A BRIEF COMPARATIVE SYMPTOMATOLOGY OF SOME OF THE HOMOEOPATHIC POLYCHRESTS IN RELATION TO PSYCHOPATHIC DISTURBANCES


It is of historical interest to trace the origin of the humanitarian movement which Hahnemann advocated in the management of the insane. Dr. S. H. Talcott, in his work on Mental Diseases and Their Modern Treatment, has discussed at great length the early history of insanity to its modern treatment by hospitalization of the insane.


Allow me to thank you for the privilege and opportunity of presenting a paper before such a learned gathering this evening. The subject I have chosen is rather deep and comprehensive one, and my shortcomings are many; so I crave your indulgence freely.

In this paper, as the name implies, it will be my earnest endeavor to discuss briefly the symptomatology of some of the frequently indicated remedies in treating various mental disorders. But before going into the actual subject matter, it would not be out of place, I believe, to mention some of the interesting past events that are intimately connected with homoeopathy and its discoverer, particularly the treatment of mental diseases. From this short history, it will be clearly evident that the homoeopathic method of treatment can claim superiority over other existing therapies in the treatment of psychopathic disturbances.

Until the time of Hahnemann, little was known and less attention was paid to that most interesting branch of medicine –diseases of the mind. The reason for this must lie chiefly in two paths: Firstly: Because of superstition. Those who suffered from these diseases were believed to be infected by demons, and were thus to be shunned. Secondly: All, or nearly all efforts at treatment were met with flat failure. Evidently the treatment of mental diseases was a great problem before Hahnemanns time.

Hahnemann was the first to overcome the superstition mentioned above, and to show the world the wonderful efficacy of homoeopathic remedies in the treatment and cure of mental diseases.

Hahnemanns investigation of this problem came about in a singularly interesting manner. In the year 1792, he went to Georgenthal in the Thuringian forest to take of an asylum for the insane, and to take as a private patient Herr Klockenbring. This asylum had been established by Duke Ernst of Gotha, and Hahnemann was appointed manager by the Duke and opened the institution in August, 1792. Klockenbrings case is one of special interest, and his cure reflects much credit upon Hahnemanns treatment, then a comparatively young physician.

The skill with which he traced the origin of the trouble, his careful study of the case before prescribing, the freedom allowed the patient in the natural expression of the symptoms and the careful regime prescribed by him, leave little doubt that Hahnemann was entire master of the situation from the beginning. This is of particular importance, as the patient, being the Chancellors Private Secretary, had been treated by Dr. Wichmann, the Hanoverian Court Physician, for some time without success.

Hahnemann himself, writing of this asylum, says:.

After having been for several years much occupied with diseases of the most tedious and desperate character in general, and all sorts of venereal maladies, cachexias, hypochondriasis, and insanity in particular, with the assistance of the excellent reigning Duke, I established three years ago a convalescent asylum for patients afflicted with such disorders, in Georgenthal, near Gotha. This institution was described as a model asylum for the treatment, by gentle methods, of the insane of the higher classes of society.

At the time of this incident, the insane were subjected to all sorts of harsh treatment and Hahnemann was among the first to recommend the moral and gentle method of treatment of such unfortunates. Hahnemann, however, was the father of the new school of therapeutics — his was a master mind. He could see that the method of treating maniacs as if they were in reality devils, by teasing, starving, beating, flogging and chaining the unfortunate wretches, was rewarded in every case by a direct augmentation of all their symptoms. Thus excited, patients became raving maniacs — the melancholics became suicidal in the intensity of their depression. While a diseases mind was thus kept in a constant turmoil, how could anyone expect to cure?.

To Hahnemann belongs the glory and thanks of the world for his correction of these baneful methods of dealing with the insane. He is to be honored for his lenient treatment by instituting gentleness, quietness, fearlessness, and indifference which he expressed in the following forceful language in his Lesser Writings:.

I never allowed an insane person to be punished by blows or any other kind of corporeal chastizement, because there is no punishment unless there is responsibility, and because these sufferers deserve only pity and are always rendered worse by such rough treatment, and never improved.

How different it was from the system of treatment which was adopted in many hospitals where the domestics and keepers were permitted to use any violence that the most wanton caprice or the most sanguinary cruelty might dictate!.

It is of historical interest to trace the origin of the humanitarian movement which Hahnemann advocated in the management of the insane. Dr. S. H. Talcott, in his work on Mental Diseases and Their Modern Treatment, has discussed at great length the early history of insanity to its modern treatment by hospitalization of the insane.

What were the distinctive tenets of Hahnemanns psychical management of the insane? From his experience with Klockenbring, he was enabled to formulate a general system of allowing unrestraint, yet reasonable liberty to the ravings of such a patient. By studying Klockenbrings own mental processes (Datura stramonium was prescribed in one of his attacks which was followed by a cure), he was able to proceed to those wider generalizations which characterize his salutary regime.

Homoeopathic physicians have long treated their mental cases from the standpoint of the patient, not from the standpoint of the disease from which he is suffering. For instance, an early contributor to homoeopathic literature, Dr. Dulac (Hahnemannian Monthly, Vol. V, No. 6), thus states the series of cases which he reports: The first case he recounts the cure of the ill effects of grief, with aggravation by consolation by Natrum mur. 1M. The second case of melancholia by Veratrum alb. 2C.

Two cases presenting the peculiar impulse to kill some member of the family with scissors or any sharp instrument by Nux vomica 1M. and 24M. respectively. Another similar case, where the slightest contradiction excited homicidal impulse, by Mercurius vivus. A continued fever in consequence of a reversal of fortune by Ignatia 24M. A case where the patient appeared to possess clairvoyant intelligence, and saw the inside of her head, which she described very accurately, yielded finally to Veratrum, after Ignatia and Rhus tox. had been given.

When we know more thoroughly the relationship of the remedies to each other, we shall walk more firmly and will make the most rapid and splendid cures. At the point at which homoeopathy has arrived at present we should be able to reach our ideal, which is to proceed quickly and with certainty. We need to show to the public and to the medical profession at large the position of our school in these subjects.

When we shall have demonstrated the power of homoeopathy to cope with the severer forms of insanity with greater success, and with a larger percentage of cures than the dominant school of medicine, then we shall be in a position to defend the methods of Hahnemann, and successfully carry out such treatment in practice.

I am afraid of having already taken up too much of your valuable time. I have endeavored up to this time to prove that our Master fully understood insanity in all its forms, its proper method of treatment and its ultimate curability. He has given us all this information in eight and one-half pages in his valuable book, Organon of Medicine, sections 210-230.

Now I shall discuss a few of our most commonly indicated remedies which are often called for in treating these maladies.

ACONITUM NAPELLUS.

This remedy is chiefly useful in acute cases where disease has been caused by over-heating or some violent emotional disturbance as after a great fright, joy or anger, and when with the mental symptoms we find an exalted condition of the general circulation. Almost certainly this remedy should never be given in cases where the sickness or suffering is borne with calmness and patience. On the contrary, if Aconite is to be even thought of, we will find mental uneasiness, worry, or fear, accompanying the most trivial ailment. The more thoroughly this state of mind exists, the more surely Aconite will be indicated.

There is great and uncontrollable anguish, constant excessive anxiety and great fear to go out of the house, of darkness, of a crowd, to cross the street, of approaching death, and being alone; predicts the day, even the hour, of his death; confusion of mind, weakness of memory, unsteadiness of ideas, and disinclination for mental labor, variable humor, at one time gay, at another sad; sleeplessness or sleep disturbed by unpleasant dreams.

Aconite nap. and Veratrum vir. both play an important part in the early stages of mania which marked by such unnatural and exalted excitement. The distinguishing features between Aconite nap. and Veratrum vir.:.

B B Ray Chowdhuri