  each  "  Reason,"  in  this  instance,  a  "Case  of  Exostosis  of  Right 
Os  cured  by  Hec'se  Lava,"  and  he  concludes  it  with  "  Brother  Allo- 
path, this  is  science  in  therapeutics,"  etc. 

"Reason  the  Forty-ninth"  begins:  "In  human  life  we  have  our 
favorites;  we  have  them  in  our  families,  and  in  therapeutics  I  have  a 
great  fondness  for  certain  remedies,  one  of  which  is  Gold.  You  allo- 
paths say  Gold  is  no  medicine  at  all,  because  it  is  an  insoluble  metal ! 
That's  what  the  best  professors  of  Materia  Medica  taught  me;  it  is 
fundamentally  false,  all  the  same!  Oh,  the  silly,  silly  things  they 
teach  one  in  the  schools !  What  a  frightful  heap  of  old  fossil  beliefs ! 
For  Gold  is  no  mere  function  disturber,  but  a  producer  of  organic 
change,  and  hence  its  brilliant  effects  in  organic  mischief.  The  vascular 
turgescence  of  Belladonna  and  Aurum  are  very  different  affairs."  The 
clinical  case  in  this  instance  is  "  Rheumatic  Endocarditis  in  the  Course 
of  Rheumatic  Fever,"  a  really  remarkable  case.  We  think  these  two 
specimens,  taken  at  random,  will  convince  our  readers  that  money  is 
well  spent  in  this  bright  little  book. 

Leucorrhoza,  its  Concomitant  Symptoms  and  its  Homoeopathic  Treat- 
ment. By  A.  M.  Cushing,  M.D.  "  This  work>"  writes  the  author,  in 
the  preface  to  second  edition,  "  at  first  written  for  my  own  use,  was,  by 
the  advice  of  friends,  given  to  the  public.  Encouraged  by  its  speedy 
sale  and  the  kind  expressions  received  from  the  profession,  as  well  as 


PUBH8HEB&  DEPAIiTMENT. 

the  satisfactory  results  obtained  by  the  administration  of  homoeopathic 
remedies  during  a  period  of  twenty-six  years,  I  am  induced  to  rewrite 
and  enlarge  it  to  twice  its  former  size.  Firmly  believing  that  many 
cases  of  insanity  or  death,  some  by  suicide,  have  been  caused  by  the 
unwise  and  unscientific  treatment  of  leucorrhcea,  and  satisfied  that  the 
internal  administration  of  remedies,  horoceopathically  indicated,  is  safer, 
surer  and  more  speedy,  gives  me  courage  to  issue  it  at  a  time  when  the 
tendency  to  a  different  method  of  treatment  seems  to  have  the  ascend- 
ency. Select  the  right  remedy,  and  in  some  attenuation  it  will  cure." 
Here  is  a  specimen  from  the  book  ;  we  select  Dr.  Burnett's  "  favorite," 
Awrum  metallicum:  "Thick,  white  leucorrhcea.  Profuse  leucon  hcea, 
which  excoriates  the  perineum  and  inner  side  of  the  thighs,  with  vas- 
cular eruption  on  the  parts  and  back.  Labor-like  pains  in  the  abdo- 
men, as  if  the  menses  would  appear.  Burning  in  the  vagina.  H 'at, 
smarting  and  pricking  in  the  vulva.  Menses  late.  Painful  retention 
of  urine,  with  pressure  in  the  bladder.  Passes  more  urine  than  cor- 
responds to  the  amount  of  liquid  drank.  Constipation.  Nightly  diar- 
rhoea, with  burning  in  the  rectum.  Lumbar  muscles  so  stiff  she  cannot 
raise  the  thighs.  Bruised  pain  in  the  loins,  worse  during  respiration. 
Disgust  of  life.  Suicidal  tendency.  Despondent.  Melancholy.  Great 
anguish.     Peevish.      Vehement.     Angry." 

The  work  contains  162  pages  and  is  exhaustive  in  its  treatment  of 
this  very  prevalent  trouble.  A  good  book  to  own.  Price,  80  cents 
net,  by  mail. 

Key-notes  to  the  Materia  Medica,  as  taught  by  Henry  X.  Guernsey, 
M.D.  What  Dr.  Burnett  says  in  his  Fifty  Reasons,  anent  high  poten- 
cies,— and  the  father,  Hahnemann,  said  it  before  him, — indicates  the 
great  importance  of  gaining  an  interior  knowledge  of  the  life-spirit  of 
each  drug,  and  of  the  increased  power  over  disease  the  physician  having 
this  insight  possesses,  in  being  able  to  use  high  potencies  when  he  sees 
the  very  spirit  of  the  drug  confronting  him  in  the  disease.  In  imparting 
this  knowledge,  Guernsey's  Key-notes  have  few,  if  any,  equals.  Here  is 
what  is  said  about  our  friend,  Aurum:  "General  characteristics: 
Strongest  symptom  is  a  great  desire  to  commit  suicide.  This  idea  is  upper- 
most in  the  mind  all  the  time,  and  every  opportunity  will  be  sought  for 
self-destruction.  Sleeplessness.  There  may  be  an  irregularity  in  the 
labor-pains,  and  when  she  rises  up  for  anything,  instead  of  lying  down 
again  quietly,  she  thrashes  herself  down  hard.  Hunger  too  strong. 
Affections  of  the  prepuce  ;  joints  of  the  toes  ;  desire  for  open  air  ;  ereth- 
ism ;  sudden  rush  of  blood  to  any  part ;  pain  in  the  joints  as  if 
bruised;  sensation  of  contraction  of  the  joints;  very  violent  hysterics, 
accompanied  with  desperate  actions,  thrashing  oue's-self  about.  Dry 
exanthema."  Among  the  particulars  we  read :  "  Chest.  Much  diffi- 
culty of  breathing,  frequently  taking  a  deep  breath  ;  stitches  in  ;  pal- 
pitation of  the  heart  with   anguish."     "  Skin.  Bony  tumors  on   head, 


86  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

arms  and  legs;  swellings,  ulcers,  tetters,  rhagodes,  cancerous  ulcers." 
Also,  "  Generalities.  Scrofulous  sufferings ;  nightly  bone  pains ; 
inflammation  and  ulceration  of  the  bones,  syphilitic  or  mercurial ;  sen- 
sitiveness to  cold  air."     Price  of  book,  $1.87  net,  by  mail. 

The  Institute  Session  of  1889. 

Editor,  Homoeopathic  Recorder. 

As  a  further  announcement  respecting  the  Institute  session  of  1889, 
I  have  to  report  as  follows: 

The  Bureau  of  Surgery  has  received  assurances  of  aid  from  a  number 
of  our  distinguished  surgeons,  and  will  present  a  series  of  papers  on 
"Surgery  of  the  Brain,"  including  cerebral  localization  ;  symptoms  of 
cerebral  tumor — its  diagnosis  and  treatment ;  abscess  ;  gunshot  wounds; 
tumors  of  the  dura  mater,  compound  and  depressed  fractures,  epilepsy 
from  fractures,  and  indications  for  trephining. 

The  Bureau  of  Paedology  has  promise  of  active  aid  from  several  co- 
workers in  that  department,  and  is  encouraged  with  prospects  of  a  good 
report  on  preventive  medicine  in  paedology. 

The  Bureau  of  Obstetrics  is  engaged  on  a  report  which  will  embrace 
nine  papers  relating  to  puerperal  complications.  All  these  papers  are 
to  be  the  work  of  well-known  obstetricians. 

Encouraging  reports  are  being  received  from  individual  members  of 
the  Bureaus  of  Clinical  Medicine,  Sanitary  Science,  Ophthalmology  and 
Gynaecology. 

The  Committee  on  Medical  Education  will  present  a  careful  report, 
embodying  the  views  and  suggestions  of  its  various  members.  There 
will  be  no  separate  papers. 

Notice  is  also  given  that  as  the  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Phar- 
macy has  resigned,  involving  also  his  withdrawal  from  the  Committee  on 
Organization  of  Provers'  Clubs,  the  President  has  appointed  as  chair- 
men of  these  committees,  Drs.  T.  F.  Allen,  of  New  York, on  the  former, 
and  C.  Wesselhceft,  of  Boston,  on  the  latter.  Those  having  business 
with  these  committees  should  note  the  change. 

Pemberton  Dudley. 

General  Secretary. 

Westboro. — The  Springfield  Republican  (Mass.),  has  a  highly  grati- 
fying notice  of  the  report  of  the  Westboro  asylum,  "  the  only  one  (in 
Massachusetts)  in  which  homoeopathy  is  the  basis  and  standard  of 
medical  treatment ;  "  yet  "  it  has  reported  a  large  and  advancing  rate 
of  recovery  from  insanity  among  its  patients,  while  other  New  England 
hospitals  generally  show  a  small  and  declining  rate."  And  this  is  the 
more  remarkable  inasmuch  as  400  of  the  800  patients  were  not  new 
cases  but  came  from  other  asylums,  "and  it  is  a  well-known  fact  that 
few  recoveries  occur  among  the  chronic  insane."     From  less  than  750 


PUBLISHERS*  DEPARTMENT.  87 

patients,  Westboro  reports  133  recoveries  in  a  given  period  ;  while  la  the 
same  time  Danvers  from  L600  reports  1  10  cures,  Taunton  1<»(.»  from  1 L50 
and  Worcester  155  from  1400  patients. 

High  Potencies. — The  man  who  opens  op  this  Bbbject  in  a  homoeo- 
pathic medical  journal,  is  in  a  position  bo  me  what  akin  to  one  who 
saunters  through  a  powder  magazine  with  a  lighted  cigar  in  his  mouth. 
But  the  point  we  wish  to  refer  to  here  is  not  that  of  the  efficacy  of  high 
potencies,  but  the  manner  of  their  preparation.  Those  sold  by  the 
Boericke  &  Tafel's  pharmacies  are  all  made,  according  to  Hahnemann's 
directions,  with  alcohol  step  by  step  from  the  first  up  to  30th,  200th, 
500th  and  1 000th, each  potency  emphasized  with  twelve  powerful  strokes. 
The  labor,  and  expense  in  alcohol,  of  running  up  these  high  potencies 
can  hardly  be  realized  by  those  who  have  not  had  the  experience,  but 
once  accomplished  the  seller  and  buyer  have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing 
that  they  have  a  high  potency  in  every  step  of  whose  preparation,  from 
first  to  last,  the  Hahnemannian  rule  has  been  strictly  and  literally  com- 
plied with.  Many  of  the  high  potencies  to-day  are  made  with  water  and 
no  concussion  used. 

Calisthenics. — The  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society,  of  Philadelphia, 
at  a  recent  meeting  had  quite  a  lively  discussion  on  the  subject  "  Hygiene 
of  School  Children."  Dr.  Korndoerfer  said  the  school  system  of  calis- 
thenics as  now  practiced  was  very  injurious  to  the  children.  The  rapid 
motions  to  which  they  were  subjected  were  liable  to  strain  the  joints, 
and  recommended  that  slower  movements  be  taught.  Other  members 
who  were  present  thought  the  faults  of  the  present  system  were  due  to 
a  mistaken  conception  of  school  education  and  that  the  teachers  should 
first  be  taught  what  was  required  before  they  were  allowed  to  teach 
others. 

Dr.  C.  Mohr  said  that  he  had  often  watched  the  pupils  of  the  Girls' 
Normal  School,  and  after  a  three  months'  course  of  the  present  system 
of  calisthenics  found  the  girls  looked  wan  and  tired,  simply  because  of 
the  violent  exercise  to  which  they  had  been  subjected.  Other  physicians 
had  been  compelled  to  send  excuses  to  teachers  for  scholars  who  were 
too  ill  to  go  to  school  on  this  account,  and  Dr.  W.  W.  Van  Baun,  secre- 
tary of  the  society,  declared  that  this  state  of  affairs  was  brought  about 
first,  by  the  thin  clothing  worn  by  the  children  when  being  subjected  to 
this  training,  and  second  because  the  exercise,  while  it  only  occurred 
once  in  two  weeks,  was  continued  for  two  consecutive  hours  and  was  too 
violent  in  its  nature,  so  that  the  pupil  was  completely  exhausted. 

Water  for  the  Baby. — The  following  suggestive  little  story  was 
related  to  us  by  one  who  had  raised  a  family  herself.  The  weather  was 
hot,  the  baby  of  one  of  her  friends  sick  and  she  was  asked  to  come,  as 


88  THE  HOMCEOPATHIG  RECORDER. 

much,  perhaps,  from  a  desire  for  sympathy  as  anything  else.  She  found 
the  sick  baby  lying  on  its  back,  gasping,  with  half-closed  eyes.  It 
flashed  on  her  by  intuition  that  the  little  one  was  perishing  of  thirst. 
She  asked  for  a  glass  of  cold  water,  took  the  child  up  and  held  the 
glass  to  its  lips.  Two  small  hands  clutchingly  were  stretched  forth  and 
the  cold  water  eagerly  gulped  down.  Afterwards  the  child  went  to  sleep 
and  awoke  all  right.  This  little  incident  was  called  to  mind  by  reading 
in  a  journal  the  other  day  a  paper  by  a  physician,  whose  name,  unfor- 
tunately, we  cannot  now  recall,  the  wise  remark  that  physicians  and 
mothers  should  remember  that  though  milk  is  the  baby's  food  it  will 
not  quench  thirst. 

The  amount  of  suffering  from  thirst  by  those  unable  to  express  their 
desires — babies  and  dumb  animals — must  be  very  great  in  this  world. 
Pure  water  will  hurt  no  one,  and  if  offered  will  not  be  drunk  unless 
wanted.  It  is  safest  to  offer  it  frequently  to  those  who  cannot  ask  for  it. 
We  remember  several  dogs  of  our  acquaintance  whose  master  maintained 
that  they  had  a  right  to  all  the  water  they  wanted,  and  he  kept  a  dish 
of  it,  fresh,  for  them  at  all  times.  The  number  of  times  those  dogs  took 
a  drink  was  really  astonishing. 

Earache  and  Deafness. — In  a  letter  from  Dr.  A.  M.  Gushing, 
Springfield,  Mass.,  who  may  be  called  the  father  of  Mullein  Oil,  occurs 
the  following  item  concerning  that  remedy  : 

"  Boy  twelve  years  old,  just  wild  with  earache  for  three  days.  Ap- 
plied Mullein  Oil,  and  in  a  few  minutes  was  sound  asleep ;  had  no  more 
trouble.     A  few  days  later  the  other  ear  began  to  ache  ;  cured  at  once." 

Also  "  Mr. ,  aged  about  50,  very  hard  of  hearing  for  years.    After 

a  few  applications  of  Mullein  Oil  can  hear  a  clock  'tick'  in  an  adjoin- 
ing room." 

Be  it  known  that  Mullein  Oil  is  one  thing  and  verbascum  tincture 
another.  Mullein  Oil  is  a  dark-colored  liquid,  with  an  odor  something 
like  rose-scented  snuff,  and  is  not  an  oil  at  all  save  in  name.  It  is  well 
to  exercise  a  little  care  in  purchasing  remedies  ;  a  short  time  ago  we  were 
shown  a  specimen  of  "  Mullein  Oil,"  purchased  at  a  merely  nominal 
price,  which  had  not  the  remotest  affinity  to  the  real  article. 

Lanolin. — This  comparatively  new  product  of  sheep's  wool  seems  to 
be  coming  to  the  front.  The  Medical  Press,  under  the  heading  of  "  A 
Cure  for  Wrinkles,"  says:  "A  curious  application  has  been  made  of 
the  absorbable  properties  of  lanolin  in  the  treatment  of  wrinkles.  Al- 
though not  strictly  speaking  a  pathological  condition,  it  is  one  which  is 
even  a  more  serious,  because  less  avoidable,  evil  than  freckles.  When 
well  rubbed  in,  lanolin  passes  directly  into  the  skin  and  acts  as  a  nutri- 
ent to  the  subjacent  tissues,  with  the  effect  of  smoothing  out  the  folds 
produced  by  the   attenuation  of  these   structures  incidental  to   age. 


PUBLISHERS*  DEPARTMENT.  89 

Several   elderly  ladies  who  were  induced   to   give  this  method  of  treat- 
ment a  trial  are  said  to  have  been  delighted  with  the  result." 

Dr.  Gottstein  also,  in  an  article  to  be  found  in  the  Berl.  Klin,  W6eh.t 

November  '28th,  1887,  sums  up  the  statement  that  lanolin  is  absolutely 
inimical  to  the  growth  of  micro-organisms  of  whatever  kind  they  may 
be.  Glycerin  fats  can  be  penetrated  by  bacteria;  lanolin,  on  the  eon 
trary,  forms  an  impenetrable  layer.  As  regards  biology,  Liebreich  has 
shown  that  cholesterine  fats,  which  are  chemically  the  same  as  lanolin, 
are  a  normal  constituent  of  the  epidermis  in  man  and  the  lower  animals, 
thus  constituting  the  most  powerful  protection  against  infection  from 
without.  Therapeutically  speaking,  lanolin  has  a  great  future  before 
it.  Its  miscibility  with  water  in  any  proportion,  its  ready  absorbability 
by  the  skin,  its  freedom  from  any  tendency  to  rancidity,  constitute  it  the 
vehicle  par  excellence  for  cutaneous  medicaments.  Its  preservative  prop- 
erties ought  also  to  find  practical  application  in  other  ways." 

Hensel's  Tonicum. — "Since  one  year  I  am  living  in  Stuttgart, 
following  literary  pursuits.  On  the  20th  of  September,  as  the  last  page 
of  this  brochure  was  in  press,  I  broke  my  established  rule,  and  visited 
a  leuesemic  patient  at  the  earnest  entreaties  of  his  wife  ;  he  had  been 
given  up  by  his  family  physician,  and  felt  his  end  approaching.  Found 
him,  at  5  p.m.,  with  fades  hippocratica. 

"  Towards  6  o'clock,  immediately  after  my  consultation  with  the  family 
physician,  the  patient  commenced  taking  Hensel's  tonicum  in  the  form 
of  lemonade.  After  using  several  quarts  he  obtained  excellent  sleep. 
On  September  21st,  full  voice,  excellent  appetite,  and  generous  consump- 
tion of  food.  On  the  22d,  re-appearance  of  color  in  cheeks,  and  patient 
raised  himself  in  bed  without  assistance  to  micturate,  secretion  by  the 
kidneys  having  been  re-established.  Since  then,  by  continually  using 
Hensel's  tonicum,  the  patient  is  visibly  progressing  towards  convales- 
cence."—  Translated  from  Hensel's  Brochure. 

A  letter  from  Maine  to  our  Grand  Street,  N.  Y .,  house  runs  as  follows : 
"  Ordered  five  dollars'  worth  of  Hensel's  tonicum  of  you  a  few  weeks 
ago,  and  are  meeting  with  such  success  with  it  that  now  I  want  ten 
dollars'  worth.     Money  enclosed." 

Breath  Regulator. — Dr.  J.  C.  Burger's  "  Respiration  Regulator" 
has  been  before  the  profession  for  a  long  time,  and  to  judge  by  the 
steady,  though  moderate  calls,  it  is  quite  a  good  thing,  though  at  first 
glance  every  one  is  apt  to  say,  or  at  least  think,  u  humbug."  It  is  simply 
a  little  glass  tube  with  two  holes  in  it,  one  at  side  and  one  in  the  end, 
and  a  mouth-piece  at  the  other  end.  It  is  supposed  to  be  used  in  the 
open  air,  drawing  a  full  breath  with  both  orifices  open,  and  exhaling 
with  finger  on  the  middle  one.  Its  use  tends  to  strengthen  the  lungs 
and  develop  the  chest,  and  habit  of  deep,  full  respiration.     Cost  is  slight. 


90  THE  HOMCEOPATHIG  RECORDER. 

Complimentary. — One  of  Ohio's  physicians  writes  :  "  Enclosed  find 
one  dollar  for  the  Homoeopathic  Recorder  for  1889.  I  find  much 
to  interest  and  instruct,  as  well  as  of  general  value,  in  its  pages.  It  lifts 
one  out  of  the  old  rut  and  broadens  his  view.     It  is  a  welcome  visitor." 

From  New  Hampshire  comes  the  following:  "  I  thank  you  for  sending 
me  specimen  copy  of  the  Homceopathic  Recorder  and  the  opportu- 
nity to  become  a  subscriber.  If  the  succeeding  numbers  equal  the  one 
I  have  I  anticipate  great  satisfaction  from  its  study.  Am  very  glad  to 
find,  among  other  good  things,  the  Veterinary  Department." 

"Please  put  name  upon  your  subscription  list  for  the  Homoeopathic 
Recorder,  and  while  it  continues  at  its  present  standard  of  excellence 
let  it  remain  until  ordered  off."     So  runs  a  letter  from  Wisconsin. 

Drs.  Vogl  and  Allen,  Junction  City,  Kansas,  write  :  "  The  special  in- 
ducement for  sending  you  enclosed  two  dollars  for  the  Homoeopathic 
Recorder  for  1889  is  the  new  feature,  the  Veterinary  Department. 
We  like  the  rest,  too.  Will  send  you  some  contributions  to  your  Vet- 
erinary Department  soon."     They  will  be  welcomed. 

"  Messrs.  Boericke  &  Tafel— Gentlemen  :  Please  find  enclosed 
one  dollar  for  the  Homoeopathic  Recorder  for  1889.  I  have  all  the 
former  volumes  bound,  and  prize  them  much.  If  any  of  your  readers 
have  a  cure  for  a  dry,  winter  cough,  that  acts  as  a  specific,  tell  them  to 
forward  it  to  me,  and  in  return  I  will  forward  them  many  things  that 
will  more  than  repay.  The  person  in  view  has  been  afflicted  with  pneu- 
monia and  salt  rheum  years  ago,  but  a  persistent  hacking  cough  occurs 
every  winter  that  cannot  be  controlled. 

"  Yours  sincerely, 

"G.  E.  Newcombe,  M.D." 

Old  Town,  Me.,  February  8th,  1889. 

We  would  suggest  the  cure  for  dry,  winter  cough  be  given  through 
the  Recorder,  and  also  what  Dr.  Newcombe  has  of  value,  for  thereby 
will  the  homceopathic  world  at  large  be  benefited. 

Obesity. — According  to  the  Londo7i  Medical  Press,  Dr.  Lorenzen,  of 
Erlangen,  has  been  conducting  a  most  faithful  research  in  the  matter  of 
obesity  by  experimenting  on  himself.  For  a  period  of  four  years  he 
drank  10  litres,  equal  to  17|  pints  of  beer  daily  and  followed  it  with  a 
five  years'  course  of  10  pints  of  beer  and  two  pints  of  wine  daily.  "  In 
this  way  he  succeeded  in  increasing  his  weight  by  78  pounds,  aud  the 
usual  unpleasantnesses  of  obesity  made  their  appearance.  On  shutting  off 
the  liquids  his  weight  fell  14  pounds  in  7  days.  If,  however,  more 
water  was  taken,  but  without  alcohol,  the  weight  increased  again.  .  .  . 
Similar  experiments  carried  out  on  colleagues  who  were  heavy  men  had 
similar  results."  Dr.  Lorenzen  certainly  has  given  alcohol  a  very 
thorough  proving. 


PUBLIBBEB&  DEPABTMENT.  91 

Water.  — A  great  many  physicians  are  strongly  commending  the 
free  use  <>f  water  as  a  therapeutic  agent  —not  particularly  mineral  waters, 
natural  or  artificial,  but  simply  pure  water.  "The  ordinary  tumblerful 
of  cold  water  every  morning,"  says  the  Canada  Lancet  "  is  an  excellent 
hygienic  measure,"  acting  locally  as  a  tonic  ami  aiding  in  tin-  removal 
of  waste  matter.  Hut  a  glass  of  j/urr  water  is  not  80  easy  to  get  in  these 
days  of  befouled  streams  unless,  indeed,  a  good  filter  is  used  such  as  the 
(late  City.  It  is  a  true  spring  and  the  water  it  furnishes,  as  we  know 
from  experience,  is  pure  and  may  be  made  as  cold  as  desired. 

Too  Many. — In  a  paper  read  before  the  Oregon  Horn 030 path ic  State 
Society,  by  L.  Henderson,  M.D.,  of  Salem,  Oregon,  on  the  subject  of 
"Our  Pharmaceutists,"  the  writer  says,  among  other  things,  that 
"First.  There  are  more  [pharmacies]  than  are  necessary.  Second. 
Out  of  the  fact  that  there  are  too  many,  arises  a  competition  of  a 
character  fraught  with  danger  to  the  patrons  of  such  pharmacies.  We 
are  indebted  to  their  own  bulletins  and  price-lists  for  the  information 
that  remedies  are  produced  cheaply,  with  little  regard  to  quality." 

It  is  not  often  that  an  advertiser  growls  because  his  advertisement 
brings  too  many  responses,  but  something  of  the  kind  happened  to  one 
of  the  gentlemen  running  a  For  Sale  in  the  Recorder's  pages,  as 
the  following  extract  from  a  letter  from  him  demonstrates  :  "Some  time 
since  I  requested  you  to  withhold  my  advertisement  from  the  Homoeo- 
pathic Recorder  for  the  present.  And  to  day's  mail  is  bringing  me 
in  more  answers  to  it,  so  I  presume  you  have  failed  to  comply."  The 
trouble  was  that  the  notice  to  withhold  came  after  the  fat  was  in  the  fire 
and  when  fat  is  thrown  in  the  Recorder's  advertising  fire  it  makes  a 
big  blaze. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  an  interesting  letter  addressed  to  us 
by  one  of  homoeopathy's  pioneers,  Dr.  C.  Bruchhausen,  Norwich,  N.  Y. 
"  I  wish  you  to  send  me  some  of  your  'pure  unfermented  grape  juice' 
an  article  long  sought  and  just  discovered  when  needed,  at  my  age,  82, 
as  something  stimulating  but  not  inebriating.  I  was  the  first  homoeo- 
pathic practitioner  who  entered  this  (Chenango)  county,  in  August, 
1842,  and  had  to  pass  through  many  trials  and  hardships  in  this  then 
secluded  region."  There  have  been  some  wonderful  changes  in  the 
status  of  Homoeopathy  since  1842. 

Acid  Camphoric. — The  topical  applications  reported  on  before  the 
Berlin  Medical  Society,  which  showed  styptic  action  on  the  mucous 
membranes  within  two  minutes,  were  in  some  instances  as  iveak  as  \  per 
cent. 

The  special  cases  for  which  particular  strengths  of  solutions  for  topi- 
cal application  were  recommended  by  the  report,  are  as  follows: 


92  THE  HOALCEOPATHIC  RECORD EB. 

1.  In  Acute  Angina:  $— 1  per  cent.,  every  three  hours. 

2.  In  Acute  and  Sub-acute  Pharyngo-Laryngitis  and  Tracheitis:  \  per 
cent.,  rising  to  1  per  cent., — by  spray. 

3.  In  Acute  Coryza :  2  per  cent.,  by  cotton-wool  tampon. 

4.  In  Acute  Bronchitis:  1-2  per  cent.,  by  laryngeal  douche. 

5.  In  Laryngeal  Ulcers:  2-6  per  cent.,  by  spray. 

Furthermore,  Prof.  Furbringer,  in  addition  to  his  previous  statements, 
reports  cures  of  Cystitis  combined  with  ammoniacal  fermentation,  by 
cystic  injections  of  2  per  cent,  solutions. 

Dr.  M.  Niesels  confirms  Prof.  F.'s  (previously  noticed)  views  of  Cam- 
phoric acid,  as  of  a  mild,  non  irritant  antiseptic. — Merck's  Bulletin. 

Acid,  Chromic — as  a  Local  Anti-Diaphoretic. — The  Deutsche  Med- 
izinische  Zeitung  (page  914  of  1888)  reproduces  an  official  decree  by  the 
Royal  Prussian  War  Department,  recommending  the  use  of  chromic 
acid  "  as  the  best  and  most  harmless  Preventive  of  Foot-Sweat  in  marching 
troops." 

The  application  consists  in  merely  once  "painting"  the  sole,  and  the 
inner  surfaces  of  the  toes,  with  a  10  per  cent,  solution  of  the  acid,  by 
means  of  a  cotton-wool  wad.  (The  dipping  of  the  wad  into  the  solution 
should  be  effected  by  a  pair  of  cork  tongs.) 

The  effect  is  instantaneous.  In  medium  grades  of  the  sweating  dis- 
position, a  few  applications,  at  intervals  of  6-8  weeks,  suffice  completely  ; 
in  worse  cases  a  repetition  every  two  or  three  weeks  may  be  needed  at 
first. 

When  the  cuticle  is  already  broken  by  abrasion,  etc.,  it  is  advisable 
to  begin  the  treatment  by  using  a  5  per  cent,  solution  only,  repeated 
daily  for  some  days  in  succession,  until  the  dermis  has  regained  suffi- 
cient compactness  to  bear  stronger  applications. — Merck's  Bulletin. 

Cerium  Oxalate,  Cerous. — Mtev  being  approved  since  a  number 
of  years  as  a  useful  sedative  in  Hemicrania,  Vomiting  of  Pregnancy,  Hys- 
teria, in  the  Cough  of  Phthisis,  and  as  a  soothing  astringent  in  Gastro- 
intestinal CatarrJis,  Cerium  oxalate  has  again  recently  been  very  favor- 
ably reviewed  by  Dr.  Gardner,  of  New  York,  in  most  of  the  directions 
named.  He  believes  it  to  exercise — besides  its  topical  action  on  the 
mucous  membranes  of  the  stomach  and  intestines,  above  indicated — 
also  a  peculiarly  sedative  action  on  the  vagus  and  sympathicus  nerves, 
whereby  he  explains  its  calming  effect  on  the  phthisical  symptoms.  In 
the  various  ailments  above  and  hereinafter  indicated  and  discussed  by 
him,  he  observed  no  ill  effects  from  its  use,  even  when  as  large  doses  as  1% 
grammes  (23  grains)  were  repeated  several  times  a  day ;  while  the  aver- 
age single  dose  recommended  by  the  older  authors  varied  from  0.05  to 
0.15  gramme  (f  of  a  grain  to  2£  grains). 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT.  93 

The  principally  striking  feature  of  Dr.  Gardner's  report,  however — 
(aside  from  his  confirmation  of  the  efficacy  of  Cerium  oxalate  as  a  mild 
internal  astringent  and  a  nervine,  and  the  establishment  of  its  harm- 
lessness  10  much  larger  doses  than  those  formerly  employed  ) — oonsistfl 
in  his  pronouncing  it  the  best  specific  against  sea-sickness  that  has  so 
fai  become  known,  when  given  in  doses  as  large  as  0.6-0.9-1.2  gramme 
(9-15-19  grains)  every  three  hours  in  a  tablespoonful  of  water. — Merck's 
Bulletin. 

Homoeopathy  in  Venereal  Diseases.  By  Stephen  Yeldham, 
consulting  surgeon  to  the  London  Homoeopathic  Hospital,  Fellow,  and 
late  President  of  the  British  Homoeopathic  Society.  The  fourth  edition 
of  this  work  has  been  brought  out  under  the  editorial  supervision  of 
Henry  Wheeler,  a  work  which  the  author  entrusted  to  him,  and  which 
has  been  well  done.  The  British  Journal  of  Homozopatluj  said  of  the 
earlier  editions  of  this  book  :  "The  present  work  is  unmistakably  the 
production  of  a  practical  man.  It  is  short  and  pithy,  and  contains  a 
vast  deal  of  sound,  practical  instruction.  The  diseases  are  briefly  de- 
scribed ;  the  directions  for  treatment  are  succinct  and  summary.  It  is 
a  book  which  might  with  profit  be  consulted  by  all  young  and  many 
old  practitioners  of  homoeopathy."  192  pages.  Sent  by  mail  on  receipt 
of  $1.42. 

Mullein  Oil. — "  This  is  a  new  drug  only  lately  brought  to  the  notice 
of  the  profession  by  Boericke  &  Tafel.  Enough  provings  have  not 
yet  been  made  to  develop  its  whole  symptomatology,  but  evidently  its 
chief  sphere  of  action  is  in  urinary  troubles,  especially  enuresis,  to  which 
it  is  truly  homoeopathic.  The  history  of  the  drug  is  largely  clinical  so 
far,  but  enough  is  known  to  prove  it  a  most  valuable  remedy  for  that 
trying  affection  of  young  children,  especially  girls,  so  difficult  to  cure, 
namely,  nocturnal  enuresis.  Special  indications  cannot  be  given,  but 
the  clinical  history  of  the  drug  seems  to  show  that  it  meets  the  worst 
and  most  obstinate  cases  of  this  trouble,  where  other  remedies  have 
completely  failed.  Professor  Moffat  reports  several  cases  where  he  had 
tried  the  common  remedies,  Bell.,  Hyos.,  Sepia,  Causl,  Puis,  and  Sutph., 
without  success,  but  in  which  Mullein  Oil  wrought  a  prompt  cure  or 
else  benefited  the  condition  markedly." — The  Chironian,  February, 
1889. 

The  dose  often  administered  with  good  success  is  four  or  five  drops  in 
a  glass  of  water;  give  a  spoonful  at  a  time.  Can  be  had,  however,  in 
dilutions  if  desired. 

Tarantula  Cubensis. — The  Chironian  gives  the  following  clinical 
case,  in  which  this  remedy  was  used  with  remarkably  good  and  quick 
results.     "  A  patient  came  to  Dr.  H ,  suffering  from   a   large  car- 


94  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

buncle  on  the  posterior  surface  of  her  thigh.  'It  was  as  large/  says  the 
doctor,  '  as  a  small-sized  saucer,  very  hard,  dark-purplish  and  angry  in 
appearance,  and  so  painful  that  the  patient  could  hardly  walk  and  was 
wholly  unable  to  sit  down.'  The  doctor  ordered  Tarantula  3d,  every 
half  hour  until  the  pain  was  ameliorated,  when  it  was  taken  at  longer 
intervals  as  she  grew  better.  The  next  day  the  patient  returned, 
reporting  that  in  two  hours  after  the  first  dose  the  pain  was  greatly 
relieved,  the  carbuncle  had  softened  and  diminished  in  size,  and  soon 
began  to  discharge  so  profusely  as  to  soak  through  thick  cotton  dressing. 
On  removing  the  dressing  her  statement  was  verified  in  every  par- 
ticular. She  made  a  rapid  and  complete  recovery,  and  ever  since  has 
had  the  utmost  respect  for,  and  confidence  in,  Dr.  H.'s  '  Carbuncle 
Cure.'  " 

To  the  above  we  would  add  that  there  are  two  Tarantula  prepara- 
tions in  the  pharmacy,  i.e.,  Tarantula  cubensis  and  Tarantula  Hispana. 
These  two,  and  their  differences,  are  fully  described  and  illustrated  in 
the  Recorder  for  March  and  July,  1887. 

The  danger-signal  is  ever  fluttering  higher  and  higher  in  this 
great  age  of  everything.  The  Sanitary  News  has  discovered  that  there 
is  danger  in  the  postage-stamp.  A  man  suffering  from  disease  writes  to 
you  and  encloses  stamp  for  answer, — which,  by  the  way,  many  a  man  in 
health  forgets  to  do, — and  licks  it  slightly  to  make  it  adhere  (sometimes 
to  such  effect  that  the  stamp  is  useless),  and  you,  in  turn,  lick  it, — and 
there  you  are!  And  as  for  money:  "If  one  could  see  through  what 
hands  money  has  passed,  they  would  hesitate  before  using  such  a  third 
hand,"  is  the  slightly  ungrammatical  state  of  the  case.  "Silver  is  as 
bad  as  paper  money,"  etc.  Nevertheless,  and  notwithstanding  these 
dangers,  we  are  inclined  to  believe  that  men,  and  even  dainty  women, 
will  continue  to  risk  the  danger,  and  be  rather  glad  to  do  it.  For  our 
part,  we  wish  to  say  that  the  fear  of  spreading  contagion  need  not  deter 
any  of  our  subscribers  from  sending  us  that  dollar  due;  we'll  chance  it. 

The  Malt  Extract  Bonbons  are  catching  on  here  as  they  have  done 
in  Germany.  One  evidence  of  their  merit  is  the  fact  they  can  be  eaten, 
day  after  day,  and,  apparently,  no  one  gets  tired  of  them.  They  do  not 
turn  against  people,  and  we  believe  if  the  boy,  or  girl,  who,  on  going 
into  a  candy-factory,  is  allowed  full  liberty  to  eat,  and  gets  sick  the 
first  day,  and  wants  no  more,  were  given  the  same  privilege  among  the 
Malt  Extract  Bonbons,  he  would  keep  right  on,  from  Monday  morning 
to  Saturday  night,  and  come  up  smiling  on  Monday  morning.  The 
malt  extract  in  these  bonbons  teuds  to  create  a  good,  healthy  appetite, 
and  thus  "it  grows  with  what  it  feeds  upon."  The  fact  that  these  can  be 
eaten  so  steadily  without  cloying  the  taste  is  pretty  good  proof  that  they 
are  welcome  to  the  system.     For  the  throat  and  voice  they  are  remark- 


TTJBL18HER8  DEPARTMENT.  95 

ably  good)  and  also  for  children,  satisfying  their   natural  craving  for 
BWeetfl  in  a  healthy  manner. 

One  who  peruses  Dr.  Burnett's  Fifty  Reason*  is  impressed  with  the 
advantage  of  a  physician  possessing  a  set  of  reliable  high  potencies. 

Malted  Milk. — There  is  one  thing  in  connection  with  this  excellent 
article  that  is  not  so  well  known  as  it  should  be,  namely:  A  tablespoonful 
or  two,  put  in  a  tumbler,  wetted  to  a  paste  and  diluted  with  water, 
yields  an  excellent  glass  of  milk.  Very  handy  to  have  a  bottle  of  it 
in  the  office  or  house  for  lunch  and  refreshment.  It  is  getting  to  be  a 
great  favorite  for  infants. 

Milk  and  Consumption. — "A  committee  of  the  Canadian  Parlia- 
ment has  just  published  a  report  of  its  investigations,  which  is  likely 
to  attract  wide  attention.  The  committee  was  appointed  to  inquire 
into  the  existence  of  tuberculosis  in  domestic  animals,  with  special 
reference  to  the  question  whether  the  disease  can  be  communicated  from 
such  animals  to  human  beings.  The  opinion  of  leading  physicians 
throughout  the  Dominion  were  procured,  and  these  have  convinced  the 
committee  that  the  disease  is  communicated  to  man  by  means  of  the 
meat  of  the  tuberculous  cattle  and  the  milk  of  tuberculous  cows.  This 
view  of  the  subject  is  not  confined  to  our  Canadian  brethren  by  any 
means.  We  read  in  one  of  our  recent  California  exchanges  that  in 
his  address  to  the  Butchers' Protective  Association,  C.  A.  Mercer,  the 
Government  agent  of  the  Bureau  of  Animal  Industry,  said:  4It  will 
be  two  years  before  this  country  can  be  thoroughly  cleansed  of  diseased 
cattle,  for  from  San  Francisco  Bay  to  Southern  California,  one-half  of 
the  State's  stock  is  rotten.  Out  of  every  100  consumptives,  12  acquire 
the  disease  from  drinking  the  milk  or  eating  the  meat  of  consumptive 
cows.'  The  recent  Consumption  Congress  in  Paris  also  adopted  reso- 
lutions as  follows:  'The  seizure  and  destruction  of  all  tuberculous 
animals,  whatever  may  be  their  appearance  of  health,  should  be  a  con- 
stant practice.  Every  effort  should  be  made,  by  means  of  circulars, 
lectures,  etc.,  to  warn  the  laity  of  the  danger  of  acquiring  tuberculosis 
by  the  use  of  the  flesh  and  milk  of  diseased  animals.' 

"It  is  generally  admitted  by  leading  physicians  that  many  diseases  are 
directly  caused  by  the  introduction  into  the  human  system  of  the  microbe 
or  bacteria  characteristic  of  those  diseases,  though  it  does  not  follow 
that  the  introduction  of  the  specific  microbe  will  necessarily  cause  the 
disease  it  is  related  to.  A  person  exposed  to  the  action  of  these  disease 
producers  may  be  so  healthy  as  to  escape  their  effects.  On  the  other 
hand,  he  may  inherit  such  a  special  susceptibility  to  a  disease  that  when 
its  peculiar  microbes  are  introduced  into  his  system,  they  find  the  con- 
ditions perfect  for  their  rapid  multiplication  and  harmful  activity.  Dr. 
Austin  Flint  goes  so  far  as  to  assert  that  '  it  is  probable  that  a  person 


96  THE  HOM  (EOPA  THIG  BEGOBDEB. 

with  an  inherited  tendency  to  consumption,  would  never  develop  the 
disease  if  he  could  be  absolutely  protected  against  infection  with  the 
tubercle  bacillus ;  but  once  infected,  the  bacteria  multiply  and  produce 
the  characteristic  signs  and  symptoms.'  The  bacilli  often  possesses 
wonderful  vitality.  It  is  well  established  that  intense  cold  doe3  not  kill 
them.  For  this  reason  there  is  danger  in  using  ice  that  has  been  taken 
from  streams  into  which  sewage  is  discharged.  But  they  cannot  survive 
exposure  to  great  heat.  Therefore,  boiling  of  contaminated  water 
makes  it  harmless." 

"  There  is  abundant  evidence  that  cows  are  often  tuberculous  while 
seeming  to  be  healthy,  and  within  the  past  two  or  three  years  veter- 
inarians have  been  impressed  by  the  prevalence  of  this  disease  in  herds 
of  beef  cattle  as  well  as  on  dairy  farms.  There  is  trustworthy  evidence 
that  consumption  may  be  and  is  communicated  from  such  animals  to 
man  by  means  of  beef  and  milk.  The  only  secure  method  of  prevent- 
ing infection  from  these  sources  is  by  exposing  the  beef  and  the  milk  to 
intense  heat — by  thorough  cooking  and  by  boiling,  and  by  careful  and 
intelligent  inspection  of  beef  cattle  and  diary  cows.  The  sooner  the 
Government  takes  the  matter  of  beef  inspection  in  hand  the  better  it 
will  be  for  the  whole  community.  The  proposition  has  been  extensively 
advocated  by  the  American  Analyst,  and  we  are  gratified  to  find  our 
contemporaries  of  the  press,  and  the  public  sense  generally,  adopting  our 
views  with  eager  earnestness.  We  may  not  go  so  far  as  the  chief  of  the 
veterinary  school  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  Dr.  Huidekoper, 
who  recently  declared  his  belief  that  nearly  one  half  of  the  deaths  from 
consumption  in  this  country  were  the  direct  result  of  eating  tuberculous 
beef.  But  we  consider  it  fully  established  that,  as  the  New  York  Times 
says  :  '  Many  deaths  due  to  this  disease  are  primarily  caused  by  the  in- 
troduction of  the  tubercle  bacilllus  into  the  human  system  from  the 
beef  of  tuberculous  cattle  and  the  milk  of  infectious  cows.'  If  ever 
there  was  a  subject  that  demanded  the  prompt  attention  of  Congress  it  is 
this  one  of  the  establishment  of  a  corps  of  national  beef  inspectors,  to 
be  placed  on  duty  at  every  great  cattle  centre  and  slaughtering  depot  in 
the  United  States." — Analyst. 

Loeflund's  Sterilized  Cream  Milk  meets  every  requirement  of  a 
thoroughly  good  milk.  The  cattle  in  the  Alpine  district,  whence  it 
comes,  are  kept  under  the  strictest  medical  supervision  by  Government 
officials.  The  country,  however,  is  exceptionally  healthy — pure  air, 
pure  snow-fed  waters,  good  climate,  and  sweet  grasses  all  combine  to 
produce  rich,  wholesome  milk.  In  addition  to  this  the  milk  is  condensed 
to  about  one-fourth  its  original  volume,  and  then  thoroughly  sterilized. 
No  anti-septics  or  sugar  are  used  in  this  process,  and  the  product  is  as 
pure  and  wholesome  a  milk  as  can  be  obtained,  far  better  for  infants, 
indeed,  than  the  average  milk  when  even  fresh  from  the  cow. 


THE 


Homeopathic  Recorder, 


Vol.  IV.  PHILADELPHIA,  MAY,  1889.  No.  3. 


EDITORIAL. 

The  potence,  time,  and  frequence  of  the  dose  in  homoeopathic 
practice  is  undoubtedly  much  more  puzzling  to  the  average  prac- 
titioner than  the  choice  of  the  remedy;  his  cases,  if  carefully  con- 
sidered at  all  points,  will  generally  indicate  to  him,  if  a  student  of 
materia  medica,  the  proper  remedy  to  be  selected,  but  not  so  the 
dose.  "When  we  fully  appreciate  that  case  A  requires  the  d  in  the 
morning,  hourly  ;  while  case  B  must  have  the  30th  thrice  per  diem, 
and  case  C  without  doubt  requires  the  M.  potency  once  a  fortnight ; 
then,  and  then  only, will  we  be  able  to  apply  homoeopathy  as  it  should 
be  practiced. 

There  are  certainly  but  few  general  rules  for  dosage,  fully  as  few 
in  fact  as  there  are  specifics  among  remedies,  and  in  the  light  of  this 
feature  of  practice,  the  great  difficulties  of  homoeopathy  loom  up 
before  us  like  seeming  inaccessible  mountains,  and  we  feel  that  to 
be  first-class  prescribers  we  should  be  allotted  the  days  of  Methuselah 
in  order  that  we  may  be  of  some  use  to  suffering  humanity  ere  we 
return  again  to  unthinking  clay.  It  is  mostly  this  difficulty  that 
drives  our  less  patient  and  plodding  physicians  into  the  mire  of  a 
mongrel  form  of  palliative  medication. 

In  order  to  be  good  posologists  we  should  fully  understand  :  first, 
the  nature  of  our  drugs,  and  then  the  nature  of  our  patients,  particu- 
larly as  regards  temperament.  Deep  study,  therefore,  and  careful 
observation  are  evidently  the  needs  of  good  prescribers.  This  is 
particularly  necessary  in  the  proper  treatment  of  chronic  diseases, 
where  the  individual  treated  requires  as  through  a  study  as  do  his 
symptoms;  as  it  is  here  that  etiology,  physiology,  and  pathology 
will  avail  us  little. 

To  speak  collectively,  in  acute  diseases  one  may  be  successful  with 

VOL.  IV.— 7 


98  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

most  any  strength  of  remedy  from  the  « to  the  6x  in  the  bilious  and 
phlegmatic,  or  the  30th  cent,  or  higher  in  the  nervous  and  sanguine 
individual ;  yet  in  persons  of  mixed  temperaments,  especially  the 
nervo-bilious  and  the  bilio-sanguine,  great  care  will  need  be  taken  in 
the  selection  and  repetition  of  the  dose,  as  no  rule  can  be  found 
applicable  to  any  two  sequential  cases.  In  the  same  manner  in 
chronic  cases  the  15th-30th  may  be  found  curative  in  the  first  class, 
the  highest  potencies  in  the  second,  while  any  may  work  wonders  in 
the  third  or  mixed  individual. 

As  to  the  time  of  the  dose  there  is  no  general  rule,  the  preserver 
must  be  governed  by  the  aggravations  and  ameliorations  of  the 
remedy  chosen  as  well  as  its  strength. 

In  regard  to  frequence;  here  we  must  consider:  first,  the  strength 
of  the  drug  to  be  given ;  second,  the  condition  of  the  case  at  the 
time ;  and  third,  the  temperament  (individuality)  of  the  patient.  In 
general  the  more  acute  and  function  disturbing  the  case  and  lower 
the  potence,  the  more  frequent  may  be  the  dosage,  as  the  action  of  the 
remedy  may  be  considered  shorter  than  that  of  the  higher  potencies, 
and  the  disease  will  more  rapidly  correlate  its  work. 

In  chronic  diseases  we  will  often  get  more  prompt  alleviation  from 
the  lower  potencies,  but  the  remedy  here  will  soon  wear  itself  out  and , 
the  case  will,  through  its  speedy  and  insufficient  action,  become  often 
abominably  "  mixed."  Here  the  higher  potence  will  be  found  to  work 
much  more  slowly,  but  with  a  curative  action  so  handsome  and 
complete  that  the  phy sician  will  often  share  in  the  astonishment  felt 
by  his  patient  at  his  relief. 

The  class  of  the  disease  is  also  fruitful  in  guiding  us  to  the  strength 
and  frequence  of  the  dose.  As  a  rule  organic  diseases  will  require 
high  and  infrequent  remedial  agents ;  while  functional  disorders  will 
call  for  low  and  more  constant  medication. 

We  have  many  excellent  works  in  our  school  upon  pharmacology, 
symptomatology  and  therapeutics,  that  is  to  say  upon  the  theory  and 
law  of  practice,  but  a  work  upon  posology,  or  the  practical  essence  of 
prescribing,  has  never  been,  nor,  we  fear,  never  can  be  written  ;  as  this 
is  a  point  of  judgment,  clear-sightedness,  and  perfection  only  to  be 
gained  by  individual  aptitude  in  each  physician  himself. 

In  reporting  clinical  cases  greater  care  should  be  taken  by  corre- 
spondents to  mention  their  ideas  of  the  individuality  of  the  patient 
treated,  otherwise  the  mention  of  the  drug  alone  should  be  made, 
as  the  noting  of  the  potence  and  frequence  of  the  dose  have  little  or 
xather  no  significance  otherwise,  and  are  oftener  misleading  than 
instructive. 

We  feel  confident  that  the  homoeopathy  of  the  future  will  be  far 
superior  to  that  of  the  present,  though  the  same  therapeutic  value  of 
4the  remedies  as  such  will  pertain,  and  the  same  law,  similia  similibiis 


THE  HOMOEOPATHIC  RECORDER.  99 

curentur,  will  prevail.     What  will  work  then  the  beneficial  chai 
We  answer,  nothing  more  surdy  than  the  more  zealous  study  of  the 

patient,  and  the  proper  adaptation  of  the  poteneeof  the  drug  to  the 
individuality  of  the  .sick.  When  this  improvement  comes,  tli<-n  will 
the  insensate  quarrels  of  the  High  and  the  Low  of  the  present 
become  sorrowful  lessons  to  the  scientific  physician  of  the  new  era. 


A  CASE  OF  DIABETES  MELLITUS*. 
By  Dr.  Aegidi. 

The  patient,  whose  disease  I  here  describe,  is  a  landowner,  43  years 
of  age,  married,  and  the  father  of  two  healthy  children.  His  die 
began  in  April,  1861  (after  taking  cold  in  consequence  of  getting  his 
body  thorougly  wet),  with  a  rheumatic  fever;  after  which,  two 
months  later,  the  first  signs  of  the  present  chronic  disease  appeared, 
which  since  then  has  gradually  become  worse.  He  was  seven  months 
under  the  care  of  four  allopathic  physicians,  treated  with  various 
remedial  mixtures,  and  by  a  homoeopathic  physician  with  Sulph., 
Cole.,  Ac.  phos.,  Merc.  oxid.  rubr.,  Phos.,  An.,  Sllic,  Magna,  mur.,  etc., 
in  low  potencies  in  repeated  doses,  without  the  least  result. 

In  February,  1862,  the  patient  came  under  my  treatment,  when 
the  following  condition  was  noted :  The  patient  was  of  medium 
size,  normally  built,  hair  of  blonde  color,  and  gray  eyed.  He  was 
terribly  emaciated,  his  face  was  fallen  in,  breast  flat,  ribs  distinctly 
prominent,  muscles  of  the  extremities  relaxed  and  withered,  nearly 
skin  and  bones. 

The  tongue  and  gums  were  very  red,  the  latter  relaxed  and  reced- 
ing from  the  teeth.  The  epigastrium  was  distended  and  very  sensi- 
tive, the  liver  hypertrophied,  the  bowels  obstructed  and  the  stools 
of  a  gray  color. 

The  skin  was  withered  and  covered  on  the  chest  with  an  erythema. 
Dull  pain  in  the  region  of  the  right  kidney  on  pressure.  The 
urinary  secretion  was  excessively  increased,  the  amount  of  urine 
passed  in  the  last  days  amounted  to  about  16-18  pounds  daily.  The 
urine  wras  pale,  almost  like  water,  and  yet  somewhat  whey-like, 
viscid,  foaming  after  passing,  of  an  acid  reaction,  specific  gravity 
1.103,f  amount  of  sugar  about  5i  per  cent.  The  appetite  and  thirst 
were  enormous ;  sleep  was  disturbed  by  frequent  urination,  spirits 
depressed,  very  despondent  and  anxious,  mind  dull  and  thoughts 
confused.     The  patient  felt  very  exhausted  and  without  strength  ; 

*  Translated  from  the  "Allgem.  Hum.  ZeiL,  Bed.  67,  Xo.  20,"  by  Messrs.  F.  Pritch- 
ard  and  Albert  Pick. 

f  This  high  specific  gravity  seems  rather  peculiar. — Translators. 


100  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

walking  and  all  bodily  movements  difficult.  Pains  in  the  ankle- 
joints  and  heaviness  of  the  feet.  In  the  morning  after  sleeping, 
tired  feeling  and  debility.  All  the  symptoms  are  made  worse  by 
rest.  Thirst  most  violent  the  whole  forenoon  with  feeling  of  internal 
chilliness,  confusion  of  the  head,  pressive  pain  in  the  forehead,  especi- 
ally after  meals,  roaring  in  the  ears,  sometimes  vertigo  with  follow- 
ing nausea  and  difficulty  in  swallowing. 

As  regards  the  history  of  the  case,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  the 
patient  up  to  his  twenty-sixth  year  enjoyed  good  health  and  was 
strong;  he  denies  ever  having  the  itch,  but  confesses  having  con- 
tracted in  his  nineteenth  year  a  gonorrhoea,  which  in  spite  of  reme- 
dies and  injections  lasted  nearly  a  year.  Upon  careful  examination 
the  following  was  obtained  : 

Long  after  disappearance  of  the  gonorrhoea  for  quite  a  while  he 
noticed  a  troublesome  itching  on  'the  hairy  parts  of  the  genitals, 
which  was  especially  increased  by  the  warmth  of  the  bed.  After 
violently  scratching  the  itching  part  to  obtain  relief  he  noticed  at 
this  place  a  humid  eruption,  which  after  a  few  days  became  covered 
with  a  blackish  scurf,  leading  him  to  fear  that  he  had  pediculi 
(pubis).  Later,  after  this  troublesome  eruption  had  disappeared  of 
itself,  he  noticed  a  multitude  of  small  indurations  of  a  yellowish 
white  color,  in  the  form  of  small,  round  bodies  of  the  size  of  a  grain 
of  barley  on  his  scrotum.  These  gave  him  no  trouble,  but  disap- 
peared gradually,  leaving  no  trace.  Not  long,  however,  there  appeared 
on  the  inner  side  of  the  lips  and  on  the  edges  of  the  tongue  sore 
spots  of  the  size  of  the  head  of  a  nail  to  that  of  a  cent,  which  were 
covered  with  a  hard  membrane  resembling  mother  of  pearl  and 
which  caused  mastication  of  food  difficult.  He  used  Borax  with 
rose-honey  for  the  trouble,  which  gave  him  momentary  relief,  but 
however  did  not  prevent  the  recurrence  of  this  painful  local 
trouble.  Finally  it  entirely  disappeared  and  his  health  for  two 
years  was  in  every  respect  satisfactory. 

After  a  violent  cold,  taken  after  dancing  through  a  winter  night, 
he  contracted  such  a  terrible  rheumatism  that  for  six  weeks  he  was 
confined  to  his  bed.  The  disease  yielded  to  the  remedies  employed, 
but  left  him  with  a  painless  weakness  of  the  leg ;  even  to-day  does 
he  feel  a  sort  of  paralysis  in  it.  He  also  has  a  swelling  of  the  bone 
in  the  joint  of  the  right  clavicle,  which  from  time  to  time  gives  him 
pain,  and  even  now  troubles  him  some.  Up  to  the  beginning  of  his 
present  disease  he  could  not  complain  of  other  affections. 

After  learning  all  these  circumstances,  there  could  be  no  doubt  but 
that  the  patient  was  suffering  in  a  high  degree  from  constitutional 
gonorrhoea,  which  was  connected  with  the  diabetes. 

For  these  reasons  and  because  the  patient  was  of  the  hydrogenoid 


THE  HOMCEOPA  THIC  RECORDER.  101 

constitution,  T  did  not  hesitate  to  prescribe  him,  according  to  the 
totality  of  the  symptoms,  Natr.aulph.  and  Thuja. 

My  friend,  Dr.  Wolf,  having  repeatedly  warned  me  to  always  give 
Thuja  in  one  dose  and  never  to  repeat  it,  made  me  tearful,  and  I 

gave,  therefore,  this  patient  two  pellets  of  Thuja  30,  and  had  him  take 
eight  days  after  the  3d  centesimal  of  Natr.  sulph.,  five  drops  four  tit 
daily  in  a  cup  of  hot  water.*  I  will  not  describe  the  course  of  the 
disease  with  its  change  of  condition,  and  I  will  only  say  that  the 
result  of  this  treatment  was  astonishingly  favorable.  After  the 
patient  had  uninterruptedly  taken  Natr.  eulph.  for  four  months  as 
indicated  above,  he  completely  recovered  from  his  apparently  hope- 
less and  dangerous  disease.  More  than  a  year  has  passed  and  one 
would  now  not  recognize  the  man  then  given  up  to  die ;  he  feels 
strong,  healthy  and  able  to  work,  is  cheerful,  his  muscles  are 
strong,  he  has  increased  in  circumference,  his  face  expresses  well- 
being,  and  even  his  lame  leg  troubles  him  less. 

The  reader  of  this  case  will  surely  not  suppose  that  I  recommend 
Thuja,  and  especially  Glauber's  salt  as  a  specific  in  Diabetes  MeUitus. 
Not  at  all !  Every  case  has  its  own  peculiar  characteristic  symptoms,  and 
indicates  a  special  remedy. 


POTHOS  (Skunk  Cabbage). 
Symplocarpus  fcetida,  Salisb. ;  Pothos  fcetida,  Michx. 

(COPYRIGHT  SECURED.) 

This  perennial,  odorous  member  of  the  natural  order  Aracex  is 
one  of  our  most  common  meadowr  and  bog  plants.  From  its  very 
realistic,  skunk-like  odor  when  cut  or  bruised,  and  its  resemblance 
in  shape  of  leaf  and  mode  of  growth  to  the  cabbage,  it  has  t>een 
commonly  well  known  as  the  skunk  cabbage. 

Belonging  to  the  same  family  as  the  Calla  lily  and  Indian  turnip, 
the  shape  of  its  flower  becomes  at  once  familiar  to  anyone  who 
observes  it.  Among  the  first  plants  to  flower  in  spring  is  this  spe- 
cies, and  by  closely  observing  the  surface  of  any  boggy  meadow  in 
the  latter  part  of  March  or  early  April  one  will  find  irrupting  the 
earth  like  a  mushroom  the  points  of  many  beautiful  spathes  gaping 
open  to  extend  invitations  to  the  earliest  slugs  and  carrion  beetles 
of  the  season.  These  are  the  flowers  of  Pothos  appearing  some  time 
before  the  leaves,  and  when  divested  of  the  mud  that  clings  to  them, 
and  polished  with  a  damp  cloth,  as  the  apple-woman  serves  her 

*  I  have  observed  that  Glauber's  salt  taken  in  hot  water  acts  excellently,  as  also 
the  degree  of  temperature  in  the  Karlsbad  warm  baths  essentially  modifies  its 
action. 


102  THE  HOM(EOPATHIG  BEGOBDER. 

pippins,  they  shine  out  in  beautiful  mottled  purple,  orange,  and 
deep  red,  and,  being  very  fleshy,  will  keep  up  appearances  many 
days  if  cut  deep  and  placed  in  hyacinth  jars. 

The  root  is  large,  thick,  and  cylindrical,  giving  off  its  lower  end 
numerous  long,  cylindrical  branches ;  the  leaves  which  appear  on 
the  fertilization  of  the  ovary  are  large,  smooth,  entire,  and  deeply 
plaited  into  rounded  folds.  On  opening  the  pointed  spathe  or 
floral  envelope,  a  club-like  mass  will  be  noted  arising  from  its  base. 
This  is  the  spadix  bearing  the  naked  flowers,  which  are  perfect, 
consisting  of  a  four-angled  style  and  four  awl-shaped  stamens. 
The  fruit,  when  mature,  is  a  globular,  ill-smelling,  glutinous  mass, 
consisting  of  the  enlarged,  fleshy  spadix  and  changed  perianths, 
and  enclosing  several  large  bullet-like  seeds. 

The  roots  are  easily  gathered,  one  alone  being  sufficient  to  make 
a  year's  stock  of  tincture  for  the  most  lavish  practitioner. 

The  Tincture. 

Take  the  fresh  root  stalks  and  rootlets,  gathered  in  spring  on  the 
first  appearance  of  the  flowers,  and  chop  and  pound  them  to  a  pulp, 
and  weigh.  Then  taking  two  parts,  by  weight,  of  alcohol,  mix  the 
pulp  with  one-sixth  part  of  it,  add  the  balance,  and,  after  stirring 
the  whole  well,  pour  it  into  a  well-stoppered  bottle  and  let  it  stand 
for  eight  days  in  a  dark,  cool  place.  After  straining  and  filtering, 
the  resulting  tincture  should  be  of  a  light  brown  color  and  have  a 
slightly  acrid  taste  and  a  neutral  reaction. 

Chemistry. 

The  active  principle  of  this  plant  is  doubtless  volatile,  as  the  dried 
root  presents  none  of  the  acridity  of  the  fresh,  and  is  odorless  as 
well.  Dr.  J.  M.  Turner*  determined  in  the  root  a  volatile  fatty 
bod)T,  a  volatile  oil,  a  fixed  oil,  and  a  specific  resin. 


POTHOS  FCETIDA. 

A   Thank-offering  to  the  memory  of  one  who  was  an  honest  man 
and  an  earnest  physician. 

S.  A.  Jones,  M.D. 

On  the  16th  of  December,  1887,  there  came  into  my  hands  a  case 
that  the  family  physician  (a  homoeopath)  had  pronounced  epilepsy 
and  declared  incurable.  Upon  being  consulted,  his  diagnosis  had 
been  confirmed  and  his  prognosis  corroborated  by  the  late  Prof.  E. 
S.  Dunster,  of  the  University  of  Michigan. 

*  Am.  Jour.  Phar.}  vol.  ii.,  p.  1. 


THE  HOMCEOPA  TH1C  EEC 'ORDER.  103 

Up  to  date,  thai  identical  patienl  lias  had  neither  a"  fit  "nor  any 
approximation  thereto,  and  that  facl  is  an  occasion  of  this  paper. 

One  who  already  discerns  the  first  gray  shadows  of  that  [light 
which  conies  to  all,  does  not  now  write  at  the  urging,  or  the  itching, 
of  the  EgO.  He  disclaims  any  merit,  having  evinced  only  a 
monkey-like  imitativeness.  He  had  from  the  Infinite, the  gift  of  a 
irond  memory,  and  an  old  hook,  picked  np  one  happy  day  at  a 
street  stall,  Hashed  into  recollection  some  twelve  years  later,  and 
enabled  him  then  to  imitate  the  much  earlier  doing  of  its  worthy 

author — 

"Only  the  actions  of  the  just 
Smell  sweet  and  blossom  in  the  dust." 

This  dead  worthy, — he  that  wras  James  Thacher,  M.D., — more  than 
any  other,  made  known  the  virtues  of  Pothos  fatida,  and  gratitude 
for  what  his  book  had  taught  me  to  do,  made  me  feel  that  to  write 
up  this  forgotten  remedy  were  the  fittest  return  that  I  could  make 
for  his  well  doing. 

A  second  incentive,  ample  enough,  is  found  in  the  fact  that  the 
first  homoeopathic  paper  on  Pothos  fat.  has  never  had  a  faithful 
translation  into  our  language,  and  has  not  been  critically  re- 
produced in  any  other.  A  study  of  the  Homoeopathic  Bibliography, 
as  given  in  this  paper,  will  teach  an  impressive  lesson  not  only  to 
the  real  student  of  Materia  Medica,  but  also  to  those  who  assume 
the  responsibilities  of  editorship. 

A  third  inducement,  and  perhaps  a  pardonable,  is  the  singular 
fact  that  much  search  in  our  literature  has  not  enabled  me  to  find 
any  instance  of  the  clinical  application  of  Pothos  fat.  by  a  homoeo- 
pathic practitioner.  If  any  reader  knows  of  any  such,  he  will 
greatly  gratify  the  writer  by  making  it  known. 

An  Empirical  Bibliography.* 

1785.     Rev.  Dr.  M.  Cutler. — Memoirs  of  the  American  Academy  of 

Arts  and  Sciences.     Boston. 
1787.     D.  J.  D.  Schoepf,  M.D. — Materia  Medica  Americana  potissi- 

mum    Regni     Vegetabilis.      Erlangen.     (Not    in    my    possession. 

Quoted  from  Barton.) 
1813.     James    Thacher,   M.D. —  The    American   New    Dispensatory. 

Boston.     (This  is  the  second  edition  wherein  Pothos  is  mentioned 

for  the  first  time.     Our  citations  are  from  the  fourth  edition. 

Boston,  1821.) 

*  As  my  researches  are  confined  to  my  own  library,  I  do  not  profess  to  be  ex- 
haustive. I  have  not  given  all  the  references  at  my  command,  but  have  aimed  to 
include  such  writers  as  have  made  positive  contributions  to  our  knowledge  of  this 
drug.     Of  my  list,  only  Rafinesque  is  a  mere  (but  a  useful)  compiler. 


104  THE  HOMCEOPA  THIC  BECOBDEB. 

1817.  James  Thacher,  M.D. — American  Modern  Practice,  etc. 
Boston. 

1818  Jacob  Bigelow,  M.D.—  American  Medical  Botany,  etc.  Vol.  2. 
Boston. 

1820.  Wm.  M.  Hand. — The  House-Surgeon  and  Physician.  Second 
edition.     New  Haven. 

1822.  Jacob  Bigelow,  M.D.— A  Sequel  to  the  Pharmacopoeia  of  the 
U.  S..     Boston. 

1822.  John  Eberle,  M.D—  Materia  Medica  and  Therapeutics. 
Philadelphia.  (The  citations  are  from  the  fourth  edition.  Phila- 
delphia, 1836.) 

1825.  Ansel  W.  Ives,  M.D.— Paris' s  Pharmacologia.  Third  Ameri- 
can edition.     New  York. 

1830.  Elisha  Smith. —  The  Botanic  Physician,  etc.  New  York. 
(The  title  page  proclaims  him  "  president  of  the  New  York 
Association  of  Botanic  Physicians.") 

1838.     C.  S.  Rafinesque. — Medical  Flora,  etc.     Philadelphia. 

It  was  admitted  into  the  catalogus  secundarius  of  the  second  edition 

of  The  Pharmacopoeia  of  the   United  States  of  America,  and  dropped 

into  the  dust-heap  when  the  men  who  knew  how  to  use  it  had 

passed  away. 

II. 

Empirical  Applications. 

In  dealing  with  authors  who  have  gone  to  their  reward,  it  has 
always  seemed  to  me  a  duty  to  give  their  own  words  as  far  as  pos- 
sible. It  brings  them  face  to  face  with  the  reader,  and  is  as  if  one 
brushed  the  moss  from  their  gravestones,  or  perhaps,  like  Old  Mor- 
tality, carved  afresh  a  half-obliterated  name. 

It  is  not  the  briefest  way,  but  it  has  the  merit  of  showing  from 
whence  the  bricks  came  of  which  the  edifice  is  built.  I  shall,  then, 
cite  the  authorities  in  chronological  order,  and  copiously  enough  to 
include  essentials. 

Cutler. — The  roots  dried  and  powdered  are  an  excellent  medicine 
in  asthmatic  cases,  and  often  give  relief  when  other  means  are  in- 
effectual. It  may  be  given  with  safety  to  children  as  well  as  to 
adults  ;  to  the  former,  in  doses  of  four,  five  or  six  grains,  and  to  the 
latter  in  doses  of  twenty  grains  and  upwards.  It  is  given  in  the  fit, 
and  repeated  as  the  case  may  require.  This  knowledge  is  said  to 
have  been  obtained  from  the  Indians,  who,  it  is  likewise  said,  repeat 
the  dose,  after  the  paroxysm  (sic)  is  gone  off,  several  mornings,  then 
miss  as  many,  and  repeat  it  again ;  thus  continuing  the  medicine 
until  the  patient  is  perfectly  recovered.  It  appears  to  be  antispas- 
modic, and  bids  fair  to  be  useful  in  many  other  disorders. —  Op.  cit., 
1,  409. 


THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER.  105 

Schoepf. — T  am  obliged  to  cite  al  Pecond  hand,  as  r  have  never  been 
able  to  find  a  copy  of  his  opus.  One  may  judge  of  its  rarity,  when 
a  foreign  advertisement  bya  German  bookseller  some  years  since 
failed  to  obtain  it  for  me. 

Prof.  W.  P.  C.  Barton,  op.  rit..  gives  the  gist  of  the  Hessian  Bur- 
geon's contribution  in  a  style  and  manner  as  prim  and  orderly  as 
that  of  Surgeon  Schoepf  himself  on  a  dress  parade. 

"  Pharm.     Dracontii  Radix. 
Qual.     AciriSj  alliacea,  nauseosa. 
Vis.     Tncidens,  califacien8,  expedornns. 

Usus :  fol.  contrita  ad  vulnera  recejUia  et  uicera.     Tussis  consumptiva. 
Scorbutus  et  alii  morbi  radix  Art  officin.  utilis" 

"Incidens"  :  Young  reader,  you  must  go  back  more  than  a  century 
to  understand  the  "  pathology  "  that  is  wrapped  up  in  that  word  like 
a  mummy  in  its  cerements.  Don't  laugh  at  that  "  pathology,"  for 
some  graceless  graduate  will  laugh  at  yours  in  1989.  Note,  how- 
ever, in  passing,  that  Schoepf  says  nothing,  save  turns,  that  suggests 
the  vis  antispasmodica  of  Cutler. 

Thacher. — The  roots  and  seeds,  when  fresh,  impart  to  the  mouth 
a  sensation  of  pungency  and  acrimony  similar  to  arum. 

It  may  be  ranked  high  as  an  antispasmodick,  experience  having 
evinced  that  it  is  not  inferior  to  the  most  esteemed  remedies  of  that 
class.  In  cases  of  asthmatick  affections,  it  alleviates  the  most  dis- 
tressing symptoms,  and  shortens  the  duration  of  the  paroxysms. 
.  .  .  Rev.  Dr.  Cutler  experienced  in  his  own  particular  case  very 
considerable  relief  from  this  medicine,  after  others  had  disappointed 
his  expectations.  .  .  .  The  seeds  of  this  plant  are  said  by  some  to 
afford  more  relief  in  asthmatick  cases  than  the  root. 

In  obstinate  hysterick  affections  this  medicine  has  surpassed  in 
efficacy  all  those  antispasmodicks  which  have  generally  been  em- 
ployed, and  in  several  instances  it  has  displayed  its  powers  like  a 
charm.  In  one  of  the  most  violent  hysterick  cases  I  ever  met  with, 
says  a  correspondent,  where  the  usual  antispasmodicks,  and  even 
musk  had  failed,  two  teaspoonfuls  of  the  powdered  root  procured 
immediate  relief;  and  on  repeating  the  trials  with  the  same  patient, 
it  afforded  more  lasting  benefit  than  any  other  medicine.  In  those 
spasmodick  affections  of  the  abdominal  muscles  during  parturition, 
or  after  delivery,  this  root  has  proved  an  effectual  remedy.  In 
chronick  rheumatism,  and  erratick  pains  of  a  spasmodick  nature,  it 
often  performs  a  cure,  or  affords  essential  relief. 

It  has  in  some  cases  of  epilepsy  suspended  the  fits,  and  greatly 
alleviated  the  symptoms. 

In  hooping  cough,  and  other  pulmonick  affections,  it  proves  bene- 
ficial in  the  form  of  syrup. 

During  every  stage  of  nervous  and  hysterick  complaints,  and  in 
cramps  and  spasms,  this  medicine  is  strongly  recommended  as  a 
valuable  substitute  for  the  various  antispasmodick  remedies  com- 
monly employed.  It  is  free  from  the  heating  and  constipating 
qualities  of  opium.    [Yet  Schoepf  endowed  it  with  the  vis  adifaciers.~\ 


106  THE  HOMOEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

Having  in  a  few  instances  tested  its  virtues  in  subsultus  tendinum, 
attending  typhus  fever,  its  pleasing  effects  will  encourage  the  future 
employment  of  it  in  similar  cases. 

Two  instances  have  been  related  in  which  this  medicine  has  been 
supposed  to  be  remarkably  efficacious  in  the  cure  of  dropsy. 

The  roots  should  be  taken  up  in  the  autumn  or  spring,  before 
the  leaves  appear,  and  carefully  dried  for  use.  Its  strength  is  im- 
paired by  long  keeping,  especially  in  a  powered  state. — Mat.  Med., 
4th  ed.,  p.  249. 

A  young  woman,  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  was  harassed  by 
severe  convulsive  and  hysterick  paroxysms,  almost  incessantly, 
insomuch  that  her  friends  estimated  the  number  at  seven  hun- 
dred in  the  course  of  a  few  weeks ;  her  abdomen  was  remarkably 
tumefied  and  tense,  and  there  was  a  singular  bloatedness  of  the 
whole  surface  of  her  body,  and  the  slightest  touch  would  occa- 
sion intolerable  pain.  At  length  her  extremities  became  rigid 
and  immovable  (sic),  and  her  jaw  was  so  completely  locked 
that  she  was  unable  to  articulate,  and  liquids  could  only  be 
introduced  through  the  vacuity  of  a  lost  tooth.  She  had  been 
treated  with  a  variety  of  antispasmodick  and  other  medicines,  by 
an  experienced  physician,  without  relief.  Having  prepared  a  strong 
infusion  of  the  dried  root  of  skunk  cabbage,  I  directed  half  a  tea- 
cupful  to  be  given  every  few  hours,  without  any  other  medicine ; 
the  favorable  effects  of  which  were  soon  observable,  and  by  per- 
sisting in  the  use  of  it  about  ten  days,  the  muscular  contractions 
were  removed,  the  jaw  was  relaxed,  and  her  faculty  of  speech  and 
swallowing,  with  the  use  of  all  her  limbs,  were  come  completely 
effected. 

Another  young  women  had  been  exercised  with  the  most  dis- 
tressing paroxysms  of  hysteria  for  several  days,  without  obtaining 
relief  by  the  medicines  prescribed ;  when  the  skunk  cabbage  infu- 
sion was  so  successfully  directed  that  her  fits  were  immediately 
arrested,  and  in  a  few  days  a  cure  was  completely  effected. 

The  brother  of  this  patient  was  seized  with  violent  convulsions 
of  the  whole  body,  in  consequence  of  a  cut  on  his  foot;  the  skunk 
cabbage  was  administered,  and  he  was  speedily  restored  to  perfect 
health. 

A  woman  was  affected  with  violent  spasm odick  pains,  twenty- 
four  hours  after  parturition ;  six  doses  of  skunk  cabbage  entirely 
removed  her  complaints. — American  Modern  Practice,  p.  530. 

Barton. — The  smell  from  the  spathe  and  flowers  is  pungent  and 
very  subtle.  Experience  leads  me  to  believe  they  possess  a  great 
share  of  acridity  ;  having  been  seized  with  a  very  violent  inflammation 
of  my  eyes  (for  the  first  time  in  my  life),  which  deprived  me  of  the 
use  of  them  for  a  month,  by  making  the  original  drawings  of  these 
plates.  The  pungency  of  the  plant  was  probably  concentrated  by 
the  closeness  of  the  room,  in  which  many  specimens  were  at  the 
time  shut  up. —  Veg.  Mat.  Med.,  1,  128.  [The  italics  are  not  in  the 
original  text] 

The  seeds  are  said  to  afford  more  relief  in  asthmatic  cases  than 
the  root ;  and  this  I  believe  very  probable,  for  they  are  remark- 
ably active,  pugent,  and,  as  has  before  been  mentioned,  exhale  the 
odor  of  assafoetida. — Op.  cit,  p.  131. 

The  bruised  leaves  are  frequently  applied  to  ulcers  and  recent 


THE  H0MCE0PATH1C  RECORDER.  107 

wounds,  and,  it  is  said,  witli  good  effect.    They  are  also  used  as 
an  external  application  in  cutaneous  affections ;  and  I  have  heard 
of  the  expressed  juice  being  successfully  applied  to  different   ap 
cies  of  herpes.    The  leaves  are  also  used  in  the  country  to  d 

blisters,  with  the  view  of  promoting  their  discharge For 

this  purpose  I  can  recommend  them  where  it  is  desirable  to  pro- 
mote a  large  and  speedy  discharge,  and  no  stimulating  ointment  Is 
at    hand. 

Colden  recommends  the  skunk  cabbage  in  scurvy. —  Op.  dt.,  p. 
132. 

Bigelow, — The  odor  of  the  Ictodes  resides  in  a  principle  which  is 
extremely  volatile.  I  have  not  been  able  to  separate  it  by  distilla- 
tion from  any  part  of  the  plant,  the  decoction  and  the  distilled  water 
being  in  my  experiments  but  slightly  impregnated  with  its  sensible 
character.  Alcohol,  digested  on  the  plant,  retains  its  odor  for  a  time, 
but  this  is  soon  dissipated  by  exposure  to  the  air. 

An  acrid  principle  resides  in  the  root,  even  when  perfectly  dry, 
producing  an  effect  like  that  of  the  Arum  and  the  Ranunculi.  When 
chewed  in  the  mouth,  the  root  is  slow  in  manifesting  its  peculiar 
taste ;  but  after  some  moments,  a  pricking  sensation  is  felt,  which 
soon  amounts  to  a  disagreeable  smarting,  and  continues  for  some 
time.  This  acrimony  is  readily  dissipated  by  beat.  The  decoction 
retains  none  of  it.  The  distilled  water  is  impregnated  with  it,  if 
the  process  be  carefully  conducted,  but  loses  it  on  standing  a  short 
time. — Amer.  Med.  Bot,  2,  45. 

To  insure  a  tolerably  uniform  activity  of  this  medicine,  the  root 
should  be  kept  in  dried  slices,  and  not  reduced  to  powder  until  it  is 
wanted  for  use. — Op.  cit.,  p.  49. 

A  number  of  cases  have  fallen  under  my  own  observation  of  the 
catarrhal  affections  of  old  people,  in  which  a  syrup  prepared  from 
the  root  in  substance  has  alleviated  and  removed  the  complaint. — 
Op.  cit..  p.  48. 

In  delicate  stomachs  I  have  found  it  frequently  to  occasion  vomit- 
ing even  in  a  small  quantity.  In  several  cases  of  gastrodynia, 
where  it  was  given  with  a  view  to  its  antispasmodic  effect,  it  was 
ejected  from  the  stomach  more  speedily  than  common  cathartic 
medicines.  I  have  known  it  in  a  dose  of  thirty  grains  to  bring  on 
not  only  vomiting,  but  headache  [sic],  vertigo  and  temporary  blind- 
ness. —  Op  cit.,  pp.  48-49. 

Hand. — The  root  is  a  pungent  antispasmodic  in  colics  and  grip- 
ing of  the  bowels. 

Leaves  bruised  relieve  painful  swellings,  whitlows,  etc. — House 
Sure/,  and  Phys.,  p.  250. 

Ebcrlc. — In  chronic  cough  attended  with  a  cold,  phlegmatic  habit 
of  body,  I  have  employed  the  powdered  root  of  this  plant  with 
the  most  decided  benefit.  In  an  old  man  who  had  been  for  many 
years  afflicted  with  a  very  troublesome  cough  and  difficulty  of 
breathing,  I  found  nothing  to  give  so  much  relief  as  this  substance. 

In  cases  of  chronic  catarrhal  and  asthmatic  affections,  and  very 
generally  with  evident  advantage. — Mat.  Med.  and  Thw\,  2,  154. 

Ives. — The  root  loses  its  pungent  taste,  and  appears  to  be  nearly 
inert  in  a  few  wTeeks  after  it  is  gathered.  I  prepared,  however,  an 
alcoholic  extract  some  years  ago,  by  digesting  the  fresh  roots  and 
evaporating  the  tincture  in  the  sun,  which  possessed  and  retained 


108  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

all  the  acrimony  of  the  recent  root.  The  fresh  leaves  are  actively 
rubefacient, — Pharmacologic,  p.  147. 

Smith. — Skunk  cabbage  is  not  only  a  good  antispasmodic  in  all 
cases  where  such  are  indicated,  but  it  is  also  a  powerful  emmena- 
gogue,  anthelmintic,  and  a  valuable  remedy  in  dropsy,  in  spasms, 
rheumatism,  palpitations,  etc.     It  is  frequently  used  iii  childbed  to 

promote  the  birth For  expelling  worms,  the  pulverized  root 

should  be  administered  in  molasses  for  a  sufficient  length  of  time, 
following  it  up  with  a  purge. —  Op.  cit.,  p.  511. 

Bafinesque. — Powerful  antispasmodic,  expectorant,  incisive,  vermi- 
fuge, menagogue,  sudorific,  etc.  Used  with  success  in  spasmodic 
asthmas  and  coughs,  hysterics,  pertussis,  epilepsy,  dropsy,  scurvy, 
chronic  rheumatism,  erradic  and  spasmodic  pains,  parturition, 
amenorrhcea,  worms,  etc. —  Op.  cit,  2,  230. 

III. 

The  Homceopathic  Bibliography.* 
1837.     Correspondenzblatt  der  Horn.  Aerzte,  January  18th,  2d  part,  No. 

1,  p.  6.     Allentown,  Pa.     Hering,  Humphreys,  and  Lingen. 
1843.     Symptomus  Kodex,  vol.  2,  p.  392.     Jahr.  [Taken   from  the 

Correspondenzblatt,  and  not  correctly.]     Handbuch  der  Horn.  Arz- 

neimittellehre,  vol.  3,  p.  613.     Noack   and  Trinks.     [Taken  from 

the  Correspondenzblatt,  and  incompletely.] 

1847.  Manual  of  Horn.  Mat.  Med.— Jahr.  Translated  by  Curie,  2d 
ed.,  vol.  1,  p.  462.  London.  [This  is  the  first  appearance  of  the 
Allentown  "  abstract  of  symptoms  "  in  English.  Curie  credits  his 
data  to  some  "  United  States'  Journal,"  probably  meaning  the 
Correspondenzblatt.  His  translation  is  erroneous,  and  yet,  up  to  date, 
it  is  the  fullest  source  of  information  for  him  who  reads  English 
only.] 

1848.  New  Manual  or  Symptomen  Codex. — Jahr.  Translated  by 
Hempel,  vol.  2,  p.  573.  [This  is  a  singularly  incomplete  trans- 
lation from  the  German  Kodex,  with  no  reference  to  any  source. 
A  literal  copy  of  this  translation  is  all  there  is  of  Pothosfcet.  in  the 
Encyclopedia.  It  omits  the  only  symptom  in  the  Correspondenz- 
blatt abstract  that  made  my  application  of  this  remedy  not  purely 
empirical.] 

1851.  Jahr's  New  Manual.     Edited  by  Hull,  3d  ed.,  vol.  1,  p.  797. 

1851.  Characteristik  der  Horn.  Arzneien.     Possart,  part  2,  p.  506. 

1860.  "  Hull's  Jahr."    A  New  Manual  of  Horn.  Practice.     Edited  by 

Snelling,  4th  ed  ,  vol.  1,  p.  977. 

1866.  Text-Book  of  Mat.  Med.     Lippe,  p.  545. 

1878.  Encyclopsedia  of  Pure  Materia  Medica,     Allen,  vol.  9,  p.  155. 

1884.  American  Medicinal  Plants.     Millspaugh,  vol.  1,  p.  169. 

*  The  definite  article  is  used  because  it  is  believed  to  be  complete,  thanks  to  the 
scholarship  and  courtesy  of  Dr.  Henry  M.  Smith,  of  New  York.  To  him,  also,  am 
I  indebted  for  the  original  text  of  Pothos.fcet.  from  the  Correspondenzblatt. 


THE  HOMiEOPA  TI1IC  RECORDER.  11 19 

Pernios    PCBTIDA   SYMPTOMATOLOGY. 

Translated  from  the  Correspondenzblatt  by  rr.  C.  Panning,  M.D., 
Tarrytown,  X.  V.* 

Because  the  odor  is  quite  like  Mephitis  it  is  considered  a  so-called 
antispasmodic. 

Abstract  qf  symptoms  from  Hering,  Humphreys^  and  IAngen. 

So  absent-minded  and  thoughtless  that  he  enters  the  sick  rooms 
without  knocking;  pays  no  attention  to  those  speaking  to  him. 
Irritable,  inclined  to  contradict;  violent. 

Headache  of  brief  duration,  in  single  spots,  now  here,  now  there, 
with  confusion.  Pressure  in  both  temples,  harder  on  one  side  than 
on  the  other  alternately,  with  violent  pulsation  of  the  temporal 
arteries. 

Drawing  in  the  forehead  in  two  lines  from  the  frontal  eminences 
to  the  glabella,  where  there  is  a  strong  outward  drawing  as  if  by  a 
magnet. 

Red  swelling,  like  a  saddle,  across  the  bridge  of  the  nose,  painful 
to  the  touch,  especially  on  the  left  side  near  the  forehead,  while  the 
cartilaginous  portion  is  cold  and  bloodless ;  with  red  spots  on  the 
cheek,  on  the  left  little  pimples  ;  swelling  of  the  cervical  and  sub- 
maxillary glands. 

Unpleasant  numb  sensation  in  the  tongue ;  cannot  project  it 
against  the  teeth  ;  papilla?  elevated  ;  tongue  redder,  with  sore  pain 
at  point  and  edge. 

Burning  sensation  from  the  fauces  down  through  the  chest.  With 
the  desire  to  smoke,  tobacco  tastes  badly. 

Pain  in  the  scrobiculus  cordis  as  if  something  broke  loose,  on 
stepping  hard. 

Inflation  and  tension  in  the  abdomen;  bellyache  here  and  there  in 
single  spots  ;  on  walking,  feeling  as  if  the  bowels  shook,  without 
pain. 

Stool  earlier  (in  the  morning),  frequent,  softer. 

Urging  to  urinate ;  very  dark  urine. 

Painful,  voluptuous  tickling  in  the  whole  of  the  glans  penis. 

Violent  sneezing,  causing  pain  in  the  roof  of  the  mouth,  the 
fauces  and  oesophagus  all  the  way  to  the  stomach,  followed  by  long- 
continued  pains  at  the  cardiac  orifice. 

Pain  in  chest  and  mediastinum  posticum,  less  in  the  arvticum^  with 
pain  under  the  shoulders,  which  seems  to  be  in  connection  with 
burning  in  the  oesophagus.     Pressing  pain  on  the  sternum. 

Sudden  feeling  of  anxiety,  with  difficult  [or  oppressed]  respira- 
tion and  sweat,  followed  by  stool  and  the  subsidence  of  these  and 
other  pains. 

*  Literalness  rather  than  elegance  has  been  sought  in  the  translating. 


110  THE  HOMOEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

Inclination  to  take  deep  inspirations  with  hollow  feeling  in  the 
chest,  later  with  contraction  in  the  fauces  and  chest. 

The  difficulty  of  breathing  is  better  in  the  open  air. 

Pain  in  the  crest  of  the  right  tibia. 

Rheumatic  troubles  increased. 

Sleepy  early  in  the  evening. 

All  troubles  disappear  in  the  open  air. 

In  attempting  to  analyze  this  "  abstract  of  symptoms,"  to  see  if 
the  internal  evidence  tends  to  show  that  the  recorded  effects  are 
genuine  results  of  the  drug,  it  is  well  to  remember  that  these  prov- 
ings — for  we  infer  that  three  observers  participated  therein — were 
made  in  the  light  of  the  empirical  history  of  Pothos.  foet.  The  said 
history  was  on  record  before  the  date  of  these  provings,  and  it  can- 
not have  escaped  Hering's  eye ;  he  was  too  wide  a  reader  for  that. 
He  was,  beyond  doubt,  aware  of  the  pathogenetic  effects  observed 
by  Bigelow — headache,  vertigo,  temporary  blindness,  vomiting,  even  from 
small  quantities.  Having,  then,  this  clue  to  its  physiological  action, 
these  s}Tmptoms  should  reappear  in  his  proving  if  his  imagination 
furnished  his  symptoms.  As  only  a  mild  headache  is  noted  in  the 
Correspondenzblatt,  it  is  evident  that  these  provers  did  not  work  from 
a  pattern.  It  is  also  evident  that  the  usus  in  morbis  did  not  suggest 
the  Allentown  symptomatology,  for  the  anti-asthmatic  virtue  of 
Pothos  feet,  is  one  feature  on  which  the  greatest  stress  had  been  laid, 
and  yet  the  only  pathogenetic  suggestion  of  its  applicability  in  asthma 
is:  "  Sudden  feeling  of  anxiety  with  difficult  [or  oppressed]  respiration 
and  sweat,  followed  by  stool  and  the  subsidence  of  these  and  other 
pains."  Who  ever  heard  of  an  asthma  relieved  by  stool?  Who 
could  have  invented  such  an  odd  modality  ?  As  it  stands  it  is  an 
unicum  and  by  every  rule  of  criticism  this  single  symptom-group 
gives  the  stamp  of  verity  to  the  Allentown  "  abstract  of  symptoms." 
But  there  is  other  and  singularly  convincing  evidence  of  the  genu- 
ineness of  this  abstract.  As  the  reader  is  aware,  Thacher  had  em- 
phasized the  efficiency  of  Pothos  feet  as  an  antispasmodic  in  hys- 
teria, although  the  "  key-note  "  that  indicates  it  in  hysteria  had 
wholly  escaped  his  discernment. 

Now  this  very  "  key-note  "  appears  in  the  Allentown  pathogenesis 
but  so  unobtrusively  as  to  show  most  conclusively  that  the  prover 
who  furnished  it  did  not  recognize  its  singular  import  and  value. 
Such  testimony  is  absolutely  unimpugnable  by  honest  and  intelli- 
gent criticism. 

It  is  also  apparent  that  some  of  the  less  pronounced  of  its  empir- 
ical virtues  are  reflected  in  the  proving.  For  instance,  Thacher 
found  it  efficacious  in  "erratick  pains  of  a  spasmodick  nature."  Is 
not  this  "  erratic  "  feature  reproduced  in  such  conditions  as  : 


THE  HOMOEOPATHIC  RECORDER.  Ill 

wHeada6he,  of  brief  duration,  in  s i 1 1  it  1  * ■  spots,  qow  here,  now 
there?" 

"  Pressure  in  both  temples  alternately,  harder  on  one  side  than 
on  the  other?" 

"  Bellyache,  here  and  there,  in  single  spot* 

Brevity  of  duration  and  recurrence '"  in  single  spots,  nowhere, 
now  there,"  are  phenomena  at  once  spasmodic  and  erratic.  It  must 
be  admitted  that  the  trend  of  its  pathogenetic  action  and  the  lines 
of  its  therapeutical  application  are  parallel,  and  therefore  that  the 
latter  are  confirmatory  of  the  former. 

With  such  an  anti-hysterical  reputation  as  the  empirical  use  had 
given  to  Poihos  feet.,  it  might  fairly  be  anticipated  that  its  patho- 
genesis would  be  distinguished  by  a  paucity  of  objective  data,  for 
only  a  tyro  in  pharmacodynamics,  or  a  "  Regular,"  would  expect  to 
find  a  full-lined  picture  of  hysteria  in  any  "proving."  And  so  we 
have  in  the  "  abstract"  a  flux  of  subjective  symptoms,  "  erratic" 
enough  for  hysterical  elements,  and  still  further  characterized  by 
an  apparent  evanescence,  as  if  its  phenomena  of  sensory  disturb- 
ance were  as  fleeting  and  unsubstantial  as  those  of  an  hysterical 
storm. 

The  u-ill-o'-the-ivisp-like  character  of  its  subjective  symptoms,  and 
its  physometric  property  (hinted  at  in  the  pathogenesis  and  em- 
phasized in  Thacher's  case),  are  the  features  that  will  chiefly  im- 
press one  in  studying  this  distinctively  American  remedy 

That  the  "  abstract  of  symptoms  "  evinces  a  cautious  trial  of  this 
drug,  and  that  more  heroic  experiments  will  add  to  our  knowledge 
of  its  pathogenetic  properties,  are  plain  deductions  from  the  absence 
in  the  "abstract  "  of  such  pronounced  effects  as  Bigelow  observed 
and  also  from  the  evidence  of  the  usus  in  morbis.  The  remedy  needs 
an  efficient  proving,  especially  in  the  female  organism. 

An  Application  of  Pothos  Fcet. 

Miss  B ,&t.  20;  a  tall,  spare  brunette,  and  a  good  specimen  of 

Fothergill's  Arab  type,  brainy  and  vivacious.  General  health  has 
been  good,  but  she  was  never  robust;  could  not  goto  school  regu- 
larly. Between  her  thirteenth  and  fifteenth  years  grew  rapidly  in 
stature,  and  then  she  was  easily  wearied  on  walking ;  knees  tired 
and  limbs  ached.  Had  good  digestion  through  the  growing  period, 
but  subsequently  became  subject  to  "  bloat  of  wind  "  in  abdomen. 
These  meteoristic  attacks  came  when  lying  down.  A  "  wreight  rises 
from  the  abdomen  up  to  the  heart."  She  must  at  once  spring  up. 
This  condition  is  relieved  by  eructating,  by  liquor,  and  by  drink- 
ing hot  water.  The  night  attacks  of  meteorism  are  by  far  the 
worst.     She  is  now  subject  to  them. 

[Her  grandmother  had  such  "  spells  of  bloating  ;"  would  spring 


112  THE  HOMCEOPATHIG  BECOBDEB. 

out  of  bed  at  night,  lose  consciousness,  and  "  bloat  up  suddenly." 
If  she  had  such  an  attack  when  dressed,  they  had  often  been 
obliged  to  cut  open  her  clothes.] 

Patient  has  found  that  apples,  tomatoes,  cabbage  and  onions  dis- 
agree with  her  ;  no  other  food.  She  is  constipated — "  wants  to  and 
can't." 

Her  hair  is  unusually  dry  ;  scalp  full  of  dandruf ;  skin,  gener- 
ally, soft  and  flexible. 

She  has  frequent  epistaxis  ;  has  had  four  and  five  attacks  a  day. 
Blood  bright  red,  "  runs  a  perfect  stream,"  does  not  clot  at  the  nos- 
trils. Has  previously  a  u  heavy  feeling  "  in  the  head,  which  the 
bleeding  relieves. 

In  appearance  she  is  "the  picture  of  health  ;"  good  complexion, 
fairly  ruddy  cheeks,  sparkling  eyes — in  a  word,  she  is  an  incar- 
nated protest  against "  single  blessedness." 

In  the  latter  part  of  July,  1886,  had  her  first "  fit."  She  had  arisen 
with  a  headache,  which  kept  on  increasing  in  severity.  Just  after 
a  light  meal  had  the  attack  ;  said  "  Oh,  dear !  Oh,  dear  !  "  and  fell 
insensible.  Stiffened  at  first,  then  had  clonic  spasms.  Neither 
bit  the  tongue  nor  frothed  at  the  mouth.  No  micturition  or  de- 
fecation. On  coming  to,  did  not  remember  that  she  had  fallen,  but 
recollected  being  borne  up  stairs.  Had  a  "  dreadful  nosebleed  " 
after  the  attack.  Left  her  very  weak ;  could  hardly  lift  her  feet 
from  the  floor.  Before  the  "  fit  "  the  headache  had  become  unbear- 
ably severe. 

Had  her  second  "  fit "  on  August  7th,  1887.  Headache  came  on 
and  kept  growing  worse ;  was  in  temples,  beating  and  throbbing, 
and  in  eyes,  "  light  hurt  "—also  on  vertex,  "  pressing-down  "  pain. 
At  4  p.m.  suddenly  fell  down  insensible.  No  cry.  Tongue  bitten. 
Slight  frothing  at  the  mouth.  First  "  stiff  all  over,"  then  clonic 
spasms.  After  the  "fit"  knew  that  something  had  happened  to 
her.  Was  prostrated  for  nearly  a  month,  but  not  so  much  as  after 
first  attack. 

December  10th,  1887,  third  "  fit."  On  the  night  of  the  9th  her 
mother  had  been  very  ill,  and  she  herself  was  very  uneasy  and 
alarmed.  Had  the  attack  before  breakfast.  Blurred  vision,  head- 
ache, fall ;  no  biting  of  tongue,  nor  frothing.  First  rigid,  then 
clonic  spasms ;  after  attack,  nose  bled  profusely,  head  ached  all  day, 
face  flushed  and  dark.     Prostrated  as  usual. 

In  none  of  the  attacks  was  there  any  involuntary  micturition  or 
defecation,  nor  was  it  ever  necessary  to  use  any  force  to  hold  her  on 
the  bed.  0 

One  other  fact  I  gathered  from  her  brother,  namely  :  during  her 
"  fits  "  her  abdomen  bloated  so  rapidly  and  to  such  a  degree  that 


THE  JIOMCEOPATIIIC  RECORDER.  113 

the  family  had  Learned  to  remove  her  clothing  as  soon  as  possible 

after  she   fell. 

Of  course,  Thacher's  case,  wherein  the  "abdomen  waa  remark- 
ably tumefied  and  tense,"  came  into  memory  at  once.  The  old 
volume  was  taken  down,  ami  thai  ease  re-read.  Then  followed  the 
Enqjchpsedia,  and  then  the  English  Symptomen  Codex.  No  patho- 
genetic light  or  corroboration  there.  Then  Curie's  "Jahr."  Ah  I 
"  Inflation  and  tension  in  the  abdomen"  Only  a  straw,  but  a  patho- 
genetic, and  I  grasped  it  thankfully.  I  found  also,  " aching  in  the 
temples  with  violent  arterial  pulsation." 

It  was  an  open  winter;  my  son  dug  some  skunk  cabbage  roots 
in  a  swamp  ;  a  tincture  was  made  ;  ten-drop  doses,  four  times  daily, 
were  taken  until  six  ounces  bad  been  consumed.  No  "  fit  "  up  to 
date  ;  no  epistaxis  ;  only  once  a  slight  headache. 

I  never  made  a  diagnosis  in  this  case;  have  not  reached  one  yet, 
nor  am  I  grieving  over  that  omission.  I  did  rashly  declare  that  it 
was  not  epilepsy,  because  Sauvages  tympanites  intestinalis  is  a  feature 
of  hysteria,  but  not  of  epilepsy.  But  not  a  word  of  this  was  said 
to  the  patient.  It  was  not  a  "  mind  cure,"  for  I  have  no  "  mind  " 
to  spare;  nor  was  it  "Christian  science,"  for  I  am  not  up  to  that. 
I  had  an  amnesis  in  which  grand-mother  and  grand-daughter  par- 
ticipated. Nature  had  put  the  "  key-note  "  in  italics,  not  only  in 
the  patient  but  also  in  the  drug.  Thacher  stumbled  upon  it  em- 
pirically;  Hering  found  it  pathogenetically,  and  that  led  to  its 
application  under  the  guidance  of  the  only  approximation  to 
a  hue  in  therapeutics  that  has  yet  been  discovered  by  any  of  woman 
born :  similia  similibus  curantur ! 

AKH  Arbor,  February  15th,  1889. 


THE   BRAZILS, 

Along  the  Coast. 


At  seven  o'clock  the  next  morning  we  were  anchored  half  a 
mile  off  the  city  of  Para,  in  the  river  Amazon,  and  opposite  the 
large  new  warehouses  of  corrugated  iron  which  line  the  water-front. 
These  are  principally  for  the  storage  of  the  immense  quantities  of 
rubber  shipped  from  this  port,  and  which  makes  Para  the  large 
commercial  city — of  60,000  inhabitants — that  it  is. 

The  buildings  of  perforated  brick  are  many  of  them  covered  with 
colored  tiles,  which  glisten  in  the  sun  like  china  houses,  a  pleasing 
sight,  and  contrasting  with  the  palm-thatched  cottages  represented 
in  our  old  geography.  Our  vessel  was  immediately  surrounded  by 
the  usual  number  of  boatmen  clamoring  for  fares.  Hiring  one  of 
vol.  iv.— 8 


114  THE  HOMGEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

these  sturdy  rowers  at  what  seemed  the  enormous  price  of  2S000 
(two  thousand  reis),  a  fellow  traveller  and  ourself  grasped  our 
umbrellas,  a  constant  necessity  we  were  told,  and  descended  the 
ladder.  The  purser  had  reduced  these  startling  figures  for  us  to 
U.  S.  currency,  and  we  found  two  thousand  reis  to  mean  only  about 
ninety-six  cents. 

On  reaching  the  city,  we  notice  the  streets  well  paved  with 
oblong  blocks  of  stone  from  Rio  Janeiro,  like  those  of  New  York, 
and  sidewalks  of  stone  from  Lisbon.  Everything  seems  clean,  with 
no  bad  odors,  as  in  so  many  southern  Spanish  cities.  The  turkey 
buzzards  are  very  good  scavengers. 

The  roofs  are  tiled,  like  those  of  Orizaba,  with  half  cylindrical 
tiles,  laid  end  off  and  edge  in,  heavy  but  impervious  to  the  sudden 
drenching  rains  of  the  country,  combining  slants  and  angles  in  a 
picturesque  manner.  The  sun  is  broiling,  but  it  is  a  dry  heat,  and 
the  least  shade  affords  relief.  Under  our  umbrellas  it  is  not  more 
than  80°  Fahrenheit,  and  this  is  tempered  by  the  usual  breeze 
gently  blowing  from  the  sea. 

We  take  a  Bond  (street  car)  and  ride  through  the  principal  parts 
of  the  city,  now  and  then  through  a  projected  but  unbuilt  street 
that  is  simply  a  path  through  the  tropical  jungle.  At  one  point 
the  road  passes  through  a  long  double  row  of  royal  palms,  which 
are  beautiful,  but  remind  us  of  feather  dusters  mounted  upon  long 
straight  poles  ;  graceful,  yet  decidedly  monotonous. 

At  eleven  o'clock  we  enjoy  a  well-cooked  breakfast  at  the  Hotel 
de  Commercio  of  beefsteak,  fried  potatoes,  and  water-cresses,  eggs 
and  white  rice,  coffee,  bread,  and  cheese.  This  meal  costs  us  one 
thousand  five  hundred  reis  each,  and  we  involuntarily  wonder  if  we 
have  money  enough  left  to  reach  the  steamer.  The  refrescos  are 
lemonade,  soda-water  in  bottles,  ale,  ginger,  etc.,  all  tepid.  There 
is  no  ice  to  be  had  in  Para,  the  main  factory  being  in  the  hands  of 
a  fish-packing  firm,  who  will  not  sell  a  pound  for  fear  a  rival  packer 
might  get  it. 

The  tobacco  here  is  of  excellent  quality,  black  and  rich.  It  is 
sold  in  horn-shaped  sticks  of  from  three  to  ten  pounds  each,  and 
costing  from  3-8000  reis  per  pound,  according  to  quality. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  the  day  was  our  trip  to 
Mr.  Edward  Rand's  immense  orchid  place.  We  find  him  a  very 
hospitable  enthusiast,  formerly  a  Boston  lawyer,  who  came  here 
sixteen  years  ago  to  indulge  his  passion  for  this  family  of  plants. 
He  has  in  his  five  acres  of  yard  about  4000  species.  He  said  that  in 
January  last  he  had  2000  in  bloom  at  once.  Many  that  we  saw  had 
flowers  resembling  forms  of  animals,  and  one,  in  form  of  a  butter- 
fly, was  a  curiously  beautiful  flower.  In  his  garden  are  growing 
oranges,  figs,  bananas,  pineapples,  guayras,  mameys,  aguacates,  and 


THE  HOMCEOPA  THIC  RECORDER.  1 1 5 

many  other  fruits.     We  left  him  with  regret,  our  hands  filled  with 
beautiful  blossoms. 

We  returned  to  the  dock  too  late  for  a  boatman,  and  were  taken 
to  our  steamer  by  the  courtesy  of  the  captain  of  a   Red  Cross 

steamer,  in  their  launch. 

On  our  return  to  Para,  in  I  October,  we  were  so  fortunate  as  to  wit- 
ness the  grand  Festa  do  Nazareth,  of  which  we  will  write  later. 

The  sidewalks  in  Para  are  very  narrow,  and  in  frontof  all  public 
buildings,  post  office,  custom  house,  etc.,  stands  a  little  box  of  a 
guard  house  on  wheels.  In  front  of  it  stands  the  guard,  a  dimin- 
utive Brazilian  soldier,  armed  with  a  musket  which,  as  the  foot 
passenger  approaches,  he  thrusts  across  the  walk,  thus  compelling 
the  pedestrian  to  go  around  in  the  road.  The  whole  outfit  is  so 
suggestive  of  a  toy  house  and  soldier  that  I  could  not  resist  push- 
ing the  outstretched  bayonet  aside  and  passing  on.  The  guard 
simply  >tood  and  looked  in  astonishment  at  the  u  bravery  (?)  of  the 
Americano." 

The  physicians  are  native  Brazilians,  so  far  as  I  learned,  one  only 
practicing  homoeopathy,  Sr.  D.  F.  Da  Silva,  whose  pharmacy  and 
(•Mice  are  together,  as  with  most  Brazilian  homoeopaths.  The  peculi- 
arities of  the  practice  of  homoeopathy  in  this  country  will  form  the 
basis  of  our  next  paper. 

Leaving  Para  at  night,  we  skirt  the  coast  two  nights  and  days, 
reaching  Maranhao  early  in  the  morning.  Poets  have  sung  and 
travellers  have  written  of  the  beauties  of  sunrise  at  sea,  but  with 
me  it  has  usually  been  associated  with  "  take  care,  sir ; "  "  please 
step  aside,  sir ; "  "  you'll  get  a-wet,  sir,"  and  such  admonitions,  as 
the  sailors  swash  the  hose  about  in  scrubbing  down  the  decks.  But 
this  morning  being  port  day,  the  swabbing  is  dispensed  with,  and  I 
am  allowed  to  sit  in  peace  while  the  great  orb  rises. 

A  low  and  narrow  bank  of  dull  gray  clouds  lie  in  the  west,  just 
off  the  sea  line,  above  which  is  a  beautiful  orange  haze,  while  all 
about  is  clear  blue.  Anon,  a  skirting  of  clear  bright  rays  ascend 
higher  and  higher,  then  a  small  section  of  the  sun's  disk  appears  ; 
later  it  meets  the  lower  edge  of  the  cloud  and  enters  behind  it,  then 
from  the  exposed  surface  a  brilliant  light  spreads  over  the  sea, 
touching  the  vessel  with  golden  spots.  Then  the  sun  disappears 
behind  the  cloud-bank  and  throws  down  upon  the  sea  from  behind 
it  a  beautiful  silvery  patch  of  light,  that  is  the  prettiest  part  of  the 
whole  panorama.  Suddenly  the  whole  sea  and  sky  is  alight  with 
the  blazing  glory  of  a  hot  equatorial  sun,  and  all  things  with  life 
seek  shade  for  the  whole  day.  Mornings  here  are  delightfully  cool 
and  refreshing. 

Maranhao  is  a  low,  quaint,  irregularly  built  city,  of  which  I  have 
pleasant  recollections — a  visit  with  Dr.  Hall,  the  only  homoeopath 


116  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

here.  This  in  the  day  time ;  but  at  night  the  most  terrible  swarms 
of  minute,  active,  poisonous  mosquitoes  descended  upon  us,  making 
rest  impossible,  and  exasperating  to  the  last  degree. 

We  found  Dr.  Hall  (a  Brazilian-born  Englishman  who  received  his 
education  in  England)  a  most  entertaining  gentleman,  whose 
hospitality  we  enjoyed  with  the  greatest  pleasure  on  our  return  trip 
from  Rio.  Dr.  Hall  is  the  only  physician  we  met  who  dispenses 
his  own  remedies,  of  which  he  takes  the  greatest  care,  and  the  re- 
sults in  his  practice  show  plainly  that  this  is  the  proper  method. 
We  had  the  pleasure  of  visiting  some  of  his  patients  with  him, 
and  it  was  refreshing  to  note  the  sympathetic  care  he  constantly  ex- 
hibited for  their  welfare,  and  the  neatness  of  his  method  of  pre- 
scribing. 

Three  days  and  a  night  of  good  sailing  and  weather  bring  us  to 
the  natural  harbor  of  Pernambuco,  where  we  spend  a  delightful 
day  in  excursions  and  botanizing  about  the  neighborhood  of  this 
great  sugar  mart.  Here  we  saw  more  lepers  than  in  any  southern 
city  visited.  The  old  and  the  new  portions  of  the  city  are  divided 
by  a  river,  and  the  bridge  is  lined  with  them,  asking  alms  of  the 
passers  by.  These  poor  creatures  are  a  pitiable  sight,  but  their's  is 
the  inheritance  of  generations  of  bodily  and  moral  uncleanness 
and  a  hot  climate.  Many  are  in  such  a  horribly  crippled  state  that 
they  have  to  be  borne  upon  improvised  conveyances  to  and  from 
their  allotted  begging  place.  Their  pitiful  cries  and  tales  of  woe 
bring  many  a  ventayne  from  the  passers  by. 

Bahia  dos  todos  los  Santos  (Bay  of  all  Saints)  is  our  next  port, 
reached  on  Sunday  morning,  August  21st.  It  is  beautifully  located, 
being  perched  upon  a  high  bluff  overlooking  the  bay.  The  only 
access  easy  of  'attainment  is  by  a  clumsy  English  "  lift  "  that  runs 
one,  amid  clanking  of  chains  and  groaning  of  machinery,  straight  up 
200  feet  to  the  main  street  of  the  city.  Bahia  was  one  of  the  earliest 
strongholds  of  Catholicism  on  the  coast,  and  there  are  more 
shrines  to  saints,  more  fireworks  sent  up  in  their  honor  (always  in 
daylight),  more  processions  with  all  the  pomp  of  the  church,  than 
in  any  place  we  have  visited. 

Our  stay  here  is  short,  but  permits  taking  the  steam  train  out 
into  the  luxuriant  country,  where  a  change  of  cars  at  La  Catalina 
affords  an  enjoyable  hour's  botanizing. 

Here  we  eat  bread  fruit,  mangoes,  and  especially  the  far-famed 
Bahia  orange,  with  its  strawberry  flavor,  delicious  beyond  any 
fruit,  but  so  perishable  as  to  not  bear  transporting  even  to  Rio, 
three  days'  distant.  At  3  p.m.  we  are  again  on  shipboard,  for  the 
last  stage  of  our  journey. 

On  the  morning  of  the  29th  day  from  New  York  we  are  awakened 


HIE  IlOMCEOPATIllC  RECORDER.  117 

early  by  the  preparations  of  the  seamen  for  the  last  port.  Hasten- 
ing our  toilet  and  going  on  deck  we  are  greeted  with  on*'  of  the 
grandest  mountain  views  we  ever  witnessed.  We  are  approach- 
ing the  entrance  of  the  beautiful  bay  of  Rio  de  Janeiro,  sur- 
rounded by  abrupt  mountains  that  rise  from  1000  to  3200  feet 
almost  directly  out  of  the  sea.  Its  beauty  is  beyond  our  power  to 
describe,  we  can  only  enjoy  it.  and  remember  it  ever  after. 

We  are  not  allowed  to  pass  the  fortelaza  at  the  entrance  until 
our  papers  and  passengers  are  examined  by  the  health  officer,  after 
which  we  steam  slowly  past  BotofogO  and  swim:  around  to  the  com- 
pany's buoy  north  of  the  city.  As  we  pass  the  U.  S.  steamer  "  Lan- 
caster," we  are  saluted  with  the  strains  of  "Home,  Sweet  Home" 
from  the  marine  hand.  This  is  not  only  in  greeting  to  us,  but  in 
anticipation  of  the  letters  we  bring  from  home,  sweet  home,  to  the 
officers  and  crew. 

On  the  U.  S.  ship  "Alliance,"  lying  near,  a  sad  ceremony  is 
being  performed.  A  tug  with  four  boats  in  its  wake,  all  with 
drooping  flags,  leave  the  vessel,  bearing  to  his  last  resting  place,  in  a 
foreign  cemetery,  the  remains  of  one  of  their  officers,  who  died  the 
day  previous  of  smallpox. 

An  epidemic  of  smallpox  is  reported  in  the  city,  of  which  we 
will  detail  in  our  next  paper,  while  writing  of  Rio  Janeiro,  its 
physicians  and  hospitals. 

As  we  leave  the  "Advance,"  for  four  wreeks  our  home,  we  do  so  with 
regret,  and  a  feeling  of  homesickness  creeps  over  us.  No  more  de- 
lightful voyage  for  the  invalid,  the  wearied  business  man,  or  the 
seeker  after  quiet  pleasure  can  be  found  than  this  two  months'  trip 
to  Rio  Janeiro  and  return.  The  sea  is  friendly,  the  air  excellent, 
ports  frequent  enough  to  vary  the  monotony  of  too  continuous 
sailing,  there  is  nothing  to  do  but  refresh  and  recreate  wasted 
energies. 

It  is  mainly  to  place  before  the  profession  the  restful  excellence 
of  this  trip  that  I  have  taken  so  much  space  in  these  two  articles. 
The  trip  to  Rio  and  return,  giving  two  days  at  St.  Thomas,  Barbados, 
Para,  Maranhao,  Pernambuco,  and  Bahia  and  seven  days  at  Rio  de 
Janeiro,  occupies  about  two  months,  during  which  a  patient  may 
have  the  quietest  of  surroundings,  the  best  of  attendance,  and  the 
most  exhilerating  of  sea  breezes,  wrhile  wearing  the  lightest  cloth- 
ing. The  wearied  business  man  will  find  perfect  rest,  and  the 
clergyman  or  man  of  letters  plenty  of  time  for  rest  and  study,  and 
all  with  the  least  sea-sickness  and  bad  weather  to  be  found  upon 
any  sea  trip  of  its  length  and  duration. 


118  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

HOMCEOPATHIC  THERAPEUTICS. 

Acute  Gastrodynia. — The  following  case  points  to  several 
morals  in  homoeopathic  practice  and  will  bear  reprinting : 

Mrs.  S.,  visited  October  8th,  1888.  Has  been  suffering  for  several 
days  from  vomiting  and  pain  in  the  stomach.  The  vomiting  and  pain 
come  on  almost  immediately  after  food.  There  is  no  pain  when  the 
stomach  is  empty.  R.  Liq.  Arsenicalis  (F)  6  drops  to  a  quarter  of 
pint  of  water.  A  dessert  spoonful  to  be  taken  every  two  hours.  To 
take  no  solid  food.  To  take  a  quart  of  milk  every  twenty-four 
hours,  diluted  with  a  third  part  of  lime  water. 

9th.  Complete  relief  to  pain  and  vomiting.  Omit  Fowler's  solu- 
tion, and  take  Tr.  Ars.  3x  every  two  hours. 

10th.  Feeling  very  week  on  the  milk  diet,  she  took  some  boiled 
sole  for  supper  last  night ;  return  of  pain  to-day,  also  tenderness 
at  epigastrium.     Repeat  Ars. 

11th.  Slept  all  night.  Little  or  no  pain  when  in  bed,  but  pain 
returned  this  morning  at  intervals,  and  always  after  food.  Is  taking 
solid  food  (fish,  etc.).  Continue  Ars.  and  Bismuth.  Tris.  Nitrate 
lx  gr.  iij  in  alternation  every  four  hours. 

12th.  Slight  improvement.  Thinks  the  Arsenicum  does  not  suit 
her.     Omit  Arsenicum  ;  continue  Bismuth. 

14th.  Was  continuing  to  improve,  but  took  kippered  haddock  for 
breakfast,  which  has  brought  back  all  the  old  symptoms.  Repeat 
Bismuth,  and  Tr.  Apomorphia  3x  in  alternation  every  four  hours. 

15th.  Pain  and  sickness  continued. 

16th.  Symptoms  continue.  R.  Trituration  Arseraicum  (12x)  gr.  xij. 
in  ch.  xij.  Take  a  powder  dry  three  times  a  day,  and  discontinue 
all  other  medicines. 

17th.  Improvement,  but  is  careless  as  to  diet,  and  refuses  to  take 
pepsine.     Continue  powders. 

18th.  Very  much  better;  no  sickness  and  scarcely  any  pain. 
Continue  Ars.  12x. 

22cl.  Quite  free  from  pain  and  sickness.     Continue  Ars.  12x. 

26th.  Improvement  maintained.     Continue  Ars.  12x. 

Nov.  5th.     Has  taken  no  other  medicine.     Quite  well. 

January  2d,  1889.  There  has  been  no  relapse. — Dr.  H.  Smith  in 
Horn.  World,  1889,  p.  68. 

Spigelia — Inflammation  of  the  Pericardium  During  Rheumatic  Fever. 
— H.  C,  36  years  old,  workman,  Sundbyvester,  Amazen.  Treatment 
commenced  January  8th,  1877. — Two  years  ago  the  patient  had  rheu- 
matic fever  for  the  first  time.  Eight  weeks  ago  it  returned,  and 
both  times  some  of  the  bigger  joints  (knee,  ankles  and  elbows)  were 
attacked.  Having  this  last  time  kept  his  bed  for  about  three  weeks, 


THE  HOMCEOPATIIIC  RECOIiDER.  110 

he  got,  ns  the  fever  increased,  inflammation  in  the  pericardium,  ac- 
companied by  severe  stitching  pains  around  the  heart,  palpitation 

of  the  heart  and  asthma  when  lying  on  the  hack.     Dry  cough.     The 

patient  looks  uneasy,  and  the  lace  is  pinched  and  the  upper  lip  blue. 
The  beating  of  the  heart  is  weak,  the  heart-dulness  is  increasing  in 
Length,  and  rubbing  sounds  are  heard.    The  tongue  is  foul,  hut  little 

moist  and  whitish-loaded,  Pulse  strong,  120.  The  skin  is  covered 
with  heavy  perspiration.  The  two  joints  of  the  right  thumb  are 
somewhat  swollen,  with  stinging  pains  darting  through  the  right 
lower  arm.  No  appetite  or  sleep.  Functions  in  order.  The  urine 
of  a  brick  color,  and  turbid.  Has  been  treated  allopathically  from 
the  beginning  of  the  fever,  but  without  any  result.  Spigelia  anthel. 
6,  one  drop  every  three  hours;  light  food,  milk. 

January  12th.  All  heart  symptoms  decreased.  Feels  much 
easier.     Same  prescription  three  times  a  day. 

January  19th.  The  pains  and  the  stitching  around  the  heart, 
palpitation  and  asthma  considerably  decreased.  Appetite  vey  poor. 
Sleep  very  good.  Effusion  into  the  pericardium  much  abated. 
The  patient  is  sweating  a  great  deal.  The  pains  in  the  right  thumb 
ceased.     Same  prescription  morning  and  evening. 

January  28th.  Is  quite  well  to-day.  Appetite  but  poor.  Sleeps 
well.     No  medicine. 

February  9th.  The  patient  quite  right  and  comfortable.  Treat- 
ment finished. 

Facial  Neuralgia — Neuralgia  Trigemini. — C.  S.,  56  years  old,  fish- 
monger and  fish-smoker,  Copenhagen.  The  patient  wTho  com- 
menced to  be  treated  by  me  the  22d  of  June,  1881,  has  always  had 
good  health.  The  present  sickness,  treated  allopathically,  has 
lasted  about  half  a  year,  but  without  result,  He  complains  of 
stinging  and  darting  pains  in  the  left  half  of  the  face,  commencing 
under  the  left  eye,  going  downward  in  the  cheekbone  where  they 
are  severest,  and  towards  the  left  side  of  the  nose,  and  further, 
radiant-like  and  not  so  painful,  down  in  the  teeth  in  upper  jaw. 
Heat  applied  produces  decrease  of  the  pains  that  come  both  by  day 
and  at  night,  without  exact  intervals  of  peace.  No  other  symptoms 
of  sickness.  He  is  a  man  in  his  best  years,  robust  built,  and  lively 
temper.     Spigelia  6,  three  drops  three  times  a  day. 

June  29th.  Pains  decreased  considerably.     Same  prescription. 

July  6th.  All  right  for  the  last  days. — Oscar  Hansen,  M.D.,  in 
Horn.   World,  1889,  p.  56. 

Hydrastis — A  Case. — Frau.  X.,  46  years  old,  twice  married  ;  has 
menstruated  regularly  since  the  age  of  14;  has  had  one  miscarriage 
at  three  months.  In  1864  she  noticed  a  slight  swelling  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  abdomen ;  since  its  appearance  menstruation  has  been 


120  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

irregular,  followed  by  metrorrhagia,  accompanied  by  pains  in  the 
abdomen,  kidneys  and  groins.  When  Dr.  V.  Schmidt  examined 
her  he  found  her  pale  and  weakened  by  the  haemorrhage,  and 
detected  a  large  tumor  immediately  under  the  navel.  No  signs  of 
pregnancy.  The  circumference  of  the  abdomen  at  10  cent,  below 
the  navel  was  found  to  be  1  met.,  2  cent. ;  and  the  navel  itself 
measured  19  cent,  from  the  pubic  bone  and  44  cent,  from  the  zy- 
phoid  process  of  the  sternum.  The  tumor  itself  was  the  size  of  an 
adult  head,  hard,  and  taking  in  the  linea  alba.  Another  smaller 
tumor  lay  to  the  right  and  underneath  the  first.  Vaginal  exami- 
nation showed  that  the  uterus  shared  any  movement  communicated 
to  the  neoplasm. 

Notwithstanding  the  feebleness  proceeding  from  the  haemorrhage 
the  patient  would  not  submit  to  an  operation,  and  on  learning  this 
Dr.  Schmidt  ordered  stimulants,  tamponed  the  vagina  with  perchlo- 
ride  and  gave  daily  a  half-teaspoonful  of  tincture  of  Hydrastis. 
The  haemorrhage  continued,  and  after  fourteen  days  the  tumor  was 
found  diminished  (affaisee).  Under  continuance  of  the  remedy 
the  periods  became  more  regular.  Four  months  after  the  swelling 
had  considerably  diminished  and  the  patient  doing  as  well  as  pos- 
sible.—  Gouillon.  Allg.  Horn,  Zeit.,  cxviii.,  No.  6. 

Strophanthus  hispidus — Its  Action  Upon  the  Heart. — Drs.  Weid- 
man  and  Rosenbusch  give  the  following  action  of  Strophanthus: 

1.  It  increases  the  systolic  force,  prolonging  the  latter;  augments 
the  tension  of  the  arterial  vasa,  and  decreases  the  heart's  action. 

2.  It  strengthens  the  cardiac  muscle  and  regulates  the  heart's 
work. 

3.  It  has  some  diuretic  action  as  well  in  heart  and  kidney  affec- 
tions. 

4.  It  does  not  disturb  digestion  as  other  heart  poisons  (for  ex- 
ample, Digitalis)  do. 

5.  No  symptoms  of  cumulative  action  arise  from  its  use. 

6.  There  is  less  compensational  disturbance  from  its  use  than  is 
found  in  Digitalis. 

7.  The  best  form  for  use  is  the  alcoholic  tincture,  which  contains 
all  of  the  bitter  glucosides  of  the  drug. 

8.  In  stenosis  of  the  aortic  valve  its  action  is  negative ;  as  it  does 
not  materially  prolong  the  systole  it  gives  little  relief  in  this  dis- 
ease.— Dr.  Proll,  Allg.  Horn.  Zeit.,  cxviii.,  No.  8. 

Diabetes — Ammonium  carb. — S.  J.,  48  years  old,  came  to  Dr. 
Kegel  (Gand)  on  the  10th  of  May.  He  had  been  sick  for  six 
months.  Complained  of  intense  thirst;  loss  of  appetite,  especially 
for  bread ;  sweetish  taste  on  the  lips,  with  bitterness  of  the  mouth 


TEE  HOMOLOPATUIC  RECORDER.  121 

early  in  t In-  morning ;  his  head  is  bad  ;  the  countenance  has  a  worn 
look  ;  he  lia<l  grown  slenderer  daily  until  now  he  Bighe  continually. 

He  was  asked  to  bring  some  of  his  urine,  but  he  returned  on  the 
12th  of  June  without  it  and  gave  then,  besides  those  mined,  the  fol- 
lowing symptoms  :  Tongue  coated  white  ;  epigastric  pain  especially 
on  pressure  ;  also  on  right  side  of  the  chest  near  the  sternum  when 
inhaling;  sleeplessness;  his  emaciation  has  become  so  pronounced 
that  his  comrades  gave  him  up  for  lost.  He  was  given  Nuxvom. 
30,  two  globules. 

After  this  prescription  his  wife  brought  in  some  of  the  urine  and 
related  that  his  disease  Was  caused  by  excessive  anger  and  that  he 
had  been  impotent  for  a  long  time.  The  presence  of  sugar  in  the 
urine  was  evinced  by  the  Potasso  Cupric  test  and  also  by  Caustic 
potash  with  and  without  Bismuth. 

In  the  following  two  days  the  Nux  had  not  availed.  The  symp- 
toms remained  the  same,  especially  the  morning  bitter  taste;  the 
sighing  ;  the  emaciation  ;  the  chest-pains  on  inspiration,  etc.  This 
led  to  the  choice  of  Ammonium  carb.,  of  which  eight  powders,  each 
holding  two  globules  of  the  30th,  were  given,  with  orders  to  dissolve 
each  in  turn  in  four  spoonfuls  of  water,  a  spoonful  to  be  taken  every 
three  hours.  In  addition  to  this  the  proper  diet  for  diabetics  was 
ordered,  with  special  injunctions  to  abstain  from  farinaceous  food. 

After  the  fourth  day  of  this  prescription  the  patient  reports 
slightly  better,  the  sweet  taste  on  the  lips  has  disappeared  and  in 
place  of  the  bitterness  a  salty,  fatty  taste  has  come  on.  He  com- 
plains, moreover,  of  dizziness  and  great  weakness  of  the  limbs — true 
symptoms  of  Amm.  carb.  Since  this  he  has  written  Dr.  K.  that  he 
is  growing  better  and  better,  the  thirst  and  emaciation  were  less ; 
after  fourteen  days  the  tests  fail  to  detect  sugar  in  the  urine  and 
the  patient  has  returned  to  his  place  with  the  cuirassiers. 

Fourteen  days  afterward  lumbago  came  on,  which  yielded 
promptly  to  Rhus  30.  The  patient  continued  now  to  mend  and 
Amm.  carb.  was  again  prescribed,  its  working  having  in  no  way  been 
interfered  with  by  the  Rhus. — Goullon.  Allg.  Horn.  Zeit.,  cxviii.,  No.  4. 

Vespa  is  an  invaluable  remedy  for  affections  of  the  left  ovary 
where  there  is  sensibility  with  frequent  desire  to  urinate  and  pain 
in  the  region  of  the  sacrum,  extending  into  the  back. — El  Consultor 
Horn.,  1889,  p.  64. 

Gossypium  herbaceum. — A  tincture  made  from  the  fresh  inner 
bark  of  the  root  of  the  cotton  plant,  and  subsequent  potentizing 
gives  us  a  remedy  containing  a  principle  similar  in  its  action  to  that  of 
Secale  conn/turn.  Gossypium  will  often  be  indicated  and  prove  suc- 
cessful in  the  morning  vomiting  of  the  pregnant  (3d  pot.) ;  in  uter- 


122  THE  HOMCEOPATHIG  BECOBDEB. 

ine  hemorrhage  and  painful  menstruation  (2d  pot.)  ;  and  in  female 
sterility  from  too  scanty  menstruation  (4th  pot.). — Pop.  Zeit.  far 
Horn.,  1889,  p.  12. 

Anaemia.— Frau.  M.,  a  blonde,  aged  30  years,  nursing  her  fourth 
child,  became  afflicted  with  such  a  severe  nursing-headache  that  she 
was  compelled  to  wean  the  child,  after  which  the  menses  had  twice 
returned  and  with  unprecedented  violence.  The  headache  was 
especially  in  the  frontal  and  lemniscous  regions,  also  at  times  uni- 
lateral. She  kept  a  horizontal  position  in  bed,  prostrated  and  con- 
siderably emaciated  from  lack  of  proper  nourishment.  The  pain 
was  aggravated  by  changing  position  though  ever  so  slightly,  and 
never  left  her  even  at  night;  then  indigestion  set  in,  though  the 
appetite  was  good.  The  cause  of  the  headache  lay  undoubtedly  in 
the  loss  of  fluids  by  the  nursing  and  menstrual  hasmorrhage. 

Ferrum  sulph,  2x,  in  grain  doses,  mornings,  and  Gels.  6x,  noons 
and  nights,  with  a  stimulating  diet  (egg  and  red  wine),  soon  had 
the  beneficial  effect  of  relieving  her  pain  and  bringing  the  roses  into 
her  cheeks. — Pop.  Zeit.  fur  Horn. 

Silico-Sulpho  Calcite  of  Alumina. — Some  eight  years  ago, 
being  in  search  of  a  handy  source  of  Silicon,  the  white  quartz 
pebbles  of  the  conglomerate  debris  abounding  in  the  sandy  soil 
of  the  Bristol  Channel,  on  which  my  residence  is  built,  caught 
my  eye,  and  were  at  once  reduced  to  the  sixth  decimal  tritura- 
tion; then,  again,  on  crossing  a  railway  the  blue-white  ballast 
(a  refuse  vitreous  mass  piled  up  mountains  high  around  all  our 
great  iron  works)  used  on  most  lines  for  keeping  the  sleepers  in 
situ,  preferably  to  gravel,  etc.,  because  impervious  to  water  and 
frost,  suggested  a  probably  valuable  polychrest  to  my  practical 
mind ;  for  chemical  reading  had  years  ago  told  me  that  this  slag  or 
cinder  consisted  of  Silicon,  Calcium,  Sulphur,  Alumina,  Magnesium, 
Manganum,  Ferrum,  Phosphorus,  Titanium,  possibly  Cyanogen,  etc. 
The  subject  for  whom  I  needed  Siliconh&d  housemaid's  knee,  caused 
undoubtedly  by  kneeling  on  the  hard  floor.  My  precious  bit  of 
ballast,  handed  to  me  by  the  gauger  of  the  platelayers,  with  a  com- 
passionate smile  in  his  eyes,  was  potentized  up  to  6x  decimal  trit- 
uration, and  tested  on  the  knee-patient  with  favorable  results  as  to 
the  knee,  and  with  the  most  valuable  discovery  that  it  was  gifted  with 
marvellous  power  on  the  anus,  rectum,  etc. ;  for  it  effected  by  the 
second  dose  what  no  hitherto  tried  homoeopathic  drug  had  done 
with  her,  i.e.,  took  away  a  dreadful  anal  itching,  piles,  constipation, 
as  if  by  magic. 

Well,  seeing  that  I  myself  had  never  yet  found  any  of  those 
medicines  credited  in  our  literature  as  being  gifted  with  curative 
power  in  these  said  troubles,  I  put  the  matter  to  the  crucial  test  in 


THE  HOM(EOPATIIIC  BECOBDEB.  120 

my  »>wn  person  (a  thing  not  often  done  by  M.D.V,  by  the  by),  the 
result  of  which  authorized  me  to  inform  several  M.D.'e  of  the  vast 
utility  of  the  drug  in  the  above  Bphere.  Dr.  Gutteridge  writes,  Bay- 
ing  thai  he  finds  SUuxhSulpho-Caloite  of  Alumina  of  great  Bervice  in 
Bcrofulous  subjects,  and  suggests  a  Btudy  of  its  action  generally. 
This  is  again  repeated  by  the  Sydney  Dispenser  in  Horn.  Worldy 
1888,  p.  92.  ' 

Communicated. 

Lobelia  Acetate  and  Trillium. — My  attention  was  called  forci- 
bly to  an  article  in  the  last  Recorder  on  Lobelia  acetate.  It  struck 
me  very  favorably  at  once,  as  I  had  used  the  acetate  in  many  ways 
with  good  results.  I  have  tried  it  in  two  cases  ;  one  was  a  case  of 
uterine  cancer  where  the  "Regulars"  had  amputated  the  cervix. 
When  I  was  called  to  the  case,  Dec.  29th,  they  had  left  her  to  die. 
She  was  covered  with  sores  from  morphae  injections,  the  cancer  had 
grown  again  filling  one-third  of  the  vagina,  and  there  was  constant 
hemorrhage.  I  kept  it  partially  controlled  by  the  use  of  Thtaspi 
bursa-pastoris  and  next  tried  Trillium  with  excellent  success,  till  it  all 
sloughed  off  and  came  away ;  then  the  haemorrhage  was  fearful ;  I 
tried  the  Lob.  acet.  and  it  stopped  at  once,  she  is  yet  alive  and  gaining. 
I  used  regular  homoeopathic  remedies  for  the  cancer  internally. 
The  other  case  was  a  lady  that  had  been  under  allopathic  treatment 
for  catarrh  of  the  womb  and  prolapsus ;  they  gave  her  powerful 
physic  which  brought  on  a  horrible  chronic  diarrhoea  ;  this  was  the 
first  of  last  June  and  it  has  continued  ever  since  till  two  weeks  ago. 
I  completely  stopped  it  with  the  Lob.  acet.  and  her  bowels  are  normal. 
She  commenced  to  cough  and  waste  away  three  months  ago  and  I  con- 
sidered her  beyond  all  hope.  She  is  now  gaining  with  judicious  treat- 
ment. I  would  like  to  call  the  attention  of  our  school  to  Trillium  or 
Beth  root ;  the  only  thing  I  ever  knew  it  used  for  was  haemorrhages, 
and  I  cured  one  case,  passive,  of  five  months'  standing,  after  a  mis- 
carriage ;  lately  I  have  used  it  for  persistent  coughs  that  nothing 
seemed  to  control.  When  a  boy  I  used  to  dig  the  root  and  string 
it  up  to  dry,  believing  it  would  be  a  remedy  for  something,  though  I 
did  not  know  even  its  name.  My  mother  was  subject  to  cramps  in  the 
stomach,  which  were  brought  on  by  a  bad  cough,  which  nothing 
seemed  to  reach.  I  grated  some  of  the  root  into  molasses  and  gave 
her.  This  cured  the  cough  in  a  few  days  and  the  cramps  as  well. 
I  have  cured  many  cases  of  cough  since  then  by  the  same  means. 

I  feel  convinced  that  Trillium  must  have  a  decided  action  upon 
mucous  membranes  generally,  especially  in  catarrhal  forms  of 
trouble  ;  the  remedy  needs  a  much  more  complete  proving  to  show 
its  full  sphere  of  action. 

G.  E.  Newcomb,  M.D. 

Oldtown,  Maine. 


124  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 


ITEMS  OF  GENERAL  INTEREST. 

Hypnotism — An  Interesting  Case. — Prof.  Mendel  recently  gave 
his  attention  to  a  man,  aged  25  years,  who  was  afflicted  with  hys- 
teria, and  who,  in  consequence,  pretended  great  weakness  of  the 
lower  limbs,  and  limped  when  walking.  He  would  pass  into  a 
state  of  hypnotism,  closing  his  eyes  and  falling,  apparently,  into  a 
sound  sleep,  in  which,  however,  his  eyes  would  open  upon  com- 
mand. When  in  this  state  his  gait  was  light  and  uniform,  like  that 
of  a  sound  man,  and  among  other  things  he  could  mount  upon  a 
chair  without  trouble.  One  of  the  most  wonderful  things  about 
this  patient  was,  that  though  he  stuttered  violently,  and  could 
hardly  utter  two  words  in  succession,  when  in  the  hypnozed  state, 
he  would  repeat  fluently  a  strophe  of  the  poem  "  Des  Stingers  Fluch." 
When  it  was  suggested  to  him  than  an  organ  was  playing  near  by, 
he  gave,  with  great  precision,  the  chorus  of li  Lobe  den  Herrn."  The 
following  experiment  performed  upon  him  was  very  striking.  Five 
postal  cards  were  held  before  him  with  the  backs  (blank  sides)  toward 
his  eyes,  and  he  was  told  that  a  letter,  A,  the  initial  of  his  name,  was 
upon  one  of  them.  This  marked  card  was  then  cut,  and  another 
card  pushed  through  it,  and  held  with  the  backs  toward  him ;  he 
then,  greatly  to  the  astonishment  of  all  present,  immediately  picked 
out  the  marked  card.  An  explanation  of  this  supernatural  vision 
could  not  be  given  by  Prof.  Mendel.  It  must  be  considered 
that  the  eyes  of  the  hypnotized  are  so  sharp  that  they  are  able  to 
detect  marks  that  even  the  normal  eye  cannot  see. — Allg.  Horn.  ZeiL, 
cxviii.,  No.  5. 

Antifebrin — Poisoning  by. — Dr.   Jue.  Meyer  (Berlin)  shared  in 

the  following  case  :  K ,  a  bookbinder,  aged  38  years,  moderately 

vigorous,  subject  to  frequent  attacks  of  bronchial  catarrh,  was  given 
by  a  Berlin  druggist  (2.0)  of  Antifebrin  for  a  unilateral  headache, 
and  another  portion  of  2.0  to  be  taken  twenty-four  hours  after- 
ward. Whilst  K endured  the  first  dose,  he  became  (in  one- 
quarter  hour)  after  the  second,  attacked  with  cold  sweat,  a  feeling 
of  great  lassitude,  vertigo,  dulness  of  the  head  and  anxiety ;  the 
heart  palpitated  severely,  the  pulse  became  small  and  frequent,  he 
remained  upright  with  difficulty,  and  was  compelled  to  sit  down. 
Cyanosis  soon  followed.  (The  lips  and  hands  dark  blue,  the 
countenance  more  ashy.) 

After  being  given  a  cup  of  black  coffee,  castor  oil  and  mustard 
pastes,  the  blueness  gradually  passed  away,  and  the  unpleasant 
sensations  slowly  dissipated ;  he,  however,  worked  with  difficulty 
on  account  of  his  eyes  failing  him,  and  remained  feeble  for  several 
days. — Inter,  klin.  Rund.,  ii.,  No.  22. 


THE  UOMCEOrA  TIUC  B  ECOBDER.  125 

Antipyrin — Poisoning  by. — An  author  in  a  communication  to  the 
Acad.  '/<  Mediciru  relates  a  case  of  articular  rheumatism  treated  with 
daily  doses  of  2.5  grm.  of  Antipyrin.  This  treatment  brought  out 
in  various  places  upon  the  patient's  body  an  erythema,  followed  by 
insomnolence,  chilliness  of  the  extremities,  catarrhal  conjunctivitis, 
hoarseness,  increased  pulse,  etc.  The  cessation  of  the  drug  and  a 
drop-dose  of  tincture  of  Belladonna  dispersed  all  these  Bymptoms. 
Similar  phenomena  were  observed  by  another  author  after  a  dose 
of  25-50  centigram.  Great  caution  is  necessary  in  giving  this  drug 
to  aged  and  sensitive  individuals.  Dr.  Jennings  recommends  Bel- 
ladonna or  injections  of  Atropine  as  an  antidote  for  this  drug. — 
Ailg.  Horn.  ZeiL,  cxviii.,  No.  5. 

After  Many  Years. — The  executors  of  a  wealthy  Knoxville 
bachelor,  who  recently  died,  were  confronted,  when  examining  the 
home  of  the  deceased,  by  a  pile  of  carefully  arranged  empty  bottles 
in  the  attic.  After  500  bottles  were  counted  the  pile  was  so  little 
diminished  that  the  rest  of  the  bottles  were  removed  without  a 
count.  It  is  supposed  that  over  1000  bottles  were  in  the  pile,  and 
more  than  this,  they  were  all  bottles  of  somebody's  bitters.  That 
man,  by  dying,  made  himself  a  living  example  of  the  utter  useless- 
ness  of  patent  "  medicine."     It  took  a  thousand  bottles  to  kill  him  ! 

Phthisis — Aniline. — According  to  Dr.  Kremjousky,  of  Karjon, 
frequent  inhalations  of  Aniline,  administered  until  there  are  mani- 
festations in  the  patient  of  poisoning,  resulted  in  a  complete  cure 
of  phthisis. — El  Consultor  Horn.,  1889,  64. 

Abnormal  Menstruation. — Cases  which  give  reference  to  early 
menstruation  are  not  rare.  We  record,  howrever,  the  case  of  an  in- 
fant of  two  years,  that  menstruated  regularly  every  month,  five  days 
each  nisus.  This  child  at  twelve  months  had  already  all  its  teeth,  and 
at  four  years  weighed  59  pounds.  Now,  at  six  years,  she  weighs  79 
pounds,  is  robust,  her  head  and  upper  extremities  are  formed  as  in 
all  children  of  her  age ;  the  same  may  be  said  of  the  lower  limbs ; 
but  the  whole  lumbar  region,  buttocks  and  thighs,  present  the  usual 
development  found  at  puberty.  The  breasts  are  well  developed, 
and  the  pubes,  as  well  as  the  axillas,  are  covered  with  hair.  The 
child  has  a  low  voice. 

Since  January,  1889,  says  Dr.  Diamant,  in  reference  to  this  case, 
the  child  is  not  regular,  and  each  menstrual  period  is  accompanied 
by  epilepsy,  the  spasms  augmenting  in  number  month  by  month. 
— El  Consultor  Horn.,  3,  17. 

Indigestion. — Dr.  Goullon  in  the  Pop.  Zeit.  fur  Horn,  mentions 
a  case  of  gastric  trouble  for  which  he  confidently  prescribed  Calc. 


126  THE  HOMCEOPATHIG  BECOBDEB. 

carb.  The  patient  afterward  wrote  him  that  the  powders  did  her  no 
good,  but  that  she  had  procured  perfect  relief  from  Flowers  of 
Sulphur  in  generous  doses.  He  comments  upon  this  veterinary 
dosage  in  the  human  subject,  and  remarks  how  often  we  can  gain 
knowledge  by  lending  ear  to  different  methods  of  lay  prescribing. 
He  relates  another  case  where  Hensel's  Tonicum  (which  he  uses 
and  recommends)  afforded  excellent  relief  where  chlorosis  depen- 
dant upon  uterine  troubles  was  the  cause  of  the  gastric  irritation. 
This  last  patient — also  one  for  whom  he  had  prescribed— wrote  him 
that  she  had  induced  a  friend  to  try  the  Tonicum,  and  that  it  af- 
forded such  prompt  relief  that  she  also  began  a  course  of  treat- 
ment with  it.  One  of  the  most  difficult  classes  of  chronic  ailments 
in  our  practice  is  that  in  which  the  stomach  is  secondarily  affected 
through  irritation  from  the  pelvic  organs,  and  it  is  here  that  we 
principally  find  the  need  of  some  adjuvant  to  our  homoeopathic 
methods,  and  of  those,  some  ferrugineous  tonic  carefully  employed 
often  tides  us  over  until  our  remedies  can  accomplish  their  benefi- 
cial effects. 

Nocturnal  Enuresis.— It  is  often  difficult,  among  other  things, 
to  find  an  alternative  remedy  against  nightly  wetting  the  bed  in 
children.  Now  there  comes  forward  another  "  never-failing  remedy," 
— mix  2  drops  of  Liquor  Ferri  Muriatici  in  a  wineglassful  of  water 
and  give  a  tablespoonful  every  three  hours  during  the  day. — Pop. 
Zeitfilr  Horn.,  1889,  12. 

Blennorrhoea  Urethralis. — A  French  physician  has  hit  upon  the 
use  of  Aqua  silicata  (a  familiar  homoeopathic  remedy)  in  chronic 
painful  blennorrhoea  of  the  urethra,  in  cases  that  have  for  a  long  time 
resisted  attentive  treatment.  Dose,  5  drops  twice  daily. — Pop.  Zeit. 
fur  Horn. 

Camphor  Poisoning. — A  very  instructive  case  of  poisoning  by 
camphor  is  narrated  by  Dr.  Brothers,  of  New  York.  A  man  of  26 
swallowed  at  noon  about  150  grains  of  camphor  in  the  form  of  cam- 
phorated oil,  in  mistake  for  castor  oil,  along  with  some  whiskey.  In 
the  course  of  an  hour  he  felt  uncomfortable ;  he  began  to  have  an 
intense  headache,  aching  in  the  limbs,  chills,  nausea  and  general 
weakness.  The  headache  steadily  increased  in  severity,  and  almost 
drove  him  crazy.  There  was  a  strong  odor  of  camphor  perceptible 
in  the  breath,  and  at  4  o'clock  he  passed  a  small  quantity  of  urine 
which  smelt  of  camphor.  Shortly  after  5  he  took  a  walk  for  about 
an  hour.  On  returning  he  sat  down  to  supper,  and  while  partak- 
ing of  a  hearty  meal,  he  suddenly  grew  deathly  pale  and  passed  off 
into  a  fit.  The  convulsion  was  general,  but  without  frothing  at  the 
mouth  or  biting  of  the  tongue,  and  was  soon  followed  by  uncon- 


THE  UOMCEOPATIIIC  RECORDER.  127 

sciousness.  A.bout  7  o'clock,  when  first  Been  by  Dr.  Brothers,  lie 
was  found  sitting  in  a  chair  in  a  half-dazed  condition.  II'-  an- 
swered questions   intelligently,  but  <li<l  qo1   l i l< < -  to  be  bothered. 

The  pulse  was  full,  strong,  and  80  per  minute.  The  face  was  Bome- 
what  flushed.  Be  complained  of  no  pain  in  the  mouth,  throat  or 
stomach  ;  there  was  no  erotic  desires;  the  pupils  seemed  to  be  nor- 
mal. A  d<>se  of  20  grains  of  Calomel  said  30  grains  of  Bromide  of 
Potassium  was  ordered  every  4  hours.  After  the  first  dose  of  medi- 
cine he  vomited  his  undigested  supper,  strongly  impregnated  with 
camphor,  lie  spent  a  very  restless  night,  hut  next  morning  was 
well  enough  to  leave  the  house.  The  urine  now  began  t<>  be  passed 
freely,  and  convalescence  was  established.  The  proper  treatment 
of  co 'in i >h br  poisoning  consists  in  removing  as  much  of  the  poison 
as  possible  by  emetics,  whilst  the  convulsions  must  be  controlled 
by  Bromide  of  potassium  or  Opium,  and  other  symptoms  treated  as 
they  arise.— The  (iV.  Y.)  Medical  Record. 

Eserine,  Poisoning  by. — A  nine-year  old  child,  choreic,  was 
treated  by  Prof.  Fenoch  (of  Berlin)  for  this  affection  with  Eserin. 
sulphi.  2  mg.  into  the  right  upper  arm.  One-quarter  of  an  hour 
the  child  cried  out  loudly,  vomited  profusely  and  complained  of 
violent  headache.  Soon  the  face  and  upper  part  of  the  body  be- 
came covered  with  a  profuse  perspiration ;  the  salivary  secretion 
was  increased  one-half  hour  later ;  the  number  of  the  heart-beats 
sank  to  64 ;  the  radial  artery  was  contracted  ;  the  pulse  became  small 
and  thready.  After  repeated  vomiting,  signs  of  cardiac  weakness 
increased  in  spite  of  remedies  given  to  counteract  its  action,  while 
the  sweat  and  saliva  decreased  in  amount,  and  in  one  and  a  half 
hour  had  entirely  disappeared.  A  moderate  contraction  of  the 
pupil  took  place,  reaction  was  slow,  pupils  did  not  enlarge  upon 
shading  the  eyes,  contracted  somewhat  upon  exposure  to  strong 
light,  returning,  however,  to  their  normal  size.  The  child  laid 
apathic  upon  the  bed,  pale  and  collapsed.  The  proper  antidotes 
gave  relief,  and  the  next  morning  it  was  entirely  well. — Berl.  Med, 
W'clinschr.,  17,  1888.  Cases  of  poisoning  by  Eserine  are  very  rare; 
in  the  whole  medical  literature  we  have  found  but  two — Runis- 
zewcz  R.  Wiadomosce  lekli  ivow,  1886,  i.,  161-163,  and  in  the  London 
Lancet,  1887,  i.,  621,  an  article  by  A.  Dunlap.  P.  and  P. 

Isomeric  Forms  of  Cinchonin. — M.  P.  Langlois  has  studied 
the  physiological  action  of  four  newly  isolated  isomeres  of  Cin- 
chonin which  produce  as  well  as  Qinchonidin  clonic  convulsions. 
Their  poisonousness  may  be  ranked  as  follows:  (1)  Oinchonidin: 
(2)  Cinchonin,  (3)  Cinchonibin,  (4)  Cinchonolin,  and  (5)  Cinchonigin. 
Cinchonigin  is  nine  times  as  powerful  as  Cinchonidin ;  0.005  Gin- 


128  THE  HOMCEOPATHIG  RECORDER. 

chonigin  injected  intravenously  causes  an  epileptic  attack.  Cold- 
blooded animals  bear  relatively  large  doses  well.  Chinin  contains 
a  certain  amount  of  Cinchonifln,  according  to  its  method  of  prep- 
aration.— Deutsche.  Med.  Zcitung,  1889,  No.  4.  p.  and  P. 


VETERINARY  DEPARTMENT. 
CURES  OF  ANIMALS  WITH   HIGH  POTENCIES.* 

BY   DR.    C.    VOX   BOENNINGHAUSEN. 

In  the  sciences  based  upon  experience,  experience  alone  can  re- 
move doubt  and  prove  that  which  is  true  and  right.  Where  experi- 
ence speaks  with  resoluteness  and  everywhere  facts  are  placed  by 
it  in  the  same  manner  before  the  eyes  to  be  viewed  clearly,  there 
the  human  judgment  must  bow  itself  in  humility,. and  it  would  only 
make  itself  ridiculous  by  overestimation  if  it  would  obstinately 
deny  or  assert  the  contrary. 

But  such  experience  must  be,  if  it  will  be  of  value,  based  upon 
pure  observation,  uninfluenced  by  artificial  systems  and  without 
seeking  after  hidden  causes.  But  the  dependent,  but  really  only 
apparent,  lack  of  science,  which,  however,  may  exist  together  with 
a  rational  empiricism,  induced — 250  years  B.C. — the  then  leading 
lights  of  the  empiric  school  (Herophilus,  Serapion,  Philinus)  to 
accej^t  epilogismus,  as  has  been  sought  since  Bacon's  times  to  broaden 
pure  experience  through  induction. 

Homoeopath y  confines  itself  with  all  strictness  to  pure  experience 
and  excludes  all  which  may  lie  on  this  or  that  side  of  its  limits. 

Its  therapy  is  therefore  based  chiefly  upon  the  actual  results  of 
the  self-proving  of  remedies  as  well  as  its  dosology  upon  the  actual 
action  of  these  upon  the  sick.  Thus  it  equally  rejects  in  regard  to 
dosology,  epilogismus  as  well  as  induction,  and  everything  which  has 
been  taken  up  in  its  doctrine  under  the  heads  of  small  doses,  dilutions, 
dynamizations  and  potentizations,  is  nothing  more  or  less  than  the  bare 
result  of  pure  experience  and  carefully  made  experiments. 

Although  all  true  homoeopaths  by  far  agree  in  most  of  the  essen- 
tial points  of  their  principles,  yet  there  is  a  great  difference  of 
opinion  in  regard  to  the  potentization  and  smallness  of  the  dose  as 
well  as  in  its  repetition. 

*  Translated  from  the  Ally.  Horn.  Zeit.  Bel,  67,  No.  26,  by  F.  Pritchard  and 
Albert  Pick. 


THE  HOMCEOPA  THIC  RECORDER.  1 2 1 1 

Hence,  here  there  is  particularly  accessary  a  greal  deal  more  pure 
experience  to  bring  about  a  union  of  the  far  diverging  news  and 
opinions,  in  order  that  also  in  this  a  desirable  agreement  maybe 
produced— in  the  technical  employment  of  the  remedy. 

In  order  I  hat  these  experiments  and  experiences  may  be  perfectly 
pure  and  beyond  a  doubt,  to  express  nothing  more  and  nothing 
less  than  the  truth,  to  exclude  every  kind  of  sceptically  forced  in- 
terpretation and  to  nowhere  offer  anything  in  order  that  the  results 
might  not  be  ascribed  to  other  possible  foreign  influences,  experi- 
ments on  animals  appear  to  b§  especially  the  most  reliable  and  to 
the  purpose.  Thus,  here  entirely  disappear  all  the  presumptuous 
influences  of  imagination  and  diet,  and  in  the  former  respect  they 
surpass  the  cures  of  small  children,  which  ought  to  be  ranked,  how- 
ever, next  to  On  cures  of  animate)  for  much  of  the  iniluence  of  the 
mother  or  the  nurse  is  fabulous. 

As  I,  twenty  years  ago  (1843),  first  begun  my  experiments  with 
the  200th  potency,  I  confined  them  for  these  and  variousother  reasons 
in  the  beginning  exclusively  to  animals,  but  encouraged  by  the 
most  astonishing  results,  I  also  tried  them  upon  human  beings. 

The  results  wTere  and  remained  such  that  I  now  never  go  down 
to  the  30th  potency  and  only  extremely  seldom  do  I  go  up  to  Jenich's 
highest  potencies,  and  that  only  where  necessity  requires  it. 

The  material  noted  down  in  my  carefully  kept  journal,  through 
this  long  series  of  years,  contains  much  that  is  remarkably  convinc- 
ing; but  I  will  leave  it  to  my  successors  to  later  make  use  of  it  for 
science  if  they  consider  it  appropriate. 

To-day,  I  only  intend  to  communicate  but  little  from  my  separ- 
ately kept,  but  much  more  briefly  conducted,  Veterinary  Journal, 
without  any  special  choice,  which  will  serve  as  a  confirmation  of 
my  above  assertions. 

First,  I  must  state  that  it  may  be  better  understood  by  the  follow- 
ing : 

1.  The  cases  communicated  are  all  taken  from  the^Y^  half  of  the 
year  1863,  as  the  date  indicates. 

2.  Only  those  are  quoted  of  which  I  have  later  heard,  and  this 
without  exception,  so  that  those  which  were  not  improved  were  not 
at  all  excluded. 

3.  In  all  cases  the  disease  is  described  by  but  a  few  words,  and 
wrord  for  word  has  been  copied,  so  that  nothing  has  been  added  from 
memory. 

Hence  the  facts  are  simple,  but  quite  sufficient  for  the  purpose. 

4.  In  all  animals,  large  or  small,  the  dose  employed  consisted  of 

TWO  PELLETS  ARMED  WITH  THE  200tH  FOTE>XY  OF  tin    rcuiedlj. 

5.  To  all  equally  this  dose  was  given  in  pure  cold  spring- .or  river- 
vol.  iv. — 9 


130  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDER. 

water*  to  horses,  it  was  given  in  a  half  bottleful  to  the  others  accord- 
ing  to  their  size,  dissolved  by  continuously  shaking  for  one  minute 
and  then  given  at  one  dose. 

6.  It  was  most  strictly  forbidden  to  employ  anything  externally 
in  any  case. 

7.  Also  the  diet  and  the  method  of  living  remained  in  all  cases 
entirely  unchanged,  but  of  course  the  use  of  any  other  medicinal 

stance  was  unconditionally  forbidden. 

CURES    OF    ANIMALS. 

1.  January  9th.  Lanmann's  cow— after  calving  eight  days  ago,  retained  placenta  : 
1.  SABIN.,  2.  Sec  corn.,  every  24  hours,  cured. 

2.  January  12th.  Sieveneck's  three-year-old  mare— RESTLESSNESS  from  sexual 
ex<  iikmkxt:  Platina  cured. 

o.  January  15th.  Mennemann's  horse — (received  on  December  11th  of  the  year 
before  for  glanders  with  sore  throat,  which  had  already  persisted  eight  months 
and  was  worse  in  the  evening,  Bell.)  ;  now  very  much  improved,  having  still  some 
COUGH  in  the  evening:   Hep.  sulph.  calc.  cured. 

4.  January  22d.  Kemper's  horse — broken-winded  for  9  months,  worse  on  be- 
coming cold :  Ars.  cured. 

5.  January  25th.     Recr's  FOALS — croup,  from  which  the  mother  had  also  suffered  : 

1.  A<  ON  ,  2.  Bell.,  3.  Hep.  s.  c  ,  every  12  hours.  On  January  31st  much  better, 
bul  -landers  with  excoriating  nasal  discharge  remains  :   Ars.  cured. 

6.  January  28th.  Pastor's  of  Altenberge,  bullock — distension  of  the  abdomen,  anew- 
tire  loss  of  appetite,  for  which  Cham,  had  already  been  used:  1.  Nux  vom  ,  2.  Ak-.. 
every  48  hours,  slight  improvement.  January  30th,  loud  cracking  of  the  joints  and 
continual  rubbing  from  itching  of  the  body:  Sulph.  cured. 

7.  January  31st.     Briining's   mare— lame  for  fourteen  days  from :  Laches. 

cured. 

B.  February  10th.  Gilker's  calf — entirely  paralyzed  for  several  days  andean  no 
longer  stand,  worse  in  the  evening :  1.  Nux  VOM  ,  2.  Bry  ,  every  48  hours,  cured. 

9.  February  14th.     Schroder  cow — after  calving,  delayed  placenta  :  1.,  3.  Sabin  , 

2.  Sec.  corn.,  every  12  hours,  cured. 

10.  February  16th.  Kinnebrock's  eight  young  pigs— diarrhoea,  discharge  white  : 
Merc,  in  2  doses,  one  for  each  4  pigs,  cured. 

1 1 .  February  23d.  T wenhover's  pig— falling  out  of  the  bristles,  entire  loss  of  appetite  : 
Ars.  cured. 

12.  March  7th.  Werlemann's  cow— bore  a  dead  calf  and  the  placenta  was  retained: 
L,  3.  Sec.  corn.,  2.  Sabin.,  every  8  hours,  cured. 

13.  March  9th.  Sudhof's,  little  pig — has  suffered  for  a  few  days  from  diarrhoea, 
white  discharge:  Merc,  cured. 

I  consider  all  further  observations  and  explanations  to  the  above 
truly-communicated  facts  to  be  unnecessary,  but,  if  I  should  select 
more,  I  would  take  quite  a  number  of  interesting  cases  from  the 
earlier  years  of  my  practice.  These  now  given  will  (in  the  mean- 
while) serve  as  a  contribution  to  knowledge  of  the  efficacy  of  high 
potencies. 

*  Recently  a  medical  counsellor,  together  with  his  pharmaceutical  assistant,  in  the 
revision  of  homoeopathic  medicines  made  the  official  statement  that  for  such  solu- 
ti<>n<  NO  distilled  water  is  employed,  and  it  was  for  this  purpose  not  kept  in 
stock.  Without  regard  for  the  fact  that  in  no  legal  pharmacopoeia  this  is  ordered, 
the  following  cures  show  that  such  fine  points  are  just  as  superfluous  and  ridiculous 
as  the  statement  expressed  at  the  same  time,  that  the  size  of  the  pellets  was  not  in 
all  cases  entirely  the  same. 


THE  IIOMCEOPATIIIC  RECORDER.  131 

Communicated. 
Flatulent  Colic — Equine, — In  flatulent  colic  it  sometimes  hap- 
pens thai  the  accumulation  of  gas  becomes  so  great  that  an  obstruc- 
tion forms  in  different  parts  of  the  small  intestines  (incarcerated 
flatus),  if  this  is  not  bood  removed  a  rupture  and  death  will  follow, 
caused  by  the  animal  throwing  himself  down  during  the  violent 
pains  that  follow  this  obstruction,  which  is  especially  Liable  to  hap- 
pen at  the  ileO-C8BCal  valve  Now,  the  quickest  way  to  relieve  this 
obstruction  is  to  force  or  pump  air  into  the  colon,  through  the  v>-c- 
tnm,  by  the  Large  Byringe  that  is  used  to  give  the  animal  a  clyster, 
until  the  air  is  forced  up  against  the  obstruction;  when  enough  air 
has  been  pumped  in  the  gas  will  come  out  through  the  rectum  in 
great  quantity,  relieving  the  animal  immediately.  Three  of  the  best 
remedies  for  this  trouble  (incarcerated  flatus)  are  Carbo.  veg.,  hyco- 
podium  and  Nux  vomica;  Aconite  very  seldom  doing  any  good  un- 
less an  inflammatory  action  should  set  up,  showing  itself  by  the 
usual  feverish  symptoms.  One  of  the  most  frequent  causes  of  colic 
is  the  bolting  of  the  food,  this  is  often  caused  by  an  inability  of  the 
animal  to  masticate  his  food  pioperly  by  reason  of  the  irregularity 
of  the  molars,  sharp  edges  often  being  found  lacerating  the  cheeks 
and  gums.  To  remedy  this  trouble  the  animals  teeth  must  be  filed 
down  by  a  veterinary  dentist.  Every  horse's  teeth  should  be  filed 
at  least  once  each  year.  About  five  years  ago  a  gentleman,  patient 
of  mine,  told  me  of  a  valuable  horse  that  he  bought  very  cheap, 
knowing  tfiat  he  had  frequent  attacks  of  flatulent  colic,  as  many 
as  five  attacks  in  a  week,  this  going  on  for  several  months.  I  sug- 
gested having  his  teeth  filed  and  attended  to  from  time  to  time, 
which  was  done,  since  that  time  the  animal  has  never  had  an 
attack  of  colic.  D.  W.  Shoemaker,  M.D. 

Philadelphia,  Pa. 


BOOK  REVIEWS. 

Psychology  Applied  to  the  Solution  of  Occult  Psychic 
Phenomena.  By  C.  G.  Raue,  M.D.  8vo.  Pp.  541.  Phila- 
delphia.    Porter  &  Coates. 

Dr.  Raue  has  divided  his  very  interesting  work  into  six  divisions. 
The  first  in  treating  of  the  "  Intellectual  Sphere  of  the  Mind  " 
elucidates  the  senses,  their  capability  of  receiving  impressions 
through  external  stimuli,  and  the  conveyance  of  the  impressions  so 
gained  to  the  soul  for  retention  as  vestiges  to  be  brought  up  at  a 
later  date  by  the  faculty  of  the  soul  to  memorize.  In  part  second 
he  treats  of  the  "  Sphere  of  Conation,"  i.e.,  the  coupling  of  both  the 
will  and  the  desire  to  act — a  governable  activity  of  the  primitive  forces- 
of  the  mind.     In  this  he  treats  of  the  will,  desires,  aversions,  repul- 


132  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

sions,  and  volitions.  In  the  third  part  he  treats  of  the  "  Emotional 
Sphere  or  Sphere  of  the  Feelings  "  of  pleasure  and  pain,  the  agree- 
able, beautiful  and  sublime,  the  gradation  of  good  and  evil,  and 
claims  this  to  be  "  the  same  in  all  human  beings,  because  that  grada- 
tion is  conditioned  by  the  inborn  nature  of  the  primitive  forces  of 
the  soul."  Part  four  is  devoted  to  "  Physiological  Psychology  "  and 
treats  of  nerve  influences,  the  physiology  of  the  brain,  senses,  etc., 
concluding  with  the  psychological  applications  of  the  same.  Part 
five,  composed  of  u  Complimentary  Inquiries,"  explains  the  method 
of  the  study  of  psychology.  Here  he  treats  of  reason,  inner  per- 
ceptions, instinct,  and  temperaments,  and  of  the  soul  and  body. 
He  describes  the  soul  as  "  the  real  we,  ourselves,  that  self-conscious 
being,  made  capable,  by  its  own  incarnation  of  living,  thriving  and 
acting  in  this  material  world  ;  "  in  verity  we  judge,  that  mechanical 
vital  force  existent  in  the  body,  impressionable  by  external  stimuli, 
which  remains  active  in  health,  but  ceases  when  the  material  body 
is  worn  out  by  disease  or  senile  decay.  Part  six  is  devoted  to  the 
explanation  of  "  Occult  Phenomena,"  mind  and  muscle  reading  ; 
thought  transference,  mesmerism  and  kindred  phenomena  ;  hypnot- 
ism, animal  magnetism,  hallucinations,  delusions,  somnambulism, 
prophesies,  second  sight,  psychic  action  at  a  distance,  haunted  houses, 
phantasms  of  the  dead  and  spiritualistic  phenomena. 

Dr.  Raue's  is  a  book  for  instructive  reading  useful  indeed  to  the 
physician,  rendering  him  able,  if  carefully  studied,  to  answer  confi- 
dently many  of  the  perplexing  questions  so  often  asked  <foy  his  pa- 
tients, questions  that  when  answered  thoroughly  increase  the  respect 
and  trust  which  he  so  dearly  loves  displayed  toward  him  by  those 
wTith  whom  he  is  so  often  brought  in  contact. 

A  proper  idea  of  this  great  work  cannot  be  conveyed  in  a  neces- 
sarily short  review,  we  recommend  every  physician  to  procure  the 
book,  and  form  his  opinions  of  it  by  carefully  studying  its  wTell- 
written  pages,  the  result  will  be  instruction  and  recreation,  greater 
knowledge  and  an  increased  powTer  of  observation  and  analysis. 

American  Resorts  with  Notes  upon  their  Climate.  By 
Bushrod  W.  James,  A.M.,  M.D.  8vo.  Pp.  285.  Philadelphia. 
F.  A.  Davis. 

In  this  useful  work  Dr.  James  has  given  us  a  comprehensive  guide 
to  American  health  resorts,  and  the  diseases  to  which  they  are  in- 
dividually adapted  ;  a  description  of  many  health  tours  and  summer 
resorts  ;  an  excellent  chapter  on  therapeutics  of  climatic  treatment; 
and  extends  his  work  to  include  all  America,  from  Alaska  to  Cape 
Horn. 

The  book  is  a  valuable  adjunct  to  a  physician's  library,  one  of 
those  works  of  reference  so  often  needed  at  a  moment's  notice,  and 
one  so  fully  indexed  that  it  needs  but  a  moment's  time  to  find  just 
what  one  is  seeking,  and  satisfactory  when  found.  ■ 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT. 

Dr.  Hugh  Pit  cairn,  of  Barrisburg,  Pa.,  favors  as  with  a  copy 
of  the  Trilwne}  of  Altoona,  from  which  the  subjoined  article  is  taken. 
While  it  concerns  a  local  matter,  ye1  we  think  it  bag  a  national  in- 
terest. There  seems  to  be  a  concerted  action  on  part  of  the  allo- 
paths to  get  the  whip-hand  by  means  of  the  passage  of  plausible 
laws  which,  while  ostensibly  aimed  at  quacks,  are  in  reality  in- 
tended to  kill  off  all  schools  but  the  allopathic.  That  this  scheme 
will  not  work  where  homoeopaths  take  the  trouble  to  make  a  fight, 
is  plainly  evident  from  the  action  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
of  Pennsylvania. 

When  Doctors  Disagree,  What  Then? 

The  House  of  Representatives  has  not  done  a  more  commendable 
act  during  the  present  session  than  it  did  when  it  amended  the 
Medic. \\  Examiners'  Bill.  That  there  should  be  some  law  passed 
that  will  prevent  the  medical  colleges  from  turning  out  a  lot  of 
incompetents  annually,  there  can  be  little  doubt,  but  this  bill  was 
prepared  entirely  by  allopathic  physicians  without  any  consultation 
with  physicians  representing  any  other  school  of  medicine,  and  was 
championed  by  the  fourteen  allopathic  physicians  who  are  mem- 
bers of  the  House.  The  bill,  as  originally  presented,  left  open  a  wide 
avenue  for  fraud,  and  for  the  oppression  of  minority  schools  by  the 
school  securing  a  majority  of  the  Board  of  Examiners.  It  was 
charged  by  the  representatives  of  the  homoeopathic  and  eclectic 
schools  that  it  was  introduced,  not  from  any  desire  to  protect  the 
public  from  quacks,  but  in  answer  to  a  resolution  adopted  by  the 
American  Medical  Association  at  its  meeting  in  New  Orleans,  ap- 
proving of  the  appointment  of  medical  examining  boards  in  every 
State  in  the  Union,  and  in  answer  to  this  resolution  similar  bills 
have  been  introduced  in  the  legislatures  of  a  dozen  States.  This 
American  Medical  Association  says  in  its  code  of  ethics  :  "  It  is  not 
in  accord  with  the  interests  of  the  public,  or  the  honor  of  the  pro- 
fession, that  any  physician  or  medical  teacher  should  examine  or 
sign  diplomas  or  certificates  of  proficiency  for,  or  otherwise  be  spe- 
cially concerned  with,  the  graduation  of  persons  who,  they  have 
good  reason  to  believe,  intend  to  support  and  practice  any  exclu- 
sive and  irregular  system  of  medicine."  ("Exclusive  and  irreg- 
ular" refers  to  anything  not  allopathic.)  They  quote  also  from  an 
article  by  Dr.  Packard,  a  prominent  allopathic  surgeon  of  Philadel- 
phia, in  which  he  declared  in  favor  of  the  board,  provided  it  is  to  be 
composed  wholly  of  allopathic  physicians  clothed  with  power  to  re- 
voke any  license  conferred,  on  proof  that  the  license  supported  or 
practiced  "any  exclusive  and  irregular  system  of  medicine."  They 
also  refer  to  the  remarks  of  Dr.  Flick,  of  Philadelphia,  one  of  the 
framers  of  the  bill,  who  said  publicly  in  a  discussion  of  the  act  that  it 
would  "crush  out  homoeopathy."  No  fair-minded  man  can  doubt 
that  the  opponents  of  the  measure  had  good  grounds  for  fearing  they 


134  THE  E0MCE0PATH1C  RECORDER. 

would  be  unfairly  treated  if  the  allopathic  school  gained  control  of 
the  board.  To  prevent  this,  they  submitted  an  amendment,  as  fol- 
lows :  "  There  shall  at  no  time  be  a  majority  from  any  one  school 
of  medicine  or  system  of  medical  practice."  Notwithstanding  the 
fairness  of  this  amendment,  the  allopathic  physicians  of  the  House 
set  about  to  accomplish  its  defeat,  and  brought  to  their  aid  such 
prominent  physicians  as  Drs.  Agnew,  Pepper,  White,  Wood,  Mills, 
and  numerous  smaller  lights,  who  visited  Harrisburg  and  under- 
took, by  personal  work,  to  secure  the  passage  of  the  bill  without 
amendment.  But  notwithstanding  this,  the  House  adopted  the 
amendment  by  the  unusual  vote  of  132  yeas  to  39  nays,  fourteen 
of  the  votes  against  the  amendment  being  from  allopathic  physi- 
cians. The  framers  of  the  bill  then,  it  seems,  intended  to  leave  no 
doubt  of  the  animus  back  of  the  original  measure,  as  Dr.  Reid,  of 
Indiana,  at  once  moved  its  indefinite  postponement.  The  House 
refused  to  agree,  and  Dr.  Walk,  the  special  champion  of  the  meas- 
ure, made  a  second  attempt  to  secure  its  indefinite  postponement, 
because,  as  he  stated,  the  bill,  as  amended,  had  become  "  impracti- 
cable." The  House,  seeing  the  animus  of  the  motion,  passed  the  bill 
to  third  reading. 

It  is  the  duty  of  the  legislature  to  throw  every  safeguard  around 
the  minority.  The  mere  fact  that  the  allopathic  physicians  out- 
number those  of  other  schools,  is  no  reason  for  giving  them  control 
of  the  licensing  franchise  for  all  schools.  The  law  is  to  affect  no 
phvsician  now  in  practice,  but  onlv  those  applying  after  January, 
1890. 

A  board  of  medical  examiners  controlled  by  allopathic  physicians 
would  practically  destroy  all  colleges  other  than  their  own  in  the 
State,  as  students  would  hesitate  to  matriculate  in  such  colleges  and 
spend  their  time  and  money  in  securing  a  medical  education,  know- 
ing that  before  they  could  commence  practice  they  would  be  com- 
pelled to  undergo  an  examination  before  a  board  controlled  by  phy- 
sicians opposed  to  and  strongly  prejudiced  against  their  system  of 
practice.  It  would  be  a  palpable  wrong  to  enact  any  law  that  could 
be  so  injurious. 

When  the  bill  comes  up  for  third  reading  the  allopathic  physi- 
cians may  endeavor  to  have  it  restored  to  its  original  shape  or  to 
defeat  it.  The  members  of  the  House  should  not  permit  them  to 
accomplish  either  purpose,  but  should  pass  the  bill  as  amended, 
and  thus  guarantee  to  the  people  of  the  commonwealth  protection 
against  quacks  and  quackery,  and  at  the  same  time  guarantee  the 
rights  of  all  schools  of  medicine,  whether  their  adherents  be  few  or 
many.  All  the  commonwealth  has  a  right  to  demand,  is  that  its 
physicians  be  properly  educated,  and  not  that  they  practice  allo- 
pathy, homoeopathy,  eclecticism  or  any  peculiar  system  of  thera- 
peutics.   

AMERICAN    INSTITUTE    OF    HOMCEOPATHY.     AN- 
NOUCEMENT  OF   THE    SESSION   OF  1889. 

Editor  Homoeopathic  Recorder: 

The  American  Institute  of  Homoeopathy  will  convene  in  its 
forty-second  annual  session,  at  Hotel  Lafayette,  Lake  Minnetonka, 
Minn,  (near  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis),  on  Monday  evening,  June 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPABTMENT. 

24th,  the  Beeeion  continuing  until  the  following  Friday  night.  The 
place  of  meeting  ie  one  of  the  largesl  Bummer  lintels  in  the  country, 
capable  of  accommodating  upwards  of  six  hundred  guests  without 
inconvenience  or  crowding,  and  furnishing  adequate  provision  for 
the  genera]  and  sectional  meetings  and  the  various  committees  of 
the  Institute.  The  entire  hotel  and  its  force  of  attaches  will  be  prac- 
tically at  the  disposal  of  the  Institute  during  the  week.  The  situation 
and  arrangement  of  the  hotel  are  such  as  to  afford  a  lake-view  from 
eachand  all  its  rooms.  The  apartments  are  spacious  and  airy ,  with 
high  ceilings,  and  all  the  appointments  are  such  as  pertain  to  a  first- 
class  hotel.    Terms,  three  dollars  per  day. 

■•  Minnetonka,"  with  its  deeply  indented  shores,  its  irregular  bays 
and  jutting  head-lands,  and  its  numerous  islands,  is  described  as  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  inland  lakes  in  America.  Several  excursion 
steamers  pry  on  its  waters,  and  its  fine  scenery  and  excellent  hotel  ac- 
commodations attract  thousands  of  summer  sojourners  to  its  shores. 

Medical  organizations  are  invited  and  requested  to  send  delegates 
to  the  meeting  as  follows  :  Associations  composed  of  more  than  fifty 
members  from  different  States,  two  delegates  with  an  additional  dele- 
gate for  every  twenty  members;  State  societies,  two  delegates  and  an 
additional  delegate  for  every  twenty  members ;  county  and  local 
societies,  hospitals,  asylums  for  the  insane,  dispensaries  and  medical 
journals,  one  delegate  each ;  colleges,  two  delegates  each  to  form  the 
Inter-collegiate  Committee.  It  is  not  necessary  that  delegates  be 
members  of  the  Institute. 

Physicians  desiring  to  become  members  are  required  to  present  to 
the  Board  of  Censors,  a  certificate  signed  by  three  members  of  the 
Institute,  setting  forth  that  the  applicant  has  pursued  a  regular  course 
of  medical  studies  and  sustains  a  good  moral  character  and  profes- 
sional standing.  The  applications  should  be  accompanied  with  the 
initiation  fee  of  $2,  and  the  first  year's  annual  dues,  So.  Blank  appli- 
cations for  membership  may  be  obtained  from  the  Secretary,  or  from 
the  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Censors,  R.  B.  Rush,  M.D.,  of  Salem,  0. 

Homoeopathic  State  and  local  societies,  hospitals,  dispensai  - 
colleges  and  medical  journals  are  requested  to  fill  out  and  return 
promptly  the  statistical  blanks  which  will  be  forwarded  to  them  by  the 
Bureau  of  Organization,  Registration  and  Statistics,  in  order  that  the 
Bureau's  report  may  not  be  delayed.  Physicians  having  knowledge 
of  the  life,  services,  etc.,  of  any  member  of  the  Institute  who  has  died 
since  June  1st,  1888,  will  confer  a  favor  by  communicating  the  facts 
to  Dr.  Henry  D.  Paine,  the  necrologist,  No.  19  West  24th  street.  New 
York  city. 

Papers  designed  by  their  authors  for  publication  in  the  journals 
after  presentation  to  the  Institute,  should  be  prepared  in  duplicate  and 
one  copy  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  General  Secretary  before  the  cb 
the  session,  as  required  by  the  By-Laws. 

The  Committee  on  Railroad  Fares  will  announce,  in  due  time,  the 
arrangements  that  have  been  entered  into  for  a  reduction  of  rat<  - 
physicians  and  their  friends  who  may  be  in  attendance  at  the  session. 

The  "Annual  Circular,"  giving  full  details, together  with  the  pro- 
gramme as  prepared  by  the  committee,  will  be  issued  in  May.  Any 
physician  failing  to  receive  a  copy  before  June  1st,  can  obtain  one  on 
application  to  the  undersigned. 

Pemberton  Dudley,  M.D.,  General  Secretary. 
S.  W.  Cor.  15th  and  Master  Sts.,  Philadelphia. 


136  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECOBDEB. 

The  Institute  Meeting  Letter  from  the  President. 

Middletown,  N.  Y.,  April  20,  1889. 

To  the  Members  of  the  American  Institute  of  Homoeopathy  : 

Your  President  sends  you  greeting,  and  wishes  you  all  to  re- 
member that  the  annual  session  of  the  Institute  will  be  held  at 
Lake  Minnetonka,  in  the  State  of  Minnesota,  beginning  on  the  24th 
and  continuing  until  the  28th  day  of  June,  1889.  We  urge  upon 
every  member  the  duty  of  attending  these  annual  gatherings  of  our 
national  organization,  and  we  promise  both  pleasure  and  profit  to 
all  the  members  who  assemble  on  June  next  upon  the  banks  of 
that  beautiful  and  historic  lake — the  pride  alike  of  ancient  Indian 
and  modern  American. 

What  we  need  is  an  earnest,  enthusiastic,  and  rousing  gathering 
of  the  friends  of  homoeopathy  in  order  that  the  dignity  of  our 
cause  may  be  enhanced ;  in  order  that  the  virtues  of  homoe- 
opathy may  be  better  known  and,  therefore,  better  appreciated  ; 
and  in  order  that  the  blessings  which  arise  from  the  methods  we 
have  adopted  may  be  as  widely  disseminated  as  possible  among 
the  people. 

We  ask  all  the  members  in  the  West  to  rally  at  Lake  Minnetonka, 
because  they  may  thus  demonstrate  the  value  of  holding  meetings 
in  that  locality.  We  ask  all  the  members  in  the  East  to  visit  the 
West  and  to  show  their  appreciation  of  their  western  brethren,  and 
of  the  hospitality  and  cordial  welcome  which  they  will  receive  in 
the  State  of  Minnesota.  We  ask  the  brethren  from  the  South  to  go 
up  during  the  hot  month  of  June  from  the  torrid  breath  of  the 
Southern  slopes  to  the'cool  and  refreshing  breezes  of  the  great  Northern 
wheat  State.  We  ask  the  members  who  dwell  upon  the  Pacific  slope 
to  come  East  and  enjoy  once  more  the  friendships  of  former  days. 

We  especially  urge  the  chairmen  of  the  various  bureaus  to  work 
with  vigor  and  energy  during  the  next  two  months,  for  the  purpose 
of  insuring  a  large  number  of  valuable  papers  to  be  read  at 
the  meeting.  And  we  also  urge  upon  the  various  chairmen  the 
propriety  and  the  duty  of  securing  these  papers  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble, in  order  that  a  careful  and  full  synopsis  of  each  essay  may  be 
incorporated  in  the  report  which  each  chairman  is  expected  to 
make.  We  expect  all  who  are  interested  in  our  cause  to  do  their  ut- 
most to  make  the  next  meeting  of  the  American  Institute  an 
assured  and  triumphant  success,  "  Naught  more  we  ask,  nor  less 
will  have." 

Selden  H.  Talcott, 

President. 

Passiflora  Incarnata. — The  California  Medical  Journal  says  this 
medicament  is  excellent  to  relieve  the  nervousness  and  insomnia  in 
convalescence  from  fevers.  "  We  have  been  employing  it  in  some 
cases  of  spinal  meningitis  after  the  acute  symptoms  had  subsided, 
when  the  patients  were  unable  to  sleep  either  day  or  night ;  could 
not  endure  the  bed,  and  were  unable  to  maintain  the  sitting  pos- 
ture, with  highly  satisfactory  results.     It  is  administered  in  small 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT.  137 

dos.s.  Add  10  d  rope  of  the  mother  tincture  (homoeopathic)  to  half 
a  tumbler  of  water,  teaspoonful  every  two  hours." 

Some  Uses  ofthe  Lemon. — M  I  was  just  thinking," said  Dr. John 
E.  Gilm an  yesterday,  "  how  foolish  people  are.  About  an  hour  ago 
1  had  occasion  to  visit  a  neighboring  drug  store.  At  the  soda-water 
counter  there  were  a  score  of  men,  women  and  children,  most  of 
them  drinking  decoctions  containing  phosphoric  acid.  If  the  pub- 
lie  were  aware  of  the  dangers  that  accompany  the  use  of  phosphoric 

acid  it  would  not  be  in  such  common  use.  When  people  use  phos- 
phoric acid  to  excess,  as  they  are  now  doing  at  soda  fountains,  it 
tends  to  exhaust  the  entire  system,  producing  weakness  and  debility, 
which  are  characterized  by  apathy  and  torpidity  of  the  mind  and 
body.  Continued  use  of  this  acid  will  be  productive  of  diarrhoea  and 
inability  to  resist  disease.  Every  draught  of  air  will  superinduce 
cold.  Finally  it  will  affect  the  bones  and  the— well,  the  jig  is  up." 
"What  are  the  special  symptoms,  Doctor?"  "Complete  indiffer- 
ence to  everything.  A  person  has  to  whip  himself  up  to  effect  a 
purpose."  "What  drink  is  this  acid  found  in  in  the  largest  quan- 
tities?" "Acid  phosphate,  malto,  and  all  nerve  foods."  "What 
would  you  advise  the  public  to  quench  its  thirst  with  during  the 
heated  term?"  "Lemons,  by  all  means.  They  are  very  healthy 
and  good  not  only  for  allaying  the  thirst,  but  will  cure  a  multitude 
of  disorders.  The  juice  of  the  lemon  contains  citric  acid.  Acids, 
as  a  rule,  decrease  the  acid  secretion  of  the  body  and  increase  the 
alkaline.  Citric  acid,  which  is  the  acid  of  lemons  and  oranges,  for 
instance,  will  diminish  the  secretion  of  gastric  juice,  but  increase 
very  materially  the  secretion  of  saliva.  The  very  thought  of  a  lemon 
is  sufficient  to  make  the  mouth  water.  Thirst  in  fever  is  not  always 
due  to  a  lack  of  water  in  the  blood.  It  may  be  due  in  part  to  a  lack 
of  the  secretion  of  the  saliva.  When  the  mouth  is  parched  and  dry 
the  acid  will  increase  the  saliva.  When  acid  is  given  for  the  relief 
of  dyspepsia  it  should  be  taken  before  eating.  Lemon  juice  drank 
before  meals  will  be  found  very  advantageous  as  a  preventive  to 
heartburn." — Chicago  Times. 

An  Opening. — There  is  said  to  be  an  excellent  opening  for  a 
homoeopathic  physician  at  Berlin,  Ontario,  Canada,  where  there  are 
a  good  many  believers  in  homoeopathy,  but  no  physician  of  that 
practice.  Anyone  wishing  further  particulars  may  obtain  them  by 
addressing  Rev.  F.  E.  Waelchly,  of  that  place. 

Dr.  D.  D.  Stewart,  of  Jefferson  College  Hospital,  Philadelphia, 
thinks  that  "  many  cases  of  disease  of  seemingly  obscure  or  sup- 
posed idiopathic  origin"  with  which  he  met  in  his  hospital  prac- 


138  THE  HOM(EOPATBIC  BECOBDEB. 

tice  may  be  traced  to  lead  poisoning  by  chrome  yellow  used  by 
bakers  and  confectioners  to  give  their  pastry  a  rich  color.  Among 
the  cases  so  caused  he  mentions  "  anaemia,  renal  fibrosis,  peripheral 
neuritis,  spastic  paralysis,  neurasthenia,  obstinate  headache,  and 
at  least  one  case  of  long-standing  delusional  mania." 

Three  Remdies — "  Melilotus. — Sweet  clover,  is  a  grand  remedy 
in  epilepsy,  spasms,  and  like  convulsive  affections.  It  must  be 
given  in  small  doses,  say  1  to  2  gtts.,  three  times  a  day,  for  chil- 
dren, and  5  or  6  gtts.  for  adults,  to  prevent  recurrence  of  fits,  and  in 
small  doses  every  fifteen  minutes  during  the  attack,  say  in  1-drop 
doses.  It  is  valuable  in  congestive  headache  and  epistaxis.  I  have 
used  it  in  one  very  obstinate  case  of  epilepsy,  where  the  patient  was 

uncontrollable I  have  used  it  in  several  cases  of  convulsions 

of  children,  and  it  controlled  them  promptly. 

Mistletoe  —  Viscum  album. —  Dose  \  to  1  5  of"  the  tincture  for 
adults  ;  for  children,  5  to  6  gtts.  This  hitherto  neglected  drug 
stands  high  as  a  pain-alleviating  remedy,  especially  when  the  pain 
is  of  a  rheumatic  or  tearing,  shooting  character.  It  is  valuable  in 
neuralgic  rheumatism,  as  sciatica.  It  is  a  valuable  remedy  in 
catarrhal  deafness,  and  also  in  whooping  cough.  It  has  also  been 
praised  in  epilepsy,  but  it  needs  further  trial  to  confirm  the  opinion 
in  regard  to  its  curative  power  over  epilepsy.  It  was  used  some 
years  ago  as  a  parturient,  but  has  not  been  used  in  that  way  suffi- 
ciently to  establish  its  reputation. 

Mountain  laurel — Kalmia  latifolia. — Dose  5  to  20  gtts.  of  the  tinc- 
ture. Kalmia,  in  1-drop  doses,  has  proven  valuable  in  album- 
inuria, curing  25  per  cent.  It  mitigates  the  pain  of  rheumatism 
very  quickly,  and  acts  positively  in  neuralgia.  It  wards  off  rheu- 
matism of  the  heart.  In  headache,  coming  on  in  the  morning  and 
going  off  at  night,  this  remedy  acts  like  a  charm.  In  influenza, 
with  watery  eyes,  sore  throat  and  much  aching  in  the  bones,  the 
Kalmia  gives  quick  relief.  In  all  aches  and  pains,  think  of  the 
Kalmia." — Prof.  I.  J.  M.  Goss,  in  Georgia  Eclectic  Medical  Journal. 

"There  is  one  condition  which  is  fatal  to  longevity,"  writes  the 
wiseacre  of  the  N.  Y.  Tribune,  "and  that  is  the  possession  of  genius. 
There  is  no  known  instance  of  a  long-lived  man  or  woman  of 
genius."  If  the  Tribune  owned  a  funny  man  we'd  say  that  one  of 
his  jokes  had  strayed  into  a  wrong  department.  By  the  way,  what 
is  genius? 

A  Philadelphia  publisher  put  out  a  book  made  up  of  the  con- 
densed lectures  of  one  of  the  professors  of  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania. The  court  enjoined  him  from  publishing  the  book,  and 
made  him  pay  all  costs. 


PUBLISI1EBS'  DEPABTMENT.  139 

A  rich  man  in  Odessa,  being  sick,  was  no1  satisfied  with  having 
five  old  school  doctors  in  attendance,  but  at  an  expense  of  $7500 
sent  lorn  sixth  by  special  train  from  Vienna.     He  died. 

Cuphea  Viscosissima. — As  the  season  when  cholera  infantum 
prevails  is  rapidly  approaching,  we  have  deemed  it  well  to  reprint 
a  paper  on  Owphea  viscosissima,  by  A.  A.  Roth,  M.I).,  of  Frederick, 

Maryland,  that  appeared  in  the  Recorder,  vol.  iii.,  p.  243: 

"Two  years  ago,  whilst  battling  manfully  for  the  life  of  a  child 
ill  to  (hath  from  cholera  infantum,  I  was  persuaded  by  a  lady  friend 
to  use  red  pennyroyal  tea,  and  to  my  delight  I  had  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  a  marvellous  change  in  less  than  twenty-four  hours.  The 
vomiting  ceased  promptly  and  the  bowels  gradually  became  normal. 
Impressed  by  this  fact,  and  also  the  fact  that  it  was  used  very  exten- 
sively in  home  treatment  by  country  people,  I  procured  the  fresh 
plant,  and  prepared  a  tincture  as  directed  in  the  American  Homceo- 
paihic  Pharmacopoeia  under  article  "  Hedeoma."  This  made  a  beauti- 
ful dark-green  tincture,  having  an  aromatic  odor  and  slightly  astrin- 
gent taste.  Of  this  I  gave  from  five  to  ten  drops,  according  to  age, 
every  hour  until  relieved,  and  then  as  often  as  needed,  and  found  it 
act  promptly  and  effectively.  Feeling  loath  to  add  another  remedy  to 
our  already  overburdened  materia  medica,  I  deferred  any  mention 
of  the  fact;  but  now,  after  a  fair  trial  for  two  seasons,  I  feel  justified 
in  helieving  that  the  Cuphea  viscosissima  will  prove  a  treasure  in  the 
treatment  of  cholera  infantum.  Out  of  a  large  number  of  cases 
treated  I  had  but  three  square  failures,  and  they  were  complicated 
with  marasmus  to  an  alarming  extent  before  I  began  the  Qupkea  : 
one  died  and  two  finally  recovered.  Cuphea  does  not  act  with  equal 
promptness  in  all  forms  of  cholera  infantum.  Two  classes  of  cases 
stand  out  prominently  ;  and  first,  those  arising  from  acidity  of  milk 
or  food  ;  vomiting  of  undigested  food  or  curdled  milk,  with  frequent 
green,  watery,  acid  stools,  varying  in  number  from  five  to  thirty  per 
day ;  child  fretful  and  feverish  ;  can  retain  nothing  on  the  stomach ; 
food  seems  to  pass  right  through  the  child.  I  have  frequently  had 
the  mother  say  after  twenty-four  hours'  use  of  Cuphea :  "  Doctor, 
the  baby  is  all  right,"  and  a  very  pleasant  greeting  it  is  as  we  all 
know.  A  second  class  is  composed  of  cases  in  which  the  stools  are 
decidedly  dysenteric,  small,  frequent,  bloody,  with  tenesmus  and 
great  pain ;  high  fever,  restlessness,  and  sleeplessness.  In  these  two 
classes  Cuphea  acts  promptly  and  generally  permanently.  It  con- 
tains a  large  percentage  of  tannic  acid,  and  seems  to  possess  de- 
cidedly tonic  properties,  as  children  rally  rapidly  under  its  use.  It 
utterly  failed  me  in  ordinary  forms  of  diarrhoea,  especially  in  diar- 
rhoeas from  colds,  etc. ;  but  in  the  classes  mentioned  I  have  fre- 
quently had  it  produce  obstinate  constipation  after  several  days' 
use." 


140  THE  HOMCEOPAT1C  BECORDER. 

Sizygium  Jambolanum. — In  No.  11  of  New  Commercial  Hants 
and  Drugs  considerable  space  is  given  to  this  remedy  for  diabetes  mel- 
litus.  There  can  be  no  donbt  that  Sizygium  has  the  power  to  prevent 
the  transformation  of  starch  into  saccharine  matter.  Dr.  T.  A.  E. 
Balfour,  of  the  Royal  College  of  Physicians  of  Edinburgh,  assisted 
by  Dr.  G.  Sims  Woodhead,  made  a  series  of  experiments  which  seem 
to  conclusively  demonstrate  this. 

From  the  Lancet:  "Diabetes  insipidus — no  diminution  of  urine 
with  Jambul.  Diabetes  mellitus — cases  presenting  themselves  with 
sloughing  ulcers  of  diabetic  origin,  or  accidental  wounds  in  diabetes 
refusing  to  heal  under  any  application  or  treatment,  gave  these  re- 
sults :  Water  diminished,  sugar  decreased,  ulcers  filling  in,  and 
wounds  granulating  and  healing  with  surprising  rapidity.  One  case 
in  point  may  be  mentioned.  A  diabetic  of  eighteen  months'  stand- 
ing, who  had  been  lately  under  strict  diabetic  regimen  and  treat- 
ment, applied  to  me  for  relief  of  rapidly  increasing  sloughy  ulcers 
of  leg  and  thigh.  These  ulcers  caused  great  pain.  The  patient  stated 
that  he  filled  a  full-sized  zinc  pail  with  urine  every  night,  and, 
although  he  did  not  measure  his  urine  during  the  day,  he  believed 
it  was  even  greater  in  quantity.  In  one  week  with  Jambul  the  urine 
diminished  to  one-half  the  quantity,  and  some  of  the  deepest  ulcers 
had  filled  up  and  skinned  over.  Few  cases  have  impressed  me  so 
much  with  the  value  of  Jambul  in  diabetic  ulceration  as  this." 

Jambul  seed,  according  to  a  correspondent  of  the  Monthly  Maga- 
zine of  Pharmacy,  contains  a  very  unstable  glucoside,  i.e.,  Jambul  in, 
which  appears  to  have  the  power  of  stopping  the  diastatic  conver- 
sion of  starch  into  sugar.  The  drug  has  numerous  supporters  and 
detractors,  though  all  admit  that  it  has  the  effect  of  greatly  dimin- 
ishing the  quantity  of  urine  passed.  Those  who  oppose  it  admit  that 
it  affords  great  relief  and  ease,  but  does  not  effect  a  permanent  cure. 
But  that  it  does  cure  in  many  cases  seems  to  be  unquestionable.  The 
dose  most  favored  is  two  or  two  and  a  half  grains  of  the  powdered 
seeds  two  or  three  times  a  day,  or  its  equivalent  in  the  tincture. 

Winter  Cough. — Dr.  G.  E.  Newcombe — Dear  Sir:  Try  Rum  ex  cris- 

pus  for  your  winter  hacking  cough.     Aggravated  from  cool  air  in 

raw,  cold  weather,  or  by  the  inspiration  of  cold  air.     If  there  is  any 

taint  left  of  the  salt  rheum  it  and  Lappa  major  will  remove  it  from 

your  system. 

Yours  sincerely, 

J.  K.  Ebekle,  M.D. 
Pana,  III. 

Dr.  E.  A.  Neatby  in  a  paper  read  March,  1889,  before  the  British 
Homoeopathic  Society,  has  something  to  say  about  winter  coughs  : 
"  Mr.  S.,  a?t.  about  56,  a  stout  heavy  man,  has  had  bad  winter  coughs 
for  several  years.     This  year  the  cough  had  lasted  four  weeks,  keep- 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPATiTMENT.  141 

ing  him  a  prisoner  in  the  house.  During  the  day  there  ia  wheezing 
with  occasional  fits  of  coughing,  but  towards  evening  aggravation 
begins  (at  about  six  o'clock  >,  and  it  ia  impossible  for  patient  to  lay 
down  in  bed.     Even  it'  propped  up  a  sensation  of  something  in 

throat  pit  (larynx  or  trachea  apparently  |  causes  fear  of  BUfTocation 
and  paroxysms  of  violent  cough,  only  ending  when  some  thick 
grayish,  very  sticky  mucus  is  expectorated.     It  is  not  Btringy  and 

difficult  of  removal  when  once  detached  from  its  site,  on  the  con- 
trary, it  often  flies  unexpectedly  from  ike  month  after  Long  coughing. 

This  indication  I  regard  as  a  so-called  keynote  for  Kali  carb"  This 
remedy  is  called  for.  Dr.  Neaxby  says,  when  there  is  "  1st,  a  very 
violent  cough  ;  2d,  a  peculiarly  semi-solid  mucus,  very  adherent  to 
its  original  site,  but  detached  in  a  defined  mass,  having  no  tendency 
to  adhere  to  the  passages  it  traverses  (as  with  Kali  bich. },  and  there- 
fore very  liable  to  be  summarily  and  unexpectedly  ejected  from  the 
mouth  by  the  violent  cough.  The  patient  described  above  began 
Kali  carb.  30  about  seven  o'clock  p.m.,  his  evening  aggravation  having 
already  commenced.  He  took  it  every  hour,  and  had  a  better  night. 
He  continued  it  next  day  every  two  hours,  and  had  a  good  night ; 
subsequent  progress  was  good." 

Another  case  given  by  Dr.  Neatby  is  the  following :  "  January 
11,  1887. — J.  S.,  set.  78.  Cold  and  cough  six  weeks.  Cough  most 
in  morning  on  rising,  excited  by  tickling  of  throat  and  soreness. 
Kxpectoration  flies  out  of  mouth  ;  aching  of  abdomen  ;  tongue  dry, 
must  drink  at  nights.  Taking  sip  of  water  relieves  cough.  Kali 
carb.  30,  3  drops  every  four  hours.  January  19th,  cough  and  expec- 
toration very  much  less.     Subsequent  interrupted  progress." 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  of  interest  to  note  a  case  that  came 
to  our  attention  recently.  One  of  the  members  of  a  family  caught 
a  bad  cold,  which  at  the  end  of  two  weeks  had  developed  into  a  most 
distressing  cough.  At  night  would  often  cough  for  half  an  hour  at 
a  stretch.  One  night  a  severe  toothache  drove  the  patient  to  take  a 
dose  of  Staphisagria  (3  x)  from  the  family  medicine  box,  and  the 
result  was  that  the  cough  ceased  and  reappeared  no  more.  Another 
member  of  the  same  family  had  a  similar  experience  with  a  cold 
which  developed  a  deep  cough.  One  dose  of  Staphisagria  at  bed- 
time brought  most  marked  relief.  A  reference  to  the  text-books 
shows  this  remed}r  has  much  to  do  with  the  coughs  and  sore  chests 
of  common  colds. 

Jacaranda  Gualandai. — Our  readers  will  remember  a  letter  con- 
cerning this  remedy,  so  much  used  in  South  America  for  gonorrhoea 
and  syphilitic  troubles,  which  we  published  in  the  Recorder  for  Jan- 
uary of  this  year,  from  Dr.  Con  vers  of  Bogota.  Another  paper  con- 
cerning Jacaranda  appears  in  the  Medical  Advance,  April,  by  Mr.  Jose 


142  THE  HOMOEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

M.  Reyes,  of  Bogosa,  who  made  the  proving.  Among  other  things 
he  says  :  "  The  Jacaranda  is  the  best  I  know  of  to  cure  gonorrhoea 
and  chancroid."  The  proving  given  is  practically  the  same  as  that 
we  have  already  published. 

The  Presidential  Address  of  Wm.  Tod  Helmuth,  M.D., 
L.L.D.,  before  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  February  12,  1889,  has  been  published  in  pamphlet  form, 
and  under  the  title  "  Sectarianism  in  Medicine,"  by  order  of  the 
society.  It  is  an  excellent  brochure  and  will  be  furnished  at  the 
rate  of  $5  per  hundred  copies,  one  copy  10  cents.  Orders  may 
be  sent  to  our  establishments. 

"  External  Remedies,"  by  Henry  Thomas,  M.D.  (London),  is  a 
little  94  page  (5  x  3?)  work  now  in  its  seventh  edition.  It  treats 
of  Arnica,  Calendula,  Cantharis,  Causticum,  Hamamelis,  Ledum,  Rhus 
tox,  Ruta  grav.,  and  Camphor,  and  is  worth  the  40  cents  it  costs. 

Tarantula  Cubensia. — "  Miss   N.  McG ,  a  school  girl,  set. 

eleven,  had  a  brown  colored  mole  about  the  size  of  a  grain  of  wheat 
on  the  back  of  the  neck.  It  commenced  burning  so  that  she  could 
not  go  to  school ;  there  was  no  inflammation  to  be  seen ;  when 
touching  it  she  would  complain  of  needles  sticking  in  it.  Tarantula 
cub.,  30th,  two  powders,  one  night  and  morning,  Sac.  lac,  for  a 
week,  cured  the  trouble  completely." — Thos.  Young,  M.D.,  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  in  Medical  Advance. 

Apocynum  Cannabinum. — J.  E.  Winans,  M.D.  (New  Jersey 
State  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society),  calls  attention  to  the  fact  that 
Apocynum  cannabinum  is  a  remedy  which  should  be  borne  more 
frequently  in  mind  in  cases  of  persistently  slow  pulse  (50  to  60)  in 
acute  affections  of  men  much  addicted  to  smoking.  In  summing 
up  his  investigations  the  doctor  says :  "  We  think  enough  has  been 
given  to  make  this  remedy  a  prominent  one  in  cases  of  so-called 
'  tobacco  heart,'  as  the  result  of  excessive  smoking." 

Riddles. — How  can  pestles  have  a  u  uniform  pressure,"  "  which  is 
never  so  great  as  to  bring  them  in  contact  with  the  surface  of  the 
mortar?" 

How  can  pestles  which  never  come  in  contact  with  the  mortar 
produce  triturates  that  are  ground  so  fine  as  to  be  "  impalpable  to 
the  touch?" 

If  certain  "  chemical  changes  "  take  place  in  all  hand-made  and 
pestle-handle-machine-made  triturations,  and  if  all  the  triturations 
made  or  used  by  Hahnemann  and  all  of  his  followers  down  to  date, 
were  so  made,  and  embodied  those  chemical  changes,  how  is  the 
"conscientious"  pharmacist  or  the  careful  physician,  to  sell  or 
prescribe  medicines  under  the  old  names  which  are  admittedly 
"  chemically  "  different  and  have  never  been  proved? 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPA  RIM  PINT. 


143 


Perhaps  the  breezes  of  Minnetonka  may  whisper  a  solution  of 
these  pharmaceutical  riddles  Cor  the  pharmacopoeias  are  dumb  and 
helpless  before  them. 

Bushrod  James  A.M.,  M.D.,  of  Philadelphia,  lias  brought 
out  a  handsomely  printed  work  of  285  pages  (9J  xl>j)  under  the 
title  American  Resorts  with  Notes  Upon  their  Climate,  u  Intended  for 

invalids  and  those  who  desire  to  preserve  their  health  in  a  suitable 

climate."  The  book  contains  an  index  and  a  Large  map  of  the 
United  States  printed  on  paper  and  separate  from  the  book.  Price 
$2.     May  be  had  at  our  pharmacies. 

A  New  Edition. — We  have  brought  out  a  new  edition  of  Dr. 
John  Ellis'  well-known  work,  Avoidable  Causes  of  Disease,  Insanity 
and  Deformity,  together  with  Marriage  and  Its  Violations,  by  the  same 
author.  The  first  contains  348  pages  and  the  latter  48,  bound  to- 
gether, making  a  volume  of  396  pages,  substantially  bound  in  cloth. 
Price  $1.50  per  copy,  with  the  usual  20  per  cent,  off  to  physicians. 

A  Revised  and  Enlarged  Edition  of  Clark's  New  System 
of    Electrical     Medication,  by   A.   W.    Tipton,   M.D.,   Topeka, 

Kansas,  will  be  found  advertised  in  our  pages  this  month.  The 
book  contains  264  pages  9s  x  6  inches.  It  may  be  ordered  through 
our  pharmacies.     Cloth,  $3  net. 

The  Journal  of  Homoeopathies,  "  Devoted  to  the  Philosophy 
of  Homoeopathy,"  and  edited  by  Harlyn  Hitchcock,  M.D.,  No.  19 
Broadway,  New  York,  is  the  last  homoeopathic  journal  to  enter  the 
field.  It  enters  upon  its  career  for  the  purpose  of  encouraging  and 
developing  the  study  of  Hahnemann's  Organon  and  the  philosophy 
of  homoeopathy."  A  new  translation  of  the  Organon  by  B.  Fincke, 
M.D.,  of  Brooklyn,  is  to  be  the  leading  feature,  and  opens  the  first 
number. 

The  Recorder — Massachusetts :  "  Continue  to  send  the  Recorder, 
I  prize  it  very  much." 

Michigan:  "The  Veterinary  Department  is  a  feature  I  fully  ap- 
preciate, but  then  the  Recorder  is  all  good." 

Illinois :  "  The  more  I  see  of  the  Recorder  the  better  I  like  it." 

Connecticut :  "  I  like  the  journal  very  much." 

Massachusetts  :  "  It  is  very  interesting." 

Our  readers  may  have  noticed  an  advertisement  of  "  F.  A. 
Overall,  M.D.,"  of  Jackson,  Tenn.,  in  the  Recorder  and  other 
medical  journals,  offering  for  sale  his  System  of  Surgery  at  $10.  The 
entire  "  system  "  could  be  reprinted  in  half  a  dozen  pages  of  the 
Recorder,  and  sold  at  a  good  profit  for  10  cents.  When  we  saw  a 
copy  we  declined  to  advertise  it  further. 

A  New  Work,  by  that  well  known  writer  Dr.  C.  G.  Raue,  is 
just  out,  Psychology  as  a  Natural  Science  Applied  to  the  Solution  of  Occult 


144  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

Psi/chic  Phenomena.  It  is  the  outgrowth  of  a  small  work  published 
in  Germany,  in  1847,  by  Dr.  Raue,  which  went  through  five  edi- 
tions, and  was  translated  into  several  other  languages.  The  present 
work  contains  541  pages,  and  sells  for  $3.50.  May  be  had  at  our 
pharmacies. 

We  were  fortunate  enough  to  procure  a  lot  of  that  peculiar  slag, 
SUicosulpho-calcite  of  alumina,  mentioned  in  this  issue  of  the  Re- 
corder, and  can  furnish  it  in  triturations  from  3x  up.  We  shall 
catalogue  this  new  remedy  Alum,  sulph.  sil.  calc. 

Only  too  True. — "  What  is  the  matter,  doctor?"  asked  a  reporter 
of  a  well-known  chemist.  "  I  am  mad;  mad  at  chemistry  and  the 
drug  business.  Look  here!  Oil  of  vitriol  is  no  oil,  neither  are  oils 
of  turpentine  and  kerosene.  Copperas  is  an  iron  compound  and 
contains  no  copper.  Salts  of  lemon  is  the  extremely  poisonous  ox- 
alic acid.  Carbolic  acid  is  not  an  acid  but  an  alcohol.  Cobalt  con- 
tains none  of  that  metal,  but  arsenic.  Soda-water  has  no  trace  of 
soda,  and  sugar  of  lead  has  no  sugar ;  cream  of  tartar  has  nothing 
of  cream,  nor  milk  of  lime  any  milk.  Oxygen  means  the  acid- 
maker,  but  hydrogen  is  the  essential  element  of  all  acids,  and  may 
contain  no  oxygen.  German  silver  has  no  silver  and  black  lead  no 
lead.  Mosaic  gold  is  only  a  sulphide  of  tin.  These  are  only  some 
of  the  mistakes  of  nomenclature  in  our  business." — Medical  Herald. 

The  Washington  Pharmacy. — The  Washington,  D.  C, homoeo- 
pathic pharmacy,  which  for  a  number  of  years  past  has  been  part 
of  the  extensive  business  of  Messrs.  Boericke  &  Tafel,  has  been  sold 
to  Messrs.  Roberts  &  Co.,  and  in  the  future  will  be  conducted  under 
that  firm's  name.  Two  members  of  the  new  firm  are  Dr.  Roberts, 
a  recent  graduate  of  the  Hahnemannian  College,  Philadelphia,  who 
for  several  years  previous  to  his  graduation  was  manager  of  the 
Washington  pharmacy,  and  Miss  Dorman,  who  has  been  connected 
with  the  establishment  almost  from  its  start.  Both  Dr.  Roberts  and 
Miss  Dorman  are  skilled  in  homoeopathic  pharmacy,  and  we  feel 
assured  will  serve  the  public  well  in  the  responsible  positions  they 
have  now  assumed. 

The  following  advertisement  came  to  hand  too  late  for  insertion 
in  our  regular  advertising  pages,  and  as  the  physician  having  the 
battery  is  desirous  of  disposing  of  it,  we  give  him  the  benefit  of  this 
position,  and  also  take  this  occasion  of  reminding  our  readers  that 
if  any  of  them  have  occasion  to  "  want,"  or  have  anything  "  for  sale," 
the  Recorder  is  the  journal  to  give  them  a  wide  publicity.  83.00 
each  insertion  for  a  "  want "  or  "  for  sale  "  ad. 

For  Sale. — An  almost  new  John  A.  Barrett's  32  cell  chloride  of 
silver  battery  for  $35  (original  price  $45).  It  is  in  perfect  order ; 
for  further  particulars  address  Boericke  &  Tafel,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


THE 

Homeopathic  Recorder. 

Vol,  IV.  PHILADELPHIA,  JULY,  1889.  No.  4. 

EDITORIAL. 

Two  of  our  foreign  exchanges  reach  us  this  issue  in  deep  mourn- 
ing. The  Leipziger  Popular-  Zeitschrift  fur  Homosopathie  chronicles 
the  death  of  Dr.  Heinigke,  late  head  physician  to  the  Homoeopathic 
Hospital  of  Leipzig ;  and  El  Omsultor  Homcopatico  that  of  Dr. 
Don  Salvio  Almato  y  Ribera,  one  of  its  editors. 

Dr.  Carl  Heinigke  was  born  in  the  village  of  Gossnitz  in  1832, 
and  received  his  degree  from  the  University  of  Leipzig  in  1856. 
He  was  a  learned  and  characteristic  physician;  patient,  kind,  and 
sympathetic  with  his  friends;  but  calmly  sarcastic  toward  those 
who  would  not  allow  him  to  class  themselves  as  such.  His  death 
on  the  19th  of  March  was  a  sad  blow  to  his  colleagues,  who  will 
ever  remember  him  as  an  earnest  physician  and  an  honor  to 
homoeopathy. 

Dr.  Don  Salvio  Almato  was  born  in  Olesa  de  Montserrat,  on  the 
15th  of  March,  1827,  and  received  his  licentiate  in  medicine  in  July, 
1851.  After  much  study  of  homoeopathy,  and  many  happy  trials  of 
its  law  in  the  cholera  epidemic  of  1865,  he  decided  to  dedicate  him- 
self entirely  to  the  new  school.  It  was  soon  after  this  that  he  began 
to  enrich  the  Spanish  homoeopathic  literature  by  translating  such 
works  as  :  Espanet's  Practice  of  Homoeopathy  Simplified;  Ruddock's 
Diseases  of  Children;  Hay  ward's  Colds  and  their  Consequences;  Hart's 
Diseases  of  the  Eyes;  and  two  editions  of  Hughes's  Mm  mil  of  Thera- 
peutics and  Pharmacodynamics.  He  also  wrote  a  pamphlet  on 
"  Cholera,  Its  Prevention  and  Treatment." 

Dr.  Almato  is  mourned  as  one  who  was  "  the  salvation  of  many 
lives,  and  the  alleviator  of  innumerable  sufferings"  during  the  vari- 
ous epidemics  in  Spain,  especially  that  of  Typhus  icterodes  in  1870, 
vol.  iv. — 10 


14G 


THE  H0MCE0PA1HIC  RECORDER. 


LATRODECTUS  MACTANS. 

A  Suggested  Remedy  in  Angina  Pectoris. 

By  Samuel  A.  Jones,  M.D. 

(COPYRIGHT  SECURED.) 

"  The  great  result  of  the  grim  doctor's  labor,  so  far  as  known  to  the  public,  was  a 
certain  preparation  or  extract  of  cobwebs,  which,  out  of  a  great  abundance  of  material, 
he  was  able  to  produce  in  any  desirable  quantity,  and  by  the  administration  of 
which  he  professed  to  cure  diseases  of  the  inflammatory  class,  and  to  work  very  won- 
derful effects  upon  the  human  system." — Dr.  Grimshawe's  Secret. 

I  do  not  know  that  the  doctor  who  is  the  direct  occasion  of  this 
paper  was  grim,  nor  do  I  imagine  he  ever  dreamed  of  such  an  appli- 
cation of  his  paper  as  I  purpose  to  make.  I  never  met  him  ;  though 
he  wore  the  gray  and  I  the  blue  during  a  struggle  wherein  fate  might 


easily  have  thrown  us  together.  It  was  not  until  the  autumn  of  76 
that  I  became  aware  of  his  existence,  and  then  by  a  contribution  of 
his  to  a  medical  magazine — the  special  copy  of  which  was  found 
amongst  the  multifarious  waifs  of  a  bookstall.  I  could  not  "  decline 
the  article,"  although  I  was  then  entering  upon  a  field  of  labor  that 
would  leave  little  time  for  such  quiet  research  as  the  old  doctor's 
paper  so  powerfully  suggested,  so  I  bought  the  odd  number,  and 


TI1E  HOMCEOPA  T111C  RECOItDEIi.  147 

fourteen  years  Inter  I  am  making  such  use  of  it  as  my  sense  of  its 
significance  enforces. 

It  is  due  Mr.  A.  J.  Tafel  to  state  thai  bnl  for  his  most  efficieril  ser- 
vices this  paper  of  mine  would  never  have  been  written.  To  his 
endeavors,  stretching  through  some  years,  I  owe  the  identification 
of  the  remedy,  without  which  1  should  not  have  put  pen  to  paper; 
and  having  secured  this,  from  unimpeachable  authority,  too,  he  never 
rested  from  his  Labors  until  he  had  put  in  my  possession  dilutions 
of  the  poison  itself.  If,  then,  this  mat/is  venerium  shall  prove  itself 
magis  remedium,  most  assuredly  the  para  magna  of  its  introduction 
is  his. 

From  the  days  of  Dioscorides and  Pliny  to  the  presents  venomous 
quality  has  been  ascribed  to  "the  fluid  emitted  from  the  orifice  m 
the  fangs  of  the  Arancida1."  That  this  quality  was  even  lethal  has 
been  both  believed  and  questioned.  Insect  L{(>\  vol.  L,  No.  7.  pp. 
204-211,  Washington,  1S,S(.),  contains  u  A  Contribution  to  the  Litera- 
ture of  Fatal  Spider  Bites,"  in  which  the  credulity  of  mere  medical 
observers  and  the  emphatic  incredulity  of  professed  "  entomologists 
and  arachnologists "  are  dwelt  upon,  and  concerning  which  its 
author  cautiously  concludes  as  follows  : 

"  It  will  possibly  appear  to  the  reader  that  after  collecting  this 
testimony  we  are  as  far  from  the  solution  of  the  question — '  Do  spider 
bites  ever  produce  fatal  results  ?  ' — as  we  were  before  ;  but  it  seems 
to  us,  after  analyzing  the  evidence,  that  it  must  at  least  be  admitted 
that  certain  spiders  of  the  genus  Latrodectus  have  the  power  to  in- 
flict poisonous  bites  which  may  (probably  exceptionally  and  de- 
pending upon  exceptional  conditions)  bring  about  the  death  of  a 
human  being.  Admitting  in  its  fullest  force  the  argument  that  in 
reported  cases  the  spider  has  seldom  if  ever  been  seen  by  a  reliable 
observer  to  inflict  the  wound,  we  consider  that  the  fact  that  species 
of  the  Latrodectus,  occurring  in  such  widely  distant  localities  as 
South  Europe,  the  Southern  United  States,  and  New  Zealand,  are 
uniformly  set  aside  by  the  natives  as  poisonous  species,  when  there 
is  nothing  especially  dangerous  in  their  appearance,  is  the  strongest 
argument  for  believing  that  these  statements  have  some  verification 
in  fact.  It  is  no  wonder  that  a  popular  fear  should  follow  the 
ferocious-looking  spiders  of  the  family  Theraphosoida? ;  but  con- 
sidering the  comparatively  small  size  and  modest  coloring  of  the 
species  of  Latrodectus  so  wide-spread  a  prejudice,  occurring  in  so 
many  distinct  localities,  must  be  well  founded."     P.  211. 

Is  it  indeed  an  argument  that  "in  reported  cases  the  spider  has 
seldom  if  ever  been  seen  by  a  reliable  observer  to  inflict  the  wound  ?  " 
How  an  Orfila.  a  Christison,  and  a  Caspar  would  smile  when  asked 
if  the  evidence  of  a  poisonous  quality  depended  upon  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  poison  being  "  seen  by  a  reliable  observer."    Toxi- 


143 


THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECORDEB. 


cology  detects  a  poison  by  the  physiological  test  as  well  as  the 
chemical.  Strychnia  in  quantity  too  small  for  the  coarse  chemical 
test  is  revealed  by  the  tetanized  muscles  of  a  frog  whether  that 
"  arch  martyr  to  science  "  be  in  "  South  Europe,  the  Southern 
United  States,  or  New  Zealand,"  and  that  infinitesimal  fractions  of 
Strychnia  will  display  its  characteristics  whether  or  not  its  admin- 
istration is  "seen  "  by  a  Christison,  or  a  college  janitor.  Of  course, 
a  Christison  would  recognize  Strychnia  from  and  in  the  phenomena, 
while  a  college  janitor  (and  here  and  there  an  over-scientific  ento- 
mologist) might  not. 

It  is  neither  the  aim  nor  the  purpose  of  this  paper  to  establish  the 
lethal  property  of  spider  poison  ;  though  I  must  acknowledge  that, 
until  I  read  the  paper  in  Bisect  Life,  I  had  no  thought  that  its 
possession  of  such  a  property  would  be  called  in  question.  I  shall 
content  myself  with  calling  attention  to  the  pathogenetic  quality  of 
the  poison  of  Latrodectus  mactans,  leaving  my  reader  to  discern  the 
resemblance  of  its  tout  ensemble  to  an  attack  of  angina  pectoris,  and 
therefore  to  infer  its  homoeopathic  applicability  in  that  dread  dis- 
order. I  shall  not  enter  upon  the  pathology — various  and  much- 
confused — of  that  cardiac  seizure,  because,  as  I  get  older,  I  find  the 
"  like  "  more  and  more  of  a  "  pillar  of  cloud  by  day  and  pillar  of 
fire  by  night,"  whilst  in  my  short  life  I  have  found  "  pathology  "  as 
changeable  as  a  dying  dolphin — and  every  one  knows  that  a  dead 
fish  "  stinks  and  shines,  and  shines  and  stinks." 


Cases  of  Spider  Bite. 

By  G.  William  Semple,  M.D.,  Hampton,  Va  * 

"  Spider  bites  are  of  rare  occurrence  in  this  vicinity,  but  are 
generally  productive  of  grave  symptoms.  [Isn't  it  bad  taste  for 
doctors  to  use  the  words  grave  symptoms  ?]  I  will  report  all  that 
have  occurred  to  me  in  a  practice  of  forty  years : 

Case  1.  September  4th,  1853.— I  was  called  to  see  Mr.  D.,  at  Old 
Point,  who  had  been  bitten  by  a  small,  black  spider  on  the  prepuce, 
whilst  on  the  privy  seat,  at  12.30  o'clock.  The  bite  at  first  caused  only 
itching  of  the  prepuce,  with  a  little  redness  of  the  part,  but  in  less 
than  half  an  hour  nausea,  followed  by  severe  abdominal  pains,  ensued. 
A  messenger  was  dispatched  in  haste  for  me  to  Hampton,  three 
miles  off.     Before  I  reached  the  patient,  at  2.30  o'clock,  violent  pnecor- 

*  Virginia  Medical  Monthly,  vol.  ii.,  No.  9,  pp.  633-38,  1875.  "  He  was  commis- 
sioned surgeon  in  the  Confederate  army,  July  1st,  1SG1  ;  served  until  August  1st  in 
the  field  on  the  peninsula  ;  then  placed  in  charge  of  hospital  in  Williamsburg ; 
afterwards  ordered  to  Richmond  and  placed  in  charge  of  an  hospital,  and  remained 
until  close  of  war."  Failing  to  find  any  further  trace  of  him  I  am  led  to  believe  that 
he  has  been  mustered  out  of  service  bv  the  Grand  Commander. 


THE  1I0MCE0PAT1IIC  RECORDER.  149 

died  pains  extending  to  the  axilla,  and  down  the  [left]  arm  and  forearm 
to  the  fingers,  with  numbness  of  the  extremity,  had  succeeded,  attended 
by  apnesa. 

In  consequence  of  the  violence  of  the  symptoms,  Dr.  Stineca,  sur- 
geon of  the  post,  had  been  sent  for,  who  had  given  two  doses  of 
laudanum  of  ."j  each,  and  two  of  rectified  whiskey  of  3ij  each,  and 
being  in  ill  health  and  unable  to  remain,  had  ordered  his  steward  to 
apply  four  dry  cups  over  the  prsecordia.  This  had  just  been  done 
when  J  arrived.  1  saw  the  blood,  thin  and  florid,  till  the  cups  like 
water  oozing  through  muslin.  When  the  cups  were  removed,  the 
blood,  emptied  into  a  basin,  did  not  coagulate;  and  blood  continued 
to  ooze  slightly  from  the  surfaces  to  which  the  cups  had  been  ap- 
plied until  the  next  morning,  though  a  solution  of  tannin  was" 
applied. 

I  found  the  patient  suffering  extremely  from  the  most  violent  prsecor- 
dial  pains  and  from  apnesa,  and  also  violent  pain  in  the  left  sum,  which 
was  almost  paralyzed  His  pulse  was  130  and  very  feeble,  his  shin  cold 
as  marble,  and  his  count*  nance  expressive  of  the  deep  anxiety  he  felt  and 
expressed  in  words.  The  laudanum  and  whiskey  seemed  to  have 
produced  no  effect — the  nausea  and  abdominal  pains  having  sub- 
sided before  they  were  administered.  There  was  no  pain,  inflamma- 
tion, or  swelling,  where  the  bite  was  received.  Even  the  itching  of  the 
part  had  subsided.  I  gave  the  patient  every  half  hour  for  several 
hours  3j  of  aromatic  spirits  of  ammonia,  and  as  much  whiskey  and 
water  as  he  could  be  induced  to  take,  and  afterwards  gave  them  every 
hour;  also  pediluviaof  hot  mustard  and  water,  frequently  repeated, 
until  the  next  night. 

September  5th,  8  a.m. — The  symptoms  continued  unabated  ;  in- 
deed, the  patient  grew  worse  until  2.30  o'clock,  twenty-six  hours  after 
he  was  bitten,  for  his  pulse  had  then  become  so  frequent  that  it  could 
not  be  counted,  and  so  feeble  that  it  could  scarcely  be  felt,  He  then 
vomited  black  vomit  copiously — a  quart  or  more.  Soon  afterwards  re- 
action set  in,  his  pulse  gradually  gained  force,  and  became  less  fre- 
quent, the  pain  subsided  and  the  respiration  improved.  At  8  P.M., 
the  pulse  had  gained  considerable  force,  and  the  patient  slept  until 
some  minutes  after  12  ;  his  pulse  was  pretty  full  at  1.10;  his  surface 
warm  and  perspirable,  and  he  felt  almost  free  of  pain.  After  a 
short  interval  he  again  fell  asleep,  and  slept  quietly  until  morning, 
when  he  awoke — his  respiration  healthy,  pulse  80,  regular  and  with 
sufficient  force,  and  entirely  relieved  of  pain.  He  soon  afterwards 
had  two  pretty  copious  evacuations  from  the  bowels,  similar  to  the  black 
vomit  he  had  vomited.  After  this  he  said  he  felt  quite  well,  and 
took  a  light  breakfast  and  dinner,  and  returned  that  evening  to  his 
residence  in  Portsmouth,  and  in  a  few  days  went  to  work  at  his 
trade. 


150  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

In  thirty-six  hours  from  the  time  he  was  bitten,  he  took  three  and 
a  half  quart  bottles  of  the  best  rectified  whiskey — about  three  quarts 
without  showing  the  least  symptom  of  intoxication." 

I  have  cited  this  case  at  full  length  in  order  to  present  the  evolu- 
tion of  the  symptoms,  on  which  alone  depends  the  resemblance  of  the 
action  of  the  poison  to  the  chief  symptoms  of  an  attack  of  angina 
pectoris — a  closer  resemblance  than  half  a  lifetime  of  somewhat 
wide  reading  has  enabled  me  to  find  in  the  effect  of  any  other 
noxious  agent.  In  fact,  after  much  searching,  I  find  this  case  to  be 
unique.  In  other  cases  of  spider  bite  I  can  find  evidence  that 
assures  me  of  its  genuineness,  but,  to  my  knowledge,  its  order  of 
symptom-evolution  is  as  solitary  as  it  is  singular  and  significant. 
This  feature  of  uniqueness  will  cause  many  to  regard  it  with  suspicion. 
I  think  they  will  do  wrong ;  for  some  experience  in  proving-work 
has  taught  me  that  one  positive  result  from  a  drug  outweighs  any 
number  of  negative. 

In  the  case  of  Latrodectus  mactans  we  shall  find,  from  other  poison- 
ings, that,  as  a  rule,  it  displays  an  affinity  for  the  precordial  region 
as  the  locus  of  its  chief  attack  ;  and  having  assurance  of  that  fact  we 
shall  not  find  it  difficult  to  accept  a  clue  from  even  a  solitary  instance. 

Of  the  remaining  cases  in  Dr.  Semple's  paper  I  shall  cite  only  the 
symptoms,  and  be  it  observed  that  in  all  the  cases  as  here  given  the 
italics  are  my  own. 

Case  2.  A  man  "was  bitten  in  the  groin,  and  complained  of  only 
a  slight  prickling  and  itching  at  the  spot  where  he  was  bitten,  but 
was  complaining  [when  Dr.  S.  saw  him]  of  severe  abdominal  pain, 
with  nausea,  and  a  sinking  sensation  at  the  epigastrium  ;  and  his  pulse, 
in  a  few  minutes  after  the  bite,  had  already  become  quick  and  thready ; 
and  the  skin  very  cold."  The  man  soon  recovered  under  ammonia 
and  whiskey — two  quarts  of  the  latter  produced  no  symptoms  of 
intoxication. 

Case  3.  A  lad  of  eighteen  years  of  age.  "  There  was  no  pain,  but 
only  itching  and  redness  at  the  part  bitten  at  first;  but  violent  pain 
soon  commenced  there  [on  the  back  of  the  left  hand]  and  extended  in  a 
short  time  iip  the  forearm  and  arm  to  the  shoidder  and  thence  to  the  pre- 
cordial region." 

Case  4.  "A  tawny  womrfn  [daughter  of  a  quadroon  mulatto 
woman]  about  22  years  old,  the  mother  of  two  children."  "  Found 
her  apparently  moribund  ;  her  skin  as  cold  as  marble  ;  violent  pain  ex- 
tending from  the  bite  on  the  right  ivrist  up  the  forearm  and  arm  to  the 
shoulder,  and  thence  up  the  neck  to  the  back  of  the  head  on  the  right  side; 
more  violent  pain  in  the  prsecordia,  extending  thence  to  the  shoidder  and 
axilla  on  the  left,  and  down  the  ami  and  forearm  to  the  ends  of  the  fingers, 
and  this  extremity  partially  paralyzed ;  added  to  this,  apncea  was  extreme ; 


THE  HOMCEOPA  TUIC  RECORDER.  1;,1 

the  respiration  only  occasional — gasping;  the  pulse  could  not  befelt  in  the 
left  radial^  and  I  was  nol  sure  thai  I  felt  it  in  the  right." 

In  about  fifteen  minutes  after  the  [ntra-venous  injection  of  13 
minims  of  undiluted  aqua  ammonias  the  doctor  u  was  astonished  at 
the  calm  and  painless  expression  of  her  countenance,  so  lately  expres- 
sive of  anxiety  and  pain" 

Case  5.  A  healthy  young  girl  of  13.  She  fell  a  stinging  sensation 
on  the  [right]  wrist,  accompanied  by  itching  and  redness  at  the  spol 
[bitten].  For  several  minutes  there  was  but  little  pain,  but  in  half 
an  hour  a  painful  sensation  began  to  be  felt  at  the  spot,  which  quickly 
extended  wpth.  arm  to  the  shoulder,  and,  in  the  course  of  an  hour,  along 

the  neck  to  the  back  of  the  fiead Pain  in  the  praecordial  region,wiih 

apnoea  coming  on,  I  was  sent  for.  When  I  arrived  she  was  scream- 
ing fearfully  with  pain,  and  frequently  exclaiming  she  would  loseher 
breath  and  die.     The  pulse  had  become  thready  and  the  surface  cold. 

From  these  data  the  poison  of  Latrodectus  mactans  is  suggested  for 
trial  in  angina  pectoris  in  that  its  physiological  action  presents  the 
closest  si  milium  in  yet  found. 

II. 

It  may  be  well  to  offer  a  critical  examination  of  the  foregoing 
cases.  If  they  are  genuine  effects  of  the  poison  of  Latrodectus  mactans, 
they  must  afford  a  recurrence  of  corresponding  symptoms.  They  may 
differ  in  degree,  because  the  quality  of  the  venom  may  vary  ;  first, 
from  the  season  in  which  the  bite  occurred  (and  judging  from  cases 
1,  4  and  5,  the  poison  of  Latrodectus  mactans  is  most  virulent  in  the 
month  of  September),  and,  secondly,  from  the  more  thorough  elabora- 
tion of  the  venom.  It  is  known  that  the  poison  of  Orotalus  horridus 
differs  in  intensity  according  to  the  frequency  with  which  the  snake 
has  bitten  in  a  given  period  of  time  ;  of  four  successive  "  strikes  " 
in  four  different  organisms,  and  at  brief  intervals,  the  intensity  of 
the  action  will  vary,  so  that  while  the  first  wound  is  lethal  the  last 
is  not — on  which  fact  depends  the  vaunted  reputation  of  many  an 
antidote  to  the  bite  of  the  rattlesnake.  That  this  may  be  also  true 
of  the  spider  poison  is  the  only  explanation  I  can  offer  for  the  fact 
that  many  naturalists  have  allowed  themselves  to  be  bitten  by  spiders 
of  reputed  poisonous  species,  and  with  impunity. 

While  Dr.  Semple's  reports  do  not  precisely  state  it,  I  think  we 
may  safely  infer  a  sense  of  impending  dissolution  in  Cases  1,  4  and  5- 
The  girl  exclaimed  she  u  would  lose  her  breath  and  die ;  "  the  man 
in  Case  1  "  expressed  in  words  "  "  the  deep  anxiety  he  felt ;  "  the 
woman  in  Case  4  was  found  "  apparently  moribund  "  with  "  gasping 
respiration,"  and  therefore  incapable  of  speech,  but  who  can  doubt 
that  she  had  a  sense  of  impending  dissolution  f 


152 


THE  HOMOEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 


Recurrence  of  Corresponding  Symptoms. 
(Arabic  numerals  refer  to  the  Cases.) 


I. 
II. 

III. 
IV. 


VI. 
VII. 

VIII. 

IX. 

X. 

XI. 
XII. 


Nausea 

Abdominal  pain 

Countenance  anxious 

Pain  up  arm  to  shoulder, 
thence  to  back  of  neck 

Precordial  pain  extending  to 
left  axilla,  and  down  arm 
to  finger  ends 

Left  arm  almost  paralyzed... 

Pain  up  arm  to  shoulder, 
thence  to  prsecordia 

Apncea 

Precordial  pain 

Pulse  feeble,  thready 

Skin  cold 

Sense  of  impending  dissolu- 
tion  


Isolated  Symptoms. 

Numbness  of  the  affected  arm,  1. 

Black  vomit,  1. 

Alvine  evacuations  similar  to  the  black  vomit,  1. 

Sinking  sensation  at  epigastrium,  2. 

Respiration  only  occasional — gasping,  4. 

It  must  be  admitted  that  many  of  our  accepted  provings  cannot 
as  well  bear  a  similar  test. 

III. 

There  is  another  feature  that  the  believer  in  the  law  of  similars 
should  find  no  insuperable  difficulty  in  accepting  as  a  criterion  of 
the  validity  of  a  proving,  namely  :  the  similarity  of  the  drug  symptoms  to 
certain  disease  symptoms.  I  am  not  ready  to  believe  that  drug  symp- 
toms are  only  the  result  of  a  "  fortuitous  concourse  of  atoms ;  "  nor 
can  I  for  one  moment  imagine  that  they  are  the  product  of  blind  and 
aimless  chance.  I  plainly  discern  in  them  the  result  of  law,  and  I 
am  wholly  unable  to  conceive  of  existing  law  without  the  absolutely 
necessary  ^re-existing  law-maker.  The  consequent  must  have  its 
antecedent.  Therefore,  in  a  drug  symptom  I  see  a  purpose,  and  by 
the  light  of  the  law  of  similars  I  find  the  purpose  of  a  drug  symp- 
tom in  an  analagous  disease  symptom — they  answer  to  each  other 
as  face  unto  face  in  the  refiner's  silver— and  behind  and  beyond  them 
both  is  another  purpose,  of  wisdom  inscrutable,  of  love  unfathom- 
able.   In  a  word,  my  reader,  the  problem  of  the  visible  universe  forces 


THE  HOMCEOPA  TIIW  RECORDER.  1 53 

upon  me  the  alternative  that  weighed  upon  Marcus  Aurelius — 
"  either  gods,  Or  atoms."  With  atoms  only  I  cannot  account  for  law  ; 
with  God  and  in  God  both  atoms  and  law  find  a  meaning  and  a  pur- 
pose. \ 

[f  r  were  submitting  these  convictions,  or,  if  you  will,  this  "  work- 
ing hypothesis,"  to  a  Sir  Thomas  Browne,  or  a  William  Harvey,  or 
a  Thomas  Sydenham  I  should  feci  no  momentary  hesitation  ;  as  it 
is,  I  can  only  hope  that  the  spirit  that  tilled  these  worthies  is  not 
extinct  in  days  when  the  "spiritual  colic"  that  disordered  an 
Imaginary  Robert  Elsmere  is  thought  to  disturb  the  eternal  Verities. 
I  much  doubt  if  they  who  mistake  an  eclipse  for  an  annihilation 
will  get  any  good  from  this  poor  pen  of  mine. 

The  resemblance  between  the  symptoms  of  angina  pectoris  and 
the  effects  of  the  poison  of  Latrodectus  mactans  are  so  striking  as  to 
justify  the  presentation  of  a  comparison  ;  and  it  is  hoped  that 
physicians  of  wide  reading  will  pardon  what  may  seem  to  them  a 
piece  of  supererogation  for  the  sake  of  many  a  humbler  practitioner 
whose  opportunities  have  not  been  so  happy.  At  the  same  time,  the 
widest  reader  must  admit  that  he  has  not  found  any  one  authority 
who  has  given  a  complete  picture  of  angina  pectoris.  Nor  is  it 
essential  that  such  an  all-including  "  composite  "  shall  now  be  pre- 
sented ;  on  the  contrary,  we  shall  offer  only  salient  points  substan- 
tiated by  observers  of  the  highest  order. 

It  will  be  well  to  start  from  an  authority  whose  scholarship  has 
never  been  excelled — Copland.  Of  all  our  medical  writers  he  may 
be  called  the  Great  Definer — his  readers  will  know  what  that  means. 

"  Acute  constricting  pain  at  the  loicer  part  of  the  sternum,  inclining  to  the 
Irft  side,  and  exU  nding  to  the  arm,  accompanied  with  great  anxiety,  difficulty 
of  breathing,  tendency  to  syncope,  and  feeling  of  approaching  dissolution" 

Copland  presents  a  group  of  constants,  and,  for  a  terse  definition, 
has  well  covered  the  principal  phenomena.  As  variants  he  has 
omitted  the  pulse  and  the  surface  temperature.  He  errs  on  the  side 
of  dogmatism  in  defining  the  character  of  the  pain  as  "  constricting;" 
"  aching,  burning,  or  indescribable,"  and  "generally  attended  with 
a  sense  of  constriction  "  is  more  in  accordance  with  the  actual  con- 
dition. Of  Copland's  seven  constants,  Case  4  presents  an  analogue 
for  each  in  symptoms  IX.,  V.,  III.,  VIII.,  XII.,  and  the  "ten- 
dency to  syncope,"  which  is  not  included  in  our  table  because  Dr. 
Semple  did  not  put  the  fact  in  express  words.  If  to  this  group  we 
add  the  thready  pulse  and  cold  shin,  we  shall  have  "  covered  "  nine  of 
the  most  prominent  symptoms  of  angina  pectoris  ;  a  pathological 
"  composite  "  with  a  most  striking  pathogenetic  si  m  if  i  mum. 

But  all  the  elements  of  Copland's  group  are  not  of  equal  impor- 
tance ;  two  of  them,  at  least,  are  pathognomonic.  "  The  two  con- 
stituent elements  of  the  paroxysm,"  says  Latham,  are  "  the  sense  of 


154  THE  HOMCEOPATHIG  RECORDER. 

dissolution  and  the  pain."  "  Pain  with  one  awful  accompaniment 
may  be  everything."  "This  mixture  of  the  sharpest  pain  with  a 
feeling  of  instant  death."  According  to  Fothergill  "  the  two 
prominent  subjective  phenomena  are  pain  in  the  chest  and  a  sense 
of  impending  death."  Eulenburg  and  Guttmann  include  another 
element :  "  We  regard  the  substernal  pain,  the  feeling  of  anxiety,  and 
the  disturbance  of  the  heart's  action,  as  the  essential  symptoms  of 
angina  pectoris."  Romberg  notes  the  companionship  of  these  two 
elements  :  "  The  patient  attacked  with  angina  pectoris  is  suddenly 
seized  with  a  pain  under  the  sternum  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
heart,  accompanied  by  a  sense  of  anxiety  so  intense  as  to  induce  a 
belief  in  the  approach  of  death." 

We  have  laid  the  emphasis  of  these  various  citations  on  the 
"  essential  symptoms  "  in  order  to  assert,  with  equal  emphasis,  that 
their  analogues  occur  in  not  only  one  case  of  Latrodectus  mactans 
poisoning.  The  precordial  pain  is  noted  in  Cases  1,  3,4  and  5,  and 
the  sense  of  impending  dissolution  in  Cases  1,  4  and  5.  And  that 
disturbance  of  the  heart's  action  which  Eulenburg  and  Guttmann 
consider  an  essential  element  is  found  in  Cases  1,  2,  4  and  5 ;  so  that 
the  tout  ensemble  presented  by  Case  4  is  corroborated. 

Another  important  element,  though  it  is  one  subject  to  variations, 
is  the  direction  of  the  extension  of  the  pain.  It  most  generally  ex- 
tends to  the  left  axilla,  and  down  the  arm  to  the  fingers  ;  as  varia- 
tions it  sometimes  affects  the  right  axilla  and  the  back  of  the  head. 
In  Cases  1  and  4  the  spider  poison  followed  the  direction  of  the 
disease,  and  in  Cases  4  and  5  it  also  affected  the  back  of  the  head. 
In  Case  1  it  produced  the  numbness  of  the  arm  and  hand  that  is 
sometimes  observed  in  the  disease. 

Copland  includes  "  difficulty  of  breathing  "  amongst  the  elements 
of  angina  pectoris.  Trousseau  does  not  regard  this  difficulty  as 
real.  "  Although  patients  think  they  are  going  to  be  suffocated 
during  a  paroxysm,  the  chest  is  normally  resonant  on  percussion, 
and  if  it  be  auscultated  as  they  draw  in  breath  again,  vesicular 
breathing  is  heard  everywhere."  Watson  says,  "  the  patient  is  not 
necessarily  out  of  breath.  It  is  not  dyspnoea  that  oppresses  him  ; 
for  he  can,  and  generally  does,  breath  freely  and  easily."  Stokes  is 
decided  :  "  Respiration  is  secondarily  affected ;  there  may  be  slight 
dyspnoea  or  orthopncea,  with  lividity  of  the  face,  yet  by  an  effort  of 
the  will  (if  the  patient  dares  to  encounter  the  pang  this  commonly 
produces)  the  chest  may  be  pretty  freely  expanded,  and  the  breath- 
ing relieved  for  a  brief  space  ;  dyspnoea  is  not  a  primary  symptom 
of  angina."  Eulenburg  and  Guttmann  say,  "Our .own  experience 
leads  us  to  adopt  Parry's  conclusion,  that  the  changes  in  the  respira- 
tion are  principally,  perhaps  even  solely,  due  to  the  pain."  Bristowe 
speaks  of  the  sufferer  as  "  fearing  to  breathe."     We  can  readily  see 


THE  HOJKEOPA  THI€  RECORDER.  1 56 

that  the  "  apnoea  n  observed  by  Dr.  Semple  in  Cases  1  and  5  had  a 
psychical  origin,  but  in  Case  4  he  saysuapncea  was  extreme-  the 
respiration  only  occasional — gasping.71  This  shows  to  what  an 
extreme  extent  the  action  of  the  spider  poison  had  gon<  -even  u 
implicating  the  diaphragpn  ;  and  it  is  noteworthy  thai  Asistie record* 
a  case  of  angina  |  Neuralgia  audits  Cour\tlerfeitQ,'p  67,  London, 

IS71  >,  in  which  u  there  was  so  marked  a  eatebing  of  the  breath  as  to 
make  it  almost  certain  then-  was  a  diaphragmati.    spasm/' 

Of  the  changes  in  respiration  accompanying  angina  pectoris  w< 
have,  then,  both  the  general,  and  the  rarest,  form,  produced  patho- 
genetically  by  the  poison  sf  1.  •  h  actana. 

IV. 

In  its  physiological  action  the  poison  of  Lairodectus  madam  resem- 
bles angina  pectoris  vasomotoria— a  purely  functional  derangement. 
The  similitude  of  the  physiological  action  to  pure  angina  pectoris 
corroborates  the  accepted  pathology  of  the  latter  condition,  because 
the  phenomena  of  Latrodectus  poisoning  were  educed  from  pre- 
viously healthy  organisms,  and  in  pure  angina  pectoris  there  is  no 
pre-existent  organic  change  occasioning  the  attack.  According  to 
the  accepted  pathology,  we  have  in  angina  pectoris  vasomotoria, 
sudden  spasm  of  the  arterioles  ;  from  this  an  increase  of  the  arterial 
tension;  to  overcome  this  a  more  forcible  and  rapid  action  of  the 
heart ;  as  the  arteriole  spasm  persists  and  doubtless  deepens  in 
intensity,  distension  of  the  left  ventricle  follows,  and  from  over- 
distension the  agonizing  breast-pang,  and  even  death  from  stoppage 
of  the  heart's  diastole.  But  we  must  include  another  clement- 
spasm  of  the  coronary  -vessels.  "When  there  is  a  sudden  rise  in  the 
blood-pressure  in  the  arteries,  due  to  vasomotor  spasm  of  the  peri- 
pheral systemic  arterioles,  and  the  heart-walls  are  strong  and  well 
nourished,  palpitation  is  evoked ;  when  the  coronary  branches  are 
involved  in  the  vasomotor  spasm  then  angina  is  produced,  and  the 
heart-walls,  acutely  distended  with  blood,  can  scarcely  contract  in 
the  face  of  the  opposition  presented  to  their  contraction  by  the  high 
arterial  tension.  When  this  sudden  systemic  arteriole  spasm  extends 
to  the  coronary  vessels  in  a  heart  whose  walls  are  diseased,  a  fatal 
attack  of  angina  with  the  heart  full  of  blood  may  be  induced.  The 
danger  increases  with  the  extent  of  the  structural  degeneration  of  the 
heart-walls.  Sudden  rises  of  blood-pressure  in  the  arteries  will  tax 
hearts  in  their  tcxtural  integrity,  and  lead  to  painful  distension  ; 
such  sudden  demands  on  decayed  hearts  lead  to  agonizing  angina 
pectoris,  and  the  sense  of  impending  dissolution  is  frequently  fol- 
lowed by  sudden  death.1' 

Spasm  of  the  arterioles  and  coronary  vessels,  rise  of  blood-pressure 
in  the  arteries,  embarrassed  action  of  the  heart,  and  painful  disten- 


156  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

sion  are  just  so  many  consecutive  links  in  the  phenomena  produced 
by  the  poison  of  Latrodedus  madam,  as  Cases  1  and  4  amply  testify. 

The  spider  poisons  are  akin  to  the  serpent  poisons  in  their 
property  of  producing  a  disorganization  of  the  blood.  In  Case  1, 
thin  and  florid  non-coagulable  blood  continued  to  ooze  from  the  cut 
surface  despite  the  application  of  tannin.  It  may  be  a  question 
whether  this  condition  of  the  blood  is  directly  toxicological,  or  a 
pathological  result  of  stasis  in  the  peripheral  vessels.  I  incline  to 
regard  it  as  due  to  the  latter  condition,  and  I  believe  this  explana- 
tion also  holds  good  in  the  case  of  serpent  poison. 

The  haemorrhage  recorded  in  Case  1  was  of  gastric  origin  ;  splenic 
.congestion  existed,  and  the  vasa  brevia — branches  of  the  splenic 
artery — gave  way  under  the  pressure.  I  once  met  a  similar  haemor- 
rhage in  a  case  of  intermittent  fever  in  a  child,  and  I  record  the  fact 
as  a  possible  hint  for  the  applicability  of  Latrodedus  madam  in  a 
similar  condition. 

In  all  the  years  that  the  stray  copy  of  the  old  magazine  was  in 
my  possession  I  felt  it  a  duty  to  write  up  this  remedy.  I  have  done 
it  lamely,  but  as  well  as  I  was  able.  Reader,  where  my  duty  ends 
yours  begins.     May  you  discharge  it  more  worthily  than  I. 


CONCERNING  THE  USE  OF  COMPOUND  METALLIC 
REMEDIES  IN  HOMCEOPATHY. 

BY    DR.    A.   LORBACHER.* 

The  well  accomplished  cure  of  a  case  of  cerebro-spinal  meningitis 
in  the  Homoeopathic  Hospital  at  Leipzig,  by  the  use  of  Zincum 
eyanatum,  brings  the  question  to  our  mind,  if  the  use  of  such 
compound  remedies  (as  is  of  late  frequently  done  on  the  part  of 
homoeopathic  physicians)  is  in  accordance  with  the  principles  of 
homoeopathy,  which  tell  us  that  to  cure  diseases  only  such 
remedies  should  be  used  as  had  been  proven  on  healthy  persons, 
and  if  we  could  adopt  such  substances  as  Arsen.  jodat.,  Stibium 
arsenic,  Amnion,  brom.,  Calc.  brom.,  Ferrum  hydrobrom.,  Natrum 
subsulph.,  etc.,  as  our  remedies  ? 

The  strict  followers  of  Hahnemann  will  decidedly  deny  this 
question. 

They  will  argue  that  the  remedies  in  this  composition  had  not 
been  tried  on  healthy  persons,  and  that  it  had  not  been  proven 
that  they  unite  in  themselves  the  effects  of  both  proven  substances, 
of  which  they  consist,  in  the  same  manner  in  which  the  trials 

*  From  Ally.  Horn.  Zeitn  bd.  118,  No.  19. 


THE  HOMCEOPATIIIC  RECORDER.  1  7 

revealed  them.    They  will  be  placed  in  (1m-  same  category  with 
so-called  double  remedies,  once  so  severely  rejected.    Besides  this,  it 
will  lie  argued,  that  there  is  do  need  <>f  them,  and   moreover,  that 
the  proven  remedies  in  our  possession  arc  sufficient  for  the  cure  of 
all  curable  diseases,  if  given  in  the  proper  doses  and  in  accordance 

with  the   circumstances.     To    do  this,  a  most    thorough   knowl' 

of  remedies  is  necessary. 
Acknowledging  that  adhering  to  the  principles  established  by 

Hahnemann  is  a  vital  condition  of  homoeopathy,  it  Le  neverthe]  -- 

not  necessary  that  we  should  ruthlessly  reject  a  new  idea  which 
originated  within  those  principles,  though  it  might  vary  from  the 
letter  thereof,  if  it  only  promises  to  contrihutc  toward  the  advance- 
ment (A'  Hahnemann's  doctrine.  We  have  considered  it  our  duty 
to  examine  in  the  most  impartial  manner  every  new  idea  of  this 
kind  as  to  its  value  and  its  claims  on  homoeopathy. 

Wo  have  acknowledged  the  empiricism  of  Rademacher,  the  en- 
largement and  revision  of  the  same  from  the  pen  of  Weihe  by 
means  of  his  doctrine  of  epidemic  remedies  and  the  points  of  pain, 
the  biochemistry  of  Schiissler,  as  being  related  to  homoeopathy, 
and  well  calculated  for  the  furtherance  of  the  same. 

We  have  gladly  welcomed  and  pursued  with  interest  all  works  of 
Prof.  Jager,  our  indefatigable,  brave  co-worker,  as  far  as  they  con- 
tribute to  a  better  foundation  and  understanding  of  Hahnemann's 
doctrine.  We  have  as  far  as  possible  brought  to  the  knowledge  of 
our  readers  all  publications  of  the  entire  medical  literature,  which 
confirmed  the  truth  of  similia  simUitms.  In  short,  we  have  made  an 
effort  to  keep  aloft  from  that  orthodoxy  which  hinders  all  progress, 
and  which  ultimately  leads  to  a  standstill  and  to  annihilation. 

This  standpoint  we  shall  also  take  towards  the  use  of  compound 
metallic  remedies  of  a  more  recent  day.  Hahnemann  himself  has 
sanctioned  them  by  taking  Hepar  s.  c,  the  different  preparations  of 
Mercury,  Amnion,  mur.  and  others,  among  his  homoeopathic  medi- 
cines, even  if  he  demanded  a  previous  proving  on  healthy  persons. 
The  fulfilment  of  this  condition  wras  in  those  days  not  very  diffi- 
cult by  reason  of  their  limited  number.  But  since  the  progressing 
chemistry  of  later  days  is  capable  of  producing  such  medical  sub- 
stances in  larger  numbers  it  is  almost  imposible  to  keep  pace  with 
it,  and  we  would  consider  it  an  unjust  adherence  to  principles  for 
principle's  sake,  if  we  should  deprive  us  of  the  advantages  which 
are  connected  with  the  use  of  the  same. 

We  admit  that  wre,  by  doing  this,  do  not  conform  to  Hahnemann's 
positive  demand  of  experiment;  but  we  dispute  the  violation  of 
homoeopathic  principles  thereby. 

The  question  at  issue  is  only  a  different  use  of  the  material  gained 
by  experiments  on  healthy  persons,  not  the  recommendation  of 


158  THE  H0MCE0PATH1C  BECOBDEB. 

remedies'  which  have  been  invented  by  this  one  or  that  one  at  the 
sick-bed  as  therapeutic.  We  should  decidedly  protest  against  the 
adoption  of  such  into  homoeopathy,  since  by  doing  so  we  would 
leave  the  firm  ground  already  gained,  and  the  doctrine  of  Hahne- 
mann would  soon  entirely  disappear. 

Those  who  consider  mechanically  looking  for  symptoms  the  only 
true  and  all-sufficient  way  will  not  agree  with  us. 

But  we  dare  to  assert  openly  that  this  would  not  answer  in  all 
eases ;:  each  of  us  who  considers  this  question  seriously  will  have 
to  confess-  that  he  has  experienced  this.  Hahnemann  admitted 
this  in  his  treatise  of  chronic  diseases.  Medical  science  cannot  be 
"based  simply  upon  arithmetic  We  cannot  dispense  with  mental 
activity  as  to  combination  and  speculation,  if  it  shall  not  be  lowered 
to  a  common  trade,  as  particularly  v.  Grauvogl  has  laid  it  down 
with  energy  in  his  work..  But  it  must  under  all  circumstances  be 
maintained  that  this  speculative  mental  activity  can  only  be  based 
upon  facts,  which  have  been  gained  by  experiment.  In  connection 
with  our  argument,  therefore,  the  use  of  compound  metallic  reme- 
dies is  only  justified  if  done  on  the  principle  of  similia  dmilibus 
and  the  existing  medical  proving.  The  use  of  Merc,  cyanatus 
against  diphtheria  by  Drs,  Beck  and  v.  Villers,  Sen.,  in  Petersburgh, 
has  broken  the  road  in  this  respect.  An  examination  of  Merc, 
cyanatus  as  a  single  medical  body  did  not  exist,  but  one  of  Merc,  and 
of  Acid  hydrocyanic.  These  two  provings  offered  almost  the  com- 
plete picture  of  severe  diphtheria,  so  that  the  thought  suggested 
itself  to  unite  them  in  one  medicinal  body  and  to  try  their  curative 
power  against  said  disease. 

The  experiment  was  rewarded  with  a  splendid  result,  which  since 
has  repeated  itself  in  thousands  of  cases,  and  has  forced  our  oppo- 
nents— though  against  their  will — to  recognize  it.  That  this  pro- 
cess is  homoeopathic  has,  as  far  as  we  know,  never  been  contradicted. 
Why  should  not  two  medicinal  bodies,  united  in  one,  do  in  other 
cases  what  the  union  of  these  two  remedies  in  one  body  has  accom- 
plished ?  There  is  no  reasonable  cause  against  it,  and  the  experience 
at  the  sick-bed  has  given  numerous  proofs  of  the  correctness  of  this 
treatment.  We  do  not  hesitate,  therefore,  to  recognize  an  addition 
to  our  medicines  in  these  compound  metallic  remedies. 

But -we  would  like  to  guard  against  the  dangerous  error,  that  by 
the  use  of  these,  our  old  well-tried  remedies  would  gradually  become 
superfluous,  and  that  the  tiresome  study  of  the  same  be  unneces- 
sary. One  would  thereby  commit  the  folly  to  neglect  an  old  valu- 
able acquisition  for  a  new  one,  however  much  the  latter  might 
promise.     My  caeterum  censeo  therefore  stands  good. 


THE  HOMCEOPATHW  RECORDER. 


150 


TREATMENT    OF    SIMPLE    ULCER    OF    THE 
STOMACH.* 

BY   DR.   P.   JOU8SET. 

Ulcer  of  the  stomach  is  a  disease  characterized  anatomically  by 

a  round  and  perforating  ulcer  of  tin-  stomachic  walls.  This  disease 
progresses  in  paroxysms;  it  is  marked  by  dyspepsia  accompanied 
by  a  peculiar  pain  seated  in  the  xyphoid  region,  beginning  imme- 
diately after  eating  by  vomiting  and  hsematemesis ;  it  may  end  in 
perforation  of  the  stomach  or  death  from  hemorrhage.  It  is  essen- 
tially curable.  The  modern  works  connect  this  disease  with  arterio- 
sclerosis. 

The  principle  remedies  against  this  disease  are  :  Argent,  nitr., 
Kreosot,  Kali  bichr.,  Arsen.  Phosphor.,  Plumb.,  and  Nitrate  of 
Uranium;  Hamamelis  and  Ipecacuanha  are  indicated  during  the 
great  haemorrhages. 

1.  Argent,  nitricum. — This  remedy  corresponds  to  the  lesion  and 
ulceration  of  the  stomach  ;  it  is  indicated  by  the  excessive  pain, 
especially  prominent  at  night.  This  pain  is  followed  by  vomiting  and 
haematemesis.     Dose,  3x  —  6x. 

2.  Kreosotum. — Kreosotum  is  a  remedy  commonly  used  in  cancer 
of  the  stomach,  it  is  indicated  always  by  the  symptom,  vomiting. 
It  is  very  useful  for  the  cure  of  this  symptom  wmether  there  be 
vomiting  (simple)  or  profuse  vomiting  of  alimentary  substances. 
Dose,  6x  is  the  dilution  most  often  employed.  Richard  Hughes 
prefers  the  2x. 

3.  Kali  bkhromicum. — This  is  a  most  homoeopathic  remedy. 
It  is  indicated  by  excessive  pain  in  the  stomach,  at  night,  and  also 
after  the  slightest  eating,  as  happens  in  the  simple  ulcer  of  the 
stomach  ;  it  has  the  vomiting  of  alimentary  substances  and  hsema- 
temesis. This  is  a  remedy  which  produces  ulcerations.  Its  clinical 
application  has  justified  its  indication.     Dose,  3x  —  6x. 

4.  Arsenicum. — This  remedy  is  also  very  homoeopathic  to  simple 
ulcer  of  the  stomach  ;  pain  excessive,  pressive,  burning  in  the  cavity 
of  the  stomach,  vomiting  of  everything  taken  ;  vomit  is  mixed  with 
blood  ;  hsematemesis.  Its  great  efficacy  has  been  demonstrated  in 
the  clinic.     Dose,  3x  —  6x. 

5.  Phosphorus. — Phosphorus  produces  ulceration  of  the  stomach 
and  haemorrhage  ;  it  is  indicated  by  a  gnawing  and  cramp-like  pain 
in  the  hollow  of  the  stomach,  vomiting  of  food  and  haematemesis. 
Hiccough  especially  indicates  phosphorus,  but  clinical  experience 


*  Translated  from  V Art  Medicate  by  A.  Pick  and  F.  Pritchard. 


160  THE  HOMCEOPA  THIG  BECOBDEB. 

has  less  established  the  place  of  this  remedy  than  arsenic  and  Kali 
bichr.     Dose,  3x  —  6x  and  12x. 

6.  Plumbum,  is  indicated  (according  to  some  authors),  but  its 
pathogenesis  no  more  justifies  its  use  than  its  clinical  application. 
Great  constipation,  glairy  substances  vomited,  with  hiccough,  might 
lead  one  to  think  of  the  remedy.  Dose,  6x  —  30x. 
.  7.  Nitrate  of  Uranium. — This  remedy  is  indicated,  according  to 
Richard  Hughes,  who  regards  it  a  very  important  remedy.  Dr. 
Drysdale  has  published  a  case  of  ulcer  of  the  stomach  cured  by  this 
remedy.  The  experimenters  have  noticed  ulceration  of  the  stomach 
in  rabbits  experimented  upon.  It  produces  vomiting  and  haemate- 
mesis.     Dose,  ox  —  6x. 

Hamamelis  and  Ipecacuanha  may  be  alternated  in  the  lx  (trit.). 
A  dose  every  twenty  minutes. 

Diet  should  be  exclusively  milk  during  the  sickness,  and  the  diet 
for  a  dyspeptic  during  the  process  of  cure. 

In  resume  treatment  maybe  commenced  by  Kali  bichr.  if  it  be  a 
typical  case  ;  arsenic  may  follow  immediately  after ;  it  has  as  special 
indications,  burning  pains,  and  the  symptoms,  anxiety  and  thirst. 
Kali  bichr.  corresponds  more  to  the  acute,  and  arsenic  to  the  chronic 
forms.  Kreosotum  is  indicated  by  the  predominance  of  vomiting. 
As  for  Uranium  nitrate  it  is  a  remedy  yet  to  be  studied. 


HOMCEOPATHIC  THERAPEUTICS. 

Pulsatilla  in  Labor. — M.  L.,  married  woman,  aged  32,  in  labor 
with  third  child.  Previous  pregnancies  normal.  Seen  at  6  p.m.,  os 
just  commencing  to  dilate,  pains  every  10  minutes.  Foetal  head 
felt  high  above  the  pelvic  brim  and  freely  movable. 

At  10  p.m.  labor  had  made  no  progress,  and  pain  had  almost  en- 
tirely ceased.  Os  no  more  dilated,  but  membranes  hanging  through 
a  short  distance,  containing  a  loop  of  funis.  Breach  felt  high  up. 
Given  Puds.  1  every  20  minutes. 

11  p.m. — Xo  change.    Continue  Pids.% 

12  p.m. — Five  minutes  ago  had  a  great  desire  to  pass  water,  and  at 
the  same  time  a  great  commotion  as  of  the  child  moving,  felt  in  the 
abdomen. 

Examination  showed  head  again  in  the  normal  position. 
From  this  time  the  labor  rapidly  proceeded  to  a  perfectly  normal 
delivery  and  good  recovery. — T.  G.  Stonham,  M.D.,  London  Review. 

Contra-Indication   for   Antipyrin    During  Menstruation. — 

Huchard  says  that  in  many  cases  in  which  he  has  given  Antipyrin 
(1  grm.)  he  observed  stoppage  of  menstruation  and  the  appearance 


THE  HOMQLOPA  7 II K    UECOltDER.  101 

of  toxic  phenomena  (violent  chill,  cyanosis  of  the  countenance 
and  extremities,  and  swooning).  These  symptoms  being  in  one 
case  very  threatening,  and  in  others  present  but  less  pronounced, 
convinced  him  thai  Antipyrin  should  not  be  given  during  the  first 

two  or  three  days  of  menstruation. — Allg.  M"l.  Cent.  Zeit. 

Side-action  of  Antipyrin. — A  remarkable  a  (lection  of  manifest 
nervous  nature  was  observed  in  a  case  by  Brandenburg:  Five  min- 
utes after  the  injection  of  1.0  Antipyrin  the  patient  experienced 
toothache,  affecting  all  the  teeth  of  the  lower  jaw;  headache,  es- 
pecially under  the  ears,  and  earache,  but  no  tinnitus  aurium ;  lachry- 
mation  and  violent  irritation  of  the  nasal  mucous  membranes.  The 
phenomena  disappeared  in  inverse  succession;  the  toothache  con- 
tinued about  four  hours.  To  convince  himself  that  these  pains 
were  the  genuine  effect  of  Antipyrin,  the  patient  was  given  0.5  grm. 
more  of  the  drug.  After  ten  minutes  the  symptoms  quickly  came 
on,  the  toothache  continuing  this  time  twelve  hours.  The  arthralgia 
from  articular  rheumatism  on  account  of  which  the  Antipyrin  was 
given  also  vanished. —  Corr  Bl.f.  Schiceiz.  Aerzte,  1888. 

Enuresis  in  Females;  Ambra. — Little  Miss  G ,  age  eight, 

was  unable  to  retain  her  urine  whenever  she  paused  after  running 
or  skipping  rope,  hurrying  home  from  school  or  when  at  all  phys- 
ically excited.  No  other  symptoms  were*  noted,  except  periodical 
attacks  of  "  worms,"  which,  however,  were  never  noted  by  her  mother 
to  have  any  effect  upon  the  above  difficulty.  The  enuresis  had  ex- 
isted for  three  years,  in  fact  since  the  child  began  attending  school 
and  romping  with  her  companions.  Having  seen  the  clinical  symp- 
tom during  my  studies:  "inability  to  retain  the  urine  after  physical 
exertion,"  credited  to  Ambra,  I  decided  to  try  it,  and  as  the  little 
one  was  of  a  highly  nervous  temperament,  gave  her  mother  four 
powders  of  the  30  cent,  potency,  with  directions  to  give  one  after 
every  "mishap."  One  dose  only  was  given,  and  now,  a  year  after- 
ward, no  need  has  arisen  for  the  repetition  of  the  remedy. 

Case  2.  Miss  B ,  aged  six,  suffered  from  frequent  attacks  of 

nocturnal  enuresis  since  having  whooping-cough  at  the  age  of  three 
years.  No  indications  for  a  choice  of  remedy  presented  in  this  case, 
except  that  the  mother  particularly  remembered  that  the  urine  had 
a  very  sour  smell  during  the  attack  of  whooping  cough.  Ambra  was 
prescribed  with  the  same  directions  for  its  use  as  in  the  previous 
case.     Two  doses  made  a  complete  cure. 


vol.  iv.— 11 


162  THE  HOMOEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

CALCAREA    CARBONICA    IN    GALL-STONE    COLIC. 

A  Contribution  to  its  Posology. 

Three  years  ago,  says  Dr.  Leake,  I  was  called  to  Frau  B.,  sixty- 
one  years  of  age.  She  was  of  a  lymphatic  constitution  and  quite 
stout,  weight  two  hundred  pounds.  She  has  suffered  for  twenty 
years  from  gall-stone  colic,  and  the  remedies  of  the  old  school  have 
never  given  her  any  permanent  relief.  For  some  time  she  has  not 
taken  any  as  she  only  got  anaesthetics,  and  would  rather  die  than 
take  any  more,  if  there  were  no  other  help.  But  as  she  became 
worse,  she  turned  to  homoeopathy  for  relief. 

The  attacks  came  on  without  any  warning  and  very  suddenly,  as  a 
cutting  pain  would  set  in  under  the  right  shoulder-blade,  running 
from  there  to  the  right  hypochondrium  and  epigastrium.  Her  pains 
were  sometimes  so  violent  and  unbearable  that  she  would  throw 
herself  upon  the  ground,  emitting  terrible  cries  and  tearing  her 
hair.  The  attacks  lasted  usually  fifteen  minutes  and  generally 
terminated  by  the  vomiting  of  fluid  bilious  masses,  containing 
something  compact.  At  the  end  of  such  an  attack  when  I  was 
present,  the  patient  had  vomited  up  a  mass  of  these  small  concre- 
ments,  having  the  circumference  of  a  pea  and  of  very  different 
forms. 

I  remembered  how  Prof.  Allen,  of  New  York,  had  recommended 
Calc.  carb.  in  gall-stone  colic,  and  dissolved  ten  grammes  of  the  12x 
in  a  glass  of  water,  of  which  I  gave  a  dose  every  five  minutes. 
After  the  third  dose  the  patient  was  much  improved.  Thinking 
that  she  had  received  an  opiate,  she  said  she  had  never  taken  any- 
thing which  had  helped  her  so  quickly.  She  took  the  remedy  three 
times  daily,  the  attacks  became  less  and  less  frequent  and  intense, 
finally  disappearing  entirely.  No  recurrence  up  to  date.  —  Allg. 
Homiop.  ZeiL,  March  21,  1889. 

Observation  by  the  Abstractor. — (Dr.  G.)  Ten  grammes  of 
Calc.  carbonica  —  are  in  this  case  worthy  of  remark  and  not  less 
interesting  than  the  result  itself.  For  although  the  12x  was  used, 
the  quantity  used  so  exceeds  the  usual  amount  most  strikingly. 
Meanwhile  the  antagonists  of  such  doses  must  first  show  that  their 
two,  or  how  many  globules,  or  their  drops  would  have  been  able  to 
do  the  same  under  similar  conditions  or  circumstances. — p.  and  p. 


ITEMS  OF  GENERAL  INTEREST. 

Eschscholtzia  Californica. — Dr.  Terzakeriant  made  a  physiolo- 
gical and  therapeutic  study  of  this  drug  in  the  Hospital  Cochin 
laboratory  under  the  direction  of  Dujardin-Beaumetz. 


THE  HOM(EOPATEIC  BECOliDEIi. 

Besides  morphine  he  found  a  considerable  quantity  of  a  base, 
probably  a  glucoside ;  experiments  upon  animals  Bhowed  il  to 
more  powerfully  than  morphine.  Given  Bubcutaneously,  per  oe  and 
intravenously  (6  g.  per  kilog.  of  animal  into  Btomach,  2.50  g.  per 
kilog.  subcutaneously  |,  it  caused  general  weakness ;  torpor,  accelera- 
tion of  respiratory  movements,  complete  p.-imlysis  of  the  limbs,  a 
paralysis  always  preceding  an  anaesthesia  and  in  all  cases  persisted 
a  very  long  time  after  return  of  sensiltility.  slowing  of  the  circulate  >n, 
and  temperature  elevated  1.5°  (in  two  rabbits)  after  introduction  of 
remedy,  then  returning  to  the  normal.  This  is  due  to  different 
preparations,  as  in  two  other  rabbits  temperature  fell  0.7°  (and  the 
first  were  experimented  upon  by  the  alcoholic  extract  [containing 
resin]  and  the  last  two  the  extract  with  no  resin  contained  therein). 

I.  Respiration.— Some  minutes  after  introduction  of  substance,  re- 
spiratory movement  accelerated  and  then  became  slower  up  to  death. 

II.  Temperature. — Small  dose  has  no  appreciable  action;  lai 
doses  cause  the  temperature  to  rise  or  fall  about  1°  as  one  uses  tin- 
extract  with  or  without  the  resin. 

III.  Nervous  System. — Small  doses  only  act  upon  central  sphere 
itself.  The  animals  lose  their  voluntary  spontaneity,  remain  im- 
movable and  indifferent  in  the  places  where  they  may  be,  things 
which  should  arouse  their  attention  having  no  action  upon  them. 
The  motor  nerves  are  first  affected  and  the  sensory  only  a  long  time 
after. 

IV.  Therapeutic  Effect. — Used  successfully  in  five  cases  of  cephal- 
algia, the  remedial  effect  persisting  a  long  time  after  ceasing  its  use. 
A  soporic  remedy  which  is  harmless  and  especially  unoffensive,  not 
having  the  inconvenience  of  morphine,  and  easy  of  administration. 
— Bull.  G&n'er.  de  Th'tr.,  January  15,  1889.  p.  and  p. 

Action  of  Bromide  of  Potassium  upon  Nerve-Centres. — Dr. 
Umberti  Russi  gave  4  g.  of  Bromide  of  Potassium  daily,  for  14  days,  to 
a  dog  per  os.  After  this  the  animal  died  with  symptoms  of  paralysis 
of  the  extremities,  sensibility  greatly  reduced  and  decreased  appetite. 
Brain  and  spinal  cord  examined  microscopically.  Microscopically 
the  brain  and  spinal  cord  showed  quite  an  injection  of  the  vessels. 
Microscopic  sections  of  the  brain  showed  the  vessels  of  the  white  and 
gray  substance,  especially  upon  the  borders  of  both,  to  be  dilated  and 
filled  with  blood ;  the  vessels  of  the  pia  mater  the  same  ;  ecchymoses 
into  nerve-tissues,  indistinctness  and  almost  complete  disappearance 
of  the  axis-cylinder,  especially  at  the  transition  from  the  white  into  the 
gray  substance.  In  one  place  the  wall  of  a  vessel  was  torn.  Anterior 
and  posterior  coruna  of  spinal  cord  much  injected  as  well  as  its  pro- 
cesses and  as  if  in  the  brain  there  were  here  and  there  haemorrhages. 


164  THE  H0MCE0PATH1G  RECORDER. 

the  white  substance  here  and  there,  fibres  which  (axis-cylinders) 
had  changed  into  granular  masses,  easily  friable,  other  axis-cylinders 
had  changed  in  form  as  if  pressed  together;  again,  others  were  much 
distended. — So  Sperimentale  Tasc,  7  July,  1888.  p.  and  p. 

Arrow  Poison. — In  his  very  interesting  communication  to  the 
Royal  Geographical  Society,  Mr.  Stanley  described  the  terrible  effects 
of  wounds  from  the  poisoned  arrows  used  by  the  natives  of  the 
centre  of  Africa,  and  also  the  mode  of  preparing  it  from  the  ants 
and  spiders  which  abound  in  that  region.  He  says  that,  "  when 
fresh,  the  poison  is  most  deadly.  Lieutenant  Stairs  and  five  men 
were  wounded.  Lieutenant  Stairs's  wound  was  from  an  arrow,  the 
poison  of  which  was  dry ;  it  must  have  been  put  on  some  days 
before.  After  three  weeks  or  so  he  recovered  strength,  though  the 
wound  was  not  closed  for  months.  One  man  received  a  slight 
puncture  near  the  wrist;  he  died  from  tetanus  five  days  after. 
Another  received  a  puncture  near  the  shoulder  in  the  muscles  of 
the  arm  ;  he  died  six  hours  later  than  the  first  case — of  tetanus  also. 
One  was  wounded  in  the  gullet — a  slight  puncture ;  he  died  on  the 
seventh  day.  I  believe  one  wounded  in  the  side  died  at  night  the 
same  day.  Tetanus  ended  the  sufferings  of  all.  We  were  much 
exercised  as  to  what  this  poison  might  be  that  was  so  deadly.  On 
returning  from  the  Nyanza  to  relieve  the  rear  column,  under  Major 
Barttelot,  we  halted  at  Avisibba,  and,  rummaging  among  the  huts, 
found  several  packets  of  dried  red  ants,  or  pismires.  It  was  then 
we  knew  that  the  dried  bodies  of  these,  ground  into  powder,  cooked 
in  palm  oil,  and  smeared  over  the  wooden  points  of  the  arrows  was 
the  deadly  irritant  by  which  we  lost  so  many  fine  men  with  such 
terrible  suffering.  Now  we  wonder  that  we  have  been  so  long  in  the 
dark,  for  we  could  create  any  number  of  poisons  from  such  insects 
as  we  have  seen.  The  large  black  ant,  for  instance,  whose  bite  causes 
a  great  blister,  would  be  still  more  venomous  prepared  in  the  same 
way.  The  small  gray  caterpillars  would  make  another  irritant  which, 
mixed  with  the  blood,  would  torture  a  man  to  death.  The  bloated 
spiders,  an  inch  in  length,  which  are  covered  with  prickles  most 
painful  to  the  touch,  would  form  another  terrible  compound,  the 
effects  of  which  makes  one  shudder  to  think  on.  These  poisons  are 
prepared  in  the  woods.  In  the  depths  of  the  forest  the  savage  makes 
his  fire  and  prepares  the  fatal  venom  which  lays  low  even  the  huge 
elephant.  It  is  forbidden  to  cook  it  near  a  village.  In  the  forest  he 
smears  his  arrows,  and  having  covered  the  points  with  fresh  leaves 
lest  he  himself  might  be  a  victim,  he  is  ready  for  war." 

There  is  good  material  for  useful  provings  here.  We  have  already 
provings  of  the  Mygale  lasiodora,  or  large  black  spider  of  Cuba,  useful 
in  some  cases  of  chorea;  the  Lycosa  tarentula,  indicated  in  case  of 


THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER.  165 

spinal  irritation  ;  the  Totrentula  cub<  nnai  or  hairy  spider,  which  a 
"a  perfect  picture  of  carbuncle,  even  to  sloughing;"  the  Arcmea 
diaderna;  and  the  Theridixm  curassavicum,  which  is  also  indicated  in 
some  cases  of  intense  spinal  irritation. — Monthly  Homoeopathic  Re- 
view, May  1,  1889. 

Arsenic. — This  homely  truth,  by  the  way,  is  illustrated  by  a  sin- 
gular case  vouched  for  by  the  Chief  Constable  of  Denbighshire  in 

a  letter  to  the  Times.  A  children's  party,  with  a  Christmas-tree,  says 
this  gentleman,  resulted  in  most  of  the  little  ones,  and  many  of  the 
older  ones,  being  seized  with  symptoms  of  mineral  poisoning.  Some 
of  these  had  taken  nothing  to  eat  or  drink,  and  attention  was  directed 
to  tire  green  and  red  candles  of  the  Christmas-tree.  These,  upon 
being  analyzed,  were  found  to  be  colored  with  arsenic  and  vermilion 
respectively,  and  the  heated  atmosphere  thus  charged  with  arsenical 
and  mercurial  fumes  had  clearly  produced  the  unpleasant  symp- 
toms. When,  we  may  well  ask,  shall  we  know  the  worst  in  respect 
of  the  baneful  effects  of  things  around  us?  We  have  long  been 
warned  against  green  wall-papers,  red  stockings,  tinned  meats,  and 
a  host  of  other  things  in  common  use.  Even  the  cat  is  no  longer 
"harmless,"  even  if  ''necessary,"  for  it  is  accused  of  propagating 
diseases.  And  now  we  have  to  be  on  our  guard  against  the  colored 
candles  of  our  Christmas-trees. — Christian  World. 

The  Nettle  as  an  Epispastic. — In  the  Meditzinskoie  ObozreraTe, 
No.  16,  1888.  p.  330,  Dr.  Vladislav  A.  Frankowski,  of  Kharkov, 
whose  medical  experience  embraces  about  one  hundred  thousand 
cases,  speaks  enthusiastically  of  "  urtication,"  that  is  to  say,  slap- 
ping or  pricking  with  a  bundle  of  fresh  nettle-twigs,  for  one  or  several 
minutes,  once  or  several  times  a  day,  as  an  excellent  epispastic  ap- 
plication. It  has  considerable  advantges  over  ordinary  derivative 
remedies,  inasmuch  as  it  is  quite  innocuous  (not  irritating  the  kid- 
ney, and  leaving  no  permanent  marks  on  the  skin,  etc.),  cleanly, 
simple  in  application,  rapid  in  its  effect,  and  cheap.  Dr.  Frankowski 
recommends  it  especially  in  (a)  anaesthesia,  paralysis,  and  neuralgia, 
especially  sciatica  of  peripheral  origin,  as  well  as  in  incipient  tabes, 
where  he  applies  the  nettles  directly  to  the  parts  affected  ;  (b)  in 
dyspnoea  depending  upon  cardiac  or  vascular  disease,  where  u  gen- 
eral urtication  "  (that  is,  pricking  along  the  vertebral  column  and 
over  the  whole  abdomen  and  chest)  is  said  to  "  relieve  the  agonizing 
symptoms  far  more  rapidly  and  more  completely  than  any  other 
epispastic  does ;"  (c)  in  respiratory  diseases,  spinal  and  thoracic  urti- 
cation soon  allays  cough,  promotes  expectoration,  relieves  oppres- 
sion, and  produces  a  striking,  though  only  temporary,  improvement 
in  the  subjective  condition ;  (d)  in  amenorrhea,  urtication  of  the 


1G6  THE  HOMCEOPATHIG  RECORDER. 

lumbar,  sacral,  and  internal  femoral  regions  excites  the  menstrual 
flow,  even  when  employed  alone,  without  any  adjuvant;  (e)  in  im- 
potence, pricking  the  loins,  sacral  region,  and  genital  parts  is  also  of 
great  service ;  (/)  in  rheumatic,  muscular,  and  articular  pains,  urti- 
cation,  combined  with  cold  bathing,  is  often  far  more  useful  than 
anything  else;  (g)  in  syncope,  asphyxia,  concussion  of  the  brain, 
coma,  etc.,  energetic  general  urtication  is  an  invaluable  resuscitating 
measure,  which  has  been  successfully  resorted  to  by  the  peasantry 
all  over  Russia  from  time  immemorial. — British  Medical  Journal, 
April  6th. 

A  Simple  Test  for  Blood. — This  is  made  by  the  addition  of 
tincture  of  guaiac  and  ozonized  ether  to  a  weak  solution  of  blood, 
when  a  bright  blue  color  is  produced.  If  a  drop  of  blood  be  mixed 
with  one-half  ounce  of  distilled  water,  upon  the  addition  of  one  or 
two  drops  of  tincture  of  guaiac  a  cloudy  precipitate  of  the  resin 
appears,  and  the  solution  has  a  faint  tint.  If  to  this  solution  one 
drop  of  an  ethereal  solution  of  hydrogen  peroxide  is  added,  a  blue 
tint  appears, which,  upon  a  few  minutes'  exposure,  gradually  deepens. 
This  test  is  very  valuable  for  minute  quantities  of  blood,  and  Dr. 
Day,  of  Geelong,  succeeded  in  obtaining  sixty  impressions  from  a 
stain  upon  cloth  where  the  microscope  failed  to  show  any  blood. 

The  Physiological  Effects  of  Injections  of  Solutions  of 
Salt. — MM.  Dastre  and  Loye,  in  a  note  in  the  Archives  de  Physiologie, 
state  that  a  considerable  quantity  of  a  physiological  solution  of 
salt  may  be  injected  successively  into  the  veins  of  an  animal  with- 
out causing  any  apparent  trouble,  immediate  or  consecutive.  This 
quantity  has  been  raised  by  the  experimenters  beyond  two-thirds 
of  the  weight  of  the  animal.  The  expression  "  toxic  dose,"  the 
authors  remark,  has  no  meaning  so  far  as  the  salt  solution  is  con- 
cerned. There  is  no  such  thing  as  a  toxic  dose,  but  there  is  a  toxic 
rapidity.  This  rapidity  is  superior  to  3°  ;  that  is  to  say,  the  quan- 
tity of  the  solution  introduced  does  not  exceed  three  cubic  centi- 
metres per  minute  and  per  kilogramme  of  the  animal.  In  order  for 
the  injection  to  be  innocuous,  certain  conditions  are  necessary — as 
moderate  rapidity  of  the  injection  and  the  amount  introduced,  and 
a  healthy  state  of  the  organs,  especially  of  the  kidney.  When  these 
conditions  are  not  fulfilled,  the  animal  succumbs  sooner  or  later. 
There  is  then  observed  a  constant  exudation  which  is  produced  in 
the  serous  cavities ;  also  sanguineous  suffusions  and  exudations  by 
the  mucous  membranes. 

When  the  course  of  the  urinary  elimination  is  observed,  one 
notices,  as  a  general  rule,  a  perfect  parallelism  between  this  excre- 
tion on  the  one  hand,  and  the  injection  on  the  other.     After  a  cer- 


THE  L103KE0PATJIIC  UECOllDER.  1G7 

lain  time  the  quantity  injected  Ie  balanci  d  by  the  quantity  which 
is  eliminated.  This  normal  regimen  reveals  tin-  existence  <»i"  a 
mechanism  which  regulates  the  quantity  of  water  of  the  organism. 
This  mechanism  begins  t<>  act  when  the  quantity  of  .-;ilt  water  in- 
jected is  equal  to  the  quantity  of  the  Mood  of  the  animal  before  the 
experiment  The  Burplus  is  immediately  rejected.  This  quantity, 
equal  to  the  weight  of  the  blood  <>f  the  animal,  seems  to  separate  in 
two  portions;  one  portion  (about  25  per  cent,  of  the  weight  of  the 
blood)  remains  in  the  circulatory  apparatus  during  the  whole  time 
of  the  experiment,  and  is  only  eliminated  definitely  later  on;  a 
second  portion  (about  75  per  cent.)  is  retained  momentarily  in  the 
serous  membranes  and  the  tissues,  to  escape  equally  later  on. 

These  facts  show  a  physiological  connection  between  the  circula- 
tory and  serous  systems  connected  with  the  preservation  of  the 
balance  of  the  watery  portion  of  the  blood  and  of  the  tissues. 
Analyses  have  shown  that,  when  the  animal  returns  to  the  normal 
condition,  the  injection  of  physiological  saltwater  produced  nothing 
but  a  "lavage,"  properly  speaking,  or  a  washing  of  the  blood  and 
of  the  tissues. — Lancet. 

The  Anatomical  Elements  of  Milk,  and  the  Organization  of 
the  Globules. — Dr.  Bechamp  states  that,  contrary  to  former  opinion, 
which  he  holds  to  be  erroneous,  it  may  be  shown  that  milk  is  not 
an  emulsion,  that  its  globules  are  not  simply  fatty  matter,  but  an- 
atomical elements  formed  in  the  gland  at  the  same  time  as  the  com- 
plex fluid  in  wrhich  they  float,  like  the  blood  globules  and  leucocytes 
in  liquor  sanguinis;  that,  in  short,  as  stated  by  Dumas,  they  are 
vesicles  or  cells,  furnished  with  envelopes.  Bechamp  further  shows 
that  milk  contains,  besides  caseine,  other  coagulable  substances,  and 
that  it  curdles  and  ferments  spontaneously  without  the  aid  of  ex- 
traneous organic  ferments.  These  globules  may  be  isolated  from 
cream  or  curds  by  mixture  with  diluted  alcohol,  and  subsequent 
washing  in  a  dilute  alcoholic  solution  of  sesquicarbonate  of  am- 
monia. The  globules  may  be  found  intact  in  the  field  of  a  micro- 
scope.— V  Union  Medicale. 

The  Diet  of  the  Japanese.— Some  interest  attaches  to  the  in- 
vestigations of  Dr.  0.  Kellner  and  Y.  Mori  on  the  diet  of  the 
Japanese.  It  is  often  stated  that  the  Japanese  are  exclusively  veg- 
etarian in  their  diet,  and  that  they  consume  nothing  but  rice.  This 
is  apparently  supported  by  the  fact  that  in  1882  only  36,288  oxen 
and  but  few  other  animals  were  slaughtered  in  the  whole  kingdom. 
But  closer  inquiry  has  shown  that,  if  little  meat  is  eaten,  the  con- 
sumption of  fresh  and  salt  water  fish  is  very  large,  and  that,  besides 
rice,  various  kinds  of  grain  and  other  articles  always  form  a  part  of 


168  THE  HOMCEOPATHIG  RECORDER. 

the  daily  dietary,  so  that  the  proportions  of  proteids,  fats,  and  car- 
bohydrates differ  from  that  of  Europeans  only  in  so  far  that  the  diet 
is  relatively  richer  in  carbohydrates;  the  balance  of  the  economy  is, 
as  might  have  been  anticipated,  well  preserved. — The  British  Medical 
Journal. 

Nitro-glycerine  in  Bright' s  Disease. — Professor  Munasseine 
has  been  trying  the  effects  of  nitro-glycerine  in  nephritic  cases,  and, 
from  a  number  of  observations,  concludes  that  nitro-glycerine  dimin- 
ishes the  amount  of  albumen  passed  in  the  twenty-four  hours ;  the 
amount  of  urine  passed  is  increased  in  the  twenty-four  hours,  and 
this  increase  is  maintained  for  some  time  after  the  cessation  of  the 
drug. — V  Union  Medicale. 

The  Physiological  Action  of  Iron. — Dr.  Skvortzoff  has  pub- 
lished the  results  of  experiments  on  dogs,  carried  out  by  him  in 
Professor  Tiimas's  Pharmacological  Laboratory  in  Warsaw,  with 
the  view  of  determining  the  action  of  iron  on  nitrogenous  metabo- 
lism in  a  healthy  organism.  The  following  are  his  conclusions : 
1.  Iron  has  no  marked  influence  on  the  nitrogenous  metamorpho- 
sis in  a  healthy  system.  2.  On  the  internal  administration  of  iron 
in  daily  doses  over  0.02  or  0.03  gramme,  the  assimilation  of  the  ni- 
trogenous ingredients  of  food  decreases,  though  but  slightly  (from 
98.4  per  cent,  before  the  experiment  to  97.0  per  cent,  during  it). 
3.  After  venesection  the  assimilation  somewhat  increases,  both  on 
the  administration  of  iron  and  without  it.  4.  On  the  administra- 
tion of  iron  with  food  after  venesection,  the  restoration  of  haemo- 
globin proceeds  more  rapidly  than  without  iron.  5.  The  same 
holds  true  in  regard  to  the  body's  weight. — The  British  Medical 
Journal. 

Antifebrin  Poisoning. — With  a  38-year-old  bookbinder  occurred 
after  twice  taking  2.0  (at  a  time)  in  the  space  of  one  day — cool 
sweats  (after  the  second  dose),  fatigue,  dizziness,  stupor,  sense  of 
fear,  palpitation  of  the  heart,  light  pulse,  intense  cyanosis;  the 
symptoms  gradually  passed  off  (weak  for  several  days). — Allg.  Horn. 
Zeit.,  1889,  157. 

A  Case  of  Conein  Poisoning. — During  a  pharmacological  lec- 
ture Schulz  had  passed  around  a  preparation-vial,  containing  Conein, 
closed  with  a  cork,  which  was  placed  in  a  larger  glass.  In  spite 
of  precaution  in  smelling  of  it,  one  of  the  hearers,  inhaling  the 
vapor  of  Conein,  symptoms  set  in  which  characterized  themselves 
by  great  weakness,  feeling  of  lassitude,  severe  headache,  Mightiness, 
incapability  to  fix  an  idea,  heavy  general  sweat. — Ally.  Horn.  Zeit., 
1889,  157.  " 


THE  HOMCEOPA  THIC  R ECO R DEB.  109 

Sulfonal  Exanthem. — A  40-year-old  patient,  with  chronic  me- 
tritis, was  given,  on  accounl  of  nervous  sleeplessness,  2  grammes  of 
Sulfonal  as  an  experiment,  but  no  sleep  resulted;  instead  of  this 
the  nexl  morning  appeared  a  copious  scarlet  exanthem  on  tbe  out- 
side of  both  mammea,  with  moderate  itching.  The  red  color  of  tbe 
skin  was  distinctly  and  sharply  separated  from  the  normal  cutis. 
In  course  of  tbe  day  tbe  exanthema  progressed,  and  in  the  evening 
the  inner  side  of  both  upper  arms  was  attacked  by  it  symmetrically; 
also  towards  tbe  centre  tbe  process  had  extended;  a  month  after- 
ward tbe  whole  inner  part  of  tbe  mamma;  down  to  the  upper  part 
of  the  stomach  was  affected,  where  the  exanthema  of  one  side  united 
with  that  of  the  other.  On  the  third  day  the  rash,  which  now  caused 
intense  itching,  receded  slowly  under  discoloring,  mildly  resembling 
lividity. 

The  unanimous  praise  of  Sulfonal  is  now  followed  by  many 
disagreeable  side-symptoms.  Up  to  this  time  there  was  not 
a  case  of  exanthema  known  after  giving  Sulfonal.  This  is  there- 
fore the  first  case  of  Sulfonal  exanthema,  which  Dr.  M.  Englemann 
publishes  in  No.  42  of  the  Medical  Weekly  of  Munich. 

Note. — Remark  of  Dr.  Proll.  With  a  patient  who  suffered  from 
intermittent  Haemoptysis  of  uric  acid  dyscrasia,  Sulfonal  (1  gramme), 
used  against  chronic  sleeplessness,  produced  sleep,  but  diminished 
on  the  following  days  the  appetite  and  tbe  strength  so  that  tbe  pa- 
tient preferred  not  to  have  sleep. — Allg.  Horn.  Zeit.,  1889,  157. 

A  Special  Case  of  Acute  Morphium  Poisoning. — With  a  lady, 
54  years  old,  who  nine  years  ago  had  suffered  during  several  weeks 
from  frequent  hystero-epileptic  attacks,  appeared  after  acute  menin- 
gitis-psychose,  lasting  six  weeks,  which  resembled  parcmoia  hallu- 
cinatoria  acuta.  She  had  received  on  account  of  neuralgia  in  fifteen 
minutes,  0.05  Morphium  in  the  right  nervas  cruralis,  after  which  she 
remained  unconscious  for  forty-eight  hours.  When  on  the  third 
day  she  became  conscious,  she  was  not  able  to  speak  ;  later  alexia 
and  agraphia  appeared.  On  the  sixth  day  a  decubitus  showed  itself, 
commencing  on  the  coccyx,  which  required  for  its  final  healing  four 
months.  During  the  hallucinations  and  visions  her  memory  was 
confused  and  she  was  not  able  to  recognize  the  family.  After  six 
weeks  (without  special  therapy)  her  mind  was  restored.  The  neu- 
ralgic pains  gave  way  to  treatment  with  the  galvanic  battery. — 
Allg.  Horn.  Zeit.,  1889,  156. 

Cancer  and  Arsenicum  Album. — The  English  physician,  Dr. 
Hutchinson,  communicated  a  number  of  cases  to  tbe  Pathological 
Society  in  London,  which  indicate  that  carcinoma  cutis  will  be  pro- 
duced by  long-continued  use  of  arsenic.  According  to  this  the  skin 
first  becomes  scurfy;  afterwards  numerous  little  pimples  develop 


170  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

themselves,  especially  on  the  palms  of  the  hands  and  the  soles  of  the 
feet,  which  grow  into  ulcers  of  a  cancerous  character.  In  this  way 
the  curative  power  of  Arsenicum  album  against  certain  forms  of 
cancer,'  which  has  for  a  long  time  been  advocated  in  homoeopathy, 
would  find  new  support;  by  the  same  means  would  also  be  contra- 
dicted the  frequent  assertion  from  our  opponents  that  by  giving 
medicine  to  healthy  people  a  specific  disease  could  not  be  produced. 
—Pop.  Zeitfur  Horn.,  1889,  87. 

Phosphorus  Poisoning. — Lauschmann  reports  four  cases  where 
icterus  was  ;  in  one  case,  where  there  was  no  icterus,  the  poison  had 
soon  been  removed  by  vomiting  and  cleansing  of  the  stomach  with 
the  stomach-probe.  Icterus  did  not  appear  before  the  third  day ; 
in  general  not  until  toward  the  end  of  the  first  week.  Of  the  five 
cases,  three  prove  fatal ;  two  recovered.  In  cases  which  came  to 
dissection  there  was  found  adipose  degeneration  of  the  liver,  of  the 
kidneys,  of  the  heart  and  of  the  membrane  of  the  stomach. 

In  one  case  there  were  also  haemorrhages  in  the  tissue  of  the 
hypoderma  and  in  the  serous  membrane  and  the  lung  (peribron- 
chial infarction).— AUg.  Horn.  Zeit,  1889,  156. 

Color  Blindness,  i.e.,  incapability  to  distinguish  certain  colors, 
can  be  remedied,  according  to  the  proposition  of  the  oculist,  Dr. 
Frankel,  by  the  use  of  certain  spectacles. 

Dr.  F.  had  for  this  purpose  eye-glasses  made  for  color-blind  men 
which  consist  of  two  plain  glasses,  between  which  he  placed 
glycerin-jelly,  colored  with  anilin  purple.  One  of  the  patients  has 
used  his  glasses  for  2?  years  with  the. best  success  in  his  business, 
which  latter  demands  the  ability  of  safely  distinguishing  colors. — 
Pop.  Zeitfur.  Horn.,  1889,  88. 

Significance  of  Perspiration  in  Acute  Infectious  Diseases. 
— Taking  the  view  of  the  old  school,  which  attributed  great  im- 
portance to  perspiration  and  also  to  diaphoretics  in  curing  infectious 
diseases,  and  supported  by  experiments  which  have  been  made  at 
the  medical  Clinic  at  Genoa  and  have  shown  the  existence  of  toxic 
substances  in  the  blood  of  pneumonics,  the  author  concluded  that 
such  poisonous  substance  must  also  exist  in  the  secretions  of  the 
feverish  organism.  According  to  this  conclusion  he  made  experi- 
ments to  ascertain  if  the  sweat  of  sick  persons  would  have  toxic 
qualities  after  establishing  the  fact  that  the  sweat  of  healthy  persons 
did  not  have  such  properties.  The  results  published  in  the  German 
Medical  Weekly  seem  to  confirm  the  theory.  The  author  used  for 
these  experiments  the  sweat  of  persons  sick  with  smallpox, malaria, 
typhus  and  rheumatism  in  the  joints,  and  at  the  same  time  he  experi- 


THE  HOMOEOPATHIC  RECORDER.  171 

men  ted  with  the  sweat  of  persons  without  fever.  All  rabbits  which 
had  been  inoculated  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  the  Bweal  of  the 
above-n arced  patients  died  after  twelve,  twenty-four  and  forty-eight 
hours;  the  animals  inoculated  with  the  sweat  of  healthy  persons, 
remained  healthy.  All  the  animals  which  had  been  inoculated 
with  diseased  sweat  died  without  rise  in  theii  temperature,  and  in 
dissecting  them  there  were  im  signs  found  of  infectious  disease. 

The  above  communication  is  a  new  proof  that  our  ancestors  were 
careful  observers,  and  that  the  medical  science  of  to-day,  which  is 
BO  proud  of  its  discoveries,  has  no  cause  to  look  down  upon  them, 
as  it  is  in  fashion  now-a-day,  with  a  certain  degree  of  contempt. 
Prof.  Fager  will  also  welcome  this  as  a  proof  for  his  views. — AUg. 
linn.  Zeit,  1889,  87. 

An  Involuntary  Proving  of  Semen  Tiglii. — Prof.  Hugo  Schulz 
tells  us  in  the  Therapeutic  Monthly  (February,  1889),  that  one  of  his 
hearers  while  passing  Croton  seed  around,  swallowed  a  very  small 
piece  of  it  (about  0.06  gramme  of  seed,  of  which — since  it  contains 
50  per  cent,  fat  oil — only  a  minimal  fraction  could  have  been 
absorbed).  The  gentleman  in  question,  well  and  strongly  built, 
describes  himself  the  serious  effects  of  this  minimum  dose  as  follows : 
"  At  8.15  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  I  took  one  of  the  Croton  seeds, 
•which  were  passed  around,  bit  off  about  one-fourth  of  it  and  chewed 
it.  The  taste  at  first  was  not  disagreeable,  but  after  a  few  seconds 
it  was  like  that  of  a  rancid  walnut,  whereupon  I  spit  the  masticated 
mass  out.  After  about  five  or  ten  minutes,  in  which  time  I  had 
made  frequent  efforts  to  swallow,  in  order  to  get  rid  of  the  taste,  I 
perceived  a  strong  burning,  scratching  sensation  on  the  back  part 
of  the  tongue  and  in  the  whole  pharynx,  together  with  a  feeling  of 
heat. 

In  the  following  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  I  noticed  these  symp- 
toms going  uniformly,  progressing  down  the  oesophagus  in  the 
stomach.  On  entering  the  latter,  vehement,  pulling  pains  of  the 
stomach  appeared,  which  increased  almost  to  intolerance.  I  must  re- 
mark, that  on  the  morning  in  question  I  had  not  eaten  anything.  In 
the  same  time  I  noticed  a  feeling  of  nausea;  cold  sweat  came  upon 
my  forehead,  but  I  did  not  vomit.  In  connection  with  the  pain  in 
my  stomach  there  came  increased  intestinal  peristaltis.  I  could  feel 
and  hear  distinct  colic  symptoms  in  the  abdomen.  Soon  came — 
toward  9  o'clock — vehement  colic  and  strong  tenesmus. 

From  the  lecture  I  hastened  directly  home,  but  I  was  obliged  to 
stop  at  a  hotel  near  by,  since  I  could  not  resist  the  tenesmus  any 
longer.  Defecation  followed  very  rapidly  ;  it  was  entirely  watery. 
In  order  to  alleviate  the  burning  feeling  in  my  throat,  I  took  a 
glass  of  beer  and  a  piece  of  bread  and   butter,  but  I  could  not 


172  THE  HOMCEOPATHIG  BECOBDEB. 

consume  this,  since  violent  tenesmus  came  on  again.  On  my 
further  way  home,  I  had  to  stop  again.  On  the  whole,  the  effect 
lasted  until  noon,  so  that  I  had  up  to  that  time  nine  or  ten  evacua- 
tions. Further  trouble  I  did  not  experience." — Allg.  Horn.  Zeit.  ,1889, 
151. 

Morphium  as  the  Cause  of  Acne  Rosacea. — That  the  morphia 
habit  can  become  an  aetiological  momentum  for  acne  rosacea,  is 
illustrated  in  three  cases  which  Dr.  Chevalier  Q.  Jackson  takes  from 
a  number  of  observations. 

In  the  first  case  the  symptoms  of  existing  acne  rosacea  were 
milder  by  gradually  diminishing  the  dose  of  morphium,  and  they 
disappeared  wholly  four  months  after  totally  abstaining  from  it. 
The  second  case  was  a  milder  one.  The  patient  took  morphium 
in  small  doses  from  two  to  three  times  daily.  In  a  very  short 
time,  after  the  morphium  doses  had  been  diminished,  acne 
rosacea  grew  less,  and  in  three  months  had  nearly  disappeared. 
The  subject  of  the  third  case  is  an  actress,  who  had  taken  mor- 
phium for  a  number  of  years,  but  who  had  frequently  stopped  it. 
Lately  she  had  used  the  remedy  more  frequently  at  the  approach 
of  dysmenorrhceic  difficulties.  This  brought  on  acne  rosacea,  which 
perceptibly  grew  worse,  especially  when  morphium  was  taken  in 
larger  quantities.  Chloral,  which  had  been  substituted  once,  was 
not  followed  by  exacerbation  of  acne  rosacea.  Treated  in  a  pri- 
vate hospital  for  opium  victims,  the  lady  returned  after  three 
months,  having  only  slight  traces  of  acne  rosacea  left.  It  is 
worth  mentioning,  that  in  all  cases  severe  itching  was  perceptible. 
In  conclusion  it'  will  be  observed,  that  by  reversing  the  conclu- 
sion, one  can  in  certain  cases  suspect  the  morphia  habit  in  case 
of  acne  rosacea  associated  with  itching,  which  often  may  lead  to 
the  discovery  of  the  secret  vice  and  the  curing  of  the  patient. — 
Monthly  for  Prath.  Dermatol,  No.  23,  1888. 

A  New  Method  of  Quantitative  Estimation  of  Albumen 
in  the  Urine. — The  possibility  of  estimating  the  amount  of  albu- 
men in  fluid  by  the  difference  in  specific  gravity  before  and  after 
the  coagulation  of  the  albumen  has  been  experimentally  invested 
by  Huppert  and  Zahor,  and  the  last-named  has  attempted  to  apply 
the  method  to  the  urine.  He  recommends  that  the  proportion  of 
acetic  acid  required  to  coagulate  the  whole  of  the  albumen  on  boil- 
ing should  be  ascertained  by  a  preliminary  experiment.  A  specimen 
of  the  urine  after  filtration  is  then  treated  with  the  necessary 
amount  of  acetic  acid  and  divided  into  two  parts ;  one  part  is  put 
into  a  bottle  which  must  be  stoppered  with  an  india-rubber  cork, 
and  kept  in  a  water  bath  at  a  temperature  of  100°  C.  for  ten  minutes 


THE  H0MCE0PATH1C  RECORDER.  173 

or  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  The  urine  is  then*cooled  and  filtered,  care 
being  taken  to  prevent  loss  by  evaporation  during  this  process.    The 

filtrate  and  the  portion  of  acidified  urine  originally  reserved  are  then 
brought  to  the  same  temperature  in  a  water  bath,  and  the  specific 
gravity  of  both  very  carefully  taken.  The  difference  between  the 
two  figures  thus  obtained  multiplied  by  400,  the  average  coefficient 
ascertained  by  experiment,  gives  the  amount  of  albumen  in 
grammes,  in  100  cubic  centimeters.  The  average  error  is  stated  to 
be  -f  or  —  0.0175  gramme,  but  may  amount  to  0.05. —  Tlie,  British 
Medical  Journal. 

A  New  Remedy  in  Glycosuria. — Dr.  J.  Quanjer  reports 
briefly  upon  the  action  of  Syzygium  jambolana,  a  remedy  that 
diminishes  the  quantity  of  sugar  in  the  urine.  In  East  India  the 
plant  is  called  Djuat  or  Duet.  A  short  article  has  also  appeared  in 
a  book  in  the  German  language ;  the  Netherland  state  physician  at 
Batavia,  Dr.  van  de  Burg,  mentions  the  plant  in  the  following  man- 
ner: The  bark  possesses  astringent  properties;  its  decoction  has 
the  best  action  in  diarrhoea.  In  British  India,  Dr.  Banatvala  first 
used  the  rind  of  the  fruit  against  diabetes.  He  asserts  that  after  48 
hours'  use  it  decreased  the  quantity  of  urine  as  well  as  of  sugar,  and 
after  longer  use  the  sugar  wholly  disappears,  even  when  starch  is 
associated  with  it.  Dr.  Quanjer  made  analogous  favorable  observa- 
tions in  a  patient  of  his.  It  is  hoped  that  we  will  soon  have 
knowledge  of  the  plant  through  provings. — Allg.  Med.  Cent.  Zcit. 

Southerlandia  Frutescens. — The  account  of  this  plant  by  Prof. 
McOwen  in  the  Cape  Times  claims  it  to  be  inefficient  in  cancer,  a 
use  to  which  it  has  been  put  for  a  month  in  England.  The  plant 
that  has  been  held  in  high  repute  as  a  cancer  remedy  by  the  natives 
and  old  colonists  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  is  Mclianthus  major, 
called  on  account  of  its  extremely  unpleasant  odor  Kruidje-vocr- 
mijniet.  It  belongs  to  the  family  Sapindaceas  and  probably  owes  its 
efficacy  to  the  antiseptic  properties  residing  in  its  ethereal  oil.  This 
species  deserves  notice  on  account  of  its  efficacy  in  parasitic  skin 
diseases,  especially  eczema  capitis,  purulent  sores,  osseous  necroses ; 
also  in  cynanches  and  abcess  of  the  larynx.  The  remedy  is  useful 
in  a  decoction  of  the  leaves  used  as  a  gargle,  colutorium,  or  fomen- 
tation ;  or  the  bruised  leaves  placed  direct  upon  the  afflicted  part. 
Another  species,  Melianthus  comosa,  is  likewise  similarly  employed. — 
Archiv .  d.  Pharm. 

Diabetes — Creasote. — Valentine's  cases  of  diabetes  took  in  the 
beginning  four  drops  of  Creasote  daily,  and  gradually  increased  the 
dose  until  ten  drops  were  taken.    Under  the  influence  of  this  treat- 


174  THE  HOMCEOPATIIIG  RECORDER. 

ment  the  sugar  disappeared  quickly  from  the  urine,  and  did  not 
return.  Creasote  worked  in  like  beneficent  manner  in  two  other 
cases  in  doses  of  six  drops. — Gaz.  Med.  Torino. 

Death  from  Rabies. — At  the  last  meeting  of  the  Societe  Medi- 
cale  des  Ilopitaux,  Dr.  Gerin  Roze  reported  a  case  of  death  from 
rabies  in  a  young  girl  who  was  subjected  to  the  Pasteurian  treat- 
ment eighteen  hours  after  the  bite.  The  treatment  was  regularly 
followed,  but  did  not  prevent  the  patient  from  succumbing  to  an 
attack  of  most  characteristic  rabies,. as  described  in  detail  in  the 
report  in  question.  The  author  of  the  note  asks  to  what  may  be 
attributed  this  failure  of  the  Pasteurian  treatment,  which  was  gone 
through  in  a  case  apparently  highly  favorable  for  such  treatment. — 
Two  more  deaths  are  registered  by  the  Semaine  Medicale  of  persons 
from  rabies,  who  had  undergone  the  anti-rabic  inoculations:  1.  B. 
Druaux,  of  Aubervilliers,  aged  fifteen  years,  bitten  Jan.  7th,  1889, 
by  a  rabid  dog,  and  treated  at  the  Pasteur  Institute  from  Jan.  9th 
to  28th;  died  from  rabies  on  Feb.  11th.  2.  J.  L.  Dufur,  of  Veyras, 
aged  seventy-two  years,  bitten  on  Dec.  23d,  1888,  and  treated  at  the 
Pasteur  Institute  "from  Dec.  25th,  1888,  to  Jan.  12th,  1889;  died 
from  rabies  on  Feb.  13th. — Lancet,  March  16th,  Paris  Letter. 

Nosebleed. — Dr.  Geneuil  has  found  that  injection  of  fresh 
expressed  lemon  juice  proves  very  efficacious  in  checking  severe 
nasal  haemorrhages. — Pop.  Zeit.  fur  Horn. 

Arnica  Oil  in  Erysipelas. — Dr.  Morrison  draws  attention  to  the 
external  use  of  this  remedy  in  such  cases,  where  E.  bullosum  is 
present.  He  relates  a  case  where  the  erysipelas  showed  itself 
upon  the  face,  scalp,  arms,  hands,  and  face,  and  was  healed  in  a 
comparatively  short  space  of  time  by  this  remedy. — Pop.  Zeit.  fur 
Horn. 

Oxyuris  vermicularis. — Recently  injections  of  pure  liver-oil,  or 
of  an  emulson  of  the  same  with  eggs,  into  the  rectum  is  advocated 
in  cases  where  these  worms  are  present.  Dr.  Gubb  asserts  that  this 
remedy  never  leaves  in  the  sting. 


VETERINARY  DEPARTMENT. 

Rheumatic-Evil. — Equine. — This  disorder  is  a  feverish  one, 
rapid  in  its  course,  and  quite  similar  to  cold-evil  or  black  strangury. 
It  is  a  disease  greatly  feared  by  all  owners  of  horses,  on  account  of 


THE  HOMCEOPATUW  RECORDED.  176 

its  violent  onset  and  the  rapidity  of  ite  course.  The  disease  lb 
characterized  by  a  sudden  paralysis  of  the  loins  and  posterior  ex- 
tremities. Its  appearance  is  periodical,  and  only  noted,  as  a  rule, 
under  certain  slides  oi'  the  weather,  when  roots  are  given  as  a  main 
article  of  food,  when  dry,  cutting,  east  or  cold  west  wind-  prevail, 
and  from  great  changes  of  temperature,  when  the  horse  has  been 
some  few  days  in  the  stable.  Young  horses  and  those  of  middle 
age  are  mosl  frequently  attacked  by  the  disease.  Unix- well  kept 
upon  unspoiled  grains  are  not  affected  by  tins  disease,  while  the 
cold-evil  will  appear  even  in  animals  so  i'od.  Jt  most  frequently 
comes  on  during  work  in  the  field  or  upon  the  road,  and  the  symp- 
toms most  frequently  perceived  are  sweat  even  to  loam  on  the 
flanks,  especially  behind  the  ears  and  between  the  hinder  ex- 
tremities, which  suddenly  appears;  the  hinder  extremities  become 
stiff  and  immovable,  so  that  they  cannot  carry  the  posterior  part  of 
the  body  further,  and  the  animal  falls  upon  its  knees;  the  respira- 
tion, accompained  by  stiffness,  is  increased.  After  the  animal  has 
been  led  into  the  stable  it  generally  collapses,  and  it  is  impossible 
to  make  it  arise.  Sweat  covers  the  whole  body  and  the  animal 
becomes  very  anxious  and  expresses  pain  in  every  movement.  The 
pulse  increases  in  volume  and  frequence,  the  action  of  the  heart  is 
perceptible,  the  mucous  membranes  are  slightly  reddened,  but  upon 
the  whole  appear  pale,  and  the  secretions  are  more  increased  than 
diminished.  The  urinary  secretion  appears  increased,  and  either 
dark  red  or  black,  as  in  cold-evil,  and  mixed  with  blood.  It  is 
passed,  however,  without  strangury,  even  while  lying. 

If  proper  treatment  be  commenced  and  the  condition  improve, 
then  the  sweat  decreases,  the  anxiety  disappears,  the  increased 
respiration  decreases,  the  vascular  system  becomes  quieter,  the 
urine  lighter  in  color  and  thinner,  the  horse  gets  upon  its  feet, 
though  sometimes  with  difficulty,  and  can  stand  a  short  time. 

The  cause  of  the  disease  lies  in  the  food ;  and  foals,  which,  after 
leaving  off  sucking,  instead  of  obtaining  healthy  food,  get  these 
roots,  have  a  disposition  to  this  disease,  although  they  may  have  a 
plump  appearance  and  sleek  hair. 

As  regards  the  treatment  of  this  difficult  disease,  any  disposition 
must  be  corrected  by  good  air  in  the  stable,  good  clean  bedding, 
nutritious  food  and  wholesome  drink.  Fresh  air  and  good  food  are 
the  best  prophylactics  against  the  disease. 

In  regard  to  the  essential  part  of  the  disease,  the  condition  of 
wind  and  weather  point  to  its  rheumatic  character,  and  from  a  sci- 
entific standpoint  it  may  be  designated  as  a  rheumatico-inflammatory 
affection  of  the  lumbar  and  sacral  portions  of  the  spinal  cord. 

Hence  the  treatment  must  be  directed  accordingly.  Let  warm 
compresses  of  hay  seed  be  made,  place  them  uninterruptedly  upon 


176 


THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 


the  lumbo  sacral  region,  as  well  as  upon  the  flanks,  cover  these  with 
warm  coverings  and  give  internally  Aeon,  lx.,  alternating  it  with 
Nux  vom.  3x.,  10  gtts.  of  each  every  half  hour.  If  there  be  a  highly 
irritated  condition  give  Bell,  instead  of  Nux.  This  treatment  is 
generally  sufficient  and  only  in  exceptional  cases  is  Rhus,  indicated. 
— Zeitschr.jur  Horn.  Thierh.,  1888. 

Constipation. — GalUaine. — Last  month  a  gentleman  living  in  the 
vicinity  of  Berlin  told  me  that  some  of  his  chickens  in  the  coop  ap- 
peared sick  ;  he  had  also  lost  several  of  them.  One  day,  happening 
to  be  there,  I  had  him  show  me  the  chickens,  and  found  that  they 
were  sad  looking,  sitting  in  one  place  and  trying  to  bite  themselves 
with  their  beaks  in  their  hinder  and  upper  parts.  I  learned  that  the 
passages  were  not  normal,  but  there  was  a  kind  of  constipation. 

I  diagnosed  constipation  at  once,  and  confirmed  it  by  the  ex- 
amination. I  had  the  rump  glands  rubbed  with  oil  and  advised  that 
they  should  be  pressed  out  when  they  had  softened  somewhat,  and 
washed  with  Arnica  water.  Internally  I  gave  Merc.  sol.  6,  four  to  five 
globules  four  times  a  day.  Later  Hepar  sulph.  opened  the  glands  in 
about  eight  days,  and  the  chickens  were  all  well  again,   p.  and  p. 

Crown  Joint  Lameness. — Equine. — The  following  case  shows 
how  rapidly  our  homoeopathic  remedies  act  when  rightly  applied 
at  the  proper  time.  Herr  D.  C,  asked  me  some  time  ago  to  examine 
and  treat  one  of  his  horses  which  was  lame.  I  immediately  went  to 
the  stable,  examined  and  diagnosed  a  strain  of  the  crown  joint,  which 
had  probably  originated  from  a  misstep.  (In  any  disease  which  one 
intends  to  cure  by  homoeopathic  remedies,  an  important  principle 
is  to  choose  a  remedy  that  acts  specifically  upon  the  portion  of  the 
body  affected.  In  this  case  the  inferior  joint  of  the  foot  being  affected, 
Ruta  was  the  remedy,  as  it  has  an  action  specially  upon  this  por- 
tion of  the  body.) 

A  circular  linen  bandage  was  moistened  with  a  solution  of  one 
teaspoonful  of  the  tincture  of  Ruta  to  one  litre  of  water  and  wrapped 
about  the  affected  foot,  and  over  that  a  woollen  bandage  was  well 
drawn,  and  orders  were  given  to  change  the  compress  every  two 
hours.  Ruta  lx  was  also  ordered  internally,  ten  drops  every  two 
hours. 

The  next  day  there  was  nothing  to  be  seen  of  the  trouble,  and 
two  days  thereafter  the  animal  was  put  to  its  usual  work. — Zeit.  fur 
Horn.  Thierh. 


Tumor — Equine. — Herr  B ,  in  C ,  near  Berlin,  called  me 

to  examine  and  take  under  treatment  a  horse  suffering  from  a  quite 
large  fungous  growth.     I  found  on  the  tuberosity  of  the  elbow  a 


THE  HOMCEOPATHIG  RECORDER.  177 

tumor  the  Bize  of  two  lists,  having  a  hard  feel  and  hanging  there 
like  a   purse.     As  the  swelling  seemed  intense,  ]   prescribed  Merc. 

sol.  and  later  administered  Coniam  l.\,  ten  drops  daily.  The 
tumor  disappeared  in  the  course  of  a  t'<\\  weeks,  and  thie  from  tin- 
internal  use  of  these  remedies  only. —  II.  Fischi    .  /   !  chr.  fur  Horn. 

Thi»rh.,  L888. 

Colic —  Equine. — Herr  P came  about  a  half  year  ago  for  my 

assistance.  He  has  a  large  number  of  animals  always  on  hand, 
especially  horses.  He  told  me  that  for  the  last  twenty-five  to  thirty 
years  he  had  lost  10  percent,  of  his  horses  from  colic,  and  when  the 
disease  appeared  it  was  invariably  fatal.     He  had  tried  everything, 

had  had  veterinary  Burgeons  of  every  kind  to  try  and  remove  the  dis- 
ease, but  no  one  could  give  any  help,  no  one  could  determine  the 
cause.  No  remedy  had  any  effect,  and  all  the  animals  attacked 
would  perish.  An  acquaintance  of  his  advised  him  to  try  homoe- 
opathy and  gave  him  my  address.  He  asked  for  remedies  and  the 
directions  for  their  use. 

It  is  a  difficult  thing  to  convince  any  one  who  is  accustomed  to 
operate  right  and  left  that  the  small  doses  of  homoeopathy  have  a 
better  action  than  the  drugging  of  other  practices.  I  here  regarded 
it  as  a  duty  to  homoeopathy  to  teach  and  convince,  and  hence  sent 
him  the  necessary  remedies,  recommending  him  to  carefully  follow 
my  directions.  After  about  six  weeks  I  received  the  news  that,  in 
general,  the  attacks  had  passed  over  without  any  difficulty  upon 
applying  the  remedies.  One  day,  shortly  after  this,  I  received  a 
dispatch  :  "  Come  immediately  yourself,  have  colic."  I  left  at  once 
and  found  an  animal  gravely  and  hopelessly  sick  upon  a  litter. 
High  fever,  cessation  of  the  peristaltic  sound,  in  place  of  which  the 
metallic  sound,  already  described  by  me,  was  present,  mucous  mem- 
branes deeply  reddened,  much  clammy  sweat,  inability  to  raise 
itself,  etc.,  all  this  led  me  to  diagnose  occlusion  of  the  intestines. 
The  animal  died  and  the  next  morning  I  confirmed  the  diagnosis. 

In  the  course  of  my  conversation  with  the  gentleman,  whose 
principal  idea  in  calling  me  to  his  place  was  that  the  cause  of  all 
his  losses  might  thereby  be  determined,  I  learned  that  in  the 
course  of  a  year  thirty  horses  had  perished  from  this  disease.  He 
was  quite  apprehensive  on  account  of  these  losses,  and  as  nothing 
seemed  to  check  the  progress  of  the  disease  he  felt  quite  certain  that 
whenever  a  case  was  announced  to  him  death  would  follow.  I  ex- 
amined all  the  horses  and  found  that  all  had  tympanitic  and  dis 
tended  bellies.  The  feeding  was  good  and  regular,  but  the  horses 
received  much  clover-hay,  which  was  first  sprinkled  with  some  salty 
water.  I  knew  the  clover-hay  feeding  must  be  the  cause  of  the  dis- 
tended abdomens  and  resulting  colic  here,  still  another  method  of 
vol.  rv. — 12 


178  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

feeding  was  out  of  the  question  in  this  stable,  and  could  only  be 
accomplished  by  a  gradual  introduction  of  other  fodder;  it  was 
therefore  my  duty  to  prevent  the  formation  of  gas  by  means  of  a 
proper  prophylactic  remedy  that  would  improve  digestion. 

In  hydrochloric  acid  we  have  such  a  remedy,  and  my  experience 
prompted  me  to  direct  that  to  every  six  pails  of  water  given  the 
animals  each  evening,  one  tablespoonful  of  acid  muriaticum  should 
be  added,  and  advised,  in  case  an  attack  should  come  on,  to  use 
the  proper  homoeopathic  remedies  in  due  time.'  On  the  18th  day 
of  October  I  received  the  following :  u  Dear  doctor,  business  has 
prevented  my  reporting  to  you.  Since  you  were  here  the  horses 
have  received  the  necessary  amount  of  muriatic  acid,  and,  appar- 
ently, with  a  good  result.  During  the  first  fourteen  days  there  were 
several  cases  of  colic,  relieved,  however,  by  the  homoeopathic  reme- 
dies which  seemed  indicated,  in  one  to  one  and  a  half  hours.  From 
that  time  I  have  been  spared  fortunately.  Hence  I  may  suppose 
that  the  muriatic  acid  has  been  efficacious,  and  I  live  in  the  hope 
that  through  your  prescriptions  I  have  obtained  remedies  which 
will  in  the  future  preserve  me  from  great  losses." — H.  Fischer, 
Zeitschr.  fur  Horn.  Thierh.,  1888. 

Keratitis — Canine. — Dogs  are  often  affected  with  an  inflamma- 
tion of  the  eyes,  accompanied  by  dread  of  light,  swelling  of  the 
eyelids,  quite  an  amount  of  pain,  temperature  elevated  and  lach- 
rymation.  Upon  the  eyes  being  opened  they  become  suffused  with 
tears,  and  on  the  transparent  cornea  reddish  blue  spots  are  visible, 
often  wholly  covering  it;  at  the  same  time  small  places  with  round 
borders  and  of  the  size  of  a  pin's  head  to  that  of  a  lentil.  As  there 
is  an  itching  the  animals  generally  rub  the  eye  affected  and  thus 
aggravate  the  trouble.  In  such  cases  I  have  the  eyes  washed  with 
Euphrasia  (40  gtts.  tincture  Euphrasia  to  150  grammes  of  luke- 
warm water)  three  times  daily.  Internally  I  give  Sulph.  lx,  as 
much  as  will  sta}'  upon  the  point  of  a  knife,  with  Euph.  soL  3x,  10 
gtts.,  every  two  hours,  and  have,  even  in  the  worst  cases,  cured  the 
disease. — H.  Fischer,  Zeitschr.  far  Horn.  Thierh. 

Poll-Evil— Equine.— By  Otto  von  Lang,  V.  M.  D.,  Salem,  N.  J. 
This  inflammatory  process,  set  up  in  the  muscles  and  skin  in  the 
region  of  the  atlas,  runs  on  to  the  suppurative  stage,  the  adjacent 
structures  gradually  becoming  affected,  the  ligamentum  nuchas  being 
frequently  involved.  As  there  is  little  vitality  in  the  diseased  struc- 
tures, pus  may  burrow  down  between  the  muscles  until  it  reaches 
and  causes  disease  of  the  bones.  This  treacherous  disease  has  been 
and  will  be  one  of  the  most  intractable  kinds.  Under  the  methods  of 
treatment  of  the  old  school  I  never  cured  a  case  in  less  than  three 


THE  HOMKEOPATHIC  RECORDER.  179 

months,  the  treatment  being  the   use  of  klu  tons,  strong 

antiseptic  injections,  etc 
On  the  5th  of  .January  lasl  I  was  called  to  see  a  mule  owned  by 

Mr.  H .     On  examination  1   found  a  swelling  extending  from 

the  occiput  to  the  middle  of  the  atlas.     The  swelling  was  abo 
inches  in  height  and  ('»  Inches  in  width.     Diagnosing  it  poll-evil 
I  ordered  the  b welling  bathed  frequently  mih  Ami*  a  1  part,  water 
10  parts,  and  prescribed  Am  3Qx,  ten  peffl  te,  nighJ 

and  morning.  January  10th  the  swelling  was  found  reduced,  the 
animal  looking  much  better  and  the  appetite  returned.  Continued 
the  treatment.  January  15th,  I  found  the  animal  at  has  regular 
duties,  entirely  cured.     (Communicated.) 

Pharyngeal    Paresis — Equine. — By  otto    ■von    Lang,  V.M.I).. 

Salem,  X.  J.  A  cult,  for  the  last  eight  months  under  treatment  by 
three  veterinarians  for  the  following  symptoms,  was  finally  sent  to 
the  Veterinary  Department  of  the  University  of  Philadelphia,  and 

returned  from  there  worse  than  before.  Upon  examination  I  found 
a  cough,  attended  with  a  fetid  discharge  from  the  nostrils,  very 
difficult  swallowing  of  both  food  and  drink,  which,  in  part,  returned 
through  the  nostrils,  and  other  minor  signs  of  a  partial  paralysis  of 
the  pharynx.  I  ordered  one  dose  of  Kali  bich.  6x,  momimr  and 
evening,  and  on  the  following  day  Lachesis  30x,  to  be  given  twice  a 
day  for  a  week.  At  the  end  of  that  period  I  found  the  animal 
doing  astonishingly  well,  and  ordered  Lachesis,  200x,  ten  pellets  dry 
upon  the  tongue,  once  in  two  day-s.  This  treatment  was  followed 
in  six  days  by  a  perfect  cure-     (Communicated.) 


BOOK  REVIEWS. 


Handbook  of  Materia  Medica  and  Therapeutics.  Bv  Timo- 
thy Field  Allen,  A.M.,  M.D.,  LL.D.,  Professor  of  "Materia 
Medica  and  Therapeutics  in  the  New  York  Homoeopathic  Medi- 
cal College  and  Hospital,  etc.,  etc.,  etc,  Philadelphia :  F.  E. 
Boericke.     Quarto.     Pp.  1163. 

It  is  with  feelings  of  both  pride  and  pleasure  that  we  find  our- 
selves called  upon  to  notice  this  elegant  publication  ;  pride  in  the 
indefatigable  author,  the  painstaking  publisher,  and  the  honorable 
practice  to  which  both  belong,  and  pleasure  in  the  mere  leafing 
over  of  a  book  so  honestly  bound  and  clearly  printed. 

Dr.  Allen  gives  us  with  his  inimitably  characteristic  and  careful 
grouping  the  mainly  necessary  symptoms  of  388  drugs,  including 
many  of  the  newer  ones,  like  Antipyrin,  Calotropis,  Astragalus  menz.) 


180  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDER. 

Convallaria,  Homarus,  Epiphegus,  Onosmodium,  Oxytropis,  Strophanthus, 
the  Viburnums,  etc.  In  addition  to  the  symptomatology,  he  gives 
under  each  drug  its  origin  and  method  of  preparation ;  its  general 
action  and  relationship  ;  its  conditions  of  aggravation  and  ameliora- 
tion, and  many  valuable  clinical  observations  in  which  analogous 
remedies  are  freely  given  in  parentheses. 

Any  physician  who  will  take  this  work  by  the  back,  in  his  left 
hand,  throw  it  open,  and  read  twenty  lines  at  random,  will  find 
sufficient  recommendation  for  its  purchase.  Its  extreme  flexibility 
of  binding,  fine  mobile  linen  paper,  virginity  of  type,  and  clear  in- 
dexial  spacing  will  rank  it  instantly  as  an  excellent  piece  of  work- 
manship ;  while  the  conciseness  of  text,  clinical  references,  and  ex- 
cellent arrangement  will  prove  it  in  a  few  moments'  examination  to 
be  in  verity  what  it  claims  to  be— a  handbook  of  materia  medica. 

Both  the  author  and  publisher  should  receive  the  thanks  of  the 
profession  through  the  large  and  rapid  sale  which  the  work  so 
richly  merits. 

Lectures  on  Diseases  of  the  Heart  with  a  Materia  Medica 
of  the  New  Heart  Remedies.  By  Edwin  M.  Hale,  M.D. 
Third  edition.     Philadelphia,  1889,  F.'  E.  Boericke.     Pp.  478. 

In  addition  to  the  206  pages  of  lectures,  so  well  known  to  the 
profession  through  the  publication  of  the  second  edition  of  this 
work  six  years  ago,  there  have  been  added  in  this  as  many  pi 
more  of  excellent  matter.  The  materia  medica  of  over  twenty  of 
our  newer  remedies,  such  as  Cactus,  Strophanthus,  Adonis,  Conval- 
laria and  others,  was  needed,  and  now  it  is  given  us  in  a  very 
thorough  manner  in  over  100  pages  of  the  work  ;  and  to  this  is  added 
about  70  pages  of  excellently  compiled  and  well  indexed  repertory 
by  Dr.  Edward  R.  Snader.  This  repertory  covers  over  two  hundred 
remedies.  The  work  concludes  with  nine  essays  on  heart  affec- 
tions, among  which  are  to  be  found  the  author's  paper  on  "  The 
Influence  of  the  Mind  over  the  Heart;"  Prof.  J.  W.  Dowling's 
"  Is  the  American  Heart  Wearing  Out ;  "  and  Dr.  Snader's  "Effects 
of  Tobacco  on  the  Heart."  This  work  comes  before  the  profession 
at  a  time  when  it  is  greatly  needed,  and  serves  to  enrich  our  too 
scant  literature  of  homoeopathic  practice. 


The  Cincinnati  Inquirer  gives  in  its  issue  of  May  19th  the  full 
text  of  Dr.  Wm.  B.  Clarke's  paper  on  "  The  Verification  of  Death," 
as  read  before  the  Indiana  State  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society,  at 
its  annual  meeting  in  Indianapolis  this  year.  The  paper  gives  the 
following  reason  for  publishing  the  essay  in  full :  "  The  essay  is 
written  in  a  style  easily  understood  by  the  general  public,  for  which 
it  possesses  deep  interest." 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT. 

ANNOUNCEMENT. 

Messrs.  Boericke  A:  Tafel  have  added  another  completely  equipped 
pharmacy  to  their  various  establishments,  having  opened  one,  on 
the  20th  of  June,  at  416  Nicollet  Ave.,  Minneapolis,  Minn.  The 
new  comer,  as  is  the  case  with  the  others,  will  be  Bupplied  from  the 
home  establishment,  1011  Arch  St,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  the 
manager  will  be  able  to  devote  his  entire  time  to  the  wants  of 
patrons.  The  Minneapolis  pharmacy  will  he  a  great  convenient 
physicians  of  all  schools  in  the  country  naturally  tributary  to  that 
city,  in  the  saving  of  time  and  cost  of  transportation  ;  we  say  "  of  all 
schools"  because,  owing  to  the  undoubted  superiority  of  homoeo- 
pathic fresh  plant  tinctures  and  the  various  forms  of  "tablets' 
produced  by  this  house,  the  demand  for  them  is  very  large,  and 
growing,  from  physicians  outside  of  the  homoeopathic  school!  A 
Price  ( hirreai  and  ( 'atolomie  of  140  pages  will  be  mailed  to  physicians 
on  request. 

We  are  indebted  to  Dr.  Marx,  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture, 
Washington,  D.C.,  for  the  illustrations  of  the  Latrodectus  spiders 
accompanying  Dr.  Jones'  interesting  paper  in  this  number  of  the 
Recorder. 

Zinc  Poisoning. — Galvanized  iron  water-pipes  and  pumps  are 
largely  used  throughout  the  United  States,  and  are  recommended 
by  architects,  builders,  and  engineers,  yet  there  can  be  but  little 
doubt  that  this  general  use  is  the  cause  of  many  mysterious  caseg 
of  illness  and  death.  Dr.  J.  Heber  Smith's  experience,  as  given  in 
the  following,  reprinted  from  the  last  Transactions,  is  worthy  of  careful 
study  by  all  physicians : 

u  In  1870  the  town  of  Melrose,  Massachusetts,  had  recently  adopted 
for  its  connecting  service-pipe,  from  the  water-mains  to  the  houses, 
an  iron  pipe  lined  with  a  thin  and  unstable  smearing  of  zinc,  gal- 
vanized upon  the  interior,  and  in  most  instances,  where  tested,  found 
to  have  resisted  the  high  pressure  of  the  head  of  water  only  about 
six  months  before  being  worn  off  (along  with  [(articles  of  iron),  to 
be  found  in  large  and  dangerous  amounts  in  the  ordinary  drinking 
water  of  this  community. 

"For  several  months  that  year,  Dr.  Smith  had  been  noticing  a 
marked  congruity  of  certain  peculiar  nervous  symptoms  in  a  few 
of  his  patients,  mostly  young  children  and  delicate  women,  as  well 
as,  in  several  instances,  in  strong  men.  One  family  in  particular 
offered  in  several  of  its  members  almost  a  complete  picture  of  this, 


182"  THE  HOMCEOPA  THIC  BECOBDEB. 

to  him,  novel  endemic.  It  was  the  household  of  a  prominent  and 
wealthy  citizen  thus  signally  afflicted,  and  for  special  reasons  which 
will  appear.  This  gentleman  was  living  high  above  the  town,  and 
had,  therefore,  constructed  a  reservoir  of  great  capacity,  lined  with 
galvanized  iron;  this  he  had  connected  with  a  force-pump  in  his 
house  by  seventy  feet  of  one  and  one-half  inch  pipe  of  the  same 
material. 

"  In  November,  1870,  his  two*  daughters  were  seized  with  a  per- 
sistent angina  faucium,  with  ulceration  of  the  pharynx  and  tonsils. 
The  ulcers-  were  round,  sharply  defined,,  with  red  everted  edges ; 
they  gradually  coalesced.  They  were  filled  with  light  yellow  pus, 
adherent  to  the  base.  While  convalescing,  as  was  hoped,  from  her 
puzzling  throat  difficulty,  the  younger  daughter,  aged  five  and  one- 
half  years,  began  to  present  indication's  of  unusual  and  alarming 
derangement  of  the  nervous  centres.  On  waking  in  the  morning, 
for  about  ten  days,  there  was  entire  inability  to  move  the  head  and 
extremities,  with  general  hyperesthesia.  After  about  an  hour  of 
rubbing  and  attention,  this  paralytic  state  would  improve  sufficiently 
to-  permit  walking,,  but  with  a  staggering,  uncertain  gait,  and  a  ten- 
dency to  fall  to  the  left.  The  eyes  had  an  outward  cast ;  the  pupils 
alternately  dilated  and  contracted,  but  usually  dilated ;  falling  of 
the  upper  lids  and  oedema  of  the  lower  ;  objects  appeared  elongated, 
and  at  times  double  ;  expression  vacant  and  apathetic,  or  irritable; 
constriction  and  spasm  of  the  oesophagus  during  deglutition  ;  accu- 
mulation of  mucus  in  the  larynx  and  posterior  nares,  with  obstruc- 
tion of  both  nostrils,  and  with  nasal  speech.  Then,  suddenly,  for 
twenty-four  hours,,  every  appearance  of  violent  spasmodic  croup, 
with  difficult  swallowing,  and  it  was  feared  that  the  child  would 
choke,  so  alarming  were  the  indications  of  threatening  local  pa- 
ralysis. Oelsemium  quickly  relieved  these  symptoms,  and  was  given 
in  the  first  decimal  dilution  on  the  evening  of  the  second  day,  pre- 
venting any  recurrence  thereafter  of  croup..  There  continued,  how- 
ever, a  train  of  obstinate  conditions  wholly  resisting  treatment  for 
many  days,  such  as  eructations  \  loss  of  appetite ;  vomiting  of  bile 
or  mucus  \  offensive  diarrhoea,  alternating  with  constipation ;  dimin- 
ished secretion  of  urine,  and,  at  one  period,,  suppression  for  a  consid- 
erable period.  The  pulse,  wiry  and  irregular,,  averaged  one  hundred 
and  twelve  a  minute  ;  feverish  flushes  of  heat,  with  heightening  of 
color  from  the  cervical  region  upwards  and  forwards,  attended  with 
excitement  and  crying  out  to  be  "  fanned,"  and  some  thirst ;  this  was 
a  constant  feature  of  the  child's  evening  condition  for  several  weeks. 
Her  sleep  was  agitated  and  unrefreshing,  with  occasional  night- 
sweats.  In  addition  to  the  flushes  at  evening  she  presented  the 
appearance  of  utter  inability  to  support  the  head.  Great  emaciation ; 
cachectic  look  ;  complexion,  bluish-white. 


PUBLISHEHS'  DEPARTMENT.  183 

"  On  the  15th  of  I  feceraber,  from  the  careful  comparison  and  cor- 
respondence of  the  symptoms  with  our  records  of  zinc-pathogenesy, 
the  doctor  concluded  to  tr<  at  the  case  as  one  of  metallic  poisoning, 
and  the  metal  zinc  was  believed  to  be  the  one  in  fault.  After  a  careful 
examination  of  the  water  service,  and  anexpeii  examination,  made 
several  days  previously  by  two  of  the  mosl  reputable  chemical  ex« 
I »<  its  in  Boston,  Drs.  Charles  T.  Jackson  and  James  R.  Nichols,  both 
of  these  gentlemen  reported  on  the  23d  of  December  that  'the 
amount  of  zinc  oxide  found  in  the  water  from  some  unknown 
source,  submitted  to  them  was  large,  and  varying  in  different  sam- 
ples from  six  to  twenty  grains  to  the  gallon,  and  rendering  the 
water,  from  whatever  source,  unfit  for  drinking  and  dangerous  to 
health.' 

u  This  opinion  of  the  chemical  experts  received  the  purchased 
sneers  of  allopathic  savants  and  medical  journals  friendly  to  the 
galvanized  pipe  industry,  and  one  prominent  Boston  paper  refused 
to  admit  any  allusion  to  these  incidents  and  items  of  intelligence, 
because  '  the  Company  advertised  in  its  columns.' 

"  On  the  day  when  the  diagnosis  became  a  fixed  fact  in  the  doc- 
tor's mind  as  zinc-poisoning,  the  only  son,  a  very  delicate,  strumous 
child  of  thirteen,  was  indisposed  from  what  had  been  supposed  a 
simple  cold.  On  examination,  he  presented  an  emaciated,  feeble 
appearance,  the  face  wrinkled  and  of  the  same  bluish-white  as  his 
younger  sister.  His  pulse  was  found  to  average  but  forty  a  minute, 
and  was  quite  intermittent.  There  was  a  dry  spasmodic  cough  and 
slight  epigastric  tenderness  on  gentle  pressure,  but  no  other  signs 
of  local  inflammation.  The  following  day  he  was  no  better,  though 
found  lying  upon  the  sofa  dressed.  Complained  of  fleeting  pains 
in  the  hypogastrium  on  rising  from  a  recumbent  position  ;  continual 
nausea ;  entire  loss  of  appetite,  the  sight  or  smell  of  food  exciting 
extreme  disgust.  Vomited  mucus  several  times  the  following  night. 
On  the  fourth  morning,  vomiting  of  bile  and  indications  of  extreme 
nausea,  but  none  of  the  usual  concomitants  of  gastritis,  and  he  did 
not  complain  upon  pressure  over  the  epigastrium  or  abdomen. 
Pallor  around  the  mouth,  and  contraction  of  the  upper  lip.  Only 
milk  was  retained,  of  which  an  ounce  was  given  at  intervals.  There 
was  entire  absence  of  pain  or  complaint  to  the  end.  He  vomited 
again  that  evening,  and  again  the  following  morning,  but  passed  a 
quiet  night  in  sleep.  The  following  evening  vomited  a  brown  fluid 
once  like  coffee-grounds  ;  pulse,  60 ;  face  a  little  flushed  ;  no  delirium 
or  stupor.  The  next  morning  he  waked  just  before  light  with  a  call 
to  stool,  and  after  passing  about  a  gill  of  disorganized  blood  sank 
into  a  swoon,  and  died  before  help  could  arrive. 

"An  autopsy,  conducted  by  several  members  of  this  body,  at 
which  twTo  physicians  of  the  old  school  were  present  by  courtesy,  re- 


184  THE  HOMCEOPATHIG  RECORDER. 

suited  in  the  unanimous  verdict  that  death  had  resulted  from  heart 
failure  from  zinc-poisoning.  The  stomach  showed  indications  of 
inflammation  prior  to  death,  being  extensively  injected,  and  evi- 
dencing traces  of  sanguineous  exhalation. 

"The  following  month  the  little  sister,  though  partially  paralyzed 
in  her  legs,  was  fast  regaining  strength  and  health,  and  the  follow- 
ing July  she  was  entirely  restored.  She  is  now  living  and  in  good 
health.  The  entire  family  suffered  in  varying  degrees,  according  to 
previous  health  and  vigor.  The  symptoms  of  these,  and  of  some 
dozen  or  more  in  other  parts  of  the  town,  may  be  summarized  for 
brevity's  sake  before  closing,  from  notes  taken  for  a  period  of  about 
six  months,  until  the  obnoxious  pipes  were  removed  from  the  town 
by  order  of  the  authorities,  soon  after  which  there  was  a  gradual 
subsidence  of  the  symptoms  attributed  to  zinc,  and,  as  might  be 
expected,  no  such  endemic  has  since  reappeared  in  that  community. 
The  homoeopathic  method  of  minutely  studying  drug  action,  backed 
as  it  had  been  in  this  instance  by  expert  analysis,  battled  with  selfish 
interests,  allopathic  ridicule  and  popular  ignorance,  and  the  inertia 
of  corporate  authority,  and  drove  the  galvanized  pipes  from  that 
neighborhood  forever.  There  was  that  amount  of  fight  in  one 
youthful  representative  of  homoeopathy  in  an  obscure  village,  when 
sure  of  his  ground,  against  them  all.  The  following  presents  a  sum- 
mary of  the  observed  symptoms  : 

"  Constant,  dull,  frontal  headache ;  headache  extending  from  the 
occiput  to  the  eyes;  frequent  attacks  of  vertigo,  preceded  by  sharp 
pressure  at  the  root  of  the  nose,  and  a  sense  of  drawing  together  of 
the  eyes  as  if  by  a  cord,  followed  immediately  by  offensive  nausea, 
faintness,  and  trembling  of  the  hands,  as  after  a  wine  debauch  ;  sen- 
sation of  general  trembling  without  trembling,  as  from  poisoning 
by  sulphuric  acid ;  intense  pain  in  the  brain,  almost  maddening, 
followed  by  excessive  vomiting,  attacks  coming  on  suddenly  ;  vom- 
iting of  clear  mucus,  or,  more  rarely,  of  bile ;  vomiting  attended 
with  trembling,  as  after  alcoholic  poisoning  ;  ptosis ;  itching  and 
stitching  in  the  inner  canthi,  with  sudden  cloudiness  of  sight ;  heavy 
pressure  on  the  eyes;  constriction  and  spasm  of  the  throat;  acute 
darting  pains  through  all  the  joints,  especially  the  ankles,  knees,  and 
elbows,  with  numbness  of  the  adjacent  parts,  and  an  exhausted, 
paralyzed  sensation  in  the  muscles  of  the  upper  arms  and  thighs, 
worse  on  the  right  side;  trembling  of  the  feet  and  difficulty  of 
raising  them,  and  frequent  stumbling ;  excessive  nervous  moving 
about  of  the  feet  in  bed  for  hours  at  night,  even  when  asleep ;  nightly 
itching  of  the  soles  of  the  feet,  the  calves  and  thighs,  perfectly  in- 
tolerable ;  general  formication,  as  if  covered  with  lice  for  weeks,  as 
if  under  the  skin,  relieved  only  by  rubbing  with  the  balls  of  the 
fingers  ;  deathly  sinking  at  the  stomach  for  hours  after  eating  any- 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT.  185 

thing  acid  ;  frequent  fainting,  Beveral  limes  daily,  followed  by  pros- 
tration and  numbness  of  different  parts  of  the  body;  Bevere  Btab- 
bing  ])ains  in  the  abdomen,  without  diarrhoea  or  constipation,  con- 
tinuing Beveral  hours,  and  returning  periodically  every  seven  days, 
or  once  in  three  weeks. 

"  If  wine  were  tried  even  in  minute  quantities,  as  a  gentle  tonic, 
it  induced  nausea,  headache,  and  pressure  at  the  occiput,  with  a 
vertiginous  feeling  out  of  proportion  to  the  amount  drank,  confirm- 
ing the  well-known  aggravation  of  symptoms  from  wine,  recorded 
in  the  pathogenesis  of  zinc. 

"  The  principal  remedies  used,  in  the  order  of  their  importance  in 
all  these  cases,  were  GeUemium:  Qimicifuga^  Agaricus,  Conium^  Hette- 
borus,  and  Causticum. 

"The  skin  symptoms  of  these  cases  interested  him  greatly,  and 
had  been  incidental  in  leading  him  to  the  extensive  use  he  had  made, 
in  the  past  fifteen  years,  of  Zincum  metallicum,  3x  trit.in  eczema.  He 
believed  it  worth  any  twenty  other  remedies  in  this  intractable  affec- 
tion, and  it  is  its  homoeopathicity  to  eczema  that  has  brought  the 
ungumtum  zinci  oxidi  of  the  old  school  into  such  wide  and  enduring 
favor.  You  will  often  meet  these  cases  of  eczema  following  mental 
shocks  or  profound  nervous  exhaustion,  in  the  young  and  aged  alike, 
with  whom  there  has  been  a  withdrawing  of  the  vital  energies  from 
the  muscles  to  the  nerve-centres,  simulating  a  case  of  chronic  grande 
mal,  or  the  non-appearance  of  an  acute  exanthem. 

"  He  employs  Zinc  in  the  beginning  of  a  dangerous  invasion  of 
scarlet  fever,  or  other  acute  exanthem,  when  there  is  entire  inability, 
through  some  unaccountable  central  nervous  weakness,  to  throw  the 
disease  to  the  surface  ;  the  skin  is  bluish-white  and  cool  at  the  ex- 
tremities, though  the  axillary  temperature  may  be  alarmingly 
exalted,  the  pulse  vanishing  and  irregular,  or  stow  and  dichrotic ; 
indeed,  all  the  symptoms  recognizable  are  indicative  of  abnominal 
and  basilar  congestion. 

"  Here  Zinc  is  truly  homoeopathic,  and  may  restore  the  circulation 
to  the  periphery,  in  connection  with  such  rational  adjuvants  as  the 
warm  baths,  hot-pack,  the  vapor-bath,  and  all  other  means  of  in- 
ducing free  perspiration,  in  which  the  true  Zinc  patient  is,  if  unaided, 
as  though  already  dead. 

"One  point  mentioned  by  Dr.  Allen  this  evening  interested  him, 
namely,  the  action  of  Zinc  as  a  dangerous  paralyzer  of  the  nerves 
of  the  throat,  '  The  expectoration  must  be  swallowed  again  '  was  a 
marked  condition  in  his  cases  of  poisoning.  This  feature  was  par- 
tially relieved  by  Causticum.  Sambucus  is  credited  with  this  symp- 
tom, as  well,  likewise,  as  of  inducing  and  curing  the  most  dangerous 
laryngismus.  These  symptoms,  likewise,  belong  to  Iodine  and  its 
salt,  as  well  as  to  Spongia,  which  is  Iodine. 


186  THE  H0M(E0PATH1C  BECOBDER. 

"  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  no  histological  examination  followed 
the  necropsy  in  this  instance,  but  it  is  to  be  inferred  from  the  general 
history  of  these  cases  that  never  again,  perhaps,  will  a  more  thorough 
and  exhaustive  proving  of  Zinc  be  made  under  circumstances  per- 
mitting prolonged  expert  examination,  and  these  results,  so  far  as 
their  mere  statement,  may  be  almost  considered  final. 

"  But  it  is  to  the  physiological  interpretation  of  these  reflexes  that 
the  student  of  the  future  must  bend  his  attention  if  he  would  ever 
hope  to  apply  this  remedy  with  increased  precision  to  the  sick." 

Cuphear  Viscossissima. — In  Xo.  6,  vol.  hi.,  of  the  Recorder, 
the  remarkable  efficacy  of  this  remedy  has  been  described  in  cholera 
infantum,  Dr.  Roth  giving  a  number  of  his  clinical  cases  in  support 
of  his  testimony. 

In  October,  1888,  in  our  wanderings  along  the  South  Mountains 
near  Wernersville,  Pa.,  in  company  with  our  botanist,  he  bent  down 
and  plucking  a  plant  handed  it  with  the  remark,  "  I  did  not  think 
Cuphea  grew  around  here."  Knowing  that  a  farmer's  baby  in  the 
immediate  neighborhood  had  been  afflicted  all  summer  with  cholera 
infantum,  and  although  under  the  treatment  of  a  scholarly  and  skil- 
ful allopath  had  just  been  kept  alive,  and  though  it  was  about  the 
middle  of  October  it  seemed  to  be  as  puny  as  ever,  this  plant  was 
handed  to  its  mother  with  the  direction  to  steep  a  small  twig  in  a 
cupful  of  hot  water  and  give  baby  a  teaspoonful  every  few  hours. 
The  effect  was  almost  instantaneous,  and  when  the  babe  was  seen 
ten  days  after,  it  was  content  and  on  the  high  road  to  a  full  re- 
covery. T. 

New  Burnett  Books. — Two  new  books  from  Dr.  J.  Compton 
Burnett's  pen  and  a  new  edition  of  a  third  one  will  be  good  news  to 
the  many  admirers  of  this  vigorous  writer.  The  newest  is  On 
Neuralgia:  Its  Causes  and  its  Remedies,  dedicated  u  to  the  manufac- 
turers of  morphenomaniacs,  in  the  small  hope  that  its  study  may 
lessen  the  number  of  hypodermic  syringes  in  active  service."  Pub- 
lished in  London,  1889.  Cloth,  and  130  pages.  The  doctor  begins 
in  this  manner :  ':  If  there  is  anything  in  this  earth-life  of  ours 
that  is  hard  to  bear,  surely  it  is  neuralgia.  And  if  there  is  any- 
thing in  this  world  that  can  cure — I  do  not  mean  relieve,  lull,  dull, 
deaden,  or  kill,  but  cure,  really  cure  neuralgia,  that  thing  is  homoe- 
opathy." The  net  price  of  the  book  to  physicians,  including  postage, 
85  cents. 

The  next  work  is  Tumors  of  the  Breast  and  their  Treatment  and  Cure 
by  Medicines.  London.  1888.  213  pages.  Dr.  Burnett  believes  in 
treating  tumors  "  by  medicines  "  and  has  put  forth  this  little  work 
as   a   protest  against   "  our  knife  men,  our   surgical   carpenters." 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT.  187 

u  I  declare  that  tfo  knife  is  no  cun  for  tumor*,  and  thai  tumors  can  be 
cured  by  1 1  km  1  i d  1  m  ^. "    The  work  is  largely  composed  of  details  of 
cases  that  have  been  si)  cured  and  the  treatment  employed  in  thes< 
cases.     Net  price  of  hook  by  mail,  $1.20. 

A  new  edition,  the  third,  of  Dr.  Burnett's  Disease*  of  the  Vein*  cmd 
their  Treatment  by  Medicine,  is  out.  This  book  is  the  same  size  as  the 
two  foregoing.  It  has  been  carefully  revised  and  some  new  matter 
added.  Number  of  pages  171.  Net  price  by  mail,  $1.20.  The  first 
edition  was  published  in  London,  L881. 

Dr.  Timothy  F.  Allen's  great  work,  .1  Handbookof  Materia  Med- 
ico and  Homoeopathic  Therapeutics,  is  completed  and  ready  for  deliver}'. 
In  this  day  of  many-sized  books  the  best  description  as  to  size  is  that 
which  gives  exact  figures.  The  pages  of  the  new  Materia  Medica  are 
quarto  and  measure  11. 1  inches  by  8:f,  and  number  1165.  The 
binding  is  full  sheep  and  well  done,  and  the  latter  also  applies  to  the 
printing  altogether.  The  number  of  remedies  treated  is  388.  The 
price  is  $12  net  to  physicians  with  expresage  extra.  Orders  sent  to 
Boericke  &  Tafel  will  be  promptly  filled.  May  also  be  had  in  fine 
half-morocco  at  $12.50. 

Arsenic  as  a  Prophylactic  in  Hydrophobia. — The  following 
appeared  in  the  Oorrespondenz  Blatt  in  1873,  and,  we  think,  is  worthy 
of  reprint : 

"  Dr.  Ernest  Guison,  in  an  inaugural  dissertation  presented  to  the 
faculty  of  Berne,  states,  though  he  has  arrived  at  no  positive  con- 
clusion, he  believes  that  as  in  cholera  the  germ  of  the  contagion  of 
rabies  is  formed  by  one  of  the  lower  fungi.  The  period  of  incuba- 
tion extends,  upon  an  average,  over  five  or  six  weeks.  The  poison 
is  then  absorbed,  spreads  itself  through  the  body  by  means  of  the 
circulation,  and  then  multiplies  indefinitely,  producing  ultimately 
irritation  of  the  nervous  centres,  and  especially  of  the  medulla 
oblongata.  Dr.  Guison  then  enters  into  the  prophylactic  treatment 
of  the  disease  by  means  of  Arsenic,  and  gives  the  following  clinical 
observations:  '  A  man  was  bitten  on  the  24th  of  June  by  a  mad  dog 
in  the  hand  ;  a  girl  was  bitten  at  the  same  time,  and  shortly  after 
died  from  hydrophobia.  Two  days  after  the  accident,  the  man 
applied  to  Dr.  Guison's  father,  who  cauterized  the  wound  deeply 
with  potash,  and  kept  it  open  with  cantharides.  Minute  doses 
of  Belladonna  were  given  morning  and  evening  up  to  the  18th  of 
July,  when  the  patient  had  rigors  and  pains  in  the  body.  From 
this  time  up  to  the  26th  of  July,  the  symptoms  of  hydrophobia 
became  gradually  more  and  more  expressed,  in  spite  of  repeated 
venesections,  and  the  use  of  calomel  and  opium.  At  this  time,  how- 
ever, small  doses  of  arseniate  of  soda  were  prescribed  every  four 


188  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORD ER. 

hours  (0.003  of  a  gramme)  ;  on  the  29th  marked  amelioration  of  the 
symptoms  was  observed,  which  continued  until  the  20th,  all  danger 
had  passed,  and  complete  recovery  took  place.' 

"  Dr.  Guison  gives  another  case,  in  which  a  rabid  dog,  between  the 
7th  and  9th  of  June,  bit  thirteen  persons  in  the  various  towns  of  the 
Canton  of  Freiburg.  All  were  recommended  to  be  treated  with  one- 
twentieth  of  a  grain  (equal  to  five  grains  of  the  one-hundreth,  or 
one-half  a  grain  of  the  one-tenth  trituration)  of  arsenic,  morning  and 
evening,  as  a  prophylactic  measure. 

u  Eight  submitted  to  this  prophylactic  treatment,  and  none  were 
affected.  Four  declined,  or  were  not  allowed  to  take  the  arsenic. 
Of  these  four,  two  remained  unaffected  and  two  died.  One  began  the 
arsenic  treatment,  but  speedily  left  off.  She  was  attacked,  but  at  a 
much  later  period,  and  died.  Dr.  Guison  recommends  not  only  the 
internal  employment  of  the  arsenic,  but  that  the  wound  should  be 
dressed  with  it." 

Hensel's  Tonicum. — I  can  give  HenseVs  Tonicum,  a  most  cordial 
recommendation  for  patients  in  whom  iron  is  indicated,  yet  cannot 
take  other  preparations  from  the  nauseous  taste,  or  inability  of 
stomach  to  retain  them.  I  have  given  HenseVs  Tonicum  a  thorough 
trial  in  a  variety  of  cases.  One  case  in  particular  last  winter  of  an 
aged  lady  of  ninety-two  }7ears,  suffering  from  anaemia,  general  de- 
bility, etc.  One  foot  was  (so  to  speak)  already  in  the  grave,  and  if 
the  truth  must  be  told,  an  undertaker  had  been  engaged  to  take  care 
of  the  other  one ;  I  gave  homoeopathic  remedies  faithfully,  and 
allopathic  tonics,  etc.,  until  I  thought  she  would  die  an}^way.  Then 
I  put  her  upon  HenseVs  Tonicum  and  improvement  set  in.  She 
crawled  back  from  the  cemetery,  is  now  up  and  around  the  house 
paralyzing  three  meals  a  day.  I  consider  it  very  useful  to  me  in  my 
practice.  Yours  truly, 


H.  E.  Carter,  M.D 


Falls  Village,  Conn.,  June  4,  1889. 


Ashland,  O.,  May  19,  1889. 
Messrs  Boericke  &  Tafel. 

Sirs  :  Inclosed  find  $3.00  for  which  please  send  by  express  two 
12  ounce  bottles  of  HenseVs  Tonicum  as  soon  as  possible.  Have  tried 
the  sample  with  gratifying  results.  Yours, 

J.  P.  Stober,  M.D. 

Farrington's  Clinical  Materia  Medica. — Very  few  homoeo- 
pathic medical  works  have  had  so  large  a  sale  as  this  one,  or  taken 
at  once  so  high  a  place  in  our  literature.  This  could  not  have  been 
the  case  on  the  mere  strength  of  a  man's  reputation  ;  that  may  give 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT.  189 

a  book  an  ephemeral  ootoriety,  bul  without  intrinsic  merits  it  soon 
lapses  into  the  upper  shelves  and  thence  to  forgetfulness.  That 
Farrington's  work  has  intrinsic  merits  is  proved,  to  book  dealers, at 
Least,  by  the  steady  call  for  it ;  to  the  lover  of  literature,  who,  start- 
ing at  the  introduction,  is  led  on  with  all  the  fascination  that  pertains 
to  a  hook  that  has  something  new  in  it,  which  something  is  clothed 
in  the  words  that  constitute  that  undefinable  thing  we  call  "good 
style/'  and  to  the  practical  man,  inasmuch  as  its  study  gives  him  a 
grasp  of  his  profession  and  his  tools,  which  he  did  not  have  before. 

Yet.  tor  all  this,  there'  is  hardly  a  noteworthy  hook  published  that  18 
more  difficult  to  quote  from,  not  from  lack  of  substance,  hut  when 
one  starts  a  quotation  he  can  find  no  place  to  leave  off  without  doing 
violence  to  his  sense  of  literary  propriety.  For  instance,  we  open  at 
the  chapter,  or  more  properly,  perhaps,  "lecture"  under  the  title  of 
''Animal  Kingdom."  "Many  of  the  animal  poisons  are  distin- 
guished by  tic  violence  and  intensity  of  their  action,  and  by  the 
decided  alterations  which  they  produce  in  both  structure  and  func- 
tion. The  blood  is  often  changed  in  its  composition  and  quality, 
the  nervous  system  suffers,  and  even  the  lower  tissues  are  affected. 
The  whole  tendency  of  these  remedies  is  to  produce  diseases,  which 

are  never  of  a  sthenic,  and  always  of  a  d£8tructive  form You  will 

find,  too,  that  these  animal  poisons  are  apt  to  affect  the  mind,  espe- 
cially the  emotions.  They  arouse  the  lowest  qualities  in  one's 
nature,  and  produce  a  condition  which  is  truly  shocking."  After 
a  general  picture  of  the  animal  poisons  comes  the  specific  character 
of  each.  Glancing  through  this  part  of  the  work  our  attention  was 
arrested  by  a  statement  which,  while  known  no  doubt  to  the  most 
of  our  readers,  may  be  new  to  some.  Speaking  of  cod-liver  oil — 
01  wm  jecoris  asetti — "  Many  physicians  claim  that  it  acts  physiologi- 
cally. This  is  a  mistake.  It  is  a  medicine  ....  I  will  give  vou 
here  an  outline  of  its  symptoms.  You  may  use  it  when  there  are 
chills  running  down  the  back,  hoarseness  and  soreness  through  the 
chest.  How  many  times  you  will  see  these  symptoms  at  the  begin- 
ning of  tuberculosis  !  There  may  be  sharp  stitching  pains  here  and 
there  through  the  chest.  Fever  is  particularly  marked  towards 
evening  with  burning  in  the  palms  of  the  hands.  The  cough  is  dry, 
with  an  expectoration  of  a  somewhat  slimy  mucus  such  as  we  notice 
in  the  initial  stages  of  tuberculosis.  These  are  the  symptoms  which 
have  been  noticed  in  the  provings  conducted  by  a  conscientious 
observer,  Dr.  Neidhard  (of  Philadelphia)."  Right  on  the  same  page 
we  strike  another  nugget  of  information.  "  Bufo  rana  (cinereus),  a 
variety  of  toad  indigenous  to  South  America.  The  surface  of  its 
body  secretes  an  oily  Bubstance  which  has  the  reputation  of  being 
poisonous.  The  native  women,  when  tired  of  the  importunities  of 
their  husbands,  mix  this  oily  secretion  into  their  husbands  '  drink 


190  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

for  the  purpose  of  producing  impotency.     Provings  have  been  made 

of  Bufo  and  it  has  been  found  to  produce  a  very  disgusting " 

But  there  we  are  at  the  bottom  of  the  page,  and,  as  we  have  been 
led  far  beyond  the  space  intended,  we  will  not  turn  it  over.  752 
pages.     Half-morocco.     Net,  by  mail,  $5.98.v 

Excelsior  ! — Year  after  year,  as  science  plants  her  waving  ban- 
ner on  dizzier  heights,  her  panting  followers  often  pause  and  look 
below  on  the  green  and  enticing  plains  of  ignorance,  left  forever; 
and  long  to  slide  down  the  rock}7  way  they  have  ascended,  as  they 
used  to  slide  down  the  cellar  door,  in  the  days  when  patches  on 
the  trouser's  seat  were  no  disgrace,  and  be  at  rest.  But  it  must  not 
be.  Excelsior !  Drs.  Clevinger,  of  Chicago,  and  Eccles,  of  Brook- 
lyn, have  chipped  the  steps  {Brooklyn  Medical  Journal),  and  wave 
us  on. 

Back  in  those  happy  days  when  the  world  was  still  young,  when 
the  morning  stars  sang  together  and  man  was  monkey,  or  monkey 
was  man,  and  gracefully  skipped  over  the  ground  with  his  stern, 
like  an  old  fashioned  Dutch  galiot,  higher  than  his  head,  as  may 
be  noticed  in  his  left-behind-brethren  in  the  race  of  life,  who  assem- 
ble in  the  cage  at  the  zoological  gardens;  and  when  the  embryonic 
man  of  science  gaily  scampered  from  tree  to  tree,  or  luxuriously 
swung  in  the  balmy  breeze  suspended  by  his  tail;  back  in  those 
days  certain  diseases  were  unknown.  Time  passed.  Monkey  wove 
his  hairy  coat  into  broadcloth,  cut  off  his  tail  (we  modestly  claim 
this  discovery),  and  used  it  for  a  walking  stick,  and  assumed  an 
upright  posture.  But,  alas  !  He  was  not  built  to  walk  that  way, 
and  the  gentlemen  we  have  named  point  out  the  "fact"  that  this 
change  of  posture  brought  to  monkey's  descendants  varicose  veins, 
ulcers,  piles,  prolapsus  ani,  bow  legs,  goitre,  etc.  The  "  element  of 
posture  does  not  enter  equally  as  a  cause  into  all  the  foregoing 
cases,"  say  the  learned  gentlemen,  and  we,  upon  careful  considera- 
tion, are  inclined  to  agree  with  them.  Piles  and  prolapsus  ani  seem 
to  be  common  to  man  in  both  postures,  and  as  for  bow  legs,  we'll 
bet  on  monkey  every  time.  No  remed}7  for  this  annoying  train  of 
consequences  is  proposed  ;  facts  are  merely  pointed  out  and  we  are 
left  to  make  the  best  of  them. 

"  A  puissant  antipyretic,"  says  Dr.  G.  Smith,  "  while  quench- 
ing abnormal  heat,  may  also  extinguish  the  vital  spark." 

Hale's  Diseases  of  the  Heart. — The  third  edition  of  this  work 
is  now  out  and  is  nearly  double  the  size  of  the  last  one,  containing 
478  pages,  8vo.  Price,  83.25.  It  is  divided  into  six  parts.  Part  I., 
Functional  Disorders  of  the  Heart;  II.,  Inflammatory  Affections  of 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT.  191 

the  Heart ;  III.,  Organic  Diseases  of  the  Heart:  [V.,  Materia  Medics 
of  Heart  Remedies;  V.,  Repertory  of  Heart  Symptoms;  VI., Mis- 
cellaneous Papers  on  Subjects  Relating  to  Disorders  of  the  Heart; 
the  whole  concluding  with  an  index.  The  Repertory  is  by  E.  R. 
Snader,  M.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Physical  Diagnosis,  Hahnemann  Col- 
lege, Philadelphia. 

Homarus. — "Mrs. ,  aged  45,  has  been  under  the  care  of  a 

leading  old-School  doctor  of  New  York,  Has  had  the  whole  left 
breast  removed  ;  lias  two  hard  tumors  in  left  axilla,  one  below 
the  sear  on  left  breast,  one  in  right  axilla,  each  the  size  of  a  small 
hen's  egg;  one  on  breast  discharging  pus  and  blood.  Severe  distress 
in  stomach  all  the  time;  cannot  take  food;  liver  hard  and  exten- 
ding three  and  one-half  inches-below  umbilicus,  skin  brown,  cof- 
fee color  all  over.  I  gave  Bromide  of  arsenic,  Chelidonium  and  Proto- 
iodide  of  mercury  with  slight  relief.  As  she  complained  of  pain  in 
the  stomach  similar  to  what  I  experienced  while  proving  Homarue} 
I  gave  her  Homarus  4x  once  in  two  hours.  It  gave  relief  at  once, 
and  for  six  weeks  she  ate  three  good  meals  each  day,  and  some  of 
the  time  four.  Her  bowels  were  bloated  and  that  disappeared,  and 
her  skin  returned  to  its  normal  color,  and  the  hardened  liver  seemed 
softer.  She  seemed  quite  happy  during  this  time.  As  hot  weather 
comes  on  she  begins  to  grow  weaker,  and  of  course  must  die;  but 
when  I  see  what  it  has  done  in  this  old  case,  may  we  not  hope  for 
something  in  recent  cases?" — From  private  letter  of  A.  M.  Gush- 
ing, M.  D.,  in  American  Homos&path. 

Dr.  Cushing's  proving  of  Homarus  will  be  found  in  the  May,  1888, 
number  of  Recorder.  The  foregoing  seems  to  coincide  with  the 
claims  made  in  Dr.  Burnett's  new  book,  mentioned  elsewhere. 

Our  readers  may  notice  a  change  in  the  title-page  of  the  Recorder, 
the  dignified  Latin  "bi-monthly "has  given  place  to  the  Anglo-Saxon 
"every  other  month."  About  the  meaning  of  the  latter,  we  trust, 
there  can  be  no  two  opinions,  —  it  does  not  mean  "monthly," 
neither  does  it  mean  "semi-monthly,"  but  "  every  other  month." 

Only  too  True. — "What  is  the  matter,  doctor?"  asked  a  re- 
porter of  a  well-known  chemist.  "  I  am  mad  ;  mad  at  chemistry 
and  the  drug  business.  Look  here!  Oil  of  vitriol  is  no  oil,  neither 
are  oils  of  turpentine  and  kerosene.  Copperas  is  an  iron  compound 
and  contains  no  copper.  Salts  of  lemon  is  the  extremely  poisonous 
oxalic  acid.  Carbolic  acid  is  not  an  acid,  but  an  alcohol.  Cobalt 
contains  none  of  that  metal,  but  arsenic.  Soda-water  has  no  trace 
of  soda,  and  sugar  of  lead  has  no  sugar;  cream  of  tartar  has  nothing 
of  cream,  nor  milk  of  lime  any  milk.     Oxygen   means  the  acid- 


192  TEE  H03KE0PATEIC  RECORDER. 

maker,  but  hydrogen  is  the  essential  element  of  all  acids,  and  may 
contain  no  oxygen.  German-silver  has  no  silver,  and  black  lead 
no  lead.  Mosaic  gold  is  only  a  sulphide  of  tin.  These  are  only 
some  of  the  mistakes  of  nomenclature  in  our  business." — Medical 
Herald. 


Chionanthus  Virginicus,  according  to  The  Druggists'  Circular, 
is  steadily  growing  in  favor  as  a  remedy  for  jaundice.  The  usual 
dose  is  two  to  four  drops  of  the  tincture. 

Robert  P.  Porter,  the  newly  appointed  Superintendent  of 
Census,  has  issued  a  circular  "  To  the  Medical  Profession,1'  the  gist 
of  which  is  that  the  Census  Office  has  issued  "  Physician's  Registers  " 
for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  vital  statistics  from  June  1,  1889,  to 
June  1,  1890,  and  any  physician  who  has  failed  to  receive  one  will 
be  supplied  by  addressing  Census  Office,  Washington,  D.  C.  An 
official  envelope  accompanies  each  Register,  so  that  no  postage  is 
required  when  it  is  returned  to  the  Census  Office. 

Dr.  I.  J.  M.  Goss,  of  Georgia,  recommends  Passiflora  foi  "convul- 
sions of  children  "  from  dentition  or  over-feeding." 

At  the  last  meeting  of  the  American  Institute  of  Homoeopathy 
(June  27,  1889),  Mr.  A.  J.  Tafel  was  elected  an  Honorary  Associate 
Member  of  that  body. 

Spontaneous  Combustion. — This  age  is  often  reproached  for 
its  skepticism,  but  sometimes  a  suspicion  haunts  us  that  the  re- 
proach is  unjust,  and  should  be  directed  against  others  than  the 
skeptics.  An  M.D.,  in  the  Therapeutic  Gazette,  gives  the  world  a  de- 
tailed account  of  a  case  of  spontaneous  combustion  in  a  human 
being,  on  the  ashes  of  which  he  sat  as  coroner.  It  happened  at 
Seneca,  111.,  in  1885.  The  subject  was  a  woman,  who  weighed  160 
pounds  before  spontaneously  combusting,  and  afterwards  but  12 
pounds.  She  combusted  at  night  in  a  frame  house,  burned  a  hole 
in  the  pine  floor  "  2  feet  6  inches  x  3  feet,"  yet  did  not  set  the  house 
on  fire,  though  the  heat  was  sufficient  to  reduce  her  160  pounds  of 
bones  and  flesh  to  12  pounds.  Certain  features  about  the  report 
have  a  strong  smack  of  Dickens's  graphic  account  of  the  sponta- 
neous combustion  of  Krook,  the  rag  and  bottle  dealer  in  Chancery 
Lane,  as  given  in  his  novel,  Bleak  House.  Of  the  two  reports  it  seems 
to  us  that  the  one  in  the  novel  is  the  best. 

Dr.  W.  M.  L.  Fiske,  of  Brooklyn,  N,  Y.,  has  a  neat  little  fold- 
ing card  containing  "  Rules  of  Diet  During  Homoeopathic  Treat- 
ment," This,  left  with  patients,  or  rather  their  nurses,  must  be  very 
useful. 


T  H  E 


Hoivkeopathic  Recorder 


Vol.  IV.  PHILADELPHIA,  SEPTEMBER,  1889.  No.  5. 


THE  ELIXIR. 

The  latest  craze,  the  vaunted  elixir  of  life  promulgated  by  Brown- 
S6quard,  bids  fair  to  become  of  such  proportions  that  the  law 
may,  before  long,  be  called  upon  to  check  the  hazardous  use  of 
the  injecting  syringe  in  this  attempt  to  build  up  broken-down  con- 
stitutions and  tissues;  for  at  this  writing  reports  come  from  Penn- 
sylvania and  Ohio  of  a  death  in  each  State  from  injection  according 
to  this  theory. 

What  use  there  may  be  in  this  method,  we  are  as  yet  unable  to 
state,  not  having  tried  the  elixir  ourselves,  nor  having  seen  in  any 
of  the  medical  journals  of  America,  England,  Germany,  or  Francer 
reports  of  success.  In  fact,  the  medical  publications,  with  one  ex- 
ception, have,  as  yet,  held  a  position  of  silent  neutrality  concern- 
ing it. 

However,  now  that  the  Lancet  has  opened  the  subject,  and  as  fatal 
effects  have  resulted  from  the  use  of  so-called  preparations  of  this 
elixir  at  the  hands  of  a  number  of  physicians,  it  is  full  time  that 
some  positive  attention  be  paid  to  the  matter  by  the  medical  press, 
whose  duty  it  is  to  throw  light  upon  the  prevention  as  well  as  the 
cure  of  disease. 

In  the  Lancet,  Dr.  Brown-Sequard  says  that  his  reported  rejuve- 
nating fluid  is  a  verity,  and  that  it  has  made  him  as  vigorous  in 
mind  and  body  as  he  was  twenty-six  years  ago.  As  he  is  now 
seventy-two  years  old,  and  has  been  for  a  few  years  steadily  growing 
weak,  we  must  find  something  to  support  the  claim  of  rejuvenation 
in  his  case  at  least. 

First  let  us  see  of  what  his  elixir  consists.  He  claims  to  use  a 
mixture  of: 

VOL.  iv.— 13 


194  THE  H0MCE0PATH1C  BECOBDEB. 

1.  Blood  of  the  testicular  veins  (dog  and  Guinea-pigs). 

2.  Semen  (of  same  ?). 

3.  Juice  extracted  from  the  testicle  of  a  freshly  killed  dog  or 
Guinea-pig. 

Of  this  mixture,  one  part  to  three  or  four  of  water,  all  filtered 
through  bibulous  paper,  and  one  cubic  centimetre  of  the  filtrate-  at 
each  injection,  was  thrown  into  a  vein  of  his  arm  or  leg.  In  all,  ten 
injections  were  made,  extending  from  May  15th  to  June  4th.  For 
four  weeks  after  the  last  dose  he  claims  a  rejuvenated  condition,  but 
on  the  5th  of  July  his  condition  relapsed  to  its  former  status.  A 
colleague  reports  the  same  result. 

As  people  Hocked  from  all  parts  of  the  world  to  the  Pasteur  Insti- 
tute during  the  craze  of  inoculation  against  rabies,  now,  probably, 
an  exodus  of  roues  will  file  to  the  same  point  in  the  hope  of  rejuve- 
nation at  the  hands  of  Brown-Sequard.  But  what  is  offered  for  old 
maids  and  ladies  grey ;  from  whence  shall  spring  their  fountain  of 
jouvence?  Suppose,  like  the  hero  of  Balzac's  Peau  de  Chagrin,  each 
application  shall  be  followed  by  a  positive  draught  upon  their  real 
vitality  and  soon  exhaust  it?  Then  shall  the  old  ladies  raise  their 
eyebrows,  and,  with  looks  of  supreme  contempt,  cease  to  envy  their 
more  unfortunate  beaux. 

Dire  will  be  the  results  should  our  French  confrere  carry  out  his 
proposal  to  also  rejuvenate  old  ladies  by  injections  of  infusions  of 
the  ovaries  of  young  animals. 

The  present  indiscriminate  use  of  an  elixir  made  from  lamb's, 
etc.,  as  reported  daily  in  the  press  of  this  country,  should  be 
positively  condemned,  especially  as  some  are  reported  to  be  used 
hours  after  the  death  of  the  animal.  There  are  many  important 
reasons  why  the  law  if  necessary,  should  be  called  upon  to  suppress 
this  practice,  the  most  important  of  which  is  the  opportunity  of 
actual  death  from  the  inoculation  of  people,  subjecting  themselves 
to  these  experiments,  with  tuberculosis  or  some  other  equally  fatal 
disease. 

Let  us  hope  that  the  craze  will  be  exceeding  short-lived,  and 
that  a  few  more  deaths  of  people  of  that  class,  of  whom  "  all  are 
not  dead  yet,"  will  sufficiently  frighten  the  rest  into  satisfaction  with 
the  days  allotted  to  man  upon  this  beautiful  earth,  and  the  strength 
given  them  in  those  days. 


THE  BRAZILS. 

Rio  de  Janeiro. 
On  our  arrival  in  this  great  city  of  Brazil,  we  found  a  severe 
epidemic  of  small-pox  devastating  the  poorer  districts.     The  mor- 
tality was  high,  and  remained  so  during  our  entire  residence  there 


THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER.  1  % 

of  a  month.  The  internal  quarantine  measures  were  very  lux. 
Often  naked  children  with  the  sores  hardly  healing  would  be 
brought  by  parents  into  public  conveyances.  Twice  during  our  trips 
about  the  city  we  were  compelled  t<>  change  our  seat  in  the  street-car 
on  account  of  small-pox  patients  occupying  the  next.  With  all 
this  the  morning  news  sheets  were  wont  t<»  cry  almosl  daily,  M  We 
cannot  see  why  the  spread  of  small-pox  continues  in  the  city,  when 
the  most  scientific  measures  to  prevent  it  are  in  daily  function." 

It  seemed  strange  to  us  during  our  visits  among  the  physicians  of 
Rio,  that  epidemics  of  small-pox  and  yellow  fever  were  regarded 
with  so  little  feeling  of  fear,  when,  if  pneumonia  were  mentioned 
they  would  express  the  greatest  dread  of  the  disease,  and  frequently 
wonder  how  we  of  the  north  were  able  to  continue  existence  when 
such  a  mortal  disease  might  at  any  time  prevail.  Their  dread  of 
pneumonia  is,  if  anything,  many  degrees  greater  than  ours  of  yellow 
fever,  even  with  leprosy  and  small-pox  combined. 

The  diseases  causing  greatest  dread  in  Brazil  are  rheumatism  and 
beri-beri,  that  peculiar  dropsical  affection,  the  onset  of  which  is  re- 
garded with  full  as  great  fear  as  the  bite  of  the  jararaca,  their  most 
poisonous  serpent.  Elephantiasis,  especially  of  the  legs  and  scro- 
tum, leprosy  and  goitre  are  disorders  of  frequent  occurrence  there, 
and  of  a  character  particularly  noticed  as  horrible  by  a  northern 
visitor. 

In  beri-beri  the  physicians  expect  better  results  from  change  of 
climate,  especially  by  sea  voyages,  than  from  any  form  of  medica- 
tion ;  and  the  laity,  especially  in  the  poorer  classes,  acting,  probably, 
upon  the  doctrine  of  signatures,  have  great  faith  in  the  curative 
effect  of  large  draughts  of  urine  as  a  remedial  measure.  Rheuma- 
tism the  physicians  find  very  intractable,  and  were  always  anxious 
to  receive  ideas  upon  new  northern  remedies  for  this  disease. 

The  homoeopathic  fraternity,  at  the  home  of  the  late  Dr.  Mure,  is 
well  represented,  and  by  a  class  of  men  who  are  at  once  hard  stu- 
dents and  careful  practitioners.  One  national  trait,  however,  in  their 
method  of  prescribing  we  feel  bound  in  our  duty  to  homoeopathy 
to  condemn,  i.e.,  the  sending  of  their  prescriptions  to  the  pharma- 
cist to  be  filled.  The  pharmacies  are  homoeopathic,  it  is  true,  but 
in  delicate  prescribing  it  must  always  be  a  fault  to  allow  any  one 
but  the  prescriber  himself  to  put  up  or  handle  the  remedy  to  be 
given.  The  lack  of  positive  interest  of  a  pharmacist  in  the  welfare 
of  a  patient  as  a  general  fact,  might,  in  many  cases,  influence  a  lack 
of  care  in  the  preparation  of  a  physician's  prescription;  a  desire  to 
substitute  might  often  creep  in,  if  not  of  remedy,  many  times  per- 
haps of  potency.  With  so  exact  a  science  as  homoeopathic  pre- 
scribing, more  than  one  hand  in  dispensing  should  be  regarded  with 
suspicion. 


196  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

Of  late  years,  homoeopathy  has  been  recognized  with  favor  by 
the  Imperial  Government,  so  much  so  that  since  February,  1880, 
a  department  in  the  great  hospital,  the  Santa  Casa  de  Mizericordia, 
has  been  granted  the  homoeopathic  physicians,  in  which  the  monthly 
attendance  has  gradually  risen  from  33  the  first  month  to  231  in 
1887.  The  total  number  of  patients  from  February,  1880,  to  June, 
1887,  was  7086,  to  whom  37,163  consultations  were  given.  The  deaths 
reached  only  the  low  figures  of  77,  a  percentage  of  1.086,  and  most 
of  these  were  from  phthisis,  pneumonia,  and  hepatic  degeneration. 
Indeed,  an  excellent  showing  for  our  southern  colleagues. 

The  homoeopathic  department  of  the  hospital  was  under  the  care 
of  Dr.  Guilherme  Taylor  March  up  to  October,  1884,  and  from  that 
date  Dr.  Baptista  Meirelles  Filho,  aided  by  the  physicians  of  Rio, 
ably  supported  the  cause  at  this  institution. 

The  report  of  the  other  three  hospitals  of  Rio  having  homoeo- 
pathic wards  is  equally  pleasing.  In  the  Hospital  da  Veneravel 
Ordem  Terceira  da  Penitencia  the  percentage  of  cures  in  the  homoeo- 
pathic ward  was  94.18,  in  the  allopathic,  92.91 ;  deaths  5.56  against 
6.86.  In  the  Hospital  da  Sociedade  Portugueza  da  Benejicencia,  with  a 
total  of  11,520  patients  in  the  homoeopathic  ward,  and  18,459  in  the 
allopathic,  the  percentage  of  cures  was  95.26  under  homoeopathy, 
against  94.04,  and  the  death  rate  4.57  against  5.60 ;  while  in  the 
Hospital  da  Ordem  Terceira  de  Carmo,  the  homoeopathic  percentage 
of  cures  was  94.86  against  88.55  under  allopathic  treatment ;  and 
the  rate  of  mortality  only  4.59  against  10.63 ! 

In  their  thirst  for  knowledge,  the  Brazilian  homoeopaths  are  great 
book  buyers,  and  all  unite  in  praising  American  authors,  whose 
works  they  are  all  able  to  read,  though  none  venture  to  speak  the 
English  language.  We  found  Cowperthwaite,  Hering,  Allen,  Hale, 
Farrington  and  many  others  were  standard  works  of  reference  in 
the  libraries  of  each  physician. 

In  the  allopathic  ranks  there  is  a  disregard  for  ethics  almost 
laughable  in  the  results.  Aided  by  their  pharmacists  and  patients, 
some  of  the  most  highly  colored  advertising  dodges  will  be  noted 
in  almost  any  of  the  morning  newspapers  of  the  city.  We  select  a 
few  from  the  papers  we  happen  to  have  retained  as  parcel  wrap- 
pings; they  will  serve  as  amusing  hints,  should  our  northern  physi- 
cians desire  to  emulate  their  colaborateurs  in  the  south : 

"I  cannot  refrain  from  thus  coming  into  print,  as  my  heart  is  bursting  with 
gratitude.  My  only  child,  a  maiden  of  seventeen  springs,  was  for  four  months 
unable  to  perform  the  usual  function  of  her  sex.  We  called  upon  that  most 
eminent  and  distinguished  practitioner,  Doctor  Luiz  de  Oamoens  de  Viega, 
and  to  his  most  delicate  and  skilful  treatment  and  devoted  attention  is  due 
her  re -establishment  in  sound  health. 

LlVRAMENTO  DE  BORGE8. " 


THE  EOMCEOPA  THIC  EECOBDEB.  1 97 

"Thanks. 

"My  beloved  mother  baying  fallen  gravely  ill  of  a  strangulated  hernia,  I 

had  ilif  pleasure,  on  the  evening  of  the  Bame  day,  of  Beeing  ber  after  post 

laborious  reduction,  Baved  from  peril,  thanks  to  those  distinguished  physicians, 

the  Most  Excellent  Doctors  Drammond  Navarro,  FabioA.  Baiamaand  Peter 

de  Alcantara  Teixcira,  to  whom  we  owe  this  act  of  medical  charity,  ami   shall 

be  eternally  grateful. 

LAD!    Amki.'a  A  mm OTA  I  .   DI  BMTO," 

Thus,  you  see,  the  patient  and  family  combine  to  publicly  laud 
the  physician  who  desires  the  "  medical  charity  "  of  free  advertis- 
ing. The  ending  of  the  next  form,  a  stereotyped  one  by  the  way, 
is  supposed  to  exonerate  the  physician  from  any  collusion  with  the 

thankful  patient: 

"I  was  cured  in  four  days  by  Doctor  Paulo  Oliveira  Cirne.  I  hope  in  this 
public  mention  I  shall  not  offend  the  Doctor's  well-known  modesty. 

Maria  de  Concicao." 

Then  again,  at  times,  the  physician  throws  off  all  bonds  of  ethical 
restraint,  and  goes  in  for  himself: 

Doctor  Mendes  de  Sonza,  graduate  in  medicine,  announces  a  new  discovery 
by  which  he  causes  immediate  and  painless  childbirth.  All  ladies  should  con- 
sult him.     Office  hours,  etc. 

It  is  true  that  sometimes  notices  creep  in  for  which  the  physician 
cannot  be  held  responsible,  and  in  this  form  does  not  err  in  the 
question  of  ethics.     The  following  is  one  of  this  type : 

Without  the  assistance  of  any  physician  died,  yesterday,  Antonio  Jose  de 
Aranjo.     The  death  was  verified  by  Doctor  Ataliba  Lima,  hygienie  delegate. 

Even  this  poor  fellow,  who  had  the  good  luck  to  die  peacefully 
and  alone,  affords  a  chance  for  the  physician  who  "  verified"  his  death 
to  announce  himself  to  the  public. 

The  pharmacist  also,  in  advertising  himself,  aids  the  physician 
likewise,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following : 

Medical  statistics  from  the  Imperial  Pharmacy  Diniz  : 
During  the  month  of  March  past  there  have  been  dispensed  2857  prescrip- 
tions from  168  Most  Excellent  Physicians,  being  of  Doctors 

Eduardo  da  Fonseca, 576 

Joao  Drummond,       ........     510 

J.  A.  da  Almeida, 275 

A  whole  column  of  the  paper  ending  with  forty-five  physieians 
sending  in  two,  and  twenty  or  more  one  prescription. 

Here  the  wielder  of  the  pestle  gets  some  of  the  glory,  and  the  phys- 
ician the  rest.     It  is  well  known  that "  most  excellent  physicians  " 


198  THE  HOMEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

of  the  younger  type,  having  more  money  than  patients,  often  em- 
ploy a  porter  to  present  useless  prescriptions  for  dispensing,  that 
their  names  may  make  a  goodly  showing  in  these  monthly  lists, 
forcibly  reminding  one  of  that  eminent  Pickwickian  physician,  Bob 
Sawyer. 

All  such  methods  appear  to  us  puerile  in  the  lowest  degree,  but 
in  Brazil  they  pass  as  usual,  and,  therefore,  little  noted  procedures. 
In  point  of  fact  man}'  things  in  that  great  country  are  puerilely 
done,  from  the  works  of  the  government  down. 

The  Brazilian  Institute  of  Homoeopathy  and  its  organ,  the  Annaes 
de  Medicina  Homeopathica,  we  are  sorry  to  say,  are  now  of  the  past, 
though  both  were  excellent  educators  in  their  time. 

The  status  of  homoeopathy  in  Rio,  as  the  type  of  the  practice 
in  Brazil,  is  certianly  good  at  the  present  day.  Its  supporters  are 
of  the  best  class  of  the  people,  and  ardent  in  their  work,  and  its 
practitioners  are  good  Hahnemannians,  close  prescribers  and  care- 
ful diagnostitians. 


ADONIS   (Pheasant's    Eye). 
Adonis  Vernalis,  Linn. 

(COPYRIGHT  SECURED.) 

Plate  III. 


Among  our  newer  remedies  there  is  none  claiming  our  attention 
more  thoroughly  than  this  member  of  the  Ranunculacese.  Belong- 
ing as  it  does  to  the  same  botanic  family  with  Aconite,  Pulsatilla 
and  Helleborus,  it  is  readily  understood  to  have  properties  at  once 
active  and  useful.  Adonis,  with  its  bright  yellow  attractive  flowers, 
is  found  in  damp  districts  in  Siberia,  Crimea,  Southern  Europe  and 
Labrador,  where  it  grows  to  a  height  of  a  foot  or  more,  and  presents 
the  following  characters  :  Stem  branching ;  leaves  sessile  and  many 
cleft,  those  from  the  root  reduced  to  mere  scales  ;  flowers  large  and 
terminating  the  stem,  petals  10  to  12  oblong,  spreading,  and  some- 
what toothed  at  the  apex  ;  and  numerous  and  one-seeded  achenia. 

The  early  history  of  the  medicinal  use  of  the  plant  is  very 
meagre,  its  drastic  properties  giving  it  some  little  prominence,  evan- 
escent because  of  better-known  plants  having  the  same  property. 
Clusius  says  the  roots  were  used  as  a  substitute  for  Hellebore,  and 
even  considered  to  be  the  plant  mentioned  by  Hippocrates  under 
that  name,*  and  Pallas  states  that  the  leaves  are  used  in  Siberia  to 

*The  root  of  Adonis  is  ofien  found  to-day  to  be  one  of  the  adulterants  of  com- 
mercial Hellebore. 


7  HE  HOMCEOPAIHIC  BECORDER.  1 M 

procure  abortion.    The  peasantry  of  Russia  found  the  plant  to  be 

a  useful  remedy  in  dropsy  and  heart  disease,  and  it  is  from  this 
use  that  it  was  first  brought  up  for  examination  by  the  profes- 
sion by  N.  Botken.  whose  experiments  with  the  drug  were  described 
and  made  public  by  Dr.  Butnon  in  a  graduating  thesis. 

The  present  clinical  use  of  the  plant  is  in  heart  and  kidney 
troubles,  especially  those  presenting  dropsical  symptoms. 

Chemistry. 

Chemically,  Adonis  bears  great  similitude  to  Digitalis,  especially 
in  its  glucoside,  though  it  also  shows  its  proper  place  in  the  ranun- 
adacese  by  the  presence  of  Aconitinic  acid.  Dr.  Cervello's  analysis* 
yielded  only  small  quantities  of  Adonidin  in  two  kilos  of  the  plant. 
This  he  did  not  consider  due  to  any  defect  in  his  method  of  analy- 
sis, but  to  the  fact  that  the  glucoside,  which  is  very  energetic,  is 
contained  in  the  plant  in  relatively  small  proportion. 

Adonidin  is  non-nitrogenous,  colorless,  odorless,  amorphous,  and 
extremely  bitter.  It  is  soluble  in  Alcohol,  but  only  slightly  so  in 
Ether  and  in  water.  It  is  precipitated  by  Tannic  acid,  the  precipi- 
tate redissolving  in  much  water.  It  is  insoluble  in  cold  dilute 
Hydrochloric  acid,  but  on  being  heated  in  this  acid  it  breaks  down 
into  sugar  and  a  substance  insoluble  in  Ether.  Dr.  Cervello  did 
not  determine  whether  the  decomposition  product  has  any  action 
upon  the  organism,  anaiagous  to  Digitaliretin,  as  obtained  under 
similar  conditions  from  Digitalin  by  Schmiedeberg. 

Tincture. 

The  homoeopathic  tincture  is  prepared  by  chopping  and  pound- 
ing the  whole  fresh  plant  to  a  pulp  and  weighing.  Then  two  parts 
by  weight  of  Alcohol  are  taken,  the  pulp  thoroughly  mixed  with 
one-sixth  part  of  it,  and  the  rest  of  the  Alcohol  added.  After 
stirring  the  whole  well  it  is  poured  into  a  well-stoppered  bottle, 
and  allowed  to  stand  for  eight  days  in  a  dark,  cool  place. 

The  tincture  separated  by  decanting,  straining  and  filtering 
should  have  a  deep  orange-brown  color  by  transmitted  light;  a 
pungent,  vinous  odor,  an  exceedingly  bitter  taste,  and  a  highly 
acid  reaction. 

Action. 

The  physiological  action  of  Adonis  is  very  similar  to  that  of  Digi- 
talis, a  fact  pronounced  upon  by  all  experimenters  with  the  drug. 
The  experiments  of  Dr.  Botken  on  both  warm-  and  cold-blooded 
animals  with  different  preparations  (aqueous  and  alcoholic)  showed 

*  Arch./,  exper.  Path.  u.  Pharmak,  xv. 


200  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

that  its  action  is  to  stimulate  both  the  inhibitory  apparatus  and 
motor  ganglia  of  the  heart,  to  increase  the  contractility  of  the  car- 
diac muscles,  and  to  cause  the  contraction  of  small  arteries  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  organism  without  affecting  the  vaso-motor 
centre.  In  experiments  made  on  frogs,  in  both  the  isolated  heart 
and  the  heart  in  situ,  it  ceases  to  beat  in  diastole. 

With  respect  to  Adonidin,  Dr.  Cervello  sums  up  the  results  of  his 
experiments  by  stating  that  it  may  be  described  as  identical  with 
that  of  Digitalin,  with  the  exception  that  it  is  more  powerful,  and 
has  no  cumulative  effect.  Dr.  H.  A.  Hare  says,*  in  concluding 
the  account  of  his  experiments :  "  Adonidin  in  all  doses  increases 
arterial  pressure  by  stimulating  the  vaso-motor  centres,  and  by 
increasing  the  cardiac  force.  In  moderate  doses  it  increases  the 
pulse -rate  and  force  from  the  first,  but  when  large  toxic  doses  are 
given,  it  primarily  slows  the  heart  by  stimulating  the  pneumogas- 
tric,and  then  increasing  the  pulse-rate  by  depressing  the  inhibitory 
nerves,  and  stimulating  the  accelerator  apparatus.  The  slowing  of 
the  pulse-rate  is  also  in  all  probability  due  in  part  to  increased 
arterial  pressure,  as  under  these  circumstances  the  blood-paths  are 
greatly  diminished  in  calibre.  On  the  nervous  system  the  drug 
has  but  little  action,  unless  the  quantity  administered  be  enor- 
mous. Under  these  conditions  it  paralyzes  the  sensory  side  of  the 
cord,  but  has  no  effect  on  the  motor  tract,  or  on  the  efferent  or 
afferent  nerve  trunks."  Dr.  Hale,  in  commenting  upon  the  ex- 
periments of  Dr.  Botken,  says  :f  "  If  the  inhibitory  nerves  be  cut 
before  the  Adonidin  is  placed  in  the  pericardial  sac,  the  usual  in- 
crease in  rate  under  such  circumstances  takes  place,  and  the  addi- 
tion of  a  small  quantity  of  the  drug  now  immediately  increases  the 
rate  still  further,  without  the  appearance  of  any  primary  stage  of 
slowing  of  rate.  This  proves  that  the  primary  slowing  occurring 
when  the  vagi  are  intact  must  be  due  to  exaltation  of  their  func- 
tion, and  not  to  peripheral  stimulation,  and  also  proves  that  the 
drug  must  directly  stimulate  the  heart-muscle ;  for  the  rapid  rate 
under  these  circumstances  is  not  one  of  weakness,  but  of  power.  It 
should  not  be  forgotten  that  this  drug  in  large  quantities  finally 
stops  the  heart  in  diastole,  whether  the  vagi  are  intact  or  divided. 
In  small  quantities  it  does  not  produce  the  primary  slowing  of  the 
pulse,  nor  does  it  bring  on  the  peculiarly  weak  and  imperfect 
movements  which  have  already  been  described  as  occurring  be- 
fore death.  In  other  words,  it  requires  large  doses  to  affect  the 
pneumogastric,  and  to  depress  the  heart-muscle. 

"Another  point  to  be  decided:  Is  the  rapid  stage  following  the 
primary  slow  stage  in  the  viscus  in  situ  due  to  paralysis  of  the 

*  Thwapeutic  Gaz.,  April  15,  1886.  f  Lectures  on  Diseases  of  the  Heart. 


TEE  H0MCE0PATH1C  RECOBDEB.  201 

v;iLri;  to  direct  stimulation  of  the  ln-art  which  overcomes  inhibi- 
tion, or  to  both?  While  I  am  unable  to  Btate  whether over-stim- 
ulation takes  place,  '!  is  ;1  t;l('t  that  the  pneamogastric  nerves  are 
certainly  in  this  second  Btage  depressed  by  the  drug,  for  galvan- 
ization of  these  nerve-trunks  during  this  Btage  failed  to  produce 
as  marked  a  Blowing  of  rate  as  should  have  occurred,  provided 
the  inhibitory  pathway  was  open.  From  this  we  may  conclude 
that,  although  the  stimulation  of  inhibition  in  the  first  stage  is 
centric,  the  paresis  of  inhibition  in  the  second  degree  is  periph- 
eral. 

"The  same  changes  are  present  when  the  drug  is  injected  into 
the  posterior  lymph  sac  of  the  frog.  The  animal  soon  becomes  pas- 
sive and  immovable,  and  dies  shortly,  so  quietly  that  its  death  is 
not  noted  until  the  animal  is  handled.  That  the  high  arterial  pres- 
sure produced  by  this  drug  is  due  in  part  to  centric  stimulation  of 
the  vaso-motor  system  is  proved  by  the  fact  that  the  mesenteric 
bloodvessels  are  seen  to  dilate  after  section  of  the  spinal  cord." 

Adonidine  acts  with  almost  the  same  symptoms  upon  the  dog  as 
the  frog.  Dr.  Botken  injected  one-tourth  grain  of  the  drug  into 
the  jugular  vein  of  a  dog  after  curarizing  him.  No  sooner  was  the 
slowing  of  the  heart's  beat  most  marked  than  the  vagi  were  divided, 
and  instantly  the  pulse  was  increased  from  102  to  192  per  minute, 
proving  that  the  slowing  was  due  to  stimulation  of  inhibition,  and 
that  this  stimulation  was  centric. 

A  twelfth  of  a  grain  given  slowly  to  a  large  dog  did  not  produce 
death,  nor  a  primary  slowing  of  rate,  but  seemed  to  increase  the 
rate,  force  and  pressure.  A  small  dog  poisoned  by  a  large  dose  of 
Adonidin  gave  symptoms  of  nausea  and  intestinal  spasm,  accom- 
panied by  the  expulsion  of  faeces.  The  animal  had  no  convulsions 
or  spasms,  but  lay  on  its  side,  with  pupils  widely  dilated  and,  when 
death  occurred,  respiration  continued  some  moments  after  the  heart 
ceased  to  beat.  This  experimenter  sums  up  the  results  of  his  ob- 
servations on  doses  of  one-third  grain  as  follows:  (1.)  Increases 
arterial  tension.  (2.)  Regulates  the  heart-beat.  (3.)  Diminishes 
the  frequence  of  the  pulse.  (4.)  Increases  the  force  of  the  cardiac 
contractions.  (5.)  Acts  with  rapidity,  its  effects  being  only  present 
during  its  administration.  (6.)  Increases  diuresis.  (7.)  Is  well 
tolerated.  (8.)  That  the  indications  (mc)  for  its  use  are  the  same  as 
for  Digitalis.    , 

Huchard  *  injected  1  to  2  centigrammes  hypodermically  into 
rabbits,  and  found  respiration  reduced,  the  cardiac  force  raised,  no 
paralytic  symptoms,  fall  of  temperature,  and  death  in  from  fifteen 
to  twenty  hours. 

*  Gaz.  Hebd.,  Jan.,  1886. 


202  THE  HOMCEOPATH1G  RECORDER. 

Provings. 

(1.)  Orville  W.  Lane,  effects  of  10  grains  of  crude  Adonis  ver- 
nalis.  (2.)  George  W.  Pleasanton,  effects  of  same  dose.  (For  daily 
record  of  these  provings,  see  Trans.  Am.  Inst.  Horn.,  1888,  142. 

Mind. — Feels  apprehensive,  as  if  something  would  happen.1 

Head. — Feels  light,  with  some  aching.1  Headache  extending  from 
occiput  around  temples  to  eye-sockets,  and  across  frontal  region, 
lasting  until  midnight.1  Vertigo  in  the  morning  on  rising,  obliging 
him  to  lie  down ;  believes  he  would  have  fainted  had  he  remained 
on  his  feet.1  Head  heavy  and  dull  in  occiput.1  Scalp  feels  tight 
all  over.1     Dull,  heavy  headache.1 

Eyes. — Yellow,  surrounded  by  dark  circles.1  Smarting  and  pho- 
tophobic.1 

Mouth. — Tastes  nasty,  slimy  and  bitter.1 

Tongue. — Coated  dirty  yellow.1  Anterior  half  feels  sore,  as  if 
scalded.1 

Heart  and  Pulse. — Heart's  action  somewhat  reduced  in  frequence.1 

Stomach. — Qualmishness,  with  belching  of  gas.1  Gnawing  hunger 
in  morning.1  Faint  sickness  at  stomach  in  morning.1  Anxiety 
proceeding  from  the  stomach.1  Sense  of  a  load  at  epigastrium, 
with  a  sickening  sensation  from  pressure.1  Appetite  decreased, 
though  eating  as  usual,1  Fulness  below  epigastrium  keeps  him 
awake  after  retiring.1  Gnawing  hunger,  with  heavy  weight  at 
stomach.1  Feeling  of  repulsion  after  food  enters  the  stomach.1 
Stomach  felt  heavy  all  day.1 

Abdomen. — Increased  peristalsis.1  Bloating  of  abdomen,  with 
frequent  passage  of  small  quantities  of  hot  flatus.1  Flatus  some- 
what offensive.1  Cutting  pain  just  above  umbilicus,  not  relieved 
by  bending  forward.1  Slight  pain,  relieved  by  supporting  abdomen 
with  hands.1  Faint,  heavy,  gone  feeling  in  epigastrium,  >  by  going 
out  of  doors.1  Intestines  feel  as  if  they  might  break  by  bending, 
which  causes  pain  across  transverse  colon,  as  if  due  to  fixed  gas.1 
Feels  as  if  pushed  outward  when  lying  on  side.1 

Stool. — Sphincter  ani  feels  a  little  lax,  as  if  a  purgative  had  been 
taken.1  Hard,  dark-brown  stool,  passed  only  by  considerable  mus- 
cular effort  (primary).1  Large,  difficult,  hard,  brown  stool.1  Nor- 
mal (fifth  day).1  Pressing  desire  for  stool,  without  pain,  after  eat- 
ing ;  obliged  to  hurry  home  to  pass  a  thin,  free,  fecal  stool,  filled 
with  brownish  lumps  (ninth  and  tenth  days).1  # 

Urine. — Oily  pellicle  on  U.1 

Sleep  and  Dreams.  —  Sleeplessness  from  rambling  thoughts.1 
Dreams  almost  as  soon  as  eyes  are  closed  to  sleep.1  Restless  sleep, 
with  horrible  dreams.2 

Chill,  Fever  and  Sweat. — Slight  glow  of  heat  over  whole  body.1 
Hyper-sensative  to  cold.1 


TEE  HOMCEOPA  T11IC  RECORDER.  3  c, 

Generalities. — Weariness,  with  disinclination  to  arise  in  the  morn- 
ing.1 Tired,  languid  feeling  of  general  malaise  in  evening ;  <  Bit- 
ting or  standing,  >  on  moving  about.1    Languor.1 

Nerves. — Noises  disturb  greatly.1  Nervoua  restlessness.1 
Back  and  Neck. — Aching  in  nape  of  neck,  with  Btifrness.1  Still- 
ness whole  length  of  spine  with  a  sore  aching  from  tenth  dorsal  to 
Last  Lumbar  vertebrae,  extending  outward  to  crest  of  ileum.1  Dull, 
lame  aching  deep  in  muscles  of  thigh.1  Awoke  in  morning  with 
tired  aching  along  entire  spine,  shoulders  and  hips.1  Sticking  pain 
in  lower  angle  of  right  scapula.1 

Clinical. 

Huchard  {he.  cit.)  says :  In  man  the  infusion  of  Adonis  may  be 
given  in  4  to  8  grammes  (1  to  2  drachms)  doses  four  times  daily,  or, 
still  better,  in  pill  form,  4  to  5  daily  of  TV  grain  each.  He  reports 
several  cases  where  Adonidin  has  been  successful.  One  case  of  in- 
terstitial nephritis,  with  galloping  heart  sounds,  anasarca,  and  be- 
ginning asystole,  in  which  Sparteine  had  been  given  in  vain,  Adoni- 
din induced  a  profuse  diuresis,  and  an  unquestionable  improve- 
ment in  the  patient's  condition.  For  some  time,  however,  the  drug 
had  to  be  discontinued  on  account  of  the  diarrhoea  and  vomiting  it 
produced.  When  the  quantity  of  urine  fell  off  again,  the  remedy 
was  again  exhibited,  and  again  relieved  the  most  urgent  symptoms. 
The  diuresis  rose  2  to  4  quarts  daily,  the  arterial  pressure  grew 
stronger,  the  pulse  more  regular  and  full,  and  the  oedema  and  car- 
diac frequency  receded.  In  a  woman  having  a  mitral  affection,  but 
no  heart-murmur,  the  drug  produced  a  very  audible  systolic  mur- 
mur. In  typhoid  fever,  where  great  reduction  of  arterial  pressure 
exists,  Huchard  thinks  the  drug  might  be  used  advantageously  to 
raise  the  pressure. 

Dr.  Hale  remarks  that :  "  Under  the  influence  of  Adonis  in  cases 
of  dropsy,  the  cardiac  contractions  increase  in  force,  the  pulse  becomes 
less  frequent,  more  regular,  and  full,  the  urinary  secretion  increases 
from  200  to  2000  or  3000  cubic  centimetres,  and  albumen  and  casts 
disappear  from  the  urine. 

"  In  cases  where  the  dropsy  was  due  to  a  disturbance  in  the  com- 
pensation and  activity  of  the  heart,  this  remedy  acted  very  satisfac- 
torily. The  heart-beat  increases  in  force,  and  the  size  of  the  heart 
rapidly  diminishes ;  the  heart-sounds  and  murmurs,  especially  the 
pre-systolic  and  systolic  in  stenosis,  are  more  marked  and  distinct. 
The  heart-rhythm  is  more  regular  and  somewhat  slower,  and,  in 
most  cases,  the  pulse-wave  fuller  and  slower.  The  urine  increases 
from  300  to  3000  cubic  centimetres,  a  tenfold  increase  of  the  watery 
element.  All  deposits  disappear,  the  specific  gravity  diminishes, 
and  the  urine  has  a  very  pale  color.     There  is  an  absolute  increase 


204  TEE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBBEIL 

of  the  chlorides  and  urates,  the  body-weight  diminishes,  and  the 
oedema  decreases  rapidly.  The  dimensions  of  the  liver  increase, 
cyanosis  and  dyspnoea  disappear,  and  respiration  becomes  full  and 
regular. 

"  Adonis  is  indicated  in  cases  of  (1)  endocarditis,  with  valvulitis, 
when  the  heart-muscles  are  endeavoring  to  overcome  the  valvular 
obstruction,  and  need  the  aid  of  specific  (heart)  remedies  to  increase 
the  tonicity  of  those  tissues  ;  or  (2 )  when  there  is  impending  or  actual 
dilation  of  the  heart  from  a  giving  way  of  the  muscular  fibres.  This 
condition  is  marked  by  diminished  force  of  the  heart's  action,  with 
lowered  blood  pressure  everywhere,  especially  in  the  kidneys,  de- 
creasing their  functional  activity. 

"  It  has  been  found  potent  in  secondary  heart  disease,  following 
Bright's  disease,  when  we  find  a  diminished  action  of  the  heart,  pulse 
irregular  or  intermitting,  passive  venous  stasis,  dropsy,  etc.  A  typical 
case  from  our  hospital  records*  is  as  follows :  A  common  laborer, 
with  chronic  valvular  disease,  with  dilation.  After  the  use  of  Adonis 
the  heart  diminished  in  size,  the  congestion  of  the  lungs,  well 
marked,  almost  disappeared,  the  oedema  of  the  legs  and  the  ascites 
disappeared  entirely,  palpitation  of  the  heart  and  dyspnoea  dimin- 
ished so  much  that  the  patient  was  discharged  from  the  hospital  and 
returned  to  work. 

"The  dose  of  Adonis,  when  given  in  infusion  (1  drachm  of  the 
herb  to  12  ounces  of  water)),  is  a  tablespoonful  every  two  hours  in 
severe  cases  ;  in  chronic  cases  every  four  hours.  Of  the  fluid  extract 
the  dose  is  1  to  2  minims,  or  increasing  from  5  to  10  drops.  It  is  said 
to  be  more  liable  (than  Digitalis)  to  cause  gastro-intestinal  irrita- 
tion, nausea,  vomiting,  and  diarrhoea  in  large  doses." 

Dr.  Scudder  saysrf  "  The  influence  of  Adonis  is  somewhat  like 
Digitalis,  but  lacks  the  unpleasant  features  of  that  remedy.  Its 
tonic  influence  upon  the  heart  is  most  marked.  In  one  case  the 
heart-beat  ranged  from  50  to  60  per  minute  when  it  should  have 
been  70  to  90;  very  feeble  and  frequently  irregular;  at  times  dizzi- 
ness, partial  loss  of  consciousness,  and,  twice  within  a  week,  syn- 
cope. A  single  day's  use  showed  marked  improvement,  and  within 
a  week  the  pulse  had  come  up  to  70  per  minute  and  regular.  In 
this  case  the  trouble  was  evidently  due  to  over-exertion — heart 
strain.  I  have  only  used  the  remedy  in  a  few  cases,  but  I  have 
U6ed  it  singly,  and  have  watched  its  action  carefully.  From  what 
I  have  seen  I  have  hopes  that  it  will  surpass  Digitalis  as  a  '  car- 
diac tonic'     I  use  it  in  small  doses.     10  drops  of  the  tincture  are 

*  All  of  Dr.  Hale's  clinical  results  "  were  obtained  in  hospital  practice,  where 
the  cases  were  closely  and  caret  ully  watched." 
f  Eclectic  Med icalJo-urnal  November  1887. 


THE  IWMCEOPATIUC  RECORDER.  205 

added  to  4  ounces  of  water,  and  a  teaspopnful  is  given  every  three 
or  four  hours." 

Dr.  Sydney  F.  Wilcox  reports  the  following  rases  in  person: 

Cask  I. — A  gentleman  of  about  fifty-five  years,  in  Lasl  stages  of 
Blight's  disease.  Was  delirious,  with  scanty,  Light-colored  urine,  of 
Light  specific  gravity.  Under  Adonis,  in  doses  of  5  drops  of  the 
tincture  three  times  per  diem,  the  urine  greatly  increased  in  quan- 
tity, while  the  specific  gravity  increased  to  1012,  and  the  brain  symp- 
toms disappeared  entirely. 

Case  II. — A  woman  of  about  sixty  years;  chronic  Blight's  dis- 
ease. Had  had  several  uremic  convulsions,  but  under  Adonis  did 
not  have  another  until  just  before  death.  In  this  case  the  Adonis 
wras  given  for  over  two  years  with  the  result  of  keeping  the  quan- 
tity of  the  urine  up  to  about  the  normal  amount,  but  it  gradually 
became  high-colored,  and  lost  in  specific  gravity,  which  came  down 
to  about  1000. 

Dr.  T.  F.  Allen,  in  a  manuscript  note,  says:  "Adonis  is  most 
valuable  in  cardiac  dropsies.  The  tincture,  given  in  2-drop  doses 
every  two  to  four  hours  results,  in  about  two  to  three  days,  in  a  free 
action  of  the  kidneys,  and  the  heart  becomes  stronger,  etc.  The 
effect  of  the  drug  is  slow  in  coming  on,  but  persistent  when 
gained." 

Further  provings,  showing  the  action  upon  the  heart  itself  and 
the  urinary  organs  in  conjunction,  are  greatly  to  be  desired. 


SOME    PROVEN    CURES    WITH    GOLDEN    ROD. 
Solidago  virgaurea,  Linn. 

BY    M.    GUCKEN,    EUPEN. 

The  Golden  rod  is  in  homoeopathy,  according  to  my  opinion, 
not  as  much  made  use  of  as  it  deserves.  Foh.  Gottfr.  Rademacher, 
who  has  many  admirers  among  us,  says,  in  his  Justification  oj 
Experience  in  Medicine,  about  Virgaurea :  "  This  herb  is  a  very  old 
and  good  kidney  medicine.  It  is  a  specific  for  kidneys,  and 
brings  the  patients  back  to  the  normal  condition."  I  have  used 
the  Golden  rod  for  a  long  time,  and  have  to  make  favorable  reports. 
The  results  of  extensive  homoeopathic  proving  of  this  remedy  on 
healthy  persons  cannot  be  found  in  our  literature,  but  a  Wiir- 
temburg  physician,  Dr.  Buck,  has  given  us  a  list  of  cures  with  the 
Golden  rod  in  the  popular  homoeopathic  paper  edited  by  Dr.  Bolle, 
which  wholly  confirms  the  statements  of  Rademacher,  besides  the 
cases  reported  by  Dr.  Buck. 


206 


THE  HOMOEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 


According  to  this  list,Virgaurea  is  especially  adapted  for  scrof- 
ulous subjects ;  at  the  same  time  other  constitutions  do  not  exclude 
the  use  of  this  remedy.  In  the  first  place,  the  condition  and  the  action 
of  the  kidneys  and  the  quality  of  their  secretions  are  to  be  considered  in 
the  selection  of  this  remedy.  The  symptoms  on  the  part  of  the 
kidneys  and  the  urinary  organs,  which  point  to  Virgaurea,  are  as 
follows: 

Pains  in  the  kidneys ;  region  of  kidneys  painful  upon  pressure ; 
feeling  of  enlargement  and  tension  in  the  kidneys,  also  pains  in  the 
kidneys  which  extend  forward  to  the  abdomen  and  to  the  bladder. 
Dysuria,  difficult  and  scanty  urination ;  urine  dark,  red-brown, 
with  thick  sediment ;  stone  and  gravel,  albumen,  blood  or  slime  in 
the  urine;  urine  dark,  with  sediments  of  phosphates;  slightly  sour, 
neutral  or  alkaline ;  urine  with  numerous  epithelial  cells  or  small 
mucus  particles.  Epithelial  cells  with  gravel  of  triple  phosphates, 
or  phosphate  of  lime.     Bright's  disease. 

Side  symptoms  which  point  to  this  remedy : 

Skin. — Scrofulous  rash  ;  little  blotches  on  hands  and  feet,  itching 
very  much  ;  very  obstinate,  itching  exanthemas ;  exanthema  of  the 
lower  extremities  without  swelling  of  the  inguinal  glands,  but  with 
disturbance  in  urinating  (catarrh  of  the  kidneys). 

Sleep. — Insomnia. 

Fever. — Rheumatic  fever ;  very  frequent  pulse ;  high  fever. 

Head. — Headache. 

Eyes. — Scrofulous,  herpetic  inflammation. 

Ears. — Sudden  deafness,  with  ringing  in  the  ears  and  albuminous 
urine. 

Nose. — Dry ;  the  inner  surface  of  the  nose  covered  with  blood- 
crust;  scalding  and  very  scanty  brown  urine. 

Mouth. — Flat  ulcers  in  the  mouth  and  throat. 

Gastric:  Stomach, .  Abdomen  and  Stool. — Continuous  bitter  taste, 
disturbing  the  rest,  especially  nights;  heavily  covered  tongue, 
which  does  not  become  clean  in  spite  of  the  use  of  anti-gas- 
tric remedies,  and  only  cleanses  itself  at  the  return  of  abundant 
urinating ;  chronic  catarrh  of  the  bowels ;  diarrhoea,  with  scanty, 
dark  urine  ;  dysentery  ;  costiveness  ;  sensation  of  pain  in  the  abdo- 
men on  both  sides  of  the  navel,  upon  deep  pressure ;  physconia 
of  the  abdomen  by  gases ;  severe  pricking  in  both  hypochondria  to 
the  region  of  the  kidneys,  reaching  to  the  lower  extremities,  with 
continued  bitter  taste  in  the  mouth,  especially  at  night,  with  very 
scanty  brown  and  sour  urine. 

Female  Parts. — Haemorrhage,  chronic  leucorrhoea,  in  connection 
with  copious,  watery  urine  and  sediments  of  mucus  particles  and 
uriniferous  tubules;  epithelium. 

Respiratory  Organs. — Heavy  expectoration    in   coughing;  croup, 


THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB.  207 

With  Little  blotches  on  the  hands  and  diminished  urine;  chronic 
catarrh  of  the  Lungs;  continuous  dyspnoea;  periodical  asthma, 
with  nightly  dysuria. 

Trunk  and  Loiver  Limbs. — Rheumatism  of  the  intercostal  mus- 
cles; chronic  pains  in  the  loins;  limping,  dragging  gait;  rheu- 
matic pains  in  the  legs;  pains  in  the  thighs;  the  Legs  can  be  moved 
horizontally,  but  when  moved  perpendicularly  they  feel  lamb. 

In  connection  with  these  symptoms  the  description  of  a  few  cases 
of  sickness,  in  which  Virgaurea  proved  itself,  might  be  of  some 
interest. 

During  the  spring  of  1886  scarlet-diphtheria  appeared  in  this 
place.  On  March  28th  I  was  called  to  attend  the  8-year-old 
son  Matthias,  of  Wernerus,  a  weaver,  in  the  hamlet  of  Niepert,  that 
showed  symptoms  of  the  above  disease.  Cynanche  was  at  a  high 
degree,  and  the  throat  was  filled  with  diphtheric  coating,  so 
much  so  that  I  had  reason  to  fear  the  wTorst,  on  account  of  the 
accompanying  fever  and  of  the  choked-up  condition  and  weakly 
(scrofulous)  habit  of  the  patient.  But  the  well-known  remedy  of 
Viller,  given  alternately  with  Belladonna,  proved  itself  also  in  this 
case,  and  the  symptoms  in  the  throat  assumed,  after  a  tew  days,  a 
less  dangerous  character.  Not  so  with  the  fever,  which  gradually 
assumed  the  form  of  typhoid,  and  ran  very  high,  while  the  scarlet- 
rash  grew  quite  pale.  On  the  morning  of  April  oth,  his  tempera- 
ture was  42.5°,  the  patient  unconscious,  the  pulse  weak  and  inter- 
mittent, the  feet  swollen.  Upon  inquiry  the  parents  told  me  that 
the  boy  urinated  very  little.  His  urine,  of  which  I  had  taken  a 
quantity  the  day  previous  for  examination,  contained  a  consider- 
able amount  of  albuminous  sediments.  I  prescribed  Kali  arseni- 
cosum  in  the  fourth  centesimal  potence,  which  had  been  recom- 
mended in  similar  cases  by  Dr.  Hock  in  the  international  homoeo- 
pathic press ;  but,  although  the  temperature  decreased  after  using 
this  remedy,  the  dropsical  swelling  of  the  feet  increased  more  and 
more,  and  after  a  few  days  the  entire  body  of  the  patient  was 
swollen  very  much.  The  discharge  of  urine  grew  continually  less. 
Under  these  circumstances  I  examined  the  patient  again  thor- 
oughly, and  found  great  sensitiveness  of  the  kidneys  against  .pres- 
sure, in  spite  of  his  otherwise  apathetic  condition.  These  symp- 
toms reminded  me  of  Virgaurea.  This  remedy  was  immediately 
applied,  and  I  had  no  reason  to  regret  it.  Within  one  day  the 
urinal  discharge  became  profuse,  the  general  condition  improving 
at  the  same  time;  the  peeling  off  took  place  without  further 
trouble,  and  after  the  patient  had  taken  Virgaurea  for  two  weeks, 
and,  on  account  of  anaemia,  for  one  week  three  times  a  day,  a  dose 
of   Ferrum    peroxydatum     in    the    2d  trituration,  he  had  so  far 


208 


THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BEGOBDEB. 


recovered  that  I  did  not  consider  it  necessary  to  give  further  med- 
icine. 

In  1885  a  45-year-old  Belgian  mine  official  (his  work  was  office- 
work)  consulted  me  on  account  of  sleeplessness  and  pain  in  the 
back.  The  patient  had  no  other  complaints,  only  he  carelessly 
added  it  sometimes  took  him  a  long  time  to  urinate,  because  of  want 
of  the  necessary  pressure.  He  considered  this  weakness  as  the  re- 
sult of  gonorrhoea,  from  which  he  had  suffered  years  ago.  The  sleep- 
lessness, for  which  he  had  tried  all  remedies  possible,  would  make 
itself  known  from  the  time  he  went  to  bed  until  3  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  at  which  time  he  could  get  sleep,  but  not  a  refreshing  one, 
and  on  arising  he  would  feel  very  tired,  especially  in  the  upper  part 
of  the  thighs,  and  then  would  commence  the  pain  in  the  back,  which 
extended  to  the  loins,  and  lasted  until  he  went  to  bed  in  the  evening, 
without  being  prompted  by  external  influences  (warmth,  cold,  rest, 
motion).  Also  sleeplessness  nights,  pain  in  the  back  daytimes.  At 
first  I  considered  Nux  vom.  proper,  and  I  prescribed  the  same  for 
the  patient  in  the  3d  decimal  potency,  4  drops  twice  a  day.  At  the 
same  time  I  requested  the  patient  to  bring  a  sample  of  his  urine  at 
his  next  visit.  After  some  time  he  came  back  with  the  sample,  and 
declared  that  the  prescribed  remedy  had  not  shown  the  least  effect. 

The  urine  was  dark  and  slimy,  reddish,  slightly  acid,  and  had  at  the 
bottom  of  the  bottle  brick-dust  settlings.  Heat  did  not  show  albumen, 
but  by  heating  it  the  dark  urine  became  clearer,  and  contained  also 
salts  of  uric  acid.  I  examined  the  kidneys  of  the  patient,  found 
them  sensitive  against  pressure,  and  the  diagnosis  pointed  to  chronic 
catarrh  of  the  kidneys.  Sleeplessness,  pain  in  the  back  and  the 
tired  feeling  in  the  upper  parts  of  the  thigh  were  additional  symp- 
toms of  this  malady,  and  I  determined  to  use  Virgaurea.  The  pa- 
tient took  this  for  three  months  three  times  a  day,  after  which  he 
wrote  me  that  he  was  entirely  well.  About  a  year  afterwards  he 
had  a  relapse,  but  not  in  the  form  of  former  symptoms,  but  in  the 
form  of  ischias,  against  which  disease  Golden  rod  proved  itself  bene- 
ficial. 

In  conclusion,  may  be  mentioned  a  double  case  of  the  curative 
power  of  Virgaurea,  which  also  contributes  to  the  heredity  of  dis- 
eases. Some  time  ago,  the  wife  of  a  farmer,  53  years  old,  asked  me 
for  a  prescription  for  a  trouble  which  she  had  had  for  twenty-six 
years,  since  her  first  confinement.  The  patient,  a  stout  and  fresh- 
looking  person,  made  the  following  statement:  After  the  confine- 
ment, which  was  very  laborious,  and  which  was  followed  by  pro- 
lapsus uteri,  the  latter  still  existing,  her  legs  began  to  swell,  and 
an  itching  rash  broke  out  by  degrees.  Menstruation  had  always 
come  at  the  proper  time,  but  suddenly  stopped  six  months  ago. 

Since  that  time  the  itching  had  become  almost  intolerable,  the  legs 


THE  UOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB.  20S 

more  swollen  and  always  cold,  but  Bhe  did  qoI  feel  a  continuoue 
heat  in  her  head.  The  appetite  was  very  poor;  she  had  alwa; 
bitter  taste  in  the  mouth,  and  the  tongue  was  thickly  coated.  At 
the  Bame  time  she  had  rising  from  the  stomach,  as  [f  Bhe  should 
Suffocate,  and  at  the  least  exertion  she  lost  her  breath.  She  urinated 
very  little,  and  this  mostly  ;it  night.  My  question,  if  there  were  pains 
in  the  hack,  was  answered  in  the  negative,  but  the  kidneys  of  this 
patient  were  also  sensitive  against  pressure.  The  appearance  of  the 
lower  limbs  of  the  patient  frightened  me.  From  knee  to  heel  they 
formed  a  bluish-red  mass  in  the  shape  of  a  stovepipe,  which  were 
covered  with  little  blotches  and  crusts.  This  kind  of  an  eruption,  to- 
gether with  the  other  symptoms,  led  me  to  the  use  of  Virgaurea,  the 
prolonged  use  of  which,  although  it  did  not  effect  a  cure,  produced 
a  mitigation  of  the  wdiole  body,  so  that  the  lady  induced  her  eldesl 
son  to  come  to  me  for  help.  This  man  had  also  trouble  in  his  lower 
limbs  not  unlike  his  mother.  He  had  a  year  ago  passed  through  a 
severe  throat  difficulty,  after  which  his  lower  limbs  began  to  swell 
and  to  itch  ;  they  were  also  tainted  bluish-red  and  covered  with 
vesicles ;  he  also  complained  of  scanty  urine,  and  his  kidneys  were 
sensitive  against  pressure.  What  better  could  I,  under  the  circum- 
stances, prescribe  than  Virgaurea  ? 

The  result  was  good.  After  a  few  months  the  patient  had  no  more 
difficulty. 

In  the  cases  above  mentioned,  I  prescribed  the  3d  decimal  dilu- 
tion of  the  tincture  of  the  whole  plant  of  Golden  rod.  The  water  of 
Golden  rod,  recommended  by  Rademacher  and  others,  I  have  never 
tried. 


HOMCEOPATHIC  THERAPEUTICS. 

Cancer  of  the  Tongue— Kali  Cyanatum — By  Dr.  E.  T.  Adams, 
of  Toronto,  Ontario. — T.  S.,  fifty-eight  years  old,  an  incorrigible 
whisky-drinker,  had  been  under  the  treatment  of  many  allopathic 
physicians, and  finally  was  treated  by  a  very  celebrated  surgeon,  and 
every  one's  diagnosis  was:  cancerous  swelling;  prognosis,  the  most 
unfavorable.  A  swelling  on  the  right  side  of  the  tongue  so  deep  that 
the  first  joint  of  the  thumb  could  be  laid  in  it. 

He  was  not  able  to  take  solid  nourishment,  and  fluids  only  with 
great  pain.  He  w\as  so  weak  that  he  could  hardly  move  out  of  bed. 
Under  Cyanate  (which  dilution?)  he  recovered  so  rapidly  that  the 
celebrated  surgeon,  not  knowing  that  a  homoeopathic  physician 
treated  him,  had  hopes  of  curing  him. 

In  about  eight  days  he  gained  so  much  strength  that  he  could 
undertake  a  long  walk  before  6  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Finally,  I 
vol.  iv. — 14 


210  THE  HOMCEOPATHIG  RECORDER. 

saw  him  eat  dry  bread  and  cooked  beef  with  comparative  ease  and 
leisure.  This  good  surgeon  relieved  him  of  his  unbelief,  and,  ap- 
pealing to  his  ignorance,  got  his  consent  to  have  the  tongue  oper- 
ated upon.  This  was  done  ;  he  only  lived  seventeen  days,  and  died 
after  a  hard  struggle ;  this  in  relation  to  the  scientific  treatment. 

Kali  cyan,  deserved  all  confidence  as  to  the  gain  in  the  case,  and 
I  am  morally  convinced  that  it  would  have  effected  a  cure. 

Dr.  J.  D.  T}rrell  adds:  A  lady  of  my  acquaintance  was  so  sensitive 
that  each  dose  of  this  remedy  made  her  condition  worse,  or  brought 
on  laryngeal  catarrh  again.  This  fact  cannot  be  denied,  and  it  is 
therefore  our  duty  to  try  this  remedy  and  to  verify  the  patho- 
genesis. Kali  hydrocyanicum,  or,  in  short,  Kali  cyanatum,  must 
not  be  confounded  with  common  Cyanide,  since  it  distinguishes 
itself  from  the  latter  in  chemical  as  well  as  in  physical  and  thera- 
peutic relation.  The  chemical  formula  is  KCN,  as  every  one  knows, 
while  that  of  the  Cyanate  is  KCNO. 

(To  this  the  editor  of  the  Medical  Advance  adds,  that  this  remedy 
is  worthy  of  a  careful  examination,  not  to  cause  cancers  of  the 
tongue,  but  to  acquire  the  subjective  and  objective  symptoms,  in 
accordance  with  which  we  can  use  the  remedy  successfully  in 
treating  our  patients.)— Dr.  Th.  Kafka,  Allg.  Horn.  Zeit,  26,  1889. 

Contribution  to  the  Pathogenetic  Effects  of  Chininum  Ar- 
senicosum. — In  the  eleventh  number  of  the  Omceopatico  in  Italiano, 
organ  for  the  Institute  Omceopatico  Italiano,  Dr.  Bonino,  of  Turin, 
president  of  the  society,  has  contributed  very  materially  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  pathogenetic  effects  of  Chininum  arsenicosum. 
He,  of  great  knowledge  of  remedies,  has  proven  himself  also  a  good, 
self-sacrificing  prover  of  remedies. 

In  the  introduction  he  says :  Among  the  medicines  which  the 
homoeopathic  physician  often  prescribe  rather  according  to  induc- 
tion than  according  to  precise  knowledge  of  the  pathogenetic  effects, 
we  may  count  the  above  remedy. 

Dr.  Bonino,  endowed  with  a  nervous-bilious  temperament,  sub- 
ject to  all  kinds  of  neuralgic  pains,  brunette,  41  years  old,  took,  on 
March  2d,  at  10  a.m.,  gr.  0.02  of  the  first  decimal  trituration  of  Chini- 
num arsenicosum.  Outside  of  a  few  indefinite  pains  in  the  abdo- 
men and  in  the  bones,  which  might  possibly  be  attributed  to  the 
dry  winds  prevailing  at  the  time,  he  was  not  aware  of  any  disease, 
and  ate  dinner  with  his  customary  appetite.  At  5  o'clock  of  the 
same  day  he  took  the  same  dose  as  above.  One  hour  afterwards, 
dryness  in  the  roof  of  the  mouth,  gnawing  and  nausea  as  before 
vomiting  (similar  to  the  condition  at  the  commencement  of  intoxi- 
cation brought  on  by  smoking  tobacco).  After  a  half  hour  this  nau- 
sea disappeared,  and  the  night  passed  off  quietly. 


TEE  EOMCEOPA  THIG  RECORDER.  2 1 1 

March  13th,  7  a.m.  Another  dose  ;  after  one  hour  frequent  gnaw- 
ing in  rapid  succession;  momentary  dizziness  ;  inside  griping  around 
the  naval,  as  before  a  purgative  ;  appetite  Dot  essentially  changed. 
At  4  o'clock,  a  second  dose;  soon  after  a  deep,  dull  pain  in  the  left 
upper  thigh,  which  he  had  already  felt  on  the  day  previous.  After 
one  hour,  dull  pain  in  the  left  temporal  region  at  the  articulation 
of  the  lower  jaw,  and  in  the  hip  of  the  same  side;  a  tightening 
sensation  in  the  mediastinum,  in  front,  at  the  left  of  the  breast- 
bone; flying,  stinging  irritation,  especially  on  the  scalp;  shooting 
pain  dee})  along  the  whole  of  the  right  lower  extremity,  especially 
while  resting.  At  5  p.m.,  repeated  gnawing;  general  chill  and 
cold;  dull  headache;  pain,  as  if  from  a  flatus  wedged  in  the  left 
flexure  of  the  colon ;  pulse  55  in  a  minute,  otherwise  61 ;  general 
expansion  and  contraction ;  penetrating  pain  in  the  regis  temporo 
-frontalis  superior  sinistra;  pain  in  the  right  astragalotarsal  joint, 
as  if  both  heads  were  drawn  in  opposite  directions;  it  ceases 
while  walking.  After  the  feverish  cough  in  the  first  stadium,  i.e., 
the  chill,  there  was  no  reaction  of  perceptible  warmth,  and  every- 
thing gradually  disappeared  in  the  evening. 

Matters  of  business  forced  Dr.  Bonino  to  stop  the  proving  for  a 
time,  but  he  took  it  up  again  on  the  24th  of  the  same  month,  with  a 
dose  of  Chininum  arsenicosum  in  natura  of  gr.  0.05.  Almost  im- 
mediately (10  a.m.)  followed  trembling  of  the  facial  muscles,  espe- 
cially of  the  orbicularis  palpebrarum.  After  an  hour,  stretch- 
ing, reqeated  yawning,  nausea,  complete  relaxation  of  the  muscles, 
especially  of  the  lower  limbs,  as  if  from  tobacco  poisoning.  While 
walking,  dizziness,  collapse,  the  same  as  after  an  acute  and  severe 
sickness ;  urine  watery  ;  pulse  53 ;  dislike  of  mental  occupation  in 
spite  of  sufficient  clear-headedness.  Toward  noon  nearly  all  the 
symptoms  disappeared.  He  eats  from  a  feeling  of  hunger,  but  with 
little  taste  for  the  vituals. 

In  the  afternoon  of  March  25th,  a  new  dose,  0.05.  All  the  eve- 
ning no  .symptoms  of  consequence,  except  an  annoying  feeling  of 
fatigue  in  the  right  shoulder,  as  if  the  humerus  had  been  torn  out 
of  the  articular  cavity. 

March  27th,  at  11  a.m.,  0.05.  Sudden  attacks  of  vertigo,  as  if  he 
would  be  thrown  on  the  ground,  which  increased  on  looking  up. 
Deep  pains  in  the  wrists,  as  if  the  periosteum  were  affected  ;  motion 
does  not  increase  this,  but  rather  diminishes  it.  Sitting  down,  the 
head  seems  to  be  covered  with  an  iron  cap ;  after  three-quarters  of 
an  hour  extreme  fatigue,  with  a  desire  to  lie  down.  Urine  watery. 
Numbness  of  the  legs  after  hardly  having  laid  down ;  the  pain  of 
having  the  arm  torn  out  (on  the  right  side)  returns. 

March  29th,  at  11  a.m.,  gr.  0.05.  Almost  sudden,  indescribable, 
general  nausea,  with  attacks  of  flying  heat  and  waning  away  of 


212  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

strength,  principally  in  the  lower  limbs  ;  feeling  of  debility,  as  after 
long  fasting ;  colic  pains  around  the  navel.  At  7  p.m.  (after  supper), 
pain  in  the  epigastrium,  as  if  from  a  foul  stomach,  without  nausea; 
the  action  of  the  abdomen  is  inclined  toward  costiveness.  The  day 
following,  stiffness  of  all  bones,  even  while  in  motion.  Mental 
faculties  dull,  with  ringing  in  the  right  ear.  The  night  between 
March  30th  and  31st  was  disturbed  by  a  severe  pain  in  the  stomach, 
which  repeated  itself  several  mornings,  as  if  the  stomach  was 
pushed  against  the  spinal  column ;  eating  would  relieve  it  for  a 
few  moments. 

On  April  12th,  at  3  p.m.,  Dr.  Bonino's  took  10  centigrammes  of  the 
medicine  in  natura  at  once.  Almost  immediately  tightening  pain 
in  the  region  of  the  stomach,  and  after  one-half  of  an  hour  copious 
bleeding  from  the  nose.  All  the  evening,  on  different  parts  of  the 
body,  burning,  fluttering  beats,  as  in  the  use  of  electricity ;  the 
night  was  full  of  visions,  and  heavy  sleep  until  morning.  Stiffness 
of  the  bones  the  next  day,  besides  pains  deep  in  the  joints,  which 
were  not  changed  by  moving  about. 

April  14th,  at  11  a.m.  He  took  1  gramme  of  the  3d  decimal  at 
once.  Pain  in  the  left  wrist,  with  stiffness  of  the  arm  on  the  same 
side.  Feeling  of  emptiness  in  the  cardiac  region,  as  if  from  long 
fasting.  Congestion  towards  the  head,  especially  on  the  left  side, 
with  ringing  in  the  ears,  like  the  sound  of  bells.  The  hot  and  tick- 
ling fluttering  upon  the  surface  of  the  skin  came  back,  and  pains 
deep  in  the  legs,  which  are  severer  when  resting.  The  night  was 
quiet;  toward  morning  frequent  bad-smelling  flatus,  without 
stomach-ache;  general  debility,  with  excessive  hunger.  Not  dis- 
posed to  studying  or  walking. 

April  17th,  at  7  a.m.,  0.05  in  natura,  and  at  10  a  new  dose.  Very 
soon  the  caducity  of  the  whole  muscular  system  made  itself  mani- 
fest. Ache  around  the  navel  and  in  the  ileum;  contracting  gas- 
tralgia,  corresponding  with  cardia,  as  if  pushed  up  from  pressure ; 
tasteless  eructations  give  relief  only  for  a  moment.  Pain  in  the 
right  knee  as  if  it  had  been  hurt  by  falling,  lasting  all  the  evening 
and  yet  the  next  day,  hindering  from  sleeping ;  pressure  upon  the 
tuberosity  tibiae,  which  has  swollen  somewhat,  increases  the  pain. 
Pains  of  spraining  in  the  deep  cavities  of  the  cruralis  and  biceps, 
first  on  the  right  and  then  on  the  left  side.  Gastralgia  is  relieved 
by  eating  supper,  but  the  depression  and  the  lassitude  of  the  bones 
continues  until  the  next  day ;  sad  and  afflicted  feelings.  Taste 
metallic-bitter,  without  changing  the  taste  of  victuals.  Burning 
pain,  as  in  the  periosteum  of  the  left  elbow ;  cramp-like  pulling  in 
the  gemellus  sinister.  Gastralgia  alleviated  in  the  evening,  returns 
more  severe  in  the  morning,  as  from  indigestion  caused  by  eating 
sour  fruits  or  poorly  baked  rye  bread ;  at  the  same  time  neither 


THE  HOMCEOPA  T1IIC  RECORDER.  21 3 

nausea  nor  bad  taste.    On  April  19th,  the  pain  in  the  stomach  con- 
tinued, as  if  the  stomach  had  contracted  Itself  around  an  uneven 

stone.    The  pain  of  fatigue  in  the  right  wrist  also  returned. 

Dr.  Bonino  now  attempts  to  arrange  the  symptoms  which  lie  had 
observed,  and  gives  the  following  conclusions: 

1.  The  symptoms  of  disease  make  themselves  more  perceptible 
while  at  rest,  in  the  morning  and  when  the  stomach  is  empty; 
motion  seems  to  alleviate  the  symptoms  of  vertigo;  eating  soothes 
gastralgia. 

2.  The  effect  of  Chininum  arsenicosum  manifests  itself  directly 
upon  the  stomach,  plexus  Solaris,  the  articular  ligaments,  the  perios- 
teum, the  deep  muscular  layers,  brain,  colon,  heart  and,  lastly,  upon 
the  skin. 

3.  It  will  therefore  find  homoeopathic  use  in  difficulties  from 
smoking  tobacco;  in  indigestion  from  unripe  fruits;  in  gastralgia 
caused  by  eating  coarse  victuals  or  poorly  baked  bread — being  worse 
in  the  morning,  with  the  need  of  rising  from  the  stomach,  which  re- 
lieves momentarily;  in  chronic  rheumatism  of  the  joints,  without 
swelling ;  in  tertiary  syphilis,  if  located  in  the  periosteum ;  in  colic 
pains  from  strangulated  flatulence ;  in  periodical  fevers,  with  pre- 
dominant chills,  little  thirst  and  continuous,  almost  convulsive 
yawning ;  in  the  effects  of  severe,  depressing  influences  upon  the 
mind,  and  in  recovering  from  long-lasting  sickness.  The  symptoms 
of  the  heart  are  not  clear  enough  to  draw  conclusions  therefrom  for 
therapeutic  purposes ;  the  same  is  the  case  with  the  skin.  In  con- 
clusion, it  may  be  said  that  the  relaxation  of  the  limbs,  as  the  result 
of  slowT  circulation  of  the  blood,  will  find  a  remedy  in  Chininum 
arsenicosum. 

These  are  the  results  of  the  provings  made  by  our  worthy  col- 
league, Dr.  Bonino,  on  his  own  person,  with  such  self-sacrificing 
perseverance  and  conscious  truthfulness,  and  we  are,  therefore,  under 
great  obligations  to  him  for  those  results,  and  also  for  the  proper 
compilation  of  the  indications  of  so  valuable  a  remedy,  especially 
if  we  consider  how  fewr  men  gave  themselves  up  in  such  a  self- 
sacrificing  way  in  the  last  decades  in  Germany. — Allg.  Horn.  ZeiL, 
July,  1889. 

Calcarea  Carbonica  in  Gall-stone  Colic. — The  last  issue  of 
the  Recorder  contained  a  short  translated  article  upon  Calcarea 
carbonica  in  gall-stone  colic.  Here  is  also  a  confirmation,  obtained 
from  a  friend,  of  its  usefulness  in  this  condition  :  A  man,  forty 
years  old,  suffered  from  periodic  attacks  of  gall-stone  colic  for  quite 
awhile.  Iridin  (£-grain  doses),  Dioscorea  (3x),  and  Chloroform  re- 
lieved temporarily.  On  being  called  to  see  him  during  an  attack, 
Calcarea  carbonica  4x  was  administered  by  the  physician,  attention 


214  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

being  called  to  it  by  green  vomiting  and  diarrhoea,  chalky  stools 
before  attacks  and  green  after.  The  remedy  gave  him  slight  relief 
during  the  immediate  attack,  the  next  was  less  violent,  and  they 
finally  grew  lighter  and  lighter,  ceasing  entirely  at  the  end  of  a 
month,  and  not  bothering  him  since.  The  prescription  was  in  1886. 
(Communicated.)  p.  and  p. 

Aurum— A  Case  from  Practice. — Frau  W.  K.,  the  wife  of  a 
farmer,  forty-two  years  old ;  large,  blonde,  more  corpulent  than  lean ; 
has  had  eight  children,  the  last  two  years  ago,  and  menstruates 
regularly  yet.  She  came  to  me  June  18,  1888,  and  said  she  had 
suffered  for  two  years  from  vomiting,  making  its  appearance  every 
day  four  to  five  times.  For  several  years  she  has  suffered  from  a 
pain  in  the  region  of  the  spleen,  as  well  as  iathat  of  the  stomach, 
which  has  been  so  bad  that  she  could  do  but  little  about  the  house, 
the  much  more  so  as  the  vomiting  was  awakened  and  increased  by 
every  exertion.  Examination  revealed,  in  scrobiculo  cordis,  a  dul- 
ness  and  tension,  passing  over  into  the  liver  region.  The  uterus 
was  strongly  retroverted;  the  fundus  uteri  enlarged  and  resting 
heavily  upon  the  examining  finger.  Two  indications,  the  dulness 
in  the  scrobiculo  cordis,  which  may  have  been  due  to  a  swelling  of 
the  left  lobe  of  the  liver,  and  the  womb  trouble,  called  for  Aurum, 
and  I  prescribed  it  as  Aur.  natr.  muriat.  3x  trituration,  three  times 
daily.  On  the  3d  of  July  the  patient  reported  the  pain  in  the 
stomach  and  the  vomiting  were  better,  yet  the  old  pain  in  the  splenic 
region  troubled  her  very  much.  Aurum  was  continued  and  alter- 
nated with  Ceanoth.  Americ.  3,  2  grammes  in  150  grammes  of  water, 
one  teaspoonful  three  times  daily.  August  1st,  the  dulness  and 
tension  in  the  scrobiculo  cordis  had  disappeared,  the  vomiting  had 
not  returned,  the  pain  in  the  splenic  region  gone,  the  fundus  uteri 
less  swollen.  She  did  her  own  house-work  now,  suffered  no  longer 
from  vomiting,  and  was  satisfied  with  her  condition.  She  was  sup- 
plied with  enough  Ceanoth.  americ.  3,  for  about  fourteen  days,  and 
told  to  report  if  she  had  any  return  of  the  trouble.  I  have  since 
heard  of  her,  through  other  patients,  that  she  is  well — certainly 
a  happy  result  in  such  a  condition  as  hers  was. — Dr.  Amberg,  in 
Allg.  Horn.  Zeituag,  June  6,  1889.  p.  and  p. 


ITEMS  OF  GENERAL  INTEREST. 

A  New  Antidote  Against  Morphium. — Prof.  Bokai  believes  to 
have  found  a  new  antidote  against  Morphium  in  Picrotoxin.  The 
two  substances  act  in  opposition  to  each  other  upon  the  centre  of 
respiration,  the  action  of  which  is  influenced  by  Morphium  in  a 


THE  HOMCEOPA  THIC  RECORDER.  2 1 5 

paralyzing,  by  small  doses  of  Picrotoxin  In  a  stimulating  manner. 
The  diminution  of  the  pressure  of  the  blood  plays  also  a  rGU  in 
cases  of  Morptu'um  poisoning,  while  Picrotoxin  has  the  faculty  to 
stimulate  the  vaso-constrictoric  centre  of  the  medulla  oblongata. 
Finally,  both  substances  affect  the  hemispheres  of  the  brain  in  oppo- 
site directions.  Bokai  believes  that  Picrotoxin  will  be  of  use  as  a 
substitute  for  the  preparations  of  Nux  vomica,  and,  further,  as  a 
preventative  of  Chloroform  asphyxia. —  Vienna  Weekly,  1889. 

Calomel  Intoxication,  With  a  Fatal  Result  After  Subcu- 
taneous Injection.— Prof.  Runeberg  found,  in  dissecting  a  thirty- 
four-year-old  feeble  lady  patient,  who  died,  after  three  Calomel  in- 
jections, of  dysenteric  symptoms  of  the  bowels  and  strong  stoma- 
titis, that  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  large  intestine,  and 
especially  on  the  top  of  the  wrinkles,  was  covered  to  a  great  extent 
with  hemorrhagic  spots,  and  with  penetrating  diphtheritic  infil- 
trations. 

In  some  places  the  diphtheritic  infiltrations  were  cast  off,  leaving 
deep  ulcers.  In  cutting  into  the  cluns  there  were  found  two  cavities, 
one  of  which  contained  two  tablespoonfuls  of  thick,  grayish,  puru- 
lent fluid,  in  which  ample  quantities  of  Calomel  were  discernible. 
Runeberg,  giving  a  number  of  other  cases  with  a  fatal  result,  advises 
caution  in  the  use  of  subcutaneous  injections  of  insoluble  prepara- 
tions of  Calomel,  and  condemns  them  decidedly  for  feeble,  anaemic 
individuals. — Gen.  Med.  Central  Gazette. 

Immunity  of  Workers  in  Lime-kilns  Against  Phthisis  Pul- 
monalis— By  Dr.  Louis  Halter. — Near  Lengerich,  phthisis  pulmo- 
nalis  is  spread  very  largely  among  those  people  who  do  not  work 
at  the  kilns,  while  the  lime-workers  seem  exempt. 

Two  important  agencies  have  their  influence:  (1.)  A  dry  ground 
for  work,  and  a  dry,  very  hot  air  of  41°  to  70°  C.  (2.)  Fine  lime- 
dust  in  quite  large  quantities. 

Although  lime-dust  is  considered  by  masons  and  carpenters  hurt- 
ful, this  injurious  effect  probably  comes  from  sandy  and  other  sub- 
stances which  are  mixed  with  lime  in  tearing  down  buildings. 

The  workers  in  lime  are  endowed  with  good  tracheae  and  lungs. 
Burnt  lime  is  transformed  by  absorption  of  water  into  oxyhydrate 
of  lime,  but  also  immediately  by  the  evaporating  oxygen  into  oxy- 
genous lime.  On  account  of  the  great  heat  in  the  oven  the  work- 
men relieve  each  other  after  from  five  to  twenty  minutes  (according 
to  the  temperature  of  the  oven).  Even  when  working  out-doors 
the  men  receive  lime-dust  enough.  This  stuff  covers,  in  windy 
weather,  even  after  one-half  hour  or  one  hour,  their  clothes  in  visible 
quantities,  and  penetrates  even  their  watches. 


216  THE  HOMCEOPA  THIC  RECORDER. 

Perhaps  the  small  quantities  of  oxygenous  lime  which  remain  in 
the  lungs  have  the  effect  of  chalk  upon  existing  tuberculous  secreted 
substances.  There  is  also  the  general  opinion  that  the  calcifications 
in  the  tissues  emanate  from  the  blood. 

The  successes  of  Lippspringe  and  Inselbad  are  partly  attributed 
to  the  water  containing  much  lime  ;  it  also  dissolves  mucin.  As 
to  the  second  agent,  it  is  known  that  the  minimum  of  phthisis  is 
found  on  a  dry  ground,  and  the  frequency  of  the  disease  stands  in 
direct  proportion  to  the  humidity  of  the  soil. 

Further,  also,  the  hot  air  seems  to  have  its  bearing  upon  the  im- 
munity. Therewith  was  most  always  found  a  relative  moisture  of 
under  0  per  cent,  (with  the  patent  hygrometer  of  Klinkerfuess). 
This  dryness  takes  place  also  in  the  proximity  of  the  ovens.  The 
sections  of  country  of  India,  which  are  known  for  their  dryness, 
are  the  least  infected  by  phthisis. 

The  same  conditions  can  be  proven  in  regard  to  countries  and 
health  resorts  which  are  visited  against  phthisis.  The  Riviera  has, 
like  Cairo  and  Meran,60to  70  per  cent,  of  moisture,  and  even  Davos 
has,  at  noon,  56  per  cent. ;  and  at  37.0°  C.  (temperature  of  the  air 
exhaled),  showed  an  average  relative  humidity  of  11  per  cent. ; 
Denver,  Col.,  an  average  of  47  per  cent. 

Beside  the  becoming  thinner  of  the  air  in  consequence  of  the  ele- 
vation, there  is  also  the  diminution  of  moisture  in  the  air  connected 
therewith  of  the  utmost  importance,  since  the  process  of  decompo- 
sition does  not  progress  as  well  in  a  dry  air,  either  warm  or  cold,  as 
in  a  damp  one. 

As  well  above  as  below  the  region  of  the  clouds,  we  meet  in  Switz- 
erland a  very  small  number  of  deaths  caused  by  phthisis,  since  only 
in  this  region  of  the  clouds  (1100  to  1500)  the  air  is  very  damp,  and 
from  this  cause  the  frequency  of  phthisis. 

Weber  says :  The  drying  of  the  air-tubes,  through  air  containing 
little  moisture,  carries  on  the  already  formed  disease  process.  The 
thick  catarrhal  matter  becomes  dried,  and  changes  into  cheesy  and 
calcareous  matter,  and  the  inclination  to  absorption  and  to  pysemic 
processes,  and  the  closely-related  miliary  tubercule  becomes  dimin- 
ished. Also  the  bacillus  tuberculosis  perishes  much  easier  in  dry  air 
than  in  moist.  Kept  in  a  moist  atmosphere,  the  bacillus  tuberculosis 
retained  life  as  long  as  ten  months,  but  under  conditions  of  dryness 
they  lost  their  vitality  after  two  months,  including  the  spores. — Ber- 
lin Med.  Weekly,  No.  36,  1888. 

Powerful  Effects  of  Cocaine. — A  dentist  injected  under  the 
gums  of  a  nineteen-year-old,  robust,  somewhat  chlorotic  girl,  who 
had,  as  she  pretended,  on  account  of  severe  toothache,  not  taken  any 
nourishment  for  two  days  previous,  and  had  not  slept  in  two  nights, 


THE  HOMCEOPA  TH1C  BECOBDEIi.  2 1 7 

a  i  Byringe  of  a  L5  per  cent,  solution  of  Cocaine,  also  0.1 125  Cooaine 
in  two  <loscs  in  short  intervals,  and  then  extracted  the  tooth  without 
pain.  It  is  stated  thai  the  girl,  according  to  advice,  rinsed  out  her 
mouth,  which  Bhedid  mechanically;  after  that  she  turned  pale  and 

fell  down,  suffering  from  vehement  convulsions,  interrupted  by  short 
pauses.  Immediately  Amyl  nitrate  and  cold  poultices  around  the 
head  were  resorted  to,  but  without  material  success. 

AVhen  I  saw  the  patient  she  was  unconcious,  without  noticing 
any  irritation,  groaning,  with  a  slightly  cyanotic  face,  upon  the 
lounge.  The  whole  body,  trunk  and  extremities  were  thrown  about 
by  severe  clonic  cramps,  which  lasted  five  hours,  with  gradually 
longer  and  more  frequent  pauses.  The  muscles  of  the  face  were 
not  affected  by  the  cramps.  Pupils  moderately  large,  and  without 
reaction.  There  was  no  exophthalmus,  the  skin  felt  warm  and  dry. 
the  temperature,  though  taken  at  this  stadium  under  the  arm,  reg- 
istered 38.2°.  The  pulse,  which  in  the  first  stage  could  not  be  counted, 
had,  later  on,  a  frequency  of  176  beats  per  minute.  The  respiration 
was  44.  After  the  cramps  ceased,  the  patient  lay  quietly  for  two 
hours,  and  the  unconciousness  continued.  When  she  regained 
consciousness  she  stated  that  she  had  recieved  the  second  Cocaine 
injection  fully  conscious,  but  ignorant  of  what  happened  thereafter. 
She  could  not  stand  up,  broke  down  when  erected ;  could  only  sit 
humped  up ;  was  unable  to  lift  her  arms  and  to  press  the  hand 
when  offered ;  had  intense  photophobia,  diminished  sensibility  of 
the  skin,  anaesthesia  of  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  nose  and  the 
oral  cavity,  entire  loss  of  smell  and  taste,  dryness  and  burning  in 
the  throat,  thirst,  and  severe  choking.     Pulse,  132  ;  respiration,  28. 

Then  appeared  cardialgia,  first  less  striking,  but  the  following 
days  rising  to  an  excessive  height.  Next  came  retention  of  urine 
during  twenty-four  hours,  whereupon  followed  normal  secretion  of 
urine  after  the  first  scanty,  concentrated  urine  had  been  discharged. 
Sleeplessness  during  thirty  hours  ;  total  want  of  appetite  during  four 
days.  AVhile  the  other  symptoms,  after  two  or  three  days,  disap- 
peared (after  forty  hours  she  could  walk,  with  trembling  knees), 
cardialgia  remained  six  days.  Permanent  consequences  have  not 
shown  themselves. 

Amyl  nitrate  and  cold  applications  upon  the  head  were  without 
avail  in  this  case;  also  the  giving  of  large  doses  of  Opium  seems  to 
have  been  without  material  effect.  Be  it  said  that  the  girl  claims 
to  have  formerly  always  been  well,  a  fracture  of  a  bone  and  slight 
chlorosis  excepted,  and  that  she  stoutly  denies  ever  to  have  suffered 
from  cramps.  I  did  not  succeed  in  gaining  any  information  from 
the  parents.  The  heart  and  other  organs  were  healthy  ;  conditions 
of  menstruation  normal. — AUg.  Horn.  Zeit.}  1,  1889. 


218  THE  HOMCEOPATHIG  BEGOBDEB. 

Spiraea  Ulmaria  Against  the  Bite  of  Mad  Dogs. — In  the  month 
of  January,  1887,  those  who  had  experimented  with  Spiraea  ulmaria 
against  the  bite  of  mad  dogs,  were  asked  in  the  newspapers  of  Riga 
to  give  their  experience. 

I  am  in  position  to  do  so.  On  February  24th  three  dogs  were 
bitten  on  my  premises ;  one  of  them,  a  terrier,  in  the  mouth,  which 
is  the  most  dangerous  bite. 

At  the  same  time  two  dogs  were  bitten  in  my  neighborhood,  in 
two  different  houses,  one  in  each.  Both  of  the  latter  became  mad, 
while  mine  remained  healthy.  I  had  given  mine,  for  three  weeks 
in  succession,  the  root  of  Spiraea  ulmaria,  dried,  pulverized,  mixed 
with  bread  and  milk,  in  doses  of  two  teaspoonfuls  every  morning, 
if  possible,  on  an  empty  stomach. 

The  two  dogs  of  my  neighbors  were  not  treated  in  the  same  way, 
since  the  people  believed  that  the  mad  dog  had  not  been  mad  when 
he  attacked  their  dogs,  and  his  bite,  therefore,  was  not  considered 
dangerous.  But,  when  one  of  them  bit  a  hog,  the  root  was  given 
to  the  latter,  also  with  good  results. 

Six  years  ago  one  of  my  dogs  was  bitten  ;  I  gave  him  at  the  time 
some  of  the  root  every  morning  for  three  days  in  succession,  with 
good  effect.  This  last  time  I  gave  the  dogs  more  of  the  root  for 
safety's  sake. 

On  my  last  year's  trip  to  the  central  part  of  the  country,  I  was 
told  of  cures  produced  by  the  use  of  this  root  with  people  who  had 
already  shown  symptoms  of  the  disease.  It  is  said  that  they  took 
th,e  root  in  large  quantities ;  at  the  same  time  they  bathed  the  wound 
with  alcohol,  containing  the  root  of  Spiraea  ulmaria.  Lettisch 
calls  this  plant  Wikgrecschi,  and  it  is  well  known  to  the  people 
under  that  name. — F.  E.  Stoll,  Pastor  at  Dunamunde — Riga  Gazette, 
May  26,  June  7,  1887. 

Those  that  know  more  about  this,  please  give  their  experience. 
As  far  as  I  know,  the  idea  is,  that  a  dog  bitten  by  a  mad  dog  must 
of  necessity  become  mad  himself,  but  that  a  dog  which  has  already 
signs  of  madness  can  recover,  has  as  yet  not  happened.  Neither  is  it 
known  that  bitten  people,  on  whom  were  signs  of  madness,  had  been 
cured.  Hahnemann  says  in  Arzneimittellehre,  vol  iv.,  p.  45 :  Homoe- 
opathy will  and  must  be  able  to  often  cure  madness  by  means  of 
Hyoscyamus ;  but  cases  are  established  beyond  doubt,  that  people 
already  mad  have  been  cured  by  means  of  Hyoscyamus,  Bella- 
donna, Stramonium,  Cantharides,  given  in  homoeopathic  doses. 

Riga,  May,  1888.  Dr.  Lembke. 

Should  anybody  intend  to  use  the  root  of  Spiraea  ulmaria,  they 
would  inquire  after  it  in  drug  stores  in  vain.  It  cannot  be  found 
there,  although  the  plant  is  found  frequently.     Against  this  the 


THE  HOMCEOPA  THIC  RECORDER.  2 1 9 

veterinary  surgeon  of  Ri^ru,  Mr.  Lindenkampf,  makes  the  following 
declaration  in  the  Riga  Gazette  of  May  18,  1888:  "The  madness 
of  dogs  is  one  of  the  most  painful,  and  incurable  diseases;  be- 
sides it  has  the  disagreeable  and  exciting  feature,  that  it  appears  in 
different  dogs  at  different  spaces  of  time  after  infection.  The  period 
of  incubation  lasts  from  three  to  one  hundred  days.  Whoever  is 
not  able  to  send  his  dog  to  an  hospital  for  observation,  can  watch 
him  himself  carefully,  and  consult  an  expert  at  the  firsl  symptoms 
of  anything  unnatural." 

One  should  think  that,  if  a  mad  dog  bite  others,  it  makes  a  great 
difference  whether  he  only  makes  an  impression  in  the  skin  of 
the  other  dog  with  his  teeth,  or  whether  he  makes  a  light  scratch 
or  a  bloody  bite.  It  is  also  to  be  supposed  that,  when  several  dogs 
are  bitten  sufficient  to  draw  blood  in  quick  succession,  the  teeth 
of  the  mad  dog  towards  the  last  will  be  dry  and  without  saliva, 
since  the  skin  of  those  that  had  been  bitten  will  partly  wipe  off 
the  foam.  Therefore,  it  is  possible  that,  among  the  bitten  dogs, 
those  that  are  bitten  last,  though  severely  hurt,  may  not  have 
been  infected  with  the  saliva,  and  for  this  reason  remain  healthy ; 
still,  under  these  circumstances  every  conclusion  is  made  difficult. 

Cocaine  Poisoning. — Mr.  T.,  a  man  twenty-seven  years  of  age, 
an  actor  by  profession,  was  a  sufferer  from  periodic  attacks  of  neu- 
ralgia of  the  third  nerve.  The  pain  was  confined  to  the  right  side, 
and  excruciating  when  an  attack  would  come  on.  The  neuralgia 
had  existed  for  five  years,  and  was  supposed  to  originate  in  a  tooth. 
This  drawn,  however,  gave  no  relief.  One  evening,  while  suffering 
for  some  days  from  the  attack,  a  doctor  injected  an  unknowm  quan- 
tity of  Cocaine  (said  to  be  i  grain  ?)  with  temporary  relief.  On  at- 
tempting to  eat  his  supper  the  pain  came  on  with  renewed  fury. 
Before  going  on  the  stage  in  the  evening  an  unknown  (large) 
amount  was  injected  into  the  back  of  his  neck.  He  tried  to  go  on, 
staggered  out,  and  fell  unconscious  in  the  middle  of  the  stage.  The 
bystanders  seized  him  and  gave  him  brandy  and  coffee  internally, 
which,  together  wTith  vigorous  rubbing,  brought  him  to.  He  was 
cold  (and  when  he  fell  he  said  an  overwhelming  cold,  icy  feeling 
came  over  him)  ;  his  undershirt  soaked  in  an  icy  perspiration ;  pale, 
weak,  and  unnerved.  His  heart  was  extremely  sloiv  and  intermittent,  his 
pulse  losing  one  beat  in  four.  His  limbs  wrere  apparently  paralyzed. 
In  a  short  time  he  had  recovered,  and  was  feeling  quite  strong.  The 
neuralgia  had,  in  the  meanwhile,  disappeared  and  never  returned. 

A  woman  about  to  be  operated  upon  for  haemorrhoids  received 
an  injection  of  10  gtts.  of  a  40  per  cent,  solution  of  Cocaine  into  the 
hsernorrhoidal  mass.  There  or  four  minutes  after,  she  jumped  up, 
ran  about,  and  crawled  under  the  bed ;  became  perfectly  unman- 


220  THE  HOMCEOPATEIC  BECOBDEB. 

ageable;  seemed  frightened  and  afraid,  and  cried  out;  she  broke 
into  a  profuse  perspiration ;  was  pale ;  the  heart  irregular.  In 
twenty  minutes  the  effects  had  passed  away.     (Communicated.) 

p.  and  p. 
I 
Atropine  Poisoning. — A  little  girl,  fourteen  years  old,  suffering 
with  asthma,  was  given  three  doses  of  Atropine  2x  (2  grains). 
Eight  hours  afterwards  she  broke  out  into  a  scarlet  rash  (smooth) ; 
there  was  extreme  dryness  of  the  throat,  dysphagia,  and  great 
photophobia,  with  dilated  pupils,  which  symptom  was  especially 
prominent ;  inability  to  sit  up.  Gelsemium  antidoted  the  con- 
dition, and  the  next  day  recovery  followed.  Atropine,  given  to  a 
man  for  asthma  of  the  same  kind  (dry  and  spasmodic),  produced 
dryness  of  the  throat  (three  hours  after),  and  in  eight  hours  a  scarlet 
rash  broke  out  over  the  body.  The  pupil  was  dilated ;  there  was  pho- 
tophobia, with  a  full  feeling  in  the  head,  with  pressive  and  throbbing 
headache.  He  was  unable  to  work  for  a  day  or  so.  Xo  antidote 
given,  and  effects  wore  off  in  two  or  three  days.  He  could  sit  up ; 
the  child  could  not.  In  his  case  head  symptoms  were  pronounced  ; 
in  the  child's  the  eye  symptoms.  In  both  the  asthma  was  relieved. 
(Communicated.)  p.  and  p. 

Salicylic  Acid  Poisoning. — A  man,  suffering  from  chronic 
otorrhcea,  with  perforation  of  the  drum,  had  crude  Salicylic  acid 
insufflated  into  his  ear  until  it  was  full.  He  soon  began  to  feel 
heavy-headed,  with  whizzing  in  the  ears,  dizziness,  and  a  feeling  as 
if  his  head  would  come  off.  He  was  restless,  unable  to  lie  down, 
and  sleepless  ;  hearing  was  gone.  Improved  in  the  course  of  a  few 
hours  ;  hearing  better  ;  and  in  two  to  three  days  he  had  recovered. 
Glonoine  was  given  as  an  antidote.  (Communicated.)      p.  and  p. 

Podophyllum — Poisoning  by. — A  young  man,  twenty-three 
years  of  age,  chewed  the  end  of  a  Podophyllum  peltatum  root  off 
while  examining  some  herbs.  The  next  morning  he  felt  well  until 
he  ate  his  breakfast,  when  he  felt  nauseated,  but  did  not  vomit  at  all 
during  the  entire  proving.  He  gulped  up  wind  (tasteless),  and  tongue 
covered  with  fur,  like  a  yellow  frost  upon  a  board.  Heavy  feeling 
in  the  stomach,  as  if  full ;  ached  and  seemed  full  of  gas.  He  would 
rub  it  and  try  to  force  the  wind  out ;  if  he  could  only  pass  wind  he 
would,  he  thought,  get  relief.  Headache  through  the  forehead,  dull 
steady  ache,  a  long  pull ;  eyelids  heavy  and  desire  to  sleep ;  roaring 
and  crackling  in  the  ears  ;  headache  made  worse  by  eating  ;  no  ap- 
petite ;  thirsty,  and  not  relieved  by  drinking ;  water  tasted  brack- 
ish, and  a  bad  taste  in  the  mouth;  a  dry,  slimy,  brackish  taste; 
weak  and  prostrated ;  looked  pale,  customary  color  gone ;  blue  rings 


THE  IIOMCEOPATIIIC  RECORDER.  221 

around  the  eyes ;  knees  ached,  and  thighs  from  knees  to  body  ached, 
a  dull,  heavy,  and  indefinite  pain  ;  arms  and  back  pained,  also  the 

Lnmbai  region  ;  urine  red  and  dark  ;  bowels ved  three  limes  the 

first  day;  they  felt  bloated;  bellyached;  bloated  and  dull  ache;  a 

steady  ache,  relieved  for  a  short  time  by  passing  flatus  or  stool,  and 
would  come  on  in  five  to  ten  minutes.  From  2.80  to  3.30 P.M.,  relief  for 
an  hour;  came  on  again,  but  after  dark  relieved  ;  pain  aggravated  by 

eating,  which  pain  soon  passed  away,  First  day,  three  discharges — 
two  in  morning  and  one  in  afternoon.  Next  morning  aroused  at 
4.30  by  an  urgent  desire  for  stool,  which  hurried  him  out  of  bed, 
having  barely  time  to  avoid  defiling  himself.  Thin  and  watery 
stool,  whitish,  no  pain;  another  at  7.30  a.m.  Pain  commenced  after 
breakfast,  griping,  doubling  him  up  for  a  minute,  he  lying  upon  the 
sofa  and  drawing  the  knees  up  to  his  chin.  Spasmodic  attacks  of 
pain  after  every  passage,  and  three  to  four  between  passages,  these 
occurring  an  hour  and  a  half  apart.  At  noon  the  stools  became 
dark  brown  and  watery ;  one  at  2  p.m.,  one  at  4  p.m.,  and  one  at  6 
p.m.  Quinia,  2  grains,  antidoted  the  condition.  The  next  day  three 
stools  passed,  partly  liquid.  Though  weak,  he  soon  recovered. 
A  young  lady,  while  triturating  Podophyllum  peltatum  from  the 
crude  substance  to  the  lx,  one  hour  after  began  to  feel  sick  at  her 
stomach  ;  had  pains  in  her  bowels  and  diarrhoea.  The  pains  were 
in  the  region  of  the  navel,  commencing  and  then  increasing  until  a 
movement  would  take  place,  when  relief  would  be  obtained,  followed 
by  a  weak  and  gone  feeling  in  the  bowels,  lasting  until  another 
paroxysm  of  pain  would  come  on.  The  diarrhoea  was  gushing, 
profuse,  and  watery,  and  accompanied  with  headache  and  anorexia. 
This  train  of  symptoms  was  observed  twice  in  succession  while 
triturating  the  drug,  she  inhaling  the  dust  arising  therefrom.  Re- 
covery in  fifteen  to  twenty  hours.    (Communicated.)       p.  and  p. 

Chromic  Acid  Poisoning— Involuntary  Homoeopathy. — A 
strong  and  healthy  man,  forty-eight  years  of  age,  went  to  a  dentist 
who  applied  Chromic  acid  to  his  gums.  Three  applications  were  well 
borne,  but  after  the  fourth  one,  where  probably  some  of  the  Chromic 
acid  got  into  his  mouth  and  was  swallowed,  he  was  taken  violently 
sick.  An  hour  after  the  application  very  violent  pain  in  the  back  of 
the  neck,  followed  soon  by  giddiness,  made  its  appearance,  and  the 
patient,  to  avoid  falling,  was  obliged  to  support  himself.  Nausea, 
and  soon  vomiting  of  a  quite  green  substance.  His  face  was  color- 
less, the  extremities  cool,  the  pulse  thread-like  but  regular,  and  the 
pupil  slightly  contracted. 

The  therapy,  consisting  of  the  administration  of  milk,  albumen  and 
champagne,  led  soon  to  improvement,  and  the  next  day  the  patient 
felt  entirely  well. 


222  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

[Observation  by  Dr.  Proli- -How  would  a  homoeopathic  physician 
answer  if  one  of  his  patients,  under  treatment  for  a  chronic  disease, 
should  ask  as  to  a  dentist  putting  anything  into  the  tooth  to  be 
filled  (or  upon  the  gum)  ?  Tisne,  in  Jour  a.  de  Med.  de  Paris,  Allg. 
Horn.  Zeitung.  June,  1889.] 

Dr.  J.  William  White  applied  i  ounce  of  a  solution  of  Chro- 
mic acid  (100  grains  to  the  ounce)  to  a  mass  of  papillary  growths 
in  a  venereal  patient.  After  the  application  she  passed  a  restless 
night,  and  called  frequently  for  water.  Thirst  continued  all  the 
morning  without  fever,  and  nausea  supervened.  At  3  a.m.  she  was 
pale,  with  cold  extremities,  pain  in  the  left  hypochondriac  region, 
and  fear  of  approaching  death.  The  axillary  temperature  was 
39°  F.  She  died  at  6.30  p.m.,  twenty-seven  hours  after  the  appli- 
cation of  the  acid.     The  intelligence  was  unimpaired. 

The  necropsy  showed  numerous  fine  ecchymoses  in  the  stomach. 
The  liver  showed  nutmeg  change.  The  kidneys  were  the  seat  of 
passive  congestion  ;  their  capsules  were  easily  stripped  off;  section 
of  the  vagina  showed  the  mucous  membrane  dark-red  in  color, 
covered  with  a  yellowish  discharge,  with  no  evidence  of  contact 
with  the  acid. 

A  chemical  examination  of  the  viscera  yielded  the  following  re- 
sults :  The  kidneys  and  liver  contained  Chromium,  probably  Chro- 
mate  of  sodium,  which  is  poisonous  in  doses  of  1  to  3  grains. 
The  rectus  muscle  was  free  from  Chromium.  The  Chromic  acid  in 
this  case  had  probably  combined  with  the  sodium  carbonate  of  the 
blood,  and  formed  Sodium  chromate. — Journ.  of  Cutan.  and  Genito- 
urinary Diseases,  August,  1889.]  p.  and  p. 

A  Contribution  to  the  Differential  Diagnosis  of  Cholera 
and  Arsenic-Poisoning. — The  writer  investigated  the  influence  of 
Arsenic  (Tinct.  Arsenic.  Fowleri  1 :  90  and  Acid,  arsenic.  2,  0 :  1000)? 
upon  the  growth  of  various  kinds  of  bacteria,  and  found  the  growth 
of  the  bacteria  calli  commune,  the  bacillus  of  typhoid  fever  and  the 
chlora  vibrio  to  be  completely  brought  to  a  stop,  while  the  strepto- 
coccus pyog.  aureus  and  the  bacillus  of  anthrax  continued  to  grow. 

The  experiments  upon  animals  (made  upon  Guinea-pigs,  cats  and 
dogs)  yielded  the  following  results  : 

1.  The  pathologico-anatomical  changes  in  poisoning  with  Arsenic 
are  essentially  a  more  or  less  violent  gastro-enteritis.  It  is  produced 
the  same  whether  Arsenic  be  given  per  os  or  subcutaneously. 

2.  The  pathologico-anatomical  phenomena  to  be  observed  in  ani- 
mals poisoned  by  Arsenic  are  quite  different  from  those  seen  in  the 
algid  stage  of  cholera  Asiatica.  The  intestinal  contents  are,  in  both 
conditions,  quite  different ;  in  no  experiments  were  pure  rice-water 
stools  observed.     In  some  cases  in  which  the  contents  of  the  intes- 


THE  HOMOEOPATHIC  RECORDER.  223 

tints  were  bowd  upon  gelatine  there  was  no  development  of  bac- 
teria, hut  tin-  rapid  liquation  of  the  gelatine  which  took  place  was 
undoubtedly  caused  by  a  ferment.  Sometimes  the  contents  of  tin- 
stomach  and  bowels  were  colored  with  blood. 

The  condition  of  the  intestines  resembled  more  the  typhoid  st;r_r<' 
of  cholera  than  that  which  one  sees  in  the  first  stage  of  cholera.  It 
also  differs  from  this,  inasmuch  as  the  most  phenomena  of  inflam- 
mation are  seen  in  the  duodenum  and  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
small  intestine,  while  in  cholera  the  ileum  is  most  violently  in- 
flamed. 

3.  The  profuse  diarrhoea,  which  is  the  rule  in  cholera,  and  where 
the  stool  is  exceptional  and  peculiar,  justify  the  supposition  that 
with  this  peculiar  change  in  the  intestinal  contents,  and  in  conse- 
quence of  this  also,  changes  in  the  kind  and  number  of  the  bacteria 
do  take  place. 

In  poisoning  by  Arsenic  the  bacteria  differ  but  little  from  those 
of  the  normal  intestine ;  never  are  they  so  characteristic  as  in 
cholera.  After  very  large  doses  of  Arsenic  the  bacterial  contents  of 
the  intestines  are  distinctly  lowered.  Colonies  of  vibriones  are  just 
as  rare  after  Arsenic  poisoning  in  animals  as  in  men. — R.  Koch,  in 
AUg.  Med.  Central.  Zeitung,  38,  1889.  p.  and  p. 


VETERINARY  DEPARTMENT. 

Lameness  in  Horses. — Careful  examination  of  the  hoof  in  in- 
cipient lameness  in  horses  is  quite  important,  for  among  one  hun- 
dred cases  of  lameness  the  cause  of  ninety-eight  is  surely  to  be 
found  in  the  hoof.  That  this  part  is  often  sinned  against,  and 
many  a  horse-owner  suffer  damage  through  it,  is  well  known,  and 
the  following  case  will  illustrate  my  meaning : 

A  well-to-do  gentleman  in  my  neighborhood,  possessing  several 
riding  and  carriage  horses,  observed  that  one  of  them  was  strikingly 
lame,  and  finally  it  became  so  bad  that  it  could  not  stand 
upon  the  foot,  and  apparently  suffered  severe  pain.  As  I  was  not 
at  home,  anotker  veterinary  medical  man,  a  friend  of  the  gentle- 
man, was  called  in.  He,  after  a  short  examination,  said  the  horse 
was  suffering  from  a  fracture  of  the  crown-bones ;  a  cure  was  im- 
possible, and  he  told  the  owner  to  give  the  animal  to  be  killed,  and 
as  he  was  to  pass  by  a  place  where  horses  were  slaughtered  he 
would  see  to  the  matter,  and  free  the  animal  from  its  pain.  As  the 
animal  was  very  valuable,  and  the  wife  of  the  gentleman  wranted 
my  opinion  also,  I  was  again  sent  for,  and  saw  the  horse  an  hour 
after  the  departure  of  my  colleague.  Examination  showed  the 
tibial  artery  pulsating  as  if  it  would  burst,  and  upon  examining 


224  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

with  the  forceps  the  toe  seemed  very  sensitive.  The  temperature 
of  the  hoof  was  elevated.  I  took  my  knife  from  my  pocket  and  made  a 
cut  into  the  sensitive  part,  and  the  dark  gray  pus  spurted  in  a  bow-form 
oid  of  the  wound.  I  then  had  the  foot  placed  into  a  bath  of  luke- 
warm water,  to  which  I  added  some  Arnica  (tincture),  and  gave 
internally  Hepar  sulphur,  calc.  3x.  every  two  hours,  a  piece  the  size 
of  a  bean,  dry  upon  the  tongue ;  and  as  the  man  came  to  kill  the 
animal,  he  was  sent  back.  In  two  days  the  animal  could  be  shod, 
and  in  four  days  was  driven  out  hitched  to  the  buggy.  Had  the 
orders  of  the  veterinary  first  consulted  been  immediately  carried 
out,  the  owner  of  the  animal  would  have  suffered  great  damage 
through  the  superficial  and  frivolous  examination. — H.  Fischer,  in 
Zeitschr.  fur  Horn.  Theirheilkde,  7,  1889.  p.  and  p. 

Retention  of  Urine  (simulating  Colic). — A  gentleman,  an 
acquaintance  of  mine,  asked  me  recently  to  see  his  horse,  which 
was  suffering  from  colic.  He  had  tried  all  remedies  for  colic,  and, 
although  the  pains  would  be  momentarily  relieved,  they  would 
return  again.  The  animal  was  in  the  stall,  and  had  been  seen  to 
pass  no  urine.  On  visiting  him  I  saw  him  in  the  stall,  jumping 
restlessly  about.  Its  look  was  blear,  and  the  entire  body  was 
covered  with  sweat.  Aconit,  Arsenic,  Bell,  and  Plumb,  acet.  had 
been  given  ;  I  gave  at  once  Hyoscyamus  3x.,ten  drops  every  fifteen 
minutes,  and  in  my  presence,  after  the  third  dose,  the  horse  passed 
a  large  amount  of  deep  red  urine.  .  A  quarter  of  an  hour  after  it 
showed  an  appetite,  shook  itself,  and  was  well.  Retention  of  urine 
may  cause  an  agony  resembling  colic.  To  persons  alarmed  it  is 
sometimes  mistaken  for  this.  The  pain  is  caused  by  over-disten- 
sion, and  drives  the  horse  almost  to  madness.  There  is  a  wide, 
straddling  gait,  with  total  suppression  of  all  discharges  of  urine,  or 
only  small  portions  are  ejected. 

Treatment:  Camphor  every  four  to  five  minutes  for  four  times. 
If  this  fails,  give  Cantharis  every  thirty  minutes  for  several  times. 
If  no  benefit,  Nux  v.  every  half  hour,  and  then  less  frequently. — 
Zeitschr.  fur  Horn.  Theirheilkde,  1889.  p.  and  p. 

« 
Lameness  is  quite  an  annoying  thing  for  a  horse-owner,  for  it 
keeps  a  horse  for  more  or  less  time  in  the  stable,  and  causes  much 
trouble,  but,  if  treated  homceopathically  at  once,  is  soon  relieved. 
I  was  recently  called  to  the  stable  of  a  prominent  gentleman  to  ex- 
amine his  riding  horse,  which  had  suddenly  become  lame.  Exam- 
ining I  found  a  lameness  of  the  fetlock-joint,  caused  probably  by  a 
sudden  slipping  out  of  the  joint.  I  had  no  difficulty  in  choosing 
the  remedy,  for  from  the  physiological  provings  of  Ruta  it  seems 
to  concentrate  a  specific  action  upon  the  lower  joints.    I  hence  had 


THE  HOMCEOPA  TE1C  RECORDER.  228 

one  part  of  Ruta  $  mixed  with  ten  parte  of  water,  and  a  linen  bandage 
wetted  with  the  mixture  laid  around  the  joint,  covered  byawoollen 

one,  and  this  to  be  renewed  every  two  hours.  Internally  the  beau- 
tiful animal  received   Ruta  3x.  every  two  hours,  ten  drops.     The 

animal's  head  was  tied  up  high,  SO  it  could  not  lie  down.  The 
next  day  the  animal  was  much  better,  and  in  eight  days  the  horse 
was  ridden  by  its  owner. — H.  F.,  in  Zeitschr. j'u r  Horn.  Thrirhtilkde, 
1889  (2).  P.  and  p. 

Hsemoglobinuria. — This  disease,  feared  by  the  country  people 
as  well  as  by  the  veterinarians,  is  one  where  allopathy  stands  al- 
most helpless,  while  homoeopathy,  on  the  contrary,  makes  some 
brilliant  cures ;  and,  in  five  cases  treated  by  this  means  the  past 
-winter,  it  has  shown  itself  to  be  efficacious. 

I  shall  give  a  short  resume"  of  the  symptoms  characterizing  this 
disease,  making  it  easy  to  diagnose. 

Horses,  after  long  standing  in  warm  stable,  with  good  food  and 
care  of  the  skin,  become  weakened,  and  wrhen  they  are  put  to  work, 
especially  in  cold,  raw  weather,  the  one  or  the  other  animal  falls 
sick  suddenly;  the  horses  become  stiff,  especially  in  the  hindparts; 
they  sway  from  one  side  to  another,  fall  to  the  ground  and  cannot 
arise ;  they  break  out  into  a  sweat,  the  extremities,  ears  and  feet 
become  cold,  the  horse  groans,  making  now  and  then  endeavors  to 
get  on  its  feet  again,  but  they  can  only  raise  themselves  upon  the 
forefeet,  the  hindparts  seeming  to  be  paralyzed,  and  are  dragged 
upon  the  ground.  The  animal  stretches  out  its  feet,  and  when  the 
veterinarian  arrives  he  finds  it  with  extended  feet,  and  in  a  violent 
fever.  Often  a  swelling  of  the  sacral  region  and  the  thighs  and, 
less  rarely,  of  the  shoulders,  makes  its  appearance.  This  swelling 
is  hard  and  feels  like  a  band,  giving  the  horse  a  peculiar  appearance 
The  peasant  says  "  the  horse  has  become  fat."  The  pulse  is  small, 
frequent;  the  temperature  elevated;  the  appetite  decreased,  yet 
this  again  appears  when  the  fever  gives  way.  The  urine  is  not 
passed  at  all,  or  only  with  great  straining,  is  black,  like  coffee,  red 
as  blood,  or,  in  slight  cases,  like  brown  beer,  smells  very  strongly, 
and  is  scalding;  upon  standing  in  a  glass  it  becomes  turbid,  ad- 
heres to  the  glass,  and  contains  urinary  casts.  The  catheter  must 
often  be  employed  to  evacuate  the  bladder,  if  the  urine  is  not 
passed  of  itself. 

One  of  the  cases  treated  by  me  was  a  very  grave  one.  The  horse 
lay  three  days ;  raised  itself  the  fourth,  and  upon  the  fifth  day  it 
stood  upon  its  legs.  The  others  were  not  so  severely  attacked  ;  all 
were  much  swollen,  were  extremely  stiff,  and  the  urine  was  very 
turbid  and  black  like  coffee. 

The  treatment  was  the  same  in  all  cases.     Aconite  every  hour 
vol.  rv.— 15 


226  THE  HOMCEOPATHIG  RECORDER. 

three  times  daily,  Cantharis  3x,  ten  gtts.,  and,  on  the  second  or  the 
third  day,  when  the  fever  ceases,  Arsenic  3x.  External  treatment 
consisted  of  damp  and  warm  compresses  upon  the  loins,  good  cover- 
ing, luke-warm  water  and  easily  digestible  food.  All  the  animals 
recovered  in  twenty-four  hours  to  five  days. — S.  Larsen  (Denmark), 
in  Zeitschr.  Journ.  Horn.  Thierheilkde,  5,  1889.  p.  and  p. 

Sprain,  with  Effusion. — Herr  Count  v.  B.  asked  me  to  come 
and  see  a  very  lame  horse  of  his,  and  examine  it  with  regard  to 
treatment.  As  I  could  not  go  at  once  to  the  stable  of  the  gentle- 
man, I  learned  the  following  of  the  stable-boy  :  The  noble  animal 
had  returned  lame  from  a  ride,  and  a  tumor  had  formed  upon  the 
left  knee  (behind),  which  increased  in  size  and  became  very  painful. 
The  horse  could  scarcely  stand  upon  that  foot.  A  veterinarian 
living  in  the  neighborhood,  who  was  called  in  at  once,  declared  the 
horse  to  suffer  from  an  effusion  of  u  joint-oil "  and  it  must  be  rubbed, 
and  treated  energetically  at  once,  to  which  purpose  a  recipe  was 
written.  The  Count  had  me  called  first  and  the  rubbing  to  be 
done  according  to  my  orders.  I  ordered  Arnica  to  be  used  in  fomen- 
tations (one  tablespoonful  to  a  litre  of  water),  and  Arnica  3x,  in- 
ternally, ten  gtts.  every  two  hours,  with  the  advice  to  tie  the  horse's 
head  up  high  and  not  let  it  lie  down,  and  I  would  visit  it  next  day. 
The  next  day  I  went  to  the  stable  of  the  gentleman,  and  found  the 
horse  improved  already.  The  foot  could  be  stood  upon,  and  was 
not  so  much  favored  as  before. 

The  treatment  was  continued,  and  in  about  eight  days  the  Count 
could  ride  the  animal  again.  The  veterinarian  mentioned,  said  the 
horse  got  well  of  itself.  If  he  could  suppose  this,  how  could  he  and 
why  did  he  prescribe  his  sharp  ointment  and  try  to  induce  a  cure 
thus? — H.  Fischer,  in  Zeitschr.  Journ.  Horn.  Thierheilkde,  1,  1889. 

P.  AND  P. 

Suppression  of  Urine — Equine. — A  short  time  ago  I  was 
called  to  attend  a  horse  which  for  about  six  hours  had  suffered 
from  severe  colic,  and  all  remedies  given  by  the  proprietor  (who  is 
an  admirer  of  homoeopathy,  and  who  uses  its  remedies  in  all  cases 
successfully),  had  only  given  temporary  relief,  whereupon  the  colic 
always  returned,  and  had  at  this  time  reached  the  highest  degree. 
The  horse  appeared  much  frightened,  perspired  all  over,  the  nostrils 
were  wide  open  and  the  breathing  was  rapid.  On  examining  the 
horse,  the  noise  in  the  bowels  had  not  wholly  ceased,  but  the  mu- 
cous membrane  of  the  nose  and  of  the  mouth  was  red  and  quite  hot. 
The  gelding  had  the  penis  hung  a  little  ways  out  of  the  tube  and 
attempted  to  urinate,  but  soon  gave  this  up. 

I  gave  immediately  a  dose  of  Hyoscyamus  niger,  3  decimal  dilu- 


THE  HOMiEOPA  TRIG  RECORDER.  227 

tion,  10  drops  to  a  half  teaspoonful  of  water;  after  a  half  hour  I  re- 
peated the  dose.  A.fter  the  second  dose  the  animal  attempted  to 
annate,  and  discharged  with  a  greal  effort,  and,  ae  one  might  say, 
with  a  groan  which  indicated  good  feeling,  a  great  quantity  of 
brownish  red  urine.  After  this  discharge  the  patient  reached  for 
fodder,  and  appeared  completely  well.  1  have  mentioned  similar 
cases  frequently,  but  consider  it  my  duty  to  direct  the  reader's 
attention  to  Hyoscyamus,  since  Can  th  arid  ee  often  does  not  show 
itself  effective  at  all,  and  thereby  much  valuable  time  is  lost. — 
Zeit.fih-  limn.  TltierhrilL,  1889,  24. 


BOOK    REVIEWS. 


Klinische  Arsneimittellehre.  Eine  Reihe  von  Vorlesungen  ge- 
halten  am  Hahnemann  Medical  College  in  Philadelphia  von 
dem  verstorbenen  E.  A.  Farrington,  M.D.  1  Lieferung.  Leip- 
sig :  Verlag  von  Dr.  Willmar  Schwabe,  1889. 

This  is  the  first  instalment  of  1(50  octavo  pages  of  a  translation 
by  Dr.  Hermann  Fischer  of  the  late  Dr.  Farrington's  Clinical  Materia 
Medica,  published  from  the  manuscript  of  Clarence  Bartlett,  M.D., 
and  revised  by  Dr.  S.  Lilienthal.  It  contains,  also,  the  "  Memorial 
of  Dr.  Aug.  Korndorfer,"  as  published  in  the  Hahnemannian  Monthly 
of  January,  1886.  The  work  is  neatly  and  clearly  printed,  and, 
when  finished,  will  form  the  most  fitting  of  monuments  to  perpetuate 
in  Germany  the  memory  of  our  beloved  brother. 

The  Sixteen  Principal  Homoeopathic  Medicines.  London: 
E.  Gould  &  Son.     12mo.,  pp.  263. 

This  useful  little  manual  of  thirty  (sixteen  principal  and  fourteen 
supplementary)  homoeopathic  remedies  is  admirably  arranged  for 
domestic  and  traveller's  use,  the  ably  compiled  "  Medical  Index  " 
pages  being  foot-noted  throughout  with  a  correspondingly  alpha- 
betical and  concise  manual  of  therapeutics.  It  would  be  difficult  to 
conceive  a  more  handy  method  of  arrangement  for  the  uses  to  which 
this  book  is  designed. 

Le  Bord  de  la  Mer;  le  Traitement  Maritime  et  ses  rapports 
avec  l'homeopathie.  Par  le  Dr.  Martiny.  Brusssels  and 
Paris.     Pp.  132. 

This  brochure,  by  the  editor  of  the  Revue  Homeopath* que  Beige, 
adds  a  work  of  importance  to  our  scanty  literature  upon  health  and 
health-resorts.     The  work  is  divided  into  fourteen  chapters,  in  which 


228  THE  HOMOEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

the  author  treats  of  the  sea,  its  influence  upon  disease  ;  its  water  as 
a  remedial  measure  in  the  lights  of  homoeopathic  law;  and  the  indi- 
cations and  contra-indications  for  the  sea  bath  and  air.  The  language 
of  the  work  is  such  that  it  will  be  found  as  useful  for  the  layman  as 
the  physician. 

We  are  in  receipt  of  the  Eleventh  Annual  Announcement  of  the 
College  of  the  New  York  Ophthalmic  Hospital  for  the  session  of 
1889-90.  The  course  at  this  college  for  the  degree  of  Oculi  et  Auris 
Chirurgus  begins  on  the  1st  of  October,  1889,  to  attend  which  the 
candidate  must  have  received  the  degree  of  M.D.  at  least  one  year 
prior. 


"  A  St.  Louis  man  furnishes  a  hint  for  baldheaded  people.  A 
few  years  ago,  finding  that  he  was  becoming  bald,  he  discontinued 
wearing  his  hat  while  in  his  office.  Then  he  began  a  systematic  dry 
scrub  of  his  head  daily,  with  a  coarse  brush.  It  gave  the  scalp  a 
healthy  glow,  benefited  the  pores  and  stimulated  the  glands.  To-day 
he  has  a  nice  crop  of  new  hair,  which  continues  steadily  to  in- 
crease."— Floating  item. 

Dr.  A.  Haig  says  that  one  cause  of  periodic  headache  is  the 
presence  of  uric  acid.  In  these  cases  there  is  a  week  or  more  of 
good  health,  during  which  uric  acid  is  storing  up  in  the  spleen  and 
liver.  Then  comes  dyspepsia,  gastro-intestinal  catarrh  and  hepatic 
congestion.  These  quickly  result  in  general  diminution  of  absorp- 
tion and  nutritive  changes,  with  lessened  formation  of  uric  acid  and 
urea  and  a  fall  in  acidity.  "  And,  lastly,  as  a  result  of  this  falling 
acidity,  there  comes  a  rush  of  the  stored  uric  acid  into  the  blood  and 
the  headache  begins."  The  good  effects  of  Salicylic  acid  in  this 
variety  of  headache  is  due  to  the  fact,  says  the  Medical  Record,  that 
it  and  the  salicylates  generally  "  facilitate  the  excretion  of  uric  acid, 
and  thus  prevent  the  retention  of  excessive  amounts  within  the 
body." 

As  simple  urine  tests  seem  to  be  in  demand,  here  is,  perhaps,  the 
simplest  known  :  Shake  the  urine  until  it  forms  a  foam  ;  if  healthy, 
this  foam  soon  subsides,  but  if  the  urine  contains  sugar  or  albumen, 
it  will  remain  much  longer. 

Dr.  George  H.  Stroup,  of  Pennsylvania,  says  he  never  has  failed 
to  relieve  any  case  of  hernia,  even  after  failure  of  taxis  and  other 
plans,  by  the  following :  Place  a  piece  of  absorbent  cotton  over  the 
tumor  and  saturate  with  ether.  He  says  no  operation  for  hernia 
will  ever  be  needed  when  this  plan  is  followed  for  sufficient  time. 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT. 

Silico-Sulpho-Calcite  of  Alumina. — "  We  confess  that  we  were 
struck  with  astonishment  when  we  saw  this  frightful  name.  But 
when  we  were  further  informed  that  it  was  the  name  of  a  new  ho- 
moeopathic remedy  recently  introduced,  we  speedily  calmed  down. 
Regarding  its  composition  we  know  nothing,  and  we  do  not  believe 
that  its  originator  knows  any  more  about  it  than  we  do.  He  may 
know  what  crude  or  refined  chemicals  he  mixed  or  brought  together 
with  intent  to  make  a  new  compound,  but  we  defy  him  to  prove  it 
to  be  a  chemical  individual.  Legitimate  materia  medica  is  full 
enough  of  mysteries  and  dark  corners  even  now.  It  is  certainly 
more  than  folly  to  add  to  it  compounds  of  which  no  one  can  give  any 
intelligent  account.  From  a  note  on  the  article  we  were  furnished 
with,  we  learn  that  it  has  been  given  (!)  with  favorable  results  in 
1  house-maid's  knee,'  and  that  it  also '  took  away  a  dreadful  anal  itch- 
ing, piles,  constipation,  as  if  by  magic'  Further  comment  is  un- 
necessary."— American  Druggist. 

The  editor  of  the  American  Druggist  seems  to  feel  quite  badly  over 
this  matter.  We  can  assure  him,  however,  that  this  remedy  is  not 
a  "  new  compound  "  compounded  by  the  wicked  homoeopaths,  but 
quite  a  legitimate  substance  for  medical  purposes.  He  will  find  a  de- 
scription ofitonpage  122  of  the  Homoeopathic  Recorder  for  May, 
1889,  and  we  can  assure  him  that  it  is  really  an  excellent  remedy 
for  house-maid's  knee  and  for  "  dreadful  anal  itching,  piles  and  con- 
stipation," as  therein  described.  The  lofty,  we  may  even  go  so  far 
as  to  say  highfalutin,  way  in  which  certain  journals  speak  of  things 
homoeopathic  is  a  part  of  the  comedy  of  life. 

Dr.  R.  G.  Eccles  recently  indulged  in  five  columns  of  loftiness 
against  homoeopathy  in  the  Druggists'  Circular  (June).  He  said, 
among  many  other  things  :  "The  lowest  races  have  invariably  been 
guided  in  their  treatment  of  disease  by  the  principle  of  similar 
curing  similar.  So  far,  indeed,  has  it  been  carried,  that  their  code 
of  ethics  are  constructed  on  the  same  basis.  The  man  who  puts 
out  another's  eye  must  be  cured  of  such  a  tendency  by  having  his 
own  eye  put  out."  "  There  never  has  been  any  organized  body  of 
physicians  calling  themselves  allopaths."  This  bit  of  news  will 
cause  a  broad  grin  to  spread  over  the  medical  physiognomy.  Wan- 
dering along  in  a  pitying  way,  showing  what  an  ignorant  set  of  peo- 
ple homoeopaths  are,  the  scientific  Dr.  Eccles  at  last  runs  afoul  of 
isopathic  Dr.  Swan,  and  then  he  makes  the  infinitismal  fur  fly. 
"  To  see  them  administer  the  ten-millionth  part  of  a  moon-beam  !  " 
"  To  have  them  discriminate  between  the  east  wind  and  that  from  the 


sath 

s,  762 

Death-rate,  17.8 

« 

212 

"     15.1 

« 

55 

"        "       9.0 

230  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

north,  believing  one  more  efficacious  than  the  other,  after  drowning 
in  an  ocean  of  water  or  burying  in  a  planet  of  sugar."  "  Suppose 
the  homoeopathic  consultant  should  insist  on  giving  the  patient  a  dose 
of  Lachryma  filia"  etc.  Thus  doth  the  good  Knight  Eccles  tilt  at  the 
towering  isopathy  and  idiosyncrasies  of  our  amiable  friend  Dr.  Swan, 
under  the  notion  that  he  is  riding  down  that  offspring  of  supersti- 
tion, homoeopathy.  It  is  as  good  as  a  circus,  and,  liking  amuse- 
ment, we  hope  Dr.  Eccles  will  sally  out  again  in  the  near  future, 
and,  passing  by  Dr.  Swan's  potentized  moon-beams,  have  a  try  at 
homoeopathy.  Let  him  explain,  if  he  can,  the  following  figures 
from  Australia,  giving  the  results  for  the  year  just  closed  at  the  three 
Melbourne  hospitals : 

Melbourne  Hospital,  cases,  4273 
Alfred  "  "        1399 

Homoeopathic  "  "         606 

The  charge  that  homoeopathic  figures  like  these  are  derived  from 
trifling  cases  won't  answer  in  this  instance,  for,  fortunately,  we  have 
the  nature  of  the  diseases  before  us.  Of  the  4273  cases  treated  at 
Melbourne  Hospital,  431  were  typhoid ;  at  the  Alfred  Hospital  of 
the  1399  cases,  212  were  typhoid ;  while  of  the  606  cases  treated  at 
the  Homoeopathic  Hospital,  305  were  typhoid,  or  over  50  per  cent. 
Thus,  so  far  from  having  only  mild  cases,  homoeopathy  was  com- 
pelled to  battle  with  overwhelming  odds. 

To  talk  of  a  "  drop  of  Aconite  "  in  the  Mississippi  river,  and  by 
that  think  to  prove  homoeopathy  to  be  a  mere  delusion  is,  if  the 
Doctor  will  pardon  so  unscientific  a  term,  a  chestnut,  and  has  been 
for  over  fifty  years.  But,  taking  his  own  view  of  the  case,  which  is 
that  homoeopathy  is  a  mere  superstition,  the  logical  terminus  of  that 
is  a  very  ghastly  one,  for,  if  but  9  per  cent,  of  the  patients  die 
when  left  to  nature  and  "  superstition,"  as  were  those  in  the  homoeo- 
pathic hospital  at  Melbourne,  how  is  science  to  account  for  the 
increased  percentage  of  those  who  die  under  "  medicines? " 

There  is  another  point  in  this  connection  on  which  it  would  be 
interesting  to  hear  from  Dr.  Eccles,  namely  :  If  the  scientific  physi- 
cian "  disclaims  all  connection  with  any  exclusive  system,  "  the  in- 
ference being  that  he  investigates  all,  why  does  not  he  investigate 
homoeopathy,  instead  of  never  missing  an  opportunity  of  reviling 
and  assailing  it?  Surely  that  course  is  not  scientific  !  Why  go  gad- 
ding after  Brown-Sequard's  dead  animal  matter  elixir  of  life,  and 
refuse  even  the  courtesy  of  a  hearing  to  homoeopathy,  which  is 
firmly  believed  in  by  millions  of  the  most  intelligent  of  the  land  ? 
To  us,  such  a  course  looks  more  like  bigotry  than  science. 

We  ask  these  questions  because  Dr.  Eccles  himself  shows  con- 
clusively that  he  has  but  little,  if  any,  real  knowledge  of  the  subject 


PUBLISHEHSi  DEPABTMENT.  231 

on  which  lie  writes  bo  loftily.     We  believe  in  scientific  physicians 

most  heartily,  hut  we  don't  believe  that  a  man  who   positively  COn- 
demns  BO  Very  prominent  a  fact    as   homoeopathy  without  carefully 

Btudying  it  first,  is  a  scientific  physician.  Such  a  man  is  an  allopath. 

Mullein  Oil. — The  use  of  Mullein  oil  in  all  manner  of  urinary 
troubles  is  rapidly  increasing.  In  this  line— a  line,  by  the  way,  in 
strict  conformity  to  that  indicated  by  Dr.  Cushing's  proving— its 
success  seems  to  be  most  marked.  The  following  extract  from  a 
letter  from  W.  B.  Gray,  M.D.,  of  Richmond,  Va.,  is  of  interest.  It 
is  in  reply  to  an  inquiry  addressed  to  him  concerning  his  experience 
with  Mullein  oil.     He  cites  four  cases  as  follows: 

1.  k'  Mullein  oil  relieved  micturition  in  a  case  of  chronic  cystitis, 
with  urine  of  alkaline  reaction,  full  of  pus,  and  of  a  specific  gravity 
of  1.010." 

2.  "  In  a  case  of  lithremia  it  relieved  micturition.  Gravity  of  urine 
was  1.030,  and  is  still  so  and  acid." 

3.  "  It  was  successful  in  relieving  same  symptoms  in  a  case  of  stone 
in  the  bladder.  Specific  gravity  of  urine  was  1.012,  acid.  It  does 
not  seem  to  influence  the  reaction  or  gravity  of  the  urine." 

4.  "  It  has  acted  well  in  a  case  of  deafness,  and  the  patient  is  still 
improving." 

In  the  Chicago  Medical  Times,  July,  1889,  we  find  the  following: 
"  Fifteen  drops  of  Mullein  oil,  in  a  four-ounce  mixture,  a  teaspoonful 
four  times  daily,  will  permanently  cure  many  severe  cases  of  noc- 
turnal enuresis." 

If,  as  seems  to  be  the  case,  it  will  make  micturition  easy  and  nor- 
mal, it  will,  beyond  all  question,  "  supply  a  long-felt  want,"  espe- 
cially with  the  aged.  Mullein  oil  must  not  be  confounded  with 
Verbascwn  tincture.  The  two  are  totally  distinct.  Verbascum  is  an 
alcoholic  tincture  of  the  roots  and  leaves  of  Mullein,  while  Mullein 
Oil  is  a  dark,  aromatic  distillation  from  the  flowers  only. 

It  is  claimed,  but  almost  exclusively  by  small  pharmacists  who 
have  no  machinery  in  their  establishments,  that  hand-made  tritu- 
rations are  much  superior  to  machine-made  triturations.  We  do 
not  remember  having  seen  or  heard  of  any  reasons  why  they,  are 
superior,  but  for  all  that  the  claim  is  very  confidently  made  for 
them,  ever  and  anon,  that  they  are.  Perhaps  the  reason  why  no 
reasons  are  ever  advanced  in  support  of  the  claim  is  that  there  are 
no  reasons  to  advance.  Which  is  apt  to  do  the  most  faithful  work, 
a  machine  driven  by  a  tireless  power,  or  a  hired  man,  or,  most 
likely,  a  boy,  working  for  low  wrages,  and  with  no  very  exalted  idea 
of  the  pharmaceutical  responsibility  ?  The  first  decimal  trituration 
of  the  average  drug  requires  many  hours  of  unremitting  work  by  a 


232  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BEGOBDEB. 

machine  to  produce  a  thoroughly  triturated  drug.  Does  any  one 
suppose  that  a  man  or  a  boy  could,  or  would,  do  the  same  amount 
of  work  in  the  same  time?  If  so,  let  him  try  wielding  a  pestle 
for  fifteen  minutes,  and  realize  what  it  means.  As  to  the  quality 
of  the  work,  the  comparison  is  altogether  on  the  side  of  the  ma- 
chine. In  the  best  of  them  there  are  four  pestles,  each  one  fol- 
lowed by  a  scraper ;  these  pestles  are  broad  faced,  and  after  they 
have  gone  over  the  sugar  of  milk  the  scraper  following  throws  it  up 
and  directly  in  the  way  of  the  next  pestle,  and  this  continuously ; 
and  the  most  cursory  examination  will  show  that  all  the  sugar  of 
milk  in  the  mortar  is  being  triturated  and  scraped  together  contin- 
ually, and  none  of  it  escapes  the  pestles  even  for  one  revolution. 
Compare  this  work  with  that  done  by  hand,  and  the  exceedingly 
great  superiority  of  properly  made  machine  triturations  is  seen  at 
once. 

It  is  asserted  by  the  advertisers  of  what  is  known  as  the  "  Multi- 
plex Pestle  Triturator  "  that  all  triturates,  except  their  own,  both 
hand-made  and  machine-made,  are  charred  by  the  friction  of  the 
pestle  on  the  mortar  and,  consequently,  are  chemically  different 
from  their's.  If — this  point,  we  believe,  has  been  touched  on  in  the 
Recorder  before — the  triturates  produced  by  the  Multiplex  system 
are  different  from  all  others,  it  follows  that,  inasmuch  as  all  text- 
books, so  far  as  they  pertain  to  this  subject,  are  based  on  experi- 
ences with  "  charred  "  triturates,  which  are  "  chemically  "  different 
from  the  product  of  the  new  system,  that  the  triturates  of  the  new 
system  should  not  be  used  until  they  have  been  thoroughly  proved, 
and  that  a  pharmacist  has  no  right  to  label  them  for  the  same  as 
the  old,  which  are  different  medicines.  This  is  a  point  not  to  be 
lightly  passed  over.  For  instance,  if  the  Mercurius  vivus  of  the  new 
system  is  chemically  different  from  that  of  the  old,  what  right  has 
any  pharmacist  to  label  and  sell  it  for  the  same  remedy  as  the  old  ? 
On  the  other  hand,  if  there  is  no  chemical  difference;  if  the  sugar 
of  milk  by  the  other  trituration  methods  is  not  charred,  what  must 
be  the  professional  ethics  of  those  who  say  it  is,  when  they  know  it 
is  not?  This  query  has  heretofore  met  with  a  most  profound 
silence. 

Now  what  of  the  new  process  itself,  which  is  strenuously  seek- 
ing to  supersede  the  time-honored  process  of  Hahnemann?  In 
the  first  place  (from  published  descriptions  and  advertisements 
this  is  learned),  it  contains  thirty  pestles,  minus  the  handles,  but 
which  instead  have  metal  springs,  or  bands,  by  which  they  are 
rigidly  held  in  place  while  the  mortar  revolves  around  them  at 
the  very  high  rate  of  speed  of  "  eighty  revolutions  a  minute." 
The  presence  of  metal  in  the  mortar  is  enough  to  make  by  far 
the  larger  number  of  homoeopathic  chemists  refuse  to  adopt  the 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT.  233 

new  system  on  any  terms,  for  it  ie  one  of  the  primary  principles 

of  homoeopathic  pharmacy  that  no  metal  should  conic  in  contact 
with  the  drug  in  trituration,  else  a  greater  or  less  degree  of 
contamination   occurs.     Another   feature   of  the  new   method    Is 

that  the  pestles  in  no  case  touch  the  mortar.  This,  we  readily 
see,  is  essential,  for,  running  at  the  rapid  speed  it  <\<»^.  should 
they  happen  to  touch,  the  friction  would  generate;  an  extremely 
high  degree  of  heat,  as  any  one  may  perceive  from  the  fact, 
already  mentioned,  that  the  mortar  revolves  at  a  speed  of  "eighty 
revolutions  a  minute."  As  the  pestles  do  not  touch  the  mortar, 
it  would  reasonably  be  concluded  that  the  comminution  must 
necessarily  be  but  slight,  and  the  triturate  a  very  coarse  one. 
Yet  this  apparently  inevitable  result  from  the  premises  is  totally 
wrong,  for  wre  are  told  that  the  triturates  produced  are  so  fine  as 
to  be  ''impalpable  to  the  touch."  To  ask  the  world  to  believe 
that  pestles  which  do  not  touch  the  mortar  can  rub,  or  triturate, 
sugar  of  milk  to  impalpability,  is  asking  a  good  deal  of  it — 
making  a  big  draught  on  its  credulity  or  good-natured  indifference. 
Granting  the  state  of  impalpability,  the  conclusion  is  forced  that  it 
existed  in  the  sugar  of  milk  before  going  in  the  mortar.  One  of  the 
uses  of  the  sharp  crystals  of  sugar  of  milk  is  that  in  the  process 
of  rubbing  under  the  pestle  they  aid  in  the  comminution  of  the 
drug,  wrhich  use,  of  course,  is  absent  if  the  sugar  of  milk  is  in  an 
impalpable  state  before  being  put  in  the  mortar;  that  it  can  be 
made  so  by  pestles  which  never  touch  the  mortar  is,  as  already 
intimated,  incredible. 

The  assertion  constantly  made  that  one  hundred  grains  of  sugar 
of  milk  triturated  for  one  thousand  hours  (i.e.,  during  the  working 
days  of  about  four  months)  came  out  as  white  as  it  went  in  one  of 
these  new  machines  can  readily  be  believed,  if,  as  is  probably  the 
case,  the  cover  of  the  machine  was  as  tight  as  it  should  be.  What 
was  there  to  darken  it?  The  pestle  did  not  touch  the  mortar,  and 
hence  the  sugar  of  milk  was  the  same  as  though  in  a  revolving 
bottle,  and  might  have  gone  on  thus  indefinitely.  Such,  in  brief, 
is  the  system  that  is  put  forward  to  supplant  that  introduced  and 
carefully  explained  by  Hahnemann.  It  is  for  the  medical  pro- 
fesssion  to  choose  between  them. 

Schuylkill  Water. — For  some  reason  not  clearly  apparent,  some 
of  Philadelphia's  newspapers  have  been  making  a  most  furious 
attack  this  summer  on  the  water-supply  of  that  city ;  the  persist- 
ency and  malignity  of  this  attack  has  been  so  great  as  to  be  noted 
all  over  the  United  States,  and  many  people,  it  is  said,  are  actually 
afraid  to  visit  the  city.  For  this  they  cannot  be  blamed,  as  the 
wording  of  these  articles  are  of  such  a  nature  as  to  almost  sicken 


234  THE  HOMCEOPA  THIG  BECOBDEB. 

those  who  read  them ;  think  of  drinking  "  filthy  sewage,"  the 
overflow  of  "  eesspools,"  the  drainage  from  "  dead  human  bodies," 
etc.  The  mere  wording  of  these  attacks  prove  them  to  be  false, 
for  if  they  even  approximated  to  the  truth  the  city  of  Philadel- 
phia would  be  uninhabitable  instead  of,  as  the  board  of  health 
reports  prove,  one  of  the  healthiest  of  the  large  cities  of  the  world; 
indeed,  among  cities  whose  population  exceed  a  million,  there  is  but 
one  whose  annual  death-rate  is  lower,  and  that  is  London.  The 
truth  is,  that  for  years  the  quality  of  the  Schuylkill  water  furnished 
to  Philadelphia  has  been  steadily  improving;  the  city  bought  the 
property  for  miles  above  Fairmount  dam,  on  both  sides  of  the  river, 
for  the  purpose  of  preserving  the  water  from  contamination,  and 
within  the  past  few  years  has  built  a  sewer  along  the  banks  of  the 
river  for  miles,  into  which  is  drained  all  matter  of  a  deleterious 
nature.  We  can  assure  our  readers  that  anyone  may  visit  Philadel- 
phia without  the  least  danger  of  being  "poisoned,"  or  of  getting 
the  typhoid  fever.  The  water  furnished  Philadelphia  is  neither 
better  nor  worse  than  the  average  furnished  to  large  cities.  These 
attacks — this  is  not  the  first  one — always  precede  an  effort  to  obtain 
control  of  the  city's  water-supply.  Similar  attacks  were  made  a  few 
years  ago  against  the  city's  gas  works,  and  accompanied  by  a  most 
determined  effort  to  force  the  city  to  sell  that  valuable  property. 
Whether  this  is  anything  but  a  coincidence  we  do  not  know. 

Rhus  Poisoning. — In  a  paper  read  before  the  Homoeopathic 
Medical  Society,  of  Los  Angelos,  at  the  meeting  held  July  9,  1889, 
Dr.  E.  T.  M.  Hurlburt,  of  that  city,  gave  his  experience  with  Cypri- 
pedium  pubescens  in  the  treatment  of  Rhus  poisoning.  In  gathering 
specimens  of  Cypripedium  he  noticed  that  it  produced  poison  effects 
similar  to  those  of  the  Rhus  and,  per  consequence,  the  law  of  similia 
pointed  out  a  use  for  it.  From  1877  to  date,  Dr.  Hurlburt  has  been 
using  Cypripedium  in  all  cases  of  Rhus  poisoning  and,  from  the  fact 
of  living  for  five  years  during  that  time  in  a  part  of  the  country 
infested  with  Rhus,  he  has  had  an  unusually  large  number  of  cases 
under  his  care,  but  has  met  with  uniform  success  in  their  treatment. 
He  gives  one  drop  doses  of  the  lx  dilution  every  hour  until  relieved, 
except  in  unusually  severe  cases,  when  the  dose  is  increased  to  five 
drops.  Cypripedium,  he  says,  may  also  be  used  as  a  prophylactic, 
but  not  externally. 

The  Candle. — A  Candle  once,  impelled  by  secret  Pride,  spoke  of 
the  Sun,  in  an  easy  and  familiar  way,  as  his  Brother.  So  the  Candle 
was  put  in  a  Back  Yard,  one  Night,  in  order  that  he  might  illumi- 
nate the  World  during  the  Sun's  Absence.  He  began  to  sputter 
and  flare  at  a  great  rate,  while  lanky  Shadows  played  Hide-and- 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT.  235 

Seek,  highly  elated  a1  the  Show,  and  heavy-weight  Bugs  and  crazy 
Moths  came  trooping  from  all  Directions,  and  made  a  greal  Ado 

over  the  new  luminary  and  investigated  it.  At  each  Investigation 
the  dark  Shadows  jumped  so  high  and  Beemed  bo  Bilently  gleeful  that 
the  Candle  grew  quite  [rritahle,and  when  at  last  a  little  Wind  puffed 

at  it,  it  was  quite  Put  Out,  and  determined  to  have  an  tmapprecia- 
tive  World  in  Darkness.  When  the  Sun  arose  on  the  Scene,  it  he- 
held  an  infinitesimal  grease  spot,  winch  it  kindly  melted  into  Mother 
Earth's  ample  Bosom,  and  Life  went  on  as  usual. 

The  quotations  of  some  of  our  esteemed  contemporaries  from 
these  pages  reminds  us  a  little  of  the  old  definition  of  glory  : 
"Having  your  name  misspelt  in  the  gazette."  Whether  they  are 
like  the  great  Sergeant  Snubhins  in  his  inability  to  remember  his 
contemporaries' names,  or  whether  the  fault  lies  in  slovenly  editing, 
we  have  no  means  of  knowing.  To  take  something  from  the  pages 
of  the  Homceopathic  Recorder,  and  credit  it  to  "  Record  "  or  "  Re- 
porter," or  some  other  mythical  journal,  is  hardly  fair  to  the 
readers,  or  to  us. 

Dr.  T.  H.  Carmichael,  of  Germantown,  Pa.,  in  an  article  in  the 
New  York  Medical  Times  (July),  treating  of  dilutions,  says:  "There 
are  indications  that  the  dilutions  will  soon  cease  to  occupy  their 
present  prominent  position  in  the  pharmacy  of  homoeopathy.  In 
some  parts  of  the  country  they  are  being  steadily  supplanted  by 
the  tablet  triturates.  The  latter  contain  a  definite  quantity  of  the 
drug  in  trituration,  and  thus  furnish  the  means  of  more  exact 
prescribing.  The  very  demand  for  them  is  an  evidence  of  the 
appreciation  with  which  new  school  men  hail  an  attempt  toward 
exact  dosage."  It  might  not  be  amiss  to  say  here  that  all  homoeo- 
pathic remedies  may  be  had  in  tablet  triturates.  Mother  tinctures 
are  triturated  in  sugar  of  milk  until  the  menstruum  is  completely 
volatilized.  The  2x,  3x  and  6x  of  the  tablets  made  from  these 
triturations  correspond  exactly  with  the  2x,  3x  and  6x  dilutions. 
Homoeopathic  physicians  should  bear  in  mind  that  tablets  of  this 
nature  made  by  reliable  homceopathic  pharmacies  differ  from  those 
made  by  allopathic  drug  houses  just  as  the  fluid  extract  differs  from 
the  mother  tincture.  There  is  also  another  possible  difference 
worth  noting :  The  homoeopathic  pharmacist,  if  he  does  his  duty, 
must  use  the  most  scrupulous  care  to  prevent  the  mingling  of  one 
drug  with  another  in  preparing  his  remedies,  even  in  the  minutest 
particles.  The  allopath,  who,  we  know,  laughs  at  the  minute  dose, 
would  not  have  the  same  incentive  in  preparing  his  drugs. 

Typhoid. — Dr.  John  J.  Shaw,  of  Plymouth,  Mass.,  in  a  paper 
read   before   the   Massachusetts   Homoeopathic    Medical    Society, 


236  THE  HOMCEOPATHIG  RECORDER. 

among  other  things,  says  of  typhoid:  "The  patient  should  be 
encouraged  to  drink  as  freely  as  he  will.  The  surface  of  the  body 
should  also  be  bathed  with  water  at  a  comfortable  temperature 
every  two  or  three  hours.  These  things  are  not  to  be  used  because 
they  lower  the  temperature,  but  because  they  rapidly  remove  waste 
material  which,  in  all  cases  of  fever,  is  being  rapidly  produced. 
The  danger  in  these  cases  is  not  in  the  high  temperature,  but  in 
the  waste  matter  being  developed  faster  than  it  can  be  eliminated. 
The  lungs,  the  skin  and  the  kidneys  are  the  principle  depurative 
organs.  It  is  the  retention  of  waste  products  which  threatens  the 
integrity  of  the  organism  ;  therefore  we  see  the  inconsistency  of 
using  such  drugs  as  Antipyrin  and  Antifibrin,  for  they  suspend 
largely  the  action  of  the  kidneys,  and  thus  throw  back  upon  the 
system  some  of  the  most  poisonous  excretions  in  the  whole  list. 
The  high  temperature  of  fevers  is  nature's  plan  for  ridding  the  sys- 
tem of  the  poisonous  foreign  products  which  endanger  its  life  by 
their  rapid  oxidation.  Therefore  the  lungs,  skin  and  kidneys 
should  be  supplied  with  an  unlimited  amount  of  the  menstrua 
through  whose  agency  this  oxidized  waste  material  is  to  be  re- 
moved." The  doctor  also  says:  "Many  years  ago  an  epidemic  of 
typhoid  broke  out  in  a  European  army  in  winter,  and,  as  the  hos- 
pitals were  full,  it  became  necessary  to  treat  many  cases  in  tents, 
exposed  to  the  rigors  of  the  weather.  Greatly  to  the  surprise  of 
the  doctors,  the  exposed  patients  almost  all  recovered,  while  among 
the  others  the  mortality  was  great. 

In  the  "  Allgemeine  Homoeopathische  Zeitung"  of  July  25th,  we  find 
the  following  :  "  A  citizen  of  Leipzig  richly  blessed  with  this  world's 
goods,  presented  to  the  city  hospital  two  landed  estates  which  he  pur- 
chased for  the  purpose,  to  be  used  as  a  convalescent  home.  By  the 
munificence  of  the  donor  from  70  to  80  convalescents  can  with  ex- 
isting facilities  be  provided  with  a  place  of  refuge  such  as  is 
usually  only  available  to  the  well-to-do.  We,  as  physicians  well 
aware  by  experience  of  the  sad  condition  of  the  convalescing  poor 
in  large  cities,  will  bless  the  man  who  in  such  a  benevolent  and 
suitable  manner  makes  use  of  his  riches.  In  the  course  of  years, 
hundreds  will  be  saved  from  a  lingering  death  and  be  preserved  to 
life,  their  families  and  their  usefulness  by  the  most  admirable  gift." 
In  the  following  number  of  that  same  journal  it  is  mentioned  that 
the  donor  is  Dr.  Willmar  Schwabe,  of  Leipzig. 

Mrs.  Amanda  W.  James,  widow  of  Dr.  David  James,  died  at 
her  cottage  on  Wesley  Lake,  Ocean  Grove,  on  Saturday  evening,  the 
10th  inst.,  in  the  80th  year  of  her  age.  Her  failing  strength  during 
the  last  two  weeks  warned  her  family  of  the  approaching  end,  and 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT.  237 

in  her  last  hours  she  was  attended  by  all  of  her  children  and  grand- 
children.  Two  sons  of  Mrs.  .lames  arc  prominenl  homoeopathic 
physicians  in   Philadelphia,  Dr.  Bushrod  \V.  .lames  ami  Dr.  .John 

E.  Janes. 

Ever  since  the  first  appearance  of  Farrington's  Clinical  Materia 
Media,  the  German  homoeopathic  journals  have  been  Largely  quot- 
ing from  it,  and  now  a  complete  translation  of  the  work  into  that 
language  has  appeared.  The  Germans  know  a  good  thing  when  they 
see  it. 

Eclectic  Items. — Prof.  Goss,  editor  of  the  Georgia  Eclectic  Medical 
Journal,  gives  the  following  clinical  hints,  which  may  be  of  some 
interest  to  the  homoeopathic  profession  : 

"Erysepelas  may  be  cured  by  giving  20  drops  of  Jaborandi  every 
two  hours  until  it  produces  profuse  diaphoresis." 

"Hysteria  may  be  readily  relieved  by  giving  Gelsemium  in  doses 
of  20  to  25  drops  every  three  hours  until  its  physiological  effects 
occur." 

"Winter  Cough,  with  hyper-secretion,  may  be  relieved  and  finally 
cured  by  the  tincture  of  iEsculus  glabra.  It  also  relieves  some 
cases  of  asthma  where  the  dyspnoea  is  constant.  Put  from  20  to  40 
drops  in  a  glass  of  water,  and  give  a  teaspoonful  every  two  hours." 

"  Cholera  Infantum  may  be  cured  by  checking  the  vomiting  with 
Euphorbia,  then  giving  the  tincture  of  the  seed  of  Lappa  major 
(burdock),  or  the  tincture  of  the  seed  and  root  is  better.  Doses,  3 
drops  for  children." 

"Passiflora  Incarnata  is  the  most  valuable  addition  to  our  list  of 
nervines  and  soporifics.  I  have  used  it  to  produce  sleep  in  children 
and  adults,  where  there  was  great  restlessness,  and  it  has  often  suc- 
ceeded well,  leaving  no  bad  after-effects  whatever.  It  acts  promptly 
in  neuralgia  and  convulsions,  and  in  tetanus  it  has  no  superior.  I 
give  from  30  to  60  drops  of  the  fluid  extract,  or  saturated  tinture, 
three  times  a  day  for  spasms,  and  in  epilepsy.  In  full  doses  it  cures 
tetanus  in  a  horse.  If  it  cannot  be  given  by  the  mouth  in  lockjaw, 
it  may  be  injected  up  the  bowels,  half  pint  at  a  time  for  a  horse, 
and  half  ounce  for  a  man.     It  has  come  to  stay." 

Dr.  Wilmot  Moore,  of  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  who  was  last  year  the 
homoeopathic  representative  on  the  board  of  health,  and  also  presi- 
dent of  that  body,  has  been  re-appointed  again  this  year. 

Dr.  A.  M.  Cushing  (Physician' 's  and  Surgeon's  Investigator)  fore- 
shadows great  possibilities  from  Mephitis  in  the  case  of  weak  sight. 
A  gentleman  of  his  acquaintance  once  received  a  dose  of  that  rem- 


238  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDER. 

edy,  direct  from  the  skunk,  into  his  eye.  It  was  as  though  fire  had 
entered  his  eyes,  and  for  a  time  he  was  totally  blind ;  but  when  his 
sight  returned,  it  was  so  keen  that  he  could  count  the  panes  of  glass 
in  the  window  of  a  house  claimed  to  be  two  miles  away. 

For  Cremation. — Dr.  G.  W.  Barnes,  one  of  California's  homoeo- 
pathic physicians,  in  a  paper  read  before  the  San  Diego  Society  of 
Natural  History,  makes  the  following  point,  among  others,  in  favor 
of  cremation :  "  It  is  more  than  a  probability  that  pestilential  dis- 
eases are  by  earth  burial  transmitted  from  one  generation  to  an- 
other, and  thus  perpetuated  indefinitely.  If  the  seeds  of  plants 
can  be  preserved  for  centuries,  and  then,  under  favoring  conditions, 
be  made  to  germinate  and  reproduce  their  kind,  so  the  germs  of 
contagious  disease,  after  having  been  entombed  for  ages,  may  be 
warmed  into  life  under  suitable  environment,  and  spread  contagion 
among  the  living." 

Paralysis. — The  Homoeopathic  Society  of  Saxony  have  been  dis- 
cussing paralysis.  Dr.  Henze  cured  facial  paralysis  on  the  right 
side  with  Causticum  and  Belladonna  in  alternation,  and  also  of  the 
left  fore-arm  with  same  treatment.  Causticum  was  also  used  suc- 
cessfully in  a  case  of  ptosis  of  both  upper  eyelids  of  long  standing. 
Lead  palsy  of  seventeen  years'  standing  was  cured  with  Plumbum 
in  high  potency.  In  the  Journal  of  Ophthalmology  is  related  a  cure 
of  facial  paresis,  and  paralysis  of  the  third  nerve  with  drooping  of 
eyelid  quickly  cured  with  Paris  quadrifolio  6x. 

Here  is  a  remedy  for  cramp,  suggested  by  Dr.  R.  W.  St.  Clair,  of 
London :  Let  the  patient  provide  himself  with  a  good,  strong  cord, 
and  keep  it  always  with  him.  When  the  spasm  comes  on,  let  him 
wind  this  cord  around  the  affected  part,  take  an  end  in  each  hand, 
and  give  them  a  good  sharp  pull.  It  will  hurt  a  little — it  is  useless 
if  it  does  not — but  the  cramp  will  vanish  at  once. 

For  a  period  of  five  years,  ending  December  31,  1888,  according 
to  Health  Officer  Stanton,  there  were  579,684  deaths  in  our  eight 
largest  American  cities,  and  of  these  13,094,  or  2.18  per  cent,  were 
from  cancer.  * 

Ancient  History. — A  little  leaflet  originating  from  a  small,  local 
pharmacy  in  the  west,  and  apparently  scattered  broadcast,  is  so 
misleading  as  to  require  some  attention.     We  quote  from  it : 

To  show  the  relative  superiority  of 's  triturating,  we  will  add  that  the  best 

extra  triturated  Ix  Lycopodium  of  a  prominent  Philadelphia  pharmacy  was  found,  by 
Dr.  W.  H.  Winslow,  to  have  only  10  per  cent,  of  the  spores  broken  (see  Hahneman- 


PUBLISIlEIiS*  DEPARTMENT.  239 

nian  Monthly  July,  1882),  while  's  ordinary  Ix  trituration  of  Lycopodium 

was  found  by  Prof.  J.  Edwards  Smith,  M.D.,  and  Prof.  A.  Y.  Moore,  M  !>.,  to  have 
00  the  spores  broken  and  perfectly  comminuted.  (See  N.  V.  Med.  Hm«9,  Sep- 
tember, 1882.) 

As  there  are,  doubtless,  thousands  of  the  Recorder's  readers  who 
have  not  access  to  the  Hahnemannian  Monthly  of  the  date  referred  to, 
we  will  state  that  Dr.  Winslow's  paper  referred  to  in  the  foregoing 
was  read  before  the  Hahnemann  Club,  of  Philadelphia,  in  June, 
1882.  Dr.  Winslow,  it  seems,  bad  microscopically  examined  the 
Lycopodium  triturations  of  leading  homoeopathic  pharmacies  of 
Europe  and  the  United  States  and  summed  up  the  results  as  follows  : 

These  facts  render  it  incontrovertible,  that  trituration  does  not  have  the  effect 
upon  Lycopodium  that  we  have  so  long  believed.  It  is  liberal  to  concede  from  the 
microscopic  examinations,  that  the  amount  of  Lycopodium  made  active  by  any 
method  of  trituration,  does  not  exceed  10  per  cent,  of  the  mas3. 

(The  italics  are  ours.) 

Prof.  J.  Edward  Smith,  M.D.,  and  Prof.  A.  Y.  Moore,  M.D.,  differ 
from  Dr.  Winslow 's  conclusion  ;  they  found  a  Lycopodium  trituration 
which  they  certify  had  "  all  the  spores  broken  and  perfectly  com- 
minuted." Dr.  Winslow  placed  the  utmost  bourne  of  broken  spores 
at  10  per  cent.,  while  the  two  professors  placed  it  at  100  per  cent. — 
not  excepting  even  one  little  spore.  We  do  not  know  that  any  com- 
ments are  needed  on  thisremarkable  difference,  other  than  that  a 
trituration  of  Lycopodium  mother  tincture  may  be  had  from  any 
trustworthy  homoeopathic  house  in  which  most  certainly  there  will 
be  no  unbroken  spores.     Again  we  quote : 

In   the  course  of  examination   instituted   by   The   American  Institute  of 

Homoeopathy, 's  milk  sugar  was  repeatedly  found  not  only  good  and  fit  for 

homoeopathic  use,  but  better  than  milk  sugar  from  any  other  pharmacy,  while  that 
from  nearly  all  other  pharmacies  was  of  a  character  declared,  by  resolution 
adopted,  to  be  unfit  for  homoeopathic  use.     (See  1'rans.  Am.  Inst.  Horn,  for  1883.) 

The  impression  an  unbiased  and  uninformed  reader  would  get 
from  the  foregoing  quotation  would  probably  be  that  in  a  manner 
the  Institute  was  an  advertising  appendage  of  this  local  establish- 
ment. Turning  to  the  Transactions  of  1883  we  find  this  claim  to  be 
based  on  a  report  by  Prof.  J.  Edwards  Smith,  M.D..  of  examina- 
tions of  sugar  of  milk  samples,  in  which  the  milk  sugar  of  the  phar- 
macy in  question  happened  to  show  a  slightly  lower  percentage  of 
"  residue "  than  the  others  ;  this  might  be  accounted  for  by  the 
varying  degree  of  heat  applied  by  which  means  the  best  and  the 
worst  could  have  been  made  to  change  places  in  this  respect. 

The  Institute  "  Resolved,  That  manufacturers  of  Lactine  be  re- 


240  THE  HOMCEOPATBIC  RECORDER. 

quested  to  state  on  each  package  offered  for  sale  the  amount  of  ash 
in  milligrams  produced  from  the  incineration  of  10  grams  (ten)  of 
sugar  of  milk."  This  request  was  faithfully  complied  with  for  a 
time,  but  experience  demonstrated  that  it  was  not  only  impracti- 
cable but  entirely  useless.     The  leaflet  goes  on  : 

As  to  quality  they  [i.e.,  the  Philadelphia  pharmacy]  admit  (see  leading  editorial 
Hahnemann  ian  Monthly,  April,  18S3)  their  use  of  wedgewood  mortars,  and  triturat- 
ing a  pound  in  the  course  of  an  hour. 

This  is  a  very  ingenious  allusion,  but  not  an  honest  one.  as  the 
following  verbatim  quotation  from  the  editorial  in  question  shows  : 
"  In  a  recent  conversation  with  Mr.  Tafel — the  present  senior 
member  of  the  firm — he  informed  us  that,  years  ago,  they  had 
entirely  discarded  wedgewood- ware  from  their  triturating  room  and 
restricted  themselves  exclusively  to  large-sized  unglazed  porcelain 
mortars.  He  also  stated  that  they  soon  discovered  than  one  pound 
at  a  time  could  not  be  properly  triturated  at  all,  etc."  So  what  the 
editorial  really  says  is,  that  years  prior  to  1883  the  firm  in  question 
had  abandoned  the  use  of  wedgewood  mortars  and  that  their  ex- 
perience had  demonstrated  that  triturations  could  not  be  properly 
made  at  the  rate  of  one  pound  at  a  time.  After  this  we  are  quite 
prepared  for  anything — this  for  instance : 

Care  should  be  taken  in  the  selection  of  alcohol,  as  oxidized  alcohol,  utterly  unfit 
for  homoeopathic  use,  is  furnished  to  parties  having  homoeopathic  pharmacies  in 
Philadelphia  and  elsewhere.  Their  use  of  such  alcohol  makes  all  their  tinctures 
and  dilutions  entirely  unreliable  and  altogether  unworthy  of  confidence.  Oxidized 
alcohol  contains  compounds  of  valerianic,  propylic  and  other  acids  in  varying  pro- 
tions,  and  these  cannot  be  removed  by  redistillation.  It  is  sweet  in  smell,  and  may 
therefore  be  imposed  upon  the  unwary. 

In  other  words  all  other  homoeopathic  pharmacies  in  the  United 
States  are  continually  and  deliberately  swindling  the  medical  pro- 
fession, and  the  medical  profession  are  so  stupid  that  they  cannot 
detect  the  swindle.  Such  reckless  assertions  are  even  poor  adver- 
tisements, and  a  house  that  can  put  its  name  to  such  matter  can 
hardly  be  called  a  credit  to  homoeopathic  pharmacy. 

The  ''  Philadelphia  pharmacy,"  which  is  so  unjustly  libelled  in 
the  leafllet  under  consideration,  uses  no  other  than  the  best  refined 
and  re-crystallized  milk  sugar,  sharp,  pure  and  clean,  that  the 
world's  markets  will  yield.  The  alcohol  used  is  the  finest  product 
of  one  of  the  most  reliable  houses  in  the  United  States,  and  such 
assertions  concerning  its  character  can  only  be  the  result  of  igno- 
rance, or  of  a  malice  so  blind  as  to  deserve  pity  more  than  anything 
else. 


THE 


Homeopathic  Recorder 


Vol.  IV. 


PHILADELPHIA,  NOVEMBER,  1889. 


No.  6. 


POTENCY. 

Could  we  but  satisfactorily  explain,  by  the  means  of  a  readily 
understood,  incontrovertible,  scientific  theorem,  the  entity  of  drug 
power  in  our  potencies,  the  whole  practice  of  homoeopathy  would, 
within  a  comparatively  short  time,  be  embraced  by  all  practitioners 
of  medicine,  and  the  hope  of  decades — the  amalgamation  of  all 
schools  of  medicine — would  be  attained,  for  all  would  be  homoeopath  - 
ists  in  fact,  and  the  result  a  scientific  practice  of  medicine,  working 
with  the  foundation  of  a  fixed  explicable  law,  would  no  longer  bring 
upon  the  fraternity  the  present  odium  of  disbelief  by  the  laity  in 
the  unstable  and  contradictory  knowledge  of  physicians. 

Our  law  is,  at  the  present  day,  entirely  satisfactory  to  the  majority 
of  learned  men  and  unbigoted  physicians;  our  tinctures  and  lower 
potencies  of  the  more  active  drugs  are  used  with  satisfaction  by 
most  of  the  schools ;  our  purity  and  simplicity  of  preparation,  neat- 
ness in  pharmacy  and  handy  method  of  prescribing  are  becoming 
greatly  appreciated ;  and  lastly,  our  splendid  cures  of  nervous  and 
highly  chronic  diseases  are  causing  admiration ;  but  mention  a 
higher  potency  to  any  believer  than  that  in  which  he  can  see  the 
drug,  and  all  respect,  honor,  truth  and  science  in  our  practice  van- 
ishes before  it  in  his  mind  like  the  theatrical  ghost  of  Hamlet.  Why  ? 
Simply  because  the  prescriber  himself  cannot  explain  why  the  po- 
tency cures,  nor  that  he  has  really  used  a  palpable  means  to  secure 
the  end  he  claims. 

Some  years  ago  we  published  in  one  of  our  younger  magazines  an 

article  upon  "  Potency  Physically  Considered,"  which  seemed  for 

some  reason  to  call  forth  no  response  from  the  fraternity.     Judging 

the  cause  to  be  the  probable  limited  number  of  readers  to  a  maga- 

vol.  iv.— 16 


242  THE  HOMCEOPA  THIG  RECORDER. 

zine  in  its  first  year;  and  that  the  subject  is  one  that  should  be 
studied  and  prove  itself  worthy  of  comment,  being  so  necessary  to 
our  practice  and  neglected  by  our  authors,  we  again  take  up  the 
gauntlet  in  behalf  of  potencies  and  the  defence  of  our  practice. 

No  true  follower  of  the  immortal  teachings  of  Hahnemann  doubts 
for  a  moment  the  efiicacy  of  our  potencies,  yet,  when  asked  upon 
what  he  bases  his  belief  in  dynamized  drugs,  he  is  unable  to  give  a 
satisfactory  answer,  because  he  cannot  realize  and  becomes,  there- 
fore, incompetent  to  explain  the  force  that  is  inherent  in  these,  to 
him,  phenomenal  preparations.  Who  is  there  among  you  who  read 
this  that  have  yourselves  "  run  up  "  a  drug  to  the  loth  potency, 
but  gradually  lost  faith  as  the  dynamization  progressed  beyond  the 
second  centesimal  ?  Who,  when  adding  a  large  amount  of  the  inert 
to  a  small  portion  of  the  active,  has  not  lost  heart  and  carried  his 
trituration  no  further?  Let  us  hope  that  a  thoughtful  reasoning 
upon  the  following  physical  law  will  reinstate,  or  cause  retention  of 
the  old  faith  in  the  potentizer  and  triturator,  and  give  him  a  tan- 
gible argumentative  anchor  when  called  ujdou  to  defend  his  use  of 
potencies. 

Every  elementary  atom,  compound  molecule,  mass  or  portion  of  a  mass, 
organ,  or  cell,  has  a  specific  energy,  distinctive^  definite  and  absolute;  a 
force  perhaps  allied  to,  but  never  duplicated  in,  different  substances,  and 
this  force  is  the  only  true  and  radical  distinction  between  substances. 

All  molecules  are  miscible,  and,  when  in  a  state  of  mixture,  act 
upon  each  other;  on  ekind  of  energy  inevitably  affecting  another  to 
a  greater  or  less  extent,  and,  as  a  result,  that  energy  which  has  the 
greatest  power  will  change  the  others,  until  ultimately  they  partake 
of  its  identity,  or  will  form  a  new  and  distinct  substance,  the  energy 
of  which  will  have  no  similitude  to  any  of  its  originators. 

Here  is  a  theorem  and  corollary  which  explains,  in  a  very  satis- 
factory manner  to  us,  at  least,  the  activity  of  the  remedy  in  a  highly 
dynamized  drug.  The  atoms  in  a  mass  (say  one  grain)  of  mercury 
have  a  certain  potential  energy,  which,  in  the  whole  mass,  like  the 
power  of  a  man  in  a  crowd  of  his  fellow-beings,  cannot  be  exerted, 
on  account  of  lack  of  freedom,  but  separated,  their  energy  becomes 
actual,  and  as  such  represents  the  true  character  of  the  element. 
This,  then,  is  the  one  great  use  of  the  lower  potencies — to  separate 
the  atoms  of  an  elemental,  or  molecules  of  a  compound  body.  Xow, 
to  carry  the  process  further,  and  increase  what  we  call  the  curative 
power  of  mercury,  by  reducing  the  drug  or  irritant  power,  we 
prove  that  the  molecules  of  ivater,  alcohol,  or  milk  sugar  are  less  energetic 
than  those  of  any  drug  that  retains  its  power  ivhen  immersed  in  these  ve- 
hicles. Now,  turning  to  our  corollary  as  above  stated,  and  taking  a 
drop  of  the  last  potency  containing  the  drug  atoms,  placing  it  in  not 
too  many  drops  of  any  of  these  vehicles,  and  what  takes  place? 


TEE  EOMtEOPATEIC  B ECO R DEB. 

The  energy  of  the  drug  being  greater  than  thai  of  the  vehicle,  it  com- 
municatee its  force  to  Li,  and  the  energy  of  the  drug  being  all  its 
specific  identity,  the  vehicle  having  gained  it,  becomes  in  reality  the 
drug  itself,  in  a  greatly  diminished  proportion,  but  a  highly  active 
state.     Were  too  much  of  the  vehicle  used  it  would  preponderate  in 

energy  and  the  drug  itself  would   be  lost.     This  much  as  a   positive 

argument  against  the  drop-of-medicine-above-Niagara-Falls   bigot. 

Following  carefully  an  elaboration  of  this  theorem  and  corollary, 

how  many  of  the  processes  of  the  great  material  world  might  he 
explained!  The  mystery  of  emanating  odors;  the  sensation  of 
taste;  the  phenomena  of  h«at,  light  and  electricity;  infection  by 
specific  miasms  ;   disease  ;  and,  in  fact,  life  and  death  as  well. 

In  that  process  of  animal  and  vegetable  life  called  health,  each 

cell  of  the  organism  has  a  molecular  energy  peculiar  to  the  func- 
tion it  performs,  and  vitality  is  simply  the  sum  of  these  different 
energies.  As  long  as  these  energies  can  hold  their  identity  against 
all  interfering  forces,  so  long  are  organisms  in  health  ;  but  when 
any  of  these  functional  energies  are  changed  by  more  powerful  ones, 
the  organism  immediately  shows  symptoms  of  the  disturbing  force, 
and  therefore  is  diseased.  The  greater  the  disturbing  force,  the 
more  acute  the  symptoms,  even  to  death,  which  is  really  a  total 
lack  of  correlation  of  the  molecular  forces  of  life — nothing  more. 

Here  is  the  explanation  of  the  law  governing  homoeopathic  med- 
ication. A  prover  takes  a  drug  in  an  energetic  irritant  dose ;  it 
changes  his  forces  thus  and  so,  which  change  he  records  as  the 
disturbing  effect  upon  his  organism,  and  when  he'  finds  another 
organism  similarly  affected,  what  is  simpler  or  more  scientific  than 
his  method  of  combating  the  signs  of  disease?  He  selects  that 
force  in  a  free  and  attenuated  form  which  corresponds  to  the  Bigns 
of  energy  lost,  ingests  it  into  the  organism  to  supply  the  correlated 
deficiency,  and  proper  vital  energy  is  restored. 

Again,  infection  by  disease-energies  becomes  explicable.  All 
persons  are  not  susceptible  to  individual  poisons ;  all  do  not  con- 
tract diseases  when  directly  exposed.  Why  ?  Simply  because  their 
vital  energies  are  more  powerful  than  those  of  the  poison  or  disease, 
and  cannot  be  affected  by  them. 

Follow  carefully  these  purely  physical  and  soundly  scientific 
points,  and  what  a  field  of  knowledge  opens  to  us !  Our  law  is  ex- 
plained and  our  potencies  become  entities  that  none  but  the  most 
obtuse  can  doubt.  We  have  proven  them  curative,  but  we  could 
not  give  the  why  ;  can  we  not  say  a  potency  is  a  force  developed,  not 
produced;  a  fact  explained  as  well  as  proven ;  a  truth  compatible 
with  all  the  natural  laws  governing  the  universe. 

To  Prospective  Pro  vers. — To  those  who  desire  to  make  prov- 
ings  for  the  benefit  of  our  science,  and  with  that  idea  stronglv  in 


244  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

mind  seek  out  new  or  strange  foreign  remedies  and  products,  al- 
low us  to  suggest  that,  in  the  less  complete  portion  of  our  Materia 
Medica,  there  are  some  very  interesting  and  valuable  plants  on  which 
the  profession  need  more  light,  and  which  will  prove  to  be  fully  as 
useful,  in  all  probability,  as  any  newer  remedies.  Among  these  are : 
Lycopus  Virginicus,  the  Bugle  Weed ;  Ambrosia  artemisifolia,  the  com- 
mon Rag  Weed  ;  Robinia  pseud-acacia,  the  common  Yellow  Locust ; 
Melilotus  officinalis,  the  Sweet  Clover ;  Sarracenia purpurea,  the  Pitcher 
plant ;  Trillium  erectum,  the  Purple  Trillium  ;  Nymphxa  odorata,  the 
White  Water  Lily  (on  women)  ;  Salix  nigra,  the  Black  Willow,  and 
Populus  tremuloides,  the  Aspen.     To  those  who  are  not  botanists  : 

We  will  take  pleasure  in  identifying  any  plant  sent  us,  and  to 
otherwise  help  any  who  may  desire  assistance  in  the  matter  of 
botanical  references,  etc. 


SILICO-SULPHO-CALCITE  OF  ALUMINA. 

Provings. 

Dr.  Geo.  Herring  reports  the  following  proving  of  this  substance 
in  the  Horn.  World  of  August : 

At  the  suggestion  of  the  the  Horn.  World  I  procured  the  3x  tritu- 
ration. To  begin  with  myself:  May  14th,  took  3  grains  to-day  in 
divided  doses  ;  15th,  no  well-defined  symptoms  ;  28th,  took  1  grain 
to-day ;  29th,  last  night  experienced  a  sort  of  creeping  irritation  of 
the  skin,  or  underneath  the  skin,  in  the  umbilical  region,  which 
kept  me  awake  for  some  time,  and  as  I  could  attribute  this  to  no 
other  cause,  presume  it  was  caused  by  the  medicine.  And,  if  so, 
Slag  should  be  serviceable  in  some  cases  of  subcutaneous  urticaria. 

After  this  experience  I  did  not  feel  disposed  to  pursue  the  prov- 
ing further;  but  I  had  prudently  secured  a  substitute,  which  I 
always  prefer,  rather  than  to  make  prolonged  experiments  upon 
myself. 

Second  Prover. — This  gentleman  was  apparently  in  good  health, 
although  he  had  two  or  three  times  previously  been  a  patient  with 
gouty  pains  in  the  foot,  always  speedily  cured  by  Bry.  lx.  He 
readily  consented  to  take  Slag,  when  the  nature  of  pathogenetic 
proving  had  been  explained  to  him. 

May  10th.  Took  3  grains  to-day  in  divided  doses.  11th.  "Any 
symptoms  this  morning?"  I  inquired  of  him.  "No;  no  symp- 
toms," he  said,  "  but  I  feel  a  good  deal  better  than  I  usually  do. 
Every  night,  before  last  night,  I  have  had  to  unbutton  the  top  but- 
tons of  my  trousers  from  swelling  out,  but  last  night  I  didn't.     I 


THE  HOMCEOPA  THIG  BECOBDEB.  245 

haven't  fell  so  well  for  a  long  time;  1  should  like  to  go  oil  with 
thai  medicine."  11th  and  12th.  Continue,  3  grains  per  day. 
13th.   No  pathogenetic  symptoms,  but  continued  Improvement  of 

the  flatulent  distention.  He  is  well  pleased  with  the  result  of  the 
proving.  Besides  being  cured  of  the  abdominal  distention,  he 
says,  "  I  have  lost  the  oppressive  feeling  I  used  to  have  over  the 
heart."  Medicine  suspended.  17th.  The  improved  condition  still 
continues.  25th.  Improvement  still  continues.  He  thinks  this 
the  best  medicine  he  ever  had. 

From  this  case  we  may  conclude  that  Slag  is  wortli  remembering 
when  we  have  patients  with  similar  symptoms.  It  would  seem  to 
be  an  analogue  of  Li/copod. 

Third  Prover. — Strictly  speaking,  this  gentleman  should  not  be 
called  a  prover,  he  having  been  a  patient  for  some  time,  suffering 
from  chronic  constipation.  However,  there  was  one  symptom 
appeared — soreness  of  the  anus.  Like  the  former  prover  he  also 
had,  sometimes,  flatulent  distention,  and  like  him  was  cured  of  it. 

May  13.  Slag  gr.  xii. :  to  be  dissolved  in  half  a  pint  of  water. 
One  tablespoonful  twice  a  day.  20th.  He  thinks  the  medicine  is 
doing  good,  but  has  soreness  of  the  anus.  Continue,  but  reduce 
the  dose  to  6  grains  to  the  half-pint  of  water.  27th.  Improving  ; 
continue.  June  3d.  Bowels  have  acted  more  comfortably,  and  there 
is  no  flatulence.  Continue  fourteen  days  longer.  17th.  Still  im- 
proving; he  certainly  looks  better.     Change  to  Lycopod. 

Upon  the  whole  this  medicine  has  been  as  useful  as  any,  and  we 
shall  return  to  it  on  a  future  day. 

Fourth  Prover. — This  lady  had  been  under  my  treatment  for  a 
variety  of  symptoms  arising  from  a  delicate  constitution,  her 
mother  having  died  of  phthisis.  Having  begun  to  entertain  high 
expectations  of  the  remedial  virtues  of  Slag,  I  decided  to  give  this 
patient  the  benefit  of  it.  Gave  1  grain  twice  a  day.  A  week 
afterwards  she  returned  much  worse,  having  had  these  symptoms  : 
diarrhoea,  the  bowels  acting  three  or  four  times  a  day ;  great  debil- 
ity;  quick  pulse;  lumbago-like  pain  in  the  back;  inflation  of 
stomach,  etc.,  so  that  she  had  to  unloose  her  dress.  For  these 
S3rmptoms  I  gave  Phos.  and  Phos.  acid,  afterwards  Carb.  veg.,  all 
of  which  were  very  beneficial.  If  I  were  ever  to  prescribe  Slag  again 
for  this  patient,  it  would  be,  of  course,  in  a  higher  attenuation,  and 
might  then  do  good.  I  noticed  in  this  case  that  the  remedy  had 
produced  two  symptoms,  which  in  two  other  patients  it  had  cured 
— flatulent  distention  and  lumbago. 

[The  author  suggests  the  name  Ferri-cinis,  Cinder  of  iron,  for  this 
drug  as  more  euphonious  and  easily  spoken.  We  judge  that  the 
name  would  be  likely  to  prove  misleading,  as  the  compound  con- 
tains little  or  no  iron. — c.  f.  m.] 


240  THE  HOMEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

Prover. — F.  C.  B.  *  thirty-three  years  of  age  ;  of  rather  dark  com- 
plexion ;  of  nervo-bilious  temperament.  He  suffers  from  chronically 
enlarged  tonsils,  and  failing  to  benefit  by  other  remedies  he  experi- 
mented on  himself  with  the  Slag.  This  had  no  more  effect  on  the 
tonsils  than  other  medicines.  He  has  no  pain  in  the  tonsils  except 
when  he  tries  to  reach  high  notes  in  singing,  when  he  experiences  a 
sensation  as  though  something  tight  were  tied  round  the  neck ;  with 
much  mucus  in  the  throat,  sometimes  easily  detached,  sometimes 
impossible  to  detach.  He  wakes  with  a  clammy,  dryish  mouth. 
He  has  a  very  great  tendency  to  take  cold  in  the  head. 

Saturday,  May  4, 1889.  Took  Slag,  6x  trit.,  5  grains.  In  the  even- 
ing felt  unusually  drowsy. 

Sunday,  May  5th.  Took  5  grains  morning,  noon,  and  night.  Felt 
unusually  drowsy  in  the  evening. 

Monday,  May  6th.  Took  5  grains  morning,  noon,  and  night. 
Awoke  with  dull  frontal  headache ;  want  of  energy ;  pains  in  the 
limbs ;  throbbing  in  the  left  tonsil,  with  aching  pain  ;  pains  in  both 
knee-caps,  sometimes  dull,  sometimes  aching;  aching  pain  between 
shoulders  and  in  left  elbow,  with  dull,  heavy  sensation,  alternating 
with  aching  in  region  of  spleen. 

Tuesday,  May  7th.  Took  one  dose  in  the  morning  only.  Awoke 
with  pain  in  the  forehead,  of  a  dull,  stupefying  character ;  pain  be- 
tween shoulders ;  cold  in  head,  which  Natr.  mur.  6c  failed  to  make 
any  impression  upon,  but  which  Aeon,  and  Cham,  lc,  alternately, 
soon  removed.  Pain  in  head  in  the  evening  of  this  day  extended 
to  the  right  temple,  with  sensation  of  stiffness  at  the  back  of  head 
and  neck.     (The  headache  was  a  constant  effect  of  the  Slag.) 

Wednesday,  May  8th.  Took  no  medicine.     Awoke  with  thickly- 
coated  tongue  (grayish),  with  terra-cotta-colored  streak  down  the 
middle ;  shifting  pains  in  the  right  elbow,  changing  to  left  elbow, 
then  back  to  right  again ;  aching,  dull  pain  across  small  of  back 
dull,  frontal  headache,  with  stiffness  of  back  of  head   and  neck 
little  appetite;  very  frequent  urination  (seven  or  eight  times  a  day) 
pain  in  region  of  spleen,  and  stitches  in  region  of  heart,  with  slight 
palpitation. 

Thursday,  May  9th.  Took  no  medicine.  Awoke  with  slimy 
tongue,  slight  frontal  headache,  and  stiffness  at  back  of  head  and 
neck  ;  pain  in  lower  part  of  back ;  less  frequent  urination.  More 
energy  than  have  had  since  commencing  to  take  it  (I  had  felt  fit 
only  to  lie  down  every  evening  since  commencing  it  until  this 
one). 

Friday,  May  10th.  No  medicine.  Slimy  tongue  on  awaking,  with 
usual  dulness  of  forehead  and  stiffness  at  back  of  head.     This  now 

*  Horn.  World,  October  1,  1889. 


TEE  EOMCBOPA  TIIIC  RECOBDKU.  247 

goes  off  slightly  on  moving  about;  feel  much  more  energy;  occa- 
sional shooting,  aching  pain  through  the  knees,  felt  mosl  on  going 
upstairs  ;  appetite  improved  ;  urine  rather  darker  than  usual. 

Saturday,  May  11th.  No  medicine.  Usual  headache,  and  back 
pain,  worse  on  Btooping. 

Sunday,  May  L2th.  No  medicine.     Usual  headache. 

Monday,  May  13.  Took  Slag  12c  dil.,  5  drops  three  times  a 
day  in  water.  Dulness  of  head  increased  by  it;  then  all  symptoms 
passed  off. 


NEW  AMERICAN   REMEDIES  IN   DYSPEPSIA.* 

Iris  Versicolor. — This  remedy  acts  throughout  the  entire  ali- 
mentary canal,  but  more  especially  upon  the  superior  portion,  the 
salivary  glands  and  the  pancreas.  It  may  be  employed  in  prefer- 
ence to  Nux  and  Puis,  in  diseases  of  the  stomach  when  the  fol- 
lowing symptoms  concur :  Violent  pain  in  the  region  of  the  stomach 
that  comes  on  at  intervals;  vomiting  of  food  an  hour  after  eating; 
bilious  vomiting;  acid  contents  of  the  stomach  wdth  or  without 
pain  ;  inflammation  of  the  oesophagus  and  duodenum.  Any  of  these 
symptoms  authorize  the  employment  of  Iris,  with  the  probability 
of  good  effects. 

Lithium  carb. — May  be  found  useful  in  obstinate  acidity  of  the 
stomach. 

Lobelia  inflate. — Frequently  useful  in  the  lower  potencies  in  spas- 
modic cardialgia,  in  bilious  gastralgia,  and  in  the  terrible  pains 
caused  by  the  passage  of  biliary  calculi.  In  all  potencies  it  is  homoe- 
opathic to  that  form  of  vomiting,  accompanied  by  great  prostration, 
cold  sweat  and  wreak  pulse. 

It  is  also  useful  in  cases  of  vomiting  produced  by  violent  emo- 
tions, in  the  same  manner  as  Gelsemium  in  cases  of  involuntary  de- 
jections from  the  same  cause. 

Dr.  Jeans  has  employed  this  remedy  wTith  excellent  results  against 
many  symptoms  of  dyspepsia,  and  considers  the  principal  indication 
for  its  use  to  be  sensation  of  debility  and  oppression  at  ttu  epigastrium, 
with  oppression  of  the  chest.  In  many  cases  where  the  oppression  of 
the  chest  is  insignificant,  still  the  use  of  Lobelia  is  often  beneficial, 
as  the  following  clinical  case  shows  :  A  subject  45  years  of  age, 
large,  robust,  suffering  from  a  copious  hemorrhoidal  flux  and 
its  consequences,  debility  and  pressure  at  the  epigastrium,  with 
some  acidity  of  the  stomach.  He  had  administered  to  him  Nux 
and  other  remedies  without  result,  until  finally  a  slight  oppression 

*  El  Consullor  Homeopatico,  August,  1889. 


248  THE  HOMEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

of  the  chest  was  apparent  and  Lobelia  was  given,  and  the  following 
day  the  patient  began  to  recover  his  vigor ;  the  oppression  of  the 
chest  disappeared,  the  gastric  symptoms,  the  hemorrhoidal  flux ; 
the  patient  was  also  freed  of  a  debility  of  the  rectum,  and  the  anal 
muscle,  that  had  incommoded  him  many  years,  was  strengthened. 

Among  Botanists  this  drug  has  enjoyed  the  reputation  of  an  ex- 
cellent anti-dyspeptic  ;  used  in  doses  of  3  to  4  drops  before  eating, 
it  has  the  reputation  of  acting  as  an  aperient  and  auxiliary  to  good 
digestion  ;  however,  its  abuse  debilitates  the  stomach  and  its  func- 
tion. 

In  dyspepsia  produced  by  the  abuse  of  green  tea,  tobacco  and 
poor  liquors,  whereof  patients  present  usually  symptoms  of  debility 
of  the  stomach,  it  is  very  efficacious. 

Dr.  Jeans's  characteristics  for  the  employment  of  Lobelia  are : 
Dyspnoea  constant,  aggravated  by  the  least  exercise  or  exposure  to 
cold;  chronic  paroxysmal  asthma;  weakness  and  pressure  on  the 
epigastrium,  rising  thence  to  the  heart,  with  or  without  heartburn  ; 
sensation  of  a  foreign  body  or  quantity  of  mucus,  with  oppression 
in  the  larynx ;  frontal  headache,  passing  from  one  temple  to  the 
other;  pain  in  the  shoulder;  pain  in  the  left  side;  urine  deep  in 
color;  oppression  over  the  epigastrium,  with  simultaneous  oppres- 
sion of  the  heart. 

Myrica  cerifera. — This  remedy  is  of  the  highest  importance  in  gas- 
trointestinal disorders.  Principally  the  symptoms  are  :  Unnatural 
hunger,  followed  by  indigestion  and  icterus  that  tinges  the  skin 
yellow;  fulness  in  the  region  of  the  liver  and  of  the  abdomen  ;  re- 
tention (encasa)  of  the  urine,  which  is  yellow  and  frothy,  deepening 
in  color  daily,  discoloring  the  linen  ;  great  debility  and  somnolence, 
even  to  stupor. 

Oleum  Cajeputi  has  cured  many  cases  of  nervous  vomiting,  dys- 
phagia, and  spasmodic  constriction  of  the  oesophagus.    " 

Oenothera  biennis. — The  probable  action  of  this  remedy  is  pre- 
sented in  the  following  cases :  A  man  26  years  of  age,  active,  had 
had  dyspepsia  for  five  years,  and  great  pain  in  the  region  of  the  blad- 
der, with  frequent  desire  to  urinate.  He  had  been  treated  by  vari- 
ous systems  without  beneficial  results,  until  his  case  had  become 
famous,  and  attributed  to  the  presence  of  vesical  calculus.  Oeno- 
thera and  China  before  eating  produced  immediate  and  certain  relief. 

A  dyspeptic  subject,  age  unknown,  suffered  especially  from  vom- 
iting of  food  after  eating ;  wakeful  during  the  night,  aggravated  by 
repeated  evacuations  of  urine.  Oenothera  before  meals  cut  short  the 
vomiting,  relieved  the  irritability  of  the  bladder,  and  permitted  rest 
during  the  night. 

Podophyllum. — The  action  of  this  remedy  upon  the  digestive  tract 
is  very  extensive  and  energetic,  but  its  symptoms  are  more  promi- 


THE  HO  MCE  OP  A  THIC  It  EC  ORDER.  249 

ncnt  upon  the  liver  and  intestines.  It  ie  especially  useful  when  the 
disease  is  characterized  by  symptoms  in  those  organs.  It  is  very 
valuable  to  oombal  those  dyspepsias  occasioned  by  the  abuse  of 

mercurials. 

Pals, it iJJn  NuttaUiana. — Stinging  and  bruised  sensation  at  the  en- 
trance of  the  stomach;  cutting  pain  in  the  stomach,  with  disten- 
tion of  the  abdomen,  and  dull  headache  ;  sour  eructations  ;  melan- 
cholia; nausea  without  vomiting;  pain  in  the  epigastrium;  acute 
cutting  pain  in  the  Btomach,  extending  to  the  spine;  indiLr«'stion, 
dyspepsia,  and  vomiting  of  the  pregnant. 

Populvs  tremuloides. — Dr.  Coe,  in  his  "Cone.  Org.  Remedies," 
recommends  Populvs  in  the  following  cases  :  Indigestion,  flatulence, 
lumbricoids.  "  As  a  remedy  for  indigestion,  with  flatulence  and 
acidity,  T  know  of  no  simple  agent  more  to  be  relied  upon."  As  a 
tonic  it  is  tolerated  by  the  stomach  in  hysteric  cases  when  all  others 
are  repugnant,  and  for  the  same  reason  it  is  an  excellent  remedy  for 
dyspeptic  symptoms  in  the  pregnant. 


CALENDULA  AND  ECZEMA.* 

I  was  called  upon  to  attend,  in  October,  1888,  a  gentleman  of 
about  thirty-two,  a  high  official  in  the  Cooch-Behar  State,  suffering 
from  chronic  eczema  affecting  the  left  leg.  The  past  history  of  the 
case,  as  described  by  the  patient,  is  given  belowr  in  his  own  words : 
"  A  wonderful  cure,"  says  the  patient,  "  has  been  effected  by  Calen- 
(hiln  in  a  very  bad  case  of  eczema.  A  patch  of  vesicles,  believed  to 
have  originated  by  contact  of  saltish  well-water  in  the  up-country 
in  November,  1887,  about  two  and  a  half  inches  above  the  left  ankle- 
joint  anteriorly.  Various  kinds  of  medicines  were  applied,  but  to  no 
purpose.  The  ulcer,  however,  disappeared  b}'  itself  without  any  med- 
icine But  no  sooner  had  the  ulcer  healed  up,  than  another  abscess- 
like swelling  appeared  about  three  inches  above  the  ulcer  just  healed. 
It  was  opened,  and  poultices  and  ointments  were  applied.  But  the 
ulcer  dragged  its  slow  length,  in  spite  of  the  applications,  until  the 
surrounding  parts  were  inoculated,  and  about  thirty  pimple-like 
eruptions  broke  out  on  all  sides.  A  quack,  who  was  reputed  to  have 
cured  many  such  cases,  was  consulted,  and  his  medicines  were  ap- 
plied for  a  couple  of  weeks.  He  cured  the  surrounding  eruptions, 
but  not  the  original  one,  which  had  attained  a  chronic  state  of  a  year 
or  so.  Finding  the  quack's  medicine  did  not  have  any  effect  on  this 
ulcer,  I  consulted  Dr.  Radhakanta  Ghosh,  who,  at  first  sight,  pre- 

*  R.  K.  Ghosh  in  Horn.  World,  October,  1889. 


250  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BEGOBDER. 

scribed  the  above-mentioned  medicine.     The  cure  was  effected  in 
about  twenty-one  days." 

Now,  when  I  saw  the  patient,  I  noticed  the  ulcer  was  larger  in  size 
than  a  one  rupee  silver  coin,  covered  by  a  yellowish  crust,  formed 
by  drying  up  of  the  discharges  from  it.  When  the  crust  was  taken 
off,  I  noticed  much  slough  all  over,  proud  flesh  in  the  centre,  with 
depression  between  the  proud  flesh  and  the  raised  edges  and  fissure- 
like cracks  all  over  the  ulcer,  with  much  painful  swelling  of  the  leg 
and  foot  and  redness  of  the  surrounding  parts,  looking  like  diffused 
erysipelatous  inflammation.  I  prescribed  Calendula  lotion  (Calen- 
dula e  mxx.,  Aqua  3j),to  be  applied  to  the  sore  by  saturating  a  piece 
of  linen  rag  folded  into  four  folds,  with  instructions  to  keep  the  sore 
constantly  moist  with  the  lotion,  keeping  the  saturated  linen  rag  in 
position  by  means  of  a  bandage.  To  my  surprise,  and  that  of  the 
patient,  the  slough  was  almost  cleared  off  in  about  four  days,  the 
proud  flesh  and  the  fissures  reduced  to  the  same  level  with  the  sur-1 
rounding  skin  or  tissues.  The  ulcer  assuming  a  healthy  appearance, 
I  ordered  the  continuance  of  the  Calendula  lotion,  but  in  a  milder 
form  (Calendula  e  m.v.,  Aqua,  Jj)«  On  the  eleventh  day  from  the 
commencement  of  my  treatment,  the  ulcer  almost  healed  up,  but 
commenced  itching  and  burning  very  much,  to  the  great  annoyance 
of  the  patient.  On  examination,  I  was  led  to  the  belief  that  the 
formation  of  healthy  granulations  in  the  part  of  the  ulcer  which 
yet  remained  to  be  healed  up  was  being  much  hindered  by  the  irri- 
tation produced  by  the  lotion,  which  I  believed  made  the  surface  of 
the  ulcer  rather  raw,  and  on  account  of  which  the  patient  felt  a  sort 
of  tensive  and  burning  uneasiness.  To  remove  the  irritation  I 
thought  some  oily  application  was  necessary.  I  accordingly  pre- 
scribed Calendula  oil  (Calendula  o  m.v.,  Olive  oil  Hj),  a  little  to  be 
applied  to  the  sore  by  means  of  a  piece  of  lint,  to  be  kept  in  posi- 
tion by  means  of  a  bandage  as  before.  The  ulcer  healed  up  in  about 
three  weeks. 

I  have  been  apprehending  a  recurrence  of  the  disease,  as  my  ex- 
perience has  taught  me  to  believe  that  it  often  recurs.  It  is  now 
about  ten  months  since  the  case  was  cured,  and  I  am  glad  there 
has  been  no  recurrence  of  the  disease,  nor  has  any  inconvenience 
been  felt  by  the  patient,  who  told  me  that  he  did  not  apprehend  a 
recurrence  of  the  disease.  It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  when  I  took  up 
the  case  I  was  of  opinion,  as  were  also  those  gentlemen  who  treated 
the  case  previousto  my  undertaking  the  treatment,  that  my  attempt 
at  curing  the  case  would  not  be  successful.  I  was  led  to  the  opinion 
from  my  personal  experience,  gained  from  a  very  large  number 
of  cases  of  the  same  disease  which  I  have  been  called  upon  to 
treat  from  time  to  time  in  the  course  of  my  last  seventeen  years' 
practice  as  a  homoeopath,  and  especially  from  my  own  case,  when 


THE  IIOMCEOPATMC  RECORDER.  251 

I  had  a  patch  about  two  inches  above  the  right  knee-joint,  which  had 
Bpread  on  all  sides,  occupying  a  circumscribed  space,  the  diameter 

of  which,  if  I  remember  aright,  was  aboul  three  inches,  and  which 
lingered  over  two  years,  and  made  the  movemenl  of  the  knee-joint 
very  painful  in  spite  of  all  kinds  of  treatment,  namely,  allopathic, 
homoeopathic,  aurvedic,  and  quads  medicines,  and  which,  at  last, 
yielded  to  Rhus  lotion  and  Rhus  oil  externally  {Rhus  tox. « m.v., 
Aqua  3j  and  Rhus  tox.  o  m.v.,  Olive  oil  gj)  respectively,  and  Arsenic 
;'.\  trit.  in  half-a-grain  doses,  a  dose  every  day  at  bedtime  at  night 
I  was  cured  in  two  weeks  or  so  by  these  agents. 

Slough,  proud  flesh,  and  raised  edges  were  the  indications  for  my 
prescribing  Calendula  in  the  case  above  referred  to.  I  nrusl  also  add 
that  these  three  indications,  more  especially  the  first  two,  have 
always  been  my  guide  in  the  selection  of  Calendula  in  cases  of  ulcers 
with  decided  success.  I  never  tried  Calendula  in  cases  of  eczema 
before  the  case  mentioned  above  came  under  my  treatment. 

I  must  add  that  I  believe  constant  moist  application  over  the  sore 
is  the  secret  of  cure  of  eczema.  I  have  often  found  constant  applica- 
tion of  even  unmedicated  u-ater  to  the  sore  giving  much  relief,  or  even 
curing  many  cases  of  chronic  eczema. 


HOMCEOPATHIC    THERAPEUTICS. 

Army  Diarrhoea — Bryonia. — Mr.  O.  W.,  aire  45,  suffered  from 
diarrhoea,  antedated  by  army  fever,  followed  in  six  months  by  sun- 
or heat-stroke.  The  peculiarity  of  the  diarrhoea  when  received  as  a 
patient  for  treatment  was:  Sudden,  foamy  diarrhoea,  following  a 
few  days  of  regularity  of  the  bowels,  recurring  in  this  manner  week 
after  week  since  he  left  the  army.  Diarrhoea  always  comes  on  when 
working  in  the  sun.  Pain  all  through  the  head;  dropping  of  blood 
from  posterior  nares;  bad  taste  in  the  mouth  mornings;  tongue 
slightly  coated  and  cracked  ;  bloating  of  the  stomach  after  meals  ; 
appetite  good  for  all  meals  except  breakfast;  sharp,  stitching  pains 
in  the  region  of  the  stomach  and  liver;  frequent  desire  to  urinate, 
with  smarting  and  burning  during  the  passage  of  the  urine;  diffi- 
cult inspiration,  cannot  fill  the  lungs  readily  :  oppression  of  the 
chest ;  lameness  and  soreness  of  the  neck,  and  drowsiness.  This 
suite  of  symptoms  prevailed  during  looseness  of  the  bowels.  During 
the  intervals  of  the  bowel  trouble  he  wras  able  to  work  at  his  trade 
(car  repairer)  with  comfort  and  pleasure.  I  gave  him  Bryonia  30, 
12  powders,  one  to  be  taken  morning  and  night  every  other  day. 
This  prescription  markedly  relieved  all  his  symptoms,  and,  after  a 


252  THE  HOMCEOPATHIG  RECOBDER. 

month  of  placebo,  I  gave  him  a  dose  of  Bryonia  500  (Tafel),  and 
had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him  entirely  cured  in  two  months. 

Taking  such  a  case  as  this  one,  lasting  over  twenty  years  in  spite  of 
constant  allopathic  treatment,  the  following  remark  of  Hartshorne, 
in  his  "  Essentials  of  Practice,"  shows  bigotry  of  the  most  unlearned 
type.     In  detailing  the  "  great  leaders  and  reformers  of  medical 

practice,"  he  says:  "  I  leave  out  of  this  list and  the  Hahn- 

emannic  homceopathism,  as,  however  serious  have  been  their  detri- 
mental effect  upon  the  welfare  of  the  public  at  large,  they  have 
scarcely  influenced  the  progress  or  present  status  of  medical  science 
(1871)  either  for  good  or  evil."  c.  f.  m. 

Aspidospermine*—  Dyspnoea—  This  alkaloid  is  from  the  South 
American  tree — Quebracho.  The  maximum  dose,  according  to 
Merck,  is  ^th  grain.  I  use  the  zhtti  trituration,  which  I  find 
most  efficient  in  doses  of  2  to  5  grains. 

Case  I. — A  boy  of  10.  The  attacks  of  spasmodic  dyspnoea  were 
a  sequel  of  hay  fever.  The  aggravation  was  at  night,  when  lying 
down,  or  sleep  was  impossible.  I  tried  Ipecac  and  Arsenic,  but 
with  no  effect,  Aralia,  also.  (I  never  had  any  curative  or  palliative 
effects  from  Aralia.) 

Prescribed  Aspidospermine,  sforth  trituration,  2  grains  every  two 
hours,  all  day.  The  night  was  comfortable,  could  lie  down  and 
sleep.  Continued  the  remedy  for  four  days,  when  he  was  so  much 
better  that  the  medicine  was  suspended. 

Case  II. — Cardiac  dyspnoea  in  a  man  of  60.  Valvular  disease, 
hypertrophy  with  dilatation.  Distressing  difficulty  of  breathing 
from  the  slightest  exertion  ;  had  to  sit  upright  day  and  night. 
Face  livid  from  venous  stasis.  Strophanthus  regulated  and  strength- 
ened the  heart's  action,  but  only  slightly  benefited  the  dyspnoea. 
Five  grains  of  Aspidospermine,  sUth  trituration '  every  two  hours 
effected  a  marvellous  change.  He  cctuld  walk  about  the  house  and 
out  to  his  carriage  with  but  little  discomfort.  He  has  now  con- 
tinued it  three  weeks.  Observes  no  unpleasant  symptoms.  Can 
lie  on  his  back  and  right  side  and  is  very  grateful  for  the  relief.  It 
seems  to  act  well  as  an  aid  to  Digitalis,  or  Strophanthus,  in  cardiac 
dyspnoea.— Edwin  M.  Hale,  M.D.     (Communicated.) 

Hydatids  of  the  Liver— Phytolacca  and  Conium. — Dr.  R.  S.  Gut- 
teridge  reports  the  following  cure  of  a  case  of  this  disease,  in  the 
Horn.  World  for  August: 

*  Aspidospermine  or  Qiiebrachine  is  derived  from  the  Chilian  "  white  Quebracho" 
{Aspidospermia  Quebracho).  At  Santiago  de  Chile  the  bark  is  used  as  a  substitute 
for  Cinchona  as  a  febrifuge.  The  alkaloid  forms  salts  with  Citric,  Hydrochloric 
and  Sulphuric  acids. 


HIE  H0MCE0PAT1UC  RECORDER.  253 

On  the  22d  of  April,  1875,  a  young  man  from  the  country,  aged 
30,  a  grocer,    pre»  nted    himself  to  me  aa  a  patient,   remarking, 

u  You  see  before  you  a  dying  man."  He  was  asked  to  explain 
himself.  He  said  he  was  Buffering  from  hydatids  of  the  liver.  That 
he  had  been  at  St  Thomas's  Hospital,  had  been  tapped  twice,  and 
that  in  the  fluid  drawn  off  the  hydatids  had  been  found.  That  on 
becoming  again  dropsical  for  the  third  time  he  had  presented  him- 
self at  the  same  hospital,  but  they  declined  to  operate,  and  informed 
him  that  the  tumor  might  burst  at  any  time,  in  which  case  death 
would  instantly  ensue.  This  was  the  more,  he  thought,  to  be  re- 
gretted as  be  wanted  to  get  married,  which,  under  present  circum- 
stances, was  impossible,  as  the  father  of  the  lady  positively  refused 
to  allow7  his  daughter  to  ally  herself  writh  a  man  whose  life  wras  so 
precarious.  The  patient  had  consulted  several  physicians,  but  the 
verdict  was  everywhere  the  same,  so  that  his  brothers,  with  whom 
he  was  in  partnership,  remarked  on  his  coming  away  on  the  morning 
in  question,  that  he  was  simply  going  to  waste  more  time  and  money 
on  an  errand  as  fruitless  as  all  the  others  had  been. 

The  patient  was  of  middle  height,  fairly  built,  presenting  exactly, 
in  the  face,  the  yellowish  pallor  previously  described.  The  abdomen 
was  considerably  distended  and  fluctuation  unmistakably  present. 
There  was  no  tenderness  of  the  liver,  but  a  foul  taste  in  the  mouth 
and,  occasionally,  his  water  was  wrhite.  I  prescribed  for  him  Conium 
2x,  3  drops  twice  a  day, -and  Phytolacca  2x  in  trituration,  3  grains 
dry  on  the  tongue,  night  and  morning.  These  medicines  were  never 
changed.  I  have  ascertained  that  he  had  his  prescription  made  up 
forty-three  times.  I  also  ordered  smart  friction  of  the  abdomen 
night  and  morning.  On  July  5th  the  patient  was  seen  again,  when 
he  reported  himself  as  a  great  deal  better  in  health,  better  in  every 
way ;  he  is  considerably  smaller  around  the  abdomen.  He  wras  to 
continue  the  medicines.  By  November  2d  of  the  same  year  he  had 
regained  his  usual  health.  Until  fluctuation  was  discovered  the 
authorities  at  St.  Thomas's  had  resolved  to  use  galvano-puncture. 

This  young  man  was  seen  again  in  March  of  the  next  year,  when 
he  reports  that  he  had  been  quite  well  for  some  months,  but  was 
now  suffering  from  nervous  sensations  and  indigestion,  for  which  I 
prescribed.  He  has  remained  quite  wrell  up  to  the  present  time, 
and  has  all  along  managed  a  large  business. 

Sunstroke — Glonoin. — N.  E.  Deane,  surgeon,  reports  the  fol- 
lowing cases  in  the  Horn.  Review  for  September:  In  July,  1883,  the 
master  tailor  of  a  line  regiment  stationed  in  Ireland  complained  to 
me  of  a  headache  which  often  almost  incapacitated  him  from  work, 
especially  when  stooping  in  the  workshop  in  the  course  of  his  duty. 
About  seven  years  before,  he  had  had  sunstroke  in  India,  and  ever 


554 


1HE  HOMOEOPATHIC  EEC  ORDER. 


since  had  suffered  continuously  with  a  heavy,  pressive  pain  at  the 
occiput,  at  times  accompanied  by  throbbing.  He  was  a  temperate 
man.  J  laving  undergone  the  various  orthodox  methods  of  treat- 
ment both  abroad  and  at  home,  I  decided  at  once  to  give  him  Glo- 
noin,  being  then  somewhat  inexperienced  in  the  action  of  the  drug. 
I  put  about  10  drops  of  the  lx  into  a  tumblerful  of  water,  and  told 
him  to  take  a  dessertspoonful  three  times  a  day.  I  saw  him  a 
week  later.  He  had  only  taken  two  doses  of  the  medicine, 
because  as  soon  as  he  had  taken  it  "he  thought  he  was  going 
mad  !  "  In  about  six  hours  this  medicinal  aggravation  passed  off, 
and  with  it  the  original  headache  ;  and  he  expressed  himself  as 
Cl  not  knowing  how  to  feel  without  his  headache."  On  inquiry 
from  India,  two  years  later,  he  had  had  no  return  of  his  trouble. 

Case  II. — The  next  case  is  a  parallel  one,  but  well  illustrates  the 
difference  in  the  action  of  the  medicine  when  given  in  a  tropical 
climate  and  during  a  continuance  of  the  disturbing  influence — the 
sun — and  when  given  in  a  cool  climate : 

In  August,  1886,  in  Bombay,  a  sergeant  of  a  line  regiment  com- 
plained to  me  of  a  pain  at  the  occiput,  spreading  over  the  vertex 
and  round  the  temples.  He  had  sunstroke  in  1878,  was  insensible 
for  eight  days,  and  was  invalided  home  for  change  of  climate.  Since 
then  he  has  been  subject  to  these  headaches  when  walking  much, 
or  when  out  in  the  sun,  even  when  protected. 

Belladonna  failing  to  relieve  him,  on  August  10th  I  gave  him  one 
drop  of  Glonoin  lx,  he  then  being  prostrated  with  the  pain  at  the 
occiput,  face  flushed,  and  throbbing  arteries.  In  half  an  hour  he 
began  to  perspire  about  the  head  and  then  all  over  the  body,  with 
very  slight  increase  of  the  occipital  pain.  In  little  more  than  an- 
other hour  he  had  a  remarkable  feeling  of  cheerfulness,  merely  ex- 
periencing a  slight  heaviness  in  the  head,  and  was  able  to  eat,  which 
he  had  not  felt  inclined  to  do  for  three  days.  The  next  day  the 
pain  returned  slightly,  and  I  gave  him  two  doses  of  Glonoin  lx  at 
intervals,  with  still  less  aggravation  and  no  consequent  perspiration. 
For  the  next  da}r  or  two  he  had  no  headache  in  the  day,  but  at  night, 
when  lying  down,  it  came  on.  I  gave  him  a  dose  of  Glonoin  night 
and  morning  from  August  13th  to  23d,  when  he  was  perfectly  free 
of  all  headache,  and  had  comfortable  nights.  He  had  no  rise  of 
temperature  during  the  height  of  the  paroxysms.  On  September 
9th  I  was  sent  for  to  see  him,  and  found  the  symptoms  had  returned 
with  great  severity.  He  had  been  on  the  rifle  range  in  the  sun,  and 
shooting  in  the  glare  from  6.30  a.m.  until  2  p.m.,  with  half  an  hour's 
intermission  for  breakfast,  and  on  getting  home  he  was  again  pros- 
trated with  the  pain.  Glonoin  relieved  him  again,  but  on  October 
11th  he  was  still  suffering  from  some  headache,  when  I  lost  sight 
of  him. 


.  THE  IIOMCKOPATJIW  RECORDER.  255 

With  reference  to  these  cases  of  bursting,  occipital  headaches,  fol- 
lowing exposure  to  the  Bun,  I  may  say  I  find  Olonoin  almost  spe- 
cific, and  the  drug  will  not  affect  pain  situated  elsewhere  in  the  head 
in  the  same  way  unless  accompanied  by  the  occipital  pain.  In  tie- 
tropics  I  find  the  dose  must  be  larger,  and  a  patient  will  not  gain 
immunity  from  a  fresh  access  of  pain,  under  the  medicine,  when 
exposed  to  a  tropical  sun,  especially  on  an  empty  stomach,  though 
such  immunity  seems  to  be  conferred  in  this  country. 

Neuralgia — Diadema. — J.  Compton  Burnett,  M.D.,  reports,  in 
the  Horn.   World  for  September,  the  following  case: 

For  a  number  of  weeks  I  had  been  treating  a  maiden  lady  of 
twenty  odd  years  of  age  for  bad  neuralgia,  but  it  would  not  yield  to 
my  pet  remedies  for  neuralgia.  I  confess  to  having  pets  in  great 
numbers.  1  have  been  reproached  with  using  the  same  cases  several 
times,  but  I  would  submit  that  the  value  of  clinical  evidence  lies 
not  in  the  cases  themselves,  or  in  their  being  heretofore  unpublished, 
but  in  the  lessons  they  teach.  And  where  a  given  case  teaches 
several  distinct  points,  using  such  a  case  once  for  each  point  under 
study  is  perfectly  fair  and  legitimate.  Thus,  for  instance,  if  Sulphur 
rapidly  cures  a  case  of  neuralgia  of  the  heart,  and  at  the  same  time 
brings  back  to  the  surface  a  long  pent-up  cutaneous  affection,  such 
a  case  may  very  properly  do  duty  : 

First,  in  treating  of  neuralgia — Did  it  not  cure  a  neuralgia  ? 

Secondly,  in  treating  of  heart  disease  with  pain,  the  pain  being  a 
synalgia — Was  the  heart  not  cured  by  it  ? 

Thirdly,  in  treating  of  the  ill  effects  of  suppressed  skin  affections — 
Was  the  suppression  not  cured  by  it? 

In  fact,  I  would  go  so  far  as  to  maintain  that  thus  utilizing  one's 
clinical  data  each  time  separately  from  one  standpoint  only  is  the 
true  way  ;  and  the  reader  is  not  only  not  wrronged,  but,  on  the  con- 
trary, is  likely  (if  not  blinded  by  conceit)  to  have  his  view  of  the 
nature  of  disease  widened,  and  his  power  to  cure  augmented. 

Well,  this  case  has  never  been  inflicted  upon  a  long-suffering 
world,  though  it  would  teach  no  less  if  it  had. 

She  wrote:  "lam  still  as  bad  as  ever  with  neuralgia.  Every 
evening  punctually  at  7  o'clock  I  begin  with  it  in  my  face  and  head; 
mostly  it  leaves  my  teeth  in  an  hour  or  two,  and  only  continues  in 
my  head.  When  I  once  get  to  sleep  I  have  a  very  good  night  until 
about  4  or  5  in  the  morning,  when  I  wake  always  witli  toothache 
and  neuralgia My  best  time  is  from  3  to  7." 

Diadema  3x,  6  grains  dry  on  the  tongue  every  four  hours,  cured 
this  clock-Uke  regular  neuralgia  right  off,  and  it  did  not  return.  Pa- 
tient was  very  pronouncedly  of  hydrogenoid  constitution. 


256  THE  HOMOEOPATHIC  RECORDER.    . 

Glonoin  with  Strophanthus. — The  new  cardiac  remedy,  Stroph- 
anthus, does  not  contract  the  cardiac  arteries,  nor  does  the  better 
known  Digitalis.  But  Dr.  Thompson  finds  that  alternating  Glonoin 
with  Strophanthus  augments  greatly  the  value  of  the  latter  in  weak 
hearts  with  contractile  arteries.  He  publishes  his  various  interest- 
ing cases  that  illustrate  the  combined  action  of  Glonoin  and  Stroph- 
anthus and  of  Strophanthus  and  Digitalis,  with  very  satisfactory 
results.  The  usual  dose  given  is  3  to  5  drops  of  Digitalis  or  Stroph- 
anthus combined  with  1  or  2  drops  of  the  first  centesimal  potency 
of  Glonoin. 

Since  the  publication  of  Dr.  Thompson's  article,  I  have  had  an 
opportunity  of  attesting  his  practice  in  a  case  of  dilatation  of  the 
heart  with  great  anasarca,  senile.  The  arteries  were  very  tense  and 
rigid,  owing  to  atheroma ;  great  dyspnoea,  with  a  quick,  intermittent 
pulse.  The  previous  medical  attendant  administered  Digitalis  alone 
in  doses  of  10  to  15  drops  three  times  a  day,  aggravating  all  the 
symjDtoms.  I  prescribed  3  drops  of  Digitalis  every  four  hours,  alter- 
nating with  Glonoin  1  drop  at  the  interval  stated.  In  less  than 
twelve  hours  beneficial  effects  were  observable  from  this  method. 
The  dyspnoea  was  relieved;  his  previously  cold  extremities  now  be- 
came warmer ;  the  urine  augmented,  and  the  pulse  and  heart's  ac- 
tion became  quite  regular ;  the  dropsy  disappeared  in  a  week. 

For  many  years  I  have  been  in  the  habit  of  using  Aurum  in  these 
cases ;  procuring  a  similar  effect  upon  the  arterial  system  as  found 
under  Glonoin,  but  not  so  promptly.     Aurum  muriat.  et  sodic,  in 

doses  of  T<ioth  or  31<jth  of  a  grain,  is  the  best  preparation. — ( ) 

La  Reforma  Medica. 

Hay  Fever — Ambrosia  Artemisifolia. — Of  late  years  much  atten- 
tion has  been  called  to  the  species  of  the  genus  Ambrosia  (the  Rag 
Weeds)  as  being,  through  the  agency  of  their  pollen,  the  cause  of 
hay  fever.  Many  people  afflicted  with  this  troublesome  complaint 
lay  the  charge  directly  at  its  doors,  while  others  claim  that,  in  all 
probability,  it  is  the  direct  cause,  as  their  sufferings  always  com- 
mence during  the  anthesis  of  the  plant.  The  general  impression, 
however,  both  among  the  laity  and  the  medical  fraternity,  has  been 
that  the  effect  was  a  purely  mechanical  one,  the  nasal  mucous 
membranes  being  directly  irritated  by  the  pollen  dust  in  substance. 
If  this  were  true,  would  not  every  one  suffer  from  hay  fever  ?  Im- 
pressed with  the  above  report,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  curing  two 
attacks  while  writing  my  work  upon  "American  Medicinal  Plants," 
in  which  the  above  species  figures.  Since  the  publication  of  the 
work,  all  the  cases  I  have  had  of  the  disease  (four)  have  yielded 
beautifully  to  the  3d  centesimal  potency  of  the  drug. 

The  four  cases,  Mr.  B ,  Mrs.  I ,  Mr.  C and  Miss  P , 


TEE  EOMCEOPJ  TJIJC  RECORDER.  267 

presented  the  following  generic  symptoms :  [nflammatioo  of  the 
mucous  membranes  of  the  hum-,  adventing  yearly  in  the  autumn. 
At  first  dryness,  then  watery  discharges,  finally  involving  tin- 
frontal  sinuses  and  the  conjunctival  membrane.  In  Mr.  B.and  Miss 
P.  the  irritation  extended  to  the  trachea  and  bronchial  tubes,  in 
Mr.  B.  amouriting  to  severe  asthmatic  attacks.  In  all  cases  the 
COryza  was  very  severe,  and  in  previous  years  lasted,  in  spite  of  all 
treatment,  from  four  to  eight  weeks.  Mr.  13.  has  found  relief  from 
Ambrosia  3, three  times  a  day, in  from  fourtosix  days,  for  three  sue 
sive  years,  with  no  return  of  the  trouble  in  the  same  year;  .Mrs.  I. 
has  been  relieved  in  from  two  to  four  days  for  two  years  ;  Mr.  ( '.  \ 
immediate  relief  in  twenty-four  hours  (three  seasons);  .Miss  P.,  in 
this  her  first  experience  with  Ambrosia,  found  entire  relief  from  six 
doses.  c.  p.  m. 

Lumbago — Oxalic  Acid. — In  reading  in  one  of  the  foreign  jour- 
nals, some  time  ago,  an  article  upon  the  treatment  of  lumbago,  I 
was  astonished  not  to  find  Oxalic  acid  among  the  remedies  to  be 
considered  in  that  disease,  as  striking  cases  calling  for  this  remedy 
seem  more  or  less  common,  at  least  in  this  region.  The  following 
clinical  case  presents  the  peculiarities  of  the  drug : 

Mrs.  S ,  age  about  55,  suffered  for  several  days  from  an  excru- 

tiating  attack  of  lumbago.  Her  physician  (homoeopathic)  had 
about  exhausted  his  knowledge  of  applicable  remedies  in  her  be- 
half. On  the  fifth  day  I  was  called  by  telegraph  (being  then  in 
New  York  City),  and  on  arrival  found  her  presenting  the  following 
symptoms,  and  taking  Rhus  tox. :  Terrible  pain  in  the  lumbar  re- 
gion, extending  down  the  thighs  and  over  the  region  of  both  kid- 
neys; extremely  anxious  to  change  position  frequently,  but  the 
slightest  movement,  assisted  or  unassisted,  caused  her  to  shriek  out 
in  agony ;  frequent  desire  to  pass  large  amounts  of  urine,  but  the 
pain  on  moving  was  so  great  that  she  would  shrink  from  the  at- 
tempt; legs  numb  and  very  weak  and  cold;  pulse  rapid  ;  short, 
distressed  breathing  in  general,  though  at  times  there  were  intervals 
of  easier  respiration;  appetite  normal,  though  swallowing  was  diffi- 
cult and  painful.  I  prescribed  Oxalic  acid  30th  in  half-hour  doses, 
and  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  that  two  hours  afterward  she  could 
be  placed  upon  the  vessel  with  very  little  pain.  She  sat  up  twelve 
hours  after,  and  in  twenty -four  hours  was  entirely  relieved. 

C.  F.   M. 

Anemone  Pulsatilla  in  Diseases  of  Women. — Among  the 
new  remedies  lately  incorporated  into  the  materia  medica,  Anemone 
Pulsatilla  is  one  of  the  most  important,  as  regards  its  efficacious- 
ness, as  well  as  the  many  uses  to  which   it  may  be  put.     For  the 

VOL.  IV. — 17 


258 


THE  H03KE0PATHIC  BECOBDEB. 


last  five  years  a  series  of  works  have  appeared  on  the  method  of 
action  of  this  plant,  in  all  of  which  its  certain  action  is  made  prom- 
inent, Dormant  has  used  it  in  orchitis  blennorrhagica,  by  means  of 
which  he  has  cured  75  per  cent,  of  the  cases  coming  under  observa- 
tion, Bazy  has  seen  the  pains  of  this  trouble  disappear  in  one  to 
three  days  from  its  use. 

The  remedy  acts  in  the  very  same  way  in  those  diseases  in 
which  the  condition  in  question  is  a  painful  female  affection.  In 
dysmenorrhea,  as  well  as  in  chronic  metritis  and  in  inflammations  of 
the  uterine  adnexa,  the  writer  has  used  the  remedy  in  regular  doses, 
especially  in  those  cases  in  which  the  condition  was  characterized 
by  a  prominence  of  pain  in  the  affection.  Its  action  is  some- 
what analogous  to  that  of  Aconitine  in  painful  neuralgic  affections. 
The  remedy  seems  to  have  a  pronounced  action  upon  the  nervous 
system. 

Contrary  to  other  authors,  who  ascribe  the  greatest  efficacious- 
ness to  the  tincture  prepared  from  the  dried  leaves,  the  writer  has 
found  that  this  preparation  by  far  does  not  act  as  intensely  as  an 
alcoholic  extract  from  plants  freshly  gathered  in  the  month  of 
June,  in  which  equal  parts  of  the  plants  and  of  a  90  per  cent,  alco- 
hol were  used.  Less  efficacious  than  this  extract  is  the  glucoside 
of  the  plant,  Anemonine. 

As  to  the  dosage  and  use  of  the  remedy,  the  writer  gives,  in  dys- 
menorrhea, four  days  before  the  beginning  of  the  expected  menstru- 
ation, 4  tablespoonfuls  of  wine  having  about  10  drops  of  the  alco- 
holic extract  to  the  teaspoonful. 

As  soon  as  menstruation  begins,  the  remedy  is  discontinued  for 
three  or  four  days,  and  then  finally  given  in  the  same  dose  for  three 
or  four  days  again. 

By  this  procedure  the  dysmenorrhcea  was  often  observed  to  be 
cured  in  the  second  month.  If  chlorosis  be  present,  then  Chlorate 
of  manganese  is  given  in  doses  of  0.05  grain  per  teaspoonful.  In  cases 
of  ovarialgia,  in  consequence  of  chronic  uterine  imperfections  or  in- 
flammations in  that  neighborhood,  the  remedy  is  given  in  the  same 
dOses  until  the  pains  have  disappeared.  Complications  in  the 
course  of  treatment  with  the  remedy  have  never  been  observed. 

As  to  the  dosage  of  Anemonine,  it  was  given  in  daily  doses  of 
0.05  to  0.1,  and  never  higher  than  0.2.  Its  action  is  much  less  certain 
than  that  of  the  alcoholic  extract,  as  in  long-keeping  it  is  liable  to 
undergo  changes. — Jour,  de  Medicine  de  Paris,  14,  1889 ;  Allg.  Horn. 
Ztg.,8,  1889.  p.  and  p. 

Nuphar  Lutea — Chronic  Diarrhoea. — An  exceptionally  interest- 
ing and  intractable  case  of  the  above  complaint  resisted  the  ordi- 
nary remedies  usually  administered,  as  well  as  the  promiscuous 
experimental  measures  of  the  superannuated  school. 


THE  EOM(EOPATHiC  BECOBDEB.  259 

History. — Johnnie  EL,  aged  Bixteen,  weighl  uinety-eighl  pounds, 
spare  build  and  bilious  temperament  He  has  the  appearance  ofa 
boy  that  lias  undergone  some  wasting  disease.  Hia  growth  is 
stunted,  bis  flesh  flabby,  skin  shrivelled  and  yellowish.  Says  his 
present  trouble  originated  when  he  was  only  two  years  of  age,  the 
attending  physician  al  thai  time  pronouncing  it  "summer  com- 
plaint," and  that  the  diarrhoea,  winch  at  certain  periods  of  exaci  r- 
bation  assumed  the  nature  of  dysentery,  has  continued  uninter- 
ruptedly up  to  the  present  time,  the  only  amelioration  noticeable 
occurring  in  the  fall. 

The  evacuations  were  characteristic  of  Ppdophyllin;  watery,  pain- 
less and  quite  copious,  yellowish  in  color  and  very  offensive.  They 
numbered  from  three  to  ten  a  day.  No  prostration  immediately 
after,  but  a  constant  feeling  of  physical  exhaustion.  The  kind. 
quality  and  quantity  of  food  he  subsisted  on  governed  the  frequency 
of  the  stools,  consequently  cautious  dieting  conserved  his  strength. 
His  appetite  was  capricious  and  changeable,  and  his  emaciated  face 
bespoke  an  impoverished  body.  A  three  weeks'  trial  of  Pod.  3x 
and  (>x  proved  its  inefficacy.  The  following  remedies  were  then 
had  recourse  to :  Cole.  c.  3,  Hep.  s.  3,  Phos.  ac.  6  and  Sidph.  G.  They 
were  followed  by  no  better  results,  but  on  re-canvassing  the  case 
carefully,  Nuphaar  lutea  was  decided  on  as  the  similimum.  He  took 
one  dose  of  the  3x  every  four  hours,  and  his  improvement  was  im- 
mediate and  permanent.  He  is  now  well  and  hearty,  the  evacua- 
tions having  assumed  their  natural  consistency. — Southern  Journal  of 
Homoeopathy. 

Natrum  Muriaticum — Seaside  Headaches. — A  young  lady  com- 
plaining of  severe  headaches,  coming  on  only  at  the  seaside,  begin- 
ning in  the  morning  and  lasting  until  night,  was  treated  with  Natr. 
mar.  10m.  In  two  days  the  pain  had  quite  vanished,  although  pre- 
viously so  severe  as  to  often  confine  her  to  bed.  To  be  perfectly 
sure,  I  put  the  question  to  her:  "  What  was  it  that  cured  your  head- 
aches? "  "  Why,"  replied  she,  "  I  suppose  it  must  have  been  your 
powders;  at  least,  I  took  nothing  else  for  them."  Note:  that  the 
headaches  did  not  re-appear  during  a  further  sojourn  of  weeks  by 
the  sea;  which  being  interpreted  is,  that  the  potency  continued  the 
whole  time  to  antidote  the  tendency  of  the  crude  drug. — Dr.  Bur- 
ford,  in  Horn.  World,  456,  1889. 


ITEMS    OF   GENERAL    INTEREST. 

On  the  Action  of  Chromium. — Pander  publishes  a  work  upon 
the  action  of  Chromium.  Chromium  comes  under  consideration  in 
two  forms:  (1.)  As  an  oxide;  (2.)  as  Chromic  acid.  The  Lactate 
of  chromium  and  Natrium  was  proven  as  the  most  proper  one  to 


-260  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

determine  its  pharmacological  action.  In  all  cases  where  the  Chro- 
moxide  salts  were  proven,  prominent  general  poisoning  symptoms 
were  wanting,  but  there  was  an  increasing  cachexia,  combined  with 
symptoms  of  a  chronic  nephritis. 

The  post-mortem  results  were  the  same  after  subcutaneous  injec- 
tion as  when  introduced  into   the   stomach ;  the  most  important 
changes  were  found  in  : 
I.  Digestive  Tract. 
II.  Kidneys. 
III.  Blood. 

I.  Digestive  Tract. — Injection  of  the  vessels;  epithelial  necrosis, 
even  to  the  formation  of  croupous  and  diphtheritic  membranes, 
ecchymoses  and,  eventually,  ulceration  of  the  solitary  follicles  and 
Peyer's  patches. 

II.  Kidneys. — In  all  acute  cases  parenchymatous  nephritis  could 
be  proved  present,  passing  over  into  the  interstitial  form  when  the 
poisoning  is  chronic.  The  principal  part  (72  per  cent.)  of  the  Chro- 
mium injected  was  found  to  have  passed  over  into  the  urine,  hence, 
the  kidneys  are  the  chief  places  of  elimination. 

III.  Blood. — Blood  has  the  raspberry-color,  leading  one  to  think 
of  leuca?mic  blood.  The  heart  showed,  in  some  cases,  endocarditis 
and  haemorrhages  and  ecchymoses  from  the  vessels.  It  had  no  ac- 
tion upon  the  blood-pressure  and  action  of  the  heart  in  the  form  of 
a  Chromium  salt,  although  12.5  grains  were  injected  into  a  small 
dog's  vein.  The  various  organs  contained  Chromium  after  washing 
out  the  vessels,  more  or  less,  the  liver  the  most,  then  the  digestive 
tract,  and  finally  the  kidneys. 

Chromic  acid  is,  in  frogs,  8  times  more  poisonous  than  Chro- 
mic oxide  salts  ;  in  warm-blooded  animals  it  was  100  times  more 
poisonous.  The  symptoms  were  the  same  as  in  Chromic  oxide 
poisoning,  only  more  intense. 

The  Chromates  were  also  without  influence  upon  the  vascular 
svstem.  Upon  post-mortem  examination  endocarditis  and  numer- 
ous haemorrhages  into  the  endo-  and  pericardium  and  ecchymoses. 
In  nephritis,  as  a  consequence  of  poisoning  by  Chromates,  necrosis 
plays  an  important  part.  He  places  the  action  of  Chromium  upon 
the  digestive  tract  and  kidneys  as  greater  than  that  of  Arsenic,  An- 
timony, Cobalt  and  Platina,  and  it  is  not  far  removed  from  that 
of  Mercury.  p.  and  p. 

Sedum  Acre — Its  Action. — The  active  principle  of  Sedum  acre 
is  an  alkaloid,  of  which  easy  decomposibility  has  prevented  chemi- 
cal analysis. 

Jiingst  has  investigated  the  action  of  the  hydrochlorate  and  sul- 
phate of  the  alkaloid,  the  freshly  expressed  juice  and  the  alcoholic 


THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER.  261 

extract  The  extract  and  the  plant  have  no  Bpeciflc  pharmacological 
properties.  Cats  are  more  sensitive  to  the  alkaloid  than  dogs.  Tin 
Bymptoms  ol  an  acute  poisoning  are :  After  a  preceding  Btage  of 
choking  and  vomiting,  increasing  anaesthesia  and  stup<  faction  ap- 
pear; tin-  voluntary  movements  of  the  (skeletal)  muscles  deci 
progressively  ;  the  respiration  becomes  forced  and  superficial,  the 
respirations  decrease  more  and  more  in  Dumber;  spasmodic  move- 
ments of  the  extremities,  with  dyspnoea  appear.     Death  takes  place 

from  cessation  of  respiration,  the  heart  beating  after  the  cessation. 
In  cats,  there  were  distinct  mydriasis  and  photophobia,  together 
with  violent  distortion  of  the  bulb,  outwards  and  upwards.  Th< 
activity  of  the  salivary  glands,  as  well  as  that  of  the  digestive  tract, 
is  excited.  Applied  locally,  the  freshly-expressed  juice  of  the  plant 
causes  distinct  and  increasing  burning,  with  a  growing  redness  of 
the  skin;  the  alcoholic  extract  is  inactive  in  this  direction.  Upon 
man,  there  resulted  violent  headache,  together  with  gastric  disturb- 
ance (nausea,  anorexia,  etc.). — Archiv.  f.  Exper.  Path.  n.  Pharma^ 
24,  1888. 

Deadly  After-action  of  Chloroform. — Dr.  Strassmann  lias 
made  experiments,  which  are  mere  reprovings  of  Ungar's  provings 
published  in  1887.  Ungar  narcotized  dogs  several  times,  and  exam- 
ined the  dead  ones  in  the  first  hours  (up  to  twenty-seven  hours)  after 
the  cessation  of  the  narcosis,  and  found  great  fatty  degeneration  of 
the  heart  and  liver;  secondly,  the  kidneys  and  the  striped'mus- 
culature,  and  finally  the  stomach  and  other  mucous  membranes. 
Strassmann  resumes  as  follows  : 

1.  After  a  lengthy  chloroforming  in  the  dog,  a  fatty  metamor- 
phosis of  the  internal  organs,  especially  of  the  liver;  secondly  of 
the  heart,  and  rarely  that  of  other  organs. 

2.  The  increase  of  the  excretion  of  nitrogen  in  hungering  animals 
under  the  influence  of  chloroform  shows  an  increased  destruction 
of  nitrogenous  substance,  hence  the  condition  in  question  is  one  of 
fatty  degeneration,  and  not  of  fatty  infiltration. 

3.  Sometimes  lengthy  chloroforming  of  the  dogs — at  the  highest, 
thirty  hours — may  lead  to  the  death  of  the  animal  after  cessation  of 
the  narcosis  and  apparent  recovery. 

4.  In  these  lethal  cases,  as  the  heart  affection  was  found  more 
intense,  it  may  be  assumed  that  it  is  the  cause  of  the  fatal  termi- 
nation. 

5.  In  non-fatal  cases  the  degeneration  of  the  organs  is  repaired 
in  the  course  of  a  few  weeks  (seen  in  a  young  dog  from  the  same 
litter). 

6.  Weakening  influences,  hunger,  loss  of  blood,  etc.,  favor  the 
appearance  of  the  changes  ;  in  strong  and  young  animals  they  less 
frequently  appear. 


2G2  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORD ER. 

7.  The  previous  combination  of  morphine  with  the  chloroform 
used  in  narcosis  diminishes  the  amount  necessary,  and  hence  the 
changes  consequent.  With  ether,  these  changes  are  not  to  be  ob- 
served in  any  prominence,  yet  with  pure  ether  a  complete  narcosis 
is  scarcely  obtainable. 

8.  Other  varieties  of  animals,  cats  and  rabbits,  show  deviations 
in  this  direction  from  those  of  the  dog,  which  observations  warn 
one  to  be  cautious  in  using  chloroform  upon  men.  p.  and  p. 

Influence  of  Natrum  Sulphuricum  upon  the  Blood  and 
Urine. — Lawadzki  examined  the  blood  and  urine  of  persons  after 
giving  a  solution  (20  per  cent.)  of  Natrum  sulphuricum,  and  came 
to  the  following  conclusions: 

1.  The  number  of  the  red  corpuscles  increased  in  1  c.mm.  of 
blood  25  to  65  per  cent.  2.  The  amount  of  haematoglobulin  increased 
2.5  to  5  per  cent.  3.  The  specific  gravity  of  the  blood  increased 
from  1.05778  to  1.07808,  hence  greater  than  in  cholera.  4.  The 
analysis  of  the  blood  showed  that  this  increase  of  blood-corpuscles 
of  the  haBmatoglobulin  and  the  specific  gravity  is  dependent  upon  a 
loss  of  water  from  the  blood  ;  the  loss  amounted  to  1.30-3.45  per  cent. 
5.  The  amount  of  inorganic  combinations  in  the  blood  (salts)  fell 
10  to  50  per  cent.;  on  the  contrary  the  amount  of  albuminoids  in- 
creased and  kept  pace  with  the  loss  of  water.  6.  The  arterial  blood- 
pressure  fell  quite  distinctly  upon  administering  Natrum  sulphuri- 
cum, not  from  its  immediate  cardiac  action,  but  from  a  concentra- 
tion of  the  blood.  7.  The  amount  of  urine,  as  well  as  that  of  urea  and 
the  chlorides,  become  less.  Hence  he  concludes  the  action  of  Na- 
trum sulphuricum  to  depend  upon  a  transudation  of  water  from 
the  blood  into  the  intestines.  The  intestinal  glandular  secretion  is 
increased,  as  the  chemical  analysis  of  the  intestinal  contents  has 
shown. —  Gaz.  Lekarska,  8,  51-52,  1888. 

Fluorhydrate  of  Sodium. — Dr.  O,  Hewelke  investigated  the 
action  of  Sodium  fluorhydrate.  A  2  to  2.5  per  cent,  solution  in- 
jected subcutaneously  given  per  os  or  intravenously.  Only  small 
doses  of  0.02  to  0.03  were  given  subcutaneously.  There  was  violent 
pain.  In  some  dogs  a  slight  trembling  was  observed.  The  next 
day  the  skin  reddened  at  the  place  of  injection;  there  formed  an 
infiltration  whose  centre  was  covered  after  three  or  four  days  with  a 
round,  necrotic  scab,  which  separated  and  left  an  ulcerous  surface. 

Introduced  into  the  stomach  by  a  sound — 0.04-0.05  to  1  kilo 
weight — these  were:  Salivation,  vomiting,  restlessness,  trembling, 
with  consequent  depression.  After  two  to  three  hours  the  animal  re- 
covered. Doses  of  0.1  to  1  kg.  weight  were  lethal.  Pulse  and  respira- 
tion were  first  accelerated,  then  slowed  and  finally  ceased.     All  the 


THE  UOMiEOPATlllC  RECORDER. 

dogs  placed  themselves  bato  a  characteristic  depressed  and  immov- 
able position;  the  refluxes  were  Lowered.  After  one  to  one  and  a 
half  hours,  paralysis  of  the  hinder  extremities,  and  death  finally 
made  its  appearance. 

Upon  post-mortem  examination  the  pyloric  extremity  of  the  Btom- 
ach,  as  well  as  the  duodenum,  were  Btrongly  eroded  and  hyperae- 
mic.  The  ileum  and  colon  were  unchanged.  Eearl  strongly  con- 
tracted. The  intravenous  injections  presented  the  same  picture. 
—Gaz.  Lekarska,  9,  12,  1889.  p.  and  p. 

Filix  Mas — Poisoning  by. — Dr.  M.  Freyer,  of  Hetline,  reviews  the 
rare  cases  of  poisoning  by  Filix  mas,  and  finally  finds  it  :<>  cause 
violent  stomach  symptoms,  and  especially  symptoms  of  the  central 
nervous  system:  Great  feeling  of  weakness,  vertigo,  confusion, 
stupor,  coma,  trembling,  cramp-like  feelings  in  the  hands  and  feet, 
amaurosis  and  immobility  of  the  pupil.  Pathologico-anatomically 
there  were  no  signs,  except  a  general  venous  congestion.  (Therapeut. 
Monatschafte,  3,  3,  1889.)  (A  case  of  his,  a  child  of  two  years  and 
nine  months,  received  8.0  grains  extract  Filicis  maris  in  five  hours, 
and  died  somnolent,  with  spasmodic  symptoms,  writhin  twenty-four 
hours.)  Dr.  Boyer  attended  a  woman  who  took  17.0  grains  extract 
Filicis  maris  sether  and  the  same  quantity  of  extract  pumicse  gran- 
ate  in  gelatine  capsules.  A  part  of  the  Taenia  solium  passed  away, 
but  violent  vomiting  and  diarrhoea  appeared  directly  after  the 
first  3  capsules  and  the  woman  became  worse  and  worse.  To- 
wards evening  she  fell  into  a  soporific  condition,  in  which  she 
lav  thirty  hours;  awakening,  her  left  eye  was  blind,  and  the  right 
eye  had  lost  some  of  its  acuteness  of  vision.  Confinement  in  the 
dark  led  to  perception  of  light,  after  forty-eight  hours,  by  the  left 
eye  and  recovery  took  place. — Prager  Med.  Wochenschr.,  13,  41,  1888. 

Phosphorus — Chronic  Interstitial  Hepatitis. — Dr.  Kronig  has  ex- 
perimented upon  young  dogs,  giving  them  small  and  increasing  doses 
of  Phosphorus  for  quite  awhile,  and  then  killing  them  at  various 
times.  His  results  were  as  follows :  The  poison  circulating  in  the 
blood  first  influences  harmfully  the  cellular  elements.  The  nutritive 
disturbances  from  the  poison  in  the  vessel-walls  are  seen  from  the 
hyaline  swelling  of  the  membranes  and  of  the  epithelial  covering. 
At  the  same  time,  or  somewhat  later,  the  stellate  cells  and  the  real 
liver  parenchyma  are  attacked,  and  more  or  less  distinct  necrosis 
of  the  protoplasm  and  nuclei  takes  place.  After  more  or  less  time, 
finally  there  develop  reactive  processes  at  the  periphery,  consisting 
of  a  cellular  hyperplasia  of  the  interstitial  tissue.  The  secondary 
nature  of  this  proliferative  process  is  seen  from  injected  specimens, 
and,  secondly,  in  specimens  in  which  already  distinct  cellular  necro- 
sis, but  never  proliferative  processes,  are  observed. 


264  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

The  proliferation  itself  is,  as  Ackermann  observes,  not  inflamma- 
tory. That  a  similar  mode  of  originating  is  to  be  assumed  in  other 
forms  of  scirrhosis,  Kronig  will  not  agree  to,  for  alcoholic  scirrhosis 
begins  at  the  periphery  of  the  acini,  and  is  based  upon  an  inflam- 
matory condition. 

Nitro-benzole — Poisoning  by. — Dr.  A.  Nieden  reports  a  case  of 
poisoning  by  Nitro-benzole  in  which  ocular  symptoms  appear:  A 
workman,  working  but  a  few  months  in  Roburite  (Nitro-benzole), 
in  a  factory,  fell  sick,  together  with  several  others,  with  the  well- 
known  symptoms  often  seen  in  those  working  in  explosives,  but  his 
symptoms  were  so  violent  as  to  force  him  to  give  up  his  work. 

He  had  the  appearance  of  one  suffering  from  a  most  grave  heart 
and  lung  disease.  The  face  and  mucous  membranes  of  the  lips  were 
deeply  cyanotic ;  the  conjunctival  veins  of  the  ball  of  the  eye  were 
livid,  ecstatic,  very  much  convoluted,  and  curved  ;  radial  pulse, 
thread-like,  and  148  per  minute.  A  peculiar  bitter-almond-like 
odor  was  perceptible  upon  approaching  the  patient.  The  mucous 
membrane  had  a  deeply-dark  discoloration.  The  heart  and  lungs 
showed,  however,  no  organic  changes. 

Examination  of  the  eyes  showed  good  but  slow  papillary  reac- 
tion. The  retina  and  papilla  showed  much  venous  hyperemia,  and 
a  weak  filling  of  the  arterial  tubes.  The  boundaries  of  the  papilla 
were  sharp;  on  the  lower  venous  branches  there  was  an  exudate. 
The  acuity  of  vision  was  sYoths  ;  the  peripheral  vision  was  decreased; 
the  limits  for  white  were  limited  ;  the  field  of  vision  for  colors  was 
also  narrowed,  so  that  the  borders  for  green  and  red  were  more  promi- 
nent than  those  of  blue. 

Strong  heart-tonics  caused  the  case  to  progress  and  end  well,  yet 
the  vision  did  not  return  so  soon.  Not  until  the  fourth  week  after 
the  patient  again  began  to  feel  well,  did  the  vision  improve  and  the 
field  enlarge. 

In  the  factory  where  this  case  was  noticed,  78  per  cent,  of  the  work- 
men were  attacked.  Frequent  symptoms  were :  Cerebral  symp- 
toms, as  disturbances  in  co-ordination  ;  a  staggering  gait ;  a  confused 
speech ;  convulsions  and  trismus — these  are  indicative  of  the  grave 
forms.  The  ocular  symptoms  were  but  little  prominent,  yet  dila- 
tion of  the  pupil  and  m}rstogrenes  may  also  be  mentioned.  The 
symptoms  resemble  those  of  Aniline  poisoning,  and  it  is  supposed 
and  assumed  that  the  Nitro-benzole  is  changed  into  Aniline  in  the 
body.— Central  BLf.  d.  ge.  Therapie,  March,  1889. 

Fluoride  of  Sodium — lis  Action. — It  acts  upon  the  central  ner- 
vous system  ;  as  a  paralyzant  upon  the  brain,  spinal  cord,  and  finally 
upon  the  peripheral  nerves,  as  a  consequence  of  paralysis  of  the 


THE  HO  MYOPATHIC  RECORDER.  26$ 

nerve-centres  for  the  vessels,  according  to  Tappeiner.  Excitation  of 
the  striped  musculature  ;  trembling  ;  Bubsultus  tendinum  and  spas- 
modic muscle  jerks  ;  finally,  paralysis,  with  rigidity  of  the  muscle 
substance;  dyspnoea  (paralysis  of  the  vaso-motor  centre,  according 

to  Tappeiner).  The  heart  pulsated  in  warm-blooded  animals  even 
after  death.  There  is,  characteristically,  a  profuse  secretion  of 
saliva  ami  tears  (uninfluenced  by  Atropine),  albuminuria.  The 
long-continued  administration  of  the  remedy  in  small  doses  gave 
no  results. — Tappeiner  and  Schultz,  Central.  Bl.  f.  d.  ge.  Therapie} 
April,  1889. 

Digitoxine  and  Phlegmonous  Inflammation. — In  1875,  Koppe 
observed  that  Digitoxine*  given  subcutaneously  in  dogs,  even  in  the 
smallest  doses  (0.1  milligramme),  would  sometimes  produce  phlegmo- 
nous i nth i in m ationwith consequent  suppuration.  Kaufmann  has  sought 
to  solve  the  question  whether  the  remedy  caused  it  or  whether  it 
came  from  bacteria  introduced,  and  found  that  every  time  a  fter  the  sub- 
cutaneous injection  of  Digitoxine,  phlegmonous  inflammation  took  place,  in 
most  cases  followed  by  suppuration,  while  they  were  both  kept 
aseptic  and  free  from  bacteria. — Fortschritte  der  Medicin,  Bd.  7,  1889. 

Cystisine,  Cornutine  and  Sclerotic  Acid — Their  Action  on  the 
Circulation. — Streng  has  made  investigations  in  Riegel's  Klinikwith 
Cystisine  (first  described  by  von  Kraepelin).  He  injected  it  sub- 
cutaneously and  applied  the  sphygmograph  directly  to  the  radial 
artery,  thus  obtaining  the  pulse  curve.  Cystisinum  nitricum  in 
small  doses,  from  0.003  to  0.004,  subcutaneously  injected,  was  com- 
pletely inactive.  Even  a  dose  of  0.006  had  not  the  slightest  influ- 
ence upon  the  form  of  the  pulse-curve. 

Experiments  with  Cornutine  were  interesting.  No  doubt,  it  has 
a  vessel-contracting  and  pulse-slowing  property  in  small  doses,  even 
in  such  small  doses  as  0.0025  to  0.005  (aqueous  solution).  Given  by 
the  mouth,  the  remedy  has  the  same  action,  only  that  somewhat 
larger  doses  are  necessary. 

As  regards  the  action  of  Sclerotic  acid,  he  could  never  perceive 
the  slightest  increase  in  tension  of  the  arteries,  although  for  five 
consecutive  days  1.0  gramme  wTas  given  per  os  in  an  aqueous  solu- 
tion. Once  the  remedy  was  given  subcutaneously,  but,  in  spite  of 
all  precautions,  violent  local  pains  with  great  fever  appeared,  with 
no  action  upon  the  vessel-tension. — Centralblatt  fur  Gynzelkol,  49, 
1888.  p.  and  p. 

Changes  in  the  Spinal  Cord  of  Man  After  Acute  Arsenical 
Poisoning. — Prof.  Paphow  examined  the  spinal  cord  of  a  man 
who  died  two  days  after  poisoning  by  Arsenic,  and  found  changes 
denoting  an  acute  myelitis.     The  large  and  small  vessels,  especially 


266  THE  H0MCE0PATH1C  BECOBDEB. 

the  vein?,  were  dilated  and  filled  with  blood-corpuscles.  Near  a 
few  vessels,  more  often  in  the  cervical  and  dorsal  regions  of  the 
cord,  near  the  central  canal,  further  in  the  posterior  horns  and  in 
the  side  offshoots,  there  were  numerous  suffusions  of  blood  of  vari- 
ous sizes.  In  the  vicinity  of  the  cervical  enlargement,  besides  these 
effusions,  there  were,  near  the  central  veins,  masses  of  plastic  exu- 
dates, with  which  the  tissues  surrounding  the  central  canal  were 
infiltrated.  Cells  were  often  visible,  especially  in  the  posterior 
horn,  which  protoplasm  was  turgid  without  a  visible  nucleus  of 
a  roundish  form,  and  robbed  entirely  of  nearly  or  all  their  pro- 
cesses.— Virchow's  Archir.,  Bd.,  63,  2,  1888. 

Chronic  Tea-Poisoning. — S.  Smirnow  describes  the  symptom- 
complex  of  chronic  tea-poisoning  in  professional  tea-tasters.  A 
strong  infusion  of  tea  is  made  and  tasted,  but  not  swallowed,  in 
order  to  test  the  tea.  These  tests  are  made  150  to  200  times 
daily,  resulting  in  a  gradual  poisoning.  There  is  a  sharpening 
of  the  taste  and  smell,  gradually  giving  way  to  a  dulness  of  the 
same.  The  digestive  canal  is  irregular  in  its  functions,  the  appe- 
tite and  nutrition  of  the  body  decreased ;  the  liver  enlarges  at 
first,  then  becomes  painful,  and  passes  gradually  into  a  condition 
of  atrophic  scirrhosis ;  the  nervous  activity  is  weakened,  the  mind 
depressed,  the  sight  weak,  and  sometimes  there  is  diplopia;  the 
skin  has  a  dry  feel,  becomes  yellowish  and  of  a  parchment  color; 
there  are  periodic  pains  in  the  region  of  the  stomach.  After  two 
to  three  weeks  they  must  give  up  their  business  for  awhile. 

Smirnow  has  found  this  to  have  a  hindering  action  upon  the 
course  of  constitutional  syphilis,  it  diminishing  also  the  recepti- 
bility  for  Mercury. — Med.  Obosrenie,  28,  21. 

On  the  Action  of  Cantharidine  upon  the  Renal  Epithelium. 
— Cornil  and  Toupet  have  investigated  the  histological  changes 
in  the  kidney  after  poisoning  by  Cantharidine.  In  very  acute 
poisonings  of  rabbits  or  Guinea  pigs  (fatal  within  a  few  hours), 
the  glomeruli  wTere  strongly  contracted,  Bowman's  capsules  were 
half  filled  with  a  nucleated  exudate,  in  which  the  epithelial  cov- 
ering of  the  glomerulus  convolutions  may  be  recognized,  they 
having  separated  in  shreds.  The  epithelium  of  Bowman's  capsule 
was  nearly  intact.  That  of  contorted  uriniferous  tubes  appeared, 
on  the  contrary,  granulated,  opaque,  full  of  small  empty  spaces. 
Indirect  divisions  of  the  nuclei  and  Karyo-Kenetic  figures  were 
only  to  be  found  after  several  days'  (five)  poisoning,  where  the 
drug  was  often  repeated  in  small  doses. 

Four  days  later,  the  changes  in  the  glomeruli  were  nearly  all 
repaired.    The  neck  of  the  uriniferous  tube  at  the  constricted  por- 


THE  HOMCEOPAllllh  TiECORDEE.  267 

tion,  where  the  tubulus  contortus  is  attached  to  Bowman's  cap- 
Bule,  was  no  longer  distinct.  Karyo-Kenetic  figures  were  still 
<•)  befound  in  the  chronic  cases  of  cantharidial  poisoning  eight 
days  after,  and  especially  were  they  prominent  in  the tubuli  con- 
torti,  bill  Qot  in  every  place  had  the  epithelium  undergone  such 
changes.  Some  parts  of  the  kidney  appear  to  have  been  attacked 
by  the  poison,  while  others,  on  the  contrary,  were  apparently 
spared.     Arch,  de Physiologies  19,5  pp.,  71.  p.  and  p. 

The  Cumulative  Property  of  Bromide  of  Potassium. — M.  M. 
Doyon  lias  published,  in  the  Lyon  Medical,  a  note  relative  to  the 
cumulative  property  of  Bromide  of  potassium.  His  inquiries  in 
this  regard  were  made  upon  a  young  epileptic  child,age  not  stated, 

to  whom  the  drug  had  been  extensively  administered  tor  a  year. 
The  child  succumbed  during  an  attack  of  scarlet  fever.  Nothing 
special  was  found  at  the  autopsy,  but  the  brain  and  liver  were 
submitted  to  chemical  analysis.  The  result  showed  that  the 
former  contained  2  grammes  of  the  drug,  and  the  latter  0.72  centi- 
grammes. Thus,  as  might  be  expected,  the  central  nervous  system 
was  more  largely  charged  with  the  drug  than  any  other  part. 

Sodium  Ethylate  for  the  Removal  of  Superfluous  Hair. — 

In  the  August  number  (1889)  of  The  Practitioner  are  given  two  pho- 
tographs, one  showing  a  baby  with  forehead  half  covered  with  hair, 
and  the  other  showing  the  same  child  5  or  6  years  old,  and  with 
only  the  slightest  trace  of  hypertrichosis.  The  case  was  treated 
with  Sodium  ethylate,  and  Dr.  Jamison,  the  author,  relates  another 
case  illustrative  of  the  use  of  that  agent  in  hairy  moles  on  the  face: 
Miss  P.,  set.  25,  had  a  hairy  mole,  about  the  size  of  a  six-penny 
piece,  on  right  cheek,  near  angle  of  jaw.  Long,  coarse  hair  grew 
from  it,  and  the  skin  was  rough  and  dark  brown.  The  hair  was 
cut  off  as  closely  as  possible  with  a  very  fine  pair  of  scissors,  and 
the  mole  was  then  painted  over  with  Sodium  ethylate,  a  fine  glass 
rod  being  used.  When  the  mole  had  a  varnished  look,  the  Ethy- 
late was  gently  rubbed  in  with  the  glass  rod  to  make  it  penetrate 
more  deeply  into  the  hair  follicles.  Every  care  was  taken  not  to  let 
any  run  on  the  sound  skin  of  the  face.  The  mole  had  quite  a  black 
look  when  the  little  operation  wTas  over.  A  hard  crust  formed  over 
it,  which  was  nearly  three  w7eeks  in  becoming  detached.  When  it 
came  off  the  hair  was  seen  to  be  destroyed,  and  the  surface  of  the 
mole  had  a  smooth  somewhat  cicatricial  appearance,  of  a  much 
lighter  color  than  before.  This  has  become  much  smaller  in  size 
and  less  noticeable,  though  there  is  still  a  slight  mark  less  than  a 
threepenny-piece  in  size,  and  hardly  perceptible.  The  patient  says 
that  her  doctor  notices  the  mark  more  than  any  one  else. 


268  THE  HOMCHOPATHIC  RECORD ER. 

Dr.  Jamison  adds  that  "  in  those  vascular  areas  seen  on  the  sides 
of  the  nose  in  children,  formed  by  vessels  radiating  from  a  common 
centre,  a  very  small  drop  of  the  Ethylate,  applied  with  a  fine  glass 
point  to  the  very  middle  of  the  vascular  area,  destroys  or  obliterates 
the  vessel  below  (i.e.,  beneath),  and  then  those  radiating  from  it 
disappear,  and  no  mark  at  all  is  left. 

No  remark  as  to  the  pain  of  the  applications  is  made,  except  the 
statement  that  "  by  the  time  the  child  had  slept  off  the  effects  of 
the  Chloroform  the  pain  of  the  application  had  ceased." 

^Esculus  Glabra — An  Involuntary  Proving— fragmentary. — A  gen- 
tleman, 35  years  of  age,  was  riding  along  and  stopped  at  a  buckeye 
tree,  cut  open  a  green  buckeye  and  smelled  of  it.  There  was  a  sudden 
irritation  of  the  throat,  a  sensation  of  a  feather  tickling  the  throat, 
which  caused  him  to  cough,  hack,  and  raise  mucus — finally  streaked 
with  blood.  The  effect  gradually  wore  off  in  an  hour  or  so.  The 
gentleman  was  very  temperate,  used  no  tobacco,  tea,  coffee,  etc.,  and 
this  fragment  is  of  interest  as  it  is  a  straw  pointing  towards  a  con- 
firmation of  the  ivinter  cough  among  the  Items  of  Interest  in  the 
Recorder  of  September,  1889,  p.  237. — Dr.  F.  Pritchard.  (Com- 
municated.) 

Coffee-Poisoning. — A  woman,  25  years  of  age,  unaccustomed 
to  drink  coffee,  drank  at  one  time  ten  cups  of  strong  coffee,  which 
was  followed  two  hours  after  by  vomiting,  vertigo,  sensation  of  anx- 
iety, coolness  of  extremities  and  trembling  of  the  fingers.  The  pulse  was 
increased,  but  not  quantitatively  changed.  Warm  drinks  and  Ether 
were  given  internally,  she  was  rubbed  off  with  hot  water,  and, 
finally,  morphine  was  injected  subcutaneously  ;  sleep  appeared,  and 
the  next  morning  she  was  well. — Dr.  Glogauer  (Berlin),  in  Allg- 
Horn.  Zeit,,  8,  1889. 

Basedow's  Disease  Cured  by  Pregnancy. — A  servant  girl,  27 
years  old,  suffering  for  the  last  seventeen  years  from  chorea,  observed 
since  February,  1884,  palpitation  of  the  heart,  precordial  pains, 
which  extended  to  the  left  shoulder  and  an  increase  of  the  circum- 
ference of  the  neck,  accompanied  by  a  slight  paresis  of  the  legs.  A 
transient  improvement  followed  the  use  of  Arsenic,  cold  douches, 
etc.  In  October,  1887,  her  condition  was  deplorable :  she  was  bed- 
ridden, had  complete  paralysis  of  the  lower  extremities,  a  high  de- 
gree of  exophthalmic  goitre,  palpitation  of  the  heart,  precordial 
anxiety,  anorexia,  emaciation,  nystagums,  etc.  As  the  writer  saw 
her  again  in  February,  1888,  a  marked  improvement  was  noticed. 
The  symptoms  of  Basedow's  disease  had  nearly  disappeared,  as  well 
as  the  paralysis  of  the  legs.     The  patient  dated  the  improvement 


J11K  HOMCEOPA  TllLC  RECORD  Eli. 

Bince  the  beginning  of  a  pregnancy,  which  then  had  reached  the 
fifth  month,  and  hence  the  improvement  must  be  connected  with 
the  pregnancy. 

Pregnancy  could  no1  have  had  a  pBychic  influence,  as  the  girl 
became  pregnant  Irregularly,  she  not  being  married,  and  for  this 
suffered  many  reproaches  from  her  mother. — Dr.  Souza-Leite 
(Paris),  in  Centr.  BLfur  GynsecoL,  No.  1,  1889. 

Histerionica  Baylahuen — Therapeutic  Properties. — M.  le  Dr. 
Baill6  has  made  a  study  of  this  plant,  sent  to  Dujardin-Beaumetz 
by  M.  Cervello,  a  physician  of  Valparaiso. 

Histerionica  is  a  member  of  the  composite,  in  which  the  most 
striking  pecularity  consists  of  a  resinous  exudation,  yellow  and 
odorous,  obtained  from  all  parts  of  the  plant.  It  is  employed  in 
infusion,  tincture  and  alcoholic  extract. 

M.  Bailie  has  studied  its  action  upon  the  lungs,  digestive  tract, 
kidneys  and  the  bladder. 

I.  Action  upon  the  Lungs. — He  mentions  the  salutary  effects  of  the 
remedy  in  chronic  inflammation  of  the  lung.  Two  patients  of 
Dujardin-Beaumetz,  suffering  from  chronic  bronchitis,  received 
Histerionica  e  20  gtts.  at  a  dose.  After  six  days  of  this  treatment 
the  expectoration,  which  was  abundant,  diminished  quite  notably ; 
the  sputa,  thick  and  yellowish  the  first  few  days,  thinned  and  be- 
came less  frequent,  and  the  suffocation,  so  frequent  at  the  beginning, 
disappeared  entirely.  It  seems  to  act  like  Tar  terebinthina  or  Co- 
paiba, but  with  the  difference  that  it  is  much  better  borne  by  the 
patients  than  these  balsams,  and  does  not  cause  cramps  of  the 
stomach  nor  renal  congestion. 

II.  Action  upon  the  Digestive  Tract. — From  several  observations, 
collected  from  different  clinicians,  it  may  be  considered  as  an  excel- 
lent anti-diarrhcetic,  it  seeming  to  modify  the  condition  of  the 
mucous  membrane  of  the  intestine,  acting  at  the  same  time  as  an 
antiseptic.  In  unmanageable  diarrhoea,  where  Opium  or  Bismuth 
produces  no  amelioration,  it  shows  very  good  effects.  But  it  is 
especially  in  the  diarrhoeas  of  phthisical  patients  where  the  writer 
has  noted  the  best  results,  for  he  says  the  remedy  has  here  not 
failed  him  once. 

III.  Action  upon  the  Genito- Urinary  Tract. — Given  mostly  in  pa- 
tients suffering  from  cystitis.  The  urine  is  not  increased,  but  the 
bad  odor  of  the  urine  is  much  diminished,  micturition  becomes 
less  frequent  and  less  painful. 

IV.  Ulcers. — Histerionica  upon  pledgets  of  cotton,  applied  as  a 
dressing  to  ulcers,  quite  promptly  and  beneficially  modifies  them. 
The  alcohol  evaporating  leaves  a  resinous  deposit,  which  covers 
the  entire  ulcer  with  a- slight  film,  preventing  contact  with  the  air 


270  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

and  making  cicatrization  more  easy.  It  is  especially  as  an  anti-di- 
arrhoetic  that  the  plant  should  attract  the  attention  of  physicians, 
and  the  excellent  results  obtained  in  the  diarrhoea  of  tuberculous 
patients  should  lead  to  its  employment.— VArt  Medicate,  May,  1889. 

Vernoina  Nigritiana. — Hiickel  and  Schlagdenhuffen  (Arch.  d. 
Phys.j  xx.,  1888)  describe  an  East  African  root  which  is  used  by  the 
natives  as  a  febrifuge  and  an  anti-dysenteric,  and  compare  its  action 
to  that  of  Digitalis.  The  bushy  root  has  a  nauseous  taste,  some- 
what resembling  that  of  Ipecacuanha,  and  in  a  fresh  condition  has 
a  bitter  taste  as  well.  A  glucoside  has  been  found  in  the  root  and 
termed  Vernonin. 

Action  upon  the  Circulation. — Decrease  of  heart-beat  (in  frogs)  after 
injection  of  a  watery  solution  of  0.02  gm.  after  a  few  minutes.  After 
again  rising  somewhat,  the  heart- beat  falls  off  from  36  to  32  a 
minute.  After  3  cgms.  the  phenomena  became  stronger,  and  the 
number  of  beats  diminished  about  one-third.  The  heart  had  to  make 
an  effort  to  empty  itself,  and  after  the  contraction  the  blood  flows 
very  slowly  into  the  auricles.  After  0.04  gm.  to  0.09  gm.,  these 
phenomena  become  more  violent,  the  heart  remains  finally  in  sys- 
tole, and  death  follows  in  eight  hours. 

A  dove,  into  which  0.05  gm.  Vernonin  was  injected  into  the  heart 
region,  was  apparently  not  affected,  nor  even  on  doubling  the  dose ; 
but  after  injection  of  0.150  gm.  the  animal  became  indifferent,  lost 
its  appetite,  and  was  found  dead  the  next  morning  'with  its  head 
upon  its  breast.  Its  heart  had  stopped  in  systole.  Another  dove, 
after  injection  of  0.250  gm.  died  in  twelve  hours  with  the  same  phe- 
nomena. Hence  Vernonin  acts  similarly  to  Digitaline,  Strophanthus, 
and  Convallaria,  but  in  comparison  with  Digitaline  it  is  eighty  times 
weaker  (in  frogs). 

Vernonin  paralyzes  the  motor  nerves  but  not  the  muscles  in  frogs ; 
a  similar  action  in  mammalia.  A  rabbit,  weighing  1.1  kilos.,  into 
which  was  injected  20  gms.  Vernonin  in  the  right  femoral  region,  and 
1  to  2  mgs.  under  the  skin,  the  ventricles  ceased  to  act,  though  the 
auricles  continued  to  contract  ten  to  fifteen  minutes  after. 

Nux  Vomica — Poisoning. — J.  Venkata  Swamy,  L.M.S.,  of  the 
Aska  Dispensary,  records  a  case  of  poisoning  by  Nux  vomica  in  the 
crude  form.  An  adult  male  was  brought  to  the  dispensary  at  7.30 
a.m.  on  the  17th  February,  1889,  with  giddiness;  numbness  in  the 
trunk,  and  more  markedly  in  the  lower  extremities  ;  dryness  of 
throat ;  slight  injection  of  the  conjunctivae  ;  heaviness  of  head  ;  occa- 
sional backward  jerking  of  the  head,  sometimes  developing  into  a 
flying  fit  of  opisthotonos  whilst  he  was  taking,  or  on  the  point  of 
taking,  medicines  ;  consciousness  perfect ;  respirations  16  per  minute 
and   unaltered  in   quality ;  pulse  slightly  frequent ;   weakness  of 


THE  JJOMCEOPA  TJJIC  RECORDER.  27 1 

voice;  confusion,  as  in  alcoholic  inebriation;  and  facia]  features 
generally  indicative  of  fear  and  despair.  It  appeared  that  the 
patient  bad  Buffered  from  gonorrhoea,  and  was  advised  by  a  friend 
to  take  the  root  of  Nux  vomica,  well  ground,  with  equal  part.-  of  sugar 
and  black  pepper,  and  made  into  amixture  with  water.  The  exact 
quantity  of  the  root  taken  could  nol  be  made  out.  Be  had  swal- 
lowed the  medicine  at  7  a.m.,  and  first  observed  the  symptoms  half 
an  hour  after.  The  spasms  of  the  hack  were  brought  on  by  attempts 
to  swallow  medicines,  more  powerful  efforts  in  other  directions 
being  found  to  produce  no  effect  of  the  kind.  The  mus<  les  of  the 
lower  jaw  and  the  pupils  were  unaffected.  The  patient  suffered 
severely  from  painful  muscular  cramps  in  his  legs, which  were  after- 
wards as  tender  as  a  suppurating  abscess,  though  the  cramps  con- 
tinued for  not  more  than  two  hours.  An  interesting  feature  of  the 
case  is  the  fact  that  swallowing  of  medicines,  or  even  the  mere  idea 
of  medicine,  excited  spasms  of  the  muscles  of  the  hack.  The  patient 
often  withdrew,  as  if  shocked,  from  the  medicine,  asserting  that  the 
sight  of  a  glass  of  medicine  simply  recalled  to  his  memory  the  poi- 
sonous dose  he  had  taken.  The  mental  excitement  caused  by  the 
sudden  Hashes  of  memory  of  the  toxic  medicine  probably  served  to 
produce  spasms  through  the  already  irritated  and  unstable  nervous 
centres  of  the  spinal  cord. —  The  Practitioner,  July. 

Sugar — New  Urinary  Test  for. — A  new  reagent  for  detecting  sugar 
in  urine  has  been  found  in  Safranine,  which  is  said  to  possess  the 
advantage  of  not  being  decolorized  by  Uric  acid,  Creatinine,  Chloral, 
Chloroform,  Peroxide  of  hydrogen,  or  the  salts  of  Hydroxylamine, 
all  of  which  reduce  Fehling's  solution.  Albumen,  however,  does 
decolorize  it.  The  process  recommended  is  to  boil  1  c.c.  of  the 
urine  with  5  c.c.  of  a  solution  of  Safranine  of  the  strength  of  1  in 
1000,  and  2  c.c.  of  a  solution  of  Caustic  potash.  If  decolorization 
is  effected,  the  urine  is  diabetic,  normal  urine  containing  too  little 
sugar  to  decolorize  completely  so  much  of  the  re-agent.  Chloral 
and  Chloroform  do  attenuate  the  red  color  of  the  Safranine,  but 
never  completely  destroy  it. — Prov.  Med.  Jour.,  July.  1889. 

Snake-Bite  Treated  by  Strychnine. — Dr.  A.  Midler,  in  a  letter 
to  Ferd.  v.  Muller  (Baron),  mentions  Strychnine  as  "  n  medy  against 
make  bites,  which  has  been  used  ivlth  success.  He  used  Strychnine,  as 
it  acts  specifically  upon  the  central  portions  of  the  nervous  system, 
which  regulate  and  preside  over  muscle  action  and  movement. — Vir- 
chow's  Archiv.j  cxiii.  2,  p.  393,  1888. 

Aconitine  in  Neuralgia. — Dr.  Alfred  Cohn  has  made  hypoder- 
mic injections  of  Aconitine  nitrate  (t$»  to  /;,  mg-)  in  neuralgia, 
sciatica  and  facial  neuralgia  with  good  results.  The  experiments 
were  made  in  Prof.  Mandel's  clinic. — Neural.  Ccntralblatt,  23,  1888. 


272  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 


VETERINARY    DEPARTMENT. 

Emphysema — Equine.—  August  20,  1889,  I  was  called  to  C 

by  Herr  L>.  K.  to  see  a  sick  horse.  August  18th,  during  the  night,  the 
horse  ran  with  full  speed  against  the  iron  strap  of  a  half-open  door, 
the  strap  being  about  10  cm.  long.  The  iron  cut  the  breast  strap 
through,  and  the  horse,  apparently  uninjured,  went  home,  a  dis- 
tance of  10  km.  The  next  da}r,  the  horse  swelled  up  over  the  whole 
body,  breathing  with  difficulty  and  noise,  and  did  not  lay  itself 
down. 

On  examining,  on  the  20th,  the  skin  was  found  to  be  distended 
with  air,  like  a  slaughtered  animal  blown  up  with  a  bellows  by  a 
butcher.  In  the  pubic  region  there  were  two  large  air-bladders  the 
size  of  a  goose  egg ;  on  the  breast  and  on  the  neck  a  swelling  the 
size  of  an  egg  and  fluctuant,  otherwise  no  injury  or  tumor  upon 
the  whole  body.  The  breathing  was  labored,  noisy  and  snorting; 
in  the  nostrils  there  was  dried  blood ;  pulse  and  heart-beat  were 
imperceptible  with  the  great  distention ;  temperature,  38°  C;  appe- 
tite, urine  and  fseces  normal;  gait  stiff  and  staggering.  The  tumor, 
punctured  with  a  fine  trocar,  yielded  a  bloody  pus,  by  which  was 
determined  that  no  bleeding  vessel  was  present,  and  an  opening 
could  be  distinctly  felt  with  the  knife.  This  done,  about  \  litre  of 
a  bloody  fluid  flowed  out  and  the  air  streamed  through  the  severed 
skin  with  a  loud  hissing,  but  not,  however,  from  the  opening  deep 
in  the  wound  visible  to  the  eye,  which,  examined  by  a  sound, 
showed  a  depth  of  30  cm.  and  a  width  of  8  to  10  cm. 

As  even  a  small  injury  of  the  skin  was  not  to  be  seen,  the  air 
could  only  pour  out  from  an  injury  of  the  lungs,  ribs  or  of  the  in- 
tercostal muscles.  The  dried  blood  in  the  nostrils  and  the  noisy 
breathing  pointed  to  an  injury  of  the  lungs.  I  then  made  incisions 
over  the  entire  body  about  20  to  30  cm.  apart  and  about  1  cm. 
long,  through  which  the  air  was  removed,  as  much  as  possible,  by 
pressing  and  rubbing.  The  wound  in  the  chest  was  syringed  out 
three  times  daily  with  a  decoction  of  Arnica  and  Malva,  and  every 
three  hours  10  drops  of  Arnica  lx  were  given  the  horse  internally. 
On  the  27th,  the  tumefaction  had  nearly  disappeared,  the  wound 
healed  to  the  depth  of  10  cm.,  but  the  breathing  remained  labored 
and  noisy.  Arn.  lx  and  Kali  carb.  3x  were  now  given  in  alternation 
every  three  hours.  September  6th,  the  wound  was  nearly  healed 
to  a  scar,  and  the  breathing,  as  well  as  the  general  condition  of 
the  patient,  was  normal,  and  on  September  10th  it  made  a  journey 
of  50  km.  without  difficulty,  and  up  to  to-day  is  perfectly  well. — 
C.  Jenisch,  in  Zcitschr.fur  Horn.  Their  heilkunde,  1888. 


THE  HOMCEOPJ  TIITC  RECORDER.  273 

Prolapsus  Vaginae — Bovine. — One  evening  I  was  called  to  the 

cuw  of  K.,  in  B .   She  had  calved  eight  days  ago,  and  four  days 

after  a  Blight  pressure  towards  the  genitals,  resembling  the  paine  of 
Labor,  appeared  with  a  flowing  of  purulent  mums  from  the  parts.  This 
pressure  became  worse  while  the  animal  was  lying  down,  ><>  that 
prolapsus  vaginas  took  place,  but  which  could  be  easily  reduced 
again. 

Shortly  before  I  came,  the  animal  had  lain  down,  and  1  found 
the  vagina  prolapsed  and  covered  with  the  above-mentioned  slime, 
so  that  to  only  look  at  it  was  disgusting. 

Treatment.-  The  prolapsus  was  at  oner  reduced,  the  animal  placed 
upon  a  high  bedding,  and  Hepar  sulph.  calc.  ox  given  three  times 
daily.      Eight  days  alter  the  animal  was  cured. 

Another  kind  of  prolapsus  vaginas  was  seen  in  the  cow  of  farmer 

F.  in  M .     It  had  suffered  since  the  seventh  month  of  pregnancy 

from  the  above-mentioned  trouble.  After  calving  the  prolapsus  dis- 
appeared at  first,  but  came  back  again  four  weeks  later  and  took 
place,  especially  while  lying,  without  any  especial  pressure.  China 
3x.,  a  dose  twice  daily,  cured  within  four  days. — H.  Feldmann  in 
Ztschr.  fur  Horn.  ThierheUkv/nde,  11,  1889. 

Colic — Bovine. — The  cow  of  Sch.  of   L ,    well    during    the 

evening,  was  found  the  next  morning  with  the  following  symptoms, 
which  would  lead  one  to  think  of  colic:  The  animal  scraped  the 
fore  and  pawed  with  the  hind  feet,  laid  anxiously  down,  rolled 
around  on  the  ground,  groaned  and  stretched  its  head  out,  and  then 
looked  anxiously  towards  its  belly,  etc.  These  symptoms  came  in 
violent  attacks,  followed  by  intervals  of  ease.  The  fasces  were 
passed  in  sufficient  quantity  the  night  before,  and  the  belly  was  not 
distended. 

Colocynth  3x,  two  doses  wuthin  ten  minutes,  removed  the  pains  at 
once.  An  hour  later  the  animal  was  bright  and  showed  a  good  ap- 
petite, which,  of  course,  was  but  scantily  satisfied. — H.  Feldmann, 
in  Ztschr.  fur  Horn.  Thierheillcvnde,  11,  1889. 

Catarrh — Pslttine. — Frau  von  C besought  me  to  visit  her,  as 

her  little  favorite,  Jocko,  a  magnificent  parrot,  was  sick.  On  my 
coming  to  the  house,  I  found  the  parrot  sitting  very  disconsolately 
upon  the  perch  of  his  beautiful  cage,  showing  no  signs  of  recogni- 
tion to  the  call  of  his  mistress,  nor  would  he  take  his  favorite  food  ; 
he  didn't  speak,  but  kept  up  a  snoring  noise. 

On  examining  the  bird,  there  developed  the  symptoms  of  a  very 

obstinate  catarrh,  in  which,  as  often  is  seen  in  such  cases,  the  nostrils 

were  much  stopped  up  apparently,  so  that  breathing  for  the  animal 

was  difficult.     Other  veterinary   physicians  had  prescribed  vapor- 

vol.  iv.— 18 


274  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBBEB. 

baths,  the  cage  with  the  hird  heing  placed  upon  a  cane-hottomed 
chair,  and  the  cage  covered  with  a  cloth.  Then  a  vessel  with  steam- 
ing Chamomilla  tea  was  placed  under  the  chair,  and  the  bird  was  to 
breathe  the  vapor.  The  procedure  failed,  however,  for  the  bird  had 
such  attacks  of  suffocation  that  it  scarcely  escaped  with  its  life.  I 
gave  the  poor  patient  Dulc.  6x  and  Hepar  sulph.  calc.  6x  in  alteration 
of  each,  four  pellets  twice  daily,  and  had  the  nose-openings  touched 
with  a  feather  dipped  into  almond  oil,  so  that  the  tenacious  mucus 
might  loosen.  After  three  days  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  lady 
come  to  meet  me  at  my  visit  with  great  joy.  She  reported  to  me  that 
Jocko  was  the  same  old  rogue  as  ever,  and  as  Ineared  him  in  his  cage 
he  thanked  me  with  a  loud  "  Guten  morgen  !"  and  that  there  be  no 
mistake  as  to  his  thankfulness,  he  cried  out :  "  Danke  schon  !  "  The 
bird  was,  to  the  joy  of  his  mistress,  completely  cured. — H.  Fischer,  in 
Ztschr.fur  Horn,  ThierheiUmnde,  12, 1889. 

Hematuria — Equine. — Cures  by  homoeopathic  remedies  are 
very  often  criticised  and  mocked  at,  even  denied,  by  our  colleagues 
of  the  old  school ;  but  yet,  when  they  observe  their  action,  they 
cannot  deny  it.  It  is  again  quite  often  that  allopathic  rem- 
edies have  been  heroically  used  before  the  homoeopathic  treatment 
is  demanded,  without  any  improvement.  I  will  give  my  readers  an 
example  : 

A  landlord,  having  heard  of  the  successes  of  homoeopathy,  asked 
me  for  advice  as  to  a  horse  of  his,  which  for  the  last  three  years 
had  passed  bloody  urine,  seemed  at  the  same  time  much  exhausted 
and,  what  was  worse,  to  keep  on  losing  strength.  His  veterinary 
adviser  had  used  many  remedies  for  the  condition,  in  vain,  how- 
ever, and  knew  of  nothing  to  help  it.  Again  the  animal  had  been 
growing  no  better,  but  on  the  contrary  worse,  and  getting  weaker 
and  weaker. '  The  cause  he  could  not  determine,  and  sought  me 
to  help  him,  if  I  could.  I  sent  him  Cantharis  3x,  and  had  the 
horse  take  10  drops  three  times  daily  upon  wafers.  After  eight 
days  I  heard  from  him  that  the  appetite  of  the  animal  had  re- 
turned, and,  after  about  ten  days,  that  the  horse  was  completely 
well ;  the  urine  was  normal,  as  in  other  horses,  and  the  strength 
of  the  animal  increased  daily. 

On  another  occasion,  I  took  the  opportunity  of  visiting  the  gen- 
tleman, and  heard  from  another  person,  as  well  as  the  gentleman 
himself,  that  the  animal  was  very  lively,  and  that  it  had  become 
an  entirely  different  horse  after  its  recovery,  only  the  landlord 
feared  the  disease,  which  had  disappeared  in  such  a  wonderful 
manner,  would  return  again.  Also  his  veterinary  medical  friend, 
who  accidentally  came  up  then,  was  astonished  at  the  action  of 
the  remedy,  and  congratulated  him  upon  the  animal's  recovery. 


THE  H0M<E0FATE10  BBCOBDtiB.  27« 

The  disease  did  not  return,  bul  the  animal,  on  the  contrary,  is 
lively  and  well,  and  enjoya  full  Btrength.— H.  Fischer,  in  Ztschr. 
fur  II", n.  Thierheilkunde^  L2,  lsV-'.  p.  and  p. 

Cures  of  Animals  with  High  Potencies. —  In  the  May  Re- 
corder, page  130,  a  number  of  cases  of  animals  cured  with  a  Bingle 
dose  of  various  remedies  in  the  200th  potency  were  given.  These 
-  <>f  Dr.  Boenninghauseu  are  very  interesting, and  ;is  they  show 
the  action  of  remedies  in  a  large  held  of  diseases,  we  have  decided 
to  finish  his  list,  crowded  out  of  that  edition: 

14.  Nettmann'e  horse,  had  July  11.  1862,  one  doae  of  Thuja  for  worms  ami  ^ince 
then  lias  been  well.  March  10th  of  this  year,  1803,  the  disease  reappeared  :  Silih. 
cored. 

15.  March  11th.  Loire  hone—  tor  two  months  lias  been  asthmatic  with  cough,  and 
i-  of  a  very  fiery  temperament,  Nix  vom.  March  24th,  coogh  very  much  impn  •  1. 
but  the  asthma,  thoogh  less,  st  i  1 1  remain-,  Ars.  April  5th,  the  cough  lias  reappeared, 
irorse  doring  rest  and  alter  eating.  Pei.s.  April  28th,  cough  now  worse  in  the 
morning.  Nrx  vom.  May  23d,  much  improved,  but  the  cough  still  persi-t-,  with 
much  mucus  from  the  nose.  Puis.  June  2d,  cough  is  less,  but  the  nasal  mucus, 
which  now  excoriates,  is  increased:  Ars.  cured. 

16.  March  14th.  Samson's  s<  vm-year-old  horse — asthmatic,  Ars.  April  3d,  much 
better,  and  only  upon  beginning  to  go  is  it  noticed  :  Thuja  cured. 

17.  March  24th.  Liilfs  mart — for  a  couple  of  years  in  the  spring  itching  with 
U)S8  of  hair,  Sulph.     April    28tb,  was   better,   but   begins   again,    Thuja.     Maj 

this  time  not  improved  by  Thuja  and   bothered   much  by  flies,  Sulph.     June  2d,  this 
time  also  no  result,  and  it  bleeds  upon  scratching:  Merc,  finally  cured. 

18.  March  26th.  Stn. band's  cow — after  calving  violent  (milk-?)  fever  with 
stoppage  of  (low  of  milk  and  trembling,  1.  Aeon.,  2.  Chamom.,  every  six  hours. 
March  27th,  milk  has  returned,  but  now  the  whole  body  is  paralyzed,  so  that  it  can 
neither  stand  nor  eat :  Puis.,  the  next  day,  completely  cured. 

19.  April  11th.     Heissiiiir's  hone — Soriasis  :  Hell,  cured. 

20.  April  25th.  Borgert's  gelding — staggers,  only  while  in  the  stable,  with  tremb- 
ling :  Puis,  cured. 

21.  May  27th.  Kiesekamp's  horse — inflammation  of  the  left  eye  :  1.  Am.,  2  Bell., 
every  two  days,  cured. 

22.  dr.  Schiirmann's  horse — again'as^/na/j'c,  after  being  cured  last  year,  July  26th, 
with  Nux  vom.  and  August  19th,  Bry.,  now  May  16th,  which  July  25th  it  \sas 
necessary  to  repeat.     Since  then  well. 

2:;.  Waltermann'fl  mare.  October  10,  1862,  cured  by  Sulph.  of  an  old  eruption  in  a 
wane  and  tail,  which  May  17th  reappeared  :  Sulph.  cured. 

24.  May  19th.  Cildeg's  cow — retention  of  urine  after  difficult  calving,  Am.  May 
21st.  now  diarrhoea  and  a  tumor  of  the  abdomen  :  Sulph.  cured. 

25.  May  21st.  Frhr.  v.  Twickel'a  mare — paralysis  after  being  wet  through  while 
sweating  (and  already  treated  a  few  weeks  according  to  Giinther's  directions  and 
with  Gunther's  remedies),  Thus.  May  26th,  without  success,  on  beginning  to  go 
aggravation  of  the  paralysis.  Ars.  June  21st,  much  better,  but  still  some  paralysis 
on  beginning  and  after  motion:  An,  cured. 

26  May  21st.  Rolling's  cov: — calved  fourteen  days  ago,  and  since  then  has  been 
lame  and  does  not  eat :  Puis,  cured. 

27.  May  29th.     Wolmer's  mare — itching  in  the  mane  and  tail :  Sep.  cured. 

28.  May  29th  to  June  3d.  Several  animals,  h  i\nd  pigs — bitten  by  aynad 
dog:  1.  Bell.,  2.  Hyosc,  every  5  days,  remained  healthy. 

29.  June  5th.  Bolten's  one-year-old  bullock — hcematuria:  1.  Ipec,  2.  Nux  vom., 
every  24  hours,  cured. 

30.  June  9th.     Stegenmuller's  cow — consttjxited,  distended  and  entirely  pa< 
(given  up  by  the  veterinary  surgeons)  :   1.  Nux  vom.,  2.  Puis.,  every  12  hours-    June 
10th,  improved,  but  great  prolapsus  of  the  rectum:  1.  Ignat.,  2.    Nux  vom.,  every    12 
hours,  cured. 

31.  June  10th.  Milte's  mare — asthma  and  cough  (from  a  remedy  given  by  the 
veterinary  surgeon),  Ars.  June  27th,  apparent  improvement,  but  worse  again, 
Thuja.     July  9th,  almost  entirely  recovered,  but  still  cough  :  Ars.  cured. 


276  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  BECOBDEB. 

32.  June  16th.  Sehening's  four  young  pigs — gangrene,  1,  Ran,  seel.,  2.  Spong.,  3. 
Ars.,  every  4  days.     July  9th,  very  much  improved  :  Ran.  seel.,  2.  Sulph.,  cured. 

33.  June  17th.  Hermann's  bullock — first  haemaluria  and  now  obstinate  constipa- 
tion, Nux  vom.  June  \§th,  now  black  and  green  stool,  but  appetite  returned  :  1. 
Ipec,  2.  Nux  vom.,  every  12  hours,  cured. 

34.  June  20th.  Boschert's  three  cows  and  one  calf—  bitten  by  a  mad  cat:  to  each 
animal,  1.,  3.  Bell.,  2.  Hyosc,  nothing  followed  and  they  remained  healthy. 

35.  June  27th.  Hermann's  cow — hcematuria  since  this  morning;  1.  Ipec,  2.  Nux 
vom.,  every  12  hours,  cured. 

36.  July  1st.  General  von  Hobe's  riding-horse — for  ten  weeks  his  right  foot 
splayed  and  treated  by  several  veterinary  surgeons  without  success,  Ars.  July  26th, 
much  better,  and  is  only  noticed  to  be  lame  when  trotting  on  paved  and  hard  roads, 
Ars.     August  11th,  as  good  as  cured,  as  a  precaution,  Thuja. 

37.  Leppermann's  cow — malignant  disease  of  the  mouth  and  feet:  1.  Ars.,  2  Thuja, 
every  3  days,  completely  cured.  (Last  year  several  similar  cases  occured,  which 
were  cured  in  the  same  manner.) 

Round  Ulcer  of  Stomach  in  Cattle. — The  ulcers,  pepticum  and 
rotumdem,  has  but  rarely  been  observed  in  animals  up  to  date- 
Hence  it  is  interesting  to  know  that,  as  it  seems,  it  is  not  rare  in 
calves,  as  Ostertog  had  an  opportunity  of  observing  six  calves 
slaughtered  at  the  Berlin  central  abattoir,  in  calves  from  six  weeks 
to  one  year  old.  The  description  leaves  no  doubt  that  the  condition 
in  question  is  that  of  a  typical  ulcer  of  the  stomach  ;  two  cases  had 
progressed  to  perforation.  No  cause  can  be  assigned. — Dutsche 
Zeitschr.  fur  Theirmed,  14,  45. 


BOOK  REVIEWS, 


Therapeutics  of  Nervous  Diseases  ;  Including  also  their 
Diagnosis  and  Pathology.  By  Charles  Porter  Hart,  M.D. 
Philadelphia  :  F.  E.  Boericke.     Pp.  268. 

This  new  work,  like  all  those  bearing  the  Aude  of  the  Hahnemann 
Publishing  House,  is  a  welcome  addition  to  the  library  of  the 
studious  physician.  Dr.  Hart's  work  is  divided  into  seven  parts  as 
follows  :  (1)  Diseases  of  the  Brain  and  its  Membranes.  (2)  Dis- 
eases of  the  Spinal  Marrow  and  its  Membranes.  (3)  Cerebro-spinal 
Diseases.  (4)  Diseases  of  the  Peripheral  Nervous  System.  (5) 
Diseases  of  the  Sympathetic  Nervous  System.  (6)  Symptomatic 
Diseases.  (7)  Mental  Diseases.  Under  each  part  the  diseases  there 
classed  are  taken  up  separately  as  follows,  i.e.,  Cerebral  Anaemia, 
Synonyms,  Definition,  Diagnosis,  Pathology,  Clinical  Experience, 
Therapeutic  Indications,  and  Auxiliary  Treatment.  The  author 
particularly  presents  the  results  of  careful  study  and  painstaking 
research  in  the  last  three  rubrics  of  each  disease.  His  notes  on  clini- 
cal experience  and  his  therapeutic  indications  are  especially  good. 

Taken  as  a  whole,  the  work  is  a  most  useful  addition  to  our 
library  of  homoeopathic  practice.  It  is  thorough  without  prolixity, 
condensed  without  loss  of  value,  and  presents  a  handy  and  ready 
reference-book  to  the  busy  physician. 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT, 

Each  copy  of  this  issue  of  the  Recorder  contains  a  subscription 
blank,  a  convenience  and  a  reminder  to  the  greater  number  of  our 
subscribers  that  Y<>1.  [V.  is  closed,  and  subscriptions  to  Vol.  V.  are 
now  in  order. 

These  blanks  are  put  in  by  the  binder,  and  as  some  of  our  friends 
have  already  paid  their  dues  for  Vol.  V.,  and  a  few  are  not  due  yet, 
it  may  be  well  to  state  that  the  hint  is  not  for  them.  We  trust  the 
response  will  be  generous,  both  from  those  who  have  been  on  the 
regular  fcst  of  subscribers  in  the  past,  and  also  from  others  whose 
names  have  not  yet  adorned  that  galaxy.  To  that  end,  a  very 
large  extra  number  has  been  printed  and  mailed  as  samples. 

We  expect  to  make  the  coming  volume  richly  worth  the  small 
subscription  asked. 

Latrodectus  Mactans. — The  July  number  of  the  Recorder  for 
this  year  was  favored  with  a  paper  from  the  pen  of  that  well-known 
writer,  Dr.  S.  A.  Jones,  of  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  on  "  Latrodectus 
Mactans — A  Suggested  Remedy  in  Angina  Pectoris."  He  had  no 
clinical  cases  to  report,  or  provings,  nothing  but  a  number  of  re- 
ports of  bites  by  this  venomous  spider,  collected  from  various 
sources  ;  yet  these,  in  the  light  of  the  great  Hahnemannian  law, 
pointed  to  a  most  useful  discovery — we  may  say,  to  a  great  discovery. 

"  It  is  neither  the  aim  nor  the  purpose  of  this  paper,"  wrote  Dr. 
Jones,  "  to  establish  the  lethal  property  of  spider  poison  ;  though  1 
must  acknowledge  that,  until  I  read  the  paper  in  Insect  Life,  I  had 
no  thought  that  its  possession  of  such  a  property  would  be  called 
in  question.  I  shall  content  myself  with  calling  attention  to  the  pa- 
thogenetic quality  of  the  poison  of  Latrodectus  mactans,  leaving  my 
reader  to  discern  the  resemblance  of  its  tout  ensemble  to  an  attack  of 
angina  pectoris,  and  therefore  to  infer  its  homoeopathic  applica- 
bility in  that  dread  disorder.  I  shall  not  enter  upon  the  pathology 
— various  and  much-confused — of  that  cardiac  seizure,  because,  af 

I  get  older,  I  find  the  '  like  '  more  and  more  of  a  '  pillar  of  cloud  by 
day  and  a  pillar  of  fire  by  night,'  whilst  in  my  short  life  I  have 
found  '  pathology  '  as  changeable  as  a  dying  dolphin — and  every- 
one knows  that  a  dead  fish  '  stinks  and  shines,  and  shines  and 
stinks.' " 

Among  the  marked  symptoms  of  the  poison  of  Latrodectus  mactans, 
wo  find :   "  Pain  up   arm  to  shoulder,  thence  to  back  of  neck ; " 

II  precordial  pain  extending  to  left  axilla,  and  down  arm  to  finger- 
ends;"  "  left  arm  almost  paralyzed;  "  "pains  up  arm  to  shoulder, 


278  TEE  HOMOEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

thence  to  prrecordia  ;  "  "  apncea  ;  "  "  precordial  pain  ;  "  "  pulse 
feeble  and  thready;"  "  skin  cold;"  "sense  of  impending  dissolu- 
tion," not  to  mention  others.  From  the  data  the  writer  is  led  to 
believe  "the  poison  of  Latrodectus  moderns  is  suggested  for  a  trial  in 
angina  pectoris,  in  that  its  physiological  action  presents  the  closest 
dmUimum  yet  found."  Again,  elsewhere:  "Of  the  changes  in  res- 
piration accompanying  angina  pectoris,  we  have,  then,  both  the 
general  and  the  rarest  form,  produced  pathogenetically  by  the  poi- 
son of  Latrodectus  mactans."  This  paper  reached  the  subscribers  of 
the  Recorder  in  the  latter  part  of  July. 

Early  in  September  we  received  a  business  letter  from  Dr.  R.  H. 
McFarland,  of  Orlando,  Florida,  which  concludes  as  follows :  "  La- 
ius  madam  cured  my  only  daughter,  ret.  36,  marriefl,  of  an- 
gina pectoris.  The  Recorder  gives  us  some  good  things  occa- 
sionally." 

"  If  Latrodectus  will  cure  angina  pectoris,"  said  a  physician  to 
whom  we  mentioned  the  matter,  "  it  is  worth  its  weight  in  gold.'* 
Well,  similia  plainly  indicates  that  it  ought  to  cure  it,  and  in  the  only 
case  where  it  was  administered,  it  did  cure  it.  Latrodectus  is  to  be 
had  in  tablets  3x. 

Guaiacol. — "  The  sovereign  of  all  known  remedies  in  pulmonary  tu- 
berculosis" is  the  way  Dr.  Nobili  describes,  or  rather  eulogizes,  it  in 
Ua  degli  Ospitali.  Guaiacol  is  a  homogeneous  substance,  in  re- 
ality the  true  therapeutic  agent  in  Creosote,  and  Dr.  Xobili  claims, 
after  much  experience,  that  it  augments  the  power  of  organic  re- 
sistance against  tuberculous  infection,  and  of  destroying  the  tuber- 
cular bacilli,  and  can  be  used  with  marked  success  in  the  treatment 
of  consumption.  All  patients  treated  with  Guaiacol,  he  says,  ex- 
perienced an  increase  of  appetite ;  the  cough,  especially  at  night, 
was  decreased,  and,  in  some  cases,  the  fever  and  night-sweats  were 
reduced.  Generally  a  distinct  improvement  in  the  rattling  sounds 
were  noted,  and  the  "  subjective  feeling  of  the  patients  was  markedly 
elevated." 

Apium  Virus. — A  friend  sends  us  the  copies  of  Gleanings  in  Bee 
Culture,  Medina,  0.,  from  which  we  clip  the  following  rather  inter- 
esting correspondence : 

Bee  Stings  a  Cure  for  Rheumatism. — Last  summer  I  began  bee- 
keeping, and  up  till  then  I  had  been  troubled  with  rheumatic  pains  ; 
but  during  the  time  I  was  stung  by  bees  I  never  felt  any  pain  from 
rheumatism.  The  poison  from  the  stings  seemed  to  cure  the  com- 
plaint.    Do  you  think  there  is  anything  in  it  ?  F.  Brown. 

Uttoxeter,  England,  March  20,  1889. 

More  Experience  with  Bee-Stings  and  Rheumatism. — At    my   table 


PUBL1BEEB&  VEPABTMEX  7.  279 

When  eating  honey,  withoul  any  other  conversation  leading  to  it,  a 
German  friend,  with  much  animation,  told  the  following :  "After  the 
Franco-Prussian  war  I  Buffered  from  rheumatism  as  the  effects  of 
my  soldier  life ]  for  three  years,  never  able  to  work,  and  seldom  able 
to  walk.  One  fine  day  in  spring  I  coaxed  them  to  carry  me  into 
the  garden,  and,  sitting  near  tin-  bees,  I  smell. d  honey,  and  asked 
for  bread  and  honey.  Tin-  bees  gathered  around  me,  and  being  letfl 
alone  a  short  time,  1  tried  to  chase  them  off,  and  they  stung  me 
awful  bad  on  the  face  and  arms,  fifteen  or  twenty  stings  before  I 
got  away.  The  swelling  was  terrible,  but  before  it  was  gone  I  could 
walk;  and  when  it  was  gone  I  was  well,  and  never  had  rheumatism 
afterward,  and  immediately  went  to  work."  The  name  of  this  man 
is  Henry  Karstadt.     [  believe  his  statement.  J.A.Lowe. 

Ih  i.  BINSON,  Kan.,  June  28,  1889. 

Bee-Stings  a  Positive  Cure  for  Rheumatism. — I  have  been  troubled 
for  years  with  rheumatism  ;  and  when  punctured  a  few  times  by 
the  bees,  I  found  I  was  entirely  cured.  The  fluid  extract  of  bee- 
sting  is  an  old  eclectic  cure  for  rheumatism.  M.  N.  McNeil. 

Kikkwood,  O.,  June  24,  1889. 

In  tbe  May  15th  issue  of  Gleanings,  F.  Brown  gives  his  experience 
with  rheumatism  and  bee-stings,  and  here  is  mine: 

About  fifteen  years  ago  I  sprained  one  of  my  knees.  I  was  lame 
for  a  few  days,  and  it  got  better;  but  tbe  lameness,  accompanied 
with  an  ache,  came  again;  and  as  time  passed  on  it  continued  to 
come  worse  and  worse,  until  it  got  so  bad  I  could  neither  straighten 
my  leg  nor  bend  it  up;  and  if  by  accident  I  did  move  it  from  just 
such  a  shape  it  was  like  biting  on  the  nerve  of  a  decayed  tooth. 
The  pain  not  only  stayed  at  my  knee,  but  extended  above  and  be- 
low, and  acted  as  if  it  had  come  to  stay.  I  tried  a  magnetic  battery 
some.  I  used  liniment  externally,  and  "  sure  cure "  internally, 
with  but  little  relief  and  no  cure.  Three  years  ago  we  bought  five 
colonies  of  bees,  and  with  them  came  tbe  stings,  and  next  the  relief. 
I  have  not  suffered  as  much  from  my  knee  in  tbe  whole  three  years 
as  I  have  in  some  three  minutes  previous  to  the  stings.  I  have  used 
no  other  remedy  within  this  time.  I  am  a  farmer,  and  my  work 
has  been  very  much  the  same. 

Now,  I  am  not  going  to  say  that  bee-stings  have  cured  my  rheu- 
matism; but  if  I  had  employed  a  doctor,  with  the  understand- 
ing of  no  pay  unless  successful,  I  am  very  sure  he  would  call 
for  his  pay.  \V.  M.  Stacy. 

Edgar,  Clay  Co.,  Neb.,  May  30,  1889. 

Rhus  Toxicodendron  and  Rheumatism. — A  well-known  and 
very  able  "regular "  physician,"  needless  to  name  here,  has  made 


280  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

what  he  considers  to  be  a  most  important  discovery,  and  has  spread 
it  before  the  medical  world  in  two  long  papers.  That  his  discovery 
is  an  exceedingly  valuable  one  and  fraught  with  relief  to  sufferers 
no  one  can  gainsay— especially  no  homoeopathic  physician.  The 
Doctor  says  he  gave  free  samples  of  the  "  new  medicine  "  {i.e.,  Rhus 
toxicodendron)  to  the  members  of  the  medical  profession  in  various 
parts  of  the  country,  "  with  instructions  for  use,  and  at  the  same 
time  requested  that  within  a  reasonable  period  they  would  advise 
him  of  the  results  of  the  treatment  which  might  come  under  their 
observation."  As  usual,  many  of  the  doctors  made  no  sign,  which 
leads  the  wriier  to  say,  and  us  to  italicize  it,  that,  "  there  seems  to 
be  considerable  diffidence  in  giving  an  opinion  concerning  a  remedy 
which  is  altogether  new  and  is  given  in  such  small  doses  as  Rhus  toxico- 
dendron." That  the  remedy  is  altogether  new  to  the  Doctor,  and  to 
those  of  his  colleagues  who,  like  him,  have  said  so,  there  is  not  the 
slightest  reason  to  doubt,  but  because  a  remedy  is  altogether  new 
to  them,  it  by  no  means  follows  that  it  is  altogether  a  new  remedy, 
and  a  little  wider  reading  would  have  prevented  the  publishing 
of  papers — excellent  in  themselves — which  contain  statements  not 
altogether  free  from  the  ludicrous  ;  for  while,  as  we  intimated  be- 
fore, Rhus  toxicodendron  may  be  new  to  the  writer,  it  is  nevertheless 
well-known,  and  freely  used,  by  not  less  than  twelve  thousand  phy- 
sicians in  the  United  States  alone.  Furthermore,  he  will  find  this 
remedy  fully  dwelt  upon  in  every  book  of  general  homoeopathic 
practice,  from  Hahnemann's  Materia  Medica  Pur  a  down  to  the  latest 
issued — Allen's  Hand-Booh  of  Materia  Medica;  he  writes  as  though 
the  discovery  of  Rhus  toxicodendron  as  a  remedy  for  "  sciatic  rheu- 
matism, muscular  rheumatism  so-called,  and  varicose  veins,"  etc., 
were  something  new.  Turning  to  Hughes's  Pharmacodynamics  we 
read :  "  Rhus  has  thus  come  to  occupy  a  high  place  in  homoeopathic 
therapeutics  amongst  the  remedies  for  rheumatism."  Again:  "Its 
undoubted  value  in  rheumatic  sciatica  depends,  I  take  it,  upon  its 
influence  on  the  fibrous  sheath  of  the  nerve,"  etc.  The  book  from 
which  the  foregoing  is  quoted  was  published  in  1867.  In  the  Lesser 
Writings  of  Hahnemann  will  be  found  mention  of  183  cases  of  epi- 
demic fever  treated  by  him  with  Rhus  toxicodendron,  in  the  year  1813, 
without  a  single  death.     He  also  used  it  largety  for  rheumatism. 

These  two  papers  are  singularly  confirmatory  of  the  accuracy  of 
homoeopathic  text-books.  In  the  reports  of  cases  by  his  correspond- 
ents, it  will  be  noticed  that  they  say  the  remedy  has  no  effect  in 
neuralgia ;  Hughes  said  of  Rhus  twenty-two  years  ago :  "  It  is  power- 
less in  pure  neuralgia  here  or  elsewhere."  It  is  useless  to  quote 
more  to  prove  that  Rhus  toxicodendron  is  not  "  a  remedy  which  is 
altogether  new,"  as  the  Doctor  claims.  As  he  and  his  confreres  are 
confessedly  in  the  experimental  stage  with  this  remedy,  we  would 


PUBLISH  Kits'  DEPARTMENT.  281 

hint  1l1.1t  5  drops  of  a  tincture,  made  as  the  one  they  use  is  made, 
is  entirely  too  Btrong  for  a  dose,  and  much  better  results  could  be 
obtained  by  usingthe  regularly  prepared  homoeopathic  dilutions, 
or  tablets,  of  this  remedy — say  the  ;>>x.  They  can  purchase  these 
at  any  reliable  homoeopathic  pharmacy, and  in  any  strength  desired, 
and  prepared  in  a  better  manner  than  they  can  do  it,  to  sav  nothing 
of  the  risk  they  run  in  handling  this  poisonous  plant.  We  would 
also  call  their  attention  to  the  fact  that  there  are  several  varieties  of 
Rhus.  In  the  Physician's  Trice  Current  of  Messrs.  Boericke  &  Tafel 
(which,  by  the  way,  is  a  very  complete  work,  and  Is  mailed  free  to 
physicians)  we  find  in  the  list  of  medicines,  Rhus  aromatica^  Tim* 
CaHfornicdi  Rhus  glabra,)  Rhus  radicans,  Rhus  toxicodendron  and  Rhus 
vem  nata. 

There  is  more  in  Homoeopathy,  gentlemen,  than  is  dreamed  of  in 
your  philosophy. 

Pharmacodynamics. — Dr.  Hughes's  Manual  of  Pharmacodynamics 

has  been  pronounced  by  a  gentleman,  who  has  had  many  years  ex- 
perience in  supplying  physicians  with  books,  to  be  the  favorite,  by 
all  odds,  of  physicians  of  other  schools  (and  of  a  great  many  homoeo- 
paths, too)  who  wish  to  get  an  insight  into  homoeopathic  treatment. 
The  present  edition,  the  fifth  (1886),  has  grown  to  962  pages,  con- 
sisting of  60  chapters,  together  with  an  "  Appendix,"  u  Index  of 
Medicines,"  and  "Clinical  Index."  Two  chapters  are  given  to 
"  Sources  of  the  Homoeopathic  Materia  Meclica,"  two  to  "  The 
General  Principles  of  Drug-Action,"  one  to  "  Homoeopathy — Whatit 
is,"  one  to  "  Homoeopathic  Posology,"  and  the  remainder  to  the  lead- 
ing remedies  homceopathieally  administered.  Doubtless  what 
makes  the  work  so  popular  with  physicians  who  have  not  been 
graduated  from  a  homoeopathic  college  is  the  absence  of  those  long 
lists  of  symptoms,  which  to  the  life  student  are  so  vital,  but  to  one 
who  has  not  the  time,  so  confusing.  Take  by  way  of  illustration 
Arnica montana;  Hahnemann's  Heine  arznermittettehre,  in  the  chapter 
on  this  remedy,  gives  638  symptoms.  Hughes's  chapter  on  Arnica 
takes  seven  pages,  and  the  following  extract  will  give  a  fair  idea  of 
the  way  the  remedy  is  treated. 

"  I  have  said  that  Arnica  is  to  an  injury  what  Aconite  is  to  a  chill ; 
that  is,  it  will  almost  infallibly  obviate  the  ill-effects,  if  given  before 
organic  mischief  has  been  set  up.  It  becomes  thus  the  great  remedy 
to  be  administered  in  all  cases  of  concussion,  sprain  or  other  suffer- 
ing from  violence.  It  removes,  as  Hahnemann  says :  '  the  perni- 
cious consequences  which  often  attend  falls,  contusions,  blows, 
thrusts,  straining,  twisting  or  tearing  the  solid  parts  of  our  organism. 
But,  unlike  Aconite,  it  will  follow-  up  the  cause  to  many  of  the 
changes  it  effects,  even  when  of  long  standing  and  profound  char- 
acter.    Such  are  those  instanced  by  Dr.  Bayes  in  his  interesting 


282  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  EECOBDEB. 

article  on  the  drug,  viz.  :  the  chronic  muscular  stiffness — called 
rheumatism — of  old  laborers,  and  the  cardiac  hypertrophy  of  boat- 
ing men.  Mr.  Nankivell  has  illustrated  the  same  thing  by  some  of 
the  thoracic  affections  of  the  Cornish  miners." 

Again,  on  another  page:  "In  external  injuries,  Arnica  maybe 
used  locally,  as  well  as  inwardly;  and  will  give  speedy  relief  to 
pain,  while  promoting  the  restoration  of  the  bruised  part  to  its 
normal  condition.  Any  one  who  has  tried  it  when  his  finger  has 
been  jammed  in  a  door  will  bear  witness  to  the  statement." 

Also  :  "  A  sensitiveness  of  the  body  to  pressure,  so  that  everything 
on  which  the  patient  lies  seems  too  hard,  is  another  recognized 
symptomatic  indication  for  Arnica.  This  feature  is  often  met  with 
in  low  fevers,  and  the  medicine  was  not  without  repute  in  such 
disorders  among  the  older  homceopathists." 

The  foregoing  will  give  a  fair  idea  of  the  manner  in  which  the 
work  treats  of  the  various  leading  remedies. 

One  can  readily  see  that  the  chapter  on  Arnica  alone  would  richly 
repay  any  physician  unacquainted  with  the  supreme  necessity  for 
this  remedy,  internally  administered,  in  the  countless  accidents  that 
are  daily  occuring  in  this  busy  world.  (It  might  not  be  amiss  here 
to  add  that  the  common  Arnica  of  the  drug  shops,  and  a  first  class 
homoeopathic  Arnica  tincture  are  two  very  different  things).  The 
book  in  question  contains  932  pages,  and  bound  in  half  Morocco, 
cost  $7.00  less  10  per  cent,  to  the  medical  profession,  postage  26 
cents.     Bound  in  cloth,  $1.00  less. 

For  Catarrh  and  Hay  Fever. — In  a  very  interesting  paper  in 
the  U.  S.  Medical  Investigator,  Dr.  W.  D.  Gentry,  the  well-known 
author  of  the  Concordance  Repertory,  gives  a  brief  account  of  Skookum 
Chuck  Lake  and  of  the  effect  of  the  salts  of  its  water  when  proved. 
"  The  water  is  of  a  deep  amber  and  almost  red  in  the  sunlight.  The 
following  is  an  analysis  of  the  salts,  obtained  by  evaporation  of  the 
water ;  the  proportion  being  in  grains  per  U.  S.  gallon  of  231  cubic 
inches : 

Sodic  chloride, 16.370 

Potassic  chloride, 9.241 

Sodic  carbonate,      .........     63.543 

Magnesic  carbonate, 233 

Ferrous  carbonate, 526 

Calcic  carbonate, 186 

Aluininic  oxide,      .........         .175 

Sodic  silicate,  ..!...*..•     10.638 
Organic  matter, 551 

101.463 
Lithic  carbonate,      .......       ~i 

Potassic  sulphate, J- Each  a  trace. 

Sodic  bi-borate,        .......       J 


PUBLISHERS'  DEPARTMENT. 

" The  lake  has  no  outlet, but  is  fed  by  two  enormous  springs.  It 
contains  no  living  things  with  the  exception  of  axoloti,  a  kind  of 
salamander,  such  as  are  found  in  the  Lakes  of  the  Mexican  Cordil- 
leras. 

"The  medical  and  curative  properties  of  this  remarkable  lake  was 

known  to  the  Indians  of  t lie  northwesl  as  far  back  as  they  have  any 
legends  or  tribal  history,  and  it  was  held  In  such  reverence  by  them 
that  tlir  country  around  this  lake  was  called  'Sahala  Lyee  IUihe,1 
or  '  Sacred  ( i  rounds/  and  no  matter  how  hostile  the  tribes  were  to 

each  other,  no  Indians  journeying  to  or  from  the  u  Skookum  Lime- 
chen  Chuck,'  or  '  strong  medicine  water,'  were  ever  molested. 

"  When  the  Indians  were  considering  the  transfer  of  their  lands  to 
the  government,  many  years  ago,  it  is  recorded  as  a  matter  of  history, 
that  old  Quetahlgum,  father  of  the  present  Chief  Moses,  and  'Old 
Joseph,'  father  of  Chief  Joseph,  lately  a  prisoner  of  war,  with  the 
broken  remnants  of  his  band,  after  weeks  of  deliberation  and  con- 
sideration, with  the  '  Sahala  Lyee,'  or  Great  Spirit,  through  their 
medicine-men,  or  prophets,  firmly  said  :  '  We  have  talked  with  the 
Great  Spirit  and  we  have  slept  with  his  words  in  our  ears.  The 
Great  Spirit  is  our  father  and  the  earth  is  our  mother.  We  have  a 
good  home  and  it  was  made  for  us  by  the  Great  Spirit  ;  it  is  a  part 
of  us ;  it  is  our  mother.  In  Wallowa  Lake  are  an  abundance  of 
fish  created  especially  for  our  tribe.  None  other  of  his  red  children 
have  such  fish.  In  the  '  Skookum  Chuck  '  we  have  a  remedy  for  all 
our  ailments.  We  only  have  to  bathe  in  and  drink  its  water  and 
we  are  made  well.  If  we  sign  the  treaty  we  will  forever  offend  the 
Great  Spirit ;  wre  will  sign  away  our  mother  and  she  will  cry.  Her 
tears  will  dry  up  these  lakes  and  we  will  be  hungry  and  sick.  We 
will  go  to  the  Skookum  Chuck  only  to  find  that  its  waters  have 
disappeared.' 

"  The  story  is  told  of  a  Frenchman  passing  the  lake  many  years 
ago,  before  the  properties  of  the  water  became  known  to  the  whites, 
with  a  drove  of  sheep  afflicted  with  a  skin  disease  called  'the  scab.' 
As  soon  as  the  sheep  saw  the  water  they  ran  to  it,  but  would  not 
drink.  They  stood  in  the  water  for  some  time,  and  in  a  few  days 
they  were  well  of  the  '  scab.'  The  Frenchman  was  suffering  with 
rheumatism.  He  concluded  to  try  the  water  of  the  lake  for  his 
disease.  He  was  speedily  cured.  The  whites  were  soon  attracted 
to  this  lake  by  the  stories  of  marvellous  cures  reported  by  the  Indians, 
and  by  seeing  Indians  return  in  health  and  vigor  from  the  lake, 
wrho  had  been  taken  there  on  litters,  appearing  at  the  point  of  death. 
It  is  estimated  that  over  20,000  people  have  visited  this  lake  since 
'  Joseph's  Band  '  were  driven  from  that  section  of  the  country,  and  it 
is  fast  becoming  as  popular  as  any  other  of  our  great  health  resorts. 

u  My  attention  was  called  to  Skookum  Chuck  some  time  since, 


284  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

and  I  procured  some  of  the  salts  and  triturated  a  quantity,  making 
the  first,  second,  third  and  sixth  potencies.  I  partially  proved  the 
first  potency  by  taking  two  grains  every  two  hours.  The  first  effect 
produced  was  a  profuse  coryza  with  constant  sneezing,  as  in  hay- 
fever.  This  continued  until  the  medicine  was  antidoted  by  tobacco. 
My  appetite  was  greatly  increased.  Some  rheumatic  pains  in  limbs, 
and  heaviness  about  the  sacrum.  The  catarrhal  effects  were  so 
severe  I  could  not  continue  the  remedy.  I  have  used  the  third  and 
sixth  potency  in  my  practice  and  have  cured  a  number  of  cases  of 
catarrh,  and  an}  confident  that  the  remedy  will  be  curative  in  hay- 
fever." 

The  remedy  which,  for  want  of  a  better  name,  we  may  designate 
Aqua  jSkookum  Chuck  may  be  had  in  3x  triturations. 

Perfumery. — A  contributor  to  Popular  Science  claims  that  living 
in  a  perfumed  air  will,  in  his  opinion,  "  prevent  lung  diseases,  and 
arrest  the  development  of  consumption."  The  perfume  may  be  from 
flowers  or  the  artificial  scents.  It  is  but  fair  to  add  that  the  writer 
is  connected  with  the  manufacture  of  perfumery. 

A  Sulfonal  Symptom. — Dr..  William  Boericke  has  the  following 
pertinent  hint  anent  Sulfonal :  "  Although  the  manufacturers  of  this 
new  and  interesting  drug,  parade  as  a  fact  and  advantage  that  it  has 
no  "  after-effects  or  injurious  results  from  even  large  doses,"  several 
observers  have  noticed  quite  decided  symptoms  arise  from  its  use. 
A  ver}^  uniform  condition  produced  is,  a  sense  of  great  exhaustion, 
which  may  follow  a  quiet  night  and  rather  exhilarating  awakening. 
I  have  had  occasion  to  give  it  to  a  patient  suffering  from  nervous 
prostration  and  inability  to  sleep,  wThen  the  persistence  of  the  latter 
condition  made  me  have  recourse  to  this  palliative  measure.  Sul- 
fonal in  a  15-grain  dose  was  administered  at  9  p.m.  Five  minutes 
after  taking  it  the  patient  experienced  a  sensation  similar  to  having 
a  spider-web  drawn  over  the  body,  beginning  at  the  feet  and  slowly 
going  to  the  head,  accompanied  by  drowsiness.  Sleep  would  follow 
in  the  course  of  an  hour  and  continue  about  five  hours,  followed  by 
an  hour's  waking  and  again  several  hours'  sleep.  The  peculiarity 
of  the  awakening  in  the  morning  was  the  exhilarated  state — patient 
was  hopeful,  felt  perfectly  well  and  happy,  enjoyed  breakfast.  The 
eyes  were  blood-shot  and  restless.  The  condition  was  invariably 
one  of  ecstasy,  compared  to  her  usual  state,  and  this  was  soon  fol- 
lowed by  a  sensation  of  profound  weakness — a  gone,  faint  feeling  and 
despondency.  This  alternation  of  states,  the  rosy-hued  awaking  and 
consciousness  of  health  and  well-being,  and  subsequent  depression 
and  weakness,  such  as  she  had  never  experienced  before,  was  very 
marked  and  only  attributable  to  Sulfonal,  as  this  series  of  symptoms 
passed  away  on  stopping  the  drug  and  returned  on  taking  it  again." 


PUBLISHERS    VEPA  BTMENT. 

A  Warning  Note.- -The  Chemist  and  Druggigttoi  Augusl  1  1th, 
containp  the  following:  "An  awkward  Beries  of  accidents  baa 
occurred  with  the  humanized  virus  employed  a1  the  Academy  of 
Medicine  for  vaccinating  purposes.  From  the  reportof  Dr.  II' r- 
vieuXj  of  the  learned  body,  it  appears  that  five  children  inoculated 
on  May  11th  have  developed  syphilis.  An  inquiry  made  by  him, 
in  connection  with  Dr.  Weill,  has  shown  that  the  babies  from  which 
the  lymph  was  taken  an-  apparently  perfectly  healthy,  but  one 
shows  slight  indices  of  probable  hereditary  Byphilis.  The  instru- 
ments used  for  inoculations  are  above  all  suspicion.  These  unfor- 
tunate accidents  show  that  animal  virus,  notwithstanding  all  its 
inconveniences,  should  be  preferred,  and  the  Academy  must  have 
thought  as  much  when  it  built  its  two-stall  cow-stable  for  vaccinat- 
ing purposes."  Unpleasant  experience  may  be  avoided  by  getting 
the  proper  kind  of  vaccine  points  from  responsible  hou 

Insomnia. — Testimony  of  the  value  of  Passiflora  incarnata  in  cases 
of  insomnia  accompanied  by  great  nervousness  comes  from  many 
quarters.  It  produces  a  quiet  soothing  sleep  and  yet  is  not  a  nar- 
cotic, as  the  patient  may  easily  be  awakened  from  it  and  his  mind 
is  perfectly  clear,  yet  he  falls  at  once  again  into  a  sweet  sleep.  Ten, 
twenty  or  thirty  drops  of  9  constitute  a  dose.  One  writer  says  that 
in  extreme  cases  he  gives  forty  drops,  every  two  hours,  until  rest  and 
sleep  come.     With  some  people  five  drops  are  sufficient. 

Hiccough. — A  writer  in  the  Chicago  Medical  Time*  says  be  cured 
"  a  case  of  intractable  hiccough  in  an  old  man  when  every  possible 
remedy  had  failed  and  death  seemed  inevitable  "  with  a  few  drops 
of Eupatorium  perfoliatum.  "A  few  doses  produced  relief,  and  there 
was  no  return  of  the  disease  after  the  first  day." 

Drinking  Water. — A  physician  in  writing  about  drinking  water 
says :  "  If  in  any  house  there  should  occur  a  single  case  of  typhoid 
fever  or  diphtheria,  test  the  drinking  water  or  have  it  done  at  once. 
A  few  cents  will  buy  an  ounce  of  saturated  solution  of  permanganate 
of  potash  at  a  chemist's.  If,  when  a  drop  of  the  solution  is  added 
to  a  tumbler  of  water,  its  color  changes  to  brown,  it  is  unfit  to  drink. 
If  it  is  clear  or  slightly  rose  colored  after  an  hour  it  is,  broadly 
speaking,  Safe." 

Mullein  Oil. — A  few  drops  of  Mullein  Oil,  put  into  an  aching 
ear,  says  Dr.  Waterhouse  in  the  American  Medical  Journal,  often  acts 
like  magic,  relieving  the  pain  at  once  ;  many  cases  of  deafness  have 
been  entirely  cured  by  its  used  as  a  local  agent.  Given  at  the  rate  of 
ten  to  twenty  drops  to  four  ounces  of  water,  it  becomes  a  valuable 
remedy  in  the  treatment  of  nocturnal  enuresis  of  children  ;  the  above 


286  THE  HOMCEOPATHIG  RECORDER. 

proportioned  four-ounce  mixture,  given  in  doses  of  a  teaspoonful 
four  times  a  day,  will  often  cure  the  most  obstinate  cases  within  a 
few  weeks. 

Apoplexy. — "  I  desire  to  again  call  the  attention  of  the  homoeo- 
pathic profession  to  the  use  of  Kali  bromatum  2x,  3x  and  6x,  in  cases 
of  apoplexy,  and  of  similar  symptoms  of  ursemic  origin.  Opium, 
Belladonna,  etc.,  so  often  fail,  that  I  am  sure  the  above  remedy  will 
be  welcomed,  and  my  own  success  with  it  makes  me  feel  it  a  duty 
to  repeat  my  former  notice  of  it.  The  somnolence  and  stertor  of 
Opium,  and  even  convulsions,  and  sometimes  aphasia ;  also  albu- 
minuria ;  these  symptoms  indicate  the  drug." — J.  C.  Morgan,  M.D., 
in  Cat.  Homoeopath. 

Gleaned  Suggestions. — Dr.  Gale,  of  Quebec,  cured  "  washer- 
woman's headache  "  with  Phosphorus,  and  so  did  Dr.  John  H.  Clarke 
(Horn.  World).  Symptoms  :  '4  Whenever  she  washes  clothes  or  walks 
fast  she  has  rush  of  blood  to  the  head,  red  face  and  eyes,  heat  in  the 
head,  sensitiveness  of  the  scalp  to  the  touch,  sudden  shooting  pains 
in  the  head,  especially  in  the  vertex."  Where  the  headache  follows 
washing  day,  Phos.  is  equally  efficacious. 

Dr.  Clarke  finds  that  Staphisagria  will  cure  toothache  when  the 
pain  is  worse  "  when  the  tooth  is  touched,  especially  by  hot  things  ; 
also  worse  when  out  of  doors  or  drawing  cold  air  into  the  mouth, 
and  worse  at  night." 

"  But  Dr.  Gallavardin  does  not  confine  his  attentions  to  the 
morally  diseased  and  their  treatment  by  medicines ;  he  turns 
homoeopathy  to  the  service  of  beauty,  and  takes  away  unsightly 
developments  of  fat.  Double  chins  disappear,  as  also  do  rolls  of 
fat  on  the  shoulders  and  chest,  before  the  potent  globules.  Sulphur 
and  Calcarea  are  his  mainstays  here ;  red  puffy  cheeks  call  for  Sul- 
phur. Sulphur  is  also  related  to  the  front  part  of  the  thorax  and  the 
fatty  deposits  there  ;  Calcarea  to  the  posterior  part  of  the  thorax  in 
the  same  way." — Horn.  World. 

Dr.  Robert  T.  Cooper  (Horn.  Review)  say  that  Sulphur  (Tinct.  fort. 
pilules)  will  cure  ague  and  obstinate  forms  of  intermittent  fever ; 
that  an  officer  in  Punjab  "  cured  case  after  case  of  the  worst  forms 
of  ague  with  it."  Another  gentleman  in  Turkey  "  treated  nine  cases 
of  ague  with  these  pills,  and  in  every  one  of  these  cases  succeeded  in 
arresting  the  fever  within  twenty-four  hours."  In  one  case  Sulphur 
prevailed  where  Quinine  had  been  administered  in  vain.  The  pre- 
scribes in  these  instances  were  led  to  give  the  remedy  through  the 
influence  of  Dr.  Cooper. 

Diphtheria. — The  rather  startling  assertion  is  made,  that  wher- 
ever a  case  of  diphtheria  is  found,  investigation  will  develop  the 


PUBLISHERS    DEPARTMENT.  287 

fad  thai  kerosene  oil  lamps  are  used  habitually  aboul  the  house. 
The  truth  of  this  may  be  easily  ascertained  by  physicians. 

Hints. — We  take  the  following  hints  from  a  paper  read  before 
the  Illinois  Association  by  Dr.  A.  G.  Downer: 

Cicuta  virosa,  iii  the  2x  dilution,  m  doses  of  from  one  to  five  drops 
to  the  dose,  from  fifteen  minutes  to  one-half  hour  apart,  will  always 
cure  convulsions  of  children  from  whatever  cau 

Agaricu8  muscarius  is  a  specific  remedy  for  that  annoying  condi- 
tion of  twitching  of  the  eyelids. 

Allium  cepa,m  mother-tincture  and  low  dilution,  is  nearly  always 
Bpecific  in  that  troublesome  condition — the  bane  of  surgeons — neu- 
ralgia of  the  stumps. 

For  a  fetid  "  oozing  of  the  feet,"  Silica;  ditto,  in  the  arm-pits.  Pe- 
troleum. 

For  nasal  catarrh  in  children,  Aurum  met. 

An  Old  Writer. — "My  heart  forebodes  me,  that  I,  too,  by  ven- 
turing to  suggest tb,e  use  of  Swl ■<:<■') i >  a/-  medical  works,  shall  come 
to  be  regarded  as  tainted  with  a  i«-ii-*l.  of  madness.  In  bringing 
down  such  a  judgment  up  ai  my  head,  I  sfa^Ll  at  any  rate  have  the 
consolation  of  finding  myself  in  good  company — Swedenborg, 
Newton,  Hahnemann,  besides  many  others. " — J)/.  ('.  Bojanns,  of 
Samaria,  Ku>s:a,  in   //"/,.  \\'<  i ' d. 

One  of  these  works,  The  Soul,  was  given  an  extended  review  by  Dr. 
O'Conner,  in  the  Recorder  (May,  1888).  Another  one  that  has  re- 
ceived considerable  attention  of  late,  is  The  Brain,  in  two  volumes, 
and  more  to  follow;  another,  the  Economy  of  the  Animal  Kingdom. 

Dr.  J.  A.  Terry  Writes  :  "I  am  indebted  to  the  Recorder  for 
valuable  medical  hints  that  have  proved  true  at  the  bedside,  and 
which  have  been  the  means  of  accomplishing  successful  bits  of  heal- 
ing for  me." 

Dr.  Terry  has  returned  from  a  ten-years'  absence  in  foreign 
countries,  and  settled  at  133  W.  45th  Street,  New  York.  He  devotes 
attention  to  diseases  of  the  throat,  larynx  and  chest. 

Hensel's  Tonicum. — A  colored  woman  of  slender  build,  aged 
about  forty,  who  had  to  work  hard  for  her  living  over  the  wash- 
tub,  was  sick  for  over  a  year ;  her  strength  slowly  declined  and  she 
became  more  emaciated  every  day.  She  doctored  herself  with 
ready-made  drug-store  medicines,  and  was  doctored  by  allopathic 
and  finally  by  a  homoeopathic  physician,  but  none  of  them  were 
able  to  help  her.  A  lady  for  whom  she  washed,  and  wrho  had  a  high 
idea  of  the  merits  of  HenseVs  tonicum,  and  an  innate  love  for  doctor- 
ing, gave  her  half  a  bottle  of  it  and  told  her  how  to  use  it.     She 


288  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  RECORDER. 

did  so  with  most  happy  results,  gaining  in  flesh  and  strength  from 
the  start.  Her  doctor,  whom  she  consulted  before  using  it,  said,  after- 
wards, it  seemed  to  be  just  what  her  system  needed,  as  her  trouble 
was  of  a  malarial  nature ;  that  her  blood,  which  before  seemed  to  be 
watery,  had  recovered  its  proper  consistency.  In  short,  the  woman 
who  had  been  ailing  for  nearly  two  years  and  steadily  growing 
worse,  had,  by  the  aid  of  this  iron  tonic,  recovered  health,  strength 
and  spirits.  May  it  not  be  that  there  are  states  of  the  system  fol- 
lowing disease  when  medicine  does  no  good?  When  food  does  not 
nourish,  and  what  is  needed  is  an  element,  the  absence  of  which 
prevents  recovery  ?  This  is  especially  true  of  sufferers  from  malaria. 
Of  them  it  is  said,  the  poison  still  lingers  !  If  it  does,  then  medicine 
is  needed.  But  medicine  in  such  cases  seems  powerless,  and  is  it 
not  at  least  open  to  discussion  that  the  patient  sutlers,  not  from  the 
malaria,  but  from  the  lack  of  something  without  which  recovery  is 
impossible,  or,  at  best,  extremely  slow?  This  tonic  (Hensel's)  is  a 
combination  of  ferric  and  ferrous  oxide  in  the  same  proportions 
found  in  the  human  blood  of  a ,  heathy ;  body,  and  is  not,  properly 
speaking,  a  medicine.,  W«  might  almost  call,  it  a  metallic  food. 
The  systems  of  those  ..who  need  it  are,  not  suffering  from  disease, 
but  from  the  Igss  through  disease  of  precisely  that  element  which 
this  happy  combination  of  the,  two  oxides  of  iron  supplies,  and 
which  when  supplied  completes  the  work  of.  the  p;.i\ sieian,  who  has 
expelled  the  disease,  by  supplying  the  needed  element  the  lack  of 
which  has  prevented  the  return  of  health.  This,  like  many  other 
things  in  this  ever  changing  world,  is  but  a  theory,  but  one  that 
bears  a  strong  resemblance  to  being  founded  on  truth  ;  and,  further- 
more, one  that  is  not  in  conflict  with  the  great  law  of  homoeopathy. 
Sailors  shut  up  in  the  ice  bound  north  for  a  winter  almost  always 
contract  scurvy ;  that  which  fresh  vegetables  and  fruits  supplies 
to  their  systems  is  lacking  ;  medicine  does  no  good ;  but  a  few  fresh 
vegetables  soon  cures  them  by  supplying  their  systems  with  a  lack- 
ing element.     So,  we  believe,  HenseVs  tonicum  acts. 

Announcement. — Messrs.  Boericke  &  Tafel  announce  the  follow- 
ing changes  in  price. 

Sugar  of  milk,  best  article,  50  cents  per  pound. 

Triturations  from  2x  to  6x,  35  cents  for  a  2-ounce  bottle ;  4-ounce 
bottles  50  cents  ;  8-ounce  bottle  75  cents;  16-ounce  bottle  $1.25. 

A  New  Catalogue. — Messrs.  Boericke  &  Tafel  hope  to  have  their 
new  Physician's  Price  Current  and  Catalogue  ready  for  mailing  about 
December  1st,  or  shortly  after.  Any  physician  desiring  a  copy 
should  send  in  his  name,  and  immediately  after  publication  it  will 
be  mailed  to  him.  It  has  certain  new  features  that  will  make  it  a 
great  convenience  to  all  physicians.