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HOMCEOPATHY
IN
ACUTE DISEASES.



HOMCEOPATHY
IN
ACUTE                 DISEASES.
BY
STEPHEN        YELDHAM, M.R.C.S.
SURGEON TO THE LONDON HOMEOPATHIC HOSPITAL.
"To know well the irresistible evidence on which the truth is founded, is to believe in
and to believe in it for ever."
Dr. Thomas Brown.
THIRD     EDITION.
LONDON:
LEATH AND ROSS 5, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD, E. C.
AND
9, VERE STREET, OXFORD STREET, W.
LEAMINGTON: LEATH            AND   WOOLCOTT
18 LOWER PARADE.
1858.



IR1~ TED BY J. E. ADtA RU,
BA;ITIIOLOMEW CLOSE



PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.


S      A FEW additions and explanatory notes, and a reduc/    tion in size and price, constitute the main points of
difference between the present and former editions of
this work.
The Author has nothing to retract from the opinions
he originally advanced in these pages, concerning the
relative merits of the old and new systems of medicine.
Time and enlarged experience have confirmed his conviction that the Principle of Homoeopathy is based on
immutable Truth. The practice of it will, of necessity,
as the science advances, undergo modification and improvement. The chief alterations in this respect which
the Author has adopted, consist in the more general
employment, now than formerly, of the lower dilutions
of medicines in the treatment of acute diseases, and in
the relinquishment of the Globule in favour of the Pilule,
on account of the     much   greater convenience of the
latter.
~



Vi                     PREFA.CE.
In the prescriptions, the figures indicate the attenuation~
of the medicines employed; it being always understood,
when not otherwise specified, that one drop, pilule, or
globule, is the proper dose.
It only remains for the Author to acknowledge the
very favorable reception extended to the previous editions
of this volume., and to express an earnest hope that this
will continue., like its predecessors, to induce the thoughtful reader to examine and adopt the great and beneficent
system of Homoeopathy.
r, UPPER MONTAGUE STREETr, RUSSELL SQUARE,
LONDON; Sept., 18 58.



PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.


FivE years ago an opponent of Homoeopathy from
prejudice, I am now its disciple from conviction. Like
most other members of the profession who had passed the
ardour of youth, and submitted their doctrines to the test
of experience, I had become painfully alive to the inefficiency of the prevailing system of medicine; but had
never thought of looking to Homoeopathy as affording a
trustworthy substitute. My acquaintance with that system
was most superficial-enough to impart an erroneous impression, but not enough to prevent me from joining in
the laugh against its professors, or restrain me from denouncing it as a chimera, fit only to occupy the mind of
an enthusiast.
Urged by a non-professional friend to look into this new
doctrine, I procured a popular treatise on the subject;
read it; and-unconvinced, as those who trust to reading
without experience, generally are-dismissed it from my
memory. A few months later Homceopathy was again
brought accidentally under -my notice. I now felt it my
duty to submit the question to a practical examination.



viii


PREFACE.


The result is before the reader. Truth triumphed alike
over custom, education, and prejudice.
It is the fate of those who change their faith, whether
in religion, politics, or science, to have that change attributed to unworthy motives. For this I am prepared: I
cannot hope to escape the common lot.      The foregoing
facts are my answer to any such imputations.      Having
followed the old system with sufficient pecuniary success
for ten years, nothing short of conviction would have induced its abandonment.
Escaping, not unwillingly, from personal matters, I turn
to the objects of this volume. Too palpable to be denied,
the  superiority of Homoeopathy in the      treatment of
chronic* diseases is the more readily admitted, because
its opponents believe that they possess an indisputable
vantage-ground in the treatment of acute diseases. Referring to our Iomoeopathic literature, we find numerous
instances of the efficacy of the system when applied to the
former; but instances of its successful application in the
latter are few and isolated. To supply this deficiency is
the first object of the work.
The cures of Homoeopathy are generally referred to
faith, time, and unassisted nature.
To reduce these agents within their proper limits, and
to exhibit the unrivalled power of Homoeopathy over acute
diseases, is my second object.
In the first place, not one of the patients, whose cases
are related, was conscious that he was treated Homoeopathically. This fact at once overthrows the first objection;
* Chronic diseases-long-standing-slow of progress.
Acute diseases-violent symptoms-rapid course-fatal tendency.



PREFARE.


ix


for, where no obj ect is presented for its exercise, there can
be no "'lfaith."
Again, in -reference to the second supposed agent, while
indispensable in chronic cases, in acute cases time is death.
In the following examples the mitigation of the disease
follows too closely upon the application of the remedy, to
admit of its being referred to " time."
In reference to the third supposed agent, the diseases
selected are, for the most part, of that violent character,
that., if left to themselves., they generally terminate fatally.
In these instances., the members of the old school never
dream of trusting to "unassisted nature," but use the
most powerful means at their disposal. If, in the annexed
cases, in which none of those measures were employed, the
cure was due to the unaided efforts of nature, the sooner
those gentlemen relinquish their treatment, and rely solely,on her power, the better.  To be consistent they must
do this, or confess that Homceopathy does cure acute
diseases.
Since., then., it appears that neither of these agents is
admissible, the only alternatives that* remain are-Magic,
or Homoeopathy.
I have thought it right to offer, in the first instance, a
few general observations on the three principal Allopathic
remedies-Bleeding, Salivation, and Purgatives.
Of the cases collectively it may be stated, that they are
selected from between one and two thousand-of the same
acute character-that have occurred in my own practice.
As they are related for the purpose of proving the power,
and not of teaching the practice, of Homceopathy, I have
studied to preserve the identity of each case, without
wearying the reader by unnecessary details.
The introductory remarks which preface each subject,



x                      PREFACE.                    +
while they convey to the non-professional reader such an
insight into the different diseases as will enable him to
appreciate the value of the remedies, have likewise afforded
me an opportunity to "hold the mirror up to" Allopathy.
In doing this I have had but one object-that of affording
those whose ranks I have left, the benefit of the light
which Homeopathy throws upon the imperfections of
their system.
LONDON; March 1, 1849.



CONTENTS.


Preface to the Third Edition.
Preface to the First Edition
Bleeding....
Salivation....
Purgatives...
Inflammation of the Lungs, and Pleurisy


a


S in Robust Perso
S in Delicate Pers
S in Children


Bronchitis.
Inflammation of the Windpipe
Croup...


PI-AG.E
~ V"
*.  V. vn. 1. 12. 16
S. 23
ns. 30
ions. 38
S. 47. 53
~ 58
* 66. 71
* 81
* 83. 88
* 101
S. 109
a 113
a 125
S. 130


Hooping-cough...
Inflammation of the Mouth,,     of the Throat
S   of'the Stomach.,,     of the Liver, and Jaundice.
S   of the Bowels.
Bowel Complaints.-Cholera
SDysentery.
Diarrhoea.



Xii                         CONTENTS.
PAGE
Inflammation of the Kidneys and Bladder... 136,     of the Brain... 143
Hydrocephalus, or Water on the Brain.. 147
Delirium Tremens... 153
Apoplexy.... 160
Inflammation of the Eye..... 167
Lying-in Fever... 173
Inflammation of the Breast... 183
Convulsions.. 188
Erysipelas.... 196
Scarlet Fever... 204
Measles.... 214
Acute Rheumatism.. 219,    Lumbago..... 225,          Sciatica... 228
Tic-Douloureux... 230
Fever.... 237
Spitting of Blood, and Consumption.. 245
Injuries...                                     256


/



BLEEDING.


WHEN we remember that the blood is the source whence
every organ of the body derives its nutriment, and that through
its renovating agency the whole frame is sustained, it is difficult to conceive of any proceeding more irrational than that
which is adopted by the Allopathist* of abstracting large quantities of this fluid at the very moment when the system is
engaged in a desperate struggle with disease, and, consequently,
stands so urgently in need of its support. Sanctioned by no
other consideration than this, the Homceopathist would feel
himself perfectly justified in avoiding a practice, which, being
so diametrically opposed to the plainest dictates of reason and
common sense, cannot be otherwise than medically erroneous.
But, weighty as such an argument undoubtedly is, he by no
means regards it as forming the chief ground of his opposition
to bloodletting.   His objections to that operation are of a
practical character, and refer principally to the following points,
namely, its pernicious influence over the progress of the disease
-and the tedious and precarious state of convalescence, which,
as a natural consequence, it superinduces.t
* Allopathist is a term used to designate the practitioner of Allopathy
-the old or ordinary system of medicine. Homoeopathist, in like manner,
is applied to the practitioner of Homoeopathy- the new system of medicine.
t The difficulties which surround this remedy may be inferred from
the number of works which have been written on the subject. Dr.
Marshall Hall enumerates the following as the principal morbid effects
of the loss of blood, viz.:-syncope (or fainting), convulsions, delirium,
coma (or insensibility), sudden dissolution, excessive re-action, mania,
amaurosis (blindness), sinking.
1



2


BLEEDING.


The most striking circumstance in connexion with this remedy, and to which most, if not all, the other evils attendant
upon it may be traced, is, its weakening effect upon the system.
No one who has watched the progress of an acute disease,
in which bloodletting has been largely employed, can have
failed to be struck with the extreme state of exhaustion, to
which, in a remarkably short space of time, the patient has
been reduced.
To understand this more clearly, let us take the case of a
patient labouring under inflammation of the lungs, or pleuradiseases in which bleeding is universally recommended, in ordinary practice. We find him complaining of severe pain in the
side, and difficulty of breathing: this is his chief, probably, his
only source of suffering-we find him moving, walking, and
performing any other action not requiring much bodily exertion. Do we hear him complain of much weakness? Certainly
not! Observe this same patient after the lapse of a few hours
-the change startles you! He is already reduced to the
lowest point of physical depression-he can scarcely speak
above a whisper, move without being supported, or drink
unless the cup is held to his lips. Whence this sudden alteration?  Assuredly not from   the progress of the disorder.
There is no inflammatory complaint, however severe, which,
even if left to itself, will, in so short a space of time, produce
such powerful effects upon the vital energies. It is to the
remedy, and not to the disease, that we must look for a solution
of the question. And the explanation is but too palpable:he has been bled till he fainted: till his cheek was blanched,
his eye dim, and his pulse scarcely perceptible. Re-action
manifesting itself, the operation was repeated, and the system
brought down to its former level. This is done again and
again till it can be borne no longer: then only does the destroyer stay his hand. But though the victory of the laficet
is complete, let not the reader imagine that the struggle is
over: subdued, but not annihilated, the eradication of the
disease is committed to the leech, the cupping-glass, the blister,



BLEEDING.


3


nauseants, purgatives, and salivation-these, after bleeding lias
done its work, even if they be not employed simultaneously
with that operation, are brought to bear upon the exhausted
patient.
Melancholy as this picture is, it is but too faithful a transcript of a large class of cases. Without asserting that in
every instance, depletion is carried to such an extent, it is
nevertheless true that, to a greater or less degree, it is adopted
in all cases which are treated in accordance with the written
rule of the old school; and it is alone by producing this state
of depression that bleeding ever does any good. According
to Drs. Crawford and Tweedie, it is " employed with the object
of diminishing the quantity of blood, and at the same time of
abating the force and frequency of the action of the heart and
arteries." To the same extent, therefore, that it robs the
system of its "vital fluid," does it deprive it of its vital
energy. Beyond this, from the very nature of the operation,
it does not possess, and therefore cannot exercise, any remedial
virtue.*
"* The following is extracted from a Lecture on the Treatment of
Pleura-pneumonia, or Inflammation of the Lungs with Pleurisy, written
by the late Mr. Guthrie, and reported in the 'Medical Times,' of Feb.
19th, 1848 -" In the year 1801, I found myself, not seventeen years of age, in
charge of a regiment of infantry, on the top of the Berry Head, the
outermost point of Torbay. The men were soon attacked by pneumonia. I had been taught the practice of physic in London-had followed, among other avocations, the late Drs. Rowley and Iooper for
three years, and, in consonance with their views, bled my patients three
and four times in the first forty-eight hours. I first drew sixteen ounces,
then fourteen, then twelve, then abstracted, as the complaint continued,
eight ounces; gave tartar-emetic, so as to keep up nausea; then calomel,
antimony, and opium, and lost my patients.    Discomfited by my
failures, I reconsidered every case, and saw that, however systematically I had acted, the disease had not been arrested in any one of them.
In fact enough had not been done. Recollecting what I had been told
of northern constitutions, and of country practice, I determined that in



4


BLEEDING.


The foregoing remarks have especial reference to those more
favorable cases, which, occurring in persons of robust habit
and sound constitution, run their course rapidly, and notwithstanding the employment of the violent measures I have described, result in the restoration of perfect health.
But it unfortunately happens that the most critical attacks
of inflammation occur, not as is generally supposed, in the
strong and robust, but in those who, possessing constitutions
naturally weak, or from other accidental circumstances rendered so, are least able to withstand the effects of depleting
remedies-delicate females, infants, aged persons, and those
predisposed to consumption.
That the medical man of the old school cannot be placed in
a more perplexing situation than when called upon to treat a
case of this description, I can testify from personal experience.
On the one hand he sees a disease, which if left to itself, will,
in all probability, directly or indirectly, prove destructive to
his patient: on the other, he meets with an array of circumstances which forbid the application of the only effectual
means he has at his command-he dare not resort to his favorite remedy-he must sheath his lancet-he is reduced to
the half measures of cupping, leeching, blistering, and salivation: expedients which, whilst they exercise little or no beneficial influence over the progress of the disease, still exert the
baneful property of debilitating   the system, and thereby
depriving nature of that power, by the aid of which she might
otherwise successfully struggle against her adversary. Following the natural tendency of all these cases, the disease, still
unsubdued, runs on into the chronic form, and if the chest is
future, they should die of the bleeding, and not from excess of inflammiation. I then took away on each occasion, as much more blood; my
sixteen ounces became from  twenty to thirty. It would not do. I
arrested the rapid course of the disease, but did not effectively subdue
it. It was evident that, to succeed, I must place no limit to the abstraction of blood in the first instance, but the decided incapability of
bearing its further loss."



G3


BLEEDING.


generally speaking, unattended with immediate danger to the
life of the patient, who, being older and stronger, is better able
to withstand its effects. With children the case is different. It
is well known that they are peculiarly wanting in that power
which is necessary to sustain the loss of blood; nor do they,
like adults, furnish those tests which enable us to judge of the
extent to which it may be carried. Fainting, as a guide, is no
longer available-the pulse is no safe index-the blood, moreover, being usually abstracted by leeches, the quantity lost is
necessarily uncertain. The result, as might be anticipated, is
often most lamentable. I retain a vivid recollection of having
in one instance seen a fine and beautiful child, labouring under
inflammation of the lungs, rapidly sink and die in the course
of two or three hours, solely from the loss of blood, sustained
by the application of four leeches. In other cases, although
the little patients survive the immediate effects of the loss,
they become so exhausted by repeated leechings, and remain
for so long a time in a weak and languid condition, with pallid
skin, flabby flesh, and wasted forms, as to be rather dead than
alive. These, and many other reasons, which it is unnecessary
to enumerate, render it especially desirable to avoid the abstraction of blood in treating the diseases of children. Allopathy shows it to be hazardous and injurious: Homoeopathy
proves it to be unnecessary.
Remarking upon the diseases of children, it may not be
in apposite to introduce a few words upon the practice of applying blisters in these cases. There can hardly be a practitioner
of any experience who has not witnessed their fatal effects.
They are generally resorted to at an advanced stage of the
complaint, when the patient has been reduced by depletion.
The system, not possessing the requisite power to restore the
blistered surface, the sore becomes converted into an eating
nulcer, which, resisting every means for its cure, wears out the
sufferer by the constant irritation which it superinduces.
Several melancholy instances of this kind came under my own
observation in the earlier part of my professional life, and



BLEEDING.


7


many years before I abandoned the Allopathic practice, I had
entirely relinquished the employment of blisters in the class
of cases now under consideration, and had resorted to the
mustard poultice as a safe, convenient, and effectual substitute.
As bleeding, in its different forms, during the progress of
disease, induces the deplorable state of things which has been
described in the foregoing remarks, so does it, as a necessary
consequence, entail upon those upon whom it has been practised, a correspondingly painful and precarious convalescence.
Daily experience has brought this matter to be so thoroughly
understood by the public as well as the profession, that it is
scarcely requisite to do more than simply refer to it, as forming
a strong point of objection against the depleting system of
treatment. Let the reader recall to his mind the wretched
condition of a man who has been subjected to this practice for
an attack of acute disease. What a shattered frame does he
present! What a long and weary time he is in crawling back
to his former self! Reduced to the helplessness of childhood,
he is forced to be nursed and fed like a child. Undermined in
constitution, and stripped of all power to resist, either a recurrence of higs former complaint, or the invasion of new
diseases, how often do we find him the subject of a relapse, or
a prey to dropsy, diarrhoea, chest disease, or some other exhausting malady; like a citadel from which the garrison has
been withdrawn, he falls an easy prey to the first foe by which.he is assailed.
In the next place, the Homoeopathist maintains that the
abstraction of blood is unnecessary in the treatment of any
disorder whatever.
This is proved by experience, and so far from shrinking from
such a test, Homoeopathy courts it: it is her stronghold. She
does not ask the world to listen to an empty theory: she
invites it to examine her practice, and judge her by its fruits.
If Homoeopathy could boast of no greater amount of success
than Allopathy can produce, she would long ere this have been
compelled to quit the field in favour of her ancient rival,



8


BLEEDING.


notwithstanding the superior attractions of her painless and
tasteless remedies. But, it is alone through the irresistible
force of her successful practice that Homceopathy has been
enabled not only to withstand, but to triumph over the flood
of opposition, which, from her birth up to the present moment,
has been incessantly, but fruitlessly, endeavouring to effect her
destruction.
The wonderful power which Aconite exerts over the circulation, and the specific action of other remedies, enable the
Homceopathist to overcome the most violent and fatal disorders,
with a rapidity and certainty, infinitely surpassing anything
that can be accomplished by bleeding and its auxiliaries. This
is no unsupported assertion: on the contrary it is believed,
that the large number of cases distributed through this volume,
and depicting disease in its most destructive forms, will alone
be sufficient to convince the candid and unprejudiced reader of
its truth; and, when it is remembered that these cases constitute but the fractional part of one man's experience, and that
hundreds of other practitioners, during the last fifty years,
have pursued the same system of treatment with equal, if not
greater, success, it is not easy to imagine thae even the most
incredulous mind can resist the accumulated evidence which
such a consideration affords.*
Let us now take a hasty glance at the other side of the
picture.-It will at once appear evident, that as the patient,
in the hands of the Homoeopathist, loses not one drop of
blood; as he is neither harassed by blisters, depressed by nauseants, nor exhausted by purgatives, so does he, as a natural
* Those who may be desirous of statistical evidence on this point
will fiud some interesting tables, too long to be introduced liere, of the
comparative results of the two modes of treatment in a variety of diseases, in the Appendix to ' A Concise View of Ilomceopathy,' published
by the Dublin Homceopathic Society; in ' The Introduction to the
Study of Homceopathy;' in Dr. Henderson's recent work, ' Homceopathy fairly Explained,' and in 'Two Lectures on the Moral Evidences
of Homceopathy,' by the Author of this volume, &c. &c.



BLEEDING.


9


consequence, escape that prostration of strength to which he
would be reduced by the employment of those measures.
And, as the course of the disorder is not observed by the artificial production of debility, recovery from its effects is proportionately rapid and certain. Convalescence, or the intermediate
state between disease and health, (a period in Allopathic practice, so replete with danger to the patient and anxiety to his
friends) is here almost entirely wanting. A decided impression
once made upon the disease-the first few hours of active
suffering past, and the patient's danger is over-he has nothing
further to apprehend.
Nor need he dread any of those evil consequences which
mar the benefit of Allopathic treatment. There is little or no
fear of a relapse-no chance of dropsy, and the host of other
ailments which follow in the wake of the lancet. There is,
moreover, no call for the interminable nursing and codling,
and bitter tonics, which are required by the exhausted patient
of the old-school practitioner.
Homceopathy demands of her subjects simply to remain in
bed and swallow a few doses of tasteless medicine-they sustain
no loss beyond' the temporary loss of food-they emerge from
illness nearly the same persons they were when it overtook
them-they have no empty veins to replenish-no emaciated
forms to remould-no undermined energies to renovate: all
those restorative means therefore which have been referred to
above, though they may be indulged in to please the taste
of the convalescent, are rarely necessary in Homoeopathic
practice.
Having thus passed in rapid review, and placed side by side,
the mischief which arises from bleeding in Allopathic, and the
advantages of its omission in Homoeopathic, practice, I am
mistaken if the reader does not experience both astonishment
and regret, that an operation which is confessedly on all hands
calculated to produce so much harm, should so long have retained its place at the head of our remedial agents-I say
" confessedly on all hands," because, universal as its adoption
1 ~



10


BLEEDING.


has been in every age and country, there is perhaps no point
in the whole circle of medicine, on which there prevails so
complete a unanimity of opinion as this, namely, that bleeding,
whenever, and under whatever circumstances, employed, is at
best an evil, which ought, if possible, to be avoided. Every
medical man, who weighs his thoughts before they assume the
shape of actions, must feel convinced whenever he opens a
vein, that he commits an evil, second only to that of the
disease for the removal of which he has been led to its
perpetration.
With such a feeling as this pervading the professional mind,
it cannot be a matter of surprise that there should have sprung
up in the present day, a wide spreading disbelief in the infallibility of this remedy.  The blind faith with which it was
formerly worshipped, is fast vanishing.  The more scientific
and thoughtful members of the profession have long learned
not only to question its efficacy in many diseases in which its
aid used to be deemed all but indispensable, but have given
life to their opinions, by banishing it, as far as possible, from
their practice.
It is gratifying to be able to place at the head of this
category, the name of one who has left behind him a European
celebrity-Robert Liston! The following extract is from Dr.
Quin's memoir of his friend, published in the 'British Journal
of Homoeopathy,' in January, 1848:-" MAr. Liston was most
struck with the action of Aconite in subduing inflammation,
and reducing vascular excitement; and he often expressed his
regret to me, that the power of Aconite to abate vascular
overaction, and supersede the necessity for abstraction of blood
in many diseases, was not known to him earlier; because lihe
was convinced that it would have prolonged the life of his
father, whose death had been hastened, in his opinion, by illjudged copious venesections."
Though it is beyond a doubt, that much of this mistrust of
bloodletting, as in the instance just quoted, is due to the rapid
1promulgation of Hommoeopathic doctrines, much is also to be



BLEEDING.                      11
attributed to the enlightened spirit of the age. The days are
gone by for rendering homage to any custom which can prefer
no stronger claim to our allegiance than that which is founded
upon its antiquity. Faith, in science, has been superseded
by reason and experience; and that system, whether of medicine or any other science, which will not bear the application
of such tests, stands but little chance of maintaining its hold
upon the respect of the present generation. There can therefore remain no doubt, in any reflective mind, as to the ultimate
fate of bleeding. Having no foundation either in reason or
sound experience, it will assuredly, ere long, be superseded
by the milder, surer, and more rational, powers with which we
are supplied by Homceopathy.



SALIVATION.


IT may be asserted, without fear of contradiction, that there
is no substance in the whole course of remedial agents, whose
abuse has entailed so much suffering upon the human race, as
Mercury. One of the most powerful drugs, either for good or
evil, with which we are acquainted, there is no other which is
used so thoughtlessly and indiscriminately. The medical man
seeks its aid in almost every case of disease, the druggist
shrouds it in his nostrums, and non-professional persons prescribe it, with all the confidence of conceited ignorance, whenever they undertake to doctor themselves, their children, or
their friends,
Administered in rather large doses in the form of calomel,
its action is simply purgative. This is perhaps its most merciful effect; for, notwithstanding that it generally produces
violent irritation and pain in the bowels during its operation,
the system is at all events speedily relieved of the noxious
substance, and so escapes the more lasting misery which results
from its continued employment in small and repeated doses.
In the latter case the preparations known as blue-pill and greypowder are most commonly employed, and are exhibited for
the purpose of exciting the disease called Salivation.
By this term is understood the impregnation of the system
with mercury to such an extent, as to cause soreness of the
mouth, and to stimulate the glandular apparatus connected
therewith to a preternatural discharge of saliva. Those who
have undergone salivation themselves, or have witnessed it in
others, will retain too vivid a recollection of the suffering it
lias induced, to render necessary an elaborate description
of its effects, or of the painful symptoms accompanying its
progress.



SALIVATION.


13


Nevertheless, for the information of those persons who are
unacquainted with the disease, the following account is subjoined, as recorded by Dr. Pereira. " The first symptoms of
this affection, are slight tenderness and tumefaction of the
gums, which acquire a pale rose colour, except at the edges
surrounding the teeth, where they are deep red; gradually the
mouth becomes exceedingly sore, and the tongue much swollen,
a coppery taste is perceived, and the breath acquires a remarkable fcetidity. The salivary glands soon become tender and
swollen; the saliva and mucus of the mouth flow abundantly,
sometimes to the extent of several pints in twenty-four hours.
During this state the fat is rapidly absorbed, and the patient
becomes exceedingly emaciated." We are then presented, by
the same authority, with a list of the ill effects which often
arise from salivation, viz.:--mercurial fever-excessive salivation, attended with ulceration and sloughing of the gums;
falling out of the teeth; ulceration and sloughing of the
fauces i mercurial purging; profuse sweating; skin diseases;
inflammation of the eyes; enlargement of the inguinal, axillary, and mesenteric glands; ulceration of the mouth and
throat; various symptoms indicating a disordered state of the
nervous system, such as shaking palsy, cachexia or wasting
diseases, &c.
Such is salivation, one of the most favorite and universal
remedies of the Allopathist. The above description is applicable more particularly to the symptoms manifested when
mercury is administered in acute diseases. It is also frequently
employed as a last resource-a kind of hit or miss remedy--in
obstinate diseases of long standing and doubtful character,
where the physician is at a loss what other course of treatment
to pursue. As administered in such cases, it is, from a variety
of circumstances, an easily manageable and comparatively
harmless medicine. Given in small doses and at long intervals,
to individuals who have not been exhausted by bleeding, the
system is less easily brought under the influence of the metal;
and, when that influence does exert itself, its action is so



14


SALIVATION.


gentle and gradual, that it may be easily regulated, and checked
at pleasure.
In acute diseases the case is very different. Intended here
to affect the system as speedily as possible, the medicine is
exhibited in larger doses, frequently repeated, and is often
applied internally and externally at the same moment. Generally following immediately upon free and copious bleeding
from the arm, its absorption is thereby rendered very rapid,
and its effects require but a few hours for their development.
But, unfortunately, in these cases the physician has lost that
controlling power, by the exercise of which he is able to protect his patient from its overaction in chronic diseases. The
system being exhausted by bloodletting, and absorption rendered proportionally active, it is impossible to predict how far
the local and constitutional symptoms of salivation may extend.
A five-grain blue-pill, which, administered to a person not
previously reduced in strength, would excite no sensible result,
when given to a patient who has been bled to relieve an acute
disease, may produce any one, or more of the "ill effects"
mentioned in the passage quoted from Dr. Pereira.
These examples of violent salivation are of such frequent
occurrence, that there can scarcely be a member of the faculty
who has not witnessed them in his own practice. So long as
mercury continues to be used in Allopathic doses, so long will
similar cases arise in its condemnation, and medical men be
doomed to the pain of beholding their patients suffer infinitely
more from the remedy than from the disease which it was
given to eradicate. Language is almost inadequate to describe
the full extent of suffering which it inflicts upon its unhappy
recipient: intense aching in the head and face, swelling of the
neck and cheeks, loosening of the teeth, inflanunation and
ulceration of the tongue, inside of the cheeks and gums, rendering it impossible to swallow anything but liquids: the fever,
diarrhoea, melting sweats, and general prostration of strength
which accompany it; these are among its most striking and
constant attendants. In spite of their fearful character the



SILITATION.


15


Allopathist constantly employs it: his erroneous system not
having taught him how he may better cure those acute diseases,
for the relief of which it is administered.
Let it not be supposed that we would indiscriminately prohibit the use of mercury. On the contrary, we hold it to be
one of the most interesting and useful remedies furnished to
us by the mineral kingdom. It is against its administration
in such quantities as to produce the lamentably injurious effects
just enumerated, that we enter our uncompromising protest.
We do so unhesitatingly, because Homeopathic practice
proves beyond the power of contradiction, that there is no
disease, for which mercury is the proper remedy, which it will
not cure more speedily and safely, in small doses.    The
Homceopathist gives it as he gives all other medicines, not as
a universal and quack remedy, eradicating one disease by
superinducing another, but acting in strict conformity with the
Homcoeathic law. And he administers it, moreover, in such
minute doses as to render it impossible for it ever to produce
the constitutional disturbance, known by the name of salivation.
It is to llahnemann we are indebted for the knowledge
how to secure all the good, without incurring any of the evils,
arising from the use of mercury. Had he left behind him no
greater claim upon our gratitude, this alone ought to ensure
to his memory our lasting veneration.



PURGATIVES.


THERE is nothing in Homceopathy which excites more
astonishment than the announcement, that in its practice, it
entirely discards the use of Purgatives. Nor can we be surprised at this, when we consider, that from our earliest days
we are taught to regard aperient medicines, as almost as
essential to our well-being, as food and raiment. The nurse
welcomes the new-born infant with a dose of castor oil, as a
foretaste of what it will have to endure in its course through
life, and till its latest breath it lives up to its destiny. On
this point, increase of years rarely brings increase of wisdom;
for it cannot be denied, that the older people get, the more
confirmed they become in their predilection for family and
antibilious pills, and other mysterious compounds. The extent to which the population of this country indulge in the
pernicious habit of dosing themselves with these domestic
medicines, would appear incredible, was it not too notorious
to be disputed.   For the continuance of this mischievous
custom, Government, and the Members of the Medical Profession are alike responsible: the former, in the encouragement it holds out to the nostrum vendor; the latter, in their
indiscriminate prescription of aperient medicines. A   very
little consideration will convince us that such a practice is
both unphilosophical and injurious.
In the first place, every one will acknowledge that the body
is not only marvellously perfect as a whole, but that every
separate organ is adapted in an equally admirable manner to
the performance of its peculiar function: that the eye could
not be more beautifully constructed for vision, the limbs for
motion and apprehension, the heart for propelling the blood,
and the lungs for respiration. Faithful and unfailing in the



PURGATIVES.


17


discharge of their duty, we never dream of medicating these
organs, unless called upon to do so by the presence of disease.
This being admitted in words, why is it so perpetually contradicted in practice? If every portion of the frame be furnished
with innate power proportioned to the labour it has to perform, what plea can be urged in excuse for the incessant
prompting to which the bowvels are subjected? Did HE, by
whose fiat man was called into existence, leave these organs
so imperfectly endowed, that they have ever since remained
inadequate to the discharge of their functions, except when
assisted by human instrumentality? Unless we have been
sent into this breathing world, in this respect " scarce half
made up," on what ground can we justify our unending interference? This suggestion will serve to expose the absurdity of the habit in which many persons, in the enjoyment
of perfect health, indulge, of taking aperient medicines, simply
because the action of their bowels is not sufficiently frequent
and systematic to suit their capricious notions: forgetting
that there is no prescribed standard to regulate this function;
that nature is the best judge of her own necessities; and that
individuals differ almost as much in this respect, as in their
physical form and constitutional temperament.
In the next place, without dwelling upon a subject, which,
until the problem of LIFE is solved, will in all probability remain a mystery, viz., the intimate and essential nature of
disease, we may yet venture to state broadly, that it consists,
as far as we can understand the matter, in a disordered action
of the part or parts most prominently affected. This being
the case, it follows, that for the rectification of that disordered
action, a remedy should be employed, which will exert a direct
influence over the seat of disease. The simple action of an
aperient is to stimulate the intestinal canal. Yet this is the
agent which the Allopathist employs, when the object sought
is to rectify the defective performance of its duty, on the part
of some other, and probably distant organ of the body. Has
a patient inflammation of the eye? His physician purges the



18


PURGATIVES.


bowels! Has he inflammation of the toe?    The same thing
is done! Is there disease of the lungs?  Still he purges!
Fever?  Still aperients!  Gout - rheumatism - headache?
whatever be the disorder, the remedy is everlastingly the same:
like the laws of the Medes and Persians, it alters not. This
mode of treatment would lead us to conclude, that every disease has a material existence in the abdomen, and may be
expelled by the physical force of aperient medicines! It is
difficult to conceive how expulsion of the natural contents of the
bowels, can influence the progress of disease in a different part
of the body, any more than would the expulsion of the contents of any other organ-the blood from the heart or the
air from the lungs. As well might we cause a patient to run
about his room to accelerate his breathing, or apply an airpump to his mouth to exhaust his lungs, as compel him to
swallow an aperient to increase the action, and evacuate the
contents, of his bowels.
But one remove from the universal remedy of the quack,
there is nothing else in the whole sphere of " old physic "
which partakes so thoroughly of the empirical, as this illimitable indulgence in the use of purgatives. It places in a forcible light the pitiable poverty of a system, whose loftiest
flights into the regions of philosophical deduction, can reach
no higher than the barren conception of a dose of aperient
medicine, as a panacea for " the thousand ills that human flesh
is heir to."
But purgatives are not more opposed to the dictates of reason, than to the well-being of the patient. Their effects upon
the system are positively injurious, and manifest themselves in
two ways: first, upon the intestinal organs themselves; and
secondly, upon the constitution generally.
If (to use a familiar illustration), we introduce any irritating
substance, such as sand or dust, into the eye, its natural
secretion is instantly augmented: a copious flow of tears
ensues-in other words, it is purged. The part at the same
time becomes red, painful, and inflamed.   If this be done



20


PURGATIVES.


medicine, the unavoidable effect of which is to irritate and
inflame the whole extent of the alimentary canal!  Originating,
in acute diseases, another source of disturbance to be superadded to that already in operation, this practice, in these cases
is sufficiently unjustifiable; but it is in chronic diseases, or
those of long standing and slow progress, that the pernicious
influence of aperients is most vividly apparent. In the former
case, their operation, being repeated perhaps but a few times
in a comparatively short period, the evil effects resulting from
their action more speedily subside. In the latter, forming as
they do, nine times in ten, the principal part of a course of
treatment extending over a considerable space of time, their
consequences are more lamentable. Digestion is interrupted
or entirely suspended; the patient, being imperfectly nourished,
becomes weak and emaciated; exhausting diarrhoea supervenes,
or the bowels, losing their natural power, become obstinately
constipated, and find no relief but in a constant repetition of
the destructive dose. Chronic dyspepsia, with its thousand
concomitants-headaches, palpitation, piles, fistula, flatulence,
&c., fill up the catalogue of ailments which render life a burden,
even if they do not curtail its duration.
Disregarding, for the moment, the foregoing objections to
the use of purgatives, there are, on the other hand, several
powerful reasons, why the bowels should not be disturbed
during sickness.
In the first place, the patient, in severe cases, being compelled to keep his bed, this alone, with the attendant loss of
exercise, has a natural tendency to check the action of the
bowels.
In the second place, their principal office consisting in passing on the food, and the patient taking none, clearly they have
no duty to perform.
In the third place, the disease weakening the whole system
the bowels partake of the general debility. In common with
the legs, the arms, the stomach, the brain and every other
organ, they become deprived of that power, by the possession



PURGATIVES.


21


of which in a state of health, they are enabled to discharge
their proper function. Why are they, more than the other
organs, to be impelled to the performance of a duty, to which,
at the time, they are totally unequal?
Again, under the process of disease, the whole vital power
is devoted to the struggle which is going on in the affected
part. The attention of the system is, as it were, drawn off as
well from the bowels, as from every other organ, not immediately engaged in the contest.  On this account, also, they
remain quiescent; and any interference with that quietude, by
diverting the vital energy, weakens that force which nature
requires to be undivided, to enable her to conduct her combat
with disease to a successful issue-an additional reason why
purgatives should be avoided.
Sufficiently convincing as these arguments might be considered, in reply to any objections against the Homoeopathic
plan, so accustomed have the public become to the employment
of purgatives, that the question constantly arises, "' If the
bowels be constipated, what must we do?" The answer is
simple-LET THEM ALONE.
Constipation is an effect, not a disease. If it were, there
might be some show of reason in the use of aperients. But,
being merely a temporary loss of power, we can no more restore
that power by forcing the action of the bowels, than we can
impart strength to a weakened leg by compelling it to walk.
In the latter instance we should instinctively rest the part,
until, by the removal of the disease, motion might be resumed.
The same reasoning applies with equal force to the removal of
constipation. The exercise of a little patience, and the employment of judicious means for the eradication of that disordered
condition on which the inaction depends, will as infallibly
restore the bowels to their duty, as in every other instance the
effect must cease when the cause is removed.
In acute diseases this rule may be acted on with unlimited
confidence. The resumption on the part of the patient of his
accustomed food and exercise, by invigorating the frame gene



22


PURGATIYES.


rally, imparts also to the bowels that energy which enables
them, in conjunction with the other organs, to resume the
exercise of their proper function. It is in diseases of long
standing, particularly those affecting the digestive organsdyspepsia, &c.-which so often owe their origin to the abuse
of aperient medicines, and are always aggravated by their action
-that the Homoeopathist experiences the greatest difficulty in
carrying out his principles. He is, however, sure to find his
reward for strictly adhering to them, in the rapidity and certainty with which he eradicates diseases that have baffled all
the ordinary method of treatment.
If, however, as sometimes happens, from the sudden withdrawal of a long accustomed stimulant, the bowels become
obstinately confined; or, to satisfy the mind of the patient, it
be desirable to prompt them, the safest, as well as the most
rational mode of accomplishing that object, is by the employment of an enema. Unirritating in its operation, and acting
on the lower portion of the bowel, where the accumulation
naturally takes place, this, in all cases where assistance is
required, is an unobjectionable remedy. The blandest fluids,
such as water, gruel, and the like, will generally be found to
answer the desired end, without the admixture of castor-oil or
-other irritants. Administered in this form, the injection may
be repeated at pleasure, without inflicting any injury upon the
inside-it is, in short, the only legitimate aperient.
I am aware that in the foregoing remarks I have run counter
to one of the most cherished dogmas of the old school of medicine-a dogma sanctioned by age, and perpetuated by universal
adoption. So far from   these circumstances either modifying
my opinion, or qualifying my opposition, they do but make me
the more earnest in my desire to see abolished a practice
which both reason and experience compel me to regard as
radically erroneous; and, though it may be long ere its abandonment becomes general, that it will ultimately yield to the
spread of Homoeopathic principles, I am as well satisfied, as that
darkness will ever recede before light, and error before truth.



INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS, AND
PLEURISY.
CONSTITUTING by far the most numerous and fatal class of
diseases which affect the human frame, and calling into action,
in a pre-eminent degree, the heroic or active mode of treatment
adopted by the Allopathist, the affections of the respiratory
organs naturally demand our first attention.
Bearing in mind that these affections include inflammation
of the lungs and pleura, bronchitis, croup, asthma, hoopingcough, and consumption, we shall be at no loss to account for
their frequency; and the same list at once recalls to our mind
the familiar names of the most dangerous and deadly diseases
with which we are acquainted. It is calculated that at least
one fourth of all the deaths that occur in this country, are
caused by consumption; and when to these we add the scarcely
less numerous victims of inflammation of the lungs, and pleura,
together with the quota contributed by the other complaints
just named, it will not be overstepping the bounds of truth to
say, that, at the lowest computation, one half of the diseases
which swell our bills of mortality, have their seat in the organs
of respiration.
Next to consumption, (to which we shall afterwards refer
more fully,) by far the most formidable in the list, is inflammation of the lungs. Beyond comparison the most frequent
cause of death amongst children, in adults also, though not
often immediately fatal, it but too commonly leads to that
result, by calling into action a previously existing consumptive tendency. It is a well ascertained fact that this consumptive tendency, or tuberculous diathesis, as it is technically
termed, will remain quiescent in individuals for many years,
and in families from generation to generation, until, on the
application of some deleterious influence, the latent germs of



24


INTFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS,


the disease are stimulated into active development, That
influence-however much the fact may be questioned by some
high authorities-there can I think be no doubt, is, in many
instances, an attack, more or less acute, of inflammation of the
lungs, bronchi, or pleura. It has not, therefore, been without
good cause that the public have learned to regard this disease
with feelings of the deepest apprehension. It is, however, a
lamentable fact, that this anxiety is, in justice, attributable,
not more, if so much, to any inherent danger in the disease,
as to the inefficient means commonly adopted for its suppression.  Startling as this assertion may appear, it is made,
neither in forgetfulness of its importance, nor without its
accuracy having been thoroughly established on the most
careful and extensive observation. Personal experience in
some hundreds of cases, in which not one drop of blood was
drawn, nor any other of the usual remedies employed, but
which were treated in accordance with Homoeopathic rules,
has convinced me, beyond the possibility of error, that when
so treated, there is scarcely any disease which    is more
thoroughly within control, or which need less excite the fears
of the patient, or the anxiety of the physician, than inflammation of the lungs.
We will now pass rapidly in review the two modes of
treatment to which allusion has been made: that pursued
by the Allopathist, and Homceopathist, respectively.
Dr. C. J. B. Williams, in an article on inflammation of the
lungs, in the 'Cyclopaedia of Practical Medicine,' quotes,
and subscribes to this opinion of Dr. Cullen, "that a first
bleeding, however large, will seldom prove a cure of the
disease, and as the pain and other symptoms recur, the
measure must be repeated even in the course of the same
day, to as full an extent as before, and although the greatest
efficacy is in the first three days, this recurrence will make a
repetition of the measure proper at any period of the disease,
within the first fortnight. At the first bleeding a quantity
varying from sixteen to forty ounces may be taken."



lhFLAMMATION OF 'TLHE LUN1GS


given three or four times a day, with better effect than smaller
doses more frequently repeated. The remedy, in whichever of
these various ways it is given, should be continued until it
either produces a decided impression on the disease, or affects
the gums."
Tartar Emetic is another remedy very much recommended
in books, but not so generally employed as the foregoing:
chiefly, perhaps, on account of the distressing feelings which
attend its action. The first two or three doses generally
produce the most distressing vomiting. This effect ceasing,
the medicine is continued and regulated (at least as far as
it can be), so as to keep the patient in a state of constant
nausea, or inclination to vomit. Though decidedly one of the
best Allopathic remedies in the cases of adults, Dr. Copeland
says, "it is by no means a safe remedy for young children or
infants, for I have seen large doses of it, particularly when too
often repeated or long continued, produce most dangerous and
even fatal collapse."
These three remedies, viz.-bleeding, mercury, and tartar emetic, are the mainstays of Allopathy in this disease.
There are others which are enlisted as adjuvants or helps:
blisters,  opiates,  purgatives,  expectorants, &c., which,
though they harass the patient and mystify the disease,
yet p]ay so unimportant a part in the general plan of
treatment, as to justify us in dismissing them with this passing notice.
Such is the programme which Allopathy presents for curing
inflammation of the lungs-bleeding to the extent of a few
pounds; antimony ad nauseam; salivation; blisters; purgation. This is the system which, with some modifications,
has existed from age to age up to the present moment. It
is this system which Homceopathy undertakes boldly, unhesitatingly, and without reservation, to dispense with and
supersede.
In dealing with this division of our subject, we will commence by recounting what Homceopathy omits.



AND PLEURISY.


27


In the first place, she never draws blood. I have shown at
some length, in a previous chapter, that this remedy is always
unnecessary, and generally injurious.  I will therefore not
dilate upon it here.
In the second place, although in this, as in other diseases,
if the symptoms accord with those of mercury, we do not
hesitate to employ that remedy, it is never, in Homoeopathic
practice, given in sufficient quantities to produce salivation.
In a former chapter, also, I have shown the mischievous effects
of this remedy.
In the third place, neither here, nor in any other disease,
does Homceopathy sanction the administration of medicines
in such quantities as to produce nausea and vomiting. It is
entirely opposed both to her practice and principles.
In the fourth place, as I have already demonstrated in the
foregoing pages, purgatives are sanctioned neither by nature,
reason, nor common sense. They are never necessary, they
never do any good, and consequently they are never employed
by Homoeopathy.
The same may be said of all the other expedients to which
Allopathy resorts: blisters and other counter-irritants, expectorants, opiates, &c., &c. These are our negative reasons for
dissenting from Allopathy. But we do not stop here: the
foregoing measures are rejected, not only on account of their
own imperfections and insufficiency, but because we possess
the power (by means so gentle that they cannot possibly
inflict injury, and so powerful that they seldom fail in their
action,) of subduing inflammatory disease, with a facility and
promptitude such as no other system affords.
Beyond this broad and general statement, it is not intended
to enter here into any description, either of the Homoeopathic
doctrine, or the rules for selecting, and the modes of applying,
the remedies. Both these departments of the science would
demand more time and space than we can devote to them:
such an undertaking, moreover, forms no part of our present
design. Those persons who may be desirous of becoming



28


2IFLA MM.TION OF THEZ LUNGS


more intimately acquainted with the principles of the system,
may consult the works mentioned below.1
As to the other branch of the subject-the selection and
application of the remedies-involving as it does a thorough
knowledge of disease, and a nice appreciation of every variation
in its symptoms, it is evident that nothing short of a complete
medical education, and extensive practical observation, can
supply the requisite qualifications for such a task.  Passing
over these points, therefore, as irrelevant to our present object,
we proceed to place before the reader a series of cases, in
which he himself may witness what Homoeopathy has done,
and infer what it is capable at all times of doing, under similar
circumstances.
Concerning these cases it may be remarked, that they are
taken almost promiscuously from a host of others of the same
kind, detailed at length in my note book. So much selection
only has been exercised as was necessary to exhibit the disease,
both as regards its symptoms and cure, in prominent and unmistakeable characters. For convenience sake, they are grouped
under three heads, referring to the different ages and conditions
of the patients.
A few words are called for in explanation of the somewhat
unusual course adopted of including pleurisy under the same
head with pneumonia.     The two diseases are frequently,
indeed generally, complicated more or less the one with the
other; their symptoms are then necessarily mixed; and even
when distinct, they bear, in many respects, a close resemblance-above all, the treatment of both, in the acute stage,
whether Allopathically, or Homceopathically, is, in many
points, identical. The professional reader will easily distinguish the cases belonging to the two diseases respectively.
i Hahnemanins 'Organon of the Healing Art.' 'Concise View of
Homceopathy,' published by the Dublin Homoeopathic Society. 'Introduction to the Study of Homeopathy,' by the Editors of the 'British
Homceopathic Journal,' Dr. Sharp's Tracts on Homoeopathy, &c., &c.



AffD PLEURISY.                    29
To the non-professional reader, this is not a matter of sufficient
interest or importance to justify his being subjected to the
toil of travelling twice over the same ground, which must
necessarily be done, if a separate notice were devoted to each
complaint.



INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS AND PLEURISY
IN ROBUST PERSONS.
WHAT reputation attaches to the old system of medicine
for curing inflammation of the lungs, is due to this class of
cases. Persons of good constitution, and in the vigour of
youth, or the prime of life, are endowed with a power of
vitality which enables them to bear with seeming impunity
the effects of depressing agents, under which more delicate
persons would either sink at once, or by the operation of
which they would be rendered weakly and ailing for the
remainder of their lives. So, in the cases we are now considering: occurring in individuals whose systems are fortified,
by active habits and robust health, against the inroads
of disease, when it does attack them, the same resisting power
shields them against the noxious tendency of the depleting
and exhausting treatment to which they are commonly
subjected.
With such a foundation to work upon, bleeding and
its auxiliaries are employed with an unsparing hand. The
physician, undeterred by any apprehension of that failure of
strength, which in more delicate subjects arrests the flow of
blood, bleeds fearlessly to any extent, and repeats the operation to any number of times. In spite of the loss he has
sustained, the patient, backed by a good constitution, and
aided by good nursing, timan  ehaps pure air, ultimately
recovers.
Thus a cure is effected, of which bleeding enjoys the,credit. Nor wil I assert that it is altogether undeserved.
The Allopathist, so long as he remains true to his colours, cannot do without the lancet. Compared with a dangerous and
destructive disease, it is certainly the lesser evil of the two.
But if, as I boldly and firmly maintain, it may not only be



INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS, ETC.


31


safely and totally abandoned, but the disease be cured more
quickly and certainly by Homoeopathic remedies, it is clearly
the interest of the patient to demand, as it is the duty of the
medical man to supply, such an alternative.
CASE I.--Mrs. P-, aged 36.
February 28th, 1847.-I-as been ill twenty-four hours. She is labouring under all the symptoms of acute inflammation in a very aggravated
form. She has extreme pain around the lower part of the chest on the
right side, which becomes excruciating when she breathes deeply, coughs,
or moves: nor can she bear pressure on that part. The pulse is 100,
full, and hard; skin hot; she is very thirsty; there is dulness on
percussion, and very imperfect respiratory sound in the region of the
disease.
Take Aconite, 3d dilution, every two hours.
March 1st.-Her husband calls at nine o'clock, on his way to business,
to inform me that she has had no sleep during the night, and is still in
much pain.
To commence directly with Bryouia 3d, every three hours.
Visiting her in the afternoon, I find her in a sound sleep. The pain
has greatly abated, and with it the fever, thirst, and heat. The skin is
now perspiring freely; she breathes calmly, and with comparative ease.
Continue the Bryonia.
3d.-She has no pain, thirst, or fever; her pulse is calm, soft, and
beating 75 in a minute. She feels well, and complains only of some
weakness. Imperfect respiration in the lung.
Take Sulphur 12th, twice a day.
5th.-Sends to report herself so well as to require no further
attendance.
This patient had previously a similar attack, and among other remedies adopted for its removal was bleeding; and so satisfied was she of
the necessity of resorting to that measure on the present occasion, that
she strongly urged me, as soon as I entered her room, to perform the
operation. I had much difficulty in persuading her that she would recover more speedily without it.-She was not a little astonished at the
result.
CASE II.-Edward S-, aged 21.
March 13th, 1848.-Has been ill four days, and has not been able to



82


INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS


work since he was attacked. He is now labouring under severe headache, pains in his limbs, chills, much thirst, quick pulse, hot skin, and
a severe pain, which darts through his chest immediately under the right
nipple, every time he breathes.  It is increased to an intolerable degree
when hle coughs, which he does frequently, and then spits up a quantity of
thick, yellow phlegm. He cannot lie on the affected side. Percussion
and the auscultatory sounds distinctly indicate inflammation of an advanced kind in the right lung. He attends at my house.
Aconite 3d, every three hours.
14th.-Considerable relief.
Bryonia 3d, every four hours: Aconite at bed-time.
15th.-The feverish symptoms have disappeared, and he feels the pain
only a little, occasionally. The expectoration is easy, and the phlegm is
not so thick; he feels hungry.
Continue Bryonia, twice a day.
16th.-He attends again at my house, having nothing to complain of
but a little debility.  Respiratory murmur still imperfect, and considerable dulness on percussion; occasional loose cough.
Phosphorus 12th, twice a day.
With this he was perfectly restored, and needed no further attendalice.
CASE III.-I. C-, aged 31. A tall thin figure; dark complexion. Has been ill twelve hours.
March 7th, 1847.-Was seized yesterday with shivering, followed,
almost directly, by a shooting pain in the left side of the chest, extending
from the breast through to the back, causing excessive agony at each inspiration, and compelling him to keep both hands firmly fixed upon the
spot, in order to steady the ribs, and so procure a little mitigation of his
sufferings.  His breathing is short, suppressed, and catching; he is
harassed by a severe hard cough, and already expectorates a quantity of
brick-dust coloured sputum. His pulse is 100 in the minute, small, and
sharp; his skin burning hot; he is very thirsty, and his tongue is
covered with a yellow coating.  There is much dulness on percussion,
and distinct crepitation in the diseased portion of the lung.
Take Aconite 3d, and Bryonia 3d, alternately, every two hours.
8th.-Some amelioration in the symptoms generally.
Continue the medicines.
9 jh.--Great and decided amendment in every respect. The pain is



AND PLEURISY IN ROBUST PERSONS.


33


still felt, but in a mitigated degree; expectoration not so red; breathing
more calm and deep; tongue cleaning; and but little thirst.
Continue both medicines, at longer intervals.
10th.-He is much astonished at his improved condition, being, to all
outward appearance, well. Has no pain; no fever; no thirst; but little
cough; and spits a small quantity of white phlegm. He sleeps well, and
can lie on either side. Auscultation betrays considerable consolidation
of the lung, there being dulness, and almost entire absence of respiratory
murmur in the seat of disease.
Take Phosphorus 12th, three times a day.
12th.-Respiratory sound much restored; otherwise quite well.
Continue the medicines a few days longer. Cured.
CASE IV.-W. F-, aged 48; a tall, thin man, generally considered strong.
March 8th, 1848.-Twenty-four hours ago taken with shivering, which
still continues when he moves or turns in bed. He complains of pain
shooting through the right breast to the back, catching and stopping his
breath every time he inspires. His breathing is short and rapid; he is
distressed with a violent cough, which causes him great agony, and compels him to cry out; he expectorates a little white, thin phlegm; his pulse
is 1.00, full and hard; he has a hot skin; is very thirsty; and loathes
food.
Take Aconite 3d, directly, then Phosphorus 6th, every four hours.
10th.-Wonderfully better. There is but very little pain remaining
-his breathing is deep, free, and regular-pulse soft, and natural; skin
cool; and no thirst.
To quote his own words, " he feels quite a different man."
Continue the medicine.
llth.-Being anxious about business, and at the same time rather selfwilled, he yesterday afternoon insisted upon getting up and going out.
There was a cold east wind blowing; he got chilled, and to-day is
suffering from an attack of diarrhoea. His cough is also more troublesome.
Take Mercurius 6th, every four hours.
12th.-Diarrhoea   entirely subsided.  He has cough, and severe
headache.
Belladonna 3d, at bed time.



34


INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS


13th.-Loose cough, and much headache.
Bryonia 6th, every six hours.
15th.-Still bronchial cough, and much perspiration at night.
Mercurius 6th, three times a day.
20th.-Has little or no cough; enjoys his food; gains strength; and
goes out daily to attend to business.
Take two or three doses of Sulphur. Cured.
CASE V.-G. M-, a robust, temperate man.
November 2d, 1846.-Caught cold, and had chills four days ago.
Yesterday morning felt severe pain under the right arm pit, extending
down the side towards the lower ribs, and piercing him through the
chest "like a knife." It impedes his respiration to a distressing degree,
compelling him to hold his breath, fixing him as in a vice, in an immoveable position on the affected side, and even then he moans piteously
with each inspiration. His suffering is much aggravated by a short,
hacking cough, in which he expectorates a small quantity of white
phlegm. There is a good deal of dulness on percussion, and almost
entire obliteration of the respiratory murmur in the lower half of the
lung.  Constitutionally he is also very ill, having rapid pulse, hot skin,
intense thirst, headache, foul tongue, which frequently gets dry, and
anxious expression of countenance.
Prescription: Aconite 3d, every hour.
3d.-Eight hours after commencing the medicine, the pain began to
abate, and has continued to do so up to this time.  He now lies on his
back, breathing freely and calmly. Constitutional excitement much subdued; pulse 80-is nearly free from thirst and headache. This morning
has spat up a considerable quantity of phlegm, streaked with blood.
Take Bryonia 3d, every three hours. Aconite 3d, at bed time.
5th.-Mending rapidly. Scarcely a trace of pain remaining, even in
coughing. Expectoration purulent and brickdust colour: pulse natural;
tongue moist; no thirst. Complete absence of resonance and respiratory
murmur in region of disease. Loud bronchial respiration in the upper
part of the lung, with mucous rale.
Take Phosphorus 6th, every four hours.
7th.-Convalescent. Dull space in the chest more circumscribed.
Loose cough.
Continue Phosphorus, twice a day.



AND PLEURISY IN ROBUST PERSONS.


35


10th.-He walks to my house, a distance of half a mile. Complains
of shortness of breath, and weakness.
Continue the medicines.
13th.-Attends again, feeling perfectly well, and intending to resume
his occupation in a few days. The healthy sounds in the chest are nearly
restored.
Sulphur 12th, twice a day.
This patient had a similar attack some years previously. He was then
bled five times, blistered, &c., and detained at home three weeks. The
present attack (inflammation of the lungs and pleurisy combined) was as
severe a case of the kind as I ever saw. Yet we see him restored to
health, and fit to resume his occupation in about twelve days. There
was here no loss of blood-consequently, but very little debility, and a
proportionately rapid recovery.
CASE VI.-A-, a girl, 15 years old.
July 10th, 1847.-Has been ill twenty-four hours. Was taken in the
first instance with shivering. She is now burning hot; complains of
headache, and thirst. Her pulse is rapid, hard, and jerking; she has a
severe, sharp, piercing pain in the left side of the chest, high up under
the arm. It hurts her dreadfully every time she draws her breath; and
when the cough, with which she is troubled, comes on, she cannot help
calling out with the agony. There is slight dulness on percussion. A
little roughness in the pleuritic surfaces. The respiratory murmur but
slightly altered.
Take Aconite 3d, every two hours.
11th.-The feverish   symptoms have entirely subsided, and the
breathing is much easier. The pain is felt, and causes a slight catch,
only when she breathes deeply, or coughs.
Take Bryonia 3d, every four hours.
13th.-The pain felt very slightly on taking a deep inspiration, experimentally. She considers herself well. There are no unnatural sounds
in the chest.
A few more doses of Bryonia, at longer intervals, followed by Sulphur
12th. Cured.
She attended at my residence throughout the attack.



36


INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS


CAsE VII.-Mrs. A. L-, aged 38.
February 9th, 1847.-Has been ill three days. Complains of a severe,
darting, piercing pain, immediately under the left breast, causing a
sudden stop or catch every time she inspires. She can speak only in
broken sentences, and holds her side for ease. She had severe shiverings
at first, but is now in a high state of fever-being hot in skin, thirsty,
and complaining of headache. Her pulse is quick, small, and incompressible.
There is some slight dulness on percussion-the rubbing pleuretic
sound is very distinct. The respiratory murmur is interrupted only by
very slight crepitation, in a circumscribed portion of the lung.
Take Aconite 3d, every two hours.
10th.-All the febrile symptoms greatly abated.  The pain is still
severe.
Take Bryonia 3d, every four hours. Aconite 3d, at bed time.
llth.-Much relieved of the pain and difficulty of breathing; she has
no fever, and the pulse is natural in every respect. There is a good
deal of dulness on percussion and imperfect respiratory murmur; the
sound being at the same time louder than natural in the upper part of
the chest.
Take Sulphur 12th, every four hours.
13th.-The respiratory murmur, and resonance on percussion, nearly
natural. No pain; no constitutional disorder. Sits up in the day,
enjoys her food, and sleeps well at night.
Continue the Sulphur a day or two longer. Cured.
CASE VIII.-Mrs. K-, aged 33. A short, stout, florid person.
February 22d, 1848.-Has been ill three days, with a pain in the right.
side, which has continued gradually to increase to its present intensity.
It is of a cutting, darting kind, "like knives" piercing the side of the
chest just under the breast, and is much aggravated by breathing, motion,
and lying down in bed. She has a dry cough which distresses her excessively. She is very thirsty; complains of headache; is hot, and at
times shivering. Her pulse is quick, and hard.
Take Aconite 3d, every two hours.
23d.-The pain is greatly abated; as are also the constitutional symp



AND PLEURIST IN ROBUST PERSONS.


37


toms; there being but little fever, thirst, or headache. The pulse is more
subdued in force, and less frequent.
Take Bryonia 3d, every three or four hours: Aconite 3d, at bed time.
-24th and 26th.-She continues the same medicine, with the same good
effect. She now feels the pain but very slightly, even in deep respiration, and there is no constitutional disturbance.
28th.-She is perfectly well, with the exception of some cough, for
which she takes Phosphorus twice a day, and subsequently Sulphur every
night at bed time.
This patient, like the previous one, attended at my house.
Two or three of these patients, it will have been remarked,
visited me at my residence, throughout the attack. This
circumstance is referred to, as strikingly corroborative of
what I have before stated, viz.-that the debility commonly
attendant upon such cases, when treated after the old method,
is -more the effect of the remedies than of the disease. An
inevitable consequence of repeated bleedings, is a lengthened
confinement to bed. The patient's strength continues to fail,
in a rapidly increasing ratio, with every repetition of the loss,
and only ceases to do so, when the remedy is discontinued.
Under Homoeopathy the case is just the reverse. The abatement of the symptoms, and the return of the patient's strength
are simultaneous: they keep even pace with each other; and,
at that point in the disease, at which, in Allopathic practice,
the patient reaches the lowest degree of debility, in Homoeopathic practice, he is found with powers comparatively unimpaired.



40


INFLAMMATlON OF THE LUNGS


put his system to the severest test, show that the circumstances of a
disease must be desperate, over which it will not triumph. Treated
Allopathically, this lady, as far as my experience enables me to judge,
would have stood not the slightest chance of recovery. But even admitting that her life might have been saved--at what a price must it have
been purchased! After the repeated bleedings which she must have
borne, and the blisterings and salivation which she must have
undergone, where would have been the strength to sustain her through
that other ordeal, which awaited her so near at hand?
CASE II.-Mrs. L-, aged 72.
June 17th, 1848.-She has been ill, and under the care of a medical
gentleman of the old school, the last five days. He bled her to 16
ounces, applied two blisters to the chest, and gave calomel. He pronounced an unfavorable opinion of the case, but, being compelled to
leave town yesterday afternoon, and the patient continuing to get worse,
I am summoned to attend her at nine o'clock this evening. I find her
in a most dangerous and deplorable condition: in short, to all appearance
sinking rapidly. She lies prostrate on her back, sunk low down towards
the foot of the bed, and throwing her limbs about, as persons do, from
extreme exhaustion. Her breathing is rapid, short, and spasmodic; she
has a dreadful cough, with rattling of phlegm in the chest, which she has
not power to expectorate. She complains (as distinctly as she can, being
almost speechless) of an agonizing pain in her side when she breathes
and coughs. There is a hectic flush on her cheeks. Her tongue is
dry, brown, and parched; and she is intensely thirsty.  Her skin
is dry, and the pulse 150 in the minute, as nearly as it can 'be
reckoned.
Take Aconite 3d, directly, and Rhus 3d, afterwards, every hour.
18th.-Ten o'clock-morning. Already a marvellous change has
supervened. She is lying comfortably on her side, and well up in bed;
complains of no pain: the cough has nearly left her; her tongue is moist;
and she has no thirst. She says, in a firm voice, and with clear intellect,
"I know I am better: I feel my disease relieved."  Notwithstanding
this improvement she is still alarmingly weak, owing, in a great degree,
to a severe bowel complaint, which came on in the night, and still continues.  She attributes it to the calomel powders which were taken up
to the time I saw her.
Take Arsenicum 3d, every two hours.



AND PLEURISY IN DELICATE PERSONS.


41


19th.-The purging ceased a few hours after she commenced the medicine.  In every other respect she is greatly better, with the exception
that she is distressingly restless; breathing spasmodically, and at times
tossing about from side to side: all this resulting, evidently, from debility, and not from the progress of the disease.
Take Rhus 3d, every two hours.
20th.-Very much better. The restlessness has entirely subsided. She
is perfectly calm and quiet, and altogether so much improved as to
warrant me in pronouncing her out of danger.
Continue the Rhus, every four hours.
21st.-Up and dressed, and sitting in another room; enjoys light food.
Has a little loose cough, and perspires at times.
Take Phosphoric Acid 12th, three times a day.
22d.-Again up and doing remarkably well: eating a mutton chop for
dinner.
She continued her medicine two or three days longer, and, at the end
of a week, was sufficiently restored to travel a considerable distance to
her own home, in the country.
CASE III.-R. T-, aged 50.
September 21st, 1847.-Though in years in the prime of life, his constitution has become completely shattered by a complication of chronic
diseases, from which he has suffered many years, and for the relief of
which he has undergone a great deal of surgical and medical treatment.
The present attack has existed three days. He was seized in the first
instance with cold shivers, succeeded, shortly, by a severe pain in the
side. On visiting him, for the first time, to-day, I find him alarmingly
ill. His breathing is hurried, short, irregular, and attended with a catch
or sudden stop in the middle of each inspiration. He complains of a
stabbing pain through the right breast, which is increased to an agonizing
amount in coughing; it also prevents his lying on that side. There is
crepitation in the superior and middle portions of the lung, and dulness
on percussion; mucous rattle in the lower portion. He expectorates a
good deal of white phlegm. I never saw a man so thoroughly prostrated
by such an attack.   His limbs tremble like an aspen leaf when he
attempts to move, and his speech is faltering. His pulse is 120 in the
minute, full, and jerking. His skin burning hot; his tongue brown, dry,
and parched; and he is intensely thirsty.
Aconite 3d, every two hours.



42


INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS


22d.-At four o'clock this morning he broke into a profuse perspiration, which lasted till six.  His skin is now cool and soft; his breathing
calm, deep, and much more free; expectoration mucopurulent. His pulse
is reduced to 95, and is soft and yielding; his tongue is moist, and he is
scarcely at all troubled with thirst.
Repeat Aconite at longer intervals, and take Bryonia 3d,
every four hours.
23d.-Rapid improvement.   His pulse is now at the healthy standard,
(75,) his tongue is moist, and lie has but little thirst.
Continue the Bryonia, at longer intervals.
26th.-A severe attack of diarrhoea supervened yesterday.  It was
speedily rectified by
Rhus 6th, every three hours.
To-day he is progressing most favorably; he wishes to sit up, and
complains of nothing but weakness.
Continue the Rhus.
29th.-Up and dressed, and walking about his room; has a a good
appetite; coughs at times, and spits up some phlegm. He is very
short of breath on exertion; and examination of the lung detects a considerable amount of consolidation, with some mucous rattle.  He has no
pain whatever.
Take Sulphur 12th, twice a day.
October 4th.-He visits me at my house. The lung is rapidly resuming its healthy function.  He soon returned to his business, and
now (twelve months after) is perfectly well in respect to his chest.
Experience warrants me in expressing a confident opinion that this case,
under the ordinary mode of treatment, would have terminated fatally.
Even under the non-debilitating action of Homoeopathic remedies, there
was the greatest fear, in the first instance, of collapse or failure of
power, supervening. The use of the lancet, purgatives, and salivation,
would inevitably have induced that dreaded condition.
CASE IV.-G. L-, aged 45, a tall, spare, and delicate man;
generally has a cough, and is by no means strong.
June 15th, 1S46.-Two nights ago he went to bed quite well; was
seized about midnight with violent shivering, which lasted an hour, and
was succeeded by a severe pain in the left side under the lower ribs.
It still continues, and pierces him through the chest, every time he
coughs or breathes.  He yesterday began to spit up freely a quantity



AND PLEURISY IN DELICATE PERSONS.


43


of thick phlegm and blood, the latter predominating and imparting a
brick-dust colour to the whole mass. There is dulness on percussion,
imperfect respiration, and crepitation in all the lower portion of the
lung, loud bronchial rattle above. He has high fever, marked by thirst,
hot skin, headache, and small rapid pulse. He is forced to lie on his
back.
Take Aconite 3d, every two hours, four doses: then Bryonia 3d,
every four hours.
16th.-Greatly relieved. Repeat the medicine.
17th.-He has but little pain, and no fever or thirst; the cough
is comparatively slight, and the expectoration scarcely tinged with
blood.
Continue the Bryonia.
19th.-No pain. Pulse 60, soft and natural; skin cool; no thirst;
appetite pretty good; absence of respiratory sounds in diseased portion
of lung.
Take Phosphorus 12th, three times a day.
21st.-Slight crepitating rattle in some portion of diseased part.
He is quite convalescent, visiting me at my house, and anticipating
a resumption of his employment in two or three days. He is perfectly
well at the present date, (March, 1.848,) and has had no illness in the
interval.
CASE V.-Thomas B-, aged 31; of spare, delicate habit,
and weakly constitution.     Formerly a waterman. The last
year and a half employed in boiler-making, which he thinks
is too laborious for his strength. Five weeks ago he had an
attack of inflammation of the chest, not so severe as that under
which he is now labouring; he was then attended by a gentleman from a dispensary; leeched, blistered, &c., &c., and detained at home three weeks.
April 26th, 1847.-Having resumed his work a fortnight, was seized
two days ago, with shiverings and headache, speedily succeeded by sharp
pain in the right side of the chest, extending downwards from under the
arm, and piercing through the back every time he breathes; and particularly so in coughing. He spits up a quantity of brown stuff, tinged
with blood.  There is almost a total absence of respiratory sound, and
complete dulness on percussion. His pulse is 110, full, and hard: skin



44


INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS


hot and dry; tongue coated, and parched; he is very thirsty; and has
no appetite. Feels exceedingly weak and depressed.
Take Aconite 6th, every four hours, alternately, with Rhus 6th.
27th.-Reported as in every way much relieved.
Take Bryonia 3d, every four hours.
28th.-No pain whatever except when he coughs hard. No fever;
no thirst; tongue clean, and moist; pulse 60, soft, and compressible;
expectorates a little clear phlegm.
Continue Bryonia three times a day.
29th.-Mending rapidly.
Take Phosphorus 12th, twice a day.
May 3d.-He attends at my house, reporting himself well; no cough,
pain, fever, or thirst; good appetite; can lie with equal comfort on either
side; breathing sounds nearly natural.
Take a few doses of Sulphur. Cured.
CAsE VI.-I. H-, aged 40, addicted to over-indulgence
in ardent spirits. He had delirium tremens slightly three
years ago; and has ever since been in a very delicate, ailing,
shaky condition.
March 31st, 1846.-The day before yesterday, was attacked with
vomiting, chills and heats, followed by severe pain, piercing through the
right breast to the back, much aggravated by coughing and deep inspiration. His breathing is now quick and short, and attended with a
catching stitch in the side. He has a loose, hacking cough, which causes
him great agony. His pulse is 118 in the minute, throbbing, full, and
soft; his skin is hot; and he has much thirst and headache. There is
almost entire absence of respiratory murmur and resonance over the
diseased part of the lung. Mustard poultices have been applied to the
chest, and opening medicines taken inwardly, without procuring the
smallest relief.
Take Aconite 3d, every two hours.
April lst.-Yesterday he could not move in bed without great pain
and difficulty-to-day he is dressed and sitting up in another room.
The pain in his side is gone, his skin is cool; he has no thirst;
his pulse is 95, soft, and compressible; cough not nearly so troublesome. In the afternoon, symptoms of delirium tremens manifested
themselves: he sees horrible objects in the room; talks about them



AND PLEURISY IN DELICATE PERSONS.


46


ridiculously; starts, and jumps up under some sudden impulse, which
as instantly vanishes. He has not slept the last two nights. He per.
spires freely.
Take Opium 3d, every two hours.
April 2d.-The spectres were neither so frequent in their visits, nor
so frightful in appearance, during the night: being chiefly composed of
fantastical figures and laughing faces. At five in the morning, he fell into
a sound sleep, which lasted some hours. He awoke calm and collected,
and continues so at the present moment. He is now only disturbed
by his cough.
Take Rhus 12th, every four hours.
5th and 7th.-Progressing most favorably.  His appetite is good.
He is so much better as to be able to attend me at my residence.
Hepar Sulph. 12th, every night.
10th.-Reports himself perfectly well.
There is no point in the practice of medicine better understood than
the drunkard's inability to bear the loss of blood, or any other depletory
remedy. A few leeches applied, or a brisk purgative given, to a person
predisposed by intemperance to delirium tremens, will sometimes induce
that formidable disease. Such a state of constitution, combined with
inflammation of the chest, presents to the Allopathist the most embarrassing combination. The original disease calls aloud for the lancetdelirium tremens as loudly forbids its employment. Between the two the
patient sinks.
Homoeopathic remedies, as in the case before us, at once dispel the
difficulty.
These cases are exceedingly interesting, as exhibiting, in a
forcible manner, the vast importance attaching to the fact, that
Homoeopathic remedies are not in the slightesi degree debilitating. None of these patients (if we except case No. 4) would
have borne the loss of blood to a sufficient extent to arrest the
disease.  No. 2 was actually sinking under its influence.     In
the case of No. 6, its employment was absolutely interdicted
by a predisposition to delirium tremens. In the others, either
from age, or constitutional weakness, there was a general want
of that power, which would have been necessary to enable
them to bear up under the combined forces of the disease, and



46         INFLA-MMA&TION OF THE LUN{GS, ETC.
exhausting remedies. The probability is, that they would all
have died.
We have also in these cases, a striking illustration of a truth
to which I have before alluded, viz.-that once a favorable
impression is made upon the disease, the subsequent amendment is almost sure to be Steadily and uninterruptedly progressive. In Allopathic practice the physician's nerves are kept
constantly, on the stretch, by the fear that any advantage gained
over the disease by bleeding, one moment, may, the next, be
lost in the accession, either of reaction, calling for a repetition
of the operation, or a failure of strength from the loss that has
already, been sustained. The case is thus reduced to a game
of chance: the patient being the stakes; the players, Death,
and the Doctor.



INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS AND PLEURISY
IN CHILDREN.
THEF greater mortality which prevails in the first five years
of existence, over any other period of equal length, suggests
two important questions, viz.:-to what is this attributable?
and how may it be prevented?
Among the children of the poorer classes, much of this
fatality may doubtless be ascribed to the untoward circumstances often inseparable from their condition in life-impure
air-insufficient and unwholesome food-imperfect clothing,
and bad nursing, Hygienic observances and sanitary regulations, may do much towards lessening the mortality arising
from these causes. There are, however, other causes constantly
in operation, affecting alike the children of the rich and the
poor: the influence of atmospheric changes, and the peculiar
excitability of the nervous and vascular systems which characterises the age of childhood. These must ever remain beyond
our control. We are thus forced to the conclusion, that, in
spite of all our preventive efforts, the spring-time of life will
continue to be the harvest-time of death, and remain more
exposed than any other period to the attacks of disease, until
some means more prompt and efficient than those at present in
use, shall be adopted to combat these diseases. Prevent them
we cannot: Cure them we may.
Either in their simple form, or as accompaniments of other
disorders, such as scarlet fever, measles, hooping-cough, &c.,
inflammation of the lungs and pleurisy operate more powerfully to the destruction of infantile existence than all other
diseases put together. Placing all his reliance in the treatment of inflammation generally in the use of depletory agents,
the Allopathist endeavours to subdue these diseases by bleeding, leeches, blisters, and purgatives. The experience of the



AND PLEUIRISY IN CHILDREN.


49


CAsE 1.1-Emma H-, aged 5 years.
November 21st, 1847.-Eighlt o'clock in the evening. Through a
mistake on the part of the messenger who was sent for me, a neighboui
ing medical gentleman was called in to see this patient. The desperate
condition in which he found her, induced him at once to declare her case
hopeless-that in fact she was theen dying. He declined prescribiug any
medicine; but, as a last resource, told the miother to apply cloths soaked
in hot vinegar to the cliest, and put the feet in a mustard bath. The
mistake above referred to having been rectified, I saw the child about ten
minutes after.  The following is the condition she then presented-slhe
way lying across her mother's lap, her legs hanging over one side, and
the head thrown as far back as possible over thc other. Her mouth was
wide open, and gasping for breath; the eyelids were half closed-she
was congested in the head anid face; lethargic and insensible. Her
breathing was exceedingly rapid and tumultuous.   Every now and
then a short, hard cough supervened, and, *from tIhe momentary interruption it caused in the breathinigr, seemed to threaten suffocation.
Her pulse was throbbing, ard too iapid to be counted.   Thle skin
was hot, yet covered in parts, especially oil the forehead, wvith perspiration.
She had been ill four days, gradually gettinig worse up to this morning,
when matters assumed the serious aspect just described.
Unconscious that she had been visited by atny otlier medical man, I at
once prescribed Acoi-iite, to he given every quarter of an hiour.
Visiting her two hours after, the alteration which had already taken
place in her condition surpaassed mny expect ation. Confident in tme power
of Aconite, I was hardly prepared fur such a striking change. Tile
tumultuous excitemient hiad almnost entirely subsidled; the child was lying
in bed, brent bing comiparatively calmnly. The brain was relieved  she
was perfectly conscious, amid answered when spokemi to. Her skin was
soft and perspiring geiitly. All the ot her symiptomis liad imiproved in
equial proportion.
Continue the medicine, every two hours.
22d.-Furtdlicr aiid great aniendnicut.  She scarcely applears like tl,same child.  She is clicerful and intelligent; breathes freely an]I
3



AND PLEURISY IN CHILDREN.


51


Take Aconite 3d, every two hours: on the 15th, Phosphorus every
four hours.
16th.-The medicines have acted like magic. There is to day no
trace of the disease.
CASE IV.-E. W-, a female child, aged 7 months.
October 13th, 1847.-Nine o'clock in the evening. She has been ill
twenty-four hoxrs. She is thoroughly oppressed with the disease, lying
with her eyes closed, and apparently almost unconscious. She is labouring distressingly for her breath; catching with each inspiration, as if
she would suffocate herself rather than endure the pain which respiration
produces. She is also harrassed with a short cough, which makes her
cry out. There is loud puerile respiration, with crepitation, in all the
lower and posterior portion of the chest on the right side, and rubbing
sound very distinct in the pleura. She is burning hot in skin; and her
pulse is too rapid to be reckoned. She has incessant craving for cold
water.
Take Aconite 3d, every hour.
14th.-Ten in the morning. Very much relieved: her breathing is
deeper and more regular, and has lost the " catch;" but it is still too
rapid, (95 in the minute); she is not so thirsty; there is a loose
cough, which still causes her to cry out with pain.  She is more
lively and happy, and her eyes are open and bright: skin still hot and
dry.
Take Aconite 6th, and Belladonna 6th, alternately, every two hours.
15th.-Skin cool and natural. There is some catching and difficulty
in the breathing.
Take Aconite and Bryonia 12th, alternately, every three hours.
16th.-Decided amendment. The rubbing sound has disappearedthere is some dulness, with crepitating and mucous rattle in the diseased
lung. Notwithstanding these improvements, she is still seriously ill, and
breathes too quickly. She is also very weak.
Take Phosphorus 12th, every four hours.
18th.-Progressing most favorably. Respiratory action, and murmur,
much improved, skin cool, she is lively and cheerful.
Continue the medicine: under the action of which, in a few days, she
perfectly recovered.
This case appeared, at the commencement, so desperately severe, and



52


INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS, ETC.


proved ultimately so obstinate, that had I treated it Allopathically, I
believe I should have stood no chance of subduing the disease. The
child would not have borne the repeated use of those active measures
which such a case, in Allopathic practice, would have imperatively demanded.
CASE V.-Ellen D-, aged 8 months; naturally a weakly,
delicate child, and still farther reduced by the present attack.
November 8th, 1847.-Was poorly with a cough all last week. The
last twenty-four hours she has been much worse. She is now in a high
fever; has hot skin, rapid pulse, and much thirst. Her breathing is
quick, short, and catching, and attended with a severe and painful cough.
Auscultation detects complete dulness and absence of respiration in the
lower part of the right lung, with loud bronchial and mucous rattles
above.
Take Phosphorus 12th, every two hours.
9th.-Better in every respect. Continue.
10th.-No fever, heat, or thirst; breathing sounds much restored;
some loose cough.
Continue the medicine twice a day for a few days longer. She was
then well, and had no further attendance.



BRONCHITIS.


THis is a term applied to inflammation of the bronchithe air-passages intervening between the windpipe and the
substance of the lungs. In its milder forms it is the common
cause of temporary cough; and when, as often happens in our
damp and variable climate, it becomes confirmed, it constitutes
the long-standing, or what is called "constitutional cough,"
with which many, especially aged, persons are troubled.
Although individuals of all ages are exposed to its attack, children and old people suffer from it most severely. Less dangerous than the disease we have just been considering, it generally lasts longer, and, when very acute, is productive of more
suffering to the patient than that complaint. Frequently complicated with inflammation of the lungs, and closely allied with
it in many of its symptoms, it yet has peculiar signs of its
own, by which it is easily and clearly distinguishable. Of
these the most striking are the loud wheeze, which, in the
earlier stages, accompanies the breathing; the cough, more
constant and distressing, and attended with a more copious
expectoration; the pain in the chest, often very severe, and of
a burning kind, and more widely diffused than in inflammation
of the lungs. The last symptom, as well as the cough, is often
greatly aggravated by the recumbent posture, so that the
patient is not able to lie down in bed for several days and
nights together. The physical signs elicited by auscultation
are also indicative of the disease.
The treatment ordinarily adopted is most complicated and
indefinite. Some medical men treat it actively, by bleeding,
cupping, leeching, blisters, mercury, &c. Others, running into
the opposite extreme, do but very little, and leave nature to
her own efforts. The greater number pursue a middle course,



54


BRONCHITIS.


bleed moderately, apply blisters and embrocations to the chest,
administer expectorants, emetics, and purgatives.     Of these
three plans, the second, possessing the advantage of not exhausting the patient's strength, is the least objectionable. The
others harass and debilitate the patient, without eradicating
the disease.
The Homoeopathist adopts neither of these modes. He does
not exhaust his patient by bleeding, and other antiphlogistic
means; nor does he pursue the do-nothing system, and leave
nature unaided; but, by the employment, in the first instance,
of such remedies as exercise a strong controlling power over
inflammatory action in general; and secondly, of such as act
upon the bronchial membrane in particular, he succeeds in
bringing this painful, and, at times, obstinate disease, to a more
speedy termination than can be effected by the ordinary Allo.
pathic measures.
CASE I.-Mr. P-, aged 45. A healthy, plethoric man.
January 9thl, 1841-.-Has been poorly the last week, with cold and
slight cough. He is now labouring under all the symptoms of acute
bronchitis, viz.:-quick, laboured breathing, greatly accelerated by the
least exertion, and attended with a loud wheeze; a sense of oppression
and tightness across the upper part of the chest, and a violent, irritating,
almost incessant cough, giving rise to a scanty watery expectoration. A
racking headache, hot skin, rapid pulse, great thirst, alternating heats
and chills, indicate much constitutional disturbance. Auscultation betrays
loud sonorous rattle in the upper part of both lungs, but more particularly the right. He is unable to lie down in bed.
To take Aconite 3d, every two hours.
10th.-All the febrile symptoms greatly abated: pulse more calm;
thirst less; skin cooler. The chest is also considerably relieved: the
sense of tightness is removed; lie breathes slower, and more regularly,
and the wheeze is scarcely audible.   The expectoration  is more
copious, and of a yellow colour; the mucous has for the most part
superseded the sonorous rattle.  He now suffers from intense headache, which seems to arise from, and to be much aggravated by, the.
cough.
Take Bryonia 3d, every four hours.



BRONCHITIS.


55


11th.-Amendment in every respect: his cough is much easier, and
he has but very little headache; he has, at times, some heat about the
chest.
Take Spongia 12th, three times a day.
12th.-His breathing is calm and easy, the expectoration much diminished, and losing its yellow purulent character; slept soundly some
hours in the night.
Continue the medicine.
14th.-Dressed and sitting up, feeling quite comfortable, and complaining only of a little weakness, and some cough, which troubles him
occasionally.
Take Hepar Sulph. 12th, twice a day.
From this date he considered himself well, and in a few days resumed
his occupation.
CASE II.-Mrs. F-, aged 47.
January 7th, 1848.-Caught cold ten days ago, and has ever since had
a troublesome cough.   Eighteen hours ago she was seized with the
following symptoms, which still continue in an aggravated degreetightness across the chest, and inability to breathe without great pain
and difficulty; her inspirations are slow and laboured, and accompanied
by a remarkably loud wheeze; she complains of burning heat in the chest,
and a darting, cutting pain, passing from under the left breast, through
to the back: this is much increased by inspiration, and causes her to
moan every time she draws her breath. She has constant distressing
cough. The whole of the chest presents to the ear the loudest sonorous
rattle; her pulse is quick and small; skin hot; mouth parched and
dry.
Take Aconite 3d, every two hours.
8th.-The change in her complaint since yesterday is very striking.
The wheezing, which might then be heard distinctly outside the room,
is now scarcely audible at the bed side. Her breathing is so calm and
easy, that, without questioning her, one would not suspect that she was
labouring under disease of the chest. She has but little fever or thirst,
and the pulse is nearly natural. She still feels the pain through the
chest in breathing deeply, or coughing. There is free expectoration of
mucus, and loud mucous rattle in upper part of ohest; some dulness,
on percussion and auscultation, in centre of left lung.
Take Bryonia 3d, every four hours,



56


BRONCHITLS.


9th and 10th.-Progressing most favorably under the action of the
same medicine.
12th.-She got up yesterday, and is now dressed and sitting by the
fireside, feeling " quite comfortable ' Her breathing is natural; she has
out little cough; the pain in the side is removed; she begins to take food,
A few doses of Sulphur are prescribed, and being now quite convalescent,
no further medical attendance is needed.
CASE III.-A fine fat child, aged 16 months; of a very irritable temperament.
January 12th, 1847.-Has been ill two days; his present symptoms
are of an unusually aggravated character. The breathing is very rapid,
the wheezing remarkably loud, producing a sawing noise. He is very
hot, feverish, and thirsty. There is also much gastric disorder: he is
sick, and the bowels are much relaxed.
Take Aconite 6th, and Chamomilla 6th, alternately, every two hours.
13th.-He is greatly relieved; the purging has ceased; he is less
restless and irritable; skin cooler; cough loose, and less constant; the
wheezing much abated. He still vomits occasionally.
Take Ipecacuanha 6th, every two hours.
14th.-He has the same medicine again, and on the 16th is perfectly
well.
CASE IV.-ER. W-, aged 2- years. A          florid, stout, hearty
boy; has been ill 24 hours.
April 21st, 1847.-Has a loud dry cough; is husky and hoarse; his
breathing is rapid, and attended with the characteristic wheeze; he is
feverish, very thirsty, hot in skin; his pulse is rapid, and he is very
restless.
Take Aconite 6th, every four hours.
23d.-With the exception of a little troublesome cough this child is
perfectly well, his breathing is natural, skin cool, has no thirst. He is
laughing and romping.
Take Chamomilla 12th, twice a day. Cured.
These cases might be multiplied, if needful, almost to infinity.
Enough have been quoted to show with what facility the disease



BRONCHITIS.                      57
yields to the action of Homceopathic remedies.     Efficient,
even in persons of the most advanced age, it is in the disorder, as it occurs in children, that the power of these remedies is most strikingly conspicuous.  In the latter respect we
shall have occasion to recur to the subject when treating of
hooping-cough, measles, &c.



INFFLAMMATION OF TUE WINDPIPE.


59


a sense of stricture in the same part, a cough, and a difficult
rather than a painful, deglutition, which were soon succeeded
by fever, and a quick and laborious respiration. The necessity
of bloodletting suggesting itself to the General, he procured a
bleeder in the neighbourhood, who took from his arm in the
night, twelve or fourteen ounces of blood. He could not by
any means be prevailed on by the family to send for the attending physician till the following morning, who arrived at Mount
Vernon at about eleven o'clock on Saturday. Discovering the
case to be highly alarming, and foreseeing the fatal tendency
of the disease, two consulting physicians were immediately
sent for, who arrived, one at half after three, and the other at
four o'clock in the afternoon. In the mean time were employed
two pretty copious bleedings, a blister was applied to the part
affected, two moderate doses of calomel were given, and an
injection was administered, which operated on the lower intestines, but all without any perceptible advantage; the respiration becoming still more difficult and distressing. Upon the
arrival of the first of the consulting physicians, it was agreed,
as there were yet no signs of accumulation in the bronchial
vessels of the lungs, to try the result of another bleeding,
when about thirty-two ounces of blood were drawn, without
the smallest apparent alleviation of the disease. Vapours of
vinegar and water were frequently inhaled; ten grains of
calomel were given, succeeded by repeated doses of emetictartar, amounting in all to five or six grains,, with no other
effect than a copious discharge from the bowels. The powers
of life seemed now manifestly yielding to the force of the disorder; blisters were applied to the extremities, together with
a cataplasm of bran and vinegar to the throat. Speaking,
which was painful from the beginning, now became almost im.
practicable; respiration grew more and more contracted and
imperfect, till half after eleven on Saturday night, retaining
the full possession of his intellect, when he expired without a
struggle.... Several hours before his death, after
repeated efforts to be understood, he succeeded in expressing



INFLAMMATION OF THE WINDPIPE.


61


administered, all by his own directions. It was clear that by
this time the inflammation had travelled to parts of equally
vital importance-the air-passages of the lungs, which, (from
the specific nature of the inflammation, added to his own, it is
to be feared, injudicious treatment of himself,) was combated
in vain, and he died on Wednesday morning."
" It would be out of place here (observes the author), to
discuss the question of the propriety of active and extreme
antiphlogistic treatment in any cases of sore throat, but the
case of Dr. Lynch is one of many in which depletory measures, it is feared, hastened, rather than retarded the fatal
termination."
Almost simultaneously with this event, another valuable
member of the profession fell a victim to a similar attack.
Mr. Quekett, of London, was taken ill on Monday, the 21st
of June, 1847. Symptoms of inflammation of the throat and
windpipe speedily manifested themselves-within a few hours
the pain shifted to the larynx-deglutition became almost impossible, and the voice was reduced to a whisper. This condition continued, with slight and temporary alleviation, for
several days. On Saturday he suddenly exclaimed that something had burst in his throat, and he instantly swallowed half
a pint of liquid, though with some difficulty, and his voice
began to mend. As soon as this affection subsided, the lungs
became diseased-the symptoms rapidly augmented, attended
with great exhaustion, and on Monday evening, the 28th, he
died.  "The remedies employed were venesection (once),
leeching (about seven dozen leeches were applied, at different
times to the throat and chest), blisters, two doses of calomel,
mercurial inunction, and enemata. After the first day it was
found impossible to administer remedies by the mouth."*
Not disputing that this treatment was in strict accordance
with the generally received notions of correct practice, the
question forces itself irresistibly upon the mind, what part,
"* Condensed from the 'Medical Directory.'



62


(32  ]fFLIMMATION OF THIE WI1DPIPE'.


seeing that it effected no good, did the loss of blood from'
venesection and eighty-four leeches play in inducing the extreme exhaustion under which this patient died?  Again, had
this loss been avoided, and a system of medicine employed,
which always admits of remedies being administered by the
Inouth, is it not fair to presume that the result would have
been very different?"
These fatal examples of the utter inadequacy of bleeding,
and other active remedies, to arrest the onward progress of
the disease (to say nothing of their acknowledged injurious
properties), convey an important lesson to the Allopathist.
They admonish him, in language more powerful than living
lips could utter, to abandon a system, to which, almost in the
same breath, one of its ablest advocates is compelled to apply
the terms, "hurtful," "difficult," "doubt," and "dilemma."
Dr. Lynch wrote an 'Essay on Laryngitis'-and, as if in condemnation of his own principles, we see him falling a selfimmolated victim   to their mischievous application.    The
American patriot uttered a no less cutting satire upon Allopathy, when, sinking under its painful and exhausting remedies, he prayed "that he might be permitted to die without
firther interruption."
The superiority of the Homoeopathic plan of treatment,
over that just detailed, is too obvious to need description.
Suffice it to say, that there are but few cases of this disease,
in the cure of which, if brought within a reasonable period
from their commencement, under the action of Homoeopathic
remedies, any insurmountable difficulty need be apprehended.
The following   cases, though fortunately not of a very
aggravated kind, afford valuable evidence in support of this
assertion.
CASE I.-A. C-. A tall, thin, fast-growing youth of
fourteen.
June 19th, 1847.-Awoke this morning with headache, and a feeling
of general illness. Attempting to dress himself, was seized with



INFLAMMATION OF THE WINDPIPE.


63


staggering, forced to return to bed, and a severe shivering fit followed.
At four o'clock in the afternoon, on first visiting him, he betrays all ile
symptoms of general fever,, such as throbbing headache, thirst,. hot skin,
rapid pulse, (120 in the minute,) and aching pains in every part of the
body. There is also a feeling of fulness, and tightness, about the throat,
but not sufficient to cause inconvenience. Several of his school-fellows
are at the present time ill in the same way.
Take Aconite 6th, every three hours.
20th.-Great amendment. Fever abated,. he is calm, cool in skin
little headache; pulse mild, and much less frequent. The feeling in the
throat, which was spoken of yesterday, has left that part and passed to
the roof of the mouth, which is considerably inflamed.
Take Belladonna 12th, every four hours.
From this date to the 25th lie continued to mend as favorably as could
be desired.  A little feverishness, however, still hung about him,
causing at one time, severe headache, at another, oppression at the
chest. In the course of the last named day, he was seized, suddenly,
with a. severe pain in the throat, and difficulty of swallowing, and
breathing. Summoned, in haste, to visit him in the evening, I find him
labouring under an attack of Laryngitis.  There is high fever, heat
thirst, quick pulse, &c. Examining the throat inwardly, there is diffused
redness about the fauces, but no swelling of the glands. He complains
of excessive tenderness in the windpipe: he cannot bear the least
pressure on that part. His breathing is dry, husky, and sawing, and isaccompanied by a cough of the like character.
Take Aconite 3d, one dose, then Belladonna,. every two. hours.
26th.-Much the same. The larynx excessively tender; and the voice
hoarse and broken.
Take Spongia 12th, every two hours, preceding it by another dose
of Aconite.
27th.-Wonderfully relieved. He can speak, and swallow      with
ease. The cough is less frequent, and less painful; still some tenderness
on pressure in the front of the throat. Constitutional excitement subdued.
Take Hepar Sulph. every four hours.
28th.-Some hoarseness-in other respects all but well.
Lachesis, twice a day.
29th.-Up and dressed, and eating cold lamb for dinner. Cured.



64


4NTFLAMMATION OF THE WINDPIPEY.


CASE II.--. H-, aged 31; a cook.
April 3d, 18L7.-Went out five evenings ago in a cold east wind. The
next morning, felt an uncomfortable sensation in her throat, which has
gone on increasing, to its present condition. She speaks in a low whisper;
has a tight feeling across the upper part of the throat, as if a cord were
drawn around it.  It gives her great pain to speak, breathe, or swallow,
and the larynx is exceedingly tender to the touch. She has a troublesome,
tickling cough, and occasionally expectorates a small quantity of phlegm.
There is loss of appetite, thirst, headache, some heat of skin, and rather
accelerated pulse.
Take Aconite 6th, and Spongia 6th, alternately, every four hours.
5th.--Grcatly relieved. The voice is all but natural, there being only
an occasional failure of a part of a word. The larynx is not tender when
pressed; she has no fever or thirst, and her appetite is returning; the
cough is loose, and the expectoration easy.
Hepar Sulphuris, three times a day.
7th.-The hoarseness which existed the other day has left her.  All
she complains of now is the cough.
Continue the medicine.
12th.-There is no cough. She has leucorrhoea, and a little hysterical
rising in the throat.
Take Pulsatilla 12th, daily for a week.
19th.-Perfectly well.
CASE III. - C. D-, aged 21. A pale, delicate, young
woman, of a scrofulous habit, having at the present time an
enlarged gland under her jaw, on one side.
April 15th, 1847.-Has felt unwell the last four days, having caught
cold from going out in a sharp cutting wind. She has completely lost
her voice, and cannot speak, breathe, or swallow, without considerable
difficulty; nor can she bear any pressure on the larynx. She got no
sleep last night, on account of a burning heat in the throat. She has
headache, thirst, hot skin, quick pulse, and loss of appetite; is troubled
also with a hoarse, short, hacking cough, and her breathing is attended
with a loud, sawing noise.
Take Aconite 6th, and Spongia 6th, alternately, every four hours.



INFLAMMATION OF THE WINDPIPE.


65


On the 16th.-Continue the Spongia.
17th.-The throat considerably relieved; the voice returning; there
is not so much pain in the larynx, though still tender on being pressed.
She is dizzy, and feels a throbbing pain in the left side of the neck, extending up to the top of the head.
Take Belladonna 6th, every four hours.
19th.-She is much better of the last-named symptoms, but complains
of a burning pain in the upper part of the chest and throat.
Take Arsenicum 12th, three times a day.
22d.-Greatly improved: voice natural; no pain or burning in the
throat; some cough.
Take Hepar Sulph. 12th, twice a day.
26th.-Perfectly well in every respect.
CASE IV.-A     stout, strong, servant girl; has been ill eight
hours.
October 14th, 1847.-In a high fever; has thirst, headache, hot skin,
quick pulse, and alternating heats and chills.  She complains of
pain in the left side of the larynx, much increased by swallowing,
and by pressure.  Voice imperfect; breathing laboured, and longdrawn.
Take Aconite 6th, and Belladonna 6th, alternately, every four hours.
16th.-Voice quite gone.    There is no redness in the throat
within sight, but the larynx is more tender on pressing it outwardly.
There is a slight husky cough, and the constitutional excitement still
continues.
Take Aconite 6th, and Spongia 6th, alternately, every four hours.
19th.-No soreness in the windpipe; voice returning; and in other
respects proportionately better. There is at times a little fever and
thirst.
Take Hepar Sulph. 12th, twice a day. Cured.



CROUP.


67


tartar-emetic in vomiting doses, frequently repeated, and long
continued; mercury in large quantities; blisters; warm baths;
these are all brought into action, not, as in some other diseases, successively, and at intervals spreading over several
days, but almost simultaneously, or, at the utmost, within the
space of a few hours. The number of patients that recover
under this process is marvellously and deplorably small. It
would be a curious experiment to ascertain how many more
would survive, simply from its omision!
Without pretending to assert that Homoeopathy, even in
the majority of cases, is equal to the task of subduing this
formidable disease, it may nevertheless be safely affirmed,
that it holds out an infinitely better prospect of success than
any other mode of treatment. This assertion is amply borne
out by Homoeopathic experience. In my own practice, until
I began to apply this system to such cases as came under my
care, I never had the good fortune to see more than one
recover. Since then I have treated several cases, and, though
I have had to regret the loss of some of them the greater
number have been restored.
The following are striking examples of the latter class.
CASE I.-H. H-, aged 2 years. Sanguine temperament,
dark complexion. Three years ago another child in this family
was attacked with croup, which ended fatally in the course of
twenty-four hours.
November 12th, 1846.-A cold, damp north-east wind prevailing.
Seized, twenty-four hours since, with an almost incessant, shrill, metallic
sounding cough. The breathing, both in inspiration and expiration, is
remarkably laboured and long-drawn, producing a loud, sawing noise.
He is completely prostrated by the attack, lying motionless and almost
insensible across his mother's lap: at the same time throwing his head
back as far as possible in order to straighten the windpipe, and if any
attempt is made to raise him, he appears as if he would be strangled. He
is bloated and congested in the head and face; pulse rapid, and



68


COUrP.


throbbing; skin alternately dry, and bathed in perspiration; incessant
thirst.
Take Aconite 6th, every half hour.
13th.-The cough was so severe in the night, that his parents feared
he would be suffocated. It is more metallic and thoroughly croupy than
yesterday. The breathing is still as loud and rasping, He keeps putting
his hands to his throat as if to tear away something that distresses him.
Pulse less rapid, and the skin not so hot.
Take Aconite 6th, and Spongia 6th, alternately, every hour.
14th.-Slept two hours yesterday evening; in the night was again
most alarmingly ill, and is now greatly exhausted.  The breathing,
though still laboured, is certainly considerably relieved; being more free
and calm, and less dry and husky. The cough is also somewhat looser,
and less metallic. The pulse is subdued, and the skin of a more natural
warmth.
Continue the Spongia, every two hours.
15th.-He was so much better this morning as to get down and run
about the room; but now, at noon, he has resumed his old position on
his mother's lap, lying perfectly still, in a heavy, lethargic state;
breathing rapidly, and with the old sawing noise, but the cough,
though troublesome, has lost its dry, metallic sound, and betrays
the collection of a good deal of the phlegm in the throat and bronchial
tubes.
Take Hepar Sulph. 6th, every two hours.
16th.-The breathing has nearly lost its croupy character, and is now
quick, thoracic, and catching, indicating, together with the auscultatory
signs, an attack of inflammation of the bronchi, and lungs. There is
fever, thirst, and heat of skin.
Take Aconite 6th, every two hours.
In the evening much relieved.
Take Bryonia 6th, every three hours.
From this time his amendment was rapid and uninterrupted, and on
the 19th he was perfectly well.
This child had another attack in the spring of 1848, ahnost as severe
as the foregoing, and recovered as favorably under the use of the same
remedies.
CASE II.--M. B--, a weakly, delicate girl, aged 9 years.
Has been three weeks under medical treatment, at one of the



70


'CROUP.


toy; is cool in skin, and has but little thirst; his breathing is still
rough, and when he coughs, the noise is the same. He had a dreadful
night, and was very ill till two hours ago, when he all at once rallied,.and assumed his present improved aspect.
Take Aconite 12th, and Spongia 12th, alternately, at intervals of
four hours.
13th.-He comes trotting in by his mother's side, cheerful, and well.
He has simply a little cough, which seems to hurt him, since he cries out
when it overtakes him.
Spongia 12th, twice a day. Cured.
CASE IV.-E. S-, a girl, aged 4 years.
May 19th, 1848.-The present attack has been coming on several
days.  She has now all the symptoms of croup in a severe form: loud,
sawing breathing-so loud (especially in the night, when she gets
worse,) as to be audible in any part of the house. A dry, barking cough
comes on in paroxysms, threatening suffocation. She is very thirsty
and hot; and her pulse is rapid. She is heavy and congested in
the head, and throws it back on the pillow, and rolls it from side to
side.
Take Aconite 6th, and Spongia 12th, alternately, every two hours.
20th.-Considerably better: she had a very bad night; but this
morning her breathing is greatly relieved, having nearly lost the croupy
sound, and the cough is loose and easy. The fever has entirely subsided.
Take Hepar Sulph. 12th, every four hours.
21st.-Still progressing rapidly, and favorably.
Spongia, every six hours.
With this she quite recovered.
It is rather remarkable that the parents of this patient also lost a
child in croup some years ago. A similar circumstance has been recorded in connection with two out of the other three cases: strongly
corroborating a fact which has often been observed, viz.:-that the
disease is very apt to prevail in particular families.



72


HOOPING-COt GH.


A proposition so subversive of all sound therapeutical doctrine, the Homoeopathist utterly repudiates. The Allopathist,
by admitting it, robs his system of the only basis on which
any system of medicine, to be permanent and useful, must
rest-and presents to us the absurdity, of a superstructure
without a foundation. To prove this we have but to name,
at random, any of the commonest diseases, and see what we
know of them, either as regards their precise nature or situation. Fever, for the first example-in this disease, the whole
body from head to foot is on fire; every sense disturbed;
every function implicated-what is its nature, and in what
particular spot is it located?  Rheumatism--how shall we
fix its habitation,-how determine its essence?  To day the
pain is here, to-morrow there; now in one joint, now in
another. Once more: the glutton indulges in a debauch, and
awakes in the morning with an agony in his toe! Is that
the seat of the disease?  If so, what mean the aching head,
the general fever, the vomiting, and other stomachic derangements, which mark the accession of Gout?    Question
other disease, in the same way: the result is equally unsatisfactory.
Our acquaintance with disease, in these respects, being so
exceedingly imperfect, and, as a necessary consequence, totally
inadequate " to regulate our practice," it becomes a question,
Do we possess any other " steady guide " to direct us in the
application of our remedies? We unhesitatingly answer in
the affirmative. Since the dawn of medicine, those devoted
to its study must have observed, that, wherever disease existed,
certain outward signs called " symptoms " were never wanting
to indicate its presence: and further, that those symptoms
assuned an infinite variety of feature, according to the varying
character of the disease.  It must also have struck them,
that a state of things so extraordinary, and so constant, could
not exist without an adequate object: that they must be
designed to perform some important office for the good of the
individual in whom they appeared. That office it was reserved



V


HOOPING-COUIGH.                         73
for Hahnemann to discover and explain. He has done so in the
doctrine of "like cures like."*   He has shown, on incontrovertible grounds, that these symptoms-nature's voice made
audible to our senses-constitute the only sure and "steady
guide" to a safe and rational mode of treatment. Hidden from
our view by an impenetrable veil, the nature and operations of
the vital principle, of which disease is only a variation, are alike
beyond our grasp, and unnecessary to our practice. We have
no knowledge of the intimate nature of a disease, but from
its external manifestations, or symptoms. What language is
* The following practical example may, perhaps, render this law more
intelligible than it might otherwise be, to such readers as may be unacquainted with the system, and to whom the above axiom would, consequently, convey no distinct meaning.
Tartar Emetic is one of the most powerful emetics. When taken in
sufficiently large doses, it excites, first of all, deadly nausea, then violent
vomiting, accompanied with great prostration of strength, and cold
sweats.
March 15th, 1849.-Miss H., aged 32, yesterday afternoon was seized
with a feeling of nausea, which speedily augmented into violent vomiting.
Some effervescing medicines, which had previously been prescribed, as well
as everything else, even to a little cold water, was ejected the moment
it was swallowed. Visiting her at 2 o'clock to-day, I found her sitting
up in bed, vomiting violently: she was exceedingly exhausted: her skin
was cold, pulse depressed, and tongue foul. The retching recurred
every few minutes-she complained of pain in the pit of the stomach, and
a sensation of deadly nausea. I instantly placed 3 globules of Tartar
Emetic on her tongue, and left a few more dissolved in water, to be
taken every hour till relief was obtained. There was no return whatever of the vomiting after she took the globules, and in a few hours the
nausea also ceased.
The foregoing case-which, be it observed, was not produced by Tartar
Emetic-but which yielded so magically to that medicine when administered in infinitesimal doses, affords a good illustration of the fundamental
law of Homaeopathy, that "like cures like," or " that the symptoms of
the remedy must correspond with those of the disease," or, more fully
still-" that remedies cure diseases by virtue of their power to produce
similar symptoms in the healthy body."
4



74


HOOPING-COUGH.


to thought, the symptoms are to the disease-the outward
and sensible expression, of an inward condition. Neglecting
the light and guidance which these afford us, we are left to
follow the promptings of imagination and custom, which will
infallibly lead us astray. Following them, as the faithful
guide which nature has voluntarily placed at our service, they
will as unerringly regulate our practice, as does the compass
the course of the mariner.
The Allopathic mode of proceeding, when hooping-cough is
complicated with bronchitis, or pneumonia, is the same as
that which is adopted in those diseases when they appear in
their simple form; such as bleeding, blistering, antimonials,
and calomel. The vascular excitement attendant upon hooping-cough, though it may from time to time be subdued, is
exceedingly prone, from the peculiar nature of the malady, to
be as frequently renewed. To-day you flatter yourself that
you have annihilated your enemy: to-morrow, phoenix-like,
it rises from its ashes to mock your fruitless efforts. The
effect upon the already debilitated constitution of the patient,
of such a lengthened contest, conducted with Allopathic weapons, may easily be imagined-repeated leechings, repeated
blisters, repeated emetics! The frame of a Hercules could
scarcely withstand them: how can the helpless infant hope
to triumph!
It is with regard to this question of debility, arising from
the protracted existence of the disease, and the frequent
recurrence of inflammatory attacks, that the excellence of
the Homoeopathic system is displayed. Making no call upon
the strength of the patient, but being, on the contrary, purely
curative, and, therefore, invigorating, the Homceopathic remedies may be repeated, and continued, not only with impunity,
but with the most decided advantage, as often, and as long,
as any severe symptoms demand their employment.
In this we possess the great desideratum, of which medical
men have always felt the need-the means of converting
hooping-cough from one of the most intractable, dangerous,



i


HOOPING-COUGH.                        75
and fatal of complaints, into one as manageable, and little to
be dreaded, as any other acute disease.
CASE I.-Edward N-, aged 11 years.
December 2d, 1847.-Has had hooping-cough the last two months.
There did not appear to be much inflammatory action till a week ago.
He then became so alarmingly ill as to induce his parents to call in a
medical gentleman, who attended him up to this morning, when he pronounced his condition to be so hopeless that lie could not live the day
out. He declined prescribing any medicine, but, as a last resource,
ordered a large blister to be applied to the chest. The mother, much
alarmed, sought my assistance. On visiting him, I found him labouring
under the following aggravated symptoms of hooping-cough, conjoined
with acute bronchitis. He is lying across his mother's lap, lethargic,
stupid, and drowsy, and if roused for a moment he instantly relapses
into a state of insensibility. The whole face is puffed, bloated, and
livid. His breathing is short, rapid, and catching, and attended with
loud rattling of mucus in the chest and throat. His pulse is exceedingly
quick, and beating tumultuously. His skin is hot, and he has an insatiable thirst for cold water. The fits of coughing are very violent, and
each one appears as if it must inevitably end in suffocation.
Take Aconite 6th, and Belladonna 6th, every hour, alternately.
3d.-He is sitting up on his mother's knee, looking intelligent and
cheerful. There is scarcely any excitement of system remaining. The
breathing is calm and deep, and attended with only slight mucous rale.
His skin is cool; pulse regular, quiet, and subsided in force. There is
very little thirst, and no confusion of intellect. He takes some light
food, and appears altogether better than for some time past. Having
made up their minds yesterday morning to lose their child, it is no
matter of surprise that the parents should be wonder-struck at this
change, and regard it, considering the shortness of the time and the simplicity of the means employed, as almost amounting to a miracle.
He continued the same medicine, at considerably longer intervals.
From this time his restoration was rapid, and interrupted only by one
other slight attack of inflammation, which occurred about a month after,
and was subdued in a few hours. Naturally delicate and scrofulous, he
had become still further debilitated by the hooping-cough, before I saw
him. He was therefore kept under care for some time longer, in order



HOOPING-COUGH.


to restore the general health, which by a little careful treatment was
soon effected.
CASE II.-Mary Ann C-, aged 2- years. A stout, florid child.
March 17th, 1847.-Has been labouring under this attack two days.
She has already undergone active treatment: been leeched, put into
warm baths, had castor oil, &c., with no beneficial result; but, on the
contrary, she is now so alarmingly ill as to compel me to give a very
qualified opinion as to her recovery. She breathes exceedingly rapidly,
performing 70 respirations in the minute, each inspiration being attended
with a loud noise, as though the windpipe was inflamed and narrowed.
There is a short, dry, barking, shrill cough. The eyelids have this afternoon become inflamed and swollen, and discharge a quantity of thick
matter. Her pulse is very rapid, and she is " burnt up with fever."
Take Aconite 6th, every hour.
18th.-The improvement in her condition since last night is such as
almost to lead one to question her identity. After the second dose of
medicine she fell into a sound sleep. This morning she is sitting up,
cheerful, happy, and playing with her toys. Her eyes are bright and
clear, and free from discharge. Her breathing is nearly natural, and
her skin cool. There is only a little thirst and loose cough remaining,
of all the alarming symptoms which yesterday threatened her very
existence.
19th.-A slight return of the discharge from the eyes, and the cough
continues, and becomes more paroxysmal in its character.:
Take Mercurius, every four hours.
20th.-All the inflammatory symptoms have disappeared; and genuine,
distinct hooping-cough manifests itself.
She has Belladonna 6th, three times a day, under the influence of
which the disease speedily and entirely subsided.
CASE III.-S. N-, a boy, aged 21 years.
Has had hooping-cough three weeks. The mother is very nervous
about him, having lost his sister with the same disease not long since.
In that case there was inflammation of the lungs and convulsions, and
active treatment, such as leechings, &c., was employed.
March 17th, 1847.-The paroxysms of coughing are very violent.



HOOPING-COUGH.


77


The last three days he has had symptoms of inflammation of the lungs.
He has quick, short, catching respirations (55 in the minute). His pulse
is very rapid; skin burning hot; he is drowsy, and heavy in the head,
and flushed and congested in face.
Take Aconite 6th, every two hours.
18th.-Yesterday as ill as he could well be, he is to-day a different
child. He is now sitting up on his mother's lap, seemingly well. He
had a pretty good night. His breathing varies from the natural standard,
only in being a little too quick, and somewhat irregular. His pulse is
good; skin cool; thirst abated.
20th.-Much the same: has bad nights. Fits of coughing severe.
Take Belladonna 6th, every night.
22d.-Greatly improved.   His cough is much less frequent and
severe. He runs about the room, and joins in the gambols of the other
children.
23d.-In a violent fit of coughing he became strongly convulsed.
He remains now, half an hour after, very heavy about the eyes, and
drowsy, stupid, and hot in the head.
Take Cuprum Acet. 6th, directly, and repeat it in four hours.
24th.-He is to-day better than he has been before during the attack.
All traces of inflammation and head symptoms have vanished.
Take Belladonna, three times a day.
26th.-Still improving; has very little cough.
A few doses of Drosera.
31st.-Cured.
Before closing this subject, I wish to direct the reader's attention to one particular stage in the progress of hooping-cough,
at which children of a scrofulous habit, in whom    the disease
has been neglected or mismanaged, are almost sure to arrive.
I allude to a state of extreme debility, connected with, and
probably arising from, chronic inflammation of the lungs or
bronchi.   Now, as this condition is not unfrequently induced
by the repeated use of those depletory measures to which
the Allopathist is forced to resort for the purpose of subduing
inflammatory action, their further employment, to remove
the still lingering remains of that condition, are of course
inadmissible. What curative resource, then, does the prac



78


HOOPING-COUGH.


titioner of the old-school possess, upon which, under these
circumstances, he can fall back? None. As was done in
the two cases I am    now about to relate, he can only preach
patience and resignation: excellent philosophy, truly, when
the case is hopeless-but a very poor substitute for the life of
a child, when death is not necessarily inevitable. That such
an event in the majority of instances is not inevitable, I have
had repeated and ample proof, not only in the treatment of
cases which were throughout under my own care, but more
strikingly so still, in the favorable termination of others which
had been previously treated by Allopathic physicians, and pronounced by them beyond the reach of their art, but which
subsequently recovered under the use of Homoeopathic remedies. The two following are instances of this kind.
CASE IV.-S. T--, aged 21 years.
From birth tainted with scrofula, which has continued to develope
itself rapidly since she was weaned. Mesenteric disease is the leading
form it has assumed. Her abdomen is immensely large and protuberant,
and the rest of her body emaciated and diminutive. Her appetite is
generally ravenous; she is very thirsty, particularly in the night; her
bowels, the secretion from whichl is very unhealthy, are commonly relaxed four or five times in the twenty-four hours. She has from time to
time had severe attacks of illness--bronchitis, threatening of water on
the brain, &c., under which, had she been treated Allopathically, she
must inevitably have sunk, but from which, with the aid of Homoeopathic
remedies, and the most sedulous nursing, she has hitherto recovered. In
the intervals, I was unable to persuade the parents (deterred by the
seeming hopelessness of the case) to persevere in the use of the proper
remedies, for the relief of the scrofulous affection.
It was upon this exhausted and diseased frame, that, five months ago,
hooping-cough made its attack. It was attended from the outset with a
considerable amount of fever and bronchial irritation, which yielded to
Aconite, Belladonna, Mercurius, &c. From that time to the present
date, I was only occasionally consulted. The disease pursued its course
rather severely, and still further reduced her little stock of strength.



HOOPING-COUGH.


79


A return of inflammatory symptoms in the chest now appeared to banish
even what faint hope might have before existed of her ultimate recovery,
The parents, yielding naturally and properly, to the persuasions of some
friends, took her to a physician, who makes the diseases of women and
children his peculiar study. He at once pronounced the case hopeless.
Under these circumstances the child came again under my care, and,
resting on my experience of the power of Homoeopathic remedies, I
ventured to offer a different opinion to that just stated. I examined the
chest carefully, and though the bronchitis had existed some time, was still
severe and universal, and the chest loaded with mucus, I was satisfied
that there was no necessarily destructive process going on in the lungs.
She was in other respects in a most unpromising state: languid aud
powerless; feverish and thirsty; perspiring at night; relaxed in the
bowels; loathing food; and coughing violently.
I prescribed Phosphoric Acid, at first twice, subsequently once a day,
and under the action of this medicine alone, at the end of two months,
she had lost every trace of the hooping-cough and bronchitis; the hectic
and night sweats had disappeared; she had regained her appetite; and
her bowels had put on a much more regular and healthy action. Her
general health improved in proportion, and at the present time (beginning
of September, 1848,) she runs alone for the first time, and in other ways
holds out every prospect of entirely out-growing the scrofulous disease
which has so long rendered her life precarious.
June, 1858.-She is now a well grown girl.
CASE VI.-K. G-, aged 5~ years. When healthy, is fat, and
square built; having large head, protuberant joint bones, unsteady gait, and other signs of a scrofulous constitution.
September, 1848.-Six mouths ago was attacked with hooping-cough,
which continued unattended with any urgent symptoms for the first
twelve weeks; at the end of that time the fits of coughing became more
severe, febrile symptoms manifested themselves, and bronchitis supervened; she vomited all her food, took to spitting blood, and was in other
respects exceedingly ill. Several remedies were administered, with no
marked benefit. Her condition at length became so alarming, as to induce her mother to take her to a physician, who pronounced her lungs
to be in such a state of disease, that she could not recover. He prescribed an ordinary mixture of paregoric, mucilage, nitre, syrup of



INFLAMMATION OF THE MOUTH.


HAvINs, in the preceding pages, illustrated the power of
Homoeopathic remedies in subduing some of the most important diseases of the organs of respiration, we come now to the
consideration of another class of disorders, viz.-those affecting
the organs of digestion: the mouth, throat, stomach, liver, and
intestines.
The mouth, in common with the rest of the body, is liable to
a variety of diseases. Partaking of the leading characteristics
of the other portions of the alimentary canal, it is, like them,
most frequently affected with inflammation and ulceration. The
subject is introduced here, not because inflammation of the
mouth is generally to be regarded as a serious or very acute
disorder, but because its treatment affords a good example of
the application of the Homceopathic law. Bearing in mind the
symptoms produced by mercury, when administered in large
or salivating doses, it will at once be understood, by those
who are acquainted with Homaeopathy, why, in minute doses
it was the proper remedy in the two subjoined cases, in
which the disease did not originate in the abuse of that
medicine: otherwise it would not have been the proper
remedy.
CASE I.-James I-, aged 35.
June 28th, 1847.-Has had four similar attacks. The whole of the
membrane lining the mouth is intensely red and inflamed. The inside of
the cheeks, the lips, and gums are covered with virulent, burning ulcers.
The saliva pours in streams from his mouth, and the stench from his
breath is intolerable. He can swallow nothing but liquids, and those
not without the utmost pain. His teeth are all loose, and feel as if they
would drop out; they are covered with a soft, white, offensive secretion.
The eyes also partake of the irritation, being injected with red blood,
4 ~



82


INFLBAMMATION OF THE MOUTH.


and are swimming in tears. He is very thirsty; his pulse is quick;
tongue thickly coated. He has not taken any medicine lately.
Aconite 3d, directly; followed by Mercurius 6th, three times a day.
30th.-Some melioration of most of the symptoms, though his mouth
is still in a deplorable condition.
Take Sulphur 3d, directly. To-morrow commence with Acid
Sulphuricui 12th,.three times a day.
July 3d.-Greatly relieved; not nearly so much inflammation, and the
flow of saliva is diminished.
Take Mercurius 6th,. night and morning.
7th.-The disease has almost disappeared; the mouth is comparatively
well.
Repeat the medicine. Then Sulphur, two doses. Cured.
CASE II.-John P-, aged 12.       Has been ill one week.
Commonly healthy.
April 17th, 1847.-He had a cold in the first instance, followed by
the present attack, which has continued to get more severe up to the
present time. His mouth and face are in a miserable condition. He
sits writhing with agony; the saliva pours from his mouth, and his
breath is most offensive; the cheeks are swollen and the corners of the
mouth ulcerated and scabby. On examining the mouth internally, it
presents a pitiable spectacle; it is intensely inflamed and studded in
different parts, especially around the lower gums, with grey, burning
ulcers. The tongue is thickly. coated, white and yellow. He has no
appetite; is thirsty; suffers from  headache, and is greatly prostrated in strength. He took two pills a day or two ago, after this
attack set in; beyond this he has had no medicine; it is therefore nonmercurial.
Take Mercurius 6th, every four hours.
19th.-Much better: " still in pain, but nothing to what it was."
There is not half so much inflammation; the breath has lost its fetor,
and he can take food at pleasure.
Continue the medicine.
With this, in two or three days, he perfectly recovered.
Aphthe, or ulcers occurring in the mouths of children from various
causes, yield with equal facility to the use of proper remedies.



INFLAMMATION OF THE THROAT.


SEVERE in its symptoms, and of very frequent occurrence,
there are few diseases which cause a greater amount of temporary suffering than inflammation of the throat, or quinsy.
This is due mainly to the complicated offices in which the
throat takes a part. The acts of swallowing, breathing, and
speaking, are at times so much impeded as to threaten suffocation. This danger, however, is more apparent that real, since,
depending as it does upon the swelling which attends suppuration or " gathering," relief is nearest at hand at the very
moment when the danger appears to be most imminent: the
abscess bursts, and the interrupted functions are instantly restored. This is the way in which nature, unassisted by art,
most commonly conducts these cases to a successful, though
protracted, issue. It is the duty of the medical man, by appropriate treatment, to afford nature such assistance as shall
enable her to bring about the same result by a shorter and less
agonising process: by inducing a subsidence of the inflammation before suppuration has commenced. This object the Allopathist endeavours to effect by bleeding in the arm, when the
patient is young and plethoric, and the symptoms run high;
by leeches in most cases; and in all, by blisters, and active
purgation. That, in the majority of cases, these means are
totally inadequate to the end they are intended to fulfil, no
medical man, who submits his experience of their efficacy to an
impartial examination, can deny. In obedience to the routine
practice of the old school, I formerly employed these remedies
in hundreds of instances; and so far from finding them arrest
the disease, they as often, if not oftener, prolonged its duration, by delaying, without preventing, the suppurative process.
Though a serious evil, this is by no means the only one that



84


INFLAMMATION OF THE THROAT.


results from the old mode of treatment. It is not an uncommon
thing to see patients, especially delicate women, emerge from
these attacks in a state of debility, little short of that which
follows a case of fever, or any other protracted and dangerous
disease. That this is due, not so much to the intensity of the
disorder, as to the exhausting effects of the treatment, my own
observation had led me strongly to suspect, long before I relinquished the old system. Subsequent experience in Homceopathic practice, has thoroughly confirmed the correctness of
that suspicion. It is worthy of remark, in the Homoeopathic
treatment of acute diseases generally, that although a local
affection may continue to run its course, the constitutional
symptoms which arise from it, and constitute the patient's chief
source of distress, speedily subside, and leave the system comparatively undisturbed. In no case is this more strikingly
apparent than in inflammation of the throat. Even in cases of
the most obstinate kind, where suppuration becomes inevitable,
after twenty-four hours' use of the medicines, the system resumes its usual condition: there remains scarcely any fever or
thirst; the head becomes easy; the pulse good; the skin cool;
the abscess forms and bursts; and the patient, at the end
of the attack, finds himself only so much weaker than he was
at his commencement, as that he has been unable, in the interim,
to swallow his usual quantity of food. With an appetite ready
prepared to make good this deficiency, he loses, almost in a
few hours, the evidences of having gone through one of these
formidable attacks. This result alone would be a great advance
upon the " old style," but the advantage does not end here.
The action of Homoeopathic remedies, in arresting recent cases,
is so strikingly beneficial, as to be almost incredible to those
who have not witnessed their effects. This is exemplified in
the following cases.



INFLAMMATION OF THE THROAT.


85


CASE I.-I. K-, aged 16 years.
October 11th, 1847.-Felt ill last night. This morning got up with
a violent headache, and pains in all his limbs, and shivering; has hot
skin; quick pulse; much thirst. His throat is very sore; he is unable
to swallow anything. Both tonsils are very red and swollen; his voice
is thick, and he has a tickling cough.
Take Aconite 3d, directly, then Belladonna 6th, every four hours.
13th.-No sore throat whatever, and in other respects perfectly well.
He ate his breakfast very comfortably yesterday morning.
CASE II.-Mrs. E. G-, aged 29 years.
June 16th, 1847.-Yesterday forenoon seized with shivering, which
compelled her to go to bed, where she now remains. She was at the
same time attacked with pains in her back and limbs, intense headache,
and sore throat, and has had heats and chills running through her ever
since. Both tonsils are much swollen and inflamed; she can swallow
nothing: not even liquids without much difficulty. Her pulse is rapid;
skin dry, and burning hot; there is incessant thirst; white, foul tongue.
She vomited last night; and got no rest on account of the pain in her
head.
Take Aconite 6th, and Belladonna 3d, every four hours, alternately.
17th.-At noon up, dressed, and occupied in household matters. The
constitutional symptoms have entirely subsided, and with the exception
of a little weakness, there is scarcely a trace of her disease. A trifling
redness may be detected about the fauces, and the tonsils are still a little
enlarged, but nothing to cause her inconvenience.
Continue the Belladonna a few hours longer. Cured.
CASE III.-A married woman, aged 28 years.
October 8th, 1847.-Was taken ill four days ago with headache and
sore throat. The constitutional fever, &c., have subsided, and there remains now an amazingly enlarged state of both tonsils. They are about
the size of walnuts, and completely meet across the throat, impeding deglutition to such an extent, as to render the swallowing a little liquid



86


INFLAMMATION OF THE THROAT.


almost an impossibility. On the anterior part of the glands are a number
of small, grey ulcers. She is very weak.
She took some aperient medicine of her own accord, and yesterday
consulted a medical gentleman, who advised that the tonsils should
be scarified; on lier objecting to this, he gave a stimulating embrocation, to be applied externally. Finding no relief, she attends me to-day,
and has
Lachesis 12th, three times a day.
llth.-She returns, exceedingly delighted at her improvement. She
got ease the first day, and next morning felt little or no inconvenience.
The tonsils are only slightly enlarged, and the ulcers have entirely
healed. She enjoys her food, and her health is altogether better; in
short, she feels quite well.
Continue the medicine.
14th.-She calls to express her gratitude for her speedy and perfect
restoration.
CASE IV.-Mrs. C-, aged 26 years.
June 20th, 1847.-Has been poorly with a cold the last three days.
Yesterday morning felt a soreness in the throat, which has rapidly increased to its present painful condition. Both tonsils, but more particularly the right, are red, inflamed, and much swollen. She cannot
swallow even a drop of liquid without great pain, which causes her, in
the effort, to lower the hlead to one side, and make the peculiar, ugly
grimace, which characterises the deglutition of persons labouring under
sore throat. She is very thirsty; has headache, hot skin, quick pulse,
and pains in every limb. She got up about two hours ago, but intends
going to bed again directly, as she feels dizzy, chilly, and so weak as to
be unable to sit.
Take Aconite 6th, and Belladonna 3d, alternately every four hours.
21st.-Nearly free from all constitutional suffering, but the tonsils are
enlarged, and ulcerated in several spots.  The mouth and throat are
clogged with a quantity of tenacious mucus.
Take Mercurius 6th, every four hours.
22d.-Better in health; throat still troubles her nearly as much,
except that it is cleaner and more free from mucus.
Take Lachesis 12th, every four hours.
23d.-Great amendment. Her throat feels totally different; she can



ITFLAMMATION1 OF THE STOMACH.


89


inflammatory; and are treated of under the generic term
of " gastritis." It is of this we are now about to speak.
Availing myself of this opportunity to offer a few remarks
upon the comparative advantages of large and small doses of
medicine, it may be observed, that there is, perhaps, no surer
proof of the accuracy of a new doctrine, than the fact, that
those who oppose it, are reduced to the necessity of employing
ridicule, in the place of argument, in their efforts to controvert
it, or arrest its progress. This is peculiarly the case with
Homoeopathy. Unable to detect any unsoundness in its doctrines, or inconsistencies in its practical details, its opponents
have generally descended to the unfair alternative, of endeavouring to throw ridicule upon the whole system, by exciting
a laugh against the smallness of the dose in which the medicines
are administered. The attempt, however, has signally failed of
its anticipated effect: nor is there any fear that it will ever
meet with better success. If, when she rested upon the strong
faith of the lion-hearted Hahnemann alone for her very
existence, Homoeopathy could triumph over all antagonism,
little has she to apprehend from the puny shafts of ridicule,
now, that, in the place of one champion, she can boast of
her legions.
Those who know nothing of Homceopathy beyond its name,
and the fact that its remedies are exhibited in exceedingly
minute quantities, generally suppose it to be a system of medicine, differing from the old only in this latter respect. A greater
mistake could not be committed. The small dose, it is true,
has from custom, and experience of its superiority, come to be
regarded as an essential part of Homoeopathic practice; but,
so far from forming an integral part of the Homoeopathic doctrine, or having originated in any caprice or fanciful theory of
Hahnemann, it is notorious that he commenced, and for some
time continued to practice the new system with the ordinary
doses of medicines. Close and careful observation alone divulged to him the fact that medicines, which, administered in
the customary mode and doses produced but slight effect,



INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH.


91


on account of its unfathomable depth, and withhold from it
our assent, simply because it passes our comprehension, is in
the highest degree unphilosophical, and totally inconsistent
with that submission of our reason to the requirements of
faith, which we are constantly called upon to exercise in a
thousand other instances. Every natural phenomenon presents the same difficulty, and makes the same demand upon
our credulity. To the Allopathist who may urge such an objection, it will be sufficient to reply, that whcn he shall be
able to explain the 9modus operandi of a dose of epsom-salts,
castor-oil, or any other drug, then-but not till then-will he
be entitled to ask for an explanation of the action of the Homoeopathic dose.
The whole subject, in short, resolves itself into a question
of evidence. In this respect the two opposing parties are on
an equality. No one will deny that any statement, capable of
being confirmed by personal observation, would present as
irresistible a claim upon our belief, if supported by the concurrent testimony of five hundred intelligent and independent
observers, as it would if its truth were attested by five thousand. In both instances, the numbers would be too great to
admit of the possible intervention of those sources of error
which might invalidate the testimony of only a few witnesses.
Let the larger number represent the Allopathists, and the
lesser the Homoeopathists-we find both parties equally
qualified to observe facts and appreciate their value-both
founding their faith upon the results of experience, and affirming, with equal earnestness the positive effects derivable from
their respective doses! How shall we dispute the validity of
their evidence?  If that cannot be done-neither can we
award our confidence to the one party without extending it to
the other: we miust believe both sides, or neither.
Passing by a host of interesting facts and arguments, commonly adduced in support of Hahnemann's plan of prescribing
medicines in small doses, we proceed to a brief consideration
of two or three, which bear more directly upon the question,



92


INFLAMMATION OF THE BTOMACH.


whether extremely minute quantities of matter, when introduced into the system, possess the power of influencing its
functions.
The first example-in which the substances are not swallowed, but merely applied to the olfactory nerves-is afforded
in the overpowering effects produced upon some constitutions
by the odoriferous particles of musk, or flowers, or the scent
arising from the presence of certain animals. A second is supplied by the absorption of marsh miasmata, the virus of cholera,
typhus, smallpox, and other infectants.
The following example came partially under my own observation.-A strong, healthy country female, was stung in the
arm by a wasp. In less than ten minutes the limb became
intensely painful, and, with the whole body from head to foot,
swollen and as red as scarlet. The tongue became also much
enlarged, obstructed her speech, and threatened suffocation.
Her brain became affected, and her sight confused and indistinct. It was some days before she thoroughly recovered. In
each of these cases how powerful the effect, yet how infinitely
small the dose!   Did the most powerful microscope ever
detect, the finest balance ever weigh, the nicest test ever discover, the odour of flowers, the marsh miasm, the infection of
fever, or the venom of a wasp?  Let those who hesitate at the
doctrine of infinitesimals, and deny to Hahnemann's gentle
quantities, the benign influence of aiding nature in subduing
disease, weigh these facts calmly and dispassionately, and ask
themselves whether it may not be their own crude notions, and
custom, and prejudice, which have converted the Homoeopathic
dose into a stumbling-block!
There are some considerations of a physiological and practical nature, which have a still more direct bearing upon this
subject.
Of the former class is that which is based upon the undeniable axiom, that nothing has a right to pass into the stomach,
which has not previously obtained the sanction of the mouth.
The stomach being intended to receive nothing but what is



INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH.


93


perfectly congenial to it, in the shape of food and drink, and
not to come in contact with anything, which, by its irritating
and pungent properties, might injure its structure, the mouth
is endowed with a sense of taste, in order to ensure the fulfilment of those conditions. By a wise provision, nature has
imparted to all substances designed for the nourishment of the
body, such flavours as render them agreeable to the palate:
these obtain a ready and welcome passport to the stomach.
Those substances, on the other hand, which would prove injurious, are invested with a repulsive flavour, which, being
instantly detected by the taste, forms a barrier to their introduction into the stomach. The conclusion     is obvious-in
every dose of nauseous medicine we swallow, we do violence
to nature. Introducing into the stomach, by a sudden gulp,
the enemy which could by no fair means gain admittance
there, we cheat the sentinel placed in our mouth for our protection.
A stronger argument still, in favour of small doses, is involved in the consideration of the practical disadvantages of the
plan pursued by the Allopathists. The largeness of their dose
constitutes, in many instances, an effectual hinderance to any
salutary action which the medicines might otherwise possibly
exert, even though not administered in accordance with Homceopathic rules. What effect does an ounce of epsom-salts,
the common dose of that drug, produce upon the tongue? Is
it not that of powerful astringency? Is this action less
powerful when the medicine comes in contact with the stomach?
Let the nausea, vomiting, pain, and prostration of strength,
which so frequently ensue, answer the question! It is in the
act of swallowing the doses that the non-professional person
forms an estimate of their comparative advantages. Compared
with the disgust engendered by the approach to the lips of
the nauseous draught, other arguments against the Allopathic
dose dwindle into insignificance.  The loathsomeness of its
drachms forms one of the strongest drawbacks against which
medicine, as commonly practised, has to contend. Persons



94


INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH.


cannot (and no wonder) dissociate in their minds the practitioner
from the repulsive measures by which he epdeavours to effect
his salutary objects. Many persons, taking a retrospect of a
past illness, regard the bitter draughts they were compelled
to swallow, as constituting a part of their suffering, scarcely
more endurable than the pains of the disease itself. The prejudicial influence which this disagreeable necessity at times
exercises over the progress of the malady must not be forgotten.
Adult patients are not unfrequently injuriously excited by the
arrival of the hour for repeating their dose-and the almost
total impossibility, in many cases, of surmounting the antipathy of children in this respect, and the terrible excitement
caused by fruitless efforts to do so, are too well known to all
who have been so unfortunate as to have the management of
them in sickness.
The evils of the large dose do not end when it is swallowed.
The Allopathist gives his medicines in such quantities that
both he and his patient are disappointed, if what are called
" sensible effects" do not follow. New symptoms are expected
to arise, being for the most part of a distressing kind, such as
pains in the stomach, nausea, vomiting, headache, thirst, and
an infinity of other sensations of an anomalous and less
striking character.  These potent remedies may produce an
aggravation of the symptoms of the disease, proverbially understood by the patient as the " searching of the remedy,"
and persons who have been habituated to taking Allopathic
medicines, are so accustomed to experience these effects, that
it is not easy to persuade them that any good can result from
the non-perturbing Homceopathic dose.
Opposed to this mass of inconsistencies and mysticism, stands
Hahnemann's clear and simple plan. In the first place, the
dose is perfectly tasteless. Dissolved in water it imparts not
the slightest flavour. Placed upon the tongue it melts and
passes into the stomach without the patient being conscious of
its presence.
In the second place, when swallowed it entails no evil con



INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMAcCH.


95


sequences. Beyond the abatement of his sufferings, the patient
experiences no sensible evidence of its action. Purposely too
small to generate any symptoms of its own, it does not in the
least degree mystify those of the disease. The practitioner
knows that every change, not favorable in its character, belongs to the disorder, and not to the remedy. Using no means
which can either harass his patient or aggravate the disease,
he is at all times prepared to give an opinion, proximately
correct, as to the progress and probable termination of the
malady.
Practised in this manner, instead of being a dreaded instrument of torture, medicine becomes what it was designed to be
by its Beneficent Author-an unalloyed blessing to his suffering
creatures.
These remarks are suggested by the disease now under
consideration. One of the most distressing and intolerable
symptoms is incessant vomiting: the least thing, even a drop
of cold water, is often instantly rejected. If, then, in consequence of its irritability, the stomach is unable to retain such
a simple and innoxious body, it is absurd to expect its retention of a mass of nauseous medicines administered in large
and unsparing quantities. An insurmountable barrier being
thus raised against the introduction of direct remedies, the
medical man of the old school is forced to rely upon the
secondary influence of leeches, blisters, mustard poultices,
and other outward, and, consequently, less efficient measures.
I recollect having had, many years ago, a case of this kind
under my own care, in which the sickness was so protracted
and uncontrollable, that at length the only prospect of appeasing it, and so saving the life of the patient, presented itself
in a total withholding of every kind of ingesta. The result
justified the means. After a few hours' abstinence-rendered
almost intolerable by intense thirst-the irritability of the
stomach had so far subsided as to admit of the introduction
of bland and cooling liquids. A further lapse of time was,
however, necessary ere medicines, though prepared in the



96


INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH.


mildest form, could be resumed-showing, that not only had
these latter done nothing towards subduing the disease, but,
on the contrary, had absolutely contributed to its prolongation.
Such a circumstance-by no means uncommon-affords the
strongest evidence in support of Hahnemann's mode of administering medicines. Even in these urgent cases, the small,
tasteless Homosopathic dose, placed upon the tongue, allowed
to dissolve there and descend into the stomach with the saliva,
may be administered with as much facility as in any other
disease. Thus, while we secure the full advantage of applying
our remedies directly to the part affected, we obviate the injurious effects of the large dose, to say nothing of the painful
external remedies to which we have already alluded.
CAsE I.-Mrs. C-, aged 26 years.       Generally healthy.
January 18th, 1847.-Has been poorly some time, with loss of appetite, nausea, and occasional vomiting; she has been wasting, and getting
very weak, to counteract which, she has taken a variety of stimulating
things, both as food and drink.
Twenty-four hours ago she was seized with a violent shivering fit,
succeeded by high fever, and severe pain in the pit of the stomach. She
is now in bed, lying on her back, from which position she cannot move,
on account of the pain in the stomach. Pressure at that part causes so
much suffering, that she shrinks even at the approach of the hand;
deep inspiration also, or the least cough, increases the pain to an intolerable degree. Her tongue is foul and perfectly dry; there is intense
longing for cold drinks, but as soon as anything is swallowed it creates
nausea, and is instantly ejected. Her pulse is small, and very rapid;
her breathing quick; countenance anxious; and she is exceedingly restless and irritable.
Take Aconite 3d, every two hours.
In the evening much the same, except that the skin is moist.
Continue the Aconite, and between each dose take Arsenicum 12th.
19th.-Noon. Has had a bad night: no sleep, on account of the
pain in the pit of the stomach. This morning the tenderness on pressure
is mitigated; there is not quite so much thirst; the pulse is reduced to



INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH.


97


100, and is softer; tongue moist; expression of face not so distressed;
no vomiting.
Continue the medicines.
Seven o'clock-evening. She is now in a sound sleep, lying comfortably on her side. Waking accidentally, she says, that about three
o'clock, a feeling of delightful calmness and drowsiness eame over her
senses-she fell into a sweet refreshing slumber, and awoke free from
pain, which seemed to have left her, as by a charm. She is now altogether
a different being; sits up briskly in bed, to show how much she has improved. Her skin is cool and soft; pulse 95; breathing calm and easy;
very little thirst; felt a desire for food, and had some dry toast; can bear
considerable pressure at the pit of the stomach without discomfort.
Continue the medicines, at much longer intervals.
20th.-Comparatively well; feeling only some soreness in the former
seat of pain.
21st.-Still mending rapidly. Some little soreness remaining in the
pit of the stomach.
Take Nux Vomica 12th, three times a day.
22d.-Convalescent. No pain or other trace of disease; is cheerful
and laughing, and anxious to get up; taking solid food with a hearty
relish. Cured.
This was an unusually severe case. The action of the medicines was
most striking.  I am unacquainted with any other means by which
such results could be obtained so painlessly and in so short a space of
time.
CASE II.-L Robert P-, aged 41 years. He is much exposed
to sudden alternations of heat and cold, and occasionally drinks
large quantities of beer, water, &c.
January 18th, 1847.-He has been ill three days. His wife applied
to me yesterday, and, from her description of the case, Aconite was prescribed, to be taken every four hours.  On visiting him to-day, he
presents the following condition: he is stretched out on his back at full
length; his head thrown back as far as possible over the pillow; the
eyes shut; he breathes in a sighing, irregular. manner; answers questions hesitatingly, and slowly; all these symptoms, together with coldness of the surface and slow pulse, indicate great depression of the
nervous power. The only pain he feels is in the pit of the stomach



98


IN9FLAMMATIOIN OF THE STOMACH.


where he cannot bear the least pressure without flinching and crying out.
He loathes food, and there is nausea with everything he swallows: even
a little cold water, for which he craves, causes much pain; he has
vomited once to-day; his tongue is very white, large, and coated; urine
deposits a thick sediment.
Take Nux Vomica 12th, every four hours.
19th.-Some, though not a great deal of amendment: pain in the pit
of the stomach nearly as severe; not so thirsty; nor so much nausea.
Take Arsenicum 12th, every four hours.
20th.-Great improvement. He scarcely feels the pain in the stomach;
the nausea has ceased.
Continue the medicine.
21st.-Still mending rapidly.  No thirst, or headache, or nausea:
takes light food, and feels stronger and better in every respect,
22d.-He is so well as to require no further attendance.
CASE III.-Mr. H. B-, aged 32 years.
March 1.3th, 1847.-Has been ill nine days, and, during the whole
time, under Allopathic treatment, for " liver complaint and bile."
Finding no relief, but on the contrary getting rapidly worse, he is induced to consult the writer. He has taken much medicine, which has
purged him violently, and he is now in a pitiable state of debility; he
cannot stand without tottering; his breathing is short and panting;
speaks in broken sentences; his lips quiver and look ex-sanguine; keeps
himself in a bent posture, on account of the pain he experiences in the
stomach, if he attempts to stand upright; there is also excessive tenderness in the same part, on the least pressure; everything swallowed
causes excruciating pain, and is instantly vomited; he is distressed by
parching thirst, which he dares not quench. His tongue is red, wide,
hollowed, and dry as a chip. His pulse is rapid and small; he is harassed
by a little sympathetic cough; his head feels stupid and confused.
Take Aconite 12th, and Arsenicumn 12th, alternately, every four hours.
14th.-Altogether wonderfully relieved. He has not vomited since
the first dose of medicine; is less parched; tongue moist; very little
thirst; slept well last night for the first time during his illness; the
pain in his stomach is already much mitigated.
Continue the medicines.



INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH.


99


15th.-Still mending most satisfactorily.
Continue Arsenicum, three times a day.
17th.-So much better as to be able to take some boiled fish for
dinner.
19th.-Rapid improvement: scarcely a trace of disease.
Take a few doses of Nux Vomica 12th.
21st.-He is sufficiently recovered to attend to his business.
CASE IV.-A. S-, aged 53 years. A very delicate person,
tall and thin: liable to a cough of an asthmatical character.
The present attack of illness has been coming on three
weeks.
February 18th, 1847.-Her food, causing intense pain, is rejected the
moment it is swallowed. Her "stomach feels like a sore, and burning
hot inside;" she cannot bear the least pressure in that part; she has no
appetite, and is very thirsty. Her tongue is dry, and coated; pulse
small, and quick; skin dry, and hot; she is so exceedingly weak as
scarcely to be able to raise herself in bed. She is troubled with a severe
cough, and expectorates a good deal of phlegm.
Take Arsenicum 6th, every four hours.
20th.-Quite another woman. No vomiting; no pain; pulse natural;
tongue moist; her cough, also, is greatly relieved.
Continue the medicine, three times a day.
From this date she became convalescent, and required no more
medicine.
CASE V.-Eliza B-, aged 33 years. Has been ill five days.
February 14th, 184-8.-The least thing taken into the stomach, even
a little liquid, causes intense pain, and is instantly vomited. The pain
extends from the pit of the stomach through to the back. It is felt also
under the right breast: she coughs, and spits a good deal of thick, bluelooking stuff. Her bowels are much relaxed, with pain and scalding.
She is exceedingly weak, having scarcely power to stand. There is
general fever, marked by hot skin; quick, small pulse; thirst; and dry,
brown tongue.
Take Aconite 6th, and Arsenicum 12th, alternately, every four hours.



100


INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH.


1 6th.-Vomited only twice since I saw her. Very little pain in her
stomach; bowels regular; tongue moist; scarcely at all thirsty. Cough
and spitting much relieved.
Continue the Arsenicum, three times a day.
19th.-No pain, thirst, nor fever.  Bowels were a little relaxed
yesterday.
Take Nux Vomica 12th, in the morning. Sulphur 12th, at bedtime.
22d.-Quite well, with the exception of a little weakness.
China 6th, twice a day. Cured.
The   following  caec, partaking more of the character of
"disordered stomach," than of active inflammation of that
organ, is subjoined for the purpose of exhibiting the admirable effect of Homceopathic medicine in correcting such a
condition.
CASE VI.-W. W-, aged 44 years. He has been ill five
days.
January 27th, 1847.-Complete derangement of the digestive functions; nausea; flatulence; loathing of food; thirst; headache; tenderness on the pit of the stomach, and abdomen generally; low spirits; and
loss of muscular power.
Take Nux Vomica 12th, three times a day.
29th.-Feels perfectly well.:0:.....  *:..60~



INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER, AND
JAUNDICE.
THERE is a fashion in physic as well as in other things.
Witness the lively contest for the palm of public patronage,
which for years past has been going on between the liver and
the nerves. The latter of the two, younger and more attractive
than its ancient rival, reigns supreme in the more favoured
circles, and among the gentler sex, whose ailments are almost
all interestingly "nervous," and the elegant eau de Cologne,
and lavender water, the universal remedies. The former,
banished these envied regions, finds a recompense in the
greater number of its adherents: it is still the pet of the
people, whose diseases continue to be vulgarly " bilious," and
their remedies the rude and time-honoured blue pill and black
draught.
Leaving the former of these persuasions in undisturbed
possession of its harmless power, I feel bound to protest
against the latter, as one of the most mischievous errors that
ever invaded the domains of physic. This mistaken notion,
that all disorders of the digestive organs are "bilious," and
to be attributed to the liver, is unfortunately by no means
confined to the non-professional public; but, to nearly an
equal extent, pervades the opinions, and modifies the practice,
of medical men. When diseases were less understood than
they are at the present day, professional ignorance found a
convenient cloak in being able to give "a local habitation
and a name" to an obscure ailment, under the indefinite
designation of "liver complaint."  Modern enlightenment,
though it has abated, has not abolished, the subterfuge. We
daily hear of medical men attributing to the liver, diseases
with which it has probably no more to do than the most



102


INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER,


distant organ in the body.   A striking example of this is
afforded in the case of H. B. (described in our last section), who,
notwithstanding that he was labouring under most distinct,
and one would have imagined, unmistakeable signs of inflammation of the stomach, was treated, during a space of nine
days, for "liver complaint and bile."  Mistaking one disease
for another, in any case a piece of culpable negligence, as it
respects the liver, is particularly so, since it leads to the
pernicious administration of large and poisonous doses of
calomel, and other preparations of mercury in a number of
stomach complaints, for the removal of which that medicine
is in no way appropriate.   Sufficiently unjustifiable in the
cases of adults, this practice, applied to children, whose
insides are more actively alive to the irritating qualities of
the drug, becomes exceedingly injurious, and cannot be too
strongly reprehended.
Diseases of the liver, prevailing extensively in hot climates,
are, in this country, not nearly so common as is generally
supposed.   Indeed, it may be questioned whether there is
any other important internal organ so rarely affected. A
carefully noted practice of fifteen years has not supplied me
with a dozen genuine cases of inflammation of the liver; and
the results of a considerable number of post-mortem examinations of the bodies of persons who died of other complaints,
but in whom the liver was found almost uniformly healthy,
strongly corroborates such an opinion.  In these facts, we
have another argument, if another were required, against
the custom of visiting all the disturbances of the digestive
functions upon the unfortunate liver.
As regards the treatment of inflammation of this organ, in
its acute form, Dr. Watson expresses the opinion of the Allopathic school generally, when he says " blood should be freely
taken from the system by venesection, and from the neighbourhood of the inflamed part by leeches.     After bloodletting has been duly performed, blisters may be applied to
the right hypochondrium" (the region of the liver). Of the



AND JAUNDICE.I


103


use of mercury he says, "it should be so administered as to
affect the system as speedily as possible."
Whatever misgivings the Allopathist may have as to the
safety of using mercury in the treatment of some other complaints, of the absolute necessity for its assistance in the cure
of the different diseases of the liver, he never entertains a
doubt. In his mind, the two are as indissolubly united as
the Siamese twins; and he would regard a severance of the
connexion, as inflicting no greater violence upon the ordinance of nature in the one instance, than upon one of the
first principles of his art in the other. In the face of a prejudice so deep rooted as this, we can feel but little surprise that
mercury should be even popularly associated with biliousness, sluggish liver, headache, indigestion, pains in the
shoulder, and other anomalous symptoms; and less still, that
salivation should be prescribed with so much confidence by
Dr. Watson, and other authors, in acute inflammation of the
liver.
Expressing the opinion I have done, under the head of
"salivation," on the use of mercury, and of "bleeding," in
the chapter on that subject, it is almost superfluous to assure
the reader that I do not in the smallest degree coincide in
the Allopathic plan of treatment just described. We have
already sufficiently demonstrated that inflammations of the
most acute and dangerous character submit to the action of
Aconite, and other appropriate remedies, with a facility quite
unheard of as the result of bleeding; and as to the use of
mercury, though I am quite prepared to admit its great
efficacy in many diseases, and in inflammation of the liver
among others, I am, at the same time, prepared to maintain,
that there are no circumstances which justify its employment
in such enormous doses as to produce salivation.
These remarks apply with equal force to the treatment
of jaundice, which, though for the most part exceedingly
obscure in its origin, forms at times one of the complications
of inflammation of the liver, and, in Allopathic hands, receives



104


INFLAMMATION OP THE LITER,


much the same kind of treatment: the difference consisting,
principally, in blood being withdrawn by cupping in the side,
instead of by the lancet from the arm; and, in addition to the
use of mercury, a more free employment of purgatives.
Subjoined are the only two cases that have come under my
care, within the last three or four years, of what might be
considered   as acute inflammation    of the liver.   Jaundice,
being a complaint of much more frequent occurrence, has
afforded me many opportunities of 'witnessing the satisfactory
way in which it yields to Homceopathic remedies. Three of
these cases are added.
CASE I.-Ann B-, engaged in a large house of business.
December 4th, 1846.-Ten o'clock at night: she went out yesterday
evening in a cold, biting wind, got chilled, was seized with shiverings
after her return home, and is now in bed, exceedingly ill. She complains of severe pain in the right side, immediately in the region of the
liver. Pressure, coughing, and deep inspiration aggravate the pain,
which extends also round towards the back, and forward to the pit of
the stomach. There is constant vomiting; much thirst; dry mouth:
hot skin; rapid pulse; and intense headache; bowels confined.  She
has been under medical treatment twelve hours, and, half an hour before
I saw her, took a dose of aperient medicine, which was instantly rejected
by the stomach.
Prescription; Aconite 3d, every three hours.
5th.-At noon: there has been no return of sickness; passed a better
night; pain much the same, though the febrile symptoms have abated
considerably. Bowels relieved twice.
Take Aconite, as before, and Bryonia 3d, alternately, every
three hours.
6th.-Amendment. Still a good deal of pain, and general high action.
Continue the medicines.
7th.-Better: but still the symptoms are obstinate. There is pain,
tenderness, and fever.
Aconite, and Belladonna 3d, alternately, every four hours.
8th.-A remarkable change for the better. She is entirely free from
pain; can bear considerable pressure, and motion, with ease.  Has



AND JAUNDICE.


105


little or no thirst; tongue moist; pulse subdued; skin cool; bowels
moved once.
Aconite, at longer intervals, and Belladonna, at bed-time.
9th.-Seized last night with increased pain in the anterior edge of the
liver. On examination, that organ is found much enlarged, and reaching
down a considerable distance below the ribs; presenting to the touch a
hard, flat surface. There is more fever, and quicker pulse.
Take Aconite, and Mercurius 6th, alternately, every three hours.
10th.-Pain scarcely felt. Can bear pressure; fever subsiding.
Continue the medicines.
11th.-No pain at all; enlargement already diminished; bowels act
regularly.
Take Mercurius 6th, twice a day.
12th.-Quite convalescent: no pain; enlargement scarcely to be detected; no thirst; skin, pulse, and tongue, healthy. Takes light food;
has left her bed.
Continue the Mercurius two days longer, at the end of which period
she was well.
CASE II.--G. D-, aged 38 years. A dark, stout, plethoric
woman. Has been for several years accustomed to indulge
rather more freely in the use of potent drinks, than the strict
rules of propriety would prescribe as consistent with the
female character.   The unfortunate consequences have been a
gradual enlargement of her liver, and repeated attacks of
bilious vomiting, and the loss of blood from the bowels.    For
these she has taken, at different times, considerable quantities
of mercury; been bled, leeched, &c., &c.
October 30th, 1847.--Twelve hours ago she was attacked with decided and severe symptoms of inflammation of the liver. That organ
now occupies nearly the whole of the right side of the abdomen-its
lower edge being clearly definable-and its outer surface presenting to
the feel a flat, hard, board-like substance. The whole of this region is
exceedingly sensitive to the least pressure. She is feverish; hot in skin;
very thirsty; much nauseated; and vomits frequently. Her pulse is
rapid; tongue foul; breathing quick and short, being impeded by a
sharp, cutting pain in the side.
Take Aconite 3d, every two hours.



Or


106             INFLAMMALTION OF THE LIVER,
31st.-The constitutional symptoms all abated. Less fever, heat, and
thirst; no vomiting. The liver is still very tender on pressure, and inspiration is painful, and attended with a severe stitch in the side.
Take Bryonia 3d, every four hours.
November 1st.-The side, though still very uncomfortable, is greatly
relieved; and in other respects, also, she is much better. Bearing in
mind her previous habits, I prescribeNux, Vomica 6th, three times a day.
4th.-The liver is entirely relieved of active disease, and has sensibly
diminished in size. There is but little discomfort experienced, even on
firm pressure. The urinary apparatus has now put on an unhealthy
action-her water is nearly suppressed, and, what little does pass, is of
a blood-red colonr; but as these symptoms do not, strictly speaking,
form a part of the disease we are now considering, I will not enter into
the detai!s of the subsequent progress of the case, beyond the statement
that the disorder of the kidneys, as well as a considerable amount of
dropsy in the feet and legs, yielded under the action of Cantharis, Mercurius, Digitalis, Nux Vomica, and Sulphur.
The first two of the following cases of jaundice, were
evidently connected with chronic inflammation of the liverin the others, the cause was less obvious.
CASE III.-S. W. D-, aged 25; a very temperate man.
March 23d, 1847.-Has had a cold and cough, and felt languid and
poorly for a month past. During the last week has suffered from a
fixed, dull pain in the right side, just under the edge of the lower rib.
It is increased on breathing deeply, coughing, or moving suddenly. His
pulse is small and quick; appetite bad; is thirsty; has hot skin, and
headache. Urine the colour of coffee; bladder a good deal irritated.
Take Aconite 3d, directly; then Mercurius 6th, every four hours.
24th.-The white of the eyes, with the skin of the whole body, but
more especially of the hands and face, have become of a bright yellow
colour; he is much nauseated; the bladder is still very irritable, but the
urine not so high coloured.
Cantharis 6th, directly; then Mercurius, as before.
25th.-Better: not so much vesical irritation; skin very yellow; pain
in the loins; bowels confined.
Take Nux Vomica 6th, every four hours.



AND JAUNDICE.


107


27th.-Great amendment. The yellowness of the skin and eyes nearly
all disappeared; feels altogether lighter, as though a load were removed
from his system. The bowels have acted freely. Urine better colour;
tongue, before thickly coated, is now becoming quite clean.
29th.-Scarcely a trace of disease. He takes one more supply of
medicine, and is cured.
CASE IV.-James McS-.
April 24th, 1847.-Has felt poorly, languid, and weak, several days.
To-day, a distinct yellowness shows itself in the eyes, and skin of the
forehead; there is a feeling of weakness in the pit of the stomach, and a
dull, heavy pain, increased on pressure, in the right side, in the region
of the liver. He has no appetite, and feels sick after taking anything.
His tongue is white, and coated; the bowels are confined, and the urine
a deep red colour.
Take Nux Vomica 12th, three times a day.
26th.-Some melioration in his feelings; bowels moved; evacuations
clayey.
Take Mercurius 6th, three times a day.
30th.-Greatly better in health.  The bowels act regularly and
healthily once a day; his appetite is returning; tongue clean; still a
faint tinge of yellow. Talks of resuming his employment.
Take Nux Vomica, twice a day.
He required no further attendance.
CASE V.--George S-, aged 25.
June 28th, 1848.-Has been ill ten days, and under medical care a
week. He has had a blister to the pit of the stomach, and taken pills,
salts and senna, &c. This treatment appears to have weakened him
considerably, but to have made no impression upon his complaint.
He is now labouring under constant nausea, and occasional vomiting;
aching in his limbs; severe oppressive headache; pain in his loins;
languor; thirst; his tongue is white, and coated. The skin of the whole
body is as yellow as a guinea.
Take Hepar Sulph. 12th, every night; Nux Vomica 12th, twice a day.
July 1st.-Skin already much clearer. The eyes and forehead, previously the most deeply impregnated with bile, are nearly of their natural



108S


INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER.


colour. There is merely a yellowish tinge about the upper and outer
parts of the face. IIe feels greatly better in himself: there is no nausea,
sickness, or heaviness in the stomach; his tongue is getting clean, and
he has an inclination for food.
Continue the medicine.
4th.-Feels perfectly well, with the exception of some debility, and is
anxious to resume his employment.
Take two or three doses of Sulphur. Cured.
CASE VI.-Eliza B-, aged 3 years.
September 26th, 1S-I8.-The disorder has been manifesting itself two
or three days, and the whole body is now of a bright yellow colour. She
is constitutionally unwell-being thirsty, and feverish; complaining of
pain in the pit of the stomach, loss of appetite, headache, &c. Tile
evacuations from the bowels arc white and clayey; the urine as dark as
mahogany.
Take Aconite 12th, directly. After six hours commence
Mercurius 12th, and repeat it three times a day.
29th.-Better in health, spirits, and looks.
Continue Mercurius.
30th.-The yellowness has entirely disappeared; her appetite has
returned; her bowels act regularly and healthily; and in every other
respect she appears perfectly well. Cured.
I have retained records of several other cases of the same
kind, occurring in children as well as in grown-up persons.
They all yielded quite as readily as the foregoing, which are
related, principally   with  a  view  of showing how      totally
unnecessary are leeches, blisters, purgatives, and above all,
salivation, to subdue affections of the liver.



INFLAMIlIATION OF THE BOWELS.


BY this term is understood inflammation, not of the lining
or inner membrane of the bowels, but of the peritoneum, or
that membrane, which, forming their outer covering, is also
reflected upon, and lines, the inner walls of the abdomen.
In this respect, as well as in the nature, symptoms, and
termination of the disease, it presents a close resemblance to
pleurisy.  In both, the structures attacked are analogous;
the pain which accompanies them, is, in both instances, of a.
sharp, cutting, burning character, and in movement of the
part, is increased to an excruciating degree; each disease,
unless checked in its early stage, is liable to terminate in
effusion: producing, in the one instance, hydrothorax, or
water on the chest: in the other, ascites, or dropsy of the
abdomen.
Here the parallel ends. Going hand-in-hand to the bedside
of the patient, it is there, in the treatment, that Allopathy and
Hommeopathy separate, and their antagonism begins.      The
former encounters these diseases with the lancet, the leech, and
salivation: the latter, with her gentle dose. The difference
between these two modes of treatment is too palpable to need
further description.  The difference between their results is
as great. The old system regards inflammation of the bowels
as one of the most dangerous diseases it has to treat: it is
certainly one of the most fatal. The lomccopathist, though
equally alive to its rapid course, and disastrous issue, if it be
allowed to proceed unchecked, is conscious of possessing the
means of arresting its progress so promptly and   flfectually,
that, in moderately recent cases, he has no doubt of a favorable
result; and even in the most neglected and desperate, is not
without well grounded hopes of success.



110


INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS.


CASE I.-Mrs. E. B-, aged 24 years.
July 4th, 1847.-Though not robust, she represents herself as being
an inflammatory subject; having previously had two similar attacks, for
both of which she was freely leeched. Eight hours ago she was seized,
after a severe rigor, with a burning, cutting pain in the middle of the
abdomen, shooting through to the back. This pain is much aggravated
by coughing, breathing deeply, pressure, or the least attempt to move
from her present position. Her pulse is exceedingly rapid; skin burning
hot; is very thirsty; and has severe headache.
Aconite 3d, every two hours.
5th.-Wonderfully better. She has little or no pain in the abdomen,
except on firm pressure, and in sitting up in bed. In other respects she
feels, as it were, well; she has no thirst; her tongue is moist; skin cool;.
pulse 90; no headache.
Mercurius 6th, every four hours.
6th.-Perfectly well. Intends getting up to tea, and hopes to resume
her business in a day or two.
She received no further medical attendance.
CASE II.-Mr. E-, aged 23. A shopman, occupied from
early in the morning, till late at night. Naturally delicate and
ailing.
May 1st, 1847.-Has felt pains in his abdomen, at times, for several
days past: they got worse yesterday, and to-day his sufferings have increased to such a degree as to compel him to relinquish business. He
is now very ill; complaining of a severe, cutting, burning pain, in the
upper part of the abdomen, particularly on the right side. It extends,
also, upwards to the pit of the stomach: these parts are so exquisitely
tender that he draws himself back at the approach of the hand. He is
bent half-double, and cannot move, breathe, or cough, without an almost
agonising increase of suffering. He is also constitutionally very ill:
having a rapid pulse; hot skin; dry tongue; constant thirst; and severe
headache. The bowels have been freely moved by two or three doses of
opening medicine, purchased at a druggist's.
Take Aconite 3d, every two hours.
2d.-The change which has come over this young man is really



112


INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS.


May 3d.-She visits me at my house, apparently well, and complaining
only of a little weakness.
Take China 3d, twice a day. Cured.
CASE IV.-Mrs. M. R-, aged 46 years. A little, spare,
delicate woman; has very bad health, being much debilitated
by repeated attacks of internal hmmorrhage, from one of which
she suffered ten days ago.
April 21st, 1847.-Yesterday afternoon she was attacked by severe
pain in the lower part of the abdomen, of a fixed character, but increased
at times to an agonising degree. She lies on her back, with legs and
knees drawn up; cannot move, cough, nor breathe, without great aggravation of her sufferings. Her pulse is 120, and small; skin hot and dry;
tongue parched; has incessant thirst, and confused headache.
Take Aconite 6th, every four hours.
22d.-Aggravation of all the symptoms: alarmingly ill.
Take Aconite 3d, and Belladonna 3d, alternately, every hour.
23d.-Decided relief after the first dose of Belladonna; and the improvement has been progressive up to the last half-hour, when there was
some return of sharp pain, which I do not however regard as of much
importance, since, in every other respect, she is greatly better. She can
now bear a considerable amount of pressure on the abdomen; her pulse
is only 95, and beating softly; the skin perspiring; thirst much reduced;
tongue moist. Had a comfortable, refreshing sleep, in the middle of
the night, during which she perspired profusely.  The bowels have
acted twice.
Continue the Aconite; and take Mercurius 6th (instead of
Belladonna), both at longer intervals.
24th.-She is comparatively well. She experiences no pain or inconvenience from pressure or movement; there is simply a little aching,
produced by the shaking of a cough, with which she is at times troubled.
The pulse is 70, soft, and compressible; there is no thirst, heat, headache,
or other constitutional disturbance; she takes light nourishment; is to
remain in bed a day or two, and
Continue Mercurius, at longer intervals.
26th.-Sent to report herself so well as to need no further attendance.



BOWEL COMPLAINTS.-CHOLERA.


THE intestines are composed of three layers or coats-the
outer or serous; the middle or muscular; and the inner or
mucous membrane.      All these tissues are liable to be
attacked by diseases which are determined in their character,
by the peculiarities of these several structures. Thus, the
outer coat is affected almost exclusively by inflammation: it
constitutes the painful and dangerous disease we have just
been considering, under the general term of "inflammation
of the bowels."  The middle or muscular coat, on which the
motion of the bowels depends, is not so liable as the other
two, to be independently diseased, but is apt to become
sympathetically  implicated  in  other intestinal disorders.
The affections belonging to this structure are, as might be
expected, chiefly spasmodic-such as colic, and spasms of
the bowels, &c.   The inner or mucous coat, devoted to digestion and nutrition, is also liable to be attacked by diseases,
corresponding in number, and the peculiarity of their symptoms, to the structure of the part, and the important and
~vcomplicated function it has to perform. These diseases are
chiefly comprehended in the collective term of "bowel complaints," and include the three we are now about to notice,
viz.-Cholera, Dysentery, and Diarrhoea.
Attended constantly by relaxation or purging, and merging
into each other by almost insensible gradations, there are yet
some leading symptoms peculiar to each of these diseases, by
which they may be distinguished from each other, and in
accordance with which they have received the names above
mentioned. Without stopping to enter into a minute detail of
their respective limits, we proceed at once to the considera



114


BOWEL COMPLAINTS.-CHOLERA.


tion of the most important, as well as the most interesting of
the three, namely, CHOLERA.
The fears of the public have been too recently excited
afresh by the threatened re-appearance of this disease, to
render necessary any description of the consternation which
reigned, as well in the professional, as in the non-professional
mind, when that terrible scourge visited this country sixteen
years ago.   Those fears, on both occasions, originated, not
so much in any particular horror of the disease itself as
in the acknowledged inability of medical men to encounter
it successfully.  There existed then, as there now exists,
the utmost diversity of opinion, both as to its real nature,
and the best mode by which it should be treated. If there
be any doubt of the correctness of this assertion, let the
periodicals and other publications of the two periods, bear
testimony to its truth.   Those publications teemed with
suggestions, so inconsistent and contradictory, that no two
out of the number could be found to correspond: on the
contrary, each successive writer appeared to think that
the strength of his claim upon the confidence of the public,
increased in proportion to the novelty of the remedy he
suggested.
Referring back to the period when the cholera first raged in
England, we find that expedients the most absurd, and till
then unheard of as remedial agents, were propounded and
adopted, on no better grounds than the whim or enthusiasm
of the inventor.   A  universal and simultaneous quackery
pervaded the whole profession.    Having no experience to
guide them, nor fixed principles of action to fall back upon,
medical men gave their remedies, they knew not why or
wherefore; but, like persons fighting in the dark, struck here
and there at random, impelled by the desperate hope of dealing their enemy a chance blow.
I was informed by a gentleman, who was, at different times,
resident medical officer at two of the temporary hospitals,
fitted up in the metropolis for the reception of cholera pa



BOWEL COMPLAINTS.-CHOLERA.


115


tients, that, after the very first stage of the disease had passed,
no kind of treatment whatever appeared to be of any service
in arresting its progress. Every conceivable form of remedy
was administered, in the most extravagant doses-in short,
the utter hopelessness of doing any good, seemed to be regarded as a licence for trying all sorts of experiments upon
the unfortunate sufferers  The result was worthy of the treatment: thirty out of the first thirty-three patients admitted
into one of the hospitals were taken out dead. This statement is corroborated by high authority. Dr. Elliotson, who
was at that time physician to St. Thomas's Hospital, and who,
in giving the following account of his own success in the
treatment of cholera, may fairly be regarded as speaking for
the profession at large, says-" As respects this country, I
cannot but think that if all the patients had been left alone,
the mortality would have been much the same as it has been.
If all the persons attacked with cholera had been put into
warm beds, made comfortable, and left alone-although many
would have died who have been saved-yet, on the whole,
I think the mortality would not have been greater than after
all that has been done; for we are not in the least more informed as to the proper remedies, than we were when the first
case of cholera occurred; we have not been instructed in the
least, by those who have had the disease to treat. Some say
that they have cured the disease by bleeding; others by
calomel; others by opium; and others, again, say that opium
does harm. No doubt many poor creatures died uncomfortably, who would have died tranquilly if nothing had been
done to them. Some were placed in hot water, or in hot air,
and had opium and calomel, and other stimulants, which,
altogether, were more than their system would bear, and more
than would have been borne if they had been so treated even
in perfect health. I am sorry to say that of the cases I had
to treat, the patients nearly all died. I tried two or three
sorts of treatment. Some had opium and calomel, in large
and full doses; but they died. Hot air was applied externally;



BOWEL COMPLAINTS.-CHOLERA.


117


stitutes the very life and soul of a system of medicine-without which, indeed, it were a prostitution of the term to call it
a system, viz., universality. This property is never more
strikingly apparent than when brought to bear upon a new
disease: and for this simple reason-that no delays are required for the purpose of experimenting.    It is one of the
fundamental points of the Homceopathic doctrine, that we
must become acquainted with the powers of medicines, by
testing them upon the healthy body, before they can be properly applied to the removal of disease.   Possessed of this
knowledge, the physician, encountering any disease, whether
for the first time or not, corresponding in its symptoms with
any medicine previously so tested, entertains no doubt as to
the perfect adaptation of such remedy to the removal of such
disease.  A  more forcible illustration of the truth of this
simple, yet comprehensive, principle, could not be wished for,
than is afforded in the following interesting fact-that Hahnemann, whilst the cholera was yet at a distance from Germany,
and long before he had an opportunity of seeing and treating a
case of that disease, but merely from description of its symptoms, selected from  his materia medica, those very remedies
with which the Homceopathists afterward combated the disease so triumphantly. It is proved by statistical calculations,
drawn from Government reports, and other unquestionable
authorities, that whereas nearly fifty out of every hundred
cases treated Allopathically, ended fatally, only twenty per
cent. were lost of those which were treated according to the
new system.
At the period to which we are referring, Homceopathy was
a stranger to England. Since then (to use a homely phrase),
we have become "better acquainted;" and the stubborn fact
that it is capable of grappling successfully with the giant foe,
has been placed prominently before the public.* With no
* Vide Dr. I. Russell's Work on Cholera, and Papers by Drs. Dudgeon, Black, &c., on the ' Homoopathic Treatment of Cholera.'



118


BOWEL COMPLAINTS.-CHOLERA.


other evidence to rest upon than that which these statements
supply, it would be impossible to doubt, should the disease
again rear its hideous form to fright us from our propriety,
that our greatest security under its attack will be found to
consist in a prompt resort to Homoeopathy.    But I have other
grounds of confidence.   My own experience inclines me to the
belief, that we have never, for any length of time, been entirely free from  cholera, since its visitation in 1833.  At intervals, during the last two years especially, isolated cases
have come under my care, differing but little from the true
Asiatic type.   Two or three of these cases are recorded below; and I am    mistaken if the reader, after perusing them,
and observing the effect of the remedies employed, will not
join with me in the conviction I feel, that, with the Homoeopathic remedies in our hands, we need no longer despair, even
at the approach of cholera.
CASE I.-Mrs. R-, aged 74. A weakly, delicate old lady at
the best.
July 26th, 1847.-Half-past 6 p.m.-Getting up this morning was
seized with pain in the abdomen, succeeded by relaxations of the bowels,
which continued at intervals during the day. Immediately after tea
vomiting supervened, and the bowel-complaint became much more severe:
The evacuations, composed of thin, gruel-like fluid, preceded by excruciating pain, and attended with irresistible straining, passed from her
in enormous quantities. The vomiting was as urgent; the liquiit of the
same character as that just described, scalding her throat as it was
ejected. This state of things has now existed an hour and a half. Her
prostration is already extreme. Unable to lie down in bed, on account
of the peculiarity of her symptoms, she is supported, almost lifeless, on
the side of the bed by two attendants. She has a burning pain in the
pit of the stomach; her tongue and throat are dry and parched; she
has insatiable thirst for cold water, which, however, is ejected the
instant it reaches the stomach.  Cramps, so violent as to cause her,
almost lifeless as she is, to roar with agony, seize every limb. Her pulse
is small, rapid, and at times imperceptible; her skin, covered with a



BOWEL COMPLAINTS.-CHOLERA.


119


cold, clammy sweat, feels deathly to the touch; her brain is disordered;
" her sight fails.
Arsenicum, every quarter of an hour.
Half-past nine. Two and a-half hours later.-A remarkable change
in her condition has already taken place. She is lying in bed, calm,
and comparatively comfortable. The vomiting ceased after the second
dose of medicine, and the purging returned only at longer intervals.
The pain in the stomach and bowels has greatly subsided; her skin is
warm; pulse full and calm; she suffers from time to time with crampy
pains in different parts of the body, and, as a matter of course, is still
greatly prostrated.
Continue the medicine, every hour.
27th.-Ten a.m., the purging ceased entirely last night, and she has
vomited only once. She slept comfortably, when not disturbed by the
lingering pains which occasionally affect the limbs. There remains only
some soreness in the abdomen, conjoined with debility, to remind her of
the severe trial she has gone through.
There was no return of the disorder, and here my attendance ended.
CASE II.-M. D-, aged 59. A         tall, thin man, generally in
the enjoyment of pretty good health.
August 28th, 1847.-Having partaken of a simple, light dinner, and
resumed his occupation, was seized about two hours after quite suddenly, with the most deadly vomiting and purging.  He hastened
home; and being summoned in great haste to visit him, I find him at
at half-past five reduced to a fearful state of prostration. The action,
both upwards and downwards, continues unabated. It is almost incessant, the egesta being amazingly large in quantity, and consisting of
a thin, watery liquid, like gruel. The purging is attended with violent
griping pains, and a sensation of " dying faintness." His pulse is exceedingly rapid, and so small and thread-like, as to be barely perceptible.  Elis voice fails; his features are sharp, pinched, and shrunken;
and the face, as well as the surface of the body generally, is pale, cold,
clammy, and bloodless.
Take, immediately, a dose of Arsenicum of the 3d power, and repeat
it every quarter of an hour afterwards.
Ten o'clock in the evening.-He is lying comfortably in bed. The
purging and vomiting ceased almost instantaneously upon taking the



120


BOWEL COMPLAINTS.-OHOLERA.


medicine. Violent reaction has succeeded to the previous depression:
he is now burning hot in skin; has headache, thirst, and rapid pulse.
In spite of all this, he feels comparatively well to what he did a few
hours ago.
Take Aconite 6th, every four hours.
29th.-The febrile symptoms have entirely vanished, and he feels no
inconvenience whatever, beyond some weakness, and slight dyspeptic
sensations.
Take two or three doses of Nux Vomica.
CASE III.-Henry B-, aged 16 years.
October 7th, 1846.-Seven o'clock, evening.   Was attacked this
afternoon, about five hours since, with excruciating pains in the abdomen, followed, almost immediately, by the most violent vomiting and
purging, which continue to recur at intervals of about five minutes.
The evacuations from the bowels, at first like gruel, or dirty water,
during the last hour have been composed of pure blood. His skin is
covered with a cold clammy perspiration; his tongue is white; pulse,
small, rapid, and barely to be detected; has constant thirst. In addition to this, his sufferings from cramps in the legs, arms, &c., are really
frightful. He rolls about the bed like a madman, and absolutely roars
out with agony. His father and mother, are at this moment rubbing his
legs with all their energy, to assuage the pain.
Take Arsenicum 3d, every half-hour.
Ten o'clock at night. Greatly relieved: purging much less frequent; vomiting entirely ceased the last hour; slight cramps; skin
warm; pulse fuller. He is now lying quiet, and comfortably covered up
in bed.
Continue the medicine, every hour.
8th.-Bowels relieved three times in the night, without pain; vomited
twice, and still feels some nausea.
Take Ipecacuanha 3d, every three hours. Resume Arsenicum if the
purging return.
9th.-In the night had a slight return of the attack, which lasted an
hour; he is now hot and thirsty.
Take Aconite 12th, every four hours.
10th.-Convalescent. Pulse good; tongue clean; skin cool.
Relinquish medicine, and take light nourishment. Cured.



BOWEL COMPLAINTS. -CHOLERA.


121


CASE IV.-Mr. F-, aged 59 years. A stout, heavy, plethoric
person.
July 16th, 1848.-Has been unsettled in his inside two or three
days. At nine o'clock yesterday he was taken with the most violent
vomiting and purging, accompanied by "awful cramps" in the legs,
left arm, and both hands.  The evacuations were watery and pale,
and recurred every few   minute.   He was intensely thirsty, his
tongue became "as dry as a chip."   The extremities were cold -
and his hands turned blue, and were covered with a damp sweat.
Alarmed at these symptoms, and his sufferings becoming intolerable, his
wife sent to me at five o'clock in the morning, when, from the description of his case, I was induced to send
Arsenicum 6th, to be taken every half-hour.
Visiting him eight hours after, I am told that the vomiting and action
on the bowels ceased after the second dose of medicine. A cup of warm
tea renewed the attack slightly-but it speedily subsided. The cramps
in the legs and thighs continue to torment him at times.
Take Arsenicum, every two hours.
In the evening.-The last-named symptom has disappeared. Reaction
has set in: he is hot, feverish, and thirsty; and his tongue is dry and
brown.
Take Aconite 6th, every four hours.
17th.-These symptoms have vanished; and he complains simply of
flatulence, and a little soreness in the abdomen.
Nux Vomica, three times a day. Cured.
CASE V.-W. T-, aged 58 years. A         weakly, ailing man at
all times.
August 7th, 1848.- Has been ill ten hours. Attacked, suddenly, in
the middle of the night with urgent symptoms of cholera: incessant
vomiting and purging of a thin watery liquid; agonising pains in the
abdomen, cramps in the limbs, &c. He took hot brandy and water, and
other things, for relief, but found none. Continuing to get worse, he
summoned me to attend him at seven a.m. I found him as just described: labouring also under excessive prostration of strength, with
small, almost imperceptible pulse, and cold damp surface.
Take Veratrum 12th, every half-hour.
6



122


BOWEL COMPLAINTS.-CHOLERA.


8th.-Dressed, down stairs, and sitting in his shop. The purging
ceased entirely after the first dose of medicine, and has not returned.
He has vomited only once since. Feeling weak and flatulent,
To take Nux Vomica 12th, twice a day. Cured.
Since the foregoing remarks on cholera were first penned, we
have, on two occasions, viz., in 1849, and again in 1854, been
confronted with this grim malgly. On the last of these occasions, an opportunity was afforded in the London Homoeopathic Hospital in Golden Square, of testing the treatment of
cholera by Homecopathic remedies, under circumstances that
admit of no question as to the genuineness of the cases, or the
accuracy of the results. These results, as compared with
those obtained by other modes of treatment, were most satisfactory. It appears from authentic returns,* that whilst " the
mortality by cholera in the several sets of English returns,
ranged from 41 to 51 deaths in every 100 persons attacked,"
and of those treated in the London Allopathic Hospitals, to 36 in
every 100, the mortality at the London Homoeopathic Hospital
was at the rate of only 16 deaths for every 100 cases.t It should
be stated, for the information of the reader, that when the
cholera broke out so suddenly and with such fearful fatality in
the Golden Square district, in September, 1854, " the Committee of Management of the London Homoeopathic Hospital,
from a desire to contribute to the best of their ability to the
measures adopted by the parochical authorities, for the purpose of checking the ravages of the disease, gave directions for
appropriating the wards of the hospital to the sole use of the
* 'Report of the Committee of Scientific Inquiry, in relation to the
Cholera Epidemic of 1854,' presented to both Houses of Parliament, by
the Board of Health.
"t" 'Return presented to both Houses of Parliament, from the Committee of Management of the London Homoeopathic Hospital,' moved for
by Lord R. Grosvenor, and ordered to be printed by the House of
Commons, May 21, 1855.



BOWEL COMPLAINTS.-CHOLERA.


123


poor attacked by the epidemic, the usual letters of recommendation being dispensed with."  The cases, therefore, from
which the above favorable results were obtained were of the
very worst form, and not mild or picked cases; they were
treated in the very locality where the disease was engendered,
and " in an institution ill adapted from its want of space, and
the arrangements of its wards, for the purposes of a cholera
hospital."  But any question as to the genuineness and severity of the cases, is entirely set at rest by the following extract from a letter, addressed by Dr. Macloughlin, one of
the medical inspectors of the Board    of H-ealth, to Mr,
Cameron, one of the Surgeons to the London Homoeopathic
Hospital.
Extract from a Letter, dated February 22d, 1855,from Dn.
MACLOUGHLIN, one of the Mledical Inspectors of the Board
of Health, to HuaG   CAMERON, EsQ., M.R.C.S., and one of
the Surgeons to the London Homoeopathic Hospital.*
" You are right. I did tell you that I would report to the
General Board of Health the opinion I had formed of the
manner the poor cholera patients were cared for in your
hospital, and the success of your treatment; but finding that
I could not enter into details relative to your hospital without
entering also into details relative to the Allopathic hospitals,
which would lead me into considerations foreign to the sanitary question before me, I therefore merely gave the result
arrived at in yours, along with the result arrived at in other
establishments, reserving to myself the liberty to say more in
detail what is the impression on my mind as to your treatment
of cholera cases, when I publish a monograph on cholera.
" You are aware that I went to your hospital prepossessed
against the Homceopathic system; that you had in me, in your
* This letter was inserted, with the consent of the writer, in the report to the House of Commons.



124


BOWEL COMPLAINTS.-CHOLERA.


camp, an enemy rather than a friend, and that I must therefore have seen some cogent reason there the first day I went,
to come away so favorably disposed as to advise a friend to
send a subscription to your charitable fund; and I need not
tell you that I have taken some pains to make myself acquainted with the rise, progress, and medical treatment of
cholera, and that I claim for myself some right to be able to
recognise the disease, and to know something of what the
medical treatment ought to be, and
" That there may therefore be no misapprehension about the
cases I saw in your hospital, I will add, that all I saw were
true cases of cholera, in the various stages of the disease, and
that I saw several cases which did well under your treatment,
which I have no hesitation in saying would have sunk under
any other.
" In conclusion, I must repeat to you what I have already
told you, and what I have told every one with whom I have
conversed, that although an Allopath by principle, education,
and practice, yet, was it the will of Providence to afflict me
with cholera, and to deprive me of the power of prescribing for
myself, I would rather be in the hands of a Homceopathic
than an Allopathic adviser."
With this letter-too rare an instance of Allopathic candour
and liberality as regards Homceopathy-I leave the subject
to the calm reflection of the reader.
I will not weaken the force of the foregoing statements by
any comments of my own-nor weary the reader by an additional and useless detail of cases.



126


BOWEL COMPLAINTS.-DYSENTERY.


cession. Should the symptoms still drag on, it may be necessary to give mercury even to the extent of making the gums
tender." Just before this he says, "there is one important
point in the treatment of dysentery, concerning which a
striking discrepancy of opinion exists. I allude to the employment of mercury as a remedy. I have no data for settling
the question."
In these short quotations, we have strong irritating purgatives ordered to cure a disease which consists in purging and
irritation of the bowels; opiates, which have the effect of inducing constipation; between these, a suggestion to prescribe
laxatives and opiates together, or to "alternate them," if that
plan be preferred; and lastly, permission to salivate our patients, notwithstanding that inflammation, ulceration, and
purging of the bowels, are notorious consequences of that condition, and that," there exists so much discrepancy of opinion,"
as to the propriety of using mercury.
It does one's heart good to turn from this unfortunate
jumble of inconsistencies and contradictions, to the simple,
harmonious, and    methodical teachings of Homoeopathy.
Pointing out to her followers a direct and well-defined path,
she conducts them to a speedy triumph over diseases, which
involve the Allopathic practitioner in inextricable perplexities.
Certain as is the action of Homoeopathic remedies in the
generality of diseases, there are none in which that certainty
is more strikingly displayed, than in the different affections
of the mucous membrane of the bowels. We have just witnessed their power over cholera: in dysentery, which is at
times scarcely less severe, their curative properties are equally
manifest. The first few doses seldom fail to produce a marked
impression upon the symptoms, and so far from "dragging on,"
we rarely meet with a case which, if promptly treated, is not
pretty well subdued in the course of thirty-six or forty-eight
hours.



BOWEL COMPLAINTS.- DYSENTERY.


127


CASE I.-Mrs. C-, aged 54 years.
April 24th, 1847.-Three o'clock p.m.-Was as well as usual yesterday. At two o'clock this morning, without any assignable cause, was
seized with pain in the bowels, followed in a few minutes by violent
purging; the promptings, up to this moment, are almost incessant, and
since ten this morning she had passed nothing but blood; there are
violent gripings, and the evacuations are attended with intolerable straining. Her pulse is small and quick; skin cool; tongue dry; she has
incessant craving for cold drinks.
Take Arsenicum 6th, every hour.
25th.-The first dose of medicine eased the pain; the bowels now act
but rarely: when they do, she still passes blood.
Continue the medicine, every four hours.
27th.-All the above severe symptoms have entirely disappeared. The
bowels are now moved two or three times a day. She feels some nausea
after taking anything.
Ipecacuanha 6th, twice a day.
28th.-She is quite well.
CASE II.-Mary Ann D-, aged 66 years.
October 16th, 1847.-This patient has been ailing the last fortnight,
and troubled with irritability of the bowels. The last few days she has
got much worse, and at the present time is terribly reduced in strength:
she reels in attempting to stand; her breathing is short and spasmodic;
and she moans with each inspiration, as much from exhaustion as from
the pain of her disorder.  She is purged every five minutes, passing
blood and slime, with a good deal of straining. She has intense pain in
the bottom of the abdomen; is exceedingly thirsty; pulse small and
rapid; has aching in all her limbs.
Take Arsenicum 3d, every hour.
17th.-The bowels began to get better an hour after the first dose of
medicine, and she has been troubled only four times in the last twelve
hours, on which occasions no blood passed.   Within the last hour
she has vomited five or six times, bringing up nothing but white
phlegm.
Take Ipecacuanha 6th, every two hours.



128


BOWEL COMPLAINTS.-DYSENTERY.


18th.-Half an hour after the first dose of medicine the vomiting
entirely ceased, and has not returned. The bowels are still slightly relaxed, and feel tender and sore.
Take Mercurius 6th, three times a day.
With this she got perfectly well, and had no further attendance.
CASE III.-Mrs. S-, aged 60 years. A very weakly, delicate
person; much afflicted with asthma.
December 16th, 1846.-Seven in the evening.-Attacked, three or
four days ago, with relaxation of the bowels, which has gradually got
worse, and the last twenty-four hours has increased to an intolerable
degree, causing her to get out of bed thirty times last night; it has continued to be almost as frequent to-day. Severe pain and griping
precede the evacuations, which have been watery up to the last few
times; since then they have been composed only of blood and slime.
She is extremely prostrated in strength; her tongue is parched and
dry, and she suffers incessant thirst; her cough is also very troublesome.
Take Arsenicum 6th, every hour.
17th.-Noon.-There has been no action of the bowels since five
this morning. She is free from pain, and has only a little soreness remaining.
To relinquish the Arsenicum, and take Phosphorus, every four hours,
for severe inflammatory action of the lungs and bronchial tubes. She
continued this medicine two or three days, and was then quite convalescent.
CASE IV.-James R-, aged 2 years. A remarkably irritable,
fractious child.
May 24th, 1847.-Has been disordered in his inside some time. Yesterday he became much worse-the irritation of the bowels is nearly
constant, and attended with violent straining and purging-screaming,
and drawing up of the legs towards the abdomen. The evacuations are
small in quantity, and composed principally of slime. He is very feverish,
thirsty, and hot.
Take Chamomilla 6th, every two hours.



BOWEL COMPLAINTS.-DYSENTERY.


129


25th.-The same; except that there is not so much straining.
Mercurius Corrosivus, every four hours.
27th.-Amendment as regards the general health: not so hot; but
the bowel-complaint still continues: the evacuations recurring every
half-hour, and being composed of slime, blood,. and fleshy-looking substance.
Take Arsenicum 12th, every two hours.
29th.-One hour after commencing the medicine, the child mended
wonderfully. There have been only five evacuations in the last twentyfour hours; and those without blood.
Continue the medicine, at longer intervals.
With this he quite recovered.


0



BOWEL COMPLAINTS.-DIARRIHEA.


181


It is a well known fact that the different preparations of
opium form a constant, essential, and, indeed, nearly the only
effective ingredient in Allopathic prescriptions for the cure of
diarrhoea, and  other bowel complaints.    It is equally well
known, that one of the most unfailing effects produced by
that medicine, is obstinate constipation. The necessity thus
incurred of administering aperients, and the difficulty often
experienced in restoring the bowels to a healthy action, constitute the bugbear of the old system of treatment. The
patient's troubles do not end where they ought to donamely, with the subsidence of the disease.      He has to
undergo a second medication to rectify the errors of the first.
It is not enough that he swallow the nauseous draughts prescribed for the original disease: he must needs submit to the
still more repulsive process of taking castor-oil, pills, rhubarb
and magnesia, &c., for the purpose of arousing the benumbed
and stupified powers of his abdominal viscera, to a resumption
of their duty.
There is a remarkable exemption from all this in Homoeopathic practice. Acting in strict accordance with the operations
instituted by nature for the removal of the disease, Homoeopathic remedies exert no power beyond that point-their action
ceases the moment the disease is cured. There are, therefore,
no after-consequences to be rectified-no corrective aperients
are required.   The bowels almost invariably resume their
action in a healthy and natural way, and of their own accord,
within the space of twenty-four or thirty-six hours at the
utmost.
This may appear a trifling matter-but, considered in relation to the comfort of the patient, and the injurious effects of
purgative medicines, it becomes, in reality, a subject of no
slight importance.



132


BOWEL COMPLAINTS.-DIARRHCEA.


CASE I.-A. 0-, aged 22 years.
June 26th, 1847.-Has been ill a week; thinks the attack was caused
by indigestible food.  He has been gradually getting worse from the
first up to this time. His bowels are moved about six times a day, each
operation being preceded by a good deal of colicky pain. The evacuations
are liquid, and pass without pain or straining. His tongue is coated;
has very little appetite; and is thirsty.
Take Cinchona 3d, every four hours.
Six doses of this medicine entirely removed the complaint.
CASE II.-R. G--, aged 3 months.
August 24th.-Noon.-This child has been under the care of a medical gentleman the last five days. It was carried to him this morning, in
so hopeless a condition, that he declined prescribing, and ordered its
mother to take it home, and not disturb its dying moments by attempting
to wash or dress it.
Its present condition, sufficiently deplorable, is as follows: it lies perfectly motionless; with wasted features, dull, sunken, half-closed eyes;
open mouth, and lips dry and shrivelled; and drawn far inwards over the
gums. The evacuations, consisting of yellow and green slime, pass very
frequently; and it vomits the instant anything reaches the stomach.
This exhausting process has been going on the last fortnight, and has
reduced the child to its present almost lifeless state. There is some
warmth in the skin,, and the pulse is slow, laboured, and somewhat
full.
A dose of Ipecacuauha to be placed on the tongue, and to be repeated
every half hour.
Evening.-There has been no return of vomiting, and the bowels have
been purged only once since the medicine was begun. It now sucks
freely, and is altogether quite another child.
Take Cinchona 12th, every two hours.
26th.-The little creature is wonderfully changed. Its eyes are wide
open, bright, and clear; it sits up on its mother's arm, looks about, and
takes notice. He slept well last night; there has been no vomiting; and



BOWEL COMPLAINTS.-DIARRH(EA.


133


the bowels have been relieved only once. He appears merely to be
troubled with flatulence.
Cinchona, every morning. Sulphur every night.
27th.-Comparatively well: cheerful, hearty, and gaining strength
every hour. The bowels are quite regular and healthy. The medicines
were continued a few days longer-after which it was perfectly restored,
to the no small delight of its parents, who, having previously made up
their minds to lose their child, looked upon its restoration almost in the
light of a resurrection.
CASE III.-Mrs. I-'s child, aged 2 months.
August 26th, 1847.-Was fed in the first instance, and afterwards
suckled too much. It has had diarrhlea, off and on, since birth, and at
length got so seriously ill, that its mother took it to a physician, who
prescribed a compound mixture of chalk, tincture of catechu, and bitters;
and a small calomel powder, to be taken twice a week. The use of these
medicines was persisted in for a fortnight, when the child, wasting and
still getting worse, came under my care. It was purged six or seven
times in the twenty-four hours, and the last three or four days it vomited
everything it took.
To have Ipecacuanha 6th, every two hours, till the vomiting
ceased.
A striking amendment was perceptible the next day. It had vomited
once or twice only, and the bowels were much more quiet.
Continue the Ipecacuanha, twice a day; and Sulphur 12th, at
bedtime.
Under this treatment the child's amendment was astonishingly rapid.
At the end of a week its bowels acted regularly once a day, and there
was no return of the sickness: it gained flesh, and got a regular, healthy
appetite, in the place of a constant craving for food. The Sulphur powders were continued for some time longer, every third night, after which
no further attendance was required.
CASE IV.-James G-, aged 31 years.
September 18th, 1848.-He is very much exhausted by this attackwhich has now lasted three days. The bowels are moved about every



184


BOWEL COMPLAINTS.-DIARREIIEA.


half-hour with griping, straining, and soreness. The evacuations are
yellow and slimy.
Take Mercurius 6th, every two hours.
20th.-The purging ceased after the second dose, and remained quiet
till to-day, when the bowels were slightly relieved. He is generally
dyspeptic, and feels so at the present time.
Take Nux Vomica 12th, twice a day. Cured.
CASE V.-C. C-, aged 29 years.
July 25th, 1848.-Taken yesterday with griping in the bowels, and
was several times relaxed. It subsided in the afternoon, and remained
quiet till four o'clock this morning, when it returned and has continued
ever since, with considerable violence; recurring at intervals of about
an hour, and attended with severe griping. The evacuations are watery
and bilious. He is completely disordered in his stomach, complaining
of loss of appetite, disagreeable taste, headache, &c.  His tongue is
foul.
Take Dulcamara 12th, every three hours.
His bowels were scarcely at all disturbed after the first dose; the
next day he felt quite himself, and had no more medicine.
CASE VI.-J. F-, aged 32 years.        Dark complexion, irritable
disposition.
August 12th, 1848.-Seven o'clock, evening.-Seized at three o'clock
in the morning with the most excruciating pain in the bowels, followed
by violent relaxation. HI took various domestic remedies to no avail.
The action still continues about every half hour, attended with so much
pain as to bend him double, and cause him to cry out with agony. The
evacuations are hot and scalding, and followed by painful straining. He
is now very weak.
Take Colocynth, every half-hour.
13th.-Perfectly relieved in two hours. He slept from ten o'clock
last night till five this morning, when the bowels were slightly moved
once. He now complains only of some soreness in the late seat of pain,
and of weakness.
Take Nax Vomica 12th, twice a day. Cured.



BOWEL COMPLAINTS.-DIARRH(EA.                   135
CASE VII.-Mrs. C. D-'s child, aged 9 months.
November 11th, 1846.-A fine, healthy girl; but her mother not
having sufficient milk to support her, she has, the last two months, been
fed occasionally on artificial food. During the same period she has been
disordered in her bowels: purged about six or eight times in the twentyfour hours. Her evacuations have a slimy, green appearance, and are
passed with a good deal of straining; and she draws up her legs, and
cries out with pain.
Take Chamomilla, three times a day.
16th.-Perfectly well the last two days.



INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS
AND BLADDER.
THE members of the old school of medicine test the virtues
of their remedies only on the sick patient. Besides the consideration, that the period when a person is labouring under
disease is the least appropriate that could be selected for
making him the subject of an experiment, it must at once be
evident, that such a practice can never lead to exact and
trust-worthy results; inasmuch as under such circumstances,
it is impossible to distinguish between the symptoms which
the remedy might originate, and those which belong to the
disease. The physician is thus always in the dark as to the
pure healing powers of his remedy. This is one source of
the confusion and uncertainty which characterise his operations.
It is an essential point in the Homceopathic system, that
all medicines should be tested upon the healthy body before
they are applied to the removal of disease. By this plan we
ascertain, with the utmost precision, the remedial properties
of any given substance, and are enabled to foretell what
effect it will produce, when administered- to a sick person.
It was by a process of this sort that Hahnemann first brought
to light the Homceopathic law: it is the basis on which it
rests, and on which, after years of toil, its illustrious discoverer erected that imperishable monument to his genius
and perseverance--his Materia Medica Pura.
Another serious obstacle in the path of old physic, is the
custom of mixing a number of different medicines together
in the same prescription.  The disadvantages of this practice
are keenly felt, even by the professors of Allopathy themselves.
One of them, Sir John Forbes, declares, "our system is



188


INFLAMMATION OF TIHE KIDNEYS


which of the ingredients employed any benefit he may have
derived, should be attributed.
The Homoeopathist, on the other hand, never administers
more than one remedy at a time; and so escapes all. that
uncertainty and indefiniteness which surrounds, and to a
great extent nullifies, the action of Allopathic medicines.
The most prejudicial effect of the errors I have named, is
the want of faith they engender in the minds of medical men,
as to the healing powers of medicines generally. How else
can we account for the remarkable fact, that with two or
three exceptions, the Allopathist possesses no single internal
remedy to which he dare confide in the treatment of any
acute disorder: but in almost every case falls back upon a
totally different, and what he considers a more powerful class
of agents-bleeding, leeching, and blistering.
These remarks are suggested by the almost total want of
correct information, which to this day exists among Allopathists, as to the proper action of the Spanish-fly.  It is notorious, that notwithstanding their long acquaintance with this
drug as a stimulant to the skin, and their familiarity with the
fact that when so employed, it is apt to become absorbed
into the system, and exert a powerful action on the kidneys
and bladder, they never dream of trusting to it, as the
Homoeopathist does, as one of the most energetic, speedy,
and certain remedies in active inflammation of those organs.
Had they made themselves acquainted, by Hahnemann's
process, with the pure medical virtues of this drug, they
would not, as they do now, restrict its use, almost exclusively,
to the insignificant office of raising a blister.
At the risk of appearing immethodical, I have ventured to
include inflammation of the bladder and the kidneys under
one head. The fact that the same treatment is to a great
extent applicable to both diseases, and the desire to avoid
tautology and unnecessary prolixity, have determined me in -
the adoption of this course.
The subjoined cases have been selected from a number of



AND BLADDER.


139


others of the same kind (in which a variety of medicines
were used), chiefly with a view of illustrating the observations
just offered concerning the curative powers of Cantharis.
There are, indeed, but few cases, in which, especially at the
commencement, this remedy may not be employed with
advantage; and, in some, it is alone sufficient to effect a
cure.
CASE I.-R. B-, aged 34 years. A delicate man, often ailing.
May 4th, 1847.-Felt unwell three days ago, with general languor, and
aching in his limbs. The day before yesterday, was confined to bed.
Yesterday, though far from well, went to his employment, but becoming
much worse he is again at home, and presents the following condition:
he has severe pain across the middle of the back, in the region of the
kidneys, of a fixed, aching character, and much increased by pressure.
In the first instance lie was a good deal troubled with sympathetic affection of the bladder-having almost incessant desire to relieve it, and
passing but a few drops at a time-and that, the colour of blood. This
irritation has somewhat subsided, but the urine still maintains the same
appearance, and is very small in quantity. In addition to these local
symptoms, he is constitutionally disordered-suffering severe headache,
nausea, longing for cold drink; having alternate heats and chills; a rapid,
small, hard pulse; and troublesome cough.
Take Aconite 3d, and Cantharis 3d, alternately every four hours.
6th.-He is greatly relieved.  The pain in his back is much less;
urine clearer, and of lighter colour, though still small in quantity; fever
abated, and very little thirst.
Take Aconite twice in twenty hours. Continue the Cantharis as
before.
With this supply of medicine he quite recovered; and resumed his
occupation on the 10th.
CASE II.-C. D-, a man, aged 36 years.
April 30th, 1848.-Ten o'clock in the evening.-For the last three
weeks has suffered pain around the back and abdomen. He now complains of severe pain in the right kidney; and pressure in that region
almost makes him faint.  The pain follows the course of the ureter, im



AND BLADDER.


141,


CASE III.-Mrs. M-, aged about 40 years.
February 14th, 184-7.-Has been ill four days, with distressing feeling
in the lower part of the abdomen, and frequent desire to void her urine;
which causes an intolerable cutting pain as it passes, and contains a
thick, yellow, stringy sort of sediment. During the last eight weeks
she has been troubled with a pain in the lower right side of the abdomen,
considerably increased by pressure, and by motion. She is feverish and
thirsty; and has lost her appetite.
Take Aconite 3d, first, then Cantharis 12th, every four hours.
15th.-Afternoon.-She is much better, having been necessitated to
relieve the bladder only three times since early in the morning; the fluid
passes much more easily, and looks clearer; she has some pain in the
lower part of the back.
Continue the medicine.
18th.-The urine is healthy, and troubles her but very little; her
general health also is fast improving.
Take Sulphur 12th, twice a day; with which she got perfectly well,
and required no further aid.
CASE IV.-William N-, aged 28 years.
February 17th, 1847.-Has been ill a week with pain in the region of
the bladder, attended with frequent urging to micturate; the fluid having
a thick, milky appearance, and causing him much pain in its passage.
The pain also extends into the lower part of the back, and passes thence
down to the thighs and legs.  He is very feverish; and has headache, thirst, and loss of appetite. There is no evident cause of the
attack.
To take Aconite and Cantharis 12th, alternately, every four hours.
19th.-The urinary symptoms have entirely disappeared. His head
is also much better: but he complains now of pain extending from the
loins upwards to the shoulders-much increased by the warmth of bed
and by motion.  He is liable to rheumatic pains, and this appears to be
of that character.
Take Bryonia 12th, three times a day.
22d.-Well, with the exception of a little headache.
Take Belladonna 12th, every night. Cured.



S142      INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS AND BLADDER.
CASE V.-P. M-, a robust man, aged 38 years.
December 15th, 1818.-Was seized rather suddenly, a fortnight since,
with irritation of the bladder, attended with a heavy, dull pain in the
lower part of the abdomen, frequent urging to micturate, and the voidance of small quantities of cloudy urine. These symptoms have continued gradually to increase, until to-day they became so intense as to be
no longer tolerable: lie therefore seeks my assistance. The urine is now
muco-purulent, passed almost incessantly a few drops at a time, and succeeded on each occasion by nearly as much pure blood. There is also
general excitement of the system, indicated by fever, thirst, &c. There
is no gonorrhcea.
Take Aconite 6th, and Cantharis 6th, alternately, every four hours.
16th.-He is astonished at the sudden relief lie has obtained. The
irritation has nearly all subsided. He has emptied the bladder only three
times in the course of the day. The fluid still bears much the same
characters, and cuts him, as it has done all along, in its passage.
Continue the medicines.
18th.-Little or no irritation in any way.
Take Hyoscyamus 12th, three times a day.
20th.-Return of most of the symptoms, in a mitigated form.
Resume Cantharis 12th, three times a day.
21st.-Again progressing most prosperously. The fluid more healthy
-occasionally a drop or two of blood.
Take Cantharis, twice a day. Nux Vomica, at bedtime.
From this date the restoration of the bladder to its normal condition
was steady and uninterrupted. Interchanged with Cantharis, he took,
to complete the cure, Nux Vomica, Sulphur, and Calcarea.



INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN.


MANY of the slighter affections of the brain, giving rise to
headache and other symptoms, clearly referable to disorder
of that organ, are doubtless of an inflammatory character;
but active inflammation of the brain, except as it is originated
by, and forms a part of, some other disease, is, in adults,
comparatively a rare complaint.    The injurious effects accruing from the use of ardent spirits, and resulting in delirium
tremens, form no exception to this remark; for besides that
the latter complaint is distinguished by other peculiarities, it
is pretty well ascertained to consist rather in irritation, than
inflammation, of the brain. In children, again, in whom the
disease shows itself most frequently and fatally, it is generally
traceable to a sympathetic connexion with irritation existing
in some other part of the body. How rarely do we meet
with a case of water on the brain, unallied with some disorder
in the abdominal cavity?
Treated Allopathically, there is scarcely any other disease,
in which the abstraction of blood by the lancet, cupping,
and leeches, is employed so unsparingly. Whether simple,
combined with fever, or arising from external injury, it
yields with surprising facility to the action of Homoeopathic
remedies. Subjoined are the only three distinct cases of the
first of these kinds, that have lately come under my observation.
CASE I.-W. S-, a hearty young man, aged 20 years.
January 28th, 1847.-He has been travelling in the north of
England, on business, and caught cold on his journey home about a week
ago.



144


INFLAMMA-TION OF THE BRAIN.


At three o'clock yesterday he was seized with shivering and violent
pain in the head. He went to bed (where he now remains); took two
aperient pills, which acted freely. At the present time, 4 p.m., he is in
the following state: he lies with his neck stretched out and head thrown
back on the pillow, from which position he cannot bear to move. He
complains of intense pain in the forehead, over the eyes; he cannot tolerate the least light or noise-his brow is knit, eyes red and angrylooking. His skin, especially that of the forehead, is hot and dry; pulse
95, full, and hard; his mouth and tongue are dry, and there is incessant
thirst. He has no pain in any other part of the body. He is represented
as being liable to " flow of blood to the head "-but never had such an
attack as this before.
Take Aconite 3d directly; then Belladonna 3d, every two hours.
29th.-Morning.-Some amelioration-head not so hot and painful;
thirst not so urgent; pulse same in frequency, but not so hard and
throbbing; skin cooler.
Take Aconite 3d, and Belladonna 3d, every three hours, alternately.
30th.-He is quite another creature. He exclaims, on my entering
his room, and asking how he does, "I am all right now, sir;" his appearance verifies the assertion. A load seems to have been re" pved from
his brain; his countenance is cheerful and animated, and lie sits up in
bed and converses without inconvenience. His head is cool to tle hand,
and he complains of no pain beyond a little jarring over the right eye,
caused by a slight cough, with which he is troubled. He slept well last
night.  His tongue is moist, and he suffers but little from thirst. He
has some inclination for food.
31st.-He is up, and dining off boiled fowl. Cured.
CASE II.-Mrs. S-, aged 67 years. A delicate person, much
afflicted in different ways.  She is more particularly liable to
head attacks, for which she has been repeatedly cupped,
leeched, and blistered. She suffered an attack very similar to
that under which she now labours, only not so severe, ten
years ago, whilst residing at Oxford, and underwent strong
depleting measures for its relief: among others, the application of a blister to the back of the neck, which was kept
open a fortnight.
March 7th, 1848.-Her head has not been right for the last week, and



INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN.


145


for three days past it has got much worse. She is now confined to bed,
complaining of a throbbing, and hard, aching pain right through the head,
from back to front: light and noise distract her; she can get no sleep,
and feels as if she would lose her senses.  She sees everything double:
the forehead and top of the head are burning hot to the hand. Her
pulse is full and hard, and 100 in a minute; she is very thirsty; her
tongue is foul, but moist. She had a shivering fit yesterday, and vomited
at the same time. She has taken aperient and other medicines, used
cold lotions, &c., to no purpose.
Take Aconite 3d, directly; repeat it in four hours. Then commence
with Belladonna 3d, and repeat it every four hours.
8th.-Very great amendment. She has no pain in the head-her
forehead is cool-she can bear light without inconvenience. Her pulse
is soft, and only 65 in a minute; skin cool; no nausea.
Continue Belladonna.
10th.-Still improving. She complains of some epigastric tenderness,
and at times slight confusion in the head.
Take Pulsatilla 6th, twice a day; and Sulph. 12th, at bedtime,
for three nights.
15th.-She visits me at my house, feeling as well as usual.
CASE III.-Jane C-, aged 5 years.           A  delicate, fair, and
unusually intelligent child; belonging to a scrofulous family.
October 10th, 1847.--Has been under treatment two or three days
for cold and cough. Last night she was seized suddenly with a train of
the most urgent symptoms: high inflammatory fever; intense headache;
burning hot skin; insatiable thirst; rapid and throbbing pulse; quick
breathing; pain, distension, and excessive tenderness of the abdomen;
extreme prostration.
Take Aconite 6th, every two hours.
Evening.-Much the same; except that the head appears more urgently affected: she buries it in the pillow; shuts her eyes; cannot
endure the slightest disturbance or noise, nor the admission of the least
light.
Alternate the Aconite with Belladonna 6th, every two hours.
11th.-The febrile symptoms, that is to say, the heat of skin, and
thirst, and rapidity of pulse, have in some degree subsided. The head
symptoms still continue, and are, if anything, more urgent and serious;
7



146


INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN.


she starts, and screams; is slightly convulsed with the motion of the
eyes; keeps them closed against the light; and cannot bear the least
disturbance.  Her tongue has a yellow and white coating. Complains
of a sharp pain in the right side of the chest.
Take Bryonia 3d, every three hours.
12th.-Relief in most respects. Takes notice; chats, at intervals;
more tolerant of light; head cooler; side easier; skin moist; not so
thirsty.
13th.-In the night the head became again much worse; and there is
now threatening of water on the brain: she lies in a state of partial
coma-drowsy, heavy, and lethargic; eyelids half closed; pupils sluggish; screams and starts, without apparent cause; and rolls her head at
times. Urine suppressed.
Take Helleborus 6th, every three hours.
14th.-Decided amendment.     Less lethargic; more cheerful; head
cooler; skin soft and perspiring; pulse mild and soft; she opens her
eyes, and chats for a minute or two occasionally, but again relapses into
a dreamy state.
Continue Helleborus.
16th.-Still further and great amendment as regards the head, which
appears to be permanently relieved: but she is now exceedingly weak.
The tongue, though moist, is still coated; she has a troublesome cough;
and is relaxed in her bowels.
Take Rhus 12th, three times a day.
Continuing this medicine two or three days, then Mercurius for profuse perspiration, and lastly Sulphur, her amendment was rapid, and her
restoration complete.



HYDROCEPHALUS, OR, WATER ON THE
BRAIN.
THis name is apt to mislead as to the real nature of the
disease, wrhich is essentially inflammatory-the dropsy of the
brain, from which the name originates, being merely the effect
of the previous inflammation.
Children are more liable than adults to inflammation of the
brain.  This is easily explained-the head of the child is very
large in proportion to the rest of the body, and receives a
proportionately large quantity of blood-the circulation is
more rapid, and from the proximity of the heart to the head,
the blood is propelled to the brain with greater freedom, if
not greater force, than in manhood-the nervous system, of
which the brain is the centre, is exceedingly excitable in
young persons; and, as in them a very intimate sympathy
exists between the different parts of the frame, they are so
much the more obnoxious to the exciting causes of inflammation generally, and of the brain in particular. A local pain,
which in older persons would produce no constitutional disturbance, occurring in a child, will throw the nervous system
into a state of dangerous excitement. Hence it happens, that
teething, and worms, and other intestinal irritants, so frequently act as the exciting causes of Hydrocephalus.
The great fatality which attends this disease, added to the
insidious manner in which it often creeps upon its victim,
renders it especially incumbent upon those who have the
charge of children, to be watchful of the first symptoms of
its approach. Here, as in many other diseases, it is upon
judicious treatment, applied in the earliest stages, that our
greatest chance of success depends. A few days' delay may
render impracticable a cure, which, commenced earlier, might
have been accomplished with comparative facility. It will
be observed in the annexed cases, that the patients had been



148


HYDROCEPHIALS,


declining in health some time anterior to the more decided
manifestations of the disease; they had fallen off in their
appetites; had been disordered in their insides; become listless and inactive; complained of headache; had had restless
nights, and started in their sleep, as if frightened by unpleasant dreams: these are the premonitory symptoms, against
which it behoves the friends of the little creatures to be carefully on their guard.
We have alluded to the dangerous character of this disorder.
Its incurableness has passed into a medical proverb; and it
must be confessed that the results of the old system of treatment, have supplied plausible grounds for such an impression.
I have, myself, tested all the usual Allopathic remedies: have
bled by lancet and leech, applied blisters and other counterirritants, used ice to the head, endeavoured to salivate by
mercury employed in     every   conceivable shape-with the
uniformly unfortunate result of losing every patient that ever
came under my care, with one solitary exception.
Since I began to practice Homceopathy it has fallen to my lot
to treat, perhaps, more than an average number of these cases;
and, though I cannot boast of having saved them all, I yet
have the satisfaction of knowing that my efforts have been
crowned with an amount of success, such as before I should
never have anticipated.
CASE I.-I. W-, a boy, aged 2 years, of thin, spare habit, and
delicate constitution.
April 24th, 1S46.-Has been prescribed for two or three times since
the 15th, having been subject to crying fits, and drawing up of his legs,
as if pained in his stomach there was a curious convulsive movement of
the tongue from corner to corner of his mouth; he also threw his head
hack, and turned up his eyes, unnaturally.  The principal suffering
however, was referable to his stomach. For the relief of these symptoms
be had
Chamomilla and Bryonia.



OR, WATER ON THE BRAIN.


147


This morning unequivocal symptoms of water on the brain manifest
themselves, in repeated, unnatural, loud, piercing screams; accompanied
by a forcible jerking backwards of the head and shoulders, which effort
partially arouses him out of a drowsy stupor, in which he at other times
remains: his eyes are sunk; the eyelids half closed, and the pupils contracted; his head is burning hot; cheeks at times flushed; the rest of
the body, especially the legs and feet, cool: pulse rather slow,
and labouring; his tongue is coated with thick, white, and yellow
mucus; and the papillae are prominent: his bowels act regularly.
Take Belladonna 6th, and Mercurius 6th, alternately.
28th.-Four days later. During the first two days there was little or
no amendment; on the contrary, the symptoms seemed to gain ground:
he became hot and flushed; there was complete insensibility; dilated
pupils; rolling of the head, and other convulsive movements-the same
unearthly screams, &c. On the third day H-elleborus 6th was alternated
with Mercurius; from that time a decided improvemenit commenced, and
to-day there has been no screaming; the head is cooler; the eyes less
sunken, and look bright and intelligent; he recognises his parents, and
understands what is said to him. He still li 's on his back, and rolls his
head, at times; his tongue is cleaning: his bowels act regularly once a
day.
Continue the same medicines.
29th.-He has slept soundly for the first time during his illness,
without any convulsive movement whatever.  His head is of a natural
warmth. there is no tossing or rolling; no thirst; he may, in short, be
pronounced out of danger.  Not to tire the reader with further minute
details, it will be sufficient to state, that his recovery from this time was
rapid and satisfactory; and that on the 2d of May he was sitting up,
playing with his toys.  He continued the Mercurius for a day or two
longer; and then had Sulphur to complete the cure. Medical men will
recognise in this sketch, one of those alarming and unpromising cases, in
the treatment of which the ordinary remedies hold out not the slightest
hopes of recovery.
CASE II.-Henry L-, a boy, aged 6 years.
September 20th, 1847.-Has been drooping some time: the last week
so much so, as to induce his parents to take him to a druggist, who pre,
scribed a powder and mixture. He has now all the symptoms of brain



150


HIYDROCEPHALUS,


disease, accompanied by gastric derangement: lies doubled up in bed,
his knees drawn up to his stomach; cannot bear the abdomen to be
touched; is very drowsy and heavy; and when not disturbed, remains
constantly in a stupor, with half-closed eyes, and open mouth. When
aroused, and also at other times, he starts and screams out in a loud,
piercing cry: his features are sunk; his mouth and nostrils sore, dry,
and black; his tongue dry, contracted, and thickly coated, brown and
yellow; the edges and papillm being of a deep red colour. The skin of
tile whole body, more particularly of the head and abdomen, dry and hot.
He is thirsty, and has no appetite. His bowels are rather relaxed, and
the evacuations unhealthy. His pulse beats 125 in the minute, and
is hard, and incompressible.  He is harassed by a short, hacking
cough.
Take Arsenicum 6th, every four hours.
22d.-Much the same, except that the tongue appears to be cleaning
at the edges, and there is not so much thirst.
Continue Arsenicum 6th, every four hours.
25th.-The symptoms remaining much the same, with some shades
only of amendment, he is ordered
Helleborus 6th, every four hours.
'27th.-Decided improvement. Tongue moist, and clearing rapidly;
bkin cool; very little thirst; pulse more natural, and soft; his eyes
are clear and bright, he opens them wide, and looks intelligent, and
calm; little or no screaming; and he remains awake nearly all
day.
He continued the medicine, and in a few days was perfectly restored.
CASE III.--G. L-, a boy, aged 3 years.
June 19th, 184-7.-Was taken poorly three or four days ago with
disordered bowels, and two evenings since fell into the state in which he
now remains; namely, drowsy and heavy in the head, whicli le hangs
back over his mother's arm, displaying the greatest repugnance to being
moved or disturbed; his brow is knit and frowning; eyelids drooping;
pupils contracted; the eye dull, and inexpressive; his head, as well as
the body generally, hot and dry; breathing short; pulse 160 in the
minute, and throbbing; is very thirsty; cannot bear the least noise, and
avoids the light.  His tongue is white and thickly coated; bowels still



OR, WATER ON THE BRAIN.


151


unhealthy and irregular; he is exceedingly weak, his limbs hang about
powerless, and he wastes away.
Take Aconite 12th, and Belladonna 12th, alternately, at intervals of
four hours.
20th.-Was delirious the greater part of the night, but this morning
is wonderfully improved; his skin is perfectly cool; pulse fallen from
160 to 100. He is not nearly so thirsty. His eyes look heavy, and he
still frowns, at times.
Omit the Aconite, and continue the Belladonna.
21st.-There is an increase of the stupor; but his skin is still cool;
pulse rather labouring.
Take Helleborus 6th, every four hours.
22d.-Very considerable amendment: he is comparatively cheerful
and lively, and asks for food, which he has hitherto loathed. His tongue
is cleaning fast; he has very little thirst.
Continue Helleborus.
From this time he appeared to recover perfectly: he took his food;
ran about the house; slept well; and complained of nothing but an
occasional headache.
On July the 2d, he was brought labouring under a temporary relapse:
feverish; heavy in head; and frowning.
Take Bryonia 3d, every four hours.
3d.-Greatly relieved in every respect. He had another supply of
medicine, under the influence of which he got quite well.
CASE IV.-M. A. M-, a girl, 2- years old.
June 17th, 1847.-Has been falling off in health for some time past.
Three nights ago, whilst in bed, was very hot and feverish, and poorly
the next day. Yesterday she became very ill indeed, lying about the
room, complaining of headache, and referring all her suffering to that
part. She is now drowsy and heavy; eyelids drooping; eyes sunk deep
in their sockets; mouth closely puckered up; cheeks flushed; head and
the rest of the body dry and hot; pulse quick and throbbing; tongue
coated white, with red projecting papillme; she is very thirsty; her
breathing is quick, and there is some bronchial cough; the bowels
are quite regular.  She avoids the light, and is distressed by the
least noise; she starts suddenly from her sleep, and screams, as if
frightened.
Take Aconite 12th, every four hours



152


HYDROCEPHALUS.


18th.-No amendment. Still drowsy; screaming and starting constantly; hot and thirsty.
Take Belladonna 6th, every two hours.
19th.-Wonderfully relieved: fever and thirst greatly diminished;
slept well, and only required a little drink twice in the night; no
screams or starts; her tongue is cleaning; the child looks placid
and intelligent; she sat up in bed this morning, and chatted to her father.
Continue Belladonna, three times a day.
22d.-Still much better-indeed all but well.   She continued her
medicine a few days longer; and without the recurrence of any untoward symptom was perfectly restored.
CASE V.-E. B-, a girl, aged 7 years,
January 17th, 1848.-From the description given of her previous
health, she has evidently been falling off for some time past; she is now
labouring under premonitory symptoms of Hydrocephalus-the most
urgent being referable to the bowels, which are much relaxed, and otherwise in an unhealthy condition.
Take Mercurius 6th, three times a day.
i9th.-Considerably worse: stupid, heavy, lethargic; starts and
screams; is hot in head, feverish, and thirsty; her tongue dry, and
coated brown.
Take Belladonna 6th, every four hours.
22d.-Still worse: perfectly lethargic, and unconscious of everything; she screams and starts terribly; rolls her head; lips, tongue,
and teeth, black and dry, and covered with thick, hard, offensive matter;
pulse very rapid; skin and head very hot.
Take Helleborus 12th, Rhus 12th, every four hours, alternately.
24th.-Decided improvement in all the symptoms: lips and tongue
moist, and cleaning; more quiet and intelligent, and no screaming.
Continue the medicines.
26th.-Progressive amendment: tongue and lips clean; head, and
skin generally cool; bowels act healthily: she wants food.
Continue Helleborus.
29th.--Doing exceedingly well in all respects: sits up in bed, takes
notice, and plays with her toys; tongue clean; bowels regular; no
thirst; sleeps soundly.
Take a few doses of Sulphur.
February Ist.-Cured.



DELIRIUM TREMENS.


Or, all the vices which meet with their punishment on this
side of the grave, there is none to which is attached so sure
and ready a retribution as drunkenness.  Decay, of health
and fortune are its first fruits; and if the wretched devotee
be permitted to pass the summer-time of life, premature
decrepitude of body, and imbecility of mind, are his autumn
gatherings. There is yet another fate that may await himdeath, impatient of his prey, may claim his victim in his midcareer. If he do so, the instrument with which he commonly
strikes the fatal blow, is delirium tremens.
Though not invariably the result of over indulgence in
spirituous drinks, it is so in so large a majority of instances,
as to have obtained for it the popular name of the " drunkard's disease." A more awful malady can hardly be conceived. Its most striking symptoms, as its name implies, are
delirium, and trembling. The latter shows itself chiefly in
the hands; the patient being unable to hold anything
steadily. To give a description of the delirium, would be to
depict all the horrors which the human mind, robbed of its
reasoning powers, is capable of enduring. " Objects of the
most appalling description sometimes present themselves to
the patient's imagination; hie will be possessed with the idea
that he is persecuted by evil spirits, who are on the point of
carrying him away, or are preparing to destroy him; or he
may fancy he is surrounded by assassins; and cases are
recorded where the unfortunate sufferers actually expired
while exerting themselves to the utmost, to ward off the
violence they supposed was intended them. Sometimes the
most whimsical notions arise: thus a patient will imagine
that rats or mice, or other troublesome vermin, are running



154


DELIRIUM TREMEN 8.


over him, or near him; that he is employed in drawing
ribands from the ends of his fingers, with numberless extravagancies of a similar nature.".1 This is a picture of the
disease in a severe form; but it presents itself in every shade
of violence, from the slight bodily indisposition, mental
depression, and watchfulness, which mark its first stage, up
to that point which terminates in raving madness and death.
It is fortunate when the medical man's assistance is sought
in the earliest stages of the complaint, since it is then that
his services are of most avail. When it has been neglected
and allowed to become confirmed, especially in habitual drunkards, the prognostication  is generally unfavorable-always
doubtful.
The treatment of delirium tremens under the old system,
notwithstanding that it appears to have found something like
a point of general consent in the use of opium, is nevertheless, in some respects, involved in difficulties.
The disease is supposed to consist rather in irritation than
in inflammation of the brain. Whilst in some cases the
symptoms of the latter state are unequivocal, and in many
others it is very difficult to distinguish clearly between these
two conditions, in both, bleeding is supposed to be requisite.
The difficulty consists in determining when it should be
adopted, and to what extent it should be carried. Imagine
an inexperienced man called upon to decide this knotty
point, with the following passage for his guide. "In young
and vigorous subjects, and where there exists evidence of
local determination, a single moderate bleeding from the
arm, or the application of leeches to the temples, or behind
the ears, may prove useful; but the bleeding should never be
large, and very seldom will it be proper to repeat it; while
generally speaking, it should be rejected, as a practice which
has too often done mischief, and has not unfrequently destroyed
the patient."
Dr. II. M. Carter, ' Cyclopedia, Practical Medicine.'
" Ibid.



156


DELIRIUM TREMENS.


bed, for no purpose, and suddenly lying down again, being unable to
remain in one position more than a minute or two together. His
hands tremble like an aspen-leaf; his skin is hot, and perspiring; pulse
quick, and thumping, but easily compressible; his tongue is white,
and foul; and he is very thirsty. He has already taken Calomel and
Colocynth pills, saline medicines, and a dose or two of Opium, with no
other result than that just described.
To remain in bed, and take Nux Vomica 3d, every hour.
Nine o'clock in the evening.-He relates, that after the second dose
of the medicine, he felt an extraordinary change come over him: all
his nervousness vanished as by a charm, and he became perfectly calm
and composed. He took some light nourishment, dressed himself, and
went out and attended to some business, on which he was occupied
several hours. After this he returned to bed, where I now find him,
free from excitement, and to all appearance well.
To take two or three doses of the medicines, at longer intervals.
Cured.
CASE II.-T. C-, aged 50 years.       Dark complexion, irritable
temper.
May 24th, 1848.-Ten o'clock, night. Has been addicted to drinking
many years. In his struggles to conquer this unfortunate propensity,
lie has several times taken "the pledge," and become a teetotaller;
but, sharing tile fate of too many others who contend with a long
indulged appetite, he relapsed into his former habits, and is now in the
eighth week of his intemperance. He began to feel the ill effects a
month ago: became queer and inconsistent in his actions and conversation; irritable, impatient, and unsettled in temper; he lost his
appetite; and got restless and disturbed nights. The last ten days,
getting more and more lost, he has not been able to attend to his
business; and to-day is in bed, exhibiting in a severe degree, the
symptoms of delirium tremens. He gets no sound sleep-dozing only
in snatches of a few minutes at a time, and awaking in "fits of madness."  He fancies there are a number of persons in his room, when
only his wife is present; at times lie does not know her, and mistakes
one person for another; imagines he is in another place than his own
house; is constantly talking about building; sees curious houses moving
about his bed-room; and betrays other oddities, which it would be use



DELIRIUM TREMENS.


157


ess to name. His pulse is quick and full; skin hot; he is very thirsty;
and his tongue is dry and parched. There is not much trembling; but
he is exceedingly weak, and his movements are unsteady.
Take Nux Vomica 3d, every two hours.
25th.-Noon. Eight hours after the first dose of medicine, he fell
into a sound sleep, in which he remained the greater part of the night,
and awoke an altered person: his mind calm and collected; his nerves
quiet; his thirst abated; his skin cool and perspiring; and his pulse
steady. He got up about nine o'clock, and walked some distance to his
office; not to do any business, but for the purpose of "showing himself."
His wife asserts that he has not had so good a night as the last, nor
been so comfortable in the day, as he is now, for a considerable time
past.
To live moderately, and take a few more doses of Nux Vomica.
Beyond this he received no medical attendance.
CASE III.-C. J-, aged 29 years. A stout, muscular man.
May 2d, 1847.-6 p.m. At intervals indulges to excess, and is always
stupid for a day or two after. He got drunk yesterday, and to-day
has complained of headache, and loss of appetite, and has not been able
to go to his business. He has been restless, getting in and out of bed
repeatedly, walking about the room, and could not be induced to sit
down; has been very taciturn all day; scarcely uttering a word to any
one. Half an hour ago lie was seized with a fit, and fell on to the floor,
and became strongly convulsed. He is now lying at full length on his
back; the shaking of the limbs-a kind of universal tremor-returning
every four or five minutes, and at longer intervals; this is superseded
by a strong convulsive action of the muscles of the back, by which his
body becomes arched forward, and his whole weight rests on his head
and heels. His breathing at the same time becomes irregular, choking,
and spasmodic.  He rolls his head; his eyes are fixed and glassy; the
pupils becoming alternately widely dilated, and strongly contracted.
I immediately placed a few globules of Nux Vomica on his tongue,
repeated the dose at the cud of fifteen minutes, and sat down to watch
the result.
In half an hour the convulsions entirely ceased. He sat up; eventually stood up, and was led to his bed. He gradually recovered more
consciousness, and then relapsed into a kind of mental imbecility; kept



158


DELIRI1UM TRLEMENS.


constantly kissing at. the bystanders, and making other ridiculous signs
and gesticulations.
Take one more dose of Nux Vomica, and then Belladonna 3d,
every two hours.
3d.-Did not sleep at all last night; was restless; getting in and
out of bed: talking incoherently of policemen, robbers, &c.  Since
ten o'clock this morning he has mended considerably; becoming less
loquacious, and answering questions with more rationality; but when
his attention is not arrested, he rambles a good deal in his ideas. His
skin is cool; pulse small and quick.
Continue the Belladonna.
4th.-A little better than yesterday. No sleep; paroxysms of
irritability.
Take Nux Vomica 3d, and Opium 3d, alternately, every four hours.
5th.-Was violent at eleven last night; at twelve fell asleep, and
with short intervals, slept soundly till seven this morning. He is now,
at noon, perfectly quiet, and only occasionally talks a little at random.
Pulse soft; skin cool.
Continue the medicines.
6th.-Thcre has been little or no wandering since yesterday. At
eight in the evening there was a slight return of the tremor of the
limbs, which lasted half an hour.
Take Belladonna 3d, every six hours.
7th.-He is quite calm and collected; there is no wandering; he
takes food; sleeps well; and is altogether so far restored as to require
no further attendance at his own abode.
He took Nux Vomica, for two or three days longer; gradually
recovered his strength of mind and body; and was discharged, cured.
CASE IV.-Mr. W. D-, aged 30 years. For years past an
habitual drunkard.     The effects of his intemperance have
been gradually developing themselves in tremblings of the
hands, unsteady speech, irritability of temper, loss of appetite,
and frequent empty vomitings in the morning.
January 31st, 1848.-The foregoing symptoms have become much
aggravated by a "a drunken bout" of several days' duration. He is
now in a pitiable condition: one seldom sees a man so thoroughly
altered in mind and body. He is restless and agitated; twisting and



APOPLEXY.


THIs disease is usually divided into two stages, viz.: the
premonitory or threatening stage, and the actual seizure.
Neither of these is constant. The former may pass off without
leading to an apoplectic attack: the latter may supervene
without any forewarning. Respecting the predisposing and
exciting causes of these two conditions, and the exact state of
the brain at the time, there is the utmost uncertainty. The
fact that it is customary to quote almost every circumstance or
condition of life, physical as well as moral, as favouring its'development, and the general admission that it may originate
equally in the most opposite conditions of the brain, so far
from throwing any useful light upon the subject, do but prove
that our nearest approximation to the truth amounts to nothing
more than conjecture.
Under such contradictory circumstances, one would have
expected medical men to hesitate before they adopted, with
unquestioning faith, any particular mode of treatment not
regulated by unerring rules; or, at least, to have ensured that
it should be of such a character, as, if misapplied, it should
lead to no injurious results. Yet what is the fact? Why,
that the Allopathist, notwithstanding his incapability of
determining whether the attack consist in the rupture of
a vessel, serous effusion, a congested, or an    exhausted
state of the brain-never doubting the propriety of the step,
but almostas a rule--resorts at once to the abstraction of
blood.
This custom, it is true, has, within the last few years, owing
to the spread of more correct views on the subject of apoplexy,
received something like a check; yet, from the operation of a
variety of causes, so little has this alteration of opinion



APOPLEXY.


161


influencea the general practice, that bleeding may still be pronounced the universal remedy.
It must not be supposed from these remarks, which are
aimed at the indiscriminate adoption of a routine and hazardous practice, that Homceopathy, any more than Allopathy,
pretends to cure every apoplectic patient; on the contrary, it
is well known that there are many cases (as for example,
where, from the rupture of a vessel, a large quantity of blood
becomes effused and presses upon the brain), in which all
medical treatment must, from a physical necessity, prove unavailing. In an instance of this kind, the two systems, as far
as relates to a cure, are on an equality; but as far as they
affect the duration of the patient's existence, there is this difference-that bleeding, by its weakening operation, hastens the
final catastrophe, while the nature of the Homeopathic remedies renders it impossible that they should ever exercise such
a tendency.
Again, if the case be not one of effusion, but of debility of
the brain, or an enfeebled state of the general circulation, then
bleeding, being in no case a cure for such a condition, instead
of acting beneficially, can only increase the existing evil. Here
also Homceopathy enjoys a decided advantage.
Coming lastly to the premonitory or threatening stagethat stage in which medical treatment, judiciously applied,
may be really serviceable-the difficulties which attach to
bleeding again present themselves. We can at the best only
make a guess at the state of the brain, and cannot therefore
determine whether, or not, it will be benefited by the loss of
blood.  Unnecessarily adopted, the discovery of the error is
then too late-we cannot reinstate the patient in his former
condition. Awarding to this remedy all the merit its advocates
claim, that of subduing the heart's action, and so lessening the
impetus with which the blood is propelled to the head,
even here also it falls far below Aconite and some other
remedies. Thus, in whatever point of comparison we view the
two systems, the advantage is equally on the side of HIomoeo.
pathy.



162


APOPLEXY.


The manner in which an apoplectic fit comes on, varies
much in different cases. There are, however, two modes
which so greatly predominate over every other has to warrant
a division of the subject into the gradual, and the sudden,
seizure. The latter is too well known to need description.
The former comprehends what may be termed the premonitory
symptoms. These are very various, but are all referable to a
disordered state of the sensorium; the most constant, and that
which causes most alarm, being vertigo, or swimming of the
head.
Connected not uncommonly with derangement of the digestive functions, this symptom is also frequently excited by
other sympathies of a less obvious nature. When mild, and
not mixed with any other distinct apoplectic tendency, it is
generally amenable to abstinence and to the avoidance of any
special cause to which it may be traceable.
Our present business is with those severer cases in which
the  symptoms are of that aggravated      type that, unless
speedily relieved, reasonably lead one to fear the accession of
serious consequences. This condition is treated, Allopathically,
much in the same way as the apoplectic seizure, viz., by
bleeding, purgatives, and other active measures. We have
seen in what respects this treatment is inferior to the
Homceopathic.
Beyond this, I do not deem it necessary to dwell on the
subject, but proceed at once to detail a few illustrative cases;
first of the threatening stage, and then of the apoplectic
attack.
CASE I.-W. HI-, aged 50. Very steady and temperate
in his habits.
June 13th, 1847.-Seized yesterday, at two o'clock, whilst loading
his cart, with dizziness and staggering, which caused him to hold by a
post to prevent falling. He recovered himself a little and attempted to
drive, but had not proceeded many steps before he fell two or three



APOPLEXY.


163


times on to his hands, and when he got up could not stand without support. He became confused in his sight, and could scarcely distinguish
the road. He has now a general aching in the head, with a sensation of
lightness and swimming, as soon as he moves; his forehead is unnaturally
hot, his pulse slow and throbbing. He has a little stitch in the right
side under the rib; no thirst; tongue moist and clean; bowels regular;
light causes him no inconvenience.
Take Nux Vomica 6th, every four hours.
14th.-He is so much better as to be able to walk to my house, a
short distance from his own, without assistance. He began to mend in
the afternoon, and now has a slight headache with a little dizziness at
times. There is also occasionally a singing in the right ear. He has a
better appetite to-day; his bowels have acted healthily, and he has no
pain in the side.
Continue the medicine.
17th.-Much better still, although there is yet a little dizziness when
he stoops or walks fast. Feels very weak.
Take two doses of China 3d, six hours apart; then Sulphur 12th,
two doses, at the same intervals.
19th.-He can stoop to tie his shoes; is cheerful; nearly as active as
usual; and in other respects, well.
Repeat the medicines.
21st.-He has simply a momentary return of swimming, once or twice
in the day.
Take Conium 6th, twice a day. Cured.
CASE II.-W. D-, aged 31. Stout built and florid complexion. Is very temperate. He has been liable to dizziness,
off and on, for years, and has been bled for it. He has now
been suffering a month, and is forced to leave his work in consequence.
June 29th, 1847.-He complains of a hard, thumping, plunging pain
in the head, attended with dizziness and swimming. He is worse lying
down, when everything seems to run round, and he sees sparks flying
about before his eyes. His sleep is disturbed and unrefreshing. His
appetite lately has been very bad. His pulse is not much accelerated.
He thinks bleeding would do him good.
Take Aconite 2d, directly; six hours hence Belladonna 12th,
and repeat it three times a day.



APOPLEXY.


165


vated into pain when he coughs. Is tight in the chest, and coughs
a good deal; acid risings in the throat; pulse full and compressible.
Bryonia 6th, three times a day.
25th.-Rapid amendment. Has no pain in the head, which feels cool,
clear, and comfortable. His chest is easy, and his cough does not
trouble him. His stomach is much better, and tongue clean. There is
a little wavering in his step occasionally, and he still feels weak.
Take Rhus 12th, twice a day.
Subsequently to this he had China and Sulphur; and resumed his employment in a few days.
CASE   IV.-H. M-, a married woman, aged 50 years.
Tolerably stout, and generally in the enjoyment of good
health.
February 5th, 1847.-Has felt heavy in the head at times for the last
fortnight: about four days ago she was seized with a heavy dizziness, as
if she had received a blow on the head: this passed off, and she felt
pretty well till three hours ago; when, sitting at work with her needle,
she felt again as if she had been struck violently on the right side of the
head. Without falling from her seat, she lost all consciousness; her
head fell on one side, and her breathing became stertorous. This condition lasted some hours, when she gradually revived, and found that
she had lost the use of the right arm, leg, and foot. The head now feels
like a dead weight, and there is some pain at the top of it. Her pulse is
full and hard; skin hot; she vomited as soon as she came to; though,
at her dinner, which was taken some hours before the attack, she had
eaten nothing indigestible.
Take Nux Vomica 3d, every four hours.
6th.-An astonishing amendment: her head is nearly well, feeling
only some heaviness at the back part. The use of the leg and arm has
returned to a great extent.
Continue the medicine.
7th.-Still further improvement: has almost recovered the entire use
of her limbs. She had a slight threatening of a return of the attack today in a feeling of faintness, and numbness in the tongue, and deepseated pain in the head.
Take Lachesis 12th, three times a day.



166


APOPLEXY.


She continued this medicine three or four days, when, feeling
perfectly well, further medical attendance was not considered necessary.
CASE V.-A. Y-, aged 70 years. A man of herculean stature,
robust of his age; stout, plethoric, and accustomed to take
large quantities of stimulants.
April 28th, 1847.-Was seized in the middle of the day with severe
pain in the head, followed in a short time by paralysis of the right
side of the face, and numbness and partial loss of power in the right
arm.
On visiting him at eleven o'clock at night, he presents the above condition; with the exception that the pain in the head has subsided into
a heavy, confused sensation. He is sitting up in his chair, speaks rationally and collectedly, but his articulation is considerably impaired.
The mouth is completely drawn to one side-but the paralysis does not
extend to the tongue.  He complains of a sense of fulness and thickness
about the throat. His head is preternaturally hot; his pulse is firm,
regular, and a little accelerated.
Take Nux Voniica 6th, every four hours.
29th.-The head is much relieved; it does not feel so heavy and
confused, and is also cooler to the hand. In other respects he is much
the same, and does not feel particularly ill.
Repeat the medicine every 6 hours.
It is useless to particularise this case, further than to say, that he
continued the Nux Vomica once in twenty-four hours, for a week or
ten days longer; that from the first the muscles of the face, as well as
the arm and hand, gradually recovered their tone; and that at the
end of about a fortnight there was scarcely any trace of the attack remaining. Since then he has had a severe attack of dysentery; from
which also he perfectly recovered, and has from that time up to the
present, enjoyed excellent health.



168


INFLAMMATION OF THE EYE.


lest the abstraction of blood by leeches should weaken the eye.
There can be no question, that the withdrawal of blood under
any circumstances, has a tendency to produce weakness of
the system generally, and especially of any organ which may
at the time be diseased. That being the case, it follows of
necessity, that the application of leeches for the relief of inflammatory diseases of the eye, must leave its vessels in a debilitated condition, and more liable than they would otherwise
be, to put on diseased action at a future time. This is peculiarly the case as regards children, in whom these diseases
rarely show themselves except as concomitants of scofula. Indicating, in the highest degree, a want of constitutional
stamina, this taint as strongly interdicts the employment of
debilitating measures for the removal of any local complaint.
Unfortunately for the Allopathist, all his remedies for active
inflammation are of that description; and, as a necessary consequence, in treating scrofulous ophthalmia, he finds himself,
like Garrick between Comedy and Tragedy, or Macheath in
the Beggar's Opera, distracted by contending claimants: the
eye requiring depletion; the constitution, tonics. To overcome the difficulty, he adopts both classes of remedies; and,
endeavouring to amalgamate things so palpably incongruous,
he fails in the attempt, and is only successful in accomplishing
-nothing!
Homoeopathy, also, has its difficulties, but they arise from
the inherently intractable nature of the disease, and not from
any incongruity in    the remedies.   These, while they act
directly upon the local malady, at the same time invigorate the
general health. Witness the following cases:
CASE I.-Mrs. W-, aged 34 years. Spare, delicate woman.
June 16th, 1818.-The left eye has been inflamed three weeks. Getting considerably worse, she went, about a week ago, to one of the
ophthalmic hospitals; where, at different times, she was cupped on the
temple, leeched, had the eye scarified, and took a good deal of medicine.
From all this she obtained no relief whatever. She is now suffering in



INFLAMMATION OF THE EYE.


169


tensely, not only from the disease of the eye, but also from sympathetic
pain in the forehead and other surrounding parts. She is much disordered in her general health, being feverish, hot, and thirsty; having
no appetite, and feeling exceedingly weak. The eye itself is so excruciatingly painful on the least admission of light, that I can get only a
momentary glimpse at it; it is then discovered to be intensely red; and
there is a constant discharge of tears.
Take Aconite 6th, and Belladonna 6th, alternately, every four hours.
19th.-Wonderfully better in every respect. She has no pain either
in the forehead or eye.    She can open the eye with comparative
facility, and suffers but very little inconvenience from  the light;
it is very much less inflamed, but being now able to examine it
deliberately and completely, two small ulcers are detected on the
cornea.
Aconite and Mercurius 12th, alternately, at longer intervals.
21st.-Amendment still uninterrupted; suffers no pain, can open the
eye freely, see well, and attend to her household matters. There is but
slight redness remaining on the conjunctiva, and the ulcers are fast disappearing. Her health has greatly improved; all the constitutional disturbance has subsided. She has a good appetite, and is fast recovering
her strength.
Sulphur 12th, at bed time, every night, for a week.
She got perfectly well without further medical attendance.
CASE II.-C. C-, a boy, aged 21 years.         A weak, sallowlooking, scrofulous child. Had a severe attack of imflammation of the lungs a year ago, for which he was repeatedly
leeched, &c., and has ever since remained exceedingly delicate.
February 2d, 1847.-He has now been ill about eighteen hours. The
left upper eyelid is inflamed, and so much swollen as to project out considerably beyond the level of the face; it is also much elongated, and
entirely overlaps and hides the lower lid, so as to render it impossible to
get a view of the eye itself. The other eyelid is also red, and partially
swollen; and the eye is injected and intolerant of light; to avoid which
he hangs his head down as low as possible. There is a discharge of
thick, yellow matter, from both eyes, but most copious from the left.
8



170


INFLAMMATION OF THE EYE.


He has a cold, cough, and running at the nose; and a good deal of fever
and thirst.
Take two doses of Aconite 6th, then Belladonna 6th, every two or
three hours.
3d.-The left eye is considerably relieved: the right one is now much
worse; the eyelid swollen as large as a walnut.
Take Aconite 12th, and Mercurius 6th, alternately, at four hours'
intervals.
4th.-Much improved in both eyes.
Continue the Mercurius.
5th.-Rapid amendment; swelling and discharge very much abated.
6th.-Both eyes nearly wide open: he sits up and looks cautiously
at the light. There is a small ulcer on the cornea of the left eye, and
some redness of the conjunctiva. The chest symptoms and fever have
increased since yesterday, and an attack of acute bronchitis has supervened.
Take Aconite 6th, every three hours.
7th.-The constitutional symptoms abated: not so much heat and
fever.
Resume Aconite and Mercurius 12th, alternately, every six hours.
11th.-From the former to the present date his amendment has been
most satisfactory; his eyes may be said to be well; even the ulcer has
quite healed and disappeared. He is pretty free from the other disease,
having only a loose cough. He has been taking
Belladonna and Mercurius.
CASE III.--E. W-, aged 6 years. A        thin, fair, somewhat
delicate girl.
February 24th, 1847.-Her left eye has been inflamed three days,
and is now intensely red. She cannot bear the least light, and there is
a copious flow of tears whenever she attempts to lift the lid. She has a
good deal of pain in the forehead, and some fever.
Take Aconite, one dose; then Belladonna, every four hours.
25th and 26th.-Better: less pain in the head and eye-but still
much intolerance of light, and considerable injection of the white of the
eye.
Take Mercurius, three times a day.
27th.-Though she still wears a shade, and likes to avoid the light,



INFLAMMATION OF THE EYE.


171


the eye is as clear as the other, and perfectly free from all appearance of
inflammation.
Take two doses of Sulphur 12th, to-morrow.
March 1st.-She incautiously exposed herself yesterday to the cold
air, and to-day is suffering from a slight return of the inflammation.
There is also a smaller ulcer at the edge of the cornea.
Resume Mercurius, three times a day.
4th.-The inflammation has entirely subsided: the ulcer has healed,
and the eye is perfectly well.
CASE IV.-I. W-, aged 49 years.        Has had repeated attacks of ophthalmia for many years past, and has nearly lost
the sight of both eyes. One of them is opaque and useless;
the other, though terribly diseased, is still not so bad; and
together they afford just sufficient light to enable him to find
his way. These attacks generally return about twice a year;
he has been under my care for them several times before, and
has always suffered much and long, as well from the remedies,
as from the disease. He has hitherto obtained relief only
after the repeated application of leeches, blisters, lotions, &c.,
and even then the amendment was so tardy, that it was difficult to say, whether it was due to time, or treatment.
June 4th, 1847.-The left eye is now the offending member. The
whole of the conjunctiva is highly inflamed; the vessels of the cornea
are injected with red blood, and the whole front of the eye has such a
murky appearance, that one can hardly suppose even its partial restoration possible. He cannot bear the admission of the least light; there
is a copious discharge of tears; he has intolerable pain in the temple
and forehead.
Take Aconite 2d directly, and follow it by Belladonna, every four
hours.
5th.-He is already greatly relieved; there is not nearly so much
pain, and the redness of the eye is considerably diminished.
Continue the medicine.
7th.-He is still mending, and has Mercurius 3d, to be taken three
times a day.



LYING-IN FEVER.


IT cannot be denied, that much of the suffering which
women undergo after their accouchement is due to mismanagement. The principal errors appear to consist in regarding
the whole process in the light of an illness; and in the unnecessary employment of powerful medicines. It is the usual.
custom, for ten days or a fortnight after delivery, to administer opiates, salines, and aperients: the first, to mitigate afterpains; the second, to allay the fever induced by the opium;
and the last, to obviate the constipation arising from the same
cause. Rendered naturally more susceptible than at other
times, to the exciting causes of disease, it is easy to understand how, by such a process, the female frame may be stimulated to the development of those febrile and inflammatory
attacks which are peculiar to the period.*
Taking a different, and, we conceive, a more rational view
of the subject, and regarding parturition, and the changes
which flow from it, as so many processes, for the safe and
healthy performance of which nature almost invariably makes
ample provision, the plea for the administration of medicines
* Equally unjustifiable is the cruel practice of dosing infants with
castor-oil the moment they are born. Here, as with the young of other
creatures, nature is equal to all her duties. The same power that sets
the lungs in action so instantaneously, will not fail in establishing at
the proper time, the function of the bowels. Nature, in providing a
supply of milk for the child, points out to us that the mildest and
blandest fluids only are suited to its delicate organization. In causing
a dose of irritating medicine to be the first thing to enter the system,
we grossly violate this indication.



174


LYING-IN FEVER.


vanishes: where there is no disease, remedies are unnecessary.
A practical observance of this principle cannot fail to be attended with the happiest results. Unimpeded in her operations by meddlesome interference, nature is always adequate
to effect the contraction of the womb, the secretion of the
milk, and the action of the bowels, in the manner best calculated to secure the safety and comfort of the patient.
There are, however, certain diseases-often beyond our control in their origin-which, in spite of all our care, will occasionally attack women after their confinement. The most
frequent and formidable of these are, puerperal or lying-in
fever, and inflammation of the breasts.
The forhmer, though termed a fever, is known to be essentially an inflammatory disorder, affecting together, or separately, the womb and its appendages, and the bowels. It is
distinguished by exquisite pain and tenderness in the lower
part of the abdomen, and by general constitutional disturbance. It appears to derive some especial modification from
the peculiar condition of the patient at the time, since it has
always proved so much more extensively and rapidly fatal,
than attacks of inflammation occurring in women under other
circumstances. This fatality, added to the interesting situation of the patient, has always caused it to be regarded with
feelings of deep apprehension-and most naturally so, for at
no other period, surely, do disease and death appear so untimely, as when they visit woman in this her hour of greatest
joy; when a new tie is added to the cords that bind her to
life; and, in the birth of her offspring, she herself, seems to
commence a new existence.
Proportionate to this interest have been the exertions of
medical men, to discover means of encountering the disease
successfully. Their endeavours have hitherto been attended
with very discouraging results: its treatment stills forms one
of the opprobia of medicine. The following resume of the
different modes of treatment adopted by different parties,
proves that there is not a single remedy on which even



LYING-IN FEVER.


175


those who advocate their employment, can depend with confidence.
Dr. Marshall Hall says, "I would observe in the first
place, that nothing can be trusted to to save the patient, but
the most ample bloodletting, and that nothing should preclude
the use of this remedy but the actual existence of the state of
sinking."
Dr. Ferguson remarks, " The abdominal pain that occurs
in puerperal fever is accompanied by two very different
states of the constitution; one in which little or no depletion
is borne, another in which relief is obtained only by very large
evacuations of blood. While I admit this, I am equally certain,
that large bleeding has not been borne in this country, generally
speaking, during the last twelve years."
Dr. Blundell says, "Emetics have been highly spoken of.
For myself, I have no confidence in curing the disease with
this remedy. The oil of turpentine has been highly recommended by Dr. Brenan and others. I have tried it in four
cases, but which by no means verify the high encomiums bestowed
upon it. Mercurial preparations have also been recommended.
It is said, if you could get the mouth sore, the patient would
be safe. I am sorry to say that a patient to whom I gave
this remedy died in the usual manner, although the system was
brought under its influence. Digitalis has been recommended:
I have tried it without any good effect. Ice has also been recommended: I have tried it, but without success."
Dr. Churchill says, "After full depletion the next most
powerful remedy is mercury in large doses (ten grains every
three or four hours) until the mouth is affected, unless purging be induced. To prevent this, it is usual to combine it
with opium. When the calomel acts on the bowels it may be
omitted and the opium alone continued; and I have seen
as much benefit from it alone as from the calomel.   Tartar
emetic was recommended by Hulme, and used by         several
since his time, with apparent benefit. The state of the stomach
in many cases, however, will prevent its exhibition. Purga



176


LYING-IN FEVER.


tives have been warmly recommended by some writers, and as
strongly reprobated by others." " My own experience (says
Dr. Ferguson) with regard to aperients is, that whenever they
create tormina (griping) there is the greatest risk of an attack
of metro-peritonitis (lying-in fever) succeeding."
These contradictions might be extended almost to a volume.
The result of such uncertainty is natural and unavoidable.
Dr. Ferguson states, " If we take the results of treatment
adopted in various powerful epidemics by various practitioners, we shall find that on a large scale one in every
three will die, with all the resources which medicine at present
affords."
Admitting this average, as applied to the disease as it ordi--
narily appears, to be somewhat overdrawn, the melancholy
fact still remains indisputable, that under the best management Allopathy can apply, it is less amenable to, and tolerant of, the usual remedies, and consequently more fatal, than
almost any other inflammatory disorder of adult patients.
There can be few medical men of much experience in midwifery, who have not, at some period or other, received a
check in their career of success, by the loss of several patients
in quick succession from this complaint. To assert that these
disheartening events will never happen in Homoeopathic practice, would be unwarrantably presumptious, but in affirming
that where they now occur fifty times, when Homoeopathy
shall have become general they will not occur once, I am
simply uttering a prediction, founded upon, and sanctioned by,
daily experience.
The following cases in support of this assertion are selected
from many others, principally on account of their brevity and
the simplicity of the treatment.



178


LYING-IN FEVER.


ing; her thirst is quite allayed, the mouth is cool and comfortable, and
the tongue moist: the skin is of a natural temperature, and the pulse
reduced to 100. Her countenance, yesterday pinched and contracted
and expressive of distress and anxiety, is now expanded, cheerful, and
smiling.
Continue the medicine at longer intervals.
lOth.-Passed an excellent night, and to-day, with the exception of a
little weakness, feels quite well.
Omit the medicine, and take gentle nourishment. Cured.
CAsE II.-Mrs. F-, a tall, dark young woman, of sanguine
temperament, aged 21 years.
July 1st, 1847.-Was delivered of a five months' child at four o'clock
yesterday morning. There was adherent placenta, which required
manual assistance for its removal.  She was doing as well as usual
till noon to-day, when there was a severe shivering fit. This has been
succeeded by sharp pain in the region of the womb, and terrible constitutional excitement. There is a rapid, tumultuous pulse (140 in a
minute). Her skin is burning hot; she is intensely thirsty; has racking headache and intolerance of light and noise. Her breathing is quick
and her countenance flushed. The abdomen is exceedingly sensitive to
the touch, particularly over the right side of the womb.  There is
a dark lochial discharge.  She has had another shivering fit this
evening.
Take Aconite 3d, and Belladonna 3d, alternately, every hour.
2d.-After the fourth dose of medicine all the symptoms abated, and
the amendment having been progressive ever since, she is now wonderfully better. Complete calmness of system has succeeded to the previous alarming excitement. There is but little tenderness in the abdomen; scarcely any headache; the breathing is quiet; the skin cool;
pulse 105, soft and regular; she is composed and placid, and speaks
cheerfully.
Continue the medicine at longer intervals.
3d.-Doing remarkably well. She sits up in bed without inconvenience; has no pain in the abdomen; no headache; no thirst;
pulse natural. There is some stiffness about the back of the neck and
shoulders. This was removed by a dose of Bryonia. Cured.



LYING-IN FEVER.


179


CASE III.-Mrs. R-, aged 30 years, dark complexion,
irritable, sanguine temperament.
May 4th, 1847.-Was confined three days ago, with her second child.
She had an excellent time, but ever since has had occasional chills
creeping over her. This morning her feet and legs became cold, and,
nearly at the same time, severe and cutting pains attacked her in the
lower part of the abdomen. This point is now exquisitely tender to
the least touch; and coughing, attempting to move in bed, or to
breathe deeply, increases the pain to an intolerable degree. She lies
upon her back perfectly quiescent, looks dull and depressed, and heavy
about the eyes, though naturally of a remarkably vivacious disposition.
Her pulse is greatly accelerated; she is thirsty; complains of headache;
milk is secreted, but there is but very little lochial discharge. The
bowels have acted this morning without medicine.
Take Aconite 3d, every two hours.
5th. -The pain is nearly gone. There remains some tenderness on
pressure just in the region of the womb; but the original pain has
almost entirely subsided; as have also the constitutional symptoms,
there being now no fever, thirst, or headache. The pulse is soft and
natural in frequency; she sits up in bed and nurses her child, and is in
her usual spirits.
Continue the medicine at longer intervals.
6th.-Quite free from pain.
Omit medicine.
7th.-Disturbed by her child during the night, and irritated this
morning by her nurse, she is now not so well: there is some return of
pain; and the other symptoms have recurred nearly in their original
intensity.
Take one dose of Aconite, then Chamomilla 3d, every two hours.
In the evening she is nearly free from pain, and in other respects altogether much relived.
Continue the medicine every four hours.
9th.-Perfectly well since yesterday morning; should there be any
return of the disease she is to resume the use of the medicine: this
necessity did not occur.



180


LYING-IN FEVER.


CASE IV.--Mrs. G-, aged 28, always a weakly, ailing
person.
December 11th, 1847.-Four days ago, after an excellent time, was
delivered of her third child, and went on favorably till last evening,
when she had a shivering fit. She suffered much with pain in the lower
part of the abdomen during the night, and on visiting her to-day at
noon, she presents all the symptoms of a severe attack of puerperal
fever, viz., exquisite tenderness in the abdomen on pressure, movement,
coughing, or deep inspiration; high fever, indicated by rapid pulse
(130 in the minute), dry, hot skin, much thirst, and severe headache.
Aconite 3d, every half-hour.
'en o'clock at night.-Already much relieved: the pain has greatly
subsided, and instead of being felt constantly, as previously, she now
only experiences it on coughing, or pressing the bowels; the skin is
cool; thirst much abated; pulse still quick, but softer.
Continue the medicine every hour.
12th.-Very considerable amendment: still she is not out of danger;
the pulse is too quick, and there is much tenderness of abdomen remaining. The bowels have been violently relaxed several times in the
night, and she now feels some sickness.
To take Chamomilla 3d, every two hours.
Ten o'clock at night.-No relaxation: in other respects much the
same, except that the tenderness is more diffused,
Take Belladonna 3d, every four hours.
13th.-She is all but free from pain: there is very little tenderness
even on pressure. Her pulse is nearly natural; skin cool; no thirst,
nor headache. She can move and turn in bed with ease.
Continue the medicines at longer intervals.
She had subsequently Mercurius, Nux Vomica, and Sulphur; her
amendment was rapid and uninterrupted, and she was out of her bedroom on the tenth day from her confinement.
Casn V.-Mrs. K--, aged 21 years. A           very delicate young
woman.
December 19th, 1846.--Was safely delivered at one o'clock this



LYING-IN FEVER.


181


morning, after a favorable time, and was left as comfortable as could be
desired.
Five o'clock in the evening.-She had a severe shivering fit an hour
ago, and took some brandy and water to dispel it. It has now passed
off, and left general excitement of system, with considerable tenderness
and disturbance of the abdomen, and pains recurring at intervals; the
pulse is rather quick, there is thirst, and warm skin.
Take Chamomilla 6th, every two hours.
Six hours later.-A clot has passed; the bowels have acted, and
the abdomen feels altogether relieved.  But the general symptoms
have become much aggravated; the pulse is bounding, and 130 in
the minute; breathing rapid and oppressed; skin burning hot; intense
thirst.
Take Aconite 6th, every hour.
20th.-Continued the medicine till four o'clock in the morning, when,
the bowels becoming rather violently relaxed, it was discontinued. The
lower part of the abdomen, just over the womb, is now exceedingly
tender-and will not admit of the slightest touch or movement of the
body. The pulse still rapid and full, and she is very thirsty. There
is a scanty, offensive discharge.
Resume the Aconite, in alternation with Belladonna.
21st.-Pulse 95, soft, and more equable; very little thirst; skin cool
and perspiring; countenance, hitherto anxious and shrunken, is now
expanded and placid. The milk begins to be secreted, and the discharge
is more free and less offensive.
22d.-Much the same. Still some pain on deep pressure over the
left side of the womb. She now perspires profusely at times, and feels
exceedingly weak.
Take Mercurius, ever six hours.
23d.-Convalescent. Debilitated. Takes light nourishment, and
Cinchona 3d, twice a day. Cured.
This is a specimen of a class of cases-unfortunately but too
numerous-which, more than any other, embarrass and baffle
the Allopathic practitioner. Violent in their onset, and attended from the first with symptoms of great debility, they
entirely preclude the loss of blood. In the absence of other
means capable of arresting the disease, it runs its destructive



INFLAMMATION OF THE BREAST.


MoRE protracted and painful, though fortunately less dangerous, than the last-named disease, inflammation of the breast
is one of the most harassing attendants upon a lying-in.
Like puerperal fever, it too commonly owes its origin to injudicious interference; consisting, in this instance, in the
outward use of stimulating applications, and in the internal
administration of strong  medicines.   Both of these-the
former by producing local irritation, the latter, general
disturbance-tend to interrupt the natural and healthy secretion of milk, and so lay the foundation of subsequent disease.
Cases will, however, present themselves, in which, from
unavoidable causes, the breast cannot be relieved of its
accumulated milk, and the consequent development of inflammation becomes inevitable. Medical assistance is then
necessary, in order to check the inflammation, and prevent
the formation of abscess. The frequent occurrence of "bad
breasts" too plainly attest the inadequacy of leeches, poultices, and purgatives, to effect that object.  Not so with
Homoeopathy; employed early in the disease, its remedies
are most effective. Unless neglected, and far advanced, I
have never yet met with a case, which Aconite, Belladonna,
and Bryonia failed to arrest; and in those cases in which the
formation  of matter   could  not be averted, the same
remedies have rendered that process comparatively painless,
by allaying the  general fever, and moderating   the local
inflammation.



186


INFLAMMATION OP THE BREAST.


milk," but instead of that effect, it produced heat and erysipelatous redness of the skin. The whole gland is inflamed, tumefied, and painful;
and there is a hard lump, about the size of a large egg, on its outer side.
The patient is confined to bed, with fever, thirst, and headache.
Take Aconite 3d, three doses; then Belladonna, three doses.
20th.--Iedness nearly all disappeared. The breast is not so tender,
it does not throb so much, but the hardness still continues. Better in
health; no fever or thirst.
21st.-Well in health; takes light food; the breast causes but little
inconvenience, yet the lump remains; and there are appearances which
lead me to suspect a rather deep-seated abscess.
This suspicion proved to be correct. The matter gradually made its
way towards the surface, and was discharged at the proper period. The
inflammation was kept under by appropriate remedies; the abscess was
small, and caused but little pain or inconvenience; and at the end of a
few days she was about as if nothing had happened.
CASE V.-Mrs. M. A. M-, aged 29 years. A large, strong
woman.
January 20th, 1847.-Was delivered of her second child seven weeks
ago. Three weeks since she had a shivering fit, which ushered in an
attack of inflammation of the right breast; this yielded speedily to a few
doses of Aconite. She remained well till the 11th instant (nine days ago),
when she again had chills, followed by pain and hardness of the left
breast. She endeavoured to subdue it by fomentations and aperient
medicines. Failing in this, and the pain, enlargement, and induration
continuing to increase, she seeks my advice this morning. She complains of a throbbing, darting pain in the diseased organ, which is hot
and inflamed on the surface, and in the centre the gland is hard, round,
and about the size of a large orange; evidently in that condition which
immediately precedes suppuration. She is feverish and thirsty, and has
lost her appetite.
Take Aconite 3d, directly; then Bryonia 6th, every six hours,
and apply bread poultices.
21st.-There is much less of the shooting pain in the breast; but the
hardness remains the same. She has lost the fever and thirst, and feels
altogether much more comfortable.
Take Mercurius 12th, and Bryonia 12th, alternately, twelve hours
apart.



INFLAMMATION OF THE BREAST.                    187
29th.-In the interval since the last date has felt little or no pain;
the breast is larger, has become cedematous, and matter has evidently
formed. She has had
Mercurius and Hepar Sulph.
31st.-The matter rapidly approaching the surface. In making an
incision, a considerable quantity of healthy pus is discharged.
February 1st.-The breast discharging slightly. Feels quite well.
Medical attendance discontinued.



CONVULSIONS.


189


many of these cases, that, until we are permitted to penetrate
deeper than we have hitherto done, into the arcana of nature,
and  to scan more closely her secret springs of action,
there appears to be no probability of the mystery being removed.
Their causes being thus for the most part inexplicable, and
their nature hypothetical, the treatment of these diseases is
as uncertain and diversified as the notions which medical men
may chance to entertain on those points. This being the case,
it is deeply to be regretted that the abstraction of blood
should be so frequently, and inconsiderately adopted. I have
already had many occasions to point out, not only how much
more safely and speedily diseases may be cured without that
operation, but have also shown its really dangerous tendency
in those cases in which it is employed. The convulsions of
children adds one more to the number.
In Dr. Locock's paper on this disorder, in the "Cyclopaedia
of Practical Medicine," we find the following passage: "When,
however, a plethoric, or too energetic condition of the vessels
of the brain obtains, it is undoubtedly desirable to relieve the
head by bloodletting.  For this purpose, opening the jugular
vein is the readiest, and perhaps the most effectual method;
or, should it be preferred, cupping, or the application of
leeches on the temples, or behind the ears, may be had recourse to. The quantity of blood drawn must depend on the
strength of the child, and the violence of the symptoms; and
although on the whole, under such circumstances, children of
a tender age bear the loss of a larger quantity of blood than
would be supposed, very safely, yet care must be taken, lest
the child be brought into that state of exhaustion in which
convulsions are very apt to occur, from an exactly opposite cerebral condition. The writer of this article (Dr. Locock) saw a
plethoric child of a year old, cupped to fainting, during
a severe convulsive attack, and no sooner had the faintness
subsided, and the child was left bleached, with a depressed
fontanelle, than a second and still more violent convulsion



CONYULSIONS.


193


and even makes feeble efforts to join in their amusements. There is
occasionally a little starting and restlessness; the bowels have all along
acted regularly.
Continue the medicine at longer intervals.
24th.-On waking from a sleep yesterday afternoon, his mother found
him warmer in skin, and his face covered with a red eruption. To-day
it has made its appearance on the legs and arms, and proves to be
measles. There is but very little febrile action, and all cerebral excitement has vanished. He had a few doses of Pulsatilla. The skin-disease
ran its course favorably, and he recovered rapidly without encountering
any drawback.
CASE IV.-B. S-, aged 18 months; a beautiful boy, but
somewhat pulled down by the irritation of teething.
July 2d, 1847.-He is now cutting his double teeth, for which his
gums were lanced this morning. He was much disordered and purged in
his bowels all yesterday. In the middle of last night, now nine hours ago,
he was seized with a violent fit, having convulsion in every limb; jerking of
the head and face; foaming at the mouth; the eyes wide open; the face
of a ghastly colour; the skin burning hot; breathing irregular, and accompanied with a rattling in the throat. This lasted half an hour. He
had another fit at two o'clock in the morning, and again at half-past six,
from which he is now, at nine, just recovering; he is in a perfectly
stupid, insensible state, showing no signs of consciousness when undisturbed; but, if touched, he starts, and becomes slightly convulsed for
a moment.
I gave a dose of Chamomilla 3d, immediately, and ordered it to be
repeated in an hour; then to take Belladonna 3d. He revived much,
then slept calmly for some time, but at noon there was a slight return
of the convulsion, which lasted about five minutes. On visiting him
shortly after, I found him greatly improved, indeed quite a different
child from what he was in the morning. He is, however, still suffering
much from purging of the bowels, which is almost incessant, and attended
with pain, griping, crying, and drawing up of the legs, and insatiable
thirst; he grasps at a cup of cold water, and drinks it down with the
utmost avidity.
Take Aconite directly; then Arsenicum 12th, every hour.
9



COINYULS IONS.


At four in the afternoon lie is reported as being better in the bowels, as
well as in every other respect.
3d.-Dressed, sittigrr up, looking intelligent, and comparatively lively
and cheerful. No appearance of fits, but the bowels still continue much
disordered, the evacuations slimy, and at times mixed with blood.
Take MNercurius Solubilis 12th, every four hours.
41 hi-The bowels rather betltcr, but still relaxed.
Take Arsciicum 12th.
Hle got subsequently Chamomila and Sulphiur for the diarrhmea, which,
bouligh ratlier obstinate, yielded entirely to these medicines, aiid he
recovered wiithout any recurrence of the convulsions.
CASE V.-N. V-, a girl, aged 2           years; delicate, small
of her arre, and     large  headed.    Has previansly     shown a
tfllendeney  to  convulsions; is   liable  to  relaxation  of the
bowels.
Augulst 2d, IS~7.--~Nine in the evening.  Shre was sick this afternoon.
about t. wo hiours and a half ago was seized with slight convulsive movements of the arms, and the eyes became fixed; this state of things
gra(hiially increasrd to a decided convulsion of the whole body, but
atel iu t lile ii it side most, strongly; the mouth is violently aud rapidly
jerked backwirds in tohat bide; the eyelids are wide open, and the eyes
ill coiistnit iot-ioii, beingr principtally tur-ned upwyards; the pupils are
stroi'gIy dilated; the head is very lot; pulse too rapid to be reckoned
hlie, brantliiii- quick and irreciilar, andt he breath is, as it were, jerked
rut of tie cliest so forcibly by eac.h convulsive effort., as to cause a
cu1riou1s short shrick, or barkingr noise.
I aduiinister Chiamomihla 3d, instantly-at the end of twenty minutes
no perceptihideamendmeint. I give Belladonna 3d-in a quarter of an
hoir shte takes a declp sigh; the convulsioii ceaes; the limbs relax and
fall tdie cylids droolp; tHe breatiini%  becomes calm; she falls into a
quiet slmber.Sigt     starttiugs, and twitcehings of the limbs return at
uit I C       t    ihr twenty minutes longer, tliere is, at the end of
tfiet jerii, a rceeufleiice of time attlack in a very mitigated degree.  1
rcmm it tlie 1 lhm1duinuia, andi the fit araiui speedily subsides. I order the
m110(11nC tu be rep eat ed two or thirce times in the iiighit, if needful.
_) d.-  Therc ewas 6carcly iany return of thIe conv-ulsive movements;



ERYSIPELAS.*


AMoNG the diseases of the skin this is one of the most formidable. The term erysipelas, applied popularlyto almost everyirritation of the skin, has, medically, a very limited signification,and
is used to denominate, what Dr. Elliotson calls, "a very intense
affection." It consists in violent inflammation of a circumscribed portion of the skin, most commonly that of the head
and face. It is also attended with symptoms of much general
disturbance-high fever, thirst, headache, and delirium. The
diseased part becomes intensely red and swollen; frequently
results in large blisters, or vesicles, which, as the disorder
subsides, dry, peel off, and leave a new skin. This description at once points it out as differing widely from the gentle
red blush, or little itching pimples, with which it is usually
confounded.
The ordinary treatment of this disease is still one of the
"vexed questions" in medicine: there is hardly any other
point of practice which has undergone so many mutations.
There is no doubt that the nature of the complaint is better
understood    now   than  formerly;    but this total want of
unanimity in its treatment, proves that that treatment is as
* In the 'Lancet,' of the 6th and 13th of February, and the 10th of
April, 1836, there are some very interesting reports of cases of erysipelas,
treated by the late Mr. Liston, at the North London Hospital, withAconite
and Belladonna. That eminent surgeon speaks in the highest terms of the
success of this treatment, and concludes his remarks to the students with
thesewords: "You ought not to reject its doctrines(thoseof Homoeopathy)
without due examination and inquiry."  Homoeopathy was then too
young and harmless to excite the alarm of the 'Lancet,' and call forth
the torrents of abuse which now, week by week, defile its pages.



ERYSIPELA.S.


197


empirical as ever. The writer, some time since, formed one
of a party of five medical men, at the house of a physician,
where, in the course of conversation, the treatment of erysipelas was incidentally mentioned. In less than five minutes
four members of the party had expressed as many different
opinions. One recommended the application of a solution of
zinc-another found nitrate of silver infallible-his neighbour
advocated puncturation of the skin-whilst the fourth extolled
the superiority of long incisions.* These four gentlemen,
though affording a fair specimen of the prevailing diversity of
opinion, by no means represented all the existing modes of
treatment.
In opposition to this diversity, there is no disease in the
treatment of which Homaeopathists are more unanimous.
Hahnemann and his followers, in testing the virtues of medicinal substances, have discovered some medicines of surpassing
efficacy in subduing erysipelatous inflammation.  Foremost
among these stand Belladonna and Apis; and scarcely inferior to them  is the Rhus Toxicodendron. We venture to
affirm that no medical man, however strong his prejudice
against Homoeopathy, can witness the effects of these medicines without being struck with admiration at their power in
mitigating the virulence, and arresting the progress of the
disease.
CASE I.-John D-, aged 26 years; very temperate;
naturally of a delicate constitution.  He caught a severe
cold about three weeks ago, from      sleeping  in a damp,
newly-built house, and has not been well since. He had at
first pains in the limbs, especially in the back, for which he
* "Some surgeons make the incision a foot long; but others make
half a dozen incisions, each an inch in length; some doing it all at once;
and others, as Mr. Lawrence waggishly said, 'by instalments.'"(Elliotson's ' Lectures.')



198


ERYSIPELAS.


was cupped. Continuing to get worse, he took to his bed,
got a dispensary letter, and was attended by one of my colleagues.   A   week ago   he came under my care, and was
attended Allopathically till to-day, when failing to make any
impression on his disease, and other symptoms of an alarming
nature supervening, the dispensary letter is relinquished, and
Homceopathic treatment adopted.
May 7th, 1847.-He presents the following deplorable condition: he
is thoroughly prostrated; lies on his back unable to raise himself in bed;
has general pain in all his limbs; is feverish, thirsty, and complains of
severe headache; his pulse is small and faltering, and beating 130 in a
minute; his tongue is thickly coated, dry, and cracked; he has a harassing
cough; pain under the chest bone, and rapid breathing; his bowels are
relaxed, and he has frequent vomiting. There is general tremor of the
limbs, and at times wandering delirium.  In the midst of all this,
erysipelas manifests itself. It first attacked the posterior part of one of
the shoulders, and then spread to the back of the neck and head, creeping
round to the face on both sides, and meeting on the forehead and nose,
where it has risen into a large blister. The parts last named, as well as
the eyelids, are intensely red and swollen, so that the eyes are entirely
closed, and the whole face terribly deformed. There is also a large
patch of erysipelatous inflammation on the lower part of the back, reaching across from hip to hip, and extending downwards on to the thighs;
it is here of a bright red colour, and its margins are elevated, and exactly
defined.  At one o'clock in the forenoon he takes the first dose of
Homoeopathic medicine--Rhus Toxicodendron 3d; to repeat it every
two hours.
Eight o'clock in the evening.-There is already a more favorable state
of things: his pulse from 130 has sunk to 110, and is more firm and
steady; skin soft and warm; tongue more moist, especially at the edges;
he is more collected in his ideas, and speaks in a firmer tone. Though
coughing a good deal, and complaining of pain in his chest, he breathes
more regularly, and does not appear to be so much oppressed with
phlegm.
Continue the medicine.
8th.-Considerable further improvement in the general aspect of the
case. There is altogether more power; he is less delirious, though still
wandering and incoherent at times; there has been no vomiting since



ERYSIPELAS.


199


yesterday evening, and the bowels are quiet; pulse only 100; tongue
moist; breathing easy; expectoration copious and free; he had some
refreshing sleep in the night. The erysipelas covers the remainder of
the face, but is much less vivid, swollen, and painful; that on the lower
part of the body is also progressing favorably.
Continue the medicine.
9th.-Steady improvement: the erysipelas on the face has nearly
subsided; he can open the eyes partially; there is gradual abatement of
all the other symptoms; he rests better, and takes light nourishment
with avidity.
Continue the medicine.
10th.-The inflammation has entirely disappeared from the face, and
the skin is beginning to peel off. There is a large patch of it on each
elbow since yesterday, and it still continues fresh and vivid on the back.
In other respects he is doing remarkably well.
Take Belladonna 3d, four doses.
12th.-The skin-disease has disappeared from the joints and elsewhere,
but he complains of having felt a good deal of pain and oppression in the
chest since last night: he coughs more, and" br(althes tuickly.
Take Phosphorus 12th, every six hours.
13th.-Relieved in the chest. He now lies on his side, comfortably
doubled up; whereas before he has lain on his back, with his knees up,
and his body sunk low down in the bed, as persons generally do in low
fevers, and other diseases which exhaust the nervous power.
15th.-Mending rapidly. A large abscess, which formed suddenly at
the bottom of the back, is opened.
Take Cinchona 3d, three times a day.
From this date up to the 27th, when medical attendance was discontinued, his amendment was uninterrupted.
CASE II.-Mrs. B-, aged 40 years. A nurse.
June 9th, 1847.-Has been a good deal exposed of late to the weather,
and works hard to support a sick husband. Has suffered from pain in
the face for the last fortnight. During the last thirty-six hours the
whole left side of the face has become so much swollen as to puzzle me
(though well known to me) in tracing her identity. The skin is of a
deep red colour, and the swelling has entirely closed the left eye, and
rendered the upper lid treble its natural thickness. The gum of the
upper jaw is also swollen and inflamed, and there is a hardness just in



ERYSIPELAS.


201


presenting all the signs of low fever, such as prostration of strength,
delirium, intense headache, hot dry skin, rapid pulse, incessant thirst,
and thickly-coated, brown and dry tongue.
Take Aconite 3d, and Belladonna 3d, alternately, every four hours.
28th.-Constitutionally much better: skin soft and cool; tongue
moist; less thirst and headache. The erysipelas spreading more completely over the face, and forming at numerous spots into blisters, or
vesications; both eyes entirely closed by the swelling of the lids, and
surrounding parts.
Rhus Toxicodendron 6th, every three hours.
29th.-A decided check to the eruption: it has not extended since
yesterday, is less vivid, and the blisters are drying up. Her health is
better. The fever has subsided.
Resume the use of Belladonna.
30th.-Wonderfully better. Both eyes quite open, and she has been
reading. The eruption fading rapidly, and her health improving in proportion.
31st.-Perfectly well as regards her health. The skin peeling off the
face.
A dose of Hepar Sulphuris. Cured.
CASE IV.-E. S-, a florid, plethoric young lady, aged
11 years.
July 8th, 1848.-Had erysipelas some years ago. She came home
much heated by a run, two or three days since. Yesterday morning she
awoke very ill; had shivering, headache, and thirst, with pains in her
bones; and at the same time a red spot made its appearance on one
cheek; this has now spread over the nose, and invades the other side of
the face. The redness is intensely vivid; and the parts are swollen and
very painful. The constitutional symptoms run unusually high. Her
pulse is very rapid; skin burning hot; mouth and tongue dry and
parched with thirst; splitting headache.
Take Aconite 6th, and Belladonna 3d, alternately, four hours apart.
9th.-The inflammation has extended on to the forehead, and lower
down on the cheeks, but it is not nearly so vividly red. The fever still
runs high.
Continue the medicines.



202


ERYSIPELAS.


At two o'clock she becomes delirious, and excessively restless. Pulse
140, full, and hard.
Take the medicine every hour.
Nine in the evening.-She has been quite calm since four o'clock, and
is now much better. The fever and thirst have greatly abated, and she
feels quite another creature.
10th.-Wonderfully better.  Constitutional excitement has all vanished. The eruption is spreading no further, and is getting paler and
less swollen.
Continue Belladonna, at long intervals.
11th.-Dressed and down stairs; wanting food, and in other respects
convalescent.
12th.-Playing about the room with her sisters. She is quite well.
The skin is peeling off, and shows no other trace of the disease.
CASE V.-Mrs. F-, aged 63.
December 29th, 1853.-Felt the first symptoms of erysipelas in the
face yesterday, when there appeared a spot about the size of a crown
piece on the left cheek, which has continued to spread, and now occupies
the whole of the cheek, side of head to the ear, up over the eyebrow to
forehead, involving the left eye, and closing it completely; the surface
is intensely red, and hot. She has much fulness of the head, thirst, hot
skin, and dry tongue. She is liable to these attacks: the last happened
in the summer when she was in the country, and for which she had
no medical treatment; it lasted three weeks.
Take a mixture of the Tincture of Apis 3d, every three hours,
preceding it by three doses of Aconite 3d, every two hours.
30th.-The eruption has subsided greatly on the left cheek, and now
extends to the right cheek, the forehead, upper lip, and chin. The constitutional symptoms are much relieved.
Continue the medicine.
31st.-The eruption has greatly abated altogether, and now only
appears in patches. The health also still mending.
Continue the medicine.
January 2d.-Sitting up. The lower eyelids only show traces of the
disease. Pulsatilla, to quiet some gastric symptoms. In a day or two
the was quite well.



SCARLET FEVER.


209


more to be dreaded under the old system of treatment than
under the new.     Inadequate to subdue even the simple
form of quinsy, in scarlatina, where it depends upon, and
is aggravated by, the fever, Allopathic means are equally
inadequate. These symptoms seldom manifest themselves,
except in weakly, scrofulous patients; and leeches, blisters,
&c., whilst they possess little power over the original disease,
can but increase the existing debility.   The same remarks
are equally applicable to inflammation of the lungs, in which
those remedies are necessarily employed with greater freedom.
If there is any one point in Homoeopathic practice better
established than another, it is the power of Belladonna in
controlling an attack of scarlet fever. Truly specific in its
action, not only does it moderate the skin-disease, and so
allay the general excitement of the system, but it also, as in
quinsy, exerts a powerful influence over inflammatory affections of the throat. Though by no means the only Homceopathic remedy in scarlatina, this double action (if we may
use such a term) of Belladonna, renders its employment
especially desirable in the majority of cases; and my own
experience leads me to believe, that, with the exception of the
malignant or putrifying form, there are very few cases, which,
under its action, may not be conducted to a speedy and favorable issue.
CASE I.--A. L-, a stout child, aged 5 years.
February 8th, 1847.-Has been ill five days. One or two other
children in the same house have had the fever. The father, who knows
something of physic, has given them some simple medicines, and they
have recovered favorably. The subject of the present case has received
the same attention, and in addition (the symptoms running high), has
had its head shaved, and cold lotions applied. In spite of all this she
has continued to get worse from the first, and is now so alarmingly ill
as to induce the parents to seek my assistance. The eruption is dis



212


SCARLET FEVER.


From this time she progressed most favorably; and to-day, the 29th,
she is up, and about the room, appearing well, with the exception of
weakness. The eruption has disappeared, she has no fever, and the
throat is quite well.
CASE V.-M. A. B-, a girl, aged 13 years.        Sister of the
above.
July 5th, 1847.-She got up with sore throat yesterday morning.
Felt very poorly, went to bed again, and in the evening the eruption
made its appearance.   It now covers nearly the whole body.   Her
throat is very much swollen, preventing her swallowing anything.
The constitutional symptoms run high-much thirst, fever, and headache.
Commence with two doses of Aconite; then take Belladonna 12th,
every four hours.
7th.-Her throat is greatly relieved: she can drink with ease. There
is not nearly so much fever and heat. She is altogether doing remarkably well.  There are two children next door, laid up with the same
complaint, and suffering dreadfully with throat-affection.  They are
treated the old way, with leeches, poultices, &c.
The child continued the Belladonna two or three days longer, and was
then convalescent.
CASE VI.-C. R-, a lad, aged 15 years.
August 16th, 1847.-Taken poorly two days since. He is now in
bed, exceedingly ill. The eruption appeared yesterday: it is well out.
The skin is dry, and burning hot; he has high fever; extreme
headache and thirst; his tongue is dry, parched, and brown in the
centre. His throat is greatly inflamed and swollen, so that he can
neither turn his head, nor swallow, without much pain and difficulty.
Take Aconite 6th, and Belladonna 6th, alternately, every four hours.
17th-The eruption is out vividly over the whole body.        The
general excitement of the system has much abated: there is less thirst,
heat, and headache; the throat, though still sore, is less painful and
swollen.
Continue Belladonna.



SCABLET FEYER.


213


18th.-Great amendment in every respect. The throat, which
threatened to be severely affected, now causes but little inconvenience.
Continue the medicine.
19th.-Still progressing most favorably. The eruption has nearly
disappeared. The throat is well; and in every other way he may be
pronounced convalescent.
Take a few more doses of Belladonna. Cured.
I have notes of several successful cases of a more dangerous
kind than those here detailed. They were of a typhoid type:
attended with extreme prostration of strength, and severe head
symptoms; stupor, screaming, slight convulsions; ulceration
of the throat, lips, nose, &c.  Recovery from these cases being
always slow, the treatment was necessarily protracted and
varied.   Their recital, though    interesting  in  a  medical
point of view, would be wearisome to the general reader,
and would occupy more space than can be afforded them
here.
I have, likewise, records of a considerable number of cases
of dropsy, following scarlatina. Under Allopathic treatment
this is always a most troublesome, frequently an intractable,
symptom. I have never seen a case, unless it had been neglected, and allowed to attain to a very aggravated state, which
did not yield to Helleborus, Cantharis, Arsenicum, Digitalis,
&c.



MEASLES.


THIS disease forms the third and last of the eruptive fevers
we proposed to notice. Less severe and fatal than scarlatina,
it is yet at times, on account of its complication with inflammation of the respiratory organs, a serious and troublesome   complaint.  There appears to    exist a direct and
unaccountable connexion between it and hooping-cough,
since, in numberless instances, no sooner does the child emerge
from the one, than it lapses into the other. This sequence,
together with inflammation of the eyes and disease of the ears,
originating in a debilitated and scrofulous state of the
system, often causes more trouble and anxiety than the primary disease.
The same objections which were urged against the ordinary
treatment of scarlet fever, obtain with even greater force in
measles. In this disease the patients are less able to bear
depleting remedies, on account of the greater tendency which
the eruption manifests to "strike inward"     and implicate
some important internal organ.    Unable to subdue inflammatory symptoms (especially in children) by      any other
than depletory measures, the Allopathist is compelled, when
those symptoms present themselves, either to suffer them
to pursue their destructive course uninterruptedly, or, by
depleting, to incur the still greater risk arising from exhaustion.
The subsequent cases, presenting some severe examples of
the complications in question, show, also, with what facility,
remedies, applied in accordance with an immutable law of
nature, will subdue a disease, which, treated as in Allopathy,



MEASLES.


217


llth.-Still improving, but there is a violent spasmodic cough.
Take Belladonna 12th, three times a day.
From this period the child recovered rapidly, and without interruption
CASE IV.-Mrs. B-'s child, a boy, aged 18 months.
November 12th, 1847.-The eruption has been out twenty-four hours,
pretty fully, but of rather a dark colour. He is now labouring under the
symptoms of acute inflammation of the lungs, viz.-short rapid breathing,
burning skin, insatiable thirst, and rapid pulse. The head is likewise
implicated: he is drowsy, heavy, and lethargic; the pupils are closely
contracted, and the scalp is very hot; the eyes are inflamed, and the
eyelids swollen; the mouth is foul; the gums ulcerated; and the lips
covered with glutinous saliva.
Take Aconite 6th, every two hours.
13th.-The inflammatory symptoms much less urgent: the skin not
so hot, nor the breathing so difficult. The head much the same as before.
The eruption still showing, but faintly, and of a dark colour.
Take Aconite 6th, and Bryonia 6th, alternately, every four hours.
14th.-The inflammation of the chest apparently subdued, the breathing
being deep, and natural in frequency; the skin not particularly heated,
and the pulse less frequent. The head symptoms are now the most
prominent: he is drowsy and lethargic, taking no notice when not
aroused, and, when disturbed, immediately relapsing into his former
state. The eyes are clear, the pupils contracted. The pulse quick
and full.
Take Cuprum Acetat, 12th, every four hours.
From this date the case assumed all the appearance of water on the
brain. There were convulsions and spasms of the limbs; first contracted,
then dilated pupils; complete insensibility; foul tongue; rapid pulse;
and great heat of head. He rallied under the persevering use of Belladonna,
Helleborus, Mercurius, and Sulphur. On the 19th he had so far revived
as to take notice of what was going on around him, and on the 25th was
able to sit up. He had subsequently Arsenicum and Phosphoric Acid,
for some relaxation of the bowels, and the debility consequent upon so
severe an ilhless.


10



218        -MEASLES.
CAsE V.-A. I-, a girl, aged 5 years.
November 15th, 1847.-The eruption made its appearance three days
ago: it is now somewhat subsiding. Yesterday she was taken very ill,
with head and chest affection. Her breathing is short and quick; she
coughs with a good deal of pain; pulse rapid and full; skin hot and dry;
thirsty. Her face is livid and bloated; her eyes are firmly closed to
avoid the light, and when opened by force are found to be red and inflamed. She has much headache, and is drowsy and sleepy.
Take Belladonna 6th, every four hours.
The next day she was so much relieved of all these alarming symptoms
as to be able to get up and be dressed. She continued the medicine two
days longer, and was, at the end of that time, quite well.



ACUTE RHIEUMATIS.


221


my inquiring upon what grounds this had been done, the
doctor brought forward a basinful of recently-drawn blood,
and pointed triumphantly to its strongly marked cup-shape,
and thickly buffed coat, as an undeniable justification of his
treatment. How much further this draining might have been
carried, but for the intervention of a little advice suggested
by greater experience, it is impossible to determine; but it
shows to what a broken reed those practitioners trust who use
the lancet in this disease.
Equally uncertain and indefinite is the rule for employing
other remedies. Some rest all their hopes on mercury; others
on the use of bark; colchicum has a band of admirers; iodine
another; some trust to salines; some to purgatives; and,
recently, a thick covering of wadding has been extolled, as
the most effectual means of relief.
It is, however, in the treatment of chronic rheumatism, that
quackery finds its stronghold. Unrestrained in these cases by
the severe and dangerous symptoms which attend the disease
in its acute form, the empiric finds time and scope for the
exercise of his ingenuity in devising, and of his perseverance
in applying, his remedies; and the patient, too well aware of
the uncertainty which attaches to regular practice, submits
himself a willing victim to his irregular adviser. Without
asserting that in doing this he chooses the lesser evil, it may
be questioned whether he does not select the least painful,
for, among the external remedies most in vogue, are, bleeding,
cupping, leeching, blisters, setons, mustard-poultices, liniments,
embrocations, and acupuncture! The quack may be the less
successful practitioner of the two: he is certainly the most
merciful.
These remarks are not intended to convey the erroneous
impression that Homoeopathy encounters no difficulties in
curing rheumatism. On the contrary, it must be confessed
that under the best treatment that can be brought to bear
upon it, there is that about it, which renders it, at times, an
exceedingly obstinate and intractable disease. But between



222


ACUTE RHEUMATISM.


the two modes of treatment, there is this great and essential
difference, that, whilst Allopathy is uncertain, unscientific,
and haphazard in its principles, painful in its practice, and, on
that account, often unsuccessful in its results; Homoeopathy,
oven when unsuccessful, has the sting of failure removed, by
the consciousness of having acted on fixed and philosophical
principles, and of having added nothing to the sufferings of
the patient, by the torturing character of its remedies.   That
a cure should result from the latter, where failure had attended
the former, is what one would naturally expect, and what
experience proves to be the case.
CASE I.-G. M-, a man, aged 32 years.
January 16th, 1848.-Some years ago was confined eighteen weeks
with this disease.  He is much exposed in his occupation to sudden alternations of temperature.  He caught cold a few days ago,
and the present attack has been creeping on ever since.    Both
ankles and wrists, and the left knee, are much swollen, red, and so
exquisitely painful and tender, that he cannot bear the least touch, or
movement, of those parts. He lies on his back like a person paralysed.
lIe gets no sleep: his pulse is full and rapid; skin hot and dry;
the breathing short and quick, and attended with a good deal of
cough and expectoration.   He is very thirsty; his tongue is foul;
he has of course no appetite. He has taken aperient medicine without benefit.
Aconite 3d, every three hours.
17th.-Diminution of the febrile symptoms: the limbs as painful, and as much swollen as before. The right knee is now implicated.
Take Bryonia 3d, alternately with the Aconite, every four hours.
19th.-Very great amendment. The ankles and right knee are comparatively well. The left wrist and hand, though weak and puffed,
admit of free motion. He has had some sound sleep during the last
two nights, but wakes in a profuse perspiration: he has but little fever
or thirst.
Take Mercurius 12th, every four hours.
22d.-He has progressed most satisfactorily since the last date. He



226


LUMBAGO.


18th.-Up dressed, and has felt no inconvenience the last two days,
beyond a little aching in the loins yesterday evening.
Pulsatilla 12th. Cured.
CAsE II.-Mrs. S-, aged 45 years. Has now been ill three
days.
September 1st, 1847.-She has had two previous attacks of the same
complaint, for which she was bled twice, and cupped once. The present
one is quite as severe as either of the former. She is in bed, lying on
her back, quite unable to move, and screaming out with pain when
she attempts to do so. The pain extends across the loins, and down
the left leg. She has had no sleep the last two nights, and is thirsty
and feverish, and feels altogether very unwell. Her messenger was
sent to me with the request that I would go and bleed her; I preferred
sending her
Bryonia 3d, to be taken every two hours.
2d.-She has had a good night. The second dose of medicine gave
her much relief, and she has continued to improve ever since. She has
comparatively little pain, and feels only a soreness remaining.
Continue the medicine, every four hours.
3d.-She is all but well.
Take Pulsatilla 12th, twice a day.
4th.-The soreness has left her: she has had a good night's rest, and
can get up and walk about comfortably.
5th.-Perfectly restored.
CASE III.-I. H-, aged 37 years.
March 17th, 1847.-He had an attack of lumbago two years ago,
and ever since has felt pains in the loins at times. Was seized yesterday, after employing rather unusual exertion, with very severe pain in
the loins, chiefly on the right side, passing through to the forepart of
the body.  Pressure on that part, the least motion, or deep breathing,
increases the pain to an agonizing degree.
Take Rhus 3d, every three hours.
18th.--Very little better at present: he had a wretched night. The
pain has shifted slightly from its original seat.
Take Bryonia 3d, every two hours.



SCIATICA.


229


alone, of her amendment. She retains little or. no trace of her ailment, but thinks it safe to continue the medicine a day or two longer.
Cured.
CASE II.--Mrs. M. A. E-, aged 23 years.
February 10th, 1847.-She got wet ten days ago, and has ever since
been troubled by occasional pains in the left leg.  The day before
yesterday she was exposed to cold damp air, and was seized in the evening with shivering, followed by severe pain, extending down the pos.
terior part of the limb, from the hip to the knee. Pressure over the
nerve, as well as movement, causes excessive agony. She is also suffering from all the symptoms of a cold.
Take Dulcamara 12th, every three hours.
12th.-Greatly relieved: has no pain in the lower half of the thigh,
and much less in the hip. She can sit down with ease, and walk a few
steps with but little inconvenience.
Continue the medicine, three times a day.
Two days later she was out walking, and entirely recovered without
further medical assistance.
CASE III.-L. G--, a full and large, though not robust, man,
aged about 50 years.
December 1st, 1847.-Seized suddenly, this morning, whilst dressing,
with a sharp pain in the right hip, which almost caused him to fall.
It passes from the hip to the groin, and extends down the outer side
of the thigh. It is of a darting, burning kind, and is so much increased
by movement, that he is compelled to remain on his back, though
constantly endeavouring to shift his position, in order to relieve his
suffering, which becomes increased at times, and in fits, almost beyond
endurance.
He had Arsenicum, Colocynth, and Pulsatilla.
Got ease after the first twenty-four hours, and on the 6th was well
enough to relinquish medical treatment.



232


TIC-DOULOTUEUX.


the practical advantage resulting from the guidance of a permanent and recognised law more strikingly manifested, because, nowhere is it more successfully applied. So rich is
Hahnemann's Materia Medica in remedies for this disease,
that, judging from my own experience, I question whether the
most confirmed cases may not be greatly mitigated, if not
entirely cured, by the steady employment of those remedies.
In more recent cases, and those of an inflammatory and
rheumatic character, their efficacy is often truly magical.
CASE I.-Mrs. A-, aged 25 years.          Plump, and generally
healthy.
November 16th, 1846.-Has been suffering from the preseut attack
three months, during the whole of which period she has been under
medical treatment. It seized her an hour after her confinement, and the
gentleman who attended her had her under care a month.  Failing to
get relief, she subsequently consulted three other medical men, but with
no better success. All sorts of remedial devices were tried-she had
two teeth extracted; blisters were applied to the cheek, and behind the
ear; blood was repeatedly drawn by leeches; mustard poultices, liniments, and fomentations, were brought into requisition; besides
creosote, camphor, and laudanum, as applications to the gums, teeth,
and ear; and internal remedies were administered in corresponding
quantity and diversity. Having attended her some years ago, she is
induced, almost in despair, to come a considerable distance to seek my
advice. She describes the pain as being of a tearing, piercing kind,
occupying the right side of the face and head, affecting the ear, jaws,
teeth, and cheek-bone. She gets short intervals of ease, after which
the pain returns with redoubled violence.  The gums are inflamed;
the face puffed; the teeth tender. Her health is bad; she is weak,
feverish, and thirsty; has a foul tongue, and no appetite.
Take Aconite 6th, and Mercurius 6th, alternately, every four hours.
17th.-The constitutional fever, and inflammation of the gums much
abated. She can now, for the first time during her illness, close the
teeth with tolerable ease.
Take Mercurius 6th, every four hours.
19th.-The pain ceased at seven o'clock yesterday evening, and has



TIC-DOULOUREUX.


233


been felt but slightly since. Slept well for the first time these eleven
weeks.
Continue the medicine, every six hours.
20th.-Have been some pains felt at long intervals, particularly in
the ear. They are, however, so trifling, in comparison with what she
before suffered, that she " does not mind them."
Phosphorus 6th, a dose every six hours.
23d.-Has felt a slight pain the last three evenings, from seven till
nine o'clock.
Cinchona 3d, every eight hours.
28th.-Has had no pain the last three days; is altogether much improved in health.
A few doses of Sulphur. Cured.
CASE II.-F. R-, aged 29 years.        Dark complexion, weakly
constitution.
November 24th, 1846.-Ten days ago had a cold, for which he laid
in bed, and took some medicine; got better, and resumed his business.
On Sunday morning (this being Tuesday), he was seized with distracting pain in the left ear, from whence it extended up the face to
the temple, and across to the eye. It still continues unabated, with
violent fits of exacerbation. The whole side of the face is hot, tense,
and exquisitely tender to the touch, especially in and about the ear,
where, also, there is a strong pulsation.  He is distressingly prostrated in strength, being as powerless as an infant; he is propped up in
bed; his head thickly enveloped in flannels; his voice, naturally full
and powerful, is weak and puerile; and he utters constantly a low whine
or moan; exhaustion and sleeplessness have rendered him lethargic
and heavy, and he is distressed by light and noise; his pulse is rapid and
jerking; tongue dry and coated; and he is very thirsty. Directly he
was taken ill he sent for a medical gentleman, who has attended him
up to this time. He has been rather violently purged; is at present
taking powders and a mixture, which cause him to perspire; he is
also using an embrocation to the face and throat, and occasional
fomentations.
Take two doses of Aconite; then Belladonna 3d, every four hours.
25th.-Fever, thirst, and heat abated; slight remission of the pain;
still terribly exhausted; no sleep.



234


TIC-DOULOUREUX.


Take four doses of Arsenicum 6th, one every hour; then
Phosphorus 3d, every two hours.
26th.-An hour after the first dose of medicine the pain became
lulled (especially in the temple), and he fell into a sound sleep; he now
has occasional pains, of a subdued character, in the ear, and angle of
the jaw. He has taken some nourishment; his voice has recovered its
tone; and he is altogether another creature. Is still weak, and perspires in his sleep.
Continue Phosphorus; and take Mercurius 12th, at bedtime.
27th.-Entirely free from pain: much restored in strength and
spirits; sat up an hour yesterday evening, and intends doing so today.
From this time his recovery was rapid. jHe had Mercurius and
Sulphur, and, after a few days, went into the country.
CASE III.-Miss C. O-, aged 26 years.         Pale and rather
delicate.
July 31st, 1847.-Has been a martyr to faceache for years.  Has
had seven or eight teeth drawn, and submitted to a great deal of medical treatment, without gaining any permanent relief. The present attack (the most severe she has ever had), has tormented her a fortnight.
She gets short intervals of ease from the free use of laudanum, inwardly, and locally applied. Until yesterday the pain was on the right
side; the left is now affected; it extends from the ear under the chin,
to the teeth and gums, which are inflamed and swollen, causing a
copious flow of saliva, and entirely preventing mastication. The pain is
of a " darting and dashing kind," and is worse of an evening, and increased by the warmth of bed.
Take Mercurius 6th, every six hours.
August 2d.-After the second dose of medicine she began to get
ease, and in the evening was nearly free from pain. It has been gradually subsiding ever since, and at the present time there is scarcely a
trace of it left. Her mouth was so much better yesterday as to admit
of her eating a meat dinner, whereas, for a fortnight previously she
could hardly speak, on account of the pain.
Continue the medicine, three times a day.
4th.-Has had twinges of pain flying about the face at times, lasting
for a minute, and then subsiding.
Take Platina 12th, twice a day.



TIC-DOULOUREUX.


235


6th.-No pain whatever: appetite good, feels stronger, and is otherwise perfectly well.
CASE IV.-E. H-, aged 34 years.
March 26th, 1847.-Has been afflicted with this attack two months.
The pain occupies the entire left side of the face and head; implicating
the ear, teeth, and gums, and extending to the neck and shoulder. It
was at first worse in the night; lately it has been constant; it is aggravated by taking warm things; and is easier in the air. She has applied
a blister behind the ear, and used laudanum in several ways.
Take Mezereum 12th, every four hours.
29th--The disease entirely gone, with the exception of a little tenderness on closing the teeth.
Mercurius 12th, twice a day. Cured.
CAsE V.--Miss R-, aged 26 years.
March 22d, 1847.--Has been suffering between three and four
months from an agonizing pain in the left side of the face. She gets
intervals of ease, during which she is able to attend to business; but in
the warmth of bed, in the cold air, and after food, the pain is increased
to such an agonizing degree as almost to drive her mad. She is then
forced to lie on a sofa, or pace the room, with hot things applied to the
face, to mitigate the pain. It occupies the lower jaw principally. She
has been under tie care of a physician, who has prescribed a variety of
remedies, without affording the slightest ease. He told her he could
mitigate, but not cure, her malady.
She had, first of all, Mercurius; then Arsenicum, in alternation with
it; and got complete ease in the course of three days.
About twelve months after this period (having left the neighbourhood), she had another attack, and consulted a medical gentleman of
the old school. He attended her a fortnight, but failing to make any
impression on the disease, she was induced to send to me for a packet
of the same powders she had a year before. I sent a dozen Mercurius.
She got complete ease in twenty-four hours, and has been perfectly well
ever since.



236                    TIC-DOULOUREIX.
CASE VI.-Mrs. W-, aged 27 years.
March 27th, 1847.-Has been afflicted a fortnight. The attack comes
on every morning at seven o'clock, and lasts three or four hours.
It occupies the right temple, the eye, eyebrow, and cheek bone; and
is of a tearing kind, and exceedingly agonizing at times.  She has
some decayed teeth, but the pain does not appear to be connected
with them. The face is exquisitely tender to the touch when the pain
is on.
Take Cinchona 3d, every two hours.
23d.-This morning the pain is much mitigated.
24th.-Hardly any remains of the pain. Feels "quite different."
Continue, for a day or two longer. Cured.



FEVER.


THE reader will have observed in the foregoing pages, that
in the description of almost every disease, fever is mentioned
as forming a prominent feature.    It is an attendant, in a
greater or lesser degree, upon every inflammatory disorder:
its intensity being generally in proportion to the urgency of
the attack, and the importance of the organ affected. Thus,
in inflammation of the brain, lungs, liver, &c., we have more
fever than in the same condition of less important parts.
There is this grand distinction to be drawn between fever of
this kind, and that of which we are about to speak, viz.,that the former is produced by the local disease, is kept alive
by its continuance, and disappears as it subsides-it is thus
a symptom of another disease, and hence is denominated
symptomatic fever; while the latter, originating, as most medical men believe, in no local disorder, but having its own
peculiar symptoms, and running an independent course, is
regarded as a distinct disease, and hence is called, by way of
pre-eminence-FEVER.
The disease divides itself naturally into two great families
-the intermittent, and the continued. The former is further subdivided into quotidian, tertian, and quartan, constituting the three types of ague. The latter is variously arranged by different authors, under different heads; such as
common, inflammatory, gastric, bilious, nervous, typhus fever,
&c. These are arbitrary distinctions, employed in books for
the convenience of description. Practically they are unimportant. The symptoms distinguishing the different classes,
are often so commingled as to render it impossible to separate
them, and say under which head any particular case should be



FEVER.


239


that his treatment ensures an amount of success, such as is
sighed for in vain by those who direct all their attention to
one particular organ, or class of symptoms, and entirely overlook, or take but little account of, the rest. The Allopathist
treats a symptom-the Homoeopathist all the symptoms-the
disease.
A minute examination of the multifarious plans of treatment
adopted by the Allopathists, would be an endless and useless
undertaking.   There is, however, one practical observation
connected with this subject, of too much importance to be
passed over in silence.  I allude to the pernicious custom
which prevails so generally, of giving purgative medicines in
fevers. Some adopt it to a very great extent. Dr. Elliotson,
for instance, insists upon the bowels being purged two or three
times every day, and to effect this, advises the administration
of five, ten, or fifteen-grain doses of calomel, followed by
castor-oil or senna, and this action is to be kept up from day
to day.  Many medical men do nothing more than give saline
aperients. Others, and perhaps the majority, use them more
sparingly.
"When we consider that in almost all fevers, if there be not
absolutely inflammation  of the lining membrane of the
bowels, at least a strong tendency to it exists: that one of
the most troublesome symptoms is relaxation, arising from
this inflammatory condition: and that we comparatively rarely
see a fatal case of fever, where death may not be attributed
mainly to the exhausting effects of incurable diarrhoea, we
cannot but believe that the use of purgative medicines, whose
action, alone, is sufficient to induce this very state of things,
is in the highest degree objectionable, and ought in every case
to be avoided. This view of the matter, founded upon the
dictates of common sense, is fully borne out by experience.
In all the cases of fever which I have attended Homaeopathically (and they have been numerous), I have found the
patient's greatest safety to depend on keeping the bowels un.
irritated and undisturbed. It frequently happens that the



244


FEVER.


of castor-oil, and two doses of pills, which he took of his own
accord.
Take Aconite 6th, every four hours.
9tll.-No better. Head aches intensely, and is very hot.
Belladonna 6th, every four hours.
11th.-Much improvement: not half so much fever; some thirst and
partial headache. No pain in the abdomen.
Take Bryonia 12th, three times a day.
13th.-No fever or thirst; and but very little headache. Has a good
appetite. Cured.
CASE VI.-E. C-, a young lady, aged 22 years.             Has
been languid and poorly some time. In decided fever three
days.
July 17th, 1848.-Intense headache, thirst, hot skin, rapid pulse, dry
tongue, flushed face, aching limbs, delirium.
Aconite and Belladonna, alternately, every four hours.
18th.-Head relieved: fever otherwise running high.
Continue the medicines.
19th.-Fever less. Bowels violently relaxed, and vomiting.
Ipecacuanha, directly; then Arsenicum, every three hours.
20th.-Very great amendment: fever all but gone; head comfortable;
bowels quiet, till this afternoon, when they have been relaxed three
times. Slept soundly last night. Very weak.
Rhus 12th, three times a day.
22d and 24th.-No fever. Convalescent.



SPITTING OF BLOOD, AND CONSUMPTION.
SPITTIwG of blood, generally assigned a separate place in
medical works, is only a symptom of other diseased conditions:
congestion of the lungs; transitory inflammations of the chest;
lesions of the mouth and throat, &c.
It is in connection with consumption that spitting of blood is
most frequently observed. There are, indeed comparatively
few cases of that disease in which, sooner or later, it does not
manifest itself.
Phthisis, consumption, decline, or by whatever term the
degeneration and ultimate decay of the lungs is expressed,
is a disease which has always engrossed the deepest attention
of medical men. Their investigations have naturally been
directed to two leading objects-first to ascertain the intimate
nature of the disease, and the circumstances wlid lh regulate its
progress-and secondly, to deduce from thence proper rules
of treatment.
Passing by the former of these questions as not coming
within the purely practical scope of this volume, we will
devote a few moments' consideration to the latter, as interesting us more nearly, and as being more easily within our
reach.
Before proceeding further, I wish to disclaim, as far as I
am personally concerned, all participation in the canting professions which some persons make of being able to cure consumption. Such professions can only originate in one of two
sources-ignorance, or knavery.   In ignorance-inasmuch as
any one, totally unacquainted with medicine, may be supposed
not to know that consumption is incurable. Attempting,
under such circumstances, to perform an impossibility, no one
can mistake the proper position of such a man. In knaveryinasmuch as the man who, knowing, as every medical man



AND CONSUMPTION.


247


consumption. He finds himself, (to speak somewhat figuratively,) face to face with a patient, who presents to him on the
one side, the flushed cheek of inflammation, to relieve which,
(if true to his principles,) he must in some way or other withdraw blood: and on the other side, the pallid cheek of exhaustion, which imperatively forbids the use of any debilitating
remedy. The alternatives are, death according to nature, and
death secundem artem.
That an assertion so startling, but at the same time so true,
may lose none of its weight, by resting solely on my unsupported authority, let us hear what Dr. Law, of Dublin, says on
the subject in his article, in the Cyclopaedia of Practical
Medicine. " We would only observe, that the causes which
call a tuberculous diathesis (consumptive tendency,) into operation, are such as have the effect, either directly or indirectly,
of debilitating the energies of the constitution; and that,
therefore, though hemoptysis (spitting of blood) be a complication with which we cannot tamper, but which we must meet
with decision, we cannot but regret the dilcmuaa in which
we are placed, by a symptom requiring a mode of treatment, which we have reason to apprehend may have the
effect of increasing that condition of the system which has
given rise to the original disease." This, expressed in rather
a roundabout and mystified manner, put into plain language,
amounts to the declaration, that in treating spitting of blood
"with decision," (by which is meant bleeding, &c.,) we go the
proper way to increase the disease on which that symptom
depends! This is certainly a curiously inverted mode of cure;
and was it not too notorious, that in expressing his own
opinion, Dr. Law does but echo that of all his brethren, we
might have attributed it to the well-known influence of
Hibernian air in originating a curiously inverted mode of
reasoning on matters in" general.
"What, after this, does the reader suppose is the plan of
treatment usually adopted in these cases. Surely, he exclaims,
they do not bleed! Let us see. This is Dr. Elliotson's advice



AND CONSUMPTION.


249


trials, can assuage his sufferings, and smooth his passage to the
grave. The symptoms here alluded to, are, the local pain in
the chest, and constant harassing cough; the fever, thirst, and
exhausting perspiration; the vomiting, loss of appetite, and
wasting diarrhoea, A few words will explain how this good is
effected.
The reader has already learned that Homceopathy cures
inflammation of the lungs without drawing one drop of blood,
or employing any of those other painful means on which
Allopathy relies.  The remedies which accomplish this object
are equally available in treating the inflammation which
attends upon consumption. Checking this inflammation, we
allay the cough which it originates, prevent the hectic which
consumes the patient's frame, and at the same time ward off
the draining night-sweat, which is its natural outlet. For
the vomiting, loss of appetite, and diarrhoea, when they are
the products of disease, Homoeopathy finds prompt relief in
the use of appropriate remedies; and to prevent them, when,
as more frequently happens, they result solely from      the
administration of large quantities of nauseous and irritating
medicines, no other precaution is required than that which
Homoeopathy habitually adopts, of giving her medicines in
small and tasteless doses.
That nothing has been here advanced which experience
does not warrant, let the following cases bear witness. The
first relates to spitting of blood, unconnected with consumption.  This is followed by others clearly of a consumptive
character.   On  account of the protracted nature of the
disease, as well as for other obvious reasons, they are given
in a condensed form, and without initials. In all of them
we trace the benign influence of Homoeopathic treatmentin some instances entirely arresting the disease; in others
retarding its progress; and in the worst cases moderating
the symptoms, mitigating the patient's sufferings, and so
stripping the disease of all that renders it terrible, except its
fatality.
11 ~



250


SPITTING OF BLOOD,


CASE I.-E. W. R-, aged 20 years. Generally in the enjoyment of remarkably good health, and at the present time
looking florid and robust.
February 13th, 1847.- Whilst walking rather briskly, about two
hours ago, was seized with sudden and profuse irruption of blood from
the chest. It occurred during a fit of coughing, which it prolonged,
almost incessantly ejecting large quantities of blood and froth. Though
a good deal depressed, his pulse is still irritable, quick, and hard.
He continues to spit up the same mixture of blood and phlegm;
his breathing is oppressed; he has a little pain under the right breast:
just at that spot there is distinct crepitation, and some dulness on
percussion.
Take Aconite 6th, every two hours.
14th.-He feels a great deal better. He still continues to spit up
dark, coagulated blood, and muco-purulent stuff, the remains of yesterday's irruption. His cough is troublesome.
Continue the Aconite, with Bryonia in alternation.
15th.-Improving.
Phosphorus 6th, three times a day.
From this time his recovery was rapid. He went to business on
the 22d, but, having a little suspicious cough remaining, he was
advised to go into the country. After a month's absence he returned,
looking as hearty and robust as usual, and has continued so ever
since.
CASE II.-A dark, large-built man, aged 35 years.
February, 1847.-Has been wasting in flesh, and getting weak for
some time past. He had a cold in the first instance, and has ever
since been troubled with a severe cough. This morning he spat up a
considerable quantity of fresh blood. His pulse is quick and small;
breathing short; skin cool; no particular thirst. He has a pain
through the chest, under the left collar-bone. The breathing sounds
are imperfect and dull in that spot.
He took a few doses of Aconite; Phosphoric Acid; and Carbo
Vegetabilis.
The spitting of blood ceased; the cough gradually subsided. His



AND CONSUMPTION.


251


general health improved rapidly, and at the end of three weeks he felt
perfectly well, and has remained so up to this time.
CASE III.-A young, single woman, aged 19 years.
October, 1848.-Has been ill five months; nearly the whole of the
period under medical treatment. She has all the symptoms of consumption-wasting; great debility; chilliness in the afternoon, succeeded by heat, thirst, and flushed face; loss of appetite, hot skin;
small, quick pulse; night-sweats; a pain through the chest, on the
left side, under the collar-bone, extending to the back; a hard, distressing cough, with yellow expectoration; inability to lie on the affected
side. Auscultation detects distinct crepitation in the seat of disease,
dulness on percussion, and bronchophony. She has taken a good deal of
opening medicine. The bowels are much relaxed, and the abdomen very
tender.
She took Arsenicum, Mercurius, Phosphoric Acid, and Carbo
Vegetabilis.
The action of these medicines was most striking and gratifying. At
the end of a month she considered herself, and really appeared to be,
quite well. All the above symptoms had vanished: she had regained
her strength and spirits, and resumed her usual occupation. There
was still a slight cough, and the sounds of the chest, though not
healthy, had greatly improved.  At this time she was forced to remove to a distance; I am, therefore, unacquainted with her subsequent
history.
CASE IV.-A young woman, aged 20 years. Always
delicate.
September, 184.8.-Has been troubled with a slight cough, and losing
flesh for some time past. Has now been confined to bed three weeks.
Has had no regular advice. The system is in a state of high excitement-general ebullition. She is exceedingly exhausted; cannot sit up
in bed a moment without fainting. She is feverish, thirsty; has headache; rapid breathing; short, hacking cough; has a pain on the left
side, passing through the chest, under the collar-bone, and preventing
her resting on that side. There is distinct mucous raile in the upper
and posterior portion of the right lung, with bronchophony; loud



252


SPITTING OF BLOOD,


breathing in the left. She gets particularly hot and flushed in the
evening, and perspires profusely towards the morning.
Looking at the case in all its bearings, I did not feel justified in
holding out the least hope of her recovering sufficiently to leave her bed.
In this I was happily mistaken: not only has she left her bed, but for
months past has been in the enjoyment of tolerable health: so good as
to admit of her venturing out once or twice to visit me.
Under the action of Aconite, Arsenic, Phosphoric Acid, Carbo Vegetabilis, Kali, and some other medicines, varied according to symptoms,
she rallied rapidly; regained her appetite, and with it her strength.
She is now looking plump and well, and though there remains a cough,
with some unhealthy sounds in the chest, I am not without hopes of lcr
ultimate restoration.
CASE   F. --A    young   female, aged 17 years.      Formerly
stout and plump, and still looking fat, though sallow in the
face.
October, 1848.-Has been labouring under symptoms of consumption
the last nine months; under treatment the whole time, and pronounced,
by the last two gentlemen who attended her, incapable of surviving this
autumn. The last remedy she took was cod-liver-oil, from which she
seemed at first to derive some benefit, but latterly it has lost its effect.
She has now all the signs of confirmed consumption, viz.:-wasting;
small, quick pulse; loss of appetite; thirst; evening exacerbations;
night-sweats; rapid breathing; and shortness of breath. A good deal
of pain in the left side of the chest; a hard, distressing cough, with expectoration of yellow matter; distinct gurgling in the sub-clavicular and
scapular regions, with bronchophony, and dulness on percussion. The
breathing in the right lung preternaturally loud.  She has for some
time past been unable to attend to her business, which is of an unhealthy character.
She had Phosphoric Acid, Carbo Vegetabilis, Lycopodium, Kali,
and Calcarea.
Her amendment commenced with the treatment: was so considerable
as to enable her to resume her occupation, and continue it up to this
time. There are still unequivocal signs of disease in the lung. Thus
far it has been arrested: she enjoys comparati case and comfurt;
and with care, and the persevering use of remedies, it is impossible to
say to what extent this favorable state of things may be prolonged.



AND CONSUMPTION.


253


CASE VI. - A      married   woman, aged     about 30 years.
Spare, delicate, small features. Of a consumptive family.
January, 1848.-Two months ago had inflammation of the right lung.
Was bled, leeched, blistered, &c. As too often happens in cases of this
kind, occurring in delicate persons, these measures produced great
weakness, but failed to subdue the disease. Tonics and stimulants
were resorted to, to "get up the strength."  The effect has been to
perpetuate the disease in a sub-acute form, and the result, the development of consumption. She has all along being harassed by a cough: a
month ago spat up a considerable quantity of blood, and has continued
to do so ever since. She is now feverish, hot, and thirsty; exceedingly
weak; gets flushed in the evening; perspires at night; loses flesh
rapidly. Complains of a sharp pain in the right side of the chest, in
breathing and coughing. Auscultation confirms the opinion one would
form from the foregoing symptoms: there is a cavity in the right lung,
a little below the collar-bone, the sounds indicating this being most distinctly heard at the back.
Taking away all stimulants, and restricting her for a short time to
milk diet, I gave also Aconite and Phosphorus. She found relief within
the first twenty-four hours. Continuing these medicines a few days,
all active inflammation was completely removed. The thirst, fever, and
hectic vanished; her appetite returned; the spitting of blood ceased;
the cough became easier; the expectoration less copious.  Pursuing
the treatment with Lycopodium, Kali Carbonicum, and some other
medicines, she was soon sufficiently restored to get about and attend
to her household affairs, and up to the present time has not failed to
visit me (generally walking a distance of a mile and a half for the purpose), once a month.
She has never lost her cough; has two or three times had slight returns of spitting of blood, and there are still unequivocal signs of the
disease in the lungs, from which she can never be rid; but it is
gratifying to believe, judging from the past, that wilh the persistence of the same treatment, her life may be prolonged for an indefinite
period.



INJURIES.


257


distant period, to " drag to ruin the system of receiptcrammed-heads! "
These inroads have been made, principally, into the province of medicine or the "practice of physic," regarded as a
separate branch of the healing art.
Its sister branch, surgery, though it has not so complete a
revolution to apprehend from the advent of Homceopathy, is
yet destined to feel its beneficial influence. Homoeopathy
does not pretend to abolish the use of the knife, the splint,
the roller, and a thousand other mechanical contrivances, for
the removal and rectification of accidental injuries; but this
it will do-it will render surgery far less formidable than it
has hitherto been, by controlling those accompanying symptoms on which the danger of operations mainly depends.   In
other cases, by curing, or rendering harmless, diseases which
now are considered as remediable only by the knife, it will
make a resort to such extreme measures less frequently
necessary.
Injuries may be classed under two heads.  First-those in
which the mischief is of such a nature as to demand the
application of mechanical means for its cure-fractures, dislocations, lacerations, and  hernia.   Here   the  surgeon,
whether homoeopathic or allopathic, does not hesitate to
employ   all those  contrivances  which  the  ingenuity  of
others may have placed at his disposal.     The other class
of cases is that in which the injury may be as great as in the
foregoing, but in which the same mode of treatment is not
admissible-sprains, bruises, and concussions.  Homaeopathy
here comes into play with admirable effect-it controls the
constitutional disturbance, and allays local inflammation in a
manner with which Allopathy has nothing to compare.
Foremost among those medicinal substances, by which this
is  accomplished, are   Arnica, Rhus    Toxicodendron, and
Calendula.
Let us now adduce a few examples of their beneficial
action.



258


INJURIES.


CASE I.-S. J-, aged 23 years.          Yesterday, whilst out
riding, was thrown from his horse, and pitched upon his head
with great violence.   He was taken up insensible, and carried
to a friend's house, where he was visited by a medical gentleman, who applied lotions to the head, prescribed an aperient
draught, and advised the application of leeches.        After a
short time he rallied, and remained tolerably sensible up to
this morning, when he was brought home.
September 19, 1817.-Evening: he is in bed, having become much
worse since morning, and has fallen into a state of stupor, or half insensibility. It is with difficulty lie can be roused sufficiently to recognise any one, or answer a question. His pulse is slow and labour`ing, at times almost intermittent. His skin is warm, the head not
particularly hot, the pupils act sluggishly. He vomited in the forenoon.
There is a 'lump about the size of a small egg on the back part of the
head, but no outward wound of the scalp.
Take Arnica 6th, every three hours.
21st.-More easily aroused, and answers questions more distinctly.
His skin is hotter. Complains of headache.
Take two doses of Aconite; then Arnica again, and apply Arnica
Lotion to the bruise.
22d.- He is quite sensible this morning; wakeful; talks almost as
usual; complains of headache, especially in the forehead, the skin of
which has become diseoloured, and is very hot. The pulse has rallied,
and is more free and natural; the pupils contract closely.
Belladonna 3d, every four hours.
In the evening.-Still better; his head being much relieved of pain.
He is laughing and joking about his accident.
23d.-He is up and dressed; has quite recovered his mental activity,
but still feels a good deal of pain over the eyes, which is aggravated
by looking at the light.
Belladonna 12th,l three times a day.
His restoration was rapid and uninterrupted.  He applied Arnica
Lotion to the scalp; and took inwardly, Arnica, Belladonna, and
Sulphur, for the removal of some lingering tenderness in the brain.



260


INJURIES.


little effect. He carries his arm in a sling, and cannot bear it to be
moved or touched.
Take Arnica 6th, three times a day; and wet the parts frequently
with Arnica Lotion.
11th.-He is already   wonderfully  better: there is not half so
much pain in the joint; and the swelling has almost entirely subsided.
Continue the same treatment.
13th.-There is no more pain in the injured shoulder than in the
other: he can lift his hand to his head, and move the arm freely
in other directions. The swelling around the joint has entirely subsided.
Take Arnica 12th, twice a day.
16th.-He is perfectly well.
CASE V.-Mrs. L-, aged 30 years. A          stout, plethoric
person.
July 12th, 1848.-Eight hours ago slipped down stairs, and fell on
her left side, striking the ribs with great force. She is now in bed,
suffering intense agony; being unable to breathe, or move without an
intolerable increase of pain. The bruised part is so exquisitely tender
to the touch, as entirely to preclude an examination to ascertain
whether the ribs are fractured.
Take Arnica 3rd, inwardly, every three hours; and apply an
Arnica poultice, outwardly.
13th.-Greatly relieved. Can turn in bed, and bear pressure without inconvenience. The bruised part is still very tender.  Her general
health is good.
Continue the treatment.
14th.-Dressed and sitting up; feeling but slightly the effects of the
fall. Cured.
CAsE VI.-Eliza H-, aged 5 years.
August 3d, 1847.-Her wrist was sprained a few hours ago by her
cousin lifting her up suddenly by the hand.  The joint is red, inflamed,
swollen, and painful.
Rhus inwardly and outwardly.
4th.-Much better, swelling reduced; less pain.
Continue the treatment.  Cured.



J.E. Adlard, Printer, Bartholomew Cfose.



2
ligible; and airly, for he advocates his own peculiar curative principles
without a single scoff at those of others."-Jerrold's Weekly Newspaper.
" The work is, in matter and mode of treatment, a valuable contribution to medical science."-Nonconformist.
"This book is both scientifically interesting and practically useful. It
convincingly proves the truth of the Homceopathic system of medicine."
--Weekly Times.
" The volume of Mr. Yeldham is the most impressive and satisfactory
that has yet come into our hands."-British Banner.
" A lucid exposition of the application of Homoeopathy in the cure of
acute diseases."-Oxford Herald.
"Mr. Yeldham's book is incomparably the boldest challenge which
the press of this country has ever conveyed to the impugners of Homceopathy."-Sunday Times.
"Many professors of the Old System are constantly forsaking it for
the New. Mr. Yeldham is one of the most recent converts to the New
System, and judging from the work before us, one of the most talented.
His book contains a vast number of facts, all of which have come under
his own knowledge. They are lucidly arranged, and free from those
professional technicalities by which medical works are generally disfigured."-Liverpool Albion.
" Mr. Yeldham writes with energy. We have read his book with
pleasure, and lay it down with a feeling of respect for the author. He
does not indulge in personalities, nor seek to entertain his readers by
references to professional squabbles. He deals largely with facts, each
of the treatises on disease being illustrated by the history of various
cases which have come under this treatment. To facts and principles
the Homoeopathic authors constantly refer their readers, and wemknow
no higher and firmer ground on which doctrine could be based."Morning Post.