Mr. President and friends,.
I am aware, all of you were very likely surprised to read the title of todays paper, and you must be asking yourself the question “What could be extraordinary about it”. particularly when the writer of it happens to be an humble neophyte in the art happens to be an humble neophyte in the art of homoeopathy. I am assure you, there is nothing wonderful in it that will interest you in particular.
But I can confidently say that the experiences relayed therein, have certainly gone a long way in deepening my faith in the efficacy of this wonderful art of healing the sick in the most effective, pleasant and quick manner, much to the satisfaction of both the healer and the healed. Not only this, but day by day, I am coming honestly to believe that it is a civilized and scientific crime against humanity to attempt the cure of the sick by any western therapeutic methods, except those offered to by homoeopathy. You might call me a faddist and I should not be ashamed of it, if I have the necessary faith in the superiority of this science.
I am a firm believe in the maxim that “faith is essential to the achievement of every goal.” It is this faith alone that has made me attempt the study of this science. It is true that I have got an insight, only into the borderland of the homoeopathic philosophy and practice. But I am confident that with faith alone I can expect to study the vast resources that this supreme art has unfolded to the sincere and diligent student. You will therefore please listen to my experiences related herein, in the spirit they are given to you.
You will take whatever is worth anything, and throw the rest to the permanent care of the dust-bin. I shall therefore, without taxing your patience any further, proceed to read my paper, which I hope will at least be able to stimulate some healthy and instructive discussion.
Case No. 1.
On the night of Sept. 25, I was called in consultation by a junior medical practitioner of the allopathic school to treat a very girl, eighteen months old, almost in a moribund condition, suffering from acute diarrhoea and vomits. The history of case was as follows: The child was suffering from acute diarrhoea and vomits for some days past. The result was that practically nothing in the way of nourishment could be retained by the child. An eminent consultant was consulted who had prescribed Glucose- saline and coramine injections, in addition to the mixtures of the usual type that are prescribed under such circumstances.
When I examined the child I found the following picture: A rickety child drenches with profuse clammy sweat over the whole body, more marked on the face. The pulse was 140 and odd p.m., very soft but of a fairly good volume, inspite of the dehydration she had for sometime past. Face, drawn in and cyanotic. Upper eyelids a bit puffy. She looked extremely exhausted and could hardly open her eyes. She was however quite conscious and took whatever liquids were poured in her mouth, showing that she was extremely thirstily particularly for cold water. The extremities were quite cold. The lungs showed signs of consolidation, on the left side.
The respiration were 30 p.m. The abdomen was very tympanitic and the stools passed out forcibly with plenty of foul gas. The temperature was 102. As the case looked bad and was not from my family group, I did not want to take the responsibility. When I was called, the attending doctor was about to give her a glucose- saline injection. I suggested that pituitrin might advantageously be added to the saline, to relieve the tympanites and also improve the volume of the pulse.
This was done, but without effect. I was then prevailed upon to take up the case. I prescribed. Verat. Alb. 30, every half hour, until the perspiration, motions, and vomits stopped, and the pulse improved. This was at 12 midnight. The next mornings report was that the vomiting had entirely stopped, as well as diarrhoea, except for one motion at 1 A.M. The perspiration had also stopped and the pulse had improved (120 p.m.); volume, also better. She now responded better to calls by parents and was able to take nourishment more willingly. The extreme thirst was also better. The fever was still 101.
On the whole she was distinctly better and showed some hope of revival. Nothing was then given until 1 P.M., when I was again called in to see her. I found that the pulse was 160 and a possible circulatory failure was eminent. The mouth and tongue were angry and red, as also was the throat. Remembering that it was a bad case of ulceration of the mucous membranes and consolidation of the lungs, the Verat. having done its good work-I prescribed Sul. 30, three doses, hourly; after that four hourly, in no improvement, was noticed.
The next morning, that is, 27th Sept., she was reported to be much better, even the parents thinking that the child would now certainly recover. The father however suspected that the child had some retention of urine, as she had not passed urine during the past twentyfour hours, and became restless and irritable if the bladder area was pressed. I only advised salt water for drinking and wanted to wait and watch for the developments.
28th Sept. No motions, no vomits, but the bladder looked full. In other respects the child was better. Opium 30 was now given two hourly. At 1 A.M. I was again call to see her. Yes, the urine was retained, and the abdomen bloated. Pulse 110, respiration 28 p.m. The angry ulceration of the mucous membranes was the same. In addition, the important symptoms that called for my attention were “Intense drowsiness and stupor, complete absence of thirst and increased puffiness of the upper eyelids.” This, of course, was not surprising, after the urine was retained with such low vitality. Apis 30, was therefore prescribed every two hours until the normal flow of urine was established.
29th Sept. She passed a little urine and the drowsiness was a little less. Apis was continued.
30th Sept. She was still better, having passed urine three times though little in quantity.
1st Oct. She has passed urine of the normal color, the quantity also being nearer the normal. She was also free from fever and had definitely passed out of the critical stage. Hereafter she rapidly improved, the lung condition taking care of itself, without any other measures like the proverbial phlogistin, or fomentations. Natrum Mur., the chronic of Apis was the only thing required in the 6th decimal potency, to relieve the redness and ulceration of the mucous membranes and store the normal action of the bowel.
I ask myself “Would this speedy and pleasant recovery have been possible if I had followed the allopathic line of treatment?” Whenever I am reminded of this case, I think over and ask myself, “would it have been better, had I given Apis straightaway, after Verat, had done its good work? Was it a mistake [ Sulphur is one of the remedies that follows well Veratrum, as given in Millers Relationship of Remedies Opium & Apis do not come in that list. Similarly, Apis is one of the remedies that follow well Sulphur.
Reader are requested to read carefully the article IX, REMEDY RELATIONSHIP y Dr. Elizabeth Hubbard, M.D., which will, presently, be published in the HOMOEOPATHIC HERALD. Relationship has to be controlled as nearly as possible by the principle of individual similarly of symptoms. L.D.D. on my part? If I was wrong then it must mean that I was instrumental in delaying the final cure.”.
Case No. 2.
I was, on the 10th of Sept., called to se an old man of sixty, his complaint was, short, irritation cough, coming as if from the throat, aggravated on lying, thus preventing him from sleeping. The cough was also accompanied by hectic fever, 99 in the morning and 101-102 at night. The duration of the cough and fever before staring the treatment was about ten days. Examination of his lungs showed plenty of choosing rhonchi and some moist rales all over both the lungs. Inspiration short, expiration long and laboured. Pulse 96 p.m., of good volume. Tongue, coated whitish, the sides and the tip clean.
Has much thirst for cold water, more so during the fever heat. Appetite poor. Stools irregular though normal. Always wants the windows open. Gets sweat that relieves the fever but not the cough. Sweat more or less exhausting. For 12 days remedies like Hyos., Phos (give on the indication cough worse lying on left side) ars., Sul., and Pul., all in the 30th potency, were tried without any effect whatever on either the cough or the fever.
On 22nd. Sept. Sept., Tub. 200 one dose. From the next day the fever left hi,, but the cough persisted with the same intensity, entailing increasing exhaustion and sleepless night. Thirst, characteristic of his complaint so far, now left him, though he still wanted the windows open, all the time. Puls was now given in the 3rd, potency every two hours. Two doses stopped his cough and gave him the first restful night, he having slept continuously for six hours. Hereafter there was not cough and he made a very rapid recovery.
