TWO ALUMINA CASES


Characteristic for its choice are the general weakness and paleness, the dryness of the mucous membrane, formication and numbness of hands and feet; the craving of warmth– in opposition to Secale –aggravation from walking in the dark; potatoes always agree poorly.


From Pacific Journal Coast of Homoeopathy.

IN the third act of “Siegfried” from Wagners drama “Die Niebelungen” it reads:”Loudly calls the Song, strongly summons the Magic.” So I felt, when our chairman insisted on asking me to speak about Sepia as a remedy for men, which, of course, did not refer to its action in sexual weakness and atonic pollutions, nor chronic gonorrhoea and prostatorrhoea in irritable, moody or weepy-melancholy men, but to its general usefulness in troubles of younger or older men. This is often overlooked; generally it is considered a womans remedy. No, I speak of a case from my practice, which may possibly be more interesting.

1. Mr. E. J., 31, came to me reporting: In January, 1932,I entered an employment; the work at the typewriter was very hard, but I succeeded well and without getting tired. Middle of September I felt formication in the right foot, thinking at first the foot had gone to sleep; when walking, I often had to sit down to rest; I felt so tired. But since it did not get better, I consulted my physician, who examined me thoroughly and prescribed Promota and Pine-needle baths with cold sponge rubs.

There was no improvement, just the opposite, I noticed that work got harder for me. In October I noticed that I saw everything double. I consulted an oculist, who prescribed light baths for the head. After a week it was a little better, but recurred soon again with the addition of a left-sided facial paralysis, which the physician treated with electrical face massage. A blood examination proved negative. Not only did I fail to get better, but my right arm and right leg became clumsy; my physician sent me to a neurologist, who treated me till end of December with injections.

Since no improvement occurred, I consulted another doctor, a nerve-specialist, who also treated me with injections, which did to help me, so I quit him. On February 8th I entered the hospital and had a very thorough examination by Professor P., who also made a lumbar puncture, which showed no blood corpuscles. Now albumin was found in my urine. Diagnosis: Multiple sclerosis. I was given half-and full baths. After three weeks I was sent to a spa, because the paralysis of arm and leg got worse after a short improvement.

The physician in chief here made the same diagnosis. I was given Arsenic injections, baths and massage. My condition did improve a little, so I went home and then to the Northsea Bath Sylt. Beginning of November, 1933, vision in left eye was fast diminishing; the toes of the paralyzed leg contracted until I could not walk alone.

November 26th, 1933, patient came to me. I found a very sick young man in a desperate mood. He had formication and numbness of feet; the small of back was as if broken, with cramps in back; patellar reflexes increased; fissures on lips and nose; constipation; thirst, aversion to potatoes; walking very difficult. He was the picture of misery. Which remedy corresponds to the totality of the patient? None but ALUMINA. This was given in the 200th centesimal potency on three successive evenings, and this was followed by Placebos.

After two weeks he reported that he was so much worse, that he could not be transported to me any more. Both hands were powerless, without tremors; he could not dress or undress without help. His vision also was less. I prescribed more Placebos. The middle of January a slow, but steady improvement set in, and in February he again could visit me without help. He now took walks, regained vital energy, and again enjoyed life. He continued to improve and took up his work once more.

Now you may ask: was the diagnosis correct? Or was this only a functional condition? Let the scientists debate this point. For me the totality of the sick man was deciding, which led me unerringly to the simillimum. During the entire treatment it was important that the patient have full confidence in me. You all know the importance of such a psychic condition, especially when a patient comes to us in utter despair, but leaves full of hope and confidence. It seems to me, that Alumina is not used often enough.

Characteristic for its choice are the general weakness and paleness, the dryness of the mucous membrane, formication and numbness of hands and feet; the craving of warmth– in opposition to Secale –aggravation from walking in the dark; potatoes always agree poorly. But remember, Alumina acts deeply, slowly, and only in high potencies.

Now I shall relate another similar case:.

2. Mrs. M., 34, came to me March 23rd, 1933, with the following symptoms; Since the birth of her last child three years ago, a slowly developing paralysis of the lower extremities appeared, which interfered very much with her walking. She did not feel sick, but was very weak.

She looked anaemic and delicate; she disliked the cold; felt better in moist weather; constipation with flatulency especially after eating potatoes; backache and numbness of soles of feet. She was very depressed, especially after menstruation; profuse leucorrhoea at times; patellar reflexes exaggerated. I prescribed Alumina 200th centesimal potency three doses on three successive evenings. On April 4th there was no appreciable change. For the next ten days she had Placebos. Then I gave her Arnica 30, a daily dose for fourteen days, on account of having had an instrumental delivery.

On May 14th she returned full of happiness because she felt she could walk so much better. I continued Arnica every other evening till the middle of July when improvement stopped. Menstruation became more and more scanty, and the patient looked oedematous. This suggested endocrine dysfunction to me, so I gave her Thyroidin 30th, which was followed by a remarkable improvement.

To-day patient seems to be entirely well. It was difficult to make a diagnosis, but without doubt, spinal cord trouble was present, which also prompted me to give Alumina, especially since the other symptoms seemed to indicate it. But while it acted so well in the first case, now it lost out entirely. Every case is different and must be considered not yet complete. It is difficult to free oneself from the experience in similar cases, but here we see again that strict individualizing is necessary in our homoeopathic therapy. The total condition and the total picture are more important for the selection of the remedy than for a diagnosis of a single organ.

Wassily