Case I.
I examined Mrs. D. aged 40 thin, fraillooking, emaciated and dark-complexioned on 28-9-45.
Main complaints:
For the last 18 months-pain, colicky, in the upper half of the abdomen from early morning with urging to stools which were semi- solid. Usually she got three motions a day, two of them in the morning between 7 A.M. to 11 A.M., but the third on in the evening proved an abortive attempt inspite of the urging. On some days she got five motions. With the epigastric pain, at times, there was trembling of the extremities, faintness and persistent nausea. All the above symptoms were a little ameliorated by rest, but definitely aggravated by eating anything.
The abdomen got full of gases without any distention but with severe borborygmi. She had empty eructations any time of the day and night, and ameliorated by pressure, e.g. of folded thick rug.
The mouth had lost its taste but sometimes it was bitter. The tongue was not coated.
There was pain below the left breast accompanied with palpitations which were aggravated by loud noise or loud voice.
There was pain all over the chest, the back and the sides. She thought the pain was in bones. This pain was aggravated by massage with turpentine and ameliorated by warm bathing. The above pain was present even during rest.
She found it difficult to get up having sat for sometime because her body became as if heavy. On the other had if she was busy doing work, she did not feel the bodyache so much.
She got formications of parts subjected to pressure, e.g., hips, sides (during sleep) or the extremities.
She had granular pharyngitis and there was constant discharge of thick yellow phlegm through nose. The nostrils got blocked every 4th or 5th day. She got cough early morning.
Throat: constantly felt dry and had to drink water (half cupfuls) even during wakefulness at night. She could not drink cold water because it aggravated abdominal pains. She therefore drank luke-warm water and also liked to eat warm food, e.g. rice, etc.
She was aggravated by the following articles of food: cocoa- nuts, grams, wheat, and bananas.
She could not withstand strong smells and got nausea and vomiting; she was generally aggravated by smells of odorous vegetables, e.g., “Methi”, “Kothimbir”, etc., odorous fruits, kerosene, allopathic medicines, etc. These strong odour persisted to cause her discomfort for several following days. Milk caused diarrhoea; fish, mutton and curds agreed.
In spite of all these aversions her appetite was excessive and she felt hungry immediately after meals.
Sometimes she had frontal headache and pressing pain in the eyeballs.
Patient was very chilly even in summer and had to wear 2 or 3 underwears. Her body was always cold and she had no visible perspiration. Her chilliness was aggravated in the evening and also after eating.
She cold not get sound sleep but remained half awake. She had to keep feet out of bed cover, otherwise felt suffocated. Also felt suffocated while stooping.
Dreams : ordinary and not terrifying.
Patient like company and liked to remain indoors.
She was very scrupulous about cleanliness, e.g., must clean every utensil with her own hands etc. Remains washing in water for three hours in the morning and evening.
Menstrual history: Prior to the birth of her only son who is now 18, she suffered from a red discharge continuously for three years. After the birth of the son she suffered from metrorrhagia, the menses lasting for 15 days and coming on again after 15 days. For the last six years menses have stopped altogether. During menstrual periods she used to get severe pain in the uterine region and formications of the extremities.
From the Boger Card Repertory I picked up the following cards bearing on anatomical parts, generals, modalities and sensations. Nux V. was the only drug that came straight through. None other even peeped through.
186 Nose & accessory cavities.
179 Mouth & throat.
51-1 Cough excited from throat & larynx.
182-2 Nausea.
204 Stomach & Bowels.
62. Digestion affected.
107 Flatulence.
85 Eating, affected by.
15 Ball, limp, knot etc.
56 Cramp, Colic etc.
231 Sensitive, also to noise, light, odours etc.
190 Odours, smells etc. aggravate.
36 Chilly cold.
122 Formications, crawling etc.
1 Aching.
I prescribed Nux Vomica 200 one dose on 29-9-45 at night and all symptoms of the patient were ameliorated for two days. I had to repeat Nux V., but as my own stock was exhausted I purchased it locally and this stuff did her no good. Then I thought of the chronic remedy of Nux V. viz, Sulphur; and for two main reasons I prescribed it. (1) Patient kept her feet out of her blanket, (2) According to Kent, Sulphur is chilly.
I give Sulphur 200 one dose on the morning of 4-1-45. This caused reaction in the patient and the following new symptoms were observed, viz, Pain & heaviness in the left upper and lower extremities, pain on the left side of chest. Nausea became more pronounced especially in the morning. She became more sensitive to odours of food and other thing. And her Nausea was aggravated on talking and on reading.
I referred Kents Repertory under nausea and studied the following rubrics :
P. 505 Nausea morning-Calc. 3, Carb V.3, Nux V.3, Puls. 3, Sep.
3.
507 Nauseas, food smell of-Ars. 2, Colch. 3, Dig. 2, Ip. 2, Sep. 2, Thuj.2.
508 Nausea, odours from-Colch, 3, Dig. 2, ph. Ac. 2, Sep. 2.
509 Nausea, pain in back during-se. 2.
509 Nausea, reading while-Arg. M.2, Arn.1, Con.1, Glon. I, Jab. 1, Lyc.1, Ph. ac. 1. Plan. 1, Sep. 1.
Sepia is common to all Sepia 200 one dose was given on the morning of 6-10-45 and that relieved then patient a great deal.
The frequency of motions in the morning is now limited to two motions, but the colicky pain nausea and chilliness have practically disappeared. On 14-10-45 patient got diarrhoea with six loose motions because she took a cup of ovaltine in milk the previous night. Nux V.200 relieved her. As you know Nux V. is complementary to Sepia. To this date the patient is gradually improving in health.
Case. 2.
Mr. B. K. age 60, examined on 19-8-45.
I have know this gentleman for the last 10 years. My impression about him then was that he was very active both physically and mentally. When I examined him his symptoms in short were:
Absolute aversion to do nay mental or physical work; would not care to walk even a few yards. All grit gone. Extremely chilly now a days although formerly a warm person. Constant nausea especially aggravated in the mornings. Absolutely no desire to eat anything. Distention of left side of abdomen with a rising ball sensation and colicky pain. Constipation. Constant heaviness of head. Diabetes, without desire for sweats.
I referred Boger Card Repertory, and selected the following cards:
63 Direction ascending.
12 Appetite changed.
182-2 Nausea.
126 Head.
264 Stomach, & Bowels.
56 Cramp, colic.
36 Chilly.
Silica showed straight through and Sul., Pul. Nux V., & Calc C. showed translucent. Silica has “No grit”. I prescribed Sil. 200 one dose on the morning of 20-8-45 and had to repeat the same on 30-8-45. Since then the patient is doing very well.
DISCUSSION
Dr. BANKER: “What was the diagnosis of the Sepia case.
Dr. PANDIT: No definite diagnosis was established.
Dr. BANKER: Was the Butter-Fly mark present across the nose in the Sepia case, as is described in Text Books?
Dr. PANDIT: I did not notice it. I never applied much importance to it.
Dr. BANKER: After the administration of Sepia did Dr. Pandit notice a change in her temperament? Ordinarily a Sepia patient is indifferent towards her dear ones.
Dr. PANDIT: I could not say anything about it. I had not much time at my disposal to ascertain it.
Dr. BANKER: Sepia is averse to company while in the case described Dr. Pandit the patient liked company. There was not similarity between the remedy & the patient.
Dr. PANDIT: I am unable to throw more light on the case.
Dr. L.D. DHAWALE: “Sepia has both the mental aspects about company. Kents Repertory in the chapter on Extremities under the Rubric Uncovering ameliorates, you would find that Sepia gets one mark and Sulphur 3 marks.
In evaluation you musnt take into consideration the intensity of the symptoms in the patient, and then try to find out a remedy similar to the symptomatology and to the intensity in the patient. I would like all of you to re-read the articles by Elizabeth Hubbard published in the Homoeopathic Recorder U.S.A. sometime back.
When symptoms were sometimes mixed, it was better to start the treatment with an antipsoric medicine.
In Sepia there is a change in the mental condition, viz indifference towards her dear ones.
Dr. Pandits contention is that it was not possible for him to elicit this information at the first visit, but I would say this much that one must create a sufficient confidence in the patient to get out the mental complex; when there is a toss between two remedies, one has to cross examine the patient.
Now Dr. Pandits query, with reference to the following point.
“Presence of cramp,” in stomach and no where else; would cramp be taken as a general symptom or a particular symptom?
