A negative reply to this inquiry is of the highest importance to those who believe in the curative effects of drugs. It deprives the disease action of part of the mysterious fateful quality so constantly associated in out minds with these affections, and which terrorizes to some degree the powers of the medical attendant. For we hold that the great majority of physicians, on discovering the existence of suspicious growth, are strongly impelled to advise the use of the knife as the only sure treatment not withstanding that in cases of undoubted malignancy the value of surgical interference is greatly lessened by the relatively poor results as measured by the added years given to the patient.
Moreover if the occurrence of an infectious inflammation of the skin has destroyed malignant disease process in that issue, there is a fairly good basis for the view, reasoning by analogy, that a drug-disease-i.e a disease produced by the action of a medicine can if affecting a part involved in the malignant process cause similarly efficacious results.
In an admirable Report * “Phila. Medorrhinum Times,” xvi., 484.* on the Progress of Pathology by J.H. Muser, M.D., Mr. Sutton, F.R.C.S., is given as authority for the following view: “irritation local or otherwise, affecting the tissue, may cause abnormal epithelial growths, which rising above the general level, may produce a wart. On the other hand the epithelial growths may dip into the sub-epithelial tissues, and on account of lack of formative development either and on account of lack of formative development either from decline of vigour or general constitutional debility, the new tissue never develops functional debility the new tissue never develops functionally runs riot, and originates tissues of low vitality carcinomata. The conditions favourable to the development of carcinomata – debility, etc. – are absent in the young hence in the young we have warts; in the old, cancers.”
What then, is the bearing of these facts upon the treatment of probably malignant tumours? passing by the cures of warts by internal medicine alone, which almost every homoeopathic practitioner has observed over and over again we need only call attention to the cures by the same method of tumours of the female breast an organ notoriously disposed to malignant neoplasms here the action of Conium cannot be denied and what is true of this remedy may be true of many others.
A thorough study of the symptoms of each individual case, with the view of finding the exact simillimum, the exhibition of the latter in different attenuations, if necessary changing the remedy only when a change of symptoms demands it, and extreme extreme watchfulness for involvement of the neighboring glandular structures, make up, it appears to us, the duty of the physician. Whether he would be justified in holding out any hope of cure by internals medication after evidences of systemic infection exist, must be decided by his own experience; but, as there are always cases in which operation is inadmissible, or in which it will not be allowed, opportunities will not be wanting to continue treatment with the properly chosen remedy.
If statistics of our treatment can be collated and analysed, the results will, we feel sure, give encouragement to physicians and sufferers as well, and demonstrate anew, and in a strikingly brilliant manner, the value of our law of cure.
We earnestly hope, then, that those of us who hold hospital or dispensary appointments will endeavour to employ the method of internal medication in cases of malignant growths whenever it is fairly admissible to do so, and that records of cases containing diagnosis checked off as to their accuracy by every method known to medical science, together with the symptoms in full and the treatment used, may soon appear in our journals. Thus will be laid the foundation for a new and lasting monument to Homoeopathy.”
Without going so far as the author of this article, I must certainly say I attribute some of my success in the treatment of cancers and other tumours by medicines to a due recognition of the traumatic fact, not in diagnostics merely, but also in therapeutics.
Miss L.C., aged thirteen years, came under my observation at then end of July, 1879. About eight weeks previously a miserable lad in the street hit her on the right breast with considerable violence; from that time on, this breast became swollen and very painful, until at length she was quite unable to lie on her right side. Patient’s mother was poitrinaire, as was also her brother, and my experience teaches me that the members of poitrinaire families are particularly liable to suffer from blows.
At first no notice was taken of the young lady’s complaints, but week after week went by, and she persisted in referring to the pain in her breast. Whether any domestic means had been employed I do not now remember, but eventually I was sent for, as vague notions of tumour and cancer rendered the parents uneasy. On comparing the breasts, the right one was found to be by much the larger, being swollen and very tender.
I thought this a very proper case for testing the antitraumatic virtue of the old English bruisewort, and hence prescribed thus:
Rx. Tc. Bellis perennis 3x. 3ij.
S.-Three drops to be taken in water four times a day. The result was a very rapid disappearance of pain and swelling, and in a fortnight patient could lie again on the right side. And a few days later an examination showed that the swelling had entirely disappeared.
Nothing whatever was applied to the part, no change was made in diet, mode of life, or place of abode, and as the thing had already existed for eight weeks, the positively curative effect of the Bellis can hardly be denied, which is the one point this case is meant to exemplify and to teach, and that because it is so very difficult to demonstrate positively the effect of any one remedy when the tumefaction has become a genuine neoplasia, or hyperplasia. *In this case there was, of course, no hyperplasia.* Too many of my cases prove this.
XLV
Just one other case of a new-growth as my forty-fifth reason for being a homoeopath. You will see that the general character of a drug often helps us where our law becomes more or less inaccessible. It is a-
TUMOUR IN THE THROAT
A married lady of fifty-four came on August 8th, 1883, to consult me about a lump in her throat. In the left side of the top of the neck there was a hard body about the size of a hen’s egg, but flatter. The tumour had been there for a very long time, and with it she had much throat irritation. It was situated to the left and behind the larynx, but whether actually connected with the oesophagus or larynx, I could never quite satisfy myself. It moved up and down with the act of deglutition.
Rx. Trit. 3x Sul. iod., 3iv., gr. vj, ter die.
August 22nd.-No change
Rx. Psorinum30.
October 5th.-The throat-i.e. the fullness, uneasiness, pain and distress in the throat- is very much better, and the tumour has sensibly diminished in size.
Rx. Thuja occid. 30 November 1st.-The tumour is about half gone.
Rx. Psorinum30.
29th.-The tumour about two-thirds gone; general health good. Rx Thuja 30.
December 21st.-There is some tickling in the throat. The tumour is larger again, and the patient feels choky.
Rx Psor so.
January 14th, 1884.-The tumour has again sensibly diminished in size.
Rx. Psorinum C.
February 8th.-Tumour still swollen.
Rx Mercurius viv. 5.
March 3rd.-“I feel the lump very much less, about half its original size,” said the lady. She has much rheumatism in ankles and knees.
Rx Silicea, 6 trit., in frequently repeated doses.
31st.-Has been visiting a friend suffering from consumption, and since then has spit a little blood-streaked phlegm; has a good deal of tickling in the throat.
Rx Psorinum 30.
April 16th.-No coloured expectoration for a week, and then very trifling; the tickling in the throat is better, but the throat feels very rough. The tumour is rather smaller.
Rx.-Sul iod. 3x, six grains three times a day.
30th.-No coloured expectoration for the past week; the tickling in the throat is very much better, but talking brings it on. The tumour has lately not altered sensibly in size, but it is more self-contained, and one can now demonstrate that it is not connected with the larynx, being in the areolar tissue, behind and to its left. Has a good deal of rheumatism.
Rx. Tc. Condurango 1, 3iv. Five drops in water three times a day.
May 21st.-Thinks it is not so well; tickling sensation in the throat is worse. Feels the spring. The throat is worse in the morning and when tired.
Rx. Thuja 30.
June 10th.-Throat rather better; has only had the coloured expectoration once, but the voice is hoarse, and she feels her throat weak. Has rheumatism in ankles and knees, worse after motion. The tumour is a trifle smaller.
Rx. Urea 6.
June 11th.-More blood-coloured expectoration. Has had all the symptoms of a cold; aching all over with tingling, and feeling giddy and ill; aphonia; much tenderness in the neck; rheumatism better; urine thick (unusual); violent tickling in the throat with scraping and dryness; the tumour is nearly gone.
Burnett was one of the first to speak about vaccination triggering illness. This was discussed in his book, Vaccinosis, published in 1884. He introduced the remedy Bacillinum. He authored twenty books, including the much loved "Fifty Reason for Being a Homeopath." He was the editor of The Homoeopathic World.