PROF. OWENS publishes an interesting paper, which is, to all intents and purposes, a plea for a pathological view of materia medica. To some of his sentences we must take exception. For instance, he .says, “Hahnemann speculated, and then demonstrated in therapeutics.” This is a mistake. Hahnemann experimented and then demonstrated in therapeutics. In other words, he followed the inductive method. By this method the scientific inquirer does not speculate. On the contrary, he banishes all theory from his mind, and, by the process of experiment, “addresses a question to nature,” pure and simple. Free from all theoretical bias, the mind of the investigator is prepared to accept the true answer, no matter how unexpected the character of it. This was the method of Hahnemann, and it is to be particularly borne in mind that Hahnemann availed himself of the inductive method at the very time it became established by the eminent workers in physical science. At the very time that Hahnemann was making his drug experiments Sir Humphrey Davy was applying electrolysis to determine the nature of the alkalies and alkaline earths. No speculation was used by Davy in his experiments. Neither was any used by Hahnemann in his investigations. “No man ever took a step forward in anything,” says Prof.Owens, “unless he speculated, conjectured and formed hypotheses.” The objection to this seems to us to be that it is in accordance with the processes of the old alchemists, who first formed a hypothesis, and then undertook to prove it by experiments (the deductive method). Hence they were always blundering. Moreover, it is the method in the old school with regard to drug therapeutics to-day. Hence they are so empirical. Hence it is that no idea in drug administration, however crude, is too absurd for the average doctor to reject. We think that it is in Boswell’s Johnson where it is stated that a physician told an anaemic young girl that in order to be strong she must take iron; not that of the drug stores, but the steel filings of the machine-shop, a teaspoonful three times a day! Thus, because steel is strong, it must strengthen the human system. Does not this idea exist in the mind of the old school doctor to-day? We think it does. Tanner’s “Index of Diseases and their Treatment” (Henry Renshaw, London, 1866), constantly recommends preparations of STEEL. Now such follies as this come from the habit of speculating. Homoeopathic principles appear doubly absurd to an old school doctor because he falsely assumes them to be the result of speculation, and his inferences in that regard are strengthened by the thoughtless remarks of its followers. Hence Prof. Owens will see why we take him to task.
Dr. McNeil reports two cases of eczema vesiculosa. In the first case, the patient had had rheumatic pains with stiffness, worse by rest; better from motion. Cured with Rhus tox. The second case was attended with itching from getting warm; burning of feet, so that they must be put from under the bed-cover. Sulphur 500, then 6 M, then 55 M, then 81 M cured.
Dr. McNeil’s comments: “It is a prevailing delusion in our school that in a case of pernicious intermittent, nothing but massive doses of quinine will prevent a return of the paroxysms—the third return of which, they say, is certain death. That is all nonsense.”
“I believe that quinine frequently, in the climate in which I live, changes benignant intermittents to malignant ones.” “Cholera, yellow fever, typhus and diphtheria have given homoeopathy a fame which she can only lose by the recreancy of her professed followers.” Respectfully referred to the philosophers of the pestilential Wabash.
Dr. Nash reports a case of ulceration of uterus, with constriction of os, and suppressed menses. Symptoms: pain and weakness in back; flushes of heat; weak and faint after they pass off; great heat of top of head; feet cold all day, but burn at night; must put them out of bed; restless and sleepless at night. Sulphur CM (Fincke) cured.
Dr. Nash then indulges in some caustic remarks at the expense of an eclectic who “feared some homoeopath would ‘cudgel’ him” for his treatment of a similar case, reported in January number of Advance. He used topical applications “just as an allopath would use them.” “What is most to be regretted,” says Dr. Nash, “is that professed homoeopaths are so often, of late, resorting to old school, antipathic measures, and then trying to defend themselves on the ground that it is rational and scientific.”
Dr. Gilbert reports a case of threatened abortion prevented by Gelsemium CC. Indications were: fright caused a pain in uterus; worse from retching, followed by vomiting. The pain extended up to back of head.
Two cases of enuresis nocturna were benefited by Lachesis. The indication was derived from the symptom: this remedy seems to profoundly affect the voluntary system, and the will-power must supply the deficiency.
Dr. Gillard reports a case of ulceration of descending colon and rectum cured, after a three years’ struggle, with Lyc., after many other remedies had failed. The indications are a little obscure, but the general statement of the case is very interesting.
S. L. reports a case of tertian fever, attended with dry, teasing cough, for which Rhus tox. 30, was prescribed on Dunham’s indication, “ a dry, teasing cough before the chill, continuing after the chill comes on.” Cured.
A case of gonorrhoeal rheumatism was cured with Medorrhinum, CM. Unfortunately, the indications for these remedies are not very clear, so that the giving of them is almost empirical. Neither are yet sufficiently well proved for clear use.
Dr. Owens was called to a case of suspended digestion, with symptoms so violent that the patient was in imminent danger of death. He had eaten heartily of buckwheat cakes for supper. The indications were : must have the doors and windows open to get breath; profuse cold sweat all over, and standing in large drops on head and face; engorged stomach, sickness and nausea; white and glassy eyes; labored respiration. Puls., 6 M, cured; relief commencing in four minutes. The doctor says he prefers the simillimum to a stomach pump. This will horrify the eclectics.
An old man, who had been “raising thick, light-colored, tenacious, nauseating mucus,” to the amount of two quarts in twenty-four hours, presented the following indications:discharge of yellowish pus from the left eye; eyelids sticking together in morning after sleeping; discharge of hot water from the eyes; burning in the hands and feet. Sulph., 10 M, relieved. Then dryness of mouth and mucous discharge from rectum followed. Carbo v. was given, and later Sulphur again. Symptoms all cured.
Dr. Guernsey reports a very interesting case of retained placenta, after an abortion, at the fourth month. The symptoms were: abortion from contusion, sensation of soreness as from a bruise; hot head and cool body; great restlessness, wishing to change her position constantly. These being indications for Arnica, that remedy was given, and in forty-eight hours the placenta came away spontaneously.
The above is in striking contrast to some other cases reported in this same journal, where the operator, though professing to be enlightened by the principles of the new treatment, nevertheless continues the bad practice of tearing away piece-meal the retained placenta (even though it requires three days to do it), just like an old-school doctor. Yet, according to these scientific doctors, it is blundering practice to wait so long upon the action of the indicated remedy.
A “beginner in homoeopathy” asks if it be true that medicines will change the mal-position of a foetus in utero. The editor answers by reprinting a paper of the late Mercy B. Jackson, M. D. relating fourteen cases in her practice so changed by the administration of Pulsatilla.
Dr. Oertal mentions a case of Haematuria, where the urine was passed in drops, with great pain. large coagula of blood passed out with much pain. Cantharis, 30th, relieved very much. It was succeeded by several other remedies according to indications, and at the end of four months, the patient was cured.
A case of painful menstruation, preceded by diarrhoea, first watery and burning, followed by blood and mucus, and tenderness of abdomen, was greatly relieved by Arsenicum. Later, Colocynth. produced a cure.
A case of gastritis, of three years’ duration, showed the following symptoms: after taking food, there was great sickness and violent retching, lasting several hours, until vomiting occurred, which relieved; tenderness over the stomach; distention after eating; yellow fur on tongue; mouth dry and parched; coppery taste. Cuprum, 6th, cured.
Dr. Tilden writes upon the cause of pigeon-breast in children, and shows that it is largely due to the habit of lifting children, by placing the hands upon the chest beneath the infant’s arms. This causes compression of the ribs, and permanent deformity when persisted in. The proper way to lift a child is to place one hand under the buttocks, using the other to steady the body.
Dr. Whipple gives the “best treatment” for “rheumatism or any other disease, not of a surgical or chemical nature.” It “is to select your remedies in each case in strict accordance with the law of therapeutics, as expressed in the formula, ‘Similia Similibus Curantur.’ “He then proceeds to illustrate this position. A laborer, with inflammatory rheumatism, exhibited the following symptoms: profuse perspiration, but giving no relief, but rather aggravating the weakness; dirty yellow coating of the tongue; thirst, restlessness, anorexia, nightly aggravation, especially in the warm bed. Merc. Sol., 30, cured in six days.
In another case of rheumatism, the pains were worse on first beginning to move, better from continuing to move. Rhus tox., 30, cured in a few days—even curing a “double lateral curvature of the spine,” which had been caused by the pains.
The doctor will not say that he never allows topical applications in such cases, as “it may be necessary in order to satisfy the patient and friends.” This prescriber is evidently a genuine homoeopathist. It is pleasant to meet with such, and to report their cases.
Dr. Wakefield reports two cures of diarrhoea and vomiting in children with Calc-c., the indication in each case being vomiting of milk in curds; thin whitish diarrhoea (green in one case); does not sleep after 3 a.m.; profuse sweat of the head, wetting the pillow.One of these cases was followed by a painful tumor in the hip, which was prevented from suppurating by Hepar, 30.
Dr. Burnett cured a stubborn cough with Aralia; the indication was: fit of asthma on lying down. In three other cases the indications were: cough coming on after first sleep, waking the patient. Aralia cured.
Dr. Leonard reports a case of articular rheumatism, in which the indication first appearing was: pain greatly aggravated by washing the hands in cold water; also, at night Calc-carb. partially relieved. The pain in shoulders still continuing, Puls, was given for the following symptoms: numbness in left arm, from elbow down; mild, tearful disposition; sanguine temperament. This was followed by a cure, and now the doctor contends that Puls. should have been prescribed at first.
|Source:||The Homoeopathic Physician Vol. 01 No. 10, 1881, pages 501-507|
|Editing:||errors only; interlinks; formatting|