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 DISEASES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 DIGESTIVE ORGANS 
 
 AND' 
 
 CONSTIPATION, 
 
 TREATED HOlftEOPATHICALLY. 
 
 BY W. BROACKES, M. D. and M, ft C. S. 
 
 SECOND AMERICAN, 
 
 rSOM THE THIRD HONDON EDITION. 
 
 WITH PREFACE AND ADDITIONS, ' 
 BY 
 
 A. C. BECKER, M-D. 
 
 NEW-YORK: 
 
 WILLIAM RADDE, 322 BROADWAY. 
 
 1848. 
 

 ^ 
 
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847, by 
 
 WILLIAM RADDE, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office, of the District Court, for the Southern District 
 of New York. 
 
 H t Ludwlg, Printer, 
 ,70 JVesey-st. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 
 
 Page 
 
 Advertisement, ii 
 
 • 
 
 ; 5 
 
 Preface, . . . # « 
 
 « i 
 
 7 
 
 Structure of the First Passages, 
 
 • 
 
 9 
 
 Their Derangements, . 
 
 . 
 
 10 
 
 Exercise and Mechanical Means to Remedy 
 
 
 these, .... 
 
 . 
 
 11 
 
 Aphthae — Thrush, 
 
 * 
 
 12 
 
 Stomacace — Ulcerated Gums, 
 
 * 
 
 .14 
 
 Bad Breath, .... 
 
 . 
 
 16 
 
 Flatulence, .... 
 
 . 
 
 16 
 
 Spasms of the Stomach, 
 
 * 
 
 17 
 
 Vomiting, .... 
 
 • . 
 
 19 
 
 Derangement of the Stomach, 
 
 • 
 
 20 
 
 Dyspepsia and Hepatic Affections, 
 
 . 
 
 33 
 
 Obstruction in the Intestinal Canal, 
 
 . 
 
 42 
 
 Constipation, .... 
 
 . t 
 
 47 
 
 Colic, ..... 
 
 . 
 
 57 
 
 Hemorrhoids, .... 
 
 . < 
 
 G2 
 
 Enteritis, or Intestinal Inflammation, 
 
 , 
 
 81 
 
IV. 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 
 Diarrhoea, 
 
 • • • 
 
 88 
 
 Dysentery, . 
 
 • 
 
 , 100 
 
 Sporadic Cholera, 
 
 « . • 
 
 . 109 
 
 Asiatic Cholera, . 
 
 » • • 
 
 . 110 
 
 Cholerine, 
 
 • 
 
 . 114 
 
 Worms, 
 
 • • • 
 
 . 117 
 
 Homoeopathic Diet and Regimen 5 
 
 . 121 
 
ADVERTISEMENT, 
 
 There is, perhaps, nothing in London life so re- 
 markable as its combination of epicurean and sed- 
 entary habits. Its diseases, as remarkably, are 
 precisely those which should arsie from such causes ; 
 namely, affections of the abdominal viscera. These 
 diseases, however, do not in general arise im- 
 mediately from the habits now mentioned, but 
 chiefly from such habits at once overloading and 
 rendering torpid the intestinal canal, or producing 
 constipation. 
 
 Constipation may, accordingly, be reckoned the 
 parent of metropolitan disease. It abounds in 
 every district, in every age, and in every profes- 
 sion; and its consequences tend, perhaps, more 
 than those of any other affection, to embitter life, 
 and render it burdensome ; for it is not only in its 
 evident effects that we must regard it — in dys- 
 pepsia, affections of the liver, diarrhoea, dysentery, 
 
VI. ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 &c. ; but in its less direct, though not less sure,, 
 influence on the circulating and the nervous system. 
 Constipation, happily, is peculiarly under the 
 control of reformed Homoeopathy; and scarcely less 
 happily, it brings its beneficent aid without any of 
 the pills, potions and boluses, which constitute so 
 disgusting and hateful a tax on social indulgences, 
 and which poison even their happiest moments by 
 anticipations of the frightful and inevitable future. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 In acute cases the Editor recommends the em- 
 ployment of the tinctures diluted in water, or the 
 third trituration dry on the tongue. 
 
 If the former, and the patient be a child, one 
 or two drops should be well mixed in a tumbler- 
 ful of water, and a teaspoonful of the solution 
 given at a dose ; if it be for an adult, from three 
 to five drops in the same quantity of water, and 
 a tablespoonful of the solution at a dose, to be re- 
 gulated by the age, sex, constitution and tempera- 
 ment of the patient. 
 
 The more nervous the temperament, and the 
 greater the severity of the symptoms, so much 
 the quicker and more powerful is the action of 
 the drugs. 
 
 If the3^ be administered in the third trituration, 
 one or two grains should be a dose for children, 
 five grs. for adults. 
 
 In chronic diseases, no dilution below the sixth 
 should be, none above the thirtieth need be em- 
 ployed. 
 
 The repetition of the medicine depends entirely 
 on circumstances, on the intensity of the S3^mp- 
 toms, the nature of the disease, &c. &c. 
 
 As a general rule it may be laid down, however, 
 that acute diseases require a more, and chronic, 
 a less frequent repetition. 
 
Vlll. PREFACE. 
 
 The more rapid the course an acute disease 
 runs, and the more intensely and dangerously it 
 commences, so much the more quickly the doses 
 must follow each other ; particularly in violent 
 inflammations, when it may become necessary to 
 repeat the medicine every fifteen, or even five 
 minutes during a paroxysm, although as a general 
 thing once in two or three hours is sufficient. 
 
 When a medicine is obviously exercising a be- 
 neficial action, it should not be repeated until the 
 patient ceases to improve ; if within an hour after 
 its administration no improvement has taken place, 
 it may be repeated, or another substituted for it, 
 according to the symptoms. 
 
 If the remedy be homoeopathic to the disease, 
 and if given in a low dilution, it may produce an 
 exacerbation of all the symptoms for a short time. 
 This is called the primary effect of the medicine, 
 and is to be distinguished from aggravation of 
 the symptoms caused by increased violence of the 
 disease, by the fact that the medicinal aggravation 
 comes on suddenly, and without previous amelio- 
 ration ; the aggravation caused by the disease 
 appears gradually, and frequently following an 
 amelioration. 
 
 The additions made to the original English 
 work are indicated by brackets. 
 
 A. C. B. 
 
 New-York, Dec. 31, 1847. 
 
DISEASES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 DIGESTIVE ORGANS 
 
 AND 
 
 CONSTIPATION, 
 
 TREATED HOMGEOPATHICALLY. 
 
 The first passages. — Few persons are ig- 
 norant that these, technically called the pri- 
 mse viae, consist of the cesophagus or gul- 
 let, the stomach, the small, and the great 
 intestine, that the small intestine, which is 
 of nearly similar diameter throughout, is con- 
 sidered as composed of three portions : the 
 duodenum which commences at the smaller 
 or right extremity of the stomach, the jeju- 
 num which is its continuation, and the ilium, 
 which, continuing the latter, terminates in 
 the great intestine; and that the great intestine 
 which, though of much greater diameter than 
 the small one, is also nearly similar through- 
 out, is considered as composed likewise of 
 three portions, the coecum which forms a ba : 
 
10 DISEASES OP THE 
 
 with a vermiform appendix where the small 
 intestine opens into it ; the colon which is its 
 continuation, forming by far the greater por- 
 tion of the great intestine — in the arch which 
 ascends on the right side, crosses under the 
 stomach, and descends on the left side ; and 
 the rectum which, continuing the latter, ter- 
 minates at the anus. 
 
 It is also well known that there are innu- 
 merable apertures, more or less minute, on 
 the whole inner surface of these passages, as 
 well as the openings of ducts from the liver, 
 gall bladder, pancreas, etc. which pour into 
 them digestive and lubricating fluids which 
 blend with the food, convert it into chyme, 
 and facilitate its passage ; and likewise that 
 innumerable other apertures on the same 
 surface, form the beginnings of the absorbent 
 vessels by which the nutritive matter is 
 taken up from the chyme and poured into the 
 great veins near the heart to increase the 
 quantity of the circulating blood. 
 
 Such is the general idea of the digestive 
 apparatus, and though it is less complex than 
 some other portions of the organization, it is 
 evidently liable to many causes of derange- 
 ment, in very different portions of itss:ruc- 
 ture. 
 
 Their derangements. — The more obvious 
 causes of intestinal derangement, are evi- 
 dently errors in the quality and quantity of 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 12 
 
 the food we use, and neglect of regular eva- 
 cuations. 
 
 Exercise and mechanical means to remedy 
 these, — To promote evacuation, no means are 
 either so natural or so effective as regular 
 and abundant bodily exercise. In the metro- 
 polis > and especially in the city of London^ 
 this is by some imagined to consist in a. 
 bustling and merely fatiguing walk through 
 crowded streets ; but no exercise is of much 
 use that does not induce perspiration — the 
 expulsion of the old and useless or noxious 
 matters of the body, before it is gorged by 
 new ones. 
 
 In addition to exercise, it is always bene- 
 fical to attempt to obtain evacuations at a 
 stated period of the day. Now, as persons 
 when in good health, have usually an inclina- 
 tion to relieve the bowels soon after break- 
 fast (because the pressure of the distended 
 stomach upon the transverse arch of the colon 
 causes it to contract and propel its contents 
 towards the rectum, which becoming dis- 
 tended, gives rise to the desire to relieve 
 itself,) this opportunity should never be ne- 
 glected, for the activity of the absorbents in 
 the bowels soon removes the softer particles, 
 and the bulk being thus reduced, the disposi- 
 tion subsides. 
 
 When exercise and this precaution have 
 been neglected, and when the bowels remain 
 
12 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 very inert, accompanied with some degree of 
 hardness and fulness of the lower part of the 
 abdomen, nothing will be more conducive to 
 restoring regularity of the bowels than the 
 use of lavements, in conjunction with Ho- 
 moeopathic remedies. 
 
 Perhaps the simplest and best way of con- 
 sidering the affections of the primae vise, is to 
 begin with those of the mouth, and to take 
 those of the stomach, intestines, etc.. accord- 
 ing to the succession of the parts. For that 
 reason, I may first consider : 
 
 APHTHJE— THEUSH. 
 
 These are pustules or vesicles which may 
 have their seat on any part of the membrane 
 which lines the cavity of the mouth. They 
 are sometimes distinct and dispersed, and 
 sometimes approximated, so as occasionally 
 to form a sort of continuous membrane, which 
 entirely covers the tongue, palate, gums and 
 pharynx. The precursory symptoms are 
 great agitation, want of sleep, difficulty of 
 breathing, foetid breath, hoarse and feeble 
 voice, tongue a little swollen, dry and mem- 
 branous only in the inside, thirst consider- 
 able, burning and redness in the throat and 
 mouth, fatigue and somnolence in particular, 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 13 
 
 deadening of the senses. Then appear little 
 points or elevations of a pale or grey color, 
 which grow by degrees, and form superficial 
 pustules, round, of the size of a millet-seed, 
 and filled with a sanious liquid. The viscous 
 mucosities which escape from them soon form 
 little crusts which fall speedily, or at the end 
 of a few hours, and are renewed more or less 
 promptly. 
 
 Aphthae are mild when they are white, 
 pearl-grey, or yellow, transparent, humid, 
 small, easily broken, isolated, when they fall 
 easily and quickly, and affect only the mouth. 
 But frequently they become malignant, and 
 then they are larger, dull, blue, grey, brown, 
 blackish, gangrenous, corroding, foetid, nu- 
 merous, close, confluent, covered with a 
 thick and very adhesive substance, or quite 
 dry and hard, reappearing frequently, and 
 easily invading the pharynx, the intestinal 
 canal, and even the trachea. 
 
 The aphthae which often attack children at 
 the breast are almost always mild. It is 
 these only that we have here to consider ; 
 the others are always a consequence of some 
 serious malady. 
 
 The most common cause of aphthae in little 
 children is food of bad quality, or which 
 does not suit their age. 
 
 The best remedy in this case is a small 
 dose of borax, 30th, which usually dispels 
 
 2* 
 
14 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 the evil in two or three days. We may also 
 administer ocidum sulphuricum,, 30th, and 
 mercurius vivus, 12th, if no circumstance 
 contraindicate their employment. 
 
 [Against this disease, so frequent in chil- 
 dren, we have an admirable remedy in mere, 
 solub., a few doses of which are suffi- 
 cient to effect a speedy cure. In the major- 
 ity of cases, particularly at the commence- 
 ment of the disease, borax will make but lit- 
 tle, if any impression ; and this remedy is 
 only indicated when the aphthae have spread 
 over the mucous surface of the stomach and 
 intestines. Such cases are rare among chil- 
 dren, and to be met with chiefly amongst 
 old people. If mere. sol. should fail, it ought 
 to be followed by sulphur. When the aph- 
 thae assume a brown, livid, or blackish 
 color, become confluent, and sordes cover 
 the teeth ; if diarrhoea sets in, and we find a 
 small frequent pulse, burning skin, arsen. 
 must be administered.] 
 
 STOMACACE.— ULCERATED OR FCETID 
 GUMS. 
 
 This name is given to a disease which 
 begins by attacking the mouth, its glands 
 an d thepalate. 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 15 
 
 The first symptoms are stiffness and shoot- 
 ings in the throat, a coppery taste with heat, 
 burning, redness, swelling and extreme sen- 
 sibility of the gums, the inside of the lips, 
 the cheeks, the tongue, and the palate. To 
 these phenomena are afterwards joined a 
 cadaverous smell from the mouth, painful 
 swelling of the glands of the neck, abundant 
 flow from the mouth of saliva, or of viscous 
 and foetid mucus. The gums are spongy, 
 extremely swollen or retracted, the teeth 
 painful, dirty, and often loose ; mastication, 
 deglutition, speech, and respiration painful. 
 There are formed, on the parts affected, 
 small flat ulcerations, very sensible and ob- 
 stinate. These ulcerations extend ; their base 
 is dirty or spongy, their edges are soft ; little 
 elevated, inflamed, and unequal. In a great 
 number of cases we observe spongy excres- 
 cences of different form, color, consistence, 
 and size. Very frequently there flows from 
 the ulcerated and tumefied parts, especially 
 the gums, and particularly when we touch 
 these parts, a putrid sanies, or liquid and 
 deep-red blood. At the same time there is 
 great weakness, and sometimes slight febrile 
 movements. 
 
 The best remedy against this disease is 
 mercurius solubilis, 12th, which often com- 
 pletely cures it in a few days. 
 
 [If in addition to the above symptoms, the 
 
16 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 tongue is parched, black, arid cracked, we 
 must have recourse to arsen. 
 Next to it, sulph. is valuable.] 
 
 BAD BREATH. 
 
 The cause of this is often uncleanliness of 
 the teeth ; and it consequently disappears if 
 they are cleaned, and if the mouth is rinsed 
 with warm water after eating. 
 
 If the odor come from the stomach or 
 lungs, it must be opposed by the following 
 remedies: carho animalis, 5th, agaricus, 12th, 
 iodiam, 30th, if it is observed immediately 
 after washing the mouth with spring water ; 
 ammonium, 18th, if it is felt by the patient ; 
 baryta, 18th, if it is strong, but not felt by 
 the patient; and sulphur, 6th, if it is aug- 
 mented after eating. 
 
 FLATULENCE. 
 
 I refer here only to such flatulence as de- 
 pends upon errors of regimen, and is of short 
 duration. Flatulence occurs most commonly 
 after eating certain vegetables, especially if 
 these have been taken at the same time with 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 17 
 
 fermented liquors. It does not cause pain, 
 but it swells the abdomen, embarrasses re- 
 spiration, and usually occasions general unea- 
 siness. China, 12th, commonly produces 
 good effects. However, we usually give 
 nux vomica in preference to persons of vivid 
 temperament, and pulsatitta, 12th, to women 
 of a mild disposition. The latter is also in- 
 dicated when flatulence follows the use of fat 
 food. 
 
 SPASMS OF THE STOMACH. 
 
 In certain cases of spasm in the stomach, 
 bryony deserves to be noticed as a proper 
 remedy ; and the necessity of using it is in- 
 dicated by the following symptoms : the 
 softest food or liquid occasions a constrictive 
 pain in the stomach, frequently manifested 
 whilst eating, or at all events immediately 
 afterwards, accompanied by a sensation as if 
 the epigastric region were swollen ; and the 
 application of the hand diminishes or at times 
 removes the pain by producing eructation. 
 
 Case. — A man, aged thirty-eight, of ple- 
 thoric hahit. suffered sudden and violent 
 pressure at the stomach. He suffered most 
 after eating, with constant numbness and 
 
18 DISEASE'S OF THE" 
 
 pricking in the hands, and loss of feeling; 
 The patient looked ill, perspired all day, and 
 was very weak and peevish. Paralysis of 
 the upper extremities was dreaded ; but two 
 doses oirhus, 4th, gutt. 1, at intervals of six 
 days, put a stop to that condition. This was 
 succeeded by a shooting pain across the ster- 
 num, which was increased by motion, not by 
 respiration, and was most acute when the 
 stomach was empty. The patient constantly 
 suffered a trembling or sensation of leaping 
 in the pit of the stomach. All the symptoms 
 were removed by bryony^ 6th,_ gl. 1, one 
 dose. 
 
 Very severe spasms in the stomach, grip- 
 ing and twisting pains in the epigastrium., 
 accompanied by vomiting of a clear and acid 
 liquid, towards evening or even night, and 
 sour eructations, were cured with phosph. 
 I0th, gutt. 1, administered every third or 
 fourth day. In one case, the spasm was so- 
 violent that several medical men believed it 
 to be a schirrus commencing in the pylorus. 
 
 [Many other remedies have proved very 
 successful in this distressing complaint. 
 Where there is evident tendency to conges- 
 tion, with great sensibility of the pit of the 
 stomach, and pressure and spasm after eat- 
 ing, sour eructations, general sensation of 
 heat, frequently combined with uneasiness, 
 oppression, full hard pulse, and sluggishness 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 19 
 
 of the bowels, nux vom. is indicated, which 
 may be alternated with opium. Irregulari- 
 ties of the menstruation are frequently the 
 cause of the above symptoms, and if so, be- 
 sides the above remedies, ignatia and coccu- 
 lus will be found serviceable.] 
 
 VOMITING. 
 
 The treatment of this affection is regulated 
 principally by the causes which produce it, 
 because they determine its nature. 
 
 If the vomiting arise from an excess of 
 nourishment, it would be Avrong to prevent 
 it by the employment of medicine; for it 
 may be considered as an effort of nature to 
 free the stomach from substances which 
 overload it, and thus to prevent sometimes a 
 serious disease. But it cannot always effect 
 this evacuation, and art is often necessary to 
 assist it. 
 
 In vomiting, when it exists not as a symp- 
 tom of other diseases, but as a dynamic af- 
 fection arising from the nerves of the sto- 
 mach, ipecacuanha is valuable. This is of 
 frequent occurrence in children, in whom 
 the slightest irritation of the stomach, caused 
 either by food or liquid, suffices to produce 
 immediate vomiting. 
 
20 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 In the sickness of pregnant women also, 
 ipecacuanha is useful. 
 
 [In the sickness of pregnant women the 
 most approved remedy is cocculus, and the 
 experience of many practitioners appears to 
 have been unfavorable to the employment 
 of ipecac. Next to cocculus, sepia and 
 sulph. deserve attention, particularly if latent 
 psora be present. ] 
 
 DERANGEMENT OF THE STOMACH. 
 
 This has for its cause excess of nourish- 
 ment, food and drink which are heavy, indi- 
 gestible, fat, sour, tainted, etc. Returns, 
 either acid, or of the same taste with what 
 has been eaten, disgust, heaviness, pressure 
 and pain in the stomach, swelling and fulness 
 of that region, trembling of the lower lip, 
 vertigo, weight of the head, titillation or 
 roughness of the throat, spitting, haemoptysis, 
 disagreeable taste in the mouth, foul tongue, 
 inclination to vomit, heat in the throat, weak- 
 ness, anxiety, countenance puffed, pale, and 
 sometimes covered with spots of different 
 colors, emission of fetid air, the urine some- 
 times mixed with mucus, etc. Such are the 
 symptoms of derangement of the stomachy 
 which usually show themselves some hours 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 21 
 
 after a repast, and speedily terminate by 
 acid vomiting of the nature of the aliments 
 which have been taken, and sometimes of a 
 green color. However, there often remain 
 for some days, anorexia, pain of the bowels, 
 or diarrhoea. 
 
 Nux vomica 26th, remedies derangements 
 of the stomach caused by nocturnal dissipa- 
 tion, by the abuse of wine and of coffee, or 
 by severe cold, and presenting the following 
 symptoms : sensation of veriigo, confusion of 
 the head, heaviness in the back of the head, 
 shooting pains in the molar teeth, ringing in 
 the ears, heat in the face, red and distinct 
 efflorescences on the forehead, the nose, and 
 the angles of the mouth, tongue white and 
 coated, dryness of the mouth, with thirst, 
 much mucus in the mouth, heat of the throat, 
 want of appetite, loss of taste, nausea, much 
 water in the mouth, vomiting, colics, pres- 
 sure at the stomach, tension in the abdomen, 
 constipation, agitated sleep, want of disposi- 
 tion for intellectual labor, general relaxa- 
 tion, shootings in the limbs, discontent, que- 
 rulous disposition, and internal agitation. 
 
 Case 1. — Mrs. B. had for some years been 
 suffering from her stomach, which refused 
 almost everything ; the matters vomited 
 Avere bitter and sour. The patient became 
 daily thinner, and looked worse, and indeed 
 
 3 
 
22 DISEASES OP THE 
 
 had altogether the appearance of being very 
 ill. 
 
 Six doses of nux vomica in solution were 
 administered, and to her great astonishment 
 she found herself so much relieved that she 
 not only digested her food, but speedily re- 
 covered her plumpness and her strength. 
 
 Cas*, 2. — Mrs. S. had been an invalid for 
 a year. She could not eat anything without 
 vomiting immediately, and if the vomitings 
 did not occur naturally, it was necessary to 
 stimulate them, from a feeling as if the sto- 
 mach would burst. Sometimes vomiting 
 took place immediately after eating, at others 
 not for several hours. The matters dis- 
 charged were sour and bitter ; at times the 
 patient vomited first water and a glairy 
 matter, and afterwards the food she had 
 taken. The motions were difficult and hard. 
 The flatulence did not escape, but caused 
 pricking pains on each side. The least pres- 
 sure upon the region of the stomach was pain- 
 ful. The slightest mction appeared likely to 
 produce suffocation, because the cramp in the 
 stomach rose to the neck, and caused contrac- 
 tions. There were frequent cramps in the 
 calves of the legs, especially at night, loss of 
 strength and substance, complexion changed. 
 
 Nux vomica was given in dilution, a dose 
 every hour : four sufficed to cure her. 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 23 
 
 Cramp of the stomach, connected with 
 this derangement, is curable by the same 
 means. 
 
 This disease is very common, usually with- 
 out fever, long and intermittent, attacking 
 chiefly women, and appearing sometimes to 
 be hereditary. In the beginning it is merely 
 a pressure, a very disagreeable constriction 
 and pinching in the region affected, espe- 
 cially at the pit of the stomach and the left 
 side, and sometimes in the back. Afterward, 
 the pains become very sensible, tearing, 
 burning, insupportable, and are felt even in 
 the gullet. In their highest degree of inten- 
 sity they are dreadful, accompanied by con- 
 striction, twisting, anxiety, oppression, dart- 
 ings in the breast and back. The attack re- 
 mains at first for some minutes, then for a 
 quarter of an hour, an hour, and even for 
 half a day, and it often ends by vomiting. 
 The pain usually disappears when the sto- 
 mach is empty or contains only light and 
 mild food, and it returns after a repast. It 
 is increased in an erect position ; the leaning 
 forward or being bent, and even pressure, 
 mitigates it. Sometimes the region of the 
 stomach is rather hard and swollen, more 
 commonly it is contracted, very seldom is it 
 sensible or tense. A disposition to vomit is 
 commonly observed, but it is not always fol- 
 lowed by vomiting. The latter produces a 
 
24 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 brief alleviation. Cramps of the stomach 
 are more or less obstinate according to their 
 cause ; and they sometimes resist for a long 
 time the best directed treatment. They 
 often disappear for several weeks, and re- 
 turn again at regular periods. 
 
 The usual causes of this disease are errors 
 of regimen often and long reiterated, irregu- 
 larity of eating and drinking, abuse of spirit- 
 uous liquors and coffee, vexation, anger, fre- 
 quent chills, especially of the feet. 
 
 The remedies to be opposed to this disease 
 are nux, ignatia, pulsatilla, and crude coffee. 
 The complete cure sometimes requires the 
 use of antipsorics ; but it is then necessary 
 that an able physician should direct their 
 administration . 
 
 Nux vomica 30th, particularly suits per- 
 sons who are addicted to the use of coffee 
 and spirituous liquors, especially when we 
 observe in them the following symptoms: 
 constriction, pressure, tightening, cramps in 
 the stomach, with a sensation as if the dress 
 compressed the body in that region, a sen- 
 sation which may be compared also to that 
 produced by much flatulence in the left side, 
 under the ribs, a tightening of the chest, 
 which in many cases extends between the 
 shoulders and the loins, nausea especially 
 during the attack, much water in the mouth, 
 returns of sour bitter liquid, with or without 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 25 
 
 burning in the pharynx, palpitations of the 
 heart, with anxiety, acid or putrid taste, 
 constipation, swelling of the abdomen by 
 flatulence, sometimes headache on one side, 
 sometimes also pressive pain in the forehead. 
 If the remedy has diminished the symptoms, 
 without making them entirely disappear, a 
 second dose must be given at the end of 
 three or four days, and afterwards a third 
 one. 
 
 Sometimes this state of the stomach is con- 
 nected with hepatic affection, and is simi- 
 larly remedied. 
 
 Case. — Mr. B., aged twenty-eight, of good 
 constitution and bilious sanguine tempera- 
 ment, was seized suddenly on the 19th of 
 July, 1836, with a violent constrictive pain 
 in the epigastrium, and vomiting, consequent 
 upon great mental affliction. His stomach 
 rejected all food both solid and liquid almost 
 immediately. The epigastric pain was in- 
 cessanjL and not increased by pressure. The 
 tongue was in its natural state, the patient 
 having neither thirst nor appetite. The cir- 
 culation was in no way disordered, but 
 there was suborbital cephalalgia and general 
 uneasiness. The skin had a very marked 
 icteric complexion. 
 
 On the morning of the 20th of July, all 
 these symptoms had been in operation for 
 
 3* 
 
26 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 twelve hours. Three globules of nux vomica 
 of the twenty-fourth dilution, dissolved in 
 two spoonfuls of water, were then adminis- 
 tered. The same evening the pain wa 
 greatly relieved, the vomitings had ceased 
 and the patient took some broth without 
 experiencing any inconvenience. The fol- 
 lowing morning there was no symptom of 
 gastralgia remaining, nor has it re-appeared 
 since. 
 
 In this case nux vomica effected a speedy 
 and desirable cure, because it was exactly in 
 accordance with the occasional cause, name- 
 ly, with the mental distress and temperament 
 of the patient, with his moral condition, and 
 also with the cephalalgia, epigastric pain, vo- 
 mitings, and even with the icteric complex- 
 ion of the skin. 
 
 Sometimes this state is connected with he- 
 morrhoidal and menstrual affection, and may 
 be similarly treated with advantage. Indeed 
 spasms in the stomach, resulting either from 
 plethora and sanguine congestions in the ab- 
 domen, or simply from increased sensibility 
 of the nerves of the stomach, may be treated 
 with nux vomica. The former case is met 
 with more frequently than the latter, and 
 then the spasm of the stomach is found to be 
 connected either with hemorrhoids or irregu- 
 lar menstruation, in such a manner that the 
 customary sanguine congestions towards the 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 27 
 
 hemorrhoidal or uterine vessels are disor- 
 dered. 
 
 Case. — A lady, aged twenty-foil?*, had 
 been suffering for seven years from pains in 
 the stomach ; during the whole of which time 
 she had taken nothing but cold milk, as other 
 aliment produced the most violent pains in 
 the stomach, spasms, nausea, and vomiting. 
 In addition, she labored under a flow of 
 blood towards the head, pressive headache, 
 dimness of sight, hemorrhoids, general cold- 
 ness of the body, especially of the hands, 
 feet, suppression of the menses during five 
 years, great irritability, and meagreness of 
 habit. Eight doses of nux Sth, 3, one daily, 
 before bed-time, and four of bryony 8th, 3. 
 sufficed to diminish the disease to such an 
 extent, that the patient after fourteen days 
 of this treatment, was able to eat roast fowl 
 and roast beef, without experiencing any 
 pain or heaviness at the stomach. 
 
 Sometimes this state is connected with af- 
 fections of the head, 
 
 Spasm in the stomach, with nausea and 
 eructation, acid and bitter vomitings, anx- 
 iety and oppression of the chest, palpitation 
 of the heart, contraction of the abdomen, 
 blind hemorrhoids, bilious temperament, 
 may often be cured by calcar. carbon. 
 
 A female, aged twenty-eight, experienced 
 
23 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 frequent frontal headache, followed by bil- 
 ious vomitings, pressure at the stomach as if 
 caused by a stone, pain in the right hypo- 
 choncftium, becoming pressive and shooting 
 upon stooping, motions unfrequent, difficult 
 and hard, menstruation painful, continuing 
 for eight or ten days, followed by hemor- 
 rhoidal tumors, weakness, perspiration and 
 agitated sleep ; was cured in eight days by 
 two doses of coccal. 6th, gl. 1. 
 
 Pulsatilla is particularly suitable when a 
 repast is composed of aliments which are fat, 
 and when it presents the following symp- 
 toms : taste bitter, salt or putrid mucus in 
 the mouth, roughness in the throat, bilious 
 returns, want of appetite, repugnance to 
 warm food, fulness of the stomach, swelling 
 of the abdomen, tension below the last ribs, 
 borborygmi, constipation, or at least slow, 
 difficult and scanty evacuation, shivering, 
 depression, shooting in the limbs, and ill hu- 
 mor. 
 
 Case. — A patient experienced a sensation 
 of tightness above the navel as if the intes- 
 tines were inflated. At times there was a 
 round lump as large as a fist, hard and pro- 
 minent, the bowels painful at the slightest 
 touch, very painful pricking pains on each 
 side of the abdomen, feet cold, head burning, 
 febrile irritation, frequent tendency to sick- 
 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 29 
 
 ness, followed at times by vomiting. This 
 disease, which attacked the patient more es- 
 pecially in the evening, arose in the first in- 
 stance from cold. 
 
 In cases of this sort, pulsat ilia is an actual 
 specific ; the exhibition of it is generally fol- 
 lowed by.sleep, and the patient awakes per- 
 fectly cured. The attack may return, but 
 at all events the intervals are long. 
 
 Some persons who are very irritable, ex- 
 tremely sensible, and subject to spasmodic 
 and nervous accidents, are often attacked, 
 from causes slight in appearance, with a vo- 
 miting of viscous and whitish mucus, usu- 
 ally preceded by vertigo and pains in the ab- 
 domen, followed by diarrhoea. Pulsatilla 
 18th, and cocculus 24th, are successfully em- 
 ployed in these cases. 
 
 The derangement of the stomach may 
 have been caused by anger preceding a re- 
 past. The following are the circumstances 
 which present themselves in this case : heat, 
 and redness in the face, painful headache, 
 redness of the eyes with burning, general 
 excitement of the nervous system, great sen- 
 sibility, loss of appetite, continued bitter 
 taste in the mouth, bilious eructations, vo- 
 miting of green and bilious matters, colics, 
 depression, agitated sleep, frequent awaking. 
 Chamomilla 12th, and if that be not sufli- 
 
30 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 cient, pulsatilla 18th, are then the best re- 
 medies. 
 
 Bryonia alba 18th, is applicable to cases 
 in which the emotion still remains, and in 
 which the sensation of cold is joined to the 
 preceding symptoms. If the anger have 
 been accompanied by great fear, aconite 
 24th, is the specific. 
 
 When the nervous system is very irrita- 
 ble, and the sensibility increased, good ef- 
 fects are obtained from chamomilla, 12th, es- 
 pecially when the patient complains of pres- 
 sure in the region of the stomach, of painful 
 swelling at the pit of the stomach, and of the 
 left side, of asthma and of anxiety. It should 
 also be observed that a little coffee usually 
 mitigates this kind of pain ; while it is inju- 
 rious in others which yield to the use of nux 
 vomica, Chamomilla has no effect in per- 
 sons who have used much chamomile tea ; 
 it must then be replaced by ignatia, pulsa- 
 tilla, and coffee. 
 
 Arnica 6th, is administered if the de- 
 rangement of the stomach arise from a gene- 
 ral and continued excitement of the nervous 
 system caused by distress of mind, watching, 
 excess in pleasure, fatigue of the body, and 
 if it be accompanied by the following symp- 
 toms : vertigo, pain in the head, especially 
 above the orbits, stupefaction, heat in the 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 31 
 
 head, dryness of the tongue, sour or bitter 
 taste in the mouth, desire for acids, tongue 
 loaded with a yellowish matter, taste of what 
 has been eaten, fulness at the pit of the sto- 
 mach, nausea, flatulence, weight in all the 
 members, disagreeable heat, agitated sleep, 
 frequent awaking, starting during sleep, anx- 
 ious and distressing dreams. We may also 
 give nux vomica 30th, and chamomiila 12th, 
 if there be no circumstance which contra- 
 indicates their use. 
 
 We observe in the spring, particularly in 
 persons who dwell in humid piaces, near 
 stagnant waters, marshes, etc., a particular 
 derangement of the stomach, of which the 
 following are the characters: loss of appetite, 
 continual satiety, a heaviness and fulness of 
 the abdomen, eructations, depression, weak- 
 ness, vertigo, dull headache, sometimes 
 heats, alternating with shiverings, turbid and 
 cloudy urine, sensibility to external impres- 
 sions, agitated sleep, ill" humor. This state 
 is, in many cases, the forerunner of fever, 
 which may be prevented by china 24th. 
 
 When in these affections there is some in- 
 flammatory tendency, bellad. is invaluable. 
 
 Case 1. — In this case, the female was 
 pregnant; and spasms occurred frequently, 
 each time with increased intensity. There 
 occurred violent spasmodic pain in the pit of 
 
32 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 the stomach, and left hypochondrinm, with 
 vomiting; general soreness of the abdomen, 
 violent pressure downwards towards the pel- 
 vis, with frequent desire to micturate ; face 
 red, swollen and heated; eyes fixed, pupils 
 dilated ; partial loss of consciousness ; occa- 
 sional movements and moaning produced by 
 the violence of the pain. A few doses of 
 hellad. 5th, effectually removed the disease. 
 
 Case 2. — A man had been suffering for 
 forty-eight hours under hiccough and vomit- 
 ing. The sensibility of the stomach was so 
 great as to reject even a spoonful of water. 
 Opium and lavements were inadequate to 
 remove the symptoms or the constipation. 
 The face was red and burning, and the body 
 bathed in a cold perspiration. Belladonna 
 lOtii, was immediately administered. At 
 the end of three hours, the vomiting had 
 ceased, but the hiccough still remained and 
 continued even during sleep. In order to 
 free himself from this distressing symptom, 
 the patient had, during his attendant's ab- 
 sence, drank a i'ew cups of strong chamomile 
 tea. But as the chamomile counteracted the 
 action of the belladonna, all these symptoms 
 reappeared during the night, the hiccough in 
 particular more violently than before. There 
 was then administered a cup of coffee, as an 
 antidote to the chamomile ; and a few hours 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 33 
 
 after a homoeopathic dose of belladonna. 
 By the evening all the symptoms had ceased, 
 and they never recurred. 
 
 Case 3. — A female had ben long suffer- 
 ing from spasms in the stomach, with fre- 
 quent nausea and vomiting, after eating or 
 drinking, from which she was relieved only 
 by partial or total abstinence. At the same 
 time with the spasms in the stomach, she ex- 
 perienced shooting pains in the chest and 
 vicinity of the heart, and frequently so vio- 
 lent a constriction of the chest as to impede 
 respiration. During the attack, she experi- 
 enced anxiety ; heat, headache, perspiration 
 and pains in the back. This disease which 
 had for months baffled the resources of allo- 
 pathic treatment, yielded in a few days to 
 two doses of belladonna, followed by a few 
 doses of nux vomica. 
 
 When burning pain accompanies these 
 affections, arsenicum album is successfully 
 employed. 
 
 Case 1. — An unmarried female, aged 
 forty-five, an invalid since puberty, suffered 
 from various diseases, such as painful and 
 irregular menstruation, leucorrhoea, hemor- 
 rhoids, induration of the liver, spasms in the 
 stomach, alternation of constipation and 
 
 4 
 
34 DISEASES Of THE 
 
 diarrhoea, arthritic shootings, especially in the 
 head, etc. She had been continually taking 
 medicines chiefly of a heating and drastic 
 nature. Suddenly she was seized with ex- 
 treme pains and fever. The pains were felt 
 chiefly in the pit of the stomach, in the he- 
 patic and hypogastric regions, and in the 
 loins: the other parts of the bowels were 
 soro, and there was constant vomiting, ex- 
 treme thirst, inexpressible anxiety and agi- 
 tation. After the vomiting and pain had 
 ceased in the pit of the stomach and the 
 region of the loins, they increased in the 
 hypogastrinm and haunches, in which parts 
 the pains were burning and severe. The 
 hypogastrinm was unable to endure the 
 slightest touch, and was swollen, hard, dis- 
 tended and hot. Shootings existed in the 
 rectum, heat in the tumefied hemorrhoidal 
 swellings, motions liquid, with tenesmus, 
 sharp burning pains, especially in the lower 
 part of the pelvis, fever, dryness of the 
 mouth, inclination to vomit, thirst, sleepless- 
 ness, anxiely, agitation and palpitations of 
 the heart. — Ars. 30ih, (3 doses) acted instan- 
 taneously upon the affection, by producing 
 a marked homoeopathic aggravation, but 
 -without any sensible improvement. After 
 a few days, there was a sudden cessation of 
 pain, and a discharge of several glassful* of 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 35 
 
 thick pus from the bowels : this discharge 
 ceased gradually at the end of six or eight 
 days, and the patient speedily recovered. 
 
 Case 2. — An aged female, who had often 
 suffered from spasms in the stomach, had not 
 for several months passed a single day free 
 from pains in the epigastrium and back. 
 These pains gradually increased, and were 
 succeeded by vomitings occurring several 
 times in the day, so that the sufferer could 
 take nothing without vomiting immediately, 
 or at the end of a few hours, with increase 
 of pain. She sometimes vomited even when 
 the stomach was empty. At the same time, 
 she lost substance visibly ; and finally weak- 
 ness and incessant pain confined her to bed. 
 The pain was constrictive and burning ; the 
 pit of the stomach distended and painful to 
 the touch, with constipation ; the tongue 
 clean, throat dry, thirst, sleeplessness. A 
 few doses of ars. 30th, administered at long 
 intervals, obviated for a long time this chro- 
 nic gastritis, which was doubtless accompa- 
 nied by a tendency to the production of 
 scirrhus. 
 
 Case 3. — Inflammation of the stomach 
 was cured by ars. 10th, gl. 1 ; twelve hours 
 after which was administered coloc. 10th, 
 gl. 1 ; and the same again sixteen hours 
 
36 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 afterwards. The patient, who was sixty- 
 years of age, complained of extreme burning 
 pain in the pit of the stomach, so great that 
 he could not even endure the contact of the 
 clothes, and his stomach rejected immedi- 
 ately everything that he took ; pulse small, 
 and quick ; the patient extremely restless. 
 The cure was rapid, without any other ap- 
 plication. 
 
 Chronic Indigestion. — In a case of contin- 
 ual swelling of the epigastrium arising from 
 wind, difficulty of breathing in the morn- 
 ing, but more especially after meals, eructa- 
 tion, sensation of sickness, occasional vomit- 
 ing, continual pressure, periodical heat in 
 the stomach, and constriction of the abdo- 
 men, were almost instantly relieved by two 
 or three doses of sulphur. 
 
 Tinct. sulph. not diluted, gl. 1, repeated 
 every eighth day, has cured many severe 
 cases of heartburn in young persons. One 
 case of this was so serious that the patient 
 began to lose substance, as he could take 
 nothing but a little broth. Two doses cured 
 him : acids had been found useless. 
 
 A female, between thirty and forty, had 
 for twelve years been suffering from nausea 
 and vomiting, immediately after breakfast- 
 ing, and very often after dinner. Besides 
 this, sVie complained of shooting and tight- 
 ness of the chest, with a dry cough, darting 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 37 
 
 pain in the forehead, stupifying vertigo, cold 
 in the hands and feet, and pains in the abdo- 
 men. Fifteen days' use of the tincture of 
 sulph. and ipecacuanha stopped the sickness : 
 ars. and con. removed the cough and all 
 other symptoms. *» 
 
 Affections of the stomach arising from 
 lead require the employment of its proper 
 antidote. 
 
 Mr. N., a house-painter, aged thirty, of 
 sanguine temperament, after mixing colors 
 for some days for a great number of work- 
 men, was seized with colic, to which he paid 
 little attention. At the end of three days, 
 however, he fell into such a state of disease, 
 and suffering, that he exhibited the following 
 symptoms : — dull, obtuse pain extending 
 from the middle of the stomach to the epigas- 
 trium, not increased by pressure, dry tongue, 
 vomiting of mucus and bile, obstinate consti- 
 pation, pulse contracted and quick, respira- 
 tion difficult, face pale, with convulsive 
 movements of the extremities. 
 
 Opium being an antidote to lead, and one 
 of the best homoeopathic remedies in cases of 
 constipation, four globules 12th, were dis- 
 solved in four spoonfuls of water, to be taken 
 every hour, and the same at night. Next 
 morning, the patient was generally more 
 easy ; but the pain and vomiting remained 
 the same, Alumine 30th, 5, were adminis- 
 
 4* 
 
38 DISEASES OP THE 
 
 tered in three spoonsful of water, to be taken 
 every hour, when the vomiting ceased. On 
 the third day, as the colic and constipation 
 still remained, opium 4th, one drop in a 
 spoonful of water, was prescribed. The re- 
 lief wasVery marked, and the patient him- 
 self observed that the medicine seemed to 
 grapple with the disease. As the constipa- 
 tion, however, still continued, three other 
 tea-spoonfuls, with tincture of opium, were 
 administered during the day, increasing each 
 dose one drop, so that the last dose consisted 
 of four drops. After a difficult evacuation, 
 composed of a small quantity of hardened 
 matter, the patient enjoyed a comfortable 
 sleep, and awoke convalescent on the fol- 
 lowing morning, being the fourth day. 
 
 DYSPEPSIA AND HEPATIC AFFEC- 
 TIOiNS. 
 
 I think it necessary to remark, " and my 
 long experience convinces me,' 1 that there 
 are no cases in which the homoeopathic 
 treatment is more singularly beneficial than 
 in affections of the liver, stomach and bowels. 
 
 Case 1. — A lady in delicate health, who 
 had suffered from dyspepsia for several 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 39 
 
 years, and latterly from disease of the liver, 
 was laboring under the following symp- 
 toms : frequent giddiness, dull pain with 
 pressure in the forehead, face flushed, sleepi- 
 ness even after breakfast, tongue yellow, 
 thirst, acid eructations, weight in the sto- 
 mach much increased after eating, acute pain 
 in the region of the liver augmented upon 
 pressure, dull pain in the loins, bowels con- 
 stipated, no relief without purgatives, latterly 
 of the most drastic kind, feet cold, pulse 
 quick and hard, nervous system highly ex- 
 citable. 
 
 The acute pain in the liver with inflam- 
 mation, and the condition of the pulse, indi- 
 cated the use of aconit. 30th, which was re- 
 peated three times a day for three or four 
 days, when the pulse became subdued, and 
 the liver much less painful. 
 
 Bryan. 30th, was ordered every night for 
 a week, and subsequently every alternate 
 night for another fortnight. During the ac- 
 tion of the bryony, the symptoms gradually 
 diminished ; the bowels became regular, and 
 at the end of several months no medicine 
 was required, and digestion had so much 
 improved, that she recovered her strength 
 and former healthy appearance. 
 
 Case 2. — A solicitor, whose avocation 
 confined him much to his office, was annoy- 
 
40 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 ed with stomach complaint to such an extent 
 that he could scarcely eat the most digestible 
 food without producing great uncomfort- 
 ableness both mental and bodily. He com- 
 plained of heaviness in the head, pain in the 
 temples, sleepiness after dinner, appetite bad, 
 bitter taste in the mouth, cough with oppres- 
 sion of the chest, palpitation of the heart, 
 distention of the stomach after eating, so as 
 to require the clothes to be loosened, consti- 
 pation sometimes alternating with diarrhoea, 
 spirits depressed, at other times irritable. 
 
 Thuya 10th, was given daily, and suc- 
 ceeded by pulsatiUa 6th. Under this treat- 
 ment, the improvement was gradual and 
 permanent. 
 
 Case 3. — A gentleman complained of 
 headache, particularly in the occiput, stiff- 
 ness in the nape of the neck, tongue dry and 
 furred, appetite bad, flatulence, pain in the 
 stomach much greater when fasting, bowels 
 irregular. 
 
 Although these symptoms had continued 
 many months, they yielded under the influ- 
 ence of baryt. carb. b'th, every second morn- 
 ing, followed by a few doses of staphysagria 
 10th. 
 
 Case 4. — A lady had for many years suf- 
 fered most severely from a stomach affection, 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 41 
 
 which had latterly increased to such an extent 
 that all food was immediately rejected, even 
 fluids not being always retained ; the pain in 
 the stomach most distressing, much increased 
 upon pressure, distention of the stomach 
 and bowels, eructations, and severe dull pain 
 between the shoulders and in the right side, 
 copious secretion of aqueous fluid from the 
 mouth, violent fits of coughing both day and 
 night, more particularly on lying down and 
 after taking nourishment. During one of 
 these attacks, she ejected a large quantity of 
 black blood, twelve or fourteen ounces at 
 least ; pulse quick, small, hard. 
 
 Aconite 6th, dissolved in water, was given 
 every ten or fifteen minutes, until the pulse 
 became soft and less frequent, when bryony 
 10th, followed by mix 10th, daily, removed 
 the pain and vomiting. This patient had 
 long suffered from disease of the liver, and 
 had consulted several of the most eminent 
 men of the present day with no relief. 
 
 [The most valuable remedy in this affec- 
 tion is nux vomica, which covers the follow- 
 ing symptoms : constriction, pressure, weight 
 and spasm in the pit of the stomach, with a 
 sensation as if the dress was too tight in 
 that spot, aggravation of these symptoms 
 after eating, complicated with a feeling of 
 oppression on the chest, which sometimes 
 extends to between the shoulder-blades and 
 
42 DISEASES OP THE 
 
 to the small of the back. A very character- 
 istic symptom is the presence of the pains 
 in the stomach on waking in the morning ; 
 nausea, accumulation of saliva, bitter and 
 sour eructations, palpitation of the heart, 
 and anxiety ; sour putrid taste in the mouth ; 
 constipation ; inflation of the abdomen, press- 
 ing headache in the forehead. Puis, is an- 
 other excellent remedy in dyspepsia when 
 there is a want of appetite, bitter, sometimes 
 sour eructations, nausea, vertigo and lan- 
 guor.] 
 
 OBSTRUCTION IN THE INTESTINAL 
 CANAL. 
 
 This is a morbid state in which the prin- 
 cipal symptom is a superabundant secretion 
 of mucus, in consequence of weakness of the 
 digestive organs. This affection, the result 
 of a sedentary life, of a moist and unhealthy 
 atmosphere, of painful emotions, or some 
 other malady, attacks especially infants, 
 women and old men, and occurs chiefly in 
 autumn. The secretion may have its prin- 
 cipal seat in the stomach, or in the intestinal 
 canal ; but this produces little difference in 
 the symptoms, which are generally the fol- 
 lowing: — want of appetite, thirst, sweetish 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL* 43 
 
 nauseous taste, abundant secretion of viscous 
 saliva, a white, thick coating on the tongue, 
 much mucus about the teeth, paleness of the 
 face, depression, fulness at the pit of the sto- 
 mach, swelling of the abdomen, sometimes 
 vomiting of mucus ; when the evil reaches 
 a great degree of intensity, it is frequently 
 accompanied by diarrhoea or colic. 
 
 Nux vomica 30th, is the most efficacious 
 remedy against this affection, especially 
 when it lias for its predominant symptoms 
 cramps in the stomach, much water of an 
 acid taste in the mouth, vomiting of mucus 
 of an acid odor, slowness of the movements 
 of the intestinal canal. 
 
 We employ, nearly with the same success, 
 vcratrum album 12th, chiefly when the mat- 
 ters vomited contain bile as well as mucus, 
 or when these have a greenish-yellow color 
 and a bitter taste. 
 
 Tartar emetic is indicated when vomiting 
 is joined to a disposition to mucous evacua- 
 tions. 
 
 Rheum 9th, is used when there is softness 
 and fulness of the abdomen, frequent alvine 
 evacuations of brown matter, mixed with 
 mucus, and tensive sensation at the pit and 
 in the region of the stomach. 
 
 Pulsatilla, 12th, is employed in irritable 
 and delicate persons, if accompanied by 
 
44 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 shivering, frequent vomiting of mucus, and 
 mucous evacuations. 
 
 Antimonium crudum 9th, is used when 
 we observe great weakness and extraordi- 
 nary slowness of digestion. 
 
 Ferrum and china are also employed with 
 success, especially when the disease arises 
 from the abuse of laxatives. 
 
 Ipecacuanha 3d, is especially efficacious 
 in almost all cases of obstruction, and may 
 be administered in repeated doses. 
 
 Many patients suffering under affections 
 of the abdomen, experience pains in the sto- 
 mach and liver, jaundice, abdominal obstruc- 
 tions, hemorrhoidal tumors, etc. These 
 affections are of frequent occurrence, especi- 
 ally in persons from forty to fifty years of 
 age, and of sedentary habits. In such cases, 
 nux administered daily or every two days, 
 is always found more useful than any other 
 means ; though, at times, the symptoms have 
 required other remedies, such as calcar., 
 bryony sulph., lycopod., sepia, graphit., silic, 
 carb. veget., phosph. 
 
 Case 1. — One of the patients, who was 
 always obliged to remain in a sitting posi- 
 tion, was reduced by the affection almost to 
 despair. The chief symptoms were obstruc- 
 tion of the liver, jaundice, hemorrhoids, 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 45 
 
 constipation, flatus, puffing of the abdomen, 
 severe pains on the right side of the chest, 
 continuing for several hours and extending 
 to the middle of the thorax and to the hips, 
 impeding and frequently preventing respira- 
 tion, ceasing for some time and again com- 
 mencing more powerfully than before, both 
 by night and day. During the spasmodic 
 attacks, the pulse was beating one hundred 
 and twenty times in a minute, the face be- 
 came red and the head confused, terminating 
 in oppressive headache. This condition had 
 existed for four days, without any remedy 
 affording relief. Aeon,, mix, coloc, ars., 
 carbo an. and veget.< and phosph., performed 
 a perfect cure in less than six weeks. 
 
 Case 2. — A young man, who had been 
 hypochondriacal for some years, and had 
 become weak and emaciated, complained of 
 haemorrhoidal affections, frequent colic, con- 
 stipation, wind, spasms of the abdomen and 
 chest, with loss of sleep. He had become 
 restless, timid, morose, and often very irrita- 
 ble. A few doses of nux, phosphorus and 
 nux again, combined with anacardium, re- 
 moved the principal symptoms; the evacua- 
 tions became regular, the appetite and diges- 
 tion improved, the spasms ceased, the sys- 
 tem gained strength, physically as well as 
 morally. 
 
 5 
 
46 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 Case 3. — A female had been suffering 
 for five years under almost daily darting 
 pains on the right lower region of the abdo- 
 men, which extended as far as the loins and 
 bnck; there were hemorrhoids, frequent 
 tenesmus, constipaiion, flatulence, swelling 
 of the bowels, legs and feet, accompanied 
 with pain, coldness of the hands and feet, 
 character susceptible, morose and depressed. 
 Three months exhibited a cure by the use 
 of sulphur, nux, coloc, phosph., nux and 
 phosph. again. 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 47 
 
 CONSTIPATION. 
 
 This is a very common disease. Its se- 
 verity varies with the causes which produce 
 it. Sometimes it is an accessory of other 
 affections, or the consequence, as already 
 observed, of some organic change in the in- 
 testines. 
 
 The most common constipations, which 
 continue during several days without being 
 accompanied with any other accident, have 
 generally for their cause the too scanty se- 
 cretion of the liquids necessary in digestion, 
 or a particular weakness of the intestines. 
 They attack chiefly women and old men, and 
 are occasioned by a sedentary life, a dry 
 kind of nourishment, advanced pregnancy, 
 the abuse of remedies, or a predisposition 
 resulting from previous constipations. 
 
 Constipation is always accompanied more 
 or less with other affections of the abdomen ; 
 the difficulty, however, of discovering them 
 renders it necessary for the practitioner to 
 undertake a careful examination of the pa- 
 tient. Frequently wc find the patient suffer- 
 ing also from a sensation of fulness or op- 
 
48 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 pression at the stomach and epigastric region 
 after eating, and that for several hours ; fre- 
 quently also there exists a ravenous appetite 
 followed by nausea, temporary heat in the 
 face and a pressive pain in the head. In 
 these cases high dilutions are preferable to 
 low, because they speedily remove the dis- 
 ease without producing accessory symptoms. 
 
 The treatment is regulated according to 
 the causes of the affection. 
 
 Opium 6th, is very salutary in case of a 
 simple constipation, which does not originate 
 from an internal disposition or a malady of 
 long duration, but from external circumstan- 
 ces, particularly from those whkh have a de- 
 bilitating influence upon the nervous system, 
 and when that constipation, without being 
 truly painful, presents the following symp- 
 toms : desire to relieve the bowels, with sen- 
 sation as if the intestines were obstructed, 
 and there existed impossibility of evacuation, 
 beating in the abdomen, pressure at the sto- 
 mach, want of appetite, thirst, dryness of the 
 mouth. 
 
 Case. — For a patient, having a sallow com- 
 plexion, loss of appetite, tendency to vomit, 
 flatulence, pressure at the stomach, constipa- 
 tion, dry cough, was prescribed tincture of 
 mix vomica, one drop night and morning, 
 advising him to increase the dose one drop 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 49 
 
 every day. An improvement was speedily 
 manifest without any crisis. At the end of 
 fifteen days, he had quite recovered ; the 
 cough left him in a short time. 
 
 Constipation constitutes very frequently a 
 separate disease often produced by abuse of 
 coffee. 
 
 Out of many cases, one was very remark- 
 able. During six days, no motion, giddiness, 
 stupor, intoxicating heaviness in the head, 
 especially in the morning, great heat and 
 redness of the face, dryness of the mouth, 
 acid and bitter taste, heartburn, nausea, 
 especially in the morning, loss of appetite, 
 flatulence, pressure at the stomach, swelling 
 of the stomach after eating, shooting pain in 
 the abdomen, tenesmus, pain in the rectum 
 and loins, oppressive constrictive pain in the 
 chest, sleep disturbed at night, great lassitude 
 and drowsiness in the morning, restlessness, 
 great general depression. A few doses of 
 pure tincture of nux vomica removed these 
 symptoms entirely. 
 
 The following cases occurred lately in my 
 own practice. 
 
 Case 1. — An elderly man had, for up- 
 wards of twenty years, suffered from consti- 
 pation, accompanied by severe headaches, to 
 such an extent that he was compelled every 
 few days to absent himself from business, 
 
 5* 
 
50 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 having fulness in the stomach after eatings 
 tongue dry and loaded, etc. He could exist 
 only by taking, every second day, a dose of 
 some aperient medicine, which relieved his 
 head for the day only ; the pain returning as 
 regularly as possible the following day. The 
 stomach had become so weakened by repeat- 
 ed purgatives, that it was unable to digest 
 even the best food ; and they had produced a 
 distressing disease of the lower intestines. 
 He complained likewise of dull pain in the 
 region of the liver, which was much increas- 
 ed upon pressure. Sulphur, in five weeks, 
 enabled the bowels to act daily, and the 
 headache entirely subsided. 
 
 Case 2. — An old naval officer was placed* 
 in early life, on the West India stations, 
 where he had yellow fever several times and 
 with difficulty escaped with life, leaving on 
 one occasion only eight or tenon board his 
 vessel. These attacks produced disease of 
 the liver, and consequently confirmed consti- 
 pation, which had existed upwards of thirty 
 years when I saw him. He informed me 
 that, during that time, he had never obtained 
 relief from the bowels without aperient medi- 
 cines : taking them regularly every second 
 day, they had become as necessary to his 
 existence as food. Accompanying this state 
 of stomach and bowels, were most distressing 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 51 
 
 headaches, and great depression of the ner- 
 vous system. Though introduced to me, he 
 did not expect anything like permanent re- 
 lief. Nevertheless, after continuing for two 
 months the medicines I prescribed, the bow- 
 els became regular and acted daily ; and, 
 upon seeing him many months afterwards, 
 he told me that, during that time, he had not 
 taken or required one dose of aperient medi- 
 cine. The remedies were nux. 30 th, bryon. 
 30th. and verat. 12th, every second or third 
 day in succession. 
 
 Case 3. — A gentleman had long suffered 
 from an eruptive disease covering great part 
 of the body. At the same time he com- 
 plained of dyspeptic symptoms, such as acid 
 and bitter eructations, fulness of the stomach 
 and bowels after eating, with pain in the 
 region of the liver and consequent constipa- 
 tion. I prescribed verat. for the skin dis- 
 ease, to which it yielded. At the same time, 
 the stomachic symptoms subsided, and the 
 constipation gave way ; so that, at the end of 
 two months, although he had not taken pur- 
 gative medicines of any kind, as previously 
 in the habit of doing, at least weekly, he as- 
 sured me his health was in a much better 
 state than for many years before. 
 
 Case 4. — A medical man, who had lived 
 
52 DISEASES OP THE 
 
 in the country where he was accustomed to 
 horse exercise and active life, upon his set- 
 tling in town, where he had now resided 
 nearly twenty years, soon became affected 
 with derangement of the digestive organs — 
 such as nausea, giddiness, weight and pain 
 in the head, loss of appetite, distention of the 
 stomach after eating, with acid flatulence, 
 loaded tongue, pain in the liver, general 
 falling away, and palpitation of the heart to 
 such an extent that in bed the clothes were 
 often lifted up. This continued for several 
 years, when the bowels became obstinately 
 constipated, requiring purgatives, tonics, 
 alkalines and alteratives continually. He 
 informed me that a week never passed with- 
 out medicine — seldom a day without either 
 soda or a purgative. All these means were 
 discontinued; and, by the use of calcarea 
 carbonica, and subsequently carbo vegetabilis, 
 the dyspeptic symptoms subsided, and the 
 constipation was removed. Upwards of three 
 years have elapsed with no return of the 
 complaint. 
 
 Case 5. — Colonel P. had resided many 
 years in a warm climate, and during the 
 greater part of that time, had labored under 
 irregularity and derangement of the bowels, 
 which terminated in confirmed constipation. 
 Having lived freely, he had two or three 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 53 
 
 attacks of inflammation of the liver, which 
 produced induration and evident enlarge- 
 ment. He had frequent fits of vomiting, 
 with acid and bitter eructations, weight and 
 fulness of the stomach and bowels, particu- 
 larly after eating, restless nights, headache, 
 tongue loaded, dryness and thirst, kidneys 
 much affected, and was altogether much 
 emaciated. Bryonia, verairum and opium 
 were given in succession, when all the symp- 
 toms gradually yielded ; and in from three to 
 four months, the patient was convales- 
 cent. 
 
 Constipation in Women. — In this case, ex- 
 ercise, especially in the open air, abstinence 
 from coffee and heating drinks, and the use 
 of fruit, are necessary, and assist the action of 
 nux 8th, which is in most cases the requisite 
 treatment. If this only improves the condi- 
 tion without curing it entirely, we may ad- 
 minister ignat. 6 th, gl. 2, after which nux 
 IGth, again. In some cases, bryony 6th, gl. 
 2, opium 2d, gl. 2, and verairum will answer. 
 When the constipation is obstinate, it will be 
 advisable to assist these remedies with lave- 
 ments. If all these fail, we must then have 
 recourse to plumb., alum., platin., sepia, and 
 especially the two last. 
 
 Bryony is still more important in cases of 
 lying-in women, when constipation arises 
 
54 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 very frequently from inflammatory irritation 
 of the abdominal organs, to which this reme- 
 dy is strikingly adapted. 
 
 We may in the same manner treat the 
 constipation which usually occurs in the first 
 days after delivery, if it do not speedily dis- 
 appear of itself. 
 
 Case. — A lady, the wife of a professional 
 man, had suffered from constipation for up- 
 wards of twenty years, and during the last 
 four or five years, had been obliged to take 
 aperient medicine daily. In such a way, 
 indeed, had purgatives been administered, 
 both as to quantity and quality, that they had 
 produced ulceration of the lower intestines, 
 discharging blood, pus and mucus, in quan- 
 tities that became alarming. She had long 
 suffered from torpid, if not diseased, state of 
 the liver, and great weakness both mental 
 and bodily, etc. She was much reduced and 
 fast hastening to the grave, when I was con- 
 sulted. Six doses of nux and bryonia entirely 
 removed the constipated state of bowels, and 
 the general health rapidly improved. Occa- 
 sional doses of nitric acid restored the ulcera- 
 ted bowels to health, and the discharge gradu- 
 ally ceased. Nearly five years have since 
 passed with no return of the disease ; and 
 though not a single purgative has been since 
 taken, the general health is better than at any 
 previous period of life. 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 55 
 
 Constipation in Children. — The first point 
 necessary is to regulate the regimen of the 
 child and the nurse. Care must also be 
 taken that the child be not too much confined 
 by its clothes. 
 
 The constipation of new-born children has 
 usually for its cause food which does not 
 agree with their age, especially when they 
 are not suckled, or when, besides the milk 
 of their nurse, they receive more solid food. 
 
 It niay.be prevented by adding to that 
 milk, in cases when it is not sufficient, only 
 very light substances, such as cow's milk 
 mixed with water, pigeon or chicken soup^ 
 water gruel slightly boiled, etc. 
 
 If the patient be in good health, a lave- 
 ment of warm milk, water gruel, with or 
 without castor oil, is frequently sufficient: 
 should it fail, another lavement of honey 
 water will be certain to produce the effect. 
 If the mother is not accustomed to coffee,, 
 two or three spoonsful may be administered 
 to the child. 
 
 When these dietetic precautions are not 
 sufficient, we musi have recourse to internal 
 remedies. For this purpose, nux 10th is 
 appropriate, especially when the mother has 
 been accustomed to coffee, in which case it is 
 a specific. Hut it is also efficacious in other 
 cases, for instauce, when constipation is pro- 
 
56 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 duced by undigested food, or when the alvine 
 excretions are so hard that the child cannot 
 void them without great straining, pain and 
 blood. 
 
 Next to this stands opium 2d ? which is 
 indicated when the peristaltic movement of 
 the intestinal canal is, so to speak, destroyed ? 
 when there exists no inclination to obtain 
 relief, and the abdomen gradually swells,, 
 Advantage has sometimes been derived from 
 a higher dilution than that just mentioned. 
 
 Next to these two remedies, bryon, 10th, 
 1 and 2, veratr. 10th, 1, are most effective. 
 The first operates in a manner very similar 
 to nux vomica, and frequently succeeds when 
 the other has failed, and vice versa. With 
 respect to veratrum, it is most efficient in 
 cases where the rectum appears deprived of 
 all action. 
 
 When the disease is very obstinate, tinc- 
 ture of sulphur, or lycopodium 3 Oth, are very 
 successful. Calc. carb., and zinc are equally 
 valuable : the latter is one of the best reme- 
 dies in constipation in children, 
 
 Sulph. in the morning, and nux vom. at 
 bed-time, are sovereign remedies against con- 
 stipation. In very obstinate constipation, 
 alumina and plumbum will be found very 
 efficacious, the former given in the morning, 
 the latter in the evening, especially when in- 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 57 
 
 effectual efforts to evacuate are present ; or if 
 the faeces are hard, dry, broken, and evacua- 
 ted with a great deal of straining.] 
 
 COLIC. 
 
 Colic is a pain, generally pinching, tearing, 
 tensive, without any symptom of inflamma- 
 tion, without fixity or continuity, rarely 
 burning, which affects the interior of the ab- 
 domen, especially the region of the umbili- 
 cus, tends almost always from above down- 
 wards, and has often for an accessory a 
 swelling of the abdomen. The stomach be- 
 ing exempt from suffering, or that being only 
 accidental, if that viscus contains no impuri- 
 ties, the patient scarcely ever vomits ; and if 
 that does occur, he ejects only the matters 
 contained in the stomach, mixed with a little 
 bile. There is sometimes accidental consti- 
 pation, more frequently a little diarrhoea, 
 rarely any fever. 
 
 In children, after evacuation of urine, 
 more considerable than ordinary, we often 
 remark much agitation and impatience, con- 
 tinual crying, sudden screams, contortions 
 which disfigure the countenance during sleep, 
 sleeplessness and cramps. They draw up 
 
 6 
 
58 ©ISEASES OF THE 
 
 the limbs, bend them, and are incapable of 
 lactation. 
 
 The treatment of colic is regulated princi- 
 pally by the causes which have produced it. 
 In children, it is usually caused by cold, or 
 by worms : in adults, by severe cold, by ex- 
 cess in eating and drinking, but often also by 
 a particular disposition to flatulence and to 
 hemorrhoids. 
 
 Chamomilla 12th, or pulsatilla 15th, cures 
 colic produced by a cold, when it presents 
 the following symptoms: violent, cutting, 
 tearing pains in the bowels, causing agita- 
 tion which allows the patient no rest, a sen- 
 sation as if the abdomen were entirely empty, 
 with continual commotion in the intestines, 
 dark circles around the eyes, frequent collec- 
 tion of saliva in the mouth, violent and tear- 
 ing pain below the navel, pains in the loins, 
 nausea, inclination to vomit, diarrhoea, eva- 
 cuations green, watery, and mixed with 
 mucus. 
 
 Nux vomica 24th, for adults, 30th, for 
 children, causes the prompt disappearance of 
 a colic characterized as follows: constipa- 
 tion, sensation of a heavy weight in the ab- 
 domen, extraordinary heat, considerable ten- 
 sion of the part, with anxious, short, and 
 painful respiration, fulness of the abdomen 
 and under the ribs, shooting, pinching, com- 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 59 
 
 pressing pains, as if the intestines were press- 
 ed, violent and confusing pain in the head, 
 the ahdomen painful to the touch, loss of 
 consciousness, the extremities cold at the 
 moment when the affection is most violent. 
 
 Windy colics, which have their seat in the 
 lower part of the abdomen, yield to the same 
 remedy in cases in which the air, seeking a 
 passage, produces pressure, as if by a sharp 
 or cutting instrument, towards the bladder 
 and rectum, a pressure which is acutely fell 
 at every step, but which repose, the sitting 
 or the lying position, cause quickly to disap- 
 pear. 
 
 Mercury 10th, for adults, 12th, for chil- 
 dren, and cina, are successfully employed 
 against colics caused by worms, the symp- 
 toms of which are great inclination to vomit, 
 collection of saliva in the mouth, twisting in 
 the bowels, with sensation of hardness 
 around the umbilicus, convulsive twitchings 
 in the muscles of the abdomen, frequent hic- 
 cough, disgust for food, continual desire to 
 relieve the bowels, the abdomen hard and 
 swollen, tensive and burning pain, eructa- 
 tions, general weakness, diarrhoea, evacua- 
 tion of mucus, with pains in the bowels, es- 
 pecially towards midnight. 
 
 The symptoms of colic produced by excess 
 of nourishment or by unhealthy food, are : 
 nausea, weight, with a feeling of extension 
 
60 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 and of painful tension in the abdomen, tear- 
 ing, pinching, and cutting pain, increased by 
 touch, white saliva foaming from the mouth ? 
 pains above the navel, diarrhoea, evacuations 
 green, or of a citron color, with violent pain 
 in the stomach, countenance pale, dark cir- 
 cles round the eyes, slight convulsions of the 
 limbs, bending of the body, pressive and ten- 
 sive headache. Half a cup of strong coffee 
 would have the effect, in persons who do not 
 make habitual use of that beverage, of eva- 
 cuating the superabundant or unhealthy ali- 
 ments contained in the stomach and intes- 
 tines. When this means has produced the 
 desired result, it should, after some hours, be 
 followed hy pulsatilla 18th. 
 
 Pulsatilla 12th, is the best remedy against 
 hemorrhoidal colics, of which the usual symp- 
 toms are the following : — beating at the pit 
 of the stomach, a painful feeling of constric- 
 tion as if it were too full, borborygmi in the 
 abdomen, the escape of flatulence prevented 
 heat and swelling of the abdomen, general 
 heat with swelling of the veins of the hands 
 and forehead, insupportableness by the pa- 
 tient of all vestments, greater suffering when 
 in bed, movement procuring some relief, 
 pains in the loins, an almost entire incapa- 
 bility of dressing, pain in the abdomen as if 
 a blow had been received, agitation, anxiety,, 
 sleeplessness. 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 61 
 
 Colocynth 30th, is very efficacious against 
 various kinds of colics, especially when they 
 cannot be ascribed to a known cause. But 
 it is more particularly indicated by pains in 
 the abdomen, violent and continual, or ceas- 
 ing only to re-appear with greater intensity, 
 and leaving in the parts that have been af- 
 fected a pain of tearing which produces at 
 every step a sensation as if the intestines 
 were freely suspended, which obliges the pa- 
 tient to walk very slowly and with extreme 
 caution, the pain experienced in the umbili- 
 cal region sensible chiefly at a small point of 
 small extent, recurring only at intervals of 
 from five to ten minutes or even longer, com- 
 mencing always by slight shootings from the 
 ribs to the centre, which gradually aug- 
 ment, becoming constrictive, pressing, tear- 
 ing, dragging, and reach such a degree of 
 violence that the patient utters loud cries, 
 the anxiety and pain allowing him no rest, 
 and compelling him to writhe with the 
 agony. 
 
 Colics, with which some women are at- 
 tacked at the commencement of the catame- 
 nia, usually disappear when it has occurred ; 
 but the affection may, in certain circum- 
 stances, continue and become very distress- 
 ing. Nux vom. 30th, is then often employed 
 with success, especially when the disease is 
 characterized by a twisting in the abdomen, 
 
 6* 
 
62 DISEASES OP THE 
 
 with some nausea, a poignant spasmodic 
 pain in the pelvis chiefly about the ischium, 
 which becomes remittent, pressive, or shoot- 
 ing, with constriction in the region of the 
 bladder. 
 
 Coffee 3d, causes the disappearance of the 
 following symptoms : pains in the abdomen, 
 violent and spasmodic, which affect even the 
 chest, bending of the body with convulsions 
 of the limbs, grinding of the teeth, general 
 cold, crampoid stiffening, loss of respiration, 
 sighing, fulness of the abdomen, with pressure. 
 
 Pulsatilla 18th, may be employed in the 
 same circumstances when they are accompa- 
 nied by violent and pressive pain of the ab- 
 domen and loins, and by an evident shooting 
 from the trunk to the thighs, which ceases 
 when seated, and to which are joined a pain- 
 ful pressure on the rectum, and pains in the 
 back. 
 
 Frequent colics may produce a disposition 
 to be attacked by them from the slightest 
 causes, and may even become the origin of 
 organic changes. 
 
 HEMORRHOIDS. 
 
 This disease, which is very common, has 
 for its cause an impediment to the circulation 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 63 
 
 in the vessels of the abdomen, and has al- 
 most always for its precursor a long series of 
 affections of the digestive organs. . It attacks 
 chiefly men of middle age, and women after 
 the suppression of the catamenia, and it is 
 characterized by obstinate constipation, by 
 congestions in the head and chest, vertigo, 
 palpitation of the heart, pains in the back, 
 tenesmus, itching in the perinseum and in the 
 rectum, excrescences about the anus, colics, 
 etc. It re-appears at fixed or indefinite pe- 
 riods, and has commonly for its result a more 
 or less considerable excretion of mucus or 
 blood. 
 
 During pregnancy, we generally find some 
 disorder in the alvine secretions, and hemor- 
 rhoidal effusions. Two or three weeks after 
 delivery, every motion is accompanied by 
 lancinating pain in the rectum. In a short 
 time, the evacuations occur every three or 
 five days, the excretions being dry and hard. 
 After long and inefficient efforts, no relief is 
 obtained, or at most but of a small quantity 
 of matter ; the pain in the rectum reaches the 
 greatest degree of suffering, with anxious 
 perspiration of the face, and tendency to syn- 
 cope ; with the evacuation a discharge either 
 of pure blood, or sanguinolent mucus; after 
 which the heat and shooting pains in the rec- 
 tum remain for some time. The anus itself 
 forms a round, hard, livid tumor. There are 
 
64 BISEASES OP THE 
 
 continual pains in the loins, extending to- 
 wards the back, especially during move- 
 ment. 
 
 Hemorrhoids may be divided into two 
 large classes, internal and external, and each 
 of these classes may be subdivided into fluent 
 and dry. 
 
 The patient ought above all things to ob- 
 serve a severe regimen, to take much exer- 
 cise in the open air, to keep the feet warm f 
 and to avoid coffee, wine, spirits, and mental 
 excitement. 
 
 In the first place, however, it will be well 
 to point out the principal remedies most 
 likely to be successful in the disease of which 
 we treat. Most of the antipsoric remedies 
 may be beneficially used, amongst which we 
 recognize arsenicum, avtimonium crudum, 
 calcarea, graphites, mercurius, phosphorus? 
 sulphur. 
 
 These may be alternated with aconite, ar- 
 nica, nux, pulsatilla, etc., used as intercurrent 
 medicines. 
 
 Arsenic— In cases of large, burning, ulcer- 
 ated external hemorrhoids. 
 
 Antimony. — In fluent hemorrhoids, with 
 excretion of black blood, and burning and 
 pricking sensation. 
 
 Calcarea. — Expulsion of hemorrhoids dur- 
 ing evacuation, spasmodic contractions of the 
 rectum. 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 65 
 
 Graphites. — Painful hemorrhoids secreting 
 a mucous liquid. 
 
 Mercurius. — Inflammation accompanied 
 with tearing pain around the margin of the 
 anus, evacuations acrid and bloody, excoriat- 
 ing the extremity of the rectum. 
 
 Phosphorus. — Itching hemorrhoidal tu- 
 mors, with small ulcers allowing the dis- 
 charge of a great quantity of blood. Flow 
 of mucus from the anus, which remains open* 
 
 Sulphur. — Hemorrhoidal colics followed 
 by discharge of blood, expulsion of haemor- 
 rhoids, descent of the rectum. 
 
 Aconitum. — Extensive hemorrhage from 
 hemorrhoidal tumors ; hemorrhoidal fever, 
 violent inflammation of the tubercles, which 
 are hard, bright and ready to burst. 
 
 Arnica. — Hemorrhoidal tumors caused by 
 external violence. 
 
 Nux. — Constipation, pressure on the rec- 
 tum, tenesmus before and after evacuations, 
 discharge of blood-stained mucus ; dry hae- 
 morrhoids, painful during evacuation. 
 
 Pulsatilla. — Excretion of yellowish mu- 
 cus, hemorrhoidal tumors, with smarting 
 and soreness. 
 
 I would here direct attention to the fact 
 that, with the exception of arnica, apsoric 
 medicines cannot alone cure hemorrhoids 
 produced by external violence, such as long 
 riding, or wearing bandages which exercise 
 constant pressure on the part. In all other 
 
66 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 cases, we should have recourse to antipsorics, 
 alternately with apsorics, according to the 
 indication. 
 
 When, besides a disagreeable itching, he- 
 morrhoidal excrescences occasion a continual 
 and violent burning, accompanied by diar- 
 rhoeal evacuations, we employ with success 
 capsicum annuum 15th: arsenic, alb. 30th, 
 possesses the property of dispelling this 
 burning in the rectum and the neighboring 
 parts. 
 
 Case 1. — A female, aged twenty-two, 
 mother of six children, of a venous-arterial 
 constitution, had been for two years suffering 
 from blind hemorrhoids, arising principally 
 from a sedentary life, and the habitual use of 
 very strong coffee. She one day found three 
 tumors at the anus, as large as nuts, which 
 produced great throbbing and burning pain, 
 and prevented her sitting down. The pain 
 extended half way up the rectum, accompa- 
 nied with febrile symptoms, heaviness of the 
 head, vertigo, loss of appetite and constipa- 
 tion. An allopathist prescribed twenty 
 leeches, hip-baths and emollient lavements. 
 This treatment was continued for eighteen 
 days, during which the patient had ninety 
 leeches and thirty-six hip-baths. Instead of 
 the disease, however, being in any way alle- 
 viated, the symptoms increased to an extra- 
 ordinary degree, the patient suffering exces- 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL, 67 
 
 sive pain, which no narcotic could relieve. 
 The medical attendants declared that no re- 
 source was left but to extirpate the tumors, 
 which they asserted was necessary on ac- 
 count of the formation of cancerous ulcers. 
 This was the advice of many eminent prac- 
 titioners who were called in consultation. 
 The friends, being alarmed, determined to try 
 the homoeopathic treatment. The following 
 was her condition :— 
 
 Local Affection. — The patient tossing about 
 in bed, and complaining of burning, shoot- 
 ing and throbbing pains in the anus and its 
 vicinity, which she described as similar to 
 those that might be produced by a red-hot 
 iron. Outside the anus and extending in- 
 wards were three tumors as large as nuts, in- 
 flamed, and having on their internal surfaces 
 some excrescences of a very painful nature 
 that bled at the slightest touch. The whole 
 internal surface of the anus was ulcerated, 
 and secreted an ichorous liquid. 
 
 Sympathetic Affections. — Weight and pres- 
 sure at the occiput*; loss of appetite, tongue 
 dry, chapped and hot ; violent thirst, consti- 
 pation ; ardor urinse, loss of sleep, skin dry 
 and hot, and dread of death. 
 
 Ars. 10th, 3, was prescribed, suspending 
 all other remedies. 
 
 This selection was determined by the 
 shooting and burning pains, the ichorous dis- 
 charge, and the moral symptoms. 
 
85 DISEASES OF S*H$ 
 
 After the powder had been taken half afi 
 hour, the patient slept undisturbed for three 
 hours, when she no longer suffered the vio- 
 lent pains. 
 
 A second dose of arsenic 10th, % was pre- 
 scribed. The following day the patient ex- 
 perienced only a slight sensibility at the anus 
 when seated. She had a copious evacua- 
 tion. The tumors had diminished during 
 the night in size, redness and sensibility ; the 
 ichorous discharge from the anus hadceased^ 
 as well as the ardor urinse. 
 
 The patient was now left three days with- 
 out medicine, at the end of which time was 
 administered, in consequence of the consti- 
 pation and loss of appetite, nux 10, 3. 
 From this time, there was a general improve- 
 ment, and the patient was enabled to leave 
 her bed. Sepia, nux vomica and sulphur had 
 thus in a very short period entirely removed 
 an aifection that had been regarded as incu- 
 rable. 
 
 In suppression of hemorrhoidal flux, for 
 several months ; continual vertigo, occasion- 
 ally so severe as to prostrate the patient to a 
 state of insensibility, dull pain in the head, 
 as if intoxicated ; violent, pressive and stu- 
 pifying headache ; loss of memory ; alvine 
 evacuations, infrequent and hard. A few 
 doses of calc. carb. 5th, effected a cure. 
 
 Sulphur 30th, effects the most perfect and 
 the most durable cure when the disease pre- 
 
ALIMES? AUt CANAL. 89 
 
 setttsthe following symptoms: continual de- 
 sire to obtain evacuations even after diar« 
 rhoeal or sanguinolent dejections, a darting 
 pain of excoriation in the rectum and neigh* 
 boring parts, with itching, burning, and hu* 
 midity of the excrescences, which cause a 
 constricting fulness in the rectum, and often 
 even the descent of that viscus, violent and 
 darting pains in the loins, and tension as 
 if the skin and the muscles were short- 
 ened. 
 
 In hemorrhoids^ especially termed blind, 
 with constipation and shooting pains in the 
 rectum, accompanied by various affections of 
 a hemorrhoidal nature, or consequent on the 
 suppression of sanguine congestions, or ha* 
 bitual hemorrhages, congestion towards the 
 head, continual pressive pain at the occiput, 
 vertigo, flow of blood to the heart, great ex* 
 citability of the whole vascular system, pul- 
 sation throughout the body, with anxiety, 
 oppression, disordered digestion and consti* 
 pation, sulphur is successful. 
 
 Case. — A man, aged thirty-two, of strong 
 constitution, and arterio-venous tempera- 
 ment, was attacked, after riding fot a very 
 considerable distance, and indulging much 
 in heating liquors, by blind hemorrhoids*, 
 which at first only produced constipation^ 
 itching and throbbing at the anus. His me* 
 
 7 
 
70 DISEASES OP THE 
 
 dical attendant prescribed cold hip-baths, 
 cold lavements and leeches. These danger- 
 ous applications diminished the heat, itching, 
 and throbbing, but had no effect on the he- 
 morrhoidal tumors or the constipation. The 
 bite of a leech produced an abscess, followed 
 by anal fistula, which was operated upon by 
 an eminent surgeon. But the wound would 
 not heal ; the hemorrhoids protruded at every 
 evacuation ; and the patient's state was 
 worse than before ; he was in the following 
 state : — 
 
 Local Affection. — The patient complained 
 of heat, fulness, and throbbing at the part. 
 The hemorrhoidal tumors protruded at 
 every evacuation, discharging and causing 
 heat. The incision made by the operator 
 six weeks before was not yet closed. Tu- 
 mors as large as nuls were apparent exter- 
 nally when the patient sought evacuation, 
 their internal surface was livid, and covered 
 with excrescences. 
 
 Sympathetic Affections. — Weight and ful- 
 ness of the head, face red, covered with tu- 
 mors, appetite good but soon satiated, fre- 
 quent eructations, pressure and tension of 
 the two hypochondria, impeding inspiration, 
 scanty evacuations with copious expulsion 
 of flatus, sleep restless, disturbed by dreams, 
 depression, anger, discontent, peevishness, 
 indifference towards his wife and children, 
 
ALIMENTARr CANAL. 71 
 
 of whom, however, in health, he was remark- 
 ably fond, gloomy thoughts, propensity to 
 commit suicide. 
 
 Here there was clearly a well-developed 
 case of hypochondria resulting from hyper- 
 venosity of the abdomen. For this reason, 
 in order to act effectually on the venous sys- 
 tem, and render the organization accessible 
 to treatment, sulph. 4th, gtt. 1, in a drachm 
 of water, was administered. Never is it 
 more necessary to begin by rousing the sus- 
 ceptibility of the organization than in cases 
 of exaltation of abdominal venosity, or what 
 is called hypochondria. Every morning for 
 eight days, the patient took one drop in a 
 glass of water, without any evident effect, 
 except that during the first four days, the 
 wound occasioned by the operation was per- 
 fectly healed. After eight days the moral 
 state, the abundance of flatus, and the ten- 
 sion of the hypochondria, induced the pre- 
 scription of conium 10th, 3. Three hours 
 afterwards, a considerable aggravation oc- 
 curred. The moral symptoms especially 
 were carried to such an extent, that a cup of 
 coffee was administered. This antidote had 
 very little effect, for the symptoms remained 
 equally severe during two days. On the 
 third day, however, there was an improve- 
 ment ; the tensive pressure of the hypochon- 
 dria, and especially the moral condition, were 
 
12 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 sensibly ameliorated. It became clear that 
 the moral affection was closely connected in 
 this patient with that of the abdomen ; for 
 in proportion as the pains in the hypochon- 
 dria re-appeared, the disposition of the mind 
 changed also. He was left for eight days 
 under the operation ofconium, administering 
 only a little milk and water each day, in 
 order to satisfy his desire of taking some- 
 thing. 
 
 The conclusion of this period was follow- 
 ed by constipation and loss of appetite, 
 which led to the prescription of nux 10th, 
 3, but the nux vomica had no effect, although 
 it was the first dilution. Recourse was then 
 had to lachesis 10th, 2, which was more suc- 
 cessful ; although it did not agree perfectly 
 with the moral state, it accorded well with 
 the primitive affection, its action being re- 
 markably powerful upon the function of the 
 venous system, or rather of the nervous sys- 
 tem that influences it. Three doses were 
 then administered, one every third day; an 
 exhibition peculiar to lachesis, which re- 
 quires to be repeated till the development 
 of a manifest action, which we must be es- 
 pecially careful not to disturb, even when it 
 appears after the first dose. There is not in 
 fact any medicine likely to do so much mis- 
 chief as lachesis ; it is one of the best poly- 
 chrests we possess, but at the same time, 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 75 
 
 Six hours after dinner, rejection of food 
 taken, either wholly or partially, with sensa- 
 tion of weight in the occiput, numbness of 
 the right arm, especially of the third and 
 fourth lingers, (these symptoms disappeared 
 when everything was thrown off the sto- 
 mach,) indigestion, acid eructations, flatu- 
 lence, constipation, continual desire to mic- 
 turate, urine voided by drops, with sensation 
 of heat at the prostate gland, occasionally 
 bloody, palpitations of the heart or coeliac 
 arteries after repose ; sensation of oppression 
 at the chest, compelling the patient to take 
 long inspirations, numbness in the shoulders, 
 arms, and legs, starting and nightmare at the 
 commencement of sleep ; lassitude and weak- 
 ness, feeling of languor in the stomach, con- 
 stant drowsiness, great want of prolonged 
 sleep, yawning, sensation of cold, restless- 
 ness, nervous depression. 
 
 Nux vomica 30th, was prescribed, and a 
 second dose three days afterwards, from 
 which he received great benefit ; afterwards, 
 sulphur, graphites, silicea 30th, re-establish- 
 ed his health, at the end of two months, and 
 also removed the excessive obesity, resulting 
 undoubtedly from a morbific cause. 
 
 Case 2. — A female, aged twenty-eight, 
 of arterio-lymphatic temperament, in whom, 
 from the age of seventeen, menstruation had 
 
76 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 always been attended by violent abdominal 
 spasms, and almost incessant vomiting of 
 bile and mucus during the first days. These 
 symptoms she attributed to a fall some time 
 previous. She was in the following state : — 
 
 Local Affection. — The patient complained 
 of violent burning and throbbing pains, with 
 fulness at the rectum, hemorrhoidal tumors 
 appeared at each evacuation, no relief was 
 obtained oftener than once in eight days, with 
 much pain. 
 
 Sympathetic Affections. — Pressive pain in 
 the forehead and occiput, coryza, loss of ap- 
 petite, clammy taste in the mouth, leucor- 
 rhoea a few days before and after the cata- 
 menia, contusive pains in the limbs, excessive 
 sensibility to external impressions, extreme 
 excitability of the whole nervous system, 
 tendency to anger and ill humor, sleep 
 broken by alarming dreams. 
 
 All these symptoms indicated nux, which 
 was administered (10th, 3). The first dose 
 speedily produced a good effect ; the appetite 
 improved, sleep became tranquil, and the 
 leucorrhoea soon disappeared. It may be 
 said that these phenomena would have occur- 
 red of their own accord simply under the in- 
 fluence of diet ; but to meet this objection it 
 must here be stated that the patient had fre- 
 quently subjected herself to a much more se- 
 vere regimen without obtaining any success- 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 73 
 
 one of the most dangerous when impro- 
 perly applied, or repeated too frequently. 
 In repeating a dose of lachesis, great atten- 
 tion must be paid to the moral condition, 
 the sleep, and the appetite ; if all be right in 
 this respect, we may repeat the dose with 
 confidence, although fresh symptoms have 
 been exhibited. After these three doses of 
 lachesis, nothing was administered for fifteen 
 days, in order to leave sufficient time for 
 their action to exhaust itself. It was then 
 found that the symptoms for staphys. and 
 natr. carb. were indicated, which was pre- 
 scribed in dose 10th, 3. These remedies 
 concluded the treatment, and the patient was 
 perfectly cured after two months' application 
 of the homoeopathic system, without recur- 
 ring to a course of mineral water which his 
 medical attendant had advised. 
 
 Experience has proved that nux vomica 
 24th, is peculiarly efficacious against this dis- 
 ease, especially when it is caused by the 
 use of heating drinks, such as wine, spirits, 
 strong beer, and coffee, by the influence of 
 sedentary habits and of prolonged study, by 
 the hardness of the faecal matter, worms, 
 pregnancy, swelling of the abdominal vis- 
 cera, organic injuries of the rectum and 
 neighboring parts. When it has for symp- 
 toms considerable excrescences which are 
 the seat of burning and shooting pains, a 
 
 7* 
 
74 
 
 DISEASES OP THE 
 
 sense of strangling in the rectum, narrowness 
 of that viscus, joined to dull arid darting 
 pains felt by shocks in the loins and hip- 
 bones ; a pain as of cracking in the loins on 
 the slightest movement, which causes the pa- 
 tient to cry out, and does not permit him to 
 remain erect or to walk except in a bent 
 position, a flow of pure clear blood after 
 alvine evacuations, or accompanied by de- 
 sire of evacuation. 
 
 Case. — Mr. S., aged thirty, of strong 
 constitution and rery corpulent, had for some 
 years been afflicted with a hemorrhoidal af- 
 fection, characterized by swelling and thick- 
 ening of the hemorrhoidal veins, accompa- 
 nied with constipation and strangury. The 
 use of leeches applied to the part almost 
 every month afforded the patient a tempo- 
 rary relief, but the disease grew worse, and 
 each time it became necessary to apply the 
 leeches at shorter intervals. He exhibited 
 the following symptoms : vertigo, confusion 
 of ideas, throbbing pains in the temples as if 
 nails were being driven in, face pale and 
 puffed, contraction and slight convulsive 
 movement of the eyelids, singing in the ears, 
 tongue whitish, the patient having a sensa- 
 tion as if it were contracted, thirst and desire 
 for cooling drinks. In the morning, vomit- 
 ing of slimy acid matter, mucus in the mouth 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 77 
 
 ful result. At the end of fifteen days, as there 
 were still remains of headache, and the he- 
 morrhoidal tumor occasionally protruded, 
 sepia 10th, 3, was administered. Three 
 weeks afterwards, in order to remove the 
 pimples from the face, and destroy the predo- 
 minant venosity, was prescribed sulph. 8th, 
 which produced the desired effect. 
 
 In these cases a distinction is made between 
 local and sympathetic affections, and this 
 method will save students a vast deal of 
 trouble in the examination of the patient and 
 the selection of the remedy. In combining 
 the primitive affection with the moral state, 
 and guided by the combined appearance of 
 the symptoms, selecting the best homoeopa- 
 thic remedy, it is almost impossible to go 
 wrong. There are cases in which we find 
 no organ or system specially affected, and 
 consequently we cannot distinguish between 
 the local and sympathetic affection, though 
 both are in existence. In such a case, a be- 
 ginner should administer sulphur and bella- 
 donna, alternately at suitable intervals, un- 
 til the sufferings are relieved or the symptoms 
 appear more marked, guided by which we 
 can easily discover the proper remedy. Sul- 
 phur may also be administered at intervals 
 of two, four, six, or eight days, according to 
 the susceptibility of the patient. The selec- 
 tion of dilutions may be regulated in the 
 
78 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 same way. A susceptible patient is often 
 acted upon as strongly by a very small dose 
 as another, not easily affected, will be by the 
 strongest. Peculiarity of constitution can 
 alone decide the point, and hence so many 
 opinions upon this important subject. In 
 this matter all depends upon the extent of 
 the patient's susceptibility, and this is the 
 reason why hypochondriacs are frequently 
 so long before they experience any effect. 
 
 Case. — In the case of a young female, at 
 the end of her sixth accouchement, after two 
 attacks of intermittent fever, the inflamma- 
 tion of the hemorrhoidal tumors extended 
 between the ninth and the thirteenth day, 
 gradually to the following extent : the ori- 
 fice of the anus swollen in a round and thick 
 bunch, divided by furrows into three unequal 
 parts, one being the size of a small egg, the 
 others of a nutmeg. The tumors were of a 
 bluish-red, hard, hot, shining, and extremely 
 painful when touched. The patient suffered 
 extreme pain in the part, as if it were exco- 
 riated, accompanied by violent pricking and 
 shooting pains. The latter occurred from 
 time to time in paroxysms, and produced in- 
 voluntary exclamations. The patient was 
 unable to sit, turned herself with difficulty, 
 and always with increased pain. Muriatic 
 acid 3d, gutta 2, cured her in ten days. 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL, 79 
 
 Case. — A lad aged thirteen, who was in 
 other respects in good health, had for several 
 years been suffering incessantly from hemor- 
 rhoids, in the cure of which all allopathic 
 treatment had been found ineffectual. The 
 affection was manifested by the following 
 symptoms : infrequent evacuations, extreme- 
 ly painful, every third or fourth day ; several 
 tumors appearing at each motion with con- 
 siderable loss of blood ; in addition, they bled 
 frequently through the day. Nux vomica and 
 igaatia (several doses) produced regularity 
 of evacuations, so that they occurred every 
 day and completely free from pain. Nitric 
 acid 15th, administered at short intervals 
 during several weeks successively, stopped 
 the flow of blood, the tumors gradually 
 appeared less frequently and finally ceased 
 altogether. The same success has been ob- 
 tained by administering daily a tea-spoonful 
 of ammon. carbonic. 10th, gl. 3, dissolved in 
 six ounces of water. 
 
 Before antipsorics were known, says Hart- 
 mann, I always regarded bryony (4th and 
 6th,) as an invaluable remedy in cases of he- 
 morrhoidal tumors, and even at the present 
 time I by no means reject it, although nu- 
 merous antipsorics are more efficacious in 
 these affections. Its salutary influence is 
 remarkably observable when the patient 
 complains of burning pain in the lower part 
 
80 DISEASES Of TR® 
 
 of the rectum, after evacuation, and when 
 pain leaves him slowly. Its indication is still 
 more certain when the patient suffers from 
 fulness on the left side of the loins, and this 
 fulness degenerates during movement into 
 lancinating pressive pain, relieved only by 
 rest, and announced by too great a flow of 
 blood. 
 
 A description of pain in the stomach, of 
 frequent occurrence in persons suffering from 
 hemorrhoids, after the apparition of tumors 
 at the anus, may here be mentioned. It is 
 also frequently met with in pregnant women $ 
 who during their pregnancy have been sub* 
 ject to varicose veins of the legs, which after 
 delivery cause considerable pain, and are 
 often accompanied by headache, diminished 
 by rest and increased by motion. 
 
 Case.—A woman aged forty-eight, and 
 the mother of several children, had been at 
 flicted since her last accouchement with he* 
 morrhoidal tumors. These tumors bled seve* 
 ral times in the year, with good effect. Sud* 
 denly, however, moral causes occurred to ag* 
 gravate the affection, which then presented 
 the following condition. 
 
 Itching and heat at the anus, shooting 
 pains in the rectum ; frequent tenesmus, sen- 
 sation of fulness in the abdomen ; six small 
 tumors of different sizes, round and oval 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 81 
 
 shape, of a bright red, extremely painful, in- 
 ability to sit down, evacuations accompanied 
 with much pain. 
 
 Compresses steeped in decoction of canto- 
 mile, were applied to the parts, and adminis- 
 tered internally a small portion of the camo- 
 mile extract. At the end of twenty- four 
 hours all the symptoms were diminished, 
 and on the fourth day all trace of disease had 
 vanished. 
 
 [If the patient be of a very plethoric ha- 
 bit, the disease is not of long standing, the 
 pains in the sacrum are slight, and the burn- 
 ing and itching hardly perceptible, nux vom. 
 will act beneficially. If the patient com- 
 plain of itching and burning in the anus, 
 pains in the sacrum, as if the latter were bro- 
 ken, and finds it very difficult to lean for- 
 ward, the bowels be sluggish, faeces hard, 
 frequently as if burnt, and there are hemor- 
 rhoidal excrescences, ars. is the remedy.] 
 
 ENTERITIS, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE 
 INTESTINAL CANAL. 
 
 Aconite possesses virtues both powerful 
 and prompt in salutary operation when em- 
 ployed in inflammation of the intestines, 
 bladder, lungs, etc. In enteritis the eflica- 
 
 8 
 
82 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 ciousness and speedy operation of its cura- 
 tive effects, seem to be developed in direct 
 proportion to the intensity of the inflamma- 
 tory symptoms, the violence and extent of the 
 fever, the power and acuteness of the pains, 
 tensive darting or shooting, for the more in- 
 tense the symptoms are, the delirium, and 
 respiration short and difficult, the fewer nerv- 
 ous symptoms present themselves, aconite 
 10th becomes more energetic and indispen* 
 sable. 
 
 Case.— In the month of September, 1838, 
 a young person aged fourteen, having taken 
 cold after being much heated, had been seiz- 
 ed with very severe enteritis. In spite of all 
 the allopathic means which had been used, 
 such as leeches, of which eighty-seven were 
 applied during the first six days, fomenta- 
 tions, emollient cataplasms, liniments with 
 oil of henbane and tincture of opium, emol- 
 lientand slightly-laxative lavements, bathing 
 of the lower extremities, emulsions and calo- 
 mel, finally joined with opium, the disease, 
 instead of decreasing, increased daily up to 
 the seventh, at which time the patient was all 
 but dead. Aconite 8th, 3, was prescribed to 
 be repeated every thre # e hours during the 
 night. The next morning, the eighth of the 
 disease, the young patient was much better. 
 For the first time since the commencement of 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 83 
 
 the disease, she had slept for quarters and 
 half-hours at a time during the night ; the 
 constant vomiting accompanying the taking 
 of food, had ceased ; the pains in the lower 
 part of the abdomen, which had been previ- 
 ously incessant, had almost entirely depart- 
 ed ; the abdomen was but little sensitive to 
 the touch, less swollen and distended ; the 
 fever, previously incessant, was fast subsid- 
 ing, and this complete change occurred with- 
 out any crisis by perspiration. The patient 
 again took a few doses of aconite during the 
 day. The following morning she was per- 
 fectly free from danger. 
 
 This homoeopathic case astonished her 
 friends not a little. Still I could not per- 
 suade myself that it was attributable to the 
 administering of aconite in such small doses. 
 I rather thought it ought to be considered as 
 a consequent effect of the antiphlogistic treat- 
 ment previously adopted, although this hy- 
 pothesis was weakened by the absence of 
 any crisis, and a crisis of some kind will 
 generally occur in inflammatory diseases of 
 this nature. 
 
 The entire recovery of the patient was 
 long : she was very weak, and was unable to 
 walk without assistance before the expiration 
 of three weeks. During the fourth week, she 
 exposed herself carelessly to cold air, and 
 that brought on the same disease again. In- 
 
84 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 cessant pains in the umbilical region, increas- 
 ed by the slightest pressure, painful eructa- 
 tions, frequent vomiting of a yellowish-green 
 matter, constipation, pulse small, quick and 
 hard, general heat, thirst, continued agitation 
 and anxiety, sufficiently announced a case of 
 enteritis. The parents of the patient re- 
 quested that recourse should be had to ho- 
 moeopathy : aconite 8th, 3, was administered. 
 A quarter of an hour had scarcely transpired 
 before the patient fell into a quiet sleep that 
 lasted more than three hours ; upon awaken- 
 ing she felt herself relieved ; she no longer 
 complained of any of the previous symptoms, 
 but wished to leave her bed, which, however, 
 she was not allowed to do till the following 
 day. 
 
 Affections of this kind when treated allo- 
 pathically, continue generally from seven to 
 nine days before there is any vast improve- 
 ment I was therefore not a little astonished 
 at so prompt a cure by a single dose of aco- 
 nite, without any exhibition internal or ex- 
 ternal of allopathic remedies. 
 
 A careful perusal of the annexed case will 
 convince the reader that, in certain cases, 
 nigella sativa has an incontestible advantage 
 over aconite. 
 
 A female, aged twenty-seven years, the 
 mother of three children, who had enjoyed 
 uninterrupted good health with the exception 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 85 
 
 of measles and scarlet fever when young, 
 was attacked with violent enteritis, which 
 during four days baffled copious bleedings, 
 and the usual remedies. The state of the pa- 
 tient was as follows : violent febrile action at 
 night, head confused, diminution of sensibili- 
 ty, tendency to ill-humor, indifference, great 
 anxiety alternately with a sensation of heat 
 and tension, inability to preserve an upright 
 position, trembling, disordered vision, diffi- 
 culty in moving the eyes, sensation of paraly- 
 sis in the eyelids, violent buzzing in the ears, 
 dryness of the nose, with sensation of cold, 
 sinking of the features, face of a red color, 
 lips pale and trembling, tongue red, dry and 
 furred, with difficulty of moving it, speech 
 muttering and unintelligible, as in cases of 
 paralysis, rancid taste in the mouth, no se- 
 cretion of saliva, loss of appetite, sensation 
 of fulness, without any desire to vomit, pres- 
 sure at the stomach with tensive pain, palpi- 
 tation in the region of the stomach, contrac- 
 tion of the abdomen, pressure at the ai*us, 
 respiration slow, deep and noisy, gaping, 
 moaning, deep and pressive pain in the chest, 
 occasional cough, palpitations of the heart, 
 swelling of the abdomen, tension and ex- 
 treme sensibility of the part when touched, 
 and violent darting pains when leaned upon, 
 swelling in a direction toward the inguinal 
 region, shooting with pricking pains, on the 
 
 8* 
 
86 DISEASES OP THE 
 
 slightest touch, decrease of urinary secretion, 
 occasionally accompanied with heat, bor- 
 borygmi in the hypogastrium, ulcerative 
 pains, immobility of the legs, sensation of 
 curvature in the loins, occasionally violent 
 burning heat followed by cold, great agita- 
 tion, loss of sleep, frequent sighing, moaning, 
 indolence, with great irritability of the nerv- 
 ous system. 
 
 The symptoms of enteritis were clearly de- 
 veloped, and the disease was so advanced 
 that slight hopes remained of cure. Less re- 
 liance was to be placed on aconite, than up- 
 on those remedies adopted to oppose nervous 
 symptoms. Neither nux vomica nor bryony 
 appearing suitable, nigella 6th, gl. 1, was 
 administered. At first, it did not appear to 
 produce any favorable effect ; at the end of 
 one hour, all the symptoms were increased: 
 delirium, with extreme heat at the back part 
 of the head, continual jactitation, cries, respi- 
 ration short and quick, unquenchable thirst 
 with burning heat, violent pains in the abdo- 
 men towards the loins, sharp cutting gnawing 
 pains in the intestines, involuntary move- 
 ments in bed, requiring the patient to be 
 held down. At the end of two hours, these 
 affections diminished, the head was relieved, 
 accompanied by repose, tranquillity and ge- 
 neral improvement. Towards evening, in- 
 crease of symptoms, but in a slight degree 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 87 
 
 and for a shorter period, soon succeeded by- 
 drowsiness and tolerably quiet sleep, disturb- 
 ed only by agitating dreams, involuntary 
 startings and inarticulate words. The patient 
 passed a quiet night. The following morn- 
 ing, with the exception of shooting and ten- 
 sive pains in the abdomen, and excessive 
 weakness, the patient was tolerably well, and 
 complained only of dull pressive headache 
 in the forehead, with rather sharp pains in 
 the occiput, thirst, and dislike to food. A se- 
 cond globule was administered, which pro- 
 duced a very short aggravation of the symp- 
 toms, especially of the headache, whilst the 
 tensive and darting pain in the abdomen was 
 succeeded by shooting pains. The febrile 
 exacerbation of the evening was also less vio- 
 lent; nux 10th, gl. 1, was administered. The 
 next morning, the patient said she had slept 
 well and soundly, and that she felt tolerably 
 strong ; all the pains in the head had depart- 
 ed, when she felt only a sensation of vacuity; 
 there was no sensation of heat or cold, respi- 
 ration free, ordinary tone of voice, very slight 
 thirst, tongue moist, a little white at the 
 edges, but no redness, natural taste, desire 
 for food, sensation of emptiness in the sto- 
 mach, occasional eructations without pain, 
 plentiful evacuations, hard and of a dark co- 
 lor, departure of pains and swelling of the ab- 
 domen, only in sitting up in bed shooting 
 
88 DISEASES OP THE 
 
 pains with tension in the coecal region. On 
 the sixth day, the patient was free from any 
 irregularity excepting ordinarily, in the even- 
 ing, a shooting and pressive headache at the 
 back part of the head. Strength, however, 
 soon returned under the influence of a gene- 
 rous diet, the appetite was restored, the pa- 
 tient had two evacuations daily, and slept 
 well during the night. From this time, the 
 cure was complete. 
 
 Aeon, is no doubt the main remedy, but 
 not always sufficient to extinguish al the 
 symptoms, and requires the aid of Bell, in 
 most cases. When obstinate constipation is 
 present and Aeon, has not removed the burn- 
 ing pains in the umbilical region, Bry. should 
 be administered. 
 
 DIARRHCEA. 
 
 This is a prompt and repeated evacuation 
 of humors secreted in a defective manner, 
 and in too great abundance, with or without 
 a mixture of faecal matter. It is often only 
 a slight indisposition, without danger ; but it 
 may also be accompanied by pains and fever, 
 may degenerate into another malady, and 
 may have very serious consequences if it is 
 not suitably treated. Its most common cause 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 
 
 is cold, or intemperance in eating or drinking. 
 Its accessory symptoms are the partial or 
 total loss of appetite, cardialgia, swelling and 
 tension of the abdomen, borborygmi, dryness 
 and coldness of the skin, thirst, scanty 
 secretion of the kidneys, depression, irregu- 
 larity and intermittent arterial pulsations, 
 cutting and tearing pain, frequently in one 
 part, sometimes in another, with an inclina- 
 tion to vomit, which disappears to return 
 again at the end of a few minutes. Long and 
 violent diarrhoeas cause burning in the rec- 
 tum, tenesmus, great weakness, alterations in 
 the features and even faintings. 
 
 Dulcamara 24th, is an infallible remedy 
 against aqueous diarrhoeas which arise from 
 cold, and are not accompanied either with 
 pains in the abdomen or any other accessory 
 indisposition. 
 
 To diarrhoea arising from cold must be op- 
 posed china 12th, when the evacuations are 
 of an acrid and clear liquid, without mixture 
 of faecal matter, are preceded by violent 
 colics, by spasmodic and pressive pains in 
 the intestines, eructations, borborygmi, and 
 by a sensation of weakness in the abdomen. 
 
 Case. — A man aged eighty-one, in full 
 possession of his intellectual faculties, though 
 of a delicate constitution, generally healthy 
 and of regular habits, was seized in the au- 
 
90 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 tumn of 1836, without any perceptible cause, 
 with a serious disease ; after a few days, 
 during which the disease had continued to 
 increase, I was called in to prescribe. 
 
 For the last two days, and especially at 
 night, a very copious diarrhoea, watery and 
 mucous ; the patient voided what little food 
 he took undigested; he had frequent vo- 
 mitings of mucus, water and aliments, with 
 sour and bitter taste ; however small the 
 quantity of liquids or solids, he instantly 
 experienced painful pressure in the abdomen, 
 and especially in the region of the stomach, 
 with oppression at the chest, followed by 
 eructations which gave some relief. No ap- 
 petite, constant feeling of fulness, and an 
 insurmountable antipathy to what he was 
 previously most fond of. Sleep broken, ex- 
 haustion amounting almost to syncope, pulse 
 quick and rather hard ; anxiety, restlessness 
 and agitation. 
 
 Nothing was so well suited to this indi- 
 vidual case of disease as bark. Everything 
 indicated it, his physical as well as his moral 
 condition. Bark in solution was consequently 
 administered, at ten in the morning. 
 
 The next day, the patient's condition was 
 altered considerably for the better. No diar- 
 rhoea, nor vomiting; the patient had enjoyed a 
 good night's rest ; his appetite was somewhat 
 better ; he speedily recovered his usual tone 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 9 1 
 
 of body and mind ; and in a few days he was 
 restored to as perfect health as was compati- 
 ble with his age. 
 
 A lady, advanced in years, had been for 
 some weeks suffering severely from continu- 
 ed diarrhoea. She had taken all possible 
 domestic medicines, and even applied to 
 several allopathic physicians. She was then 
 very pale, thin and weak. She could eat but 
 little, and almost instantly voided the food 
 undigested; thirst extreme. Six doses of 
 china 11th, one every three hours, having 
 produced no effect, one drop of tinct. ratan- 
 hice was administered night and morning. 
 At the end of four days, the complaint had 
 subsided; but the remedy was continued, 
 since which time she has had no relapse. 
 
 If the cold is caused by night air, and pro- 
 duces a pinching at the pit of the stomachy 
 borborygmi, a feeling of relaxation as if eva- 
 cuation were about to take place, a cutting 
 and tearing pain with pressure in the abdo- 
 men, which is cold, nausea, shivering, sudden? 
 and frequent desire to evacuate, at first 
 without result, and afterwards with excre- 
 tions, frequent, aqueous and green, with dis- 
 position to fainting, it is desirable to admi- 
 nister mercury 12th. 
 
 If diarrhoea arises from errors of regimen, 
 and manifests itself by loss of appetite, with a 
 sensation of dryness, etc., of slight burning of 
 
92 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 the tongue without thirst, a bitter and saltish 
 taste in the mouth, eructations foetid, hic- 
 cough, nausea, and vomiting, fulness of the 
 abdomen, colic, much flatulence, commotion 
 of the intestines, urgent desire to relieve the 
 bowels, inquietude, with frequent evacu- 
 ations, pulsatilla 12th, is the best remedy. 
 
 Chamomilla 12th, is employed successfully 
 against diarrhoeas which arise from anger, 
 accompanied by bitter taste in the mouth, 
 eructations, a sensation of fulness at the pit 
 of the stomach, pressive pain in the head, 
 general weakness, frequent evacuations of 
 green, aqueous, acrid and foetid matter. 
 
 Pains in the abdomen violent, tearing, 
 which leave no rest to the patient, and oblige 
 him to twist himself, a sensation as if the ab- 
 domen were entirely empty, with continual 
 movement of the intestines, blue circles 
 round the eyes, nausea, vomiting, evacuations 
 watery, mucous and foetid, are symptoms 
 requiring the employment of chamomilla 
 12th. 
 
 Those which result from fear, anxiety, and 
 generally from strong emotions, yield readily 
 to opium 6 th. 
 
 Case. — A man aged forty, previously in 
 the enjoyment of good health, was seized 
 suddenly during the night with violent colic 
 and continued diarrhoea; next day, things 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 93 
 
 remained in the same state ; and in the even- 
 ing I was sent for. I found the patient in 
 bed, very weak, his breath affected when 
 speaking, and he complained of alternations 
 of cold and heat. Evacuations occurred very 
 frequently, preceded by pains in the abdo- 
 men ; they were discharged with violence and 
 were altogether aqueous ; at the same time 
 there was much flatus in the abdomen, with 
 nausea and excessive thirst. Had cholera 
 existed in the vicinity, the patient might have 
 been thought to be slightly affected with it. 
 From the general appearance of his face, it 
 was evident that the abdominal nervous sys- 
 tem was considerably affected. Half a grain 
 of arsenic was pounded with two scruples of 
 sugar, and divided into fifteen powders, one 
 to be taken every hour as long as the exhaust- 
 ing diarrhoea continued. At the same time a 
 slight emulsion of almonds was prescribed as 
 a beverage in very small draughts. From 
 the moment he took the arsenic, he had only 
 six diarrhoeal evacuations. He fell asleep, 
 but not into a sound sleep, before midnight, 
 and had no evacuation during the night. In 
 the morning, he had slept well, and, though 
 very weak, felt more easy ; the skin was 
 moist, and thirst less violent. The same 
 remedy was continued, but more slowly, 
 recommending him to discontinue it if the 
 diarrhoea did not return : and he continued to 
 
 9 
 
94 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 \ 
 
 improve. With the exception of the weak- 
 ness and anorexia, the patient recovered ra- 
 pidly. A few doses of the sixth of a grain of 
 nux vomica cured him completely. 
 
 Diarrhoea in Women. — As this complaint 
 frequently arises from cold, it is advisable to 
 keep the stomach warm, in order to aid the 
 action of dulcam. 8th, which is a specific in 
 such cases. If the diarrhoea arises from the 
 stomach being overcharged, or from fat food, 
 prescribe phi sat. 6 th, and sometimes anti- 
 mon. cr. 10th, gl. 1. If it be accompanied 
 by pains in the stomach, and the excretions 
 be watery, it will be necessary to recur to 
 chamomilla 4th, gl. 2. When there is 
 tenesmus and frequent evacuations, small in 
 quantity, mucous and bloody, it may almost 
 always be removed by mere. sol. 4th, some- 
 times also by salph. 10th, which is remarka- 
 bly useful in obstinate and habitual diar- 
 rhoeas. In certain cases phosph. and petrol. 
 deserve preference. If the complexion be 
 very yellow and sallow, lycop. 10th may be 
 successfully used. 
 
 The following case proves the necessity of 
 carefully observing the characteristic symp- 
 toms of a disease before the application of the 
 remedy. My own wife, says a homoeopathic 
 practitioner, who was very subject to diar- 
 rhoea arising from cold, complained in the 
 morning of violent griping pains, tendency to 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 95 
 
 vomiting and looseness. As I had frequently 
 cured her in similar cases with dulcamara, I 
 did not hesitate to administer it ; but finding 
 no improvement in her condition in the space 
 of an hour, I administered veralrum album 
 without any more beneficial effect. Another 
 hour elapsed, when by careful observation 
 I found that the diarrhoea was accompanied 
 by tenesmus. I then gave her mere, solub. 
 Five minutes afterwards she fell asleep, and 
 awoke in half an hour free from all pain and 
 diarrhoea. The sleep convinced me that I 
 had selected the proper remedy, as it is 
 always consequent upon the administration 
 of good specifics. 
 
 Whenever the patient falls into a sleep or 
 even a state of dozing immediately after tak- 
 ing the remedy prescribed, we may safely 
 prognosticate a cure; it does not, however, 
 follow that sleep must necessarily precede the 
 removal of disease. 
 
 In dysenteric diarrhoea, sharp shooting 
 and griping pains in the abdomen ; violent 
 pain in the back and loins : pressure at the 
 stomach after eating; eight or ten evacuations 
 daily ; ejection of a small quantity of white 
 mucus, followed by tenesmus ; constant but 
 ineffectual attempts to evacuate ; alternations 
 of cold and heat, the former especially ; 
 thirst, etc. ; was removed by belladonna. The 
 
96 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 patient, a female, at other times quiet and 
 good-tempered, was very irritable and con- 
 tinually crying. 
 
 In chronic diarrhoea with eruption of itch- 
 ing pimples on the body, and leucorrhoea, 
 emetic tart, was successful. 
 
 Diarrhoea in Children. — An infant, thirteen 
 weeks old, had been crying incessantly for 
 days, suffering from green diarrhoea, some- 
 times mucous, and at others watery. The 
 family attendant administered an infusion of 
 camomile and opium in fennel water from 
 time to time, because the child refused all 
 food and even fluids. For the last two or 
 three days, he dozed with the eyes half open : 
 the veins of the head were full of blood ; at 
 times he awoke starting from his sleep, cried 
 violently and exhibited extreme restlessness. 
 The medical attendant finding him very 
 weak, began to doubt if he would live through 
 the night. After a few doses of coff. 3d, 1, 
 belladonna 10th, 2, and one of mix vomica 
 10th, 1, employed as an antidote to the 
 opium j matters returned in three days to 
 their primitive state. The diarrhoea, rest- 
 lessness and griping, were speedily remov- 
 ed by a single dose of senna 2d, 3. The 
 child recovered its health ten days after- 
 wards. 
 
 Ipecacuanha is useful in serous diarrhoea 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 99 
 
 the abdomen, without flatulence, sometimes 
 voracious appetite, and at others total loss, 
 thirst, etc. 
 
 In chronic dysenteric diarrhoea in children 
 accompanied with violent griping pains, great 
 thirst, loss of substance and slow fever, ar- 
 sen. alb. is very efficient. 
 
 In cases of neglected diarrhoea in children 
 during their first dentition, when they void 
 a brown liquid five or six times every day, 
 become extremely thin and yellow, and there 
 is loss of appetite, with enlargement of the 
 abdomen, ars. 10th, gl. 1, is frequently suc- 
 cessful. In one case, a single dose was suffi- 
 cient ; in other cases, the dose was repeated 
 every three days : but in no case more than 
 four times. 
 
 Dulcamara is useful in diarrhoeas with 
 which children are attacked during dentition, 
 and to which are often joined fever and loss 
 of appetite. 
 
 [Diarrhoea caused by cold, when the 
 stools are liquid, yellow, mucous, with colic 
 and cutting pains about the navel, want of 
 appetite, desire for drink, nausea, pallor, 
 weakness and uneasiness, requires dulca- 
 mara. If there is constant rumbling in the 
 bowels, with a sensation as if the belly were 
 empty, nausea, vomiting, mucous stools, 
 give pulsat. ; if the stools smell like bad eggs, 
 cham. 
 
100 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 Diarrhoea caused by irregularity of diet is 
 accompanied by bad taste in the mouth, of- 
 fensive breath, eructations and nausea, ful- 
 ness in the region of the stomach, want of ap- 
 petite. Here too puis, is indicated, especially 
 if the irregularity of diet consisted in the par- 
 taking of too much fat meat, fried food and 
 rich pastry. Diarrhoea attributable to eating 
 fruit will be stopped by bry. Against diar- 
 rhoeas and vomiting from over-indulgence in 
 fruit, verai. should be given after every stool ; 
 or ipec. 
 
 Diarrhoea attended with very rapid pros- 
 tration, watery stools, and colic pains, re- 
 quires ars. Diarrhoea during dentition is to 
 be cured by many remedies, amongst which 
 sulph. and mere, are very prominent.] 
 
 DYSENTERY. 
 
 Mercury is the principal remedy in this 
 disease, and has been found extremely effica- 
 cious in two epidemics. The disease was 
 mostly simple dysentery, commencing with 
 shivering and cold, with alternations of heat, 
 with pain in the abdomen with watery evacu- 
 ations as in ordinary diarrhoea : but very soon 
 the fever increased, with cold, heat, thirst, 
 headache, and general depression, and the 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 97 
 
 in children, accompanied by vomiting of a 
 green or white mucus, with griping pains in 
 the abdomen. 
 
 In those acute diarrhoeas in children de- 
 scribed as relaxation of the stomach and the 
 intestinal canal, the diarrhoea is established 
 without any perceptible cause. Evacuations 
 copious and more or less frequent, according 
 to the intensity of the disease, consisting of 
 aqueous mucous matter, sometimes greenish, 
 and at others greyish, of foetid smell. At the 
 same time, slight fever, heat in the palms of 
 the hands and soles of the feet, incessant 
 thirst, loss of appetite, rapid wasting of the 
 body, constant agitation, moaning and weep- 
 ing, paleness and dryness of the skin without 
 turgescence, abdomen very sensitive, puffed, 
 elastic, occasional vomiting, urine small in 
 quantity and colorless, sleep comatose or 
 light, eyes half closed. The patient remains 
 in this state from three to five days. 
 
 A few doses of cede. acet. gl. 1, suppressed 
 the incessant and copious evacuations, and 
 the child, which was previously almost a 
 skeleton, soon became florid and ruddy. In 
 another case, in addition to chalk, mere. sol. 
 was administered with good effect. 
 
 In the most acute form of this disease, 
 especially when attended by violent pains in 
 the abdomen, colocynthis is undoubtedly the 
 first and best remedy. 
 
 9* 
 
98 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 In children towards the fourth month, 
 those green diarrhoeas, attributed to acidity 
 in the primes vice, or to dentition, are often 
 observed. The disease appears to depend 
 upon some particular anomaly of the biliary 
 secretion, the causes of which are unknown. 
 The evacuations are more or less frequent, of 
 a vegetable green, sometimes watery, at other 
 times and more generally mucous, frothy, 
 like the white of an egg, and occasionally 
 mixed with sanguinolent mucus. The chil- 
 dren cry very frequently, from griping pains, 
 abdomen swollen, with loss of substance. In 
 such cases, mercury has been found an inva- 
 luable specific. Sometimes diarrhoeas- occur 
 in children of more advanced age, that suc- 
 cessfully resist various modes of treatment 
 for a long time. Suddenly aphthae appear, 
 and in a few days mercury removes both the 
 diarrhoea and the sores. Generally speaking, 
 diarrhoea in children depends upon a sub- 
 inflammatory state of the mucous intestinal 
 membrane. 
 
 Ferrum carbonicum is useful in diarrhoea, 
 especially in children. When the disease 
 has existed for some time, after eating or 
 drinking there are speedy aqueous evacu- 
 ations without pain or effort, containing al- 
 most always a certain quantity of undigested 
 food, accompanied with paleness of the face, 
 loss of substance, hardness and swelling of 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 101 
 
 evacuations assumed a dysenteric character. 
 In the midst of extreme pains, occurring at 
 very short intervals, with violent tenesmus, 
 pain and burning heat, there ,were evacu- 
 ations of small quantities of blood and mucus. 
 The tongue was more or less furred and dry, 
 with loss of appetite and pains in the limbs. 
 In many cases, especially in children, the 
 discharges were accompanied with masses of 
 dark-green mucus, which occurred more or 
 less frequently every quarter of an hour, with 
 tenesmus. Many patients required only one 
 dose of mercury pule. 3d, gl. 1. Others re- 
 quired several doses. 
 
 The wonderfully prompt operation of sub- 
 limate in autumnal dysentery in adults, has 
 frequently been witnessed. A few doses of 
 the sixth dilution were sufficient to stop the 
 most violent attacks. In colics and diar- 
 rhoeas, the proper homoeopathic remedies, 
 such as colocynth, aloes, and rheum, have 
 been no less successful. 
 
 A man was suffering severely as follows: — 
 The affection commenced with cold and heat, 
 anxiety, diarrhoea, spasms in the abdomen, 
 violent pain in the loins, tenesmus, and void- 
 ing of a small quantity of blood. The reme- 
 dies applied, antiphlogistics, did not diminish 
 the disease ; on the contrary, the anxiety, 
 tenesmus and thirst increased ; every ten mi- 
 nutes the patient vomited sanguineous mucus 
 
102 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 mixed with blood. On the third day, he took 
 sublimate 16th, which in a few days entirely 
 removed the symptoms. 
 
 In dysentery in a child eighteen months 
 old, who had previously suffered from humid 
 tetter, the dysentery had baffled allopathic 
 treatment. The child, which was previously 
 strong and healthy, grew pale and thin at the 
 end of three weeks, and ejected sanguineous 
 mucus without particular suffering several 
 times a day. A few doses of baryta effected 
 its speedy removal. 
 
 A female, aged twenty-three, of phlegmatic 
 temperament, was seized, in consequence of 
 eating unripe fruit and other errors in regi- 
 men, with discharge of blood, to which she 
 at first paid no attention. The skin was dry ; 
 there were sharp, shooting pains in the abdo- 
 men ; thirst, bitter taste in the mouth, tenes- 
 mus, bilious evacuations streaked with blood. 
 A very small dose of tartar, emetic, removed 
 it in three or four days. 
 
 In the beginning of July, an epidemic 
 dysentery broke out, consisting of three pe- 
 riods. 
 
 First Stage. — Attack: some were seized 
 with giddiness, scarcely able to stand, heavi- 
 ness of the head, griping pains in the abdo- 
 men ; others with colic, nausea, pricking in 
 various parts of the stomach. A patient 
 complained of compression of the brain, and 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 103 
 
 violent headache, especially about the fore- 
 head, shooting pains and fulness of the orbits, 
 especially when he held down his head. — 
 Progress : after twelve or even twenty-four 
 hours, painful tenesmus, useless attempts, or 
 evacuation very small in quantity, of a frothy 
 mucous matter, mixed at times with blood, 
 during which the patient suffered severely 
 from a feeling as if the intestines were com- 
 pressed. Colic and pain in the abdomen, 
 bending the patient almost double. Frothy 
 evacuations of a yellowish color, similar to 
 saffron. Desire to evacuate every five or 
 ten minutes, accompanied by painful tenes- 
 mus, pulse small and depressed, face sunk, 
 weakness and trembling of the limbs, with 
 anxiety. 
 
 Second Stage.— Two or three days after 
 the commencement of the disease, all the 
 symptoms that affected the head and abdo- 
 men grew worse, accompanied by a sensation 
 of burning and pricking at the stomach, 
 with vomiting, especially during evacuations. 
 These were blackish and foetid ; a few mo- 
 ments afterwards, violent, eructations, inces- 
 sant hiccough, painful spasms and cramp of 
 the abdomen, inclination to evacuate, some- 
 times ineffectual, at others followed by a dis- 
 charge of mucous matter and blood, frequent 
 discharge of soft, puriform substances tinged 
 with blood, described by the patient as if he 
 
104 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 had voided a mass of substances, attended 
 with insupportable pain. Tongue dry and 
 rough, thirst, desire for iced water, painful 
 lassitude, general spasm, cramp in the calves 
 of the legs, trembling and weakness amount- 
 ing to paralysis of the legs, cold shivering of 
 the back, sensible coldness of the hands and 
 feet, and soon after, heat of the forehead and 
 head ; fever accompanied by dryness of the 
 skin, depression and suffering as in approach- 
 ing death. Loss of strength, the eyes sunken 
 and surrounded by livid circles. Great fall- 
 ing away, and occasionally death. 
 
 Third Period. — Evacuations of blackish, 
 'aqueous matter, eighty to one hundred daily : 
 loss of substance and emaciation, general 
 coldness and colliquative sweats, delirium, 
 insatiable thirst, strong desire for ice, burn- 
 ing heat of the mouth and stomach (pyrosis), 
 tongue dry, chapped and blackish, teeth black, 
 breath cadaverous, face hippocratic, constant 
 groaning, violent suspirations and hiccoughs. 
 Afterwards tranquillity, cessation of several 
 symptoms, apparent improvement in the 
 condition of the patient ; death. 
 
 The remedies deemed advisable in accord- 
 ance with the homoeopathic treatment were, 
 in the first period, camomile of the tenth 
 dilution, colocynth and corrosive sublimate of 
 the thirteenth. Camomile taken in the form 
 of globules (one or two every half-hour) 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 105 
 
 always exercised a salutary but temporary 
 influence during the first period of the dis* 
 ease ; for which reason the patient was never 
 left solely to its effects ; but there were admi- 
 nistered eight or twelve hours afterwards, 
 two globules of colocynth, and the patient 
 was left for twenty-four hours to its action. 
 At the end of this time, there was a sensible 
 improvement, and health was re-established 
 at the end of a few days. In a case where 
 two globules of colocynth were given imme- 
 diately on the commencement of the disease, 
 a complete cure was performed in twenty- 
 four hours. In an epidemic, corrosive sub- 
 limate was administered, but it was discon^ 
 tinued, no proof of its action having been 
 witnessed. 
 
 In the second stage colocynth was found 
 again efficacious ; beneficial effects were also 
 experienced from rlius toxicodendron and suh 
 phuric acid. Rhus of the thirteenth dilution 
 produced successful results, especially when 
 the disease began, from improper allopathic 
 treatment, to degenerate into typhus fever. 
 In the last stage arsenic of the thirteenth 
 dilution appeared to be effective. 
 
 Case I. — A laboring man, aged twenty, of 
 a strong constitution, had been for two days 
 suffering under heaviness of the head, and 
 acute pain in the forehead. On the morning 
 
 10 
 
106 DISEASES Of THE 
 
 of July 30, he was seized with violent colic^ 
 and griping in the abdomen. His efforts 
 were incessant, but ineffectual, to relieve the 
 bowels, with tenesmus. In the evening, the 
 following was the pathological state : vertigo 
 similar to that produced by drinking, painful 
 heaviness of the head, as if pressed in a vice, 
 sudden shooting pains in the eyes, flatulence, 
 violent colic as if the intestines were being 
 cut, forcing the patient into a bending po- 
 sition, useless efforts and tenesmus, evacu* 
 ations of frothy matter mixed with blood and 
 mucus, weakness of the legs, pulse slow and 
 small, excessive thirst, paleness of the face, 
 slight shivering, sensation of cold. Camomile 
 of the tenth dilution repeated every three 
 hours; colocynth the following morning. 
 Finding that after six hours the morbid phe- 
 nomena were relieved, fresh doses were ab- 
 stained from. The following day, the patient 
 was quite recovered and able to attend to his 
 work* 
 
 Case II.— A man, aged twenty-five, was 
 seized, on the £3d of July, with vertigo and 
 headache, accompanied with griping pains 
 and copious evacuations. On the fifth day 
 of the disease were observed the following 
 phenomena : 
 
 Suborbital cephalalgia, as if the head 
 would split, acute pains in various parts of 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 107 
 
 the abdomen, flatulence, tenesmus, nausea 
 during evacuation, discharge of whitish frothy 
 mucus every half-hour, mixed with streaks 
 of blood, and accompanied by violent pains 
 in the abdomen and sacrum, the patient feel- 
 ing as if voiding his intestines. General weak- 
 ness of all the limbs, sensation of paralysis, 
 depression, eyes and face sunk, pulse small 
 and slow. After employing coloeynth, repeat- 
 ed during the first two days, with rlius and 
 sulphuric acid, the patient recovered on the 
 eighth day. 
 
 One of his sisters, his eldest brother, and 
 two of his daughters were similarly attacked 
 with dysentery, accompanied by fever. The 
 two daughters were also suffering from 
 worms : nevertheless these four persons were 
 cured by the use of aconite, camomile, rhus 
 and sulphuric acid : the case, however, of 
 the elder brother exhibited an instance of the 
 danger of bleeding and leeches in this epi- 
 demic. 
 
 Case III. — A little girl, aged eight years, 
 of weak constitution, was seized with dysen- 
 tery and exhibited the following symptoms. 
 
 Pain over the right eyelid, violent colic in 
 the epigastrium, evacuations with pain in the 
 abdomen, sometimes of mucous blood stained 
 matter with ascarides, at others of bright 
 clear blood. These evacuations were attend* 
 
10S DISEASES OP THE 
 
 ed with intolerable pain, thirst, general cold- 
 ness, paleness, loss of substance, fever in the 
 afternoon, ceasing towards evening. Subli- 
 mate was administered, and two days after 
 colocynth : no improvement ; on the contrary, 
 the patient was worse. 
 
 Rhus was prescribed, and a cure was 
 effected in the fourth day of the treatment, 
 after three doses, being the fifteenth from 
 the commencement of the attack. 
 
 Case IV. — A young girl, aged sixteen, of 
 rather strong constitution, was first seized 
 with dysentery. On the fourteenth day of 
 the disease, after she had gone through all 
 the stages, it appeared to have degenerated 
 into hectic fever. The following were the 
 phenomena observed. Dysenteric evacu- 
 ations, constant ejection of liquid matter and 
 food, thirst excessive, tongue dry. Dull pain 
 in the loins, hiccough, cough accompanied 
 with expulsion of bronchial mucus, remittent 
 fever, pulse frequent and weak, slight shiver- 
 ing at night, fetid, clammy perspiration in 
 the morning ; during the remainder of the 
 day, skin dry and rough. Sensation of inter- 
 nal heat, extreme thinness or rather emaci- 
 ation, Pulsatilla repeated during three days. 
 The sixth day arsenic and nitric acid alter- 
 nately every six days. I had the satisfaction 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 109 
 
 of finding that the young patient recovered 
 completely in eighteen days. 
 
 [Dysentery is divided into 1. white, when 
 there are fever, cutting pains in the region 
 of the stomach, frequent, forcible, painful de- 
 sire to go to stool, and mucous evacuations ; 
 2. red, when the evacuations are bloody ; 3. 
 dry, when there is a constant desire to eva- 
 cuate, but nothing passes. This latter is 
 the worst form. The best remedies in the 
 first are puis, and colchicum ; in the second 
 mere, corrosivus and ipec. Violent colic- 
 pains are generally present in both, and re- 
 quire colocynth.'] 
 
 SPORADIC CHOLERA. 
 
 A female was suffering under this disease • 
 continual vomiting, first of aliments, after- 
 wards of a greenish liquid, with frequent 
 diarrhoea, more and more liquid and color- 
 less, violent cutting and shooting pains in the 
 abdomen, cramp in the legs, suppression of 
 the urinary secretion, rapid decrease of 
 strength. Colocynth 6th, gt. 1, repeated 
 every two or three hours, effected its speedy 
 removal. 
 
 Veratrum also is successful in sporadic 
 cholera. 
 
 10* 
 
110 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 A child, six months old, of weak constitu- 
 tion, had been for three days suffering from 
 vomiting and diarrhoea, and was extremely 
 weakened. Six doses of veratrum album 
 12th, were administered, one every two or 
 three hours. Still no improvement in his 
 condition. His body was cold as ice, and 
 thirst insatiable. The case was critical. 
 Cupr. metallic. 30th, was prescribed, and a 
 tea-spoonful was administered every ten or 
 fifteen minutes, till these symptoms disap 
 peared. The child was saved, and in a few 
 days completely recovered. 
 
 ASIATIC CHOLERA. 
 
 It will not be amiss, if I put before the 
 eyes of my readers, the advice given by 
 Hahnemann, for the treatment of cholera. It 
 is sufficiently simple, concise and easy of ap- 
 plication, to be readily understood by every 
 person. These instructions were given ex~ 
 actly as follows. — First, therefore, I refer t » 
 the precautions the medical man should tak j 
 for his own safety. 
 
 Directly epidemic cholera breaks out, eve- 
 ry medical man should procure the following 
 solution. Put an ounce of camphor in twelve 
 ounces of pure spirits of wine, and shake it 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. Ill 
 
 till it is completely dissolved. Before enter- 
 ing the patient's room, take two drops of this 
 solution as a preservative, and repeat the 
 same precaution on entering every patient's 
 room to prevent infection from the mephitic 
 air confined there. Before entering the 
 room, it will be well to wait a few seconds 
 in the ante chamber, a precaution rendered 
 necessary by the fatigue ' the v medical man 
 suffers from his numerous avocations. If he 
 visit his patient in a state of perspiration, he 
 is much more likely to receive the contagion. 
 Great attention also must be paid to diet, 
 that is to say, he should never suffer either 
 hunger or thirst, and never overload the stom- 
 ach with food or liquid ; with respect to the 
 choice of food, he should take only that which 
 possesses undoubted nutritive qualities, with- 
 out any exciting properties. But in this he 
 must, like his patient, be guided by circum- 
 stances, as it would not be discreet to discon- 
 tinue, whilst the epidemic is raging, the use 
 of wine, tea, coffee, or any other heating ar- 
 ticle which he had been daily in the habit of 
 using. It may be as well to add, that the 
 medical man should be fully imbued with the 
 importance of his functions at these difficult 
 times, banish all fear from his mind, be pre- 
 pared by reflection for all occurrences, and 
 possess great presence of mind. 
 
 Directly a patient is seized with cholera. 
 
112 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 administer one or two drops of the solution 
 of camphor before mentioned, on sugar or in 
 pure water. Repeat the dose every five mi- 
 nutes ; whatever the intensity of the disease, 
 the camphor should in all cases be adminis- 
 tered during the first hour after the com- 
 mencement of the attack. As long as the 
 patient feels any benefit from the use of the 
 camphor, it should be continued ; and if the 
 disease yields to this application, no other 
 will be necessary. When this, however, is 
 not the case, we must be guided in our treat- 
 ment by what the symptoms require. If 
 there is vomiting, or only tendency that way, 
 or if the vomitings are accompanied by ex- 
 cruciating pain, agitation and icy coldness, 
 the patient should take one or two globules 
 of arsenic. If this produces a good effect 
 without complete cure, the dose should be 
 renewed every two or three hours, according 
 to the strength of the patient. 
 
 If the symptoms enumerated above are ac- 
 companied by cramps, recourse must be had, 
 not to arsenic, but to cuprum, of which two 
 globules may be administered, and the dose 
 repeated every two hours if necessary. 
 
 The cholera, however, may assume another 
 form, its characteristic symptom being fre- 
 quently violent diarrhoea. In this case vera- 
 trum album must be given, and in this stage 
 of the disease, ice may be beneficially used. 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 113 
 
 Hahnemann expressly says, allow the pa- 
 tient as much as he chooses. 
 
 Sometimes a period occurs when the pa- 
 tient falls into asphyxia. We must be care- 
 ful, however, not to treat him as if dead, 
 though he may appear to be so, much less 
 consign him to the undertaker. We must 
 administer a few drops of carbo vegetabilis in 
 water, and at the same time rub the whole 
 of the body with ice. 
 
 But if the patient, when actually in as- 
 phyxia, has not been previously treated ho- 
 moeopathically, the whole external surface of 
 the body must be rubbed with camphor, and 
 a few drops in a glass of water be poured 
 into his mouth, even if he is unable to 
 swallow. 
 
 Persons not suffering under acute cholera, 
 and who, though not confined to their beds, 
 are affected with cholerine, and experience 
 alternately weakness, palpitation, anxiety, 
 cramp in the calves of the legs, cold, uneasi- 
 ness, sickness, diarrhoea, should take every 
 day, or oftener if need be, one or two globules 
 of phosphorus to preserve them from infec- 
 tion. Persons who are quite free both from 
 ■cholera and cholerine, will do well to submit 
 to preservative treatment, for which purpose 
 they should take every eight days a globule 
 of veratrum album, if diarrhoea be the chief 
 characteristic of the disease, and a globule of 
 
114 DISEASES OF THE 
 
 cuprum, if the general symptoms are vomit- 
 ing and cramp. 
 
 CHOLERINE. 
 
 During the second invasion of the cholera 
 at Berlin, Rome, Marseilles, etc., an epidemic 
 broke out which attacked young children 
 chiefly, adults not however being exempt 
 from it. Although this epidemic did not 
 present all the symptoms, nor yet all the 
 intensity of cholera, still the character of the 
 disease was the same, and this will be evi- 
 dent from the following cases. This resem- 
 blance induced a recurrence to those reme- 
 dies which had frequently been found effica- 
 cious in cases of cholera, and the result was 
 satisfactory. 
 
 The diarrhceal evacuations of the patients 
 were whitish, liquid, and occasionally blood- 
 stained, resembling the juice of meat, a cha- 
 racteristic, with the exception perhaps of the 
 blood, of most choleratic evacuations ; they 
 were frequently accompanied with tenesmus 
 and colic ; the patients suffered from nausea 
 and sickness ; some exhibited a bluish dis- 
 coloration round the eyes, nose and mouth. 
 The limbs had lost a great portion of their 
 natural heat. But of all these symptoms,, the 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 115 
 
 most singular was the considerable loss of 
 substance, and that in a few days; the skin 
 became flaccid, by the disappearance of the 
 subjacent fat, and lost its elasticity, as in old 
 men. Whatever the symptoms were, it is 
 certain that in many respects they were simi- 
 lar to those of cholera, and also very analo- 
 gous to those of epidemic dysentery. The 
 major part of the patients had been unsuc- 
 cessfully treated in the usual manner. 
 
 Case I. — A child, aged eleven months, of 
 good constitution, and previously enjoying 
 excellent health, had been for six days suf- 
 fering under violent colics, with very copious 
 diarrhosal evacuations of a whitish color, 
 very abundant, at times mixed with blood, 
 extreme sleeplessness, face pale, eyes sunk, 
 tongue dry and furred, sores on the sides of 
 the nose, with obstruction of the nostrils, 
 extreme thirst, loss of appetite, violent colic, 
 with tenesmus causing the child to cry in- 
 cessantly. 
 
 The patient free from fever, the skin cold, 
 extreme weakness and loss of substance, dis- 
 pirited and exhausted. 
 
 On the 28th of August, mix vomica, tenth 
 dilution, was prescribed in four ounces of 
 distilled water, three spoonsful every day 
 The next morning, 29th, the patient had only 
 three evacuations, more cohesive and free 
 
116 DISEASES OF Tfltf 
 
 from blood. Again was administered a tea- 
 spoonful of the mixture ; and on the follow- 
 ing day, the child was able to sleep, and had 
 recovered his playfulness and appetite. 
 
 On the 1st of September, the patient was 
 a second time seized with frequent blood- 
 stained evacuations, accompanied with con- 
 vulsions of the limbs and very violent tenes- 
 mus, each evacuation preceded by cries and 
 griping pains in the abdomen. On the 
 second of September, prescribed veratrum, 
 third dilution, in four ounces of distilled 
 water, two spoonfuls to be taken during the 
 day. On the third, the diarrhoea and colic 
 were sensibly diminished, and on the fifth the 
 patient was perfectly recovered. 
 
 Case II. — A child, aged five months, in 
 the enjoyment of general good health, and 
 strong for her age, was seized with very co- 
 pious diarrhoea towards the end of the month 
 of August. For nine days, she had been 
 treated in the usual way ; opiates and gums 
 were administered both by the mouth and 
 in lavements. On the first of September, she 
 was as follows : 
 
 Face very pale, eyes sunk and wandering, 
 pupils dilated, features distorted, tongue 
 dry and white, thirst, loss of appetite, fre- 
 quent vomitings, violent colic and copious 
 evacuations, discharge of foecal matter al- 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 117 
 
 most every minute, loss of substance, skin 
 dry and hot. No sleep for several nights, 
 difficulty of breathing. 
 
 As an internal remedy, nux vomica was 
 prescribed, tenth dilution, in four ounces of 
 distilled water, a spoonful every hour. At 
 the same time, were applied to the stomach 
 flannels soaked in warm water. On the fol- 
 lowing day the child was much better, and 
 on the third of September entirely cured. 
 
 WORMS. 
 
 Most frequently attack women and chil- 
 dren, are engendered by bad food, moist and 
 unhealthy air, and by everything which fa* 
 vors the collection of mucus in the intesti- 
 nal canal. Their existence is often unknown, 
 and on the other hand, we attribute to them 
 many affections which arise from other 
 causes. 
 
 The kinds of worms most common are as- 
 carides, lumbrici and taenia or tape-worm. 
 
 The ascarides resemble the worms of 
 cheese, but some of them attain nearly the 
 length of the finger. They are particularly 
 common in children, to whom they cause a 
 disagreeable itching in the intestinal canal 
 and of the nose, frequent and pressing desire 
 
 11 
 
118 DISEASES OP THE 
 
 to relieve the bowels, with some other symp* 
 toms. 
 
 The lumbrici have the form of earth* 
 worms. They are white, have at the point 
 of the head, a circle surrounded with a little 
 wart, unite in different parts of the intestines, 
 on the parietes of which they cause, by mov- 
 ing and sucking, an irritation which produces 
 pinching and pain, particularly in the region 
 of the umbilicus. The usual signs of their 
 presence are the following : nausea, much 
 aqueous saliva or other liquid in the mouth, 
 foetid breath, countenance puffed and pale$ 
 bluish or brownish arches below the eyes, 
 dilatation of the pupils, sleep disturbed, ab- 
 domen distended and tense. 
 
 The tape-worm is flat, whitish, often very 
 long, and composed of a great number of 
 articulations. It is somewhat difficult to 
 discover its existence. It sometimes occa- 
 sions extraordinary sensations of pressure, of 
 cold and of undulatory movement in the 
 abdomen, acute pain, cramp, epileptic, and 
 convulsive movements ; often none of these 
 symptoms are observable. The only certain 
 sign of its presence is the appearance of some 
 portions which are naturally detached from 
 its body, and are replaced by a new growth. 
 
 The greater part of the means employed 
 against these three kinds of worms have at 
 most, for their result, the separation of a por- 
 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 119 
 
 tion of them, without destroying the morbid 
 principle which produces them. When the 
 lumbrici or the ascarides live in the intestines 
 in children without producing any serious 
 effects, they do not require interference of 
 art. But if we observe signs or a real altera- 
 tion in health, it becomes necessary to oppose 
 to each particular case the means which it 
 requires. We can most frequently employ 
 against ascarides, aconite, nuoc, mercury, ig- 
 natia, valerian ; and against lumbrici, mix, 
 china, belladonna, mercury. 
 
 Stramonium 9th, will remove colics pro- 
 duced by worms. Cicuta virosa 30th, is sa- 
 lutary in fevers caused by worms and ac- 
 companied by cramps with violent pains in 
 the bowels. — Tincture of sulphur 30th, 
 causes the disappearance of the itching, which 
 arises from the same cause. — Filix mas 11th, 
 administered from time to time, always al- 
 lays the irritation, which is sometimes pain- 
 ful, produced by the tape-worm. 
 
 [Cina is an excellent remedy when the 
 sleep is uneasy, there are rolling of the eyes 
 during sleep, bleeding at the nose, and vio- 
 lent itching of the anus. If the bleeding at 
 the nose returns frequently, puis, is indicated. 
 Bloated face, nausea, vomiting, morbid ap- 
 petite, periodical colic pains, mucous diar- 
 rhoea, intermitting pulse and convulsions, call 
 for verat; sabadilla, and cicuta. If the com- 
 
120 DISEASES, ETC. 
 
 plaint is of long standing, antipsorics should 
 be resorted to, such as calc. carb., natr. mur^ 
 kali carb., caust., petrol.'] 
 
ON HOKEOPATHIC DIET AND REGIMEN. 
 
 BY P. CURIE, M.D., &c. &c. 
 
 COMMON PRACTICE IN THIS RESPECT. 
 
 In none of the medical schools which have 
 preceded that of Hahnemann, have the rules 
 for the adoption of regimen been fixed upon 
 a sound and invariable basis. Each school 
 has formed these rules upon its peculiar 
 views of the nature of disease : and thus, 
 while some prescribe an extremely low diet, 
 others order, or permit the use of, the most 
 nourishing aliments and stimulating wines. 
 The object of the former is to subdue that 
 irritation, which they consider to be the 
 generating principle of the disease, by an 
 almost total abstinence from food, — whilst 
 the latter attempt to counteract, by stimu- 
 lants, that debility which, in their opinion, is 
 often the foundation of the malady. 
 
 The examination of the doctrines and rules 
 of each school, will demonstrate the existence 
 of these contradictions and uncertainties ; and 
 I do not hesitate to affirm, that this will con- 
 
 11* 
 
122 
 
 tinue until the homoeopathic law is adopted, 
 which, by giving a fixed and sure basis to 
 therapeutics, will, at the same time, destroy 
 all uncertainty regarding regimen. 
 
 Homoeopathic Rules of Diet and Regimen. 
 
 The object to be attained by attention to 
 regimen in the treatment of disease, is to 
 place the patient in a condition the most 
 favorable for the action of the remedy ; and 
 to accomplish this, the two following rules 
 are considered essential. 
 
 1st. To prohibit the use of every descrip- 
 tion of aliment which possesses medicinal 
 properties, or which might destroy or modify 
 the action of the medicines administered. 
 
 2d. To regulate the quantity of such ali- 
 ments as are allowed to the patient, in order 
 that the daily waste of the constitution may 
 be supplied, without overcharging the diges- 
 tive powers. 
 
 The homoeopathic physician prohibits his 
 patients from using spirituous liquors, spices, 
 acids, strong tea and coffee, and aromatic 
 substances. He also excludes from their 
 regimen, every aliment which his experience 
 informs him is of difficult digestion, and in 
 general all fat meats and the flesh of animals 
 which are too young ; as well as all fruits of 
 bad quality, or which are not perfectly ripe. 
 
123 
 
 He moreover recommends them not to reside 
 in marshy districts, nor in dark and damp 
 streets, in which there is no free circulation 
 of air. For similar reasons, he advises them 
 to avoid public meetings, and large parties, 
 where the temperature of the air is either too 
 elevated, or vitiated by the number of persons 
 breathing it. 
 
 The aliments to be preferred, are such as 
 the patient digests with the greatest facility .; 
 and, in this, experience alone can guide him. 
 The physician can neither predicate those 
 which will be agreeable to him, nor those to 
 which he has a dislike. The patient is allow- 
 ed to drink pure water, weak beer, or a very 
 small quantity of wine mixed with water. 
 Wine undiluted, as well as tea and coffee, 
 are allowed only to patients who have been 
 long accustomed to their use, and who would 
 suffer from privation of them. The physi- 
 cian must decide in what cases they ought to 
 be entirely prohibited, or be only partially 
 permitted ; but even when it is necessary to 
 allow them, they ought to be taken in much 
 smaller quantities, and much weaker than 
 usual. It is also strongly recommended to 
 the homoeopathic patient to avoid everything 
 which is culculated to excite strong emotions, 
 and all excesses either of labor or pleasure. 
 
 Exercise is likewise a very important ele- 
 ment in the homoeopathic regimen. It is 
 
124 
 
 indispensable that patients afflicted with a 
 chronic disease, should not lead too sedentary 
 a life. They ought to take exercise daily in 
 the open air, to as great an extent as their 
 strength will permit ; and if they are unable 
 to walk, they ought to be taken out in a car- 
 riage, although this mode of exercise is less 
 salutary than walking. If the patient is too 
 ill to partake of either of these modes of ex- 
 ercise, the air of his apartments ought to be 
 frequently changed, and the greatest atten- 
 tion paid to cleanliness therein. 
 
 Hot baths are not permitted in homoeo- 
 pathic treatment ; but sponging with cold or 
 slightly-tepid water is recommended in pre- 
 ference. 
 
 These, of brief Duration in Acute Diseases. 
 
 The regimen here pointed out is more espe- 
 cially adapted to the treatment of chronic 
 diseases. But it is also suitable in acute 
 complaints ; although, in the latter, it is sub- 
 ject to many particular modifications which 
 cannot be detailed in a work like the present. 
 I will only observe here, that rigorous atten- 
 tion to diet in acute disorders, is rarely of 
 long duration in homceopathic practice. In 
 no case is the patient restricted from taking 
 food, except in cases where he has a positive 
 disinclination to it ; and whenever the desire 
 
125 
 
 for food returns, he is allowed by degrees to 
 indulge it. Besides, the duration of acute 
 diseases being infinitely shorter by the ho- 
 moeopathic mode of treatment than by that of 
 the old school, the duration of dietetic restric- 
 tions is also shorter, and consequently the 
 inconveniences arising from long abstinence 
 from food are avoided. 
 
 Such Rules Accessory, not Curative. 
 
 From the preceding observations, an opin- 
 ion may be formed of the rationale of the 
 homoeopathic regimen. It will be remarked 
 that we consider it only as accessory, and 
 not curative ; and that, consequently, there 
 is a wide difference betwixt the homoeopathic 
 school and that which has been called the 
 expectant — that which looks to the efforts of 
 nature for everything, and proclaims diet, 
 water, and exercise, to be sovereign reme- 
 dies. 
 
 No doubt, diet, water and exercise, are 
 excellent things. Unquestionably, for him 
 who has too constantly remained within 
 doors, it may be well to prescribe exercise. 
 To another, who has gorged himself with the 
 delicacies of the table, it may be proper to 
 recommend moderation in eating, and to dic- 
 tate such a diet as will give the alimentary 
 system time to recover from the effects of 
 
126 
 
 repletion. And, to him who has indulged in 
 an excess of wine, it may be wise to prescribe 
 water : to deprive him for a time of that in 
 which he has indulged to excess, is easily 
 understood, and it may alone be ■ sufficient tb 
 re-establish the health, which the abuse of it 
 had deranged. 
 
 We should not have mentioned the expect- 
 ant school at all — as it enjoys credit only 
 with those who are absurdly credulous—had 
 it not been that we have always been repre 
 sented as ranging ourselves under its banner. 
 Those who have seen the success of the ho- 
 moeopathic treatment could not well deny it ; 
 but they have preferred attributing this suc- 
 cess to the regimen, and not the principle, 
 and to that curative virtue of homoeopathic 
 doses which we proclaim. Their arguments 
 appear to us to be quite unfounded. It is 
 easily seen that our regimen is infinitely less 
 severe than that which is commanded bycer- 
 tain other medical schools ; for we always 
 allow to our patients a quantity of substantial 
 nourishment in accordance with their appe- 
 tite and digestive powers. 
 
 It is true that, even in this objection, our 
 system of diet is, so far, well understood ; but 
 its excellence is dependent on this, that it 
 does not injure the constitution of the pa- 
 tient, and more especially on its favoring 
 the most simple and beneficent therapeutic 
 
is? 
 
 which has ever existed. But, on this pointy 
 it has justly been asked, — if Homoeopathy 
 has really performed so many wonderful 
 cures by its dietetic prescriptions alone, are 
 not the routine practitioners criminal if they 
 continue to torment their patients with bleed* 
 ings, leeches, cupping, setons, artificial ul- 
 cers, hot irons, disgusting draughts, pills and 
 other kinds of dangerous and repugnant me- 
 dicines ? 
 
 Assuredly, if the homoeopathic regimen 
 contributes to the preservation of health, it 
 has no more power than any other system in 
 destroying disease. And those who advance 
 the opinion, that it is the strict attention to 
 diet, exacted by the homoeopathic physician 
 which alone produces a cure, ought to feel 
 the absurdity of supposing examples of such 
 diseases as cholera, typhus, or bilious fever, 
 being cured by such means ; and as regards 
 chronic disorders, no one has effected their 
 cure by a regulated diet alone. We know, 
 on the contrary, that by adhering for a long 
 time to a low diet, the organs of digestion 
 are weakened, the susceptibilty of the nerv- 
 ous system increased, and that thus new 
 disorders may be produced. All this is so 
 true, that it is only those of the routine phy- 
 sicians who have very naturally lost confi- 
 dence in their art, who have adopted this do- 
 nothing practise* 
 
128 
 
 The argument of our opponents is the less 
 reasonable, even allowing it to be possible to 
 cure by regimen alone ; for, in that case, of 
 what use are the long and difficult studies of 
 the medical practitioner ? and why does he 
 devote his time to them if they lead to* 
 nothing better than to a simple diet ? This 
 would be placing a very low value upon the 
 labors of those who have devoted their lives 
 to the advancement of a science which they 
 consider one of the most important : it would 
 be placing that science itself in a low rank, 
 and it would leave little hope to those who 
 expect to derive from it some alleviation of 
 their sufferings. 
 
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