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Leaders In Homoeopathic Therapeutics
by E. B. NASH

Presented by Médi-T

   

CHIMAPHILA UMBELLATA.

I have had some valuable experience with this remedy in cystitis. It has made some fine cures where there were great quantities of ropy mucus in the urine. There may be strangury or not in such cases. There is one symptom to which I wish to call attention, because it indicates that this remedy may become very useful in prostatic troubles, and is found under only one other remedy that I know of, viz., Cannabis Indica. These prostatic troubles are very serious ones, and anything that can contribute to their successful treatment is valuable. The symptom is -"Sensation of swelling in the perinæum or near the anus, as if sitting on a ball." We often have very large amounts of mucus in the urine in prostatic troubles, and if I found it coupled with this sensation would expect benefit from the remedy. I know of no other use for this remedy at present. While we are here upon a urinary remedy, we will call attention to another comparatively new but good one.

   

EQUISETUM HYEMALE.

This remedy is sometimes successful in cases which are not relieved by Cantharis. There is as much inclination to urinate as with Cantharis, and there is pain in the bladder, as if too full of urine, which must be voided in order to get relief from both pain and pressure, but urinating does not satisfy and he must soon go again. There is burning in the urethra when urinating, but there are larger quantities of urine discharged than with Cantharis, which has characteristically very small amounts, but often repeated, even but a few drops at a time. Equisetum, like Chimaphila, sometimes shows excess of mucus, and it is also very useful in enuresis. Both Chimaphila and Equisetum need further proving to draw out their characteristic. Equisetum sometimes has severe pain at the close of urination. (See Berberis, Natrum mur., Sarsaparilla, Thuja).

Frequent inclination to urinate, with pain in bladder as if too full, which must be relieved; normal quantity at a time, sometimes excess of urine.

   

LAPIS ALBUS.

This is the name given by Von Grauvogl to a species of gneiss that he found in the spring of Gastein. Goître and cretinism abound among the people who drink this water. Grauvogl experimented with it, and found it to cause burning and shooting pains in the cardia and pylorus, and also in the uterus and mammæ. In practice he found it remarkably successful in scrofulous affections, but that it did harm in cases that had previously suffered from malaria. He treated five cases of uterine carcinoma, pronounced true and incurable by allopaths, and cured them all. I have a case now under my care, to which I was called a year ago. She has a very large uterine fibroid. Under various remedies she grew worse, having hæmorrhages, frequently repeated, so profuse that it seemed as if she would bleed to death. The tumor, which involved the whole body of the womb, laid across the pelvis, the upper part, in the left sacro-iliac fossa, and the os, of course, exactly opposite in the other side of the pelvic cavity so far up on the other side that it was impossible with the speculum to get the least view of it. After the bleeding had gone on for months in this way the discharges became black and horribly offensive, and the os had a decidedly rough feel to the finger. Finally she began to complain of intense burning pains all through the diseased parts. Arsenicum album effecting nothing for her, I put her upon Lapis albus as an experiment, for I had no hope she could live more than two weeks at the longest. Under the action of this remedy she began to improve immediately, and from the half dead wreck that could not turn in bed without help, a skeleton, white as a ghost, she has steadily improved until she is now doing her own housework, the discharges having all ceased except her natural menses at her regular periods. The tumor grows smaller, and it seems as though she might get well. She takes a dose of Lapis albus 30th once a week.

   

MEDORRHINUM.

The gonorrhœal virus, is undoubtedly a great remedy. Any one who has had much to do with gonorrhœa well knows the severe form of rheumatism, which is often the consequence of the introduction of this disease product into the system. I have seen some remarkable results from the use of this remedy in chronic forms of rheumatism. One case (a middle-aged lady) was not able to attend church, a few rods from her residence, for a long time, the trouble being in her feet and ankles and soles of the feet. The ankles were so sore and stiff and soles so tender that she could not walk on them. Antimonium crud., which had cured some bad cases with similar symptoms for me, was without any beneficial effect, but Medorrhinum c. m., one dose, so benefited her that she could walk where she pleased. In the Organon (journal), Vol. 3, Dr. J. A. Biegler, of Rochester, N. Y., reports a remarkable cure of chronic rheumatism in a man 60 years of age. No history of previous gonorrhœa appears in the case, and I have never found any such history in the cases which I have been able to benefit with this remedy. In Vol. 1, of the same journal, is a remarkable cure reported by Dr. Skinner, of Liverpool, England. It is a cure of caries of the spine of long standing by Syphilinum (high). I had a very similar case, for which I had been prescribing for over a year without success, when I first read the report of this case. In my case, as in his, the patient had severe pains in the diseased part during the night. Every one acquainted with syphilitic troubles, especially of the bones, knows of these (terrible, sometimes) nightly bone pains. Three doses of Swan's Syphilinum c. m. cured this case in the remarkably short space of forty days. I could not find any reliable history of syphilis in this case. Then the question arises, is Swan's nosode theory true, or are disease products homœopathically curative only in those cases resembling them, not having a disease product history? Let others answer, I am not able to as yet.

Since writing the above I have experimented more with the so-called nosodes and have had seemingly very good results from this remedy as well as Syphilinum in intractable cases of chronic rheumatism. The most characteristic difference between them is that with Medorrhinum the pains are worse in the day-time, and with Syphilinum in the night.

There are, no doubt, great curative powers residing in these two disease poisons and they should not be discarded simply because they are the products of disease.

In regard to the other nosodes, I have, within two years past, seen more remarkable effects from them.

   

TUBERCULINUM.

Cosmopolitan; never satisfied to remain in one place long; wants to travel.

Wandering pains in limbs and joints; stiff when beginning to move; < standing, > continued motion.

Longs for open air, wants doors and windows open, or to ride in strong wind.

Takes fresh cold on least exposure, can't get rid of one before another comes.

Emaciation, even while being well, and so hungry must get up nights to eat.

Pain through left upper lung to back. Tubercular deposit begins there.

Persons with a history of tuberculosis in the family.

Symptoms ever changing, begin suddenly, ceasing suddenly.

* * * * *

One case or retarded menstruation in a young girl who had greatly enlarged tonsils and who began to grow tired and weak, pale and short breathed on any exercise. The menses appeared twice under the action of Pulsatilla, but at intervals of several months, and finally not at all. After the failure of several other remedies to give her any benefit, she took one dose of Tuberculinum 1m. with prompt, easy and natural appearance of the menses and corresponding improvement in other respects, and is now attending school in apparent good health. I forgot to state that her sister, older, died of consumption a few years before.

Again, while on a visit to my daughter in Athens, Pa., I called upon one of the homœopathic physicians of the place, whom I had never met before. He had read "Leaders," and after we had talked books a while he asked me if I would not like to see a curious case, and there was no money in it, but it had come into his hands from all allopaths who had given it up to die. Of course, there being no money in it, I readily consented to go. Found a child of seven months with "head on him" larger than a man's head, with eyes pushed out and turned upwards, only movable a little from side to side. It looked idiotic. The fontanelles could not be felt, because of the hydrocephalic condition which filled the whole scalp, distending it as above described.

I could not see that that child recognized anything, except that its whining, moaning (almost constant) seemed to increase if it was spoken to or moved.

Inquiry into its family history discovered that several of the mother's sisters had died with tuberculosis. She was the only one left of the family, I think. I gave, with the doctor's consent, a powder of Tuberculinum 1m. and advised to let it act. This was on the Monday following Easter Sunday.

May 24th, l900, I received the following letter:

"Dr. E. B. Nash,

"Cortland, N. Y.

"Dear Doctor: -You will doubtless remember the case of hydrocephalus you saw with me while in Athens, and for which you prescribed Tuberculinum. Well, from that day, the head ceased to increase in size and (though it has taken no medicine at all, since taking that) has begun to gradually decrease. They measure it in the same place every Sunday, and last Sunday it was half an inch smaller than a week before. Will you kindly send me a graft at once of Tuberculinum high, that I may continue the remedy at intervals, etc., etc."

I received one letter since, reporting further improvement. I can hardly expect a cure in such a case, but the effects of the remedy, so far, seem to be quite remarkable. A case of lung trouble brought to me over a year ago from Seneca Falls, N. Y., had been under allopathic treatment for four years and had been every summer up in the Adirondacks at Saranac, at a Sanitarium established by Dr. Loomis of New York, lung specialist. She continued to grow worse until I took her case in hand. Under the action of two doses of Sulphur c. m. followed by Tuberc. c. m. she is so improved that I think it would be hard to convince any one that she ever suffered from such conditions.

The trouble located in the upper left lung, where there was a distinct cavity, which as far as I can discover, is now healed, though there is a little dullness of respiratory murmur remaining.

One result of the action of these remedies was to restore a granular surface to the eyelids which had been cured (?) with local applications. I am sure that many incurable chronic diseases have had their beginning in just such tampering with local manifestations of Psora.

One more case. -L. D. G., a man sixty years of age, whose brothers and sisters had several of them died of consumption, had been troubled at times with a spasmodic gagging cough for twenty-five years. He was operated for a stricture of the urethra, and a few weeks after was attacked with chills resembling fever and ague. It was in the winter season, and chills and fever are not common here at any time of the year, unless imported. He had several of these chills daily, until there developed a strong Rhus toxicod., condition, when a dose of that remedy put an end to them. But here followed frequent attacks of great pain from the back all through the abdomen, especially the hypogastric region. When I would get these pains in the bowels relieved in a measure he would have what appeared to be neuralgic pains in different parts all over him, first in one place, then in another. When these would seem to subside, he would begin to cough more, and so the thing travelled from pillar to post, for months.

Dr. Sheldon, of Syracuse, man of large experience, was called in consultation. After careful examination, he decided, in view of the family history and (as he expressed it) a peculiar doughy feeling in the abdominal walls, that the case was tubercular in character, and advised Verat. album at present, because the patient was so weak and reduced and cold, especially the extremities.

It was given, but with little or no effect, and things went on as usual until on his theory of Tuberculosis one evening I dropped a dose of Tuberculinum upon his tongue. The effect was that he slept that night as quietly as if under the influence of an anodyne, and every symptom was alleviated, and he improved in every way for weeks until he was able to be out on the street every day. It was very cold weather and he caught cold and came down to the bed again. After a few doses of Aconite for symptoms following his exposure, he received another dose of Tuberculinum as before, with similar effect, and in a short time he had so far improved as to be able to go on a visit to his friends in Troy, N. Y.

How he will come out is still a question, but repeated effects of the remedy were so apparent in so grave a case that I have deemed them worthy of narration.

If you turn to H. C. Allen's "Key-Notes of Leading Remedies," page 297, you will find recorded: "Symptoms ever changing, ailments affecting one organ, then another, the lungs, brain, kidneys, liver, stomach, nervous system -beginning suddenly, ceasing suddenly."

This seemed to be the case with this patient.

In conclusion, I have seen apparent benefit follow the exhibition of this remedy in both incipient as well as advanced cases of Phthisis, always giving the high preparations in the latter and letting it act a long time without repetition. In view of what Dr. Burnett has written, and my own limited experience lately, I am confident that Tuberculinum is destined to rank with Psorinum in the treatment of chronic diseases.

I will add now, Dec. 17th, 1900, that the case of L. D. G. has continued to improve until he seems as well as he has during the last ten years and weighs more.

Another case. -Maude Porter, age 27, unmarried; sanguine, nervous temperament; short, and stout when in health; blue eyes, brown hair.

Has had bad occasional epileptic fits for eleven years. Have been less frequent for past two years under the influence of a specialist's medicine that she got by letter from New York. Her mother had just died of tubercular consumption. Maude cared for her and was continually over her for the last month of her sickness.

After her mother died, on May 28, 1900, she came to me bringing symptoms as follows:

Can't eat anything.

Mouth tastes very badly; in the morning <.

Smell of cooking food nauseates.

Coughs badly, especially nights.

Soreness middle of chest, behind sternum, worse when coughing or ascending hill or stairs.

Has lost 22lbs. of flesh since May 1st.

Backache when tired.

Feels cold and shivery, < morning and evening.

Feels very weak, can't walk without fatigue.

Passed her last period without menses.

Greatly depressed and cries easily.

Has had a cough since la grippe last December.

Has had a diarrhœa for past four weeks.

Pulse from 100 to 120 all the time.

Sweaty nights.

On that date I prescribed Pulsatilla 200th and later 10m. with no perceptible change for the better.

After Pulsatilla failed I prescribed for her Tuberculinum 1m., and for the next four months she got about once in two weeks the same, once or twice changing to Bacillinum 200, under which treatment she made a perfect recovery, and is doing her usual housework, looking as well as ever at this date, December 17, 1900.

I believe that she would have gone with quick consumption but for this remedy. What do you think, my reader?

   

PYROGEN.

Diseases originating in ptomaine or sewer gas infection.

The bed feels hard, parts lain on sore and bruised, must move to relieve the soreness.

Tongue: large, flabby, clean, smooth as if varnished; fiery red, cracked, difficult articulation; vomiting, persistent, brownish coffee ground, offensive, stercoraceous.

Diarrhœa; horribly offensive, brown or black; painless, involuntary.

Distinct consciousness of a heart; it feels tired; as if enlarged; purring, throbbing, pulsating, constant in ears, preventing sleep.

* * * * *

I have not used this remedy myself, but (if Allen's "Keynotes" are reliable) it must be of great value in affections of the most serious nature. A remedy recommended so highly, by such authority, for septicæmia, puerperal and surgical, and for diseases originating in ptomaine or sewer gas infection should not be passed lightly over. Let me quote: The bed feels hard (Arnica), parts laid on feel sore and bruised (Baptisia), rapid decubitus (Carbol. acid)." "Great restlessness, must move constantly to > the soreness of the parts (Arnica, Eupator. perf)." "Tongue: large, flabby; clean, smooth as if varnished ; fiery red; dry, cracked, articulation difficult."

Diarrhœa; horribly offensive (Psorin.), brown or black (Leptand.), painless, involuntary, uncertain when passing flatus (Aloe, Oleander).

Did you ever meet such an array of symptoms in typhoid? I have, and when we remember that typhoid is often traced to defective drains, sewver gas, etc., as its cause, this remedy, if these symptoms are reliable, ought to be invaluable. The other symptoms given by Allen are just as valuable if true, and if not true the sooner they are proven to be untrue the better.

So far as prejudice again using such remedies is concerned, we should be as honest as was James B. Bell when he said of Psorinum -"Whether derived from purest gold or purest filth, our gratitude for its excellent services forbids us to enquire or care." As might be expected, Anthracinum is more like this than any other remedy. In all cases simulating septic fever or poisoning Arsenicum, Anthracinum and Pyrogen should be remembered. The horrible burning pains of the first two are prominent.

   

CHENOPODIUM.

I have the 30th potency marked Chenopodium glauci, with which I cured one case of pain under the left shoulder-blade. This case was of several years, standing, the pain at times becoming very severe. I have also used it in other cases with benefit. I always think of this remedy where I find such pain and of Chelidonium where it is under the right shoulder-blade. According to Dr. Jacob Jeanes, Chenopodium anthelminticum cures a pain under the right shoulder-blade similar to that of Chelidonium. The pain in both seems to depend upon some hepatic derangement. Having succeeded with the Chelidonium so well, I have never used it. Chelidonium is well proven, and a full proving of the Chenopodium may enable us to distinguish between them. Between the two Chenopodiums and Chelidonium, we have an important trio for infra-scapular pains which ought to be better understood. Such single symptoms are, of course, small guides to follow, but are sometimes the only ones we have, and when, after full proving, the drug having them is developed, we often find that they were reliable though we could not at first give their pathological significance. I would, I think, as often follow such a guide, as speculations and theories. For instance, here are some such single symptoms which have often been verified. Inframammary pains at climacteric. Actæa racemosa. Pain drawing through from nipple to back when child nurses, Croton tiglium (Silicea). Pain in upper left chest through to scapula, Myrtus com., Pix liquida, Theridion and Sulphur. Pain though lower right chest, Chelidonium, Mercurius vivus and Kali carbonicum. Pain through upper right chest, Calcarea ostrearum and Arsenicum album.

Pain through lower left chest, Natrum sulphuricum. We might add many more such to this list, and they are very valuable.

   

AMMONIUM CARBONICUM.

Nose-bleed when washing the face in the morning.

Weak, anæmic, flabby women. Weak, no reaction. Addicted to the smelling bottle.

Tendency to gangrenous degeneration of glands, as in scarlatina; the parotids.

* * * * *

Guernsey says. This remedy seems particularly useful in constitutionally delicate women who faint easily and want some kind of smelling salts around them most of the time. They are weak, with deficient reaction and generally of the lymphatic temperament. Such patients want stimulants, especially such stimulants as act through the olfactory nerves, like spirits of Ammonia, Camphor, Musk, Alcohol, etc. In the first onset of such a suddenly prostrating disease as cerebro-spinal meningitis this has been found a good remedy to excite reaction and place the patient in a condition for the choice of the next remedy indicated by the now aroused vital force in conflict with the disease (so called). One thing Ammonium carb. is good for is dry or stuffed coryza, acute or chronic. The patient is worse at night, has to breathe with the mouth open. Sambucus, Lycopodium, Nux vomica, and Sticta pulmonaria may be compared with it.

Another frequently verified symptom of the nose is epistaxis while flashing the face. (Kali carbonicum). I don't know why it comes on then, but it does, and this remedy cures it. The only other affection in which I have found it very useful is scarlatina. The body is very red, almost bluish-red, and the throat seems to be the center where the force of the disease seems to be expended in malignant intensity. The eruption is faintly developed, or has seemed to disappear, from sheer inability from weakness of the patient's vitality to keep it on the surface (Zinc. has convulsions from the same cause). Erysipelas of old, debilitated persons comes under the same head. Cerebral symptoms, simulating a drunken stupor, are present in both cases. The whole system seems to be overpowered by the toxic effect of the disease poison. (See also Ailanthus). Ammonium carb. will sometimes help us out in such cases.

   

AMMONIUM MURIATICUM.

One symptom of this remedy that has proved to be a valuable keynote for its administration is: "Sensation of coldness in the back, between the shoulders." It is generally found in chest affections, such as cough or pains in the chest without cough. I have found it as reliable a keynote as is the burning between the shoulders of Lycopodium or Phosphorus. It is also a remedy for constipation, the stool being hard, dry and crumbling and also very difficult to expel. Sometimes the stool is covered with mucus, something like Causticum, which has stool covered with mucus, shining, as if greased. There is also a resemblance between these two remedies affecting the muscles and ligaments. Ammonium mur. has pain with a sensation as if the muscles were contracted or too short, while Causticum goes a step further and has actual contraction of these parts, producing what is known as arthritis deformans. (Cimex, Nat. m.).

There are two remedies that have menses, or flow of blood from the uterus, at night. They are Ammonium mur. and Bovista, the other symptoms, of course, deciding the choice between them (Kreosot. menses flow only on lying down, cease when sitting or walking about; Lilium tig. flows only when moving about, ceased to flow when she ceased to walk; Magnesia carb. flows only at night or when lying, ceases when walking). This remedy is also sometimes useful in sciatica. Here we have the sense of contraction in the tendons and the patient is worse while sitting, some better when walking and entirely relieved when lying down. It also has pains in the heels as if ulcerated. For pains in the heels see also Phytolacca, Cyclamen, Manganum, Ledum and Causticum. I once cured a case, very severe and long lasting, with Valeriana.

   

ÆTHUSA CYNAPIUM.

Is one of our best remedies for vomiting in children. The milk comes up as soon as swallowed, by a great effort, after which the child becomes greatly relaxed and drowsy; or if the milk stays down longer it finally comes up in very sour curds, so large that it would seem almost impossible the child could have ejected them. if this condition of the stomach is not cured the case will go on to cholera infantum, with green watery or slimy stool, colic and convulsions. The convulsions of this remedy are peculiar, in that the eyes turn downward instead of up or sidewise. If the case still progresses unfavourably there is an appearance of sunkenness in the face with linea nasalis, which is a surface of pearly whiteness on the upper lip, bounded by a distinct line from the outer nasal orifice to the angles of the mouth.

This last symptom is more characteristic of Æthusa than any other remedy. Æthusa has complete absence of thirst. The prostration and anxiety are very marked, but the absence of thirst rules for Æthusa instead of Arsenicum album. Vomiting of large curds (sour) is also found under Calcarea ostrearum, but with this remedy we have at the same time sour stools, and then sweaty head, and open fontanelles as well as Calcarea temperament would generally be found in the case.

There is another very peculiar symptom of Æthusa that has been cured twice to my knowledge by this remedy, viz.: Imagined she saw a rat or mouse run across the room. In both these cases the symptom occurred in hard worked, nervous women, but the symptom was very persistent and annoying. Æthusa not only cured the aberration but improved the general health. I always use it in the 200th potency.

   

JALAPA.

"Child 'good' all day; screaming, restless and very troublesome at night" (frequently verified). I once had a case of entero-colitis that for more than eight weeks baffled my best efforts to cure. The case went from bad to worse, until it was reduced almost to a skeleton. Instead of screaming all night it screamed day and night, all the time (so the mother said), and certain it was, it was always screaming when I saw it. With the screaming there were constant contortions of the body, bending forward, backward and sidewise alternately. I cannot tell how many different remedies I tried, but finally, in the course of human events, l gave it some Jalapa, 12th, run up from some of the crude drug which I procured from an ordinary drug store. The child went to sleep, and from that nap, which was a good, long one, recovery was rapid and perfect. The only indication I had was that it caused colic and diarrhœa.

   

RHEUM.

Is another remedy which like Jalapa, has been abused by the old school, but is very valuable when used homœopathically. The leading indication is sour stools. They may be brown mixed with mucus, or thin and pasty. There is often much pain before the stool, of a colicky nature, and there may be tenesmus after stool. It is most useful in colicky diarrhœa of children. There is another very characteristic symptom, viz.,: "Not only the stools are sour; the whole child smells sour, no matter how much it is bathed." In colic and diarrhœa during dentition a choice will sometimes have to be made between this remedy and Magnesia carb.

   

COLLINSONIA CANADENSIS.

This remedy has not been thoroughly proven, but enough has been learned from what we have, and clinical experience, to indicate that it is a very valuable one. As a remedy for hæmorrhoids or rectal trouble it may be compared with Æsculus hippocastanum, for both have a sensation as if the rectum was filled with sticks. From this one symptom we could not know which one to prescribe. But let us note some of the differences:

Æsculus has also a prominent sense of fullness in rectum, Collinsonia has not.

Æsculus piles do not, as a rule, bleed.

Collinsonia piles often bleed persistently.

Æsculus has great pain, soreness and aching in the back.

Collinsonia does not as yet develop that symptom.

Æsculus sometimes has constipation, sometimes not.

Collinsonia is greatly constipated, with colic on account of it.

This comparison is carried far enough to show that a choice between these remedies is not generally difficult. With Collinsonia I once cured a very severe colic which had been of frequent occurrence in a lady for several years and had completely baffled the old school efforts to cure. I was led to choose the remedy on account of the obstinate constipation, the great flatulence and the hæmorrhoidal condition present.

I also cured one of the most obstinate cases of chronic constipation I ever met. The patient for two years had only averaged a movement of the bowels once in two weeks, and then only under the action of powerful cathartics, after which he would be almost sick two or three days in bed. Collinsonia cured him within a month so perfectly that his bowels moved naturally every day and the trouble never returned so long as I knew him, for years afterwards.

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