The symptoms of Asafoetida present an almost perfect picture of hysteria of the flatulent order. Reversed peristalsis of stomach and bowels. Excessive abdominal distension, and sensation as if everything in the abdomen would burst through the mouth. After belching of wind, strong rancid taste in the mouth.
The greatest and most important question arising in a given case, is, whether a new remedy should be administered, or the former one repeated, or no medicine should be given, and we should wait. This is surely very often a perplexing question. In the case here stated an error was committed, and we have already dwelt upon it; but in a great majority of cases such an error is not so easily remedied.
This time she was also attending the Clinic, who said she must have a Caesarian if she wanted a living baby. However I had charge of the lady during the last month. She was rather frightened by the Clinic and worried as to what was going to happen. I gave Acon. with no effect. Then she was rather chilly and weak so I gave her Gels. I was then gratified to find this drug in Yinglings Repertory as being the best for Anticipation of labour.
Excessively fetid discharge from nose. Scrofulous and syphilitic affection of bones of nose and face. Caries of bones of nose and palate. Putrid smell when blowing nose. Sensitive smell: everything smells too strong; or, Want of smell. Boring pain in bones of nose. Nasal catarrh with melancholy, even suicidal. Ulcerated, agglutinated, painful nostrils; cannot breathe through nose. Crusts in nose.
The case is interesting, and quoted, in regard to, first, the value of Lac can. as an almost specific for diphtheria (symptoms, agreeing); as such our predecessors regarded it: and secondly, because it bears out our plea for the recognition of what we have ventured to name, chronic measles, chronic diphtheria, chronic scarlet fever, chronic enteric, etc., and the extraordinary curative work that may be done, by treating them with their ancient appropriate remedies.
Hahnemann always tells us that mental symptoms, if marked and true and definite, are especially to be considered in prescribing. These are pretty constant in chronic disease, but most marked, where changed by acute disease. Changed mentality, owing to disease, is the most important Pointer we can get to a drug or drugs. As when . . . The self-reliant man loses his never, and exhibits strange weaknesses and distresses.
A fundamental principle which distinguishes the homoeopathic physician from every physician of all older schools, is this: that he never gives a medicine whose effect has not been previously proved and thus made known to him. To prescribe for the sick on some mere conjecture of some possible usefulness in some similar disease, or from hearsay that a remedy has helped in such and such a disease, is a conscientious venture that the philanthropic homoeopath will leave to the allopath.