After some general introductory observations, the writer would present a few experiences with the modern wonder drugs to enable the reader to pronounce his verdict.
The problem at its root is the same old diametrically opposite ideology in the realm of therapeutics. Viewed from different angles, it presents itself as Aggression vs. Self-Defense, Violence vs. Non-Violence, Suppression vs. Cure. After all, what role do the Sulfa drugs and the anti-biotics play in healing the sick? They claim to restore health by destroying the germs and organisms believed to be responsible for causing disease. There is a state of war; the patients body becomes a battlefield with the inevitable consequences following in the wake. If the patients vital economy is strong enough to withstand the onslaught and the resultant toxaemia and exhaustion, he survives, otherwise death closes the scene.
It could very reasonably be asked, “Will not the poison which kills the germs have some deleterious effect on the healthy cells and tissues of the body and consequently on the general health and vitality of the patient?” It does undoubtedly affect the patient adversely, and the patients so treated do often have prolonged convalescence and feel miserable for quite some time after the illness. In fact some patients actually remark that they would much rather have preferred the original illness to the illness caused as side effects of the drugs.
The writer has seen three children dying by total stoppage of urine as a result of Cibazol [A proprietory preparation containing a “Sulfa” drug.- ED.] administration. “They must not have made the child drink plenty of water,” was the report of an old school physician. Well, you can lead a horse to water but cannot compel him to drink! Even grown-up patients cannot some- times be forced to drink water, to speak nothing of children. Then there are the other side-effects: flushes of heat, vanishing of appetite, a general miserably feeling, and in some cases, rashes on the body.
And the worst of it is that the germs become hardier and resistant to these drugs, and while the acute phase of the disease is, according to orthodox conception, considerably overcome, it develops a tendency towards chronicity. Relapses are quite common, as by destroying the germs you do not destroy the cause which grants them admission into the human body and which secures for them a favourable soil to thrive in.
Considerably similar is the experience with the wonder drugs Penicillin, Streptomycin. Aureomycin, and Chloromycetin, though the toxaemic effects are claimed to be not so bad and troublesome as with Sulfa drugs. While the high fever of the acute phase often dramatically disappears, the disease otherwise practically runs its course. In a way it is worse. By the magic removal of the fever by Penicillin in Pneumonia, for example, the patient becomes careless, does not take sufficient rest, and before the lungs are properly cleared of the products of disease and restored to normalcy, the patient gets about his work and neglects that lingering cough which paves the way for more serious disease.
The tendency to get frequent attacks of Pneumonia is not helped at all and persists. Chloromycetin is no longer believed to be that unfailing Typhoid cure which it was considered to be when first announced to the world. Many cases run their full course in spite of Chloromycetin, and in many cases the fever relapses after it has been initially brought down by the drug. As many as six relapses have been known in a Typhoid case in spite of Chloromycetin. The germs become resistant to the drug. While stronger and stronger antibiotics are being discovered, hardier and hardier are the germs growing.
Is it not surprising how the tall claims made regarding the wonder drugs, when they are first announced to the world, begin to shatter when they are tested at bed side over a wider and wider range of patients? Gradually the “wonder” part of them drops out and they remain drugs pure and simple! To the homoeopath, it is no surprise at all, as he is thoroughly aware of the lack of a law of cure in the orthodox system of medicine. He very well knows that the results of experiments carried out on animals in artificially produced conditions, and on germ-cultures in test-tubes, cannot logically be transferred to the healing of natural sickness which results from a deranged functioning of the Vital Force. Disease and medicine cannot act upon the human body except through the medium of the Vital Force which factor is unfortunately completely ignored by orthodox medicine.
The only satisfactory definition of a cure is that presented by Hahnemann, “a rapid, gentle and permanent restoration of health, or removal and annihilation of the disease in its whole extent in the shortest, most reliable and harmless way, on easily comprehensible principles.” Such cures are performed by his followers every day by gentle, yet effective, stimulation of the patients vitality to fight out the morbific disease influences according to Natures Law “Similia Similibus Curantur.” When the integrity and normal functioning of the Vital Force are restored, the germs and worms themselves quit, finding no congenial soil and atmosphere to thrive in. Patients recovery is quickest and safest, without any undue depression of the Vital Economy, and the convalescence is quite speedy.
CASE I.
October 10, 1949. The writer was awakened at about 1:30 A.M. and asked to visit Mr. J.N. who was in great mental agony. About a week ago he had consulted a doctor about his being a little underweight, though there was apparently nothing else wrong with him. A urine examination was ordered and a few pus cells were detected. He was suggested a course of 10 lacs [In India, 1 lac- 100000.] units of Penicillin spread over 24 hours in three hourly injections. After he had taken about half the course, he felt his mind was not functioning normally.
In the evening he went out with the intention of seeing a cinema show, but before buying a ticket he felt he was not fit enough to see it and returned home. The course was completed in the night soon after which he started feeling anxiety and loss of appetite, and later developed severe constipation. By midnight the next day he felt as if his heart was sinking and he was going to die which compelled him to call the writer that night. It took about a fortnight to bring him out of that acute condition with the help of Ars. alb. 30., Nux Vom. 30., Chelidonium 30., and Lyco. 30. But even now after about a year and a half he feels he is not his old self that he was before the Penicillin course.
CASE II.
A few months later the same Mr. J. N. called in and asked for medicine for his mother who, too, was getting the same sinking feeling and attacks of anxiety with fear of death as a result of Penicillin injections given after an operation for Appendicitis as a safeguard for preventing infection. Ars. alb. 30. three times a day for two days and later once or twice a day according to the return of symptoms tided over the crisis, and the patient had a nice and quick recovery.
CASE III.
Mr. S. L. W. got conjunctivitis with much redness of the left eye and lachrymation. He was advised by an eye-specialist to use Penicillin eye-drops (2000 units per c.c.) every hour. Next morning he woke up to find much oedematous swelling of the upper eyelid, lower lid and part of the cheek with inflammation, itching and oozing of a watery fluid from the affected area. I was called to see him and do something. As I had seen three similar cases of Penicillin allergy before. I at once asked him if he had been using the famous wonder drug locally. “Oh yes, but how could you know this?”, was his surprised exclamation.
“I myself feel it is due to Penicillin,” he continued, “but the same eye-specialist says it is not so, that it is due to contact of acrid eye-discharge with the surrounding skin, and that I should take Penicillin injections, one lac units every 3 hours.” He was put on Apis mel. 30. t.i.d., and the next day he was a little better. But he was very nervous and anxious, and his several old school doctor friends persuaded him to try allopathic treatment, promising a quicker cure. They treated him with Antistine, Benadryl, Calcium and Vitamin B injections, and it took him about three weeks to come round.
CASE IV.
A boy of about 9 years was examined in April 1949, and the following history was elicited. In the spring of 1947 he got rheumatic pains in his knees and ankles which he got over with the help of Berin injections. Next year again in the same season he got the similar pains and similarly got over them. The trouble recurred in the spring of 1949. The treating physician thought of finishing off the septic focus responsible for the rheumatism with Penicillin which was given in 3 hourly injections of 1 lac (100000) units each for about two weeks. The heart which had never been involved before was attacked by the rheumatism with tumultuous action, anxiety, severe pain, dyspnoea and inability to lie down. The pain had left the joints altogether. In spite of most careful homoeopathic prescribing, the child could not be saved.
CASE V.
October 1949. A girl of about 6 years was down with Typhoid and when, after the first week, there was a certainty about the diagnosis. Chloromycetin was resorted to, and the fever was “magically” brought down to normal on the 4th day of its administration. But at this stage the child developed persistent vomiting which, in spite of the best efforts of the physician, refused to yield. The report, was then received that the child was very restless, appeared to be much prostrated, could not even hold up her head and was semi-comatose. The physician, a friend of mine, asked me if something could be done to stop the vomiting. I agreed to try and after examining the case gave three doses of Ars. alb. 30., every 4 hours. The vomiting ceased and the child was able to retain glucose water and fruit juices. But she continued sinking, the coma deepened and death closed the scene.
CASE VI.
Arun, a child of about 4 years, started getting fever, ranging between 98.4 degree and 102 degree every day. Malaria was suspected and quinine resorted to but without any benefit except that the higher range came down to 101 degree. After giving some other drugs and the failure thereof, the treating physician came to the conclusion that in all probability it was a case of B. Coli infection, and in any case Streptomycin should be tried. During this treatment the general condition of the child improved and he gained in weight, but the fever persisted in its rise up to 100 degree.
B.A., M.D.S.
Dehradun, India