From a diagnostic point of view this case is prettily given. From the description of the patient i should judge that marked mental symptoms are lacking but I should like to hear about timidity, absorption in details, and so on. Only a couple of vague generals are mentioned. Surely more must be obtainable, particularly in the realm of cravings and aversions in foods, menses, sleep, etc. Modalities as to pressure, motion, sides easiest to lie not, relief from hot or cold drink or food or applications, and similar modalities as to the headache are really needed, and amplification of the morning aggravation symptoms. However, despite these lacks in the case one can prescribe with fair certainty on the few symptoms given.
As to Generals, to may understanding, worse in the morning applies only to the attacks, better in the open air is vague and better lying down I take to apply to the attacks rather than to the woman at all time, but if it did apply to her it could be easily explained by the abnormal pelvic condition. In this case as given I prefer to start with some of the things of which we are sure. So we have taken the following symptoms rubrics:.
1. A combination of the four following:.
a. Abdomen, pain, hypochondria, right. p. 563.
b. Abdomen, pain, burning, the general rubric.p. 572.
c. Abdomen, pain, sore hypochondria, right. p. 590.
d. Abdomen, pain, sore, liver in.p.591.
2. As modalities of the above I have taken:.
a. Abdomen, pain, sore, morning in.p.589.
b. Abdomen, pain, sore, clothing aggravates. p. 589.
c. Abdomen, pain, hypochondria extending to back. p. 563.
d. Bark, pain, sore, dorsal region, scapulae, extending downward. p. 933.
3. Polypus in nose. p. 349. Combined with polypus in womb. p.743.
4. Sweet taste in the mouth. p. 426.
5. Eczema. p. 1312.
6. Chronic nasal catarrh, p. 324.
7. Epistaxis, p. 335.
Polypi is a general of the patient and the tendency to produce any kind of pathology in different organs is an important general whether it is be warts, wens, polypi, fibroids, or whatnot.
As I interpret the case the frequent headaches are not concomitants of the abdominal pain. The headache, which is so characteristic, should be treated acutely in and for itself. As described it is typical of Kali bichromicum, the only other remedy given in the repertory in headache preceded by blindness being Sarsaparilla, although Iris is to be compared. The temperament of the patient as given and the “chronic catarrhal” would incline me to the use of Kali bich. for the acute headache attacks, but further study of the location, modalities and quality of this head pain itself would be imperative.
The sweet taste in the mouth may be only a symptom characteristic of the abdominal attacks or it may be a symptom of the patient herself. If the latter it should be included as a particular of the patient.
The frequency of urination I take to be a result of the pelvic pathology and so do not use it.
Then the remedy finally chosen should have power over eczema, but details of the eczema are essential to a proper decision. The most revealing symptoms of this particular case are pathological, as follows: Tendency to polypi, periodic nosebleeds, chronic catarrh, old eczema. It is a good illustration of how pathological findings do influence our choice of a chronic remedy.
As given, this case is a good object lesson that it is easier to repertorize a case which is mainly pathological in common symptoms by the boenninghausen method than by the Kent method. It also particularly illustrates the necessity of combining rubrics in the Kent and shows that the Kent method, when properly handled, can find the remedy in a case poorly taken and full of pathology.
On Repertorizing the acute attack is clearly chelidonium and this remedy ranks fifth for the whole patient. In chronics the chief remedies rank as follows:.
Lycopodium.
Calcarea carbonica a very close second.
Sepia.
Phosphorus.
Chelidonium.
The description of the type of the patient is clearly Calcarea. Lycopodium is not blond, stout, lymphatic, and is dark, thin, irritable, haughty. Sepia is also the swarthy personality and not lymphatic and would probably have much more marked mentals. Phosphorus is a different personality.
We should give this patient Calcarea carbonica as a chronic remedy with confidence. Remember that Calcarea also has marked power over acute gall-bladder attacks in the Calcarea personalities.
