THREE CASES FOR BEGINNERS.
THERE is no better way of learning the essentials of homoeopathic treatment than the study of cases which have yielded to the magic of the correct remedy. It is assumed that the basic laws underlying all homoeopathic prescriptions have been mastered and that some familiarity with the Materia Medica has been attained. Many beginners are soaked in the traditional method of treating disease. They instinctively search for a remedy to cure, let us say, rheumatism.
In some books they will find, under the heading Rheumatism, a list of drugs which have been found useful in cases diagnosed, rightly or wrongly, as rheumatic. A useful hint may be found in such lists. But, in many cases, the remedy will be found outside them. The prescriber must be guided by the symptoms peculiar to the patient. John Browns rheumatism will differ from John Smiths. Be sure that you distinguish the symptoms which individualize the case. You are treating a patient, not the name of a disease. Here is a case illustrating the action of Apis and Sulphur.
Mrs. A. had suffered from repeated attacks of nettlerash. She had undergone much treatment of the orthodox kind. But year after year the attacks returned. She had been dosed with various drugs, including Dimoe and Grey Powder, without any permanent benefit. Calcium injections made her worse. She was irritable and depressed. Worry made her worse. She was worse in hot rooms, and when warm in bed. The pains were burning and stinging like bee stings. There was great irritation.
I was told all this on the telephone. Mrs. A. wanted immediate relief, as she wished to attend some function in a few days time. She got Apis 3x, because Apis causes similar symptoms when proved on a healthy person. Clarkes Dictionary of Materia Medica gives under Apis: Depression and irritability Urticaria, like bee stings, with intolerable itching worse in a hot room, or warm bed.
The first dose relieved, and after a few days Mrs. A. called upon me, and told me that the rash had gone, and with it the pain and itching. But she complained that she still felt too hot in bed. She had dreams of falling from a height, and she felt hungry about 11 oclock. These symptoms are typical of Sulphur. A few doses of Sulphur ended the case, and the recurrent attacks which had annoyed her for a great many years. Incidentally she has had no more dreams of falling.
When I told Mrs. A. that she was taking Sulphur she said that one doctor had given her Sulphur, and it made her worse. Sulphur, given in its crude form, and in a considerable dose, merely aggravated. Sulphur 3 the minute dose in potentized form cured, so illustrating the homoeopathic law.
Miss B., aged 54, came to me after much unavailing treatment. Baths, drugs, electricity, diet, etc. She was suffering from severe pain in the upper dorsal vertebrae, “just below my neck”. The pain was a dull grinding ache radiating down her arms which felt heavy. The painful parts were sore when touched. She was depressed, irritable, and restless. Cold winds, changes of weather, and to some extent movement aggravated the pain. But she felt better when walking about the room when the pain was acute. The pain was worse before and during menstruation. The times of aggravation were morning and night.
Bogers Synoptic Key contains an excellent study of Cimicifuga. He described it as a depressing irritant causing exhaustion and low spirits. Bruised, heavy, sore, aching muscles. Worse from cold winds, change of weather, before and during menstruation. Better from continued motion.
Cimicifuga 1x was given and proved to be curative, though the action was somewhat slow. If I were prescribing now, for this case, I should give a higher potency and fewer doses.
Movement made this patient worse locally, but better generally. So when you note that a patient is worse or better from movement, heat, cold, etc., be sure that you know whether you are dealing with a particular or a general symptom.
Mrs. C., aged 44, had an attack of gastric influenza in 1932. As she recovered, diarrhoea and sickness began. The vomiting and diarrhoea were simultaneous. Allopathic treatment was given, and at the end of twelve months the vomiting ceased, but the diarrhoea continued. Mrs. C. was then treated homoeopathically. She received Arsenicum 3, and China 1x in alternation. After a fortnight of this treatment she felt better. The diarrhoea was now limited to four motions each morning instead of eight or nine a day.
The motions were light yellow and came with a gush. Morning tea would bring on an attack. Podophyllum 3 was given, but the diarrhoea continued. As the patient was very exhausted, and her periods were excessive, she got Arsenicum 3. A fortnight later the diarrhoea was less violent, but just as frequent. There were motions every twenty minutes during an attack. The menses were dark, China 3.
I never saw this patient; as all this was given to me over the telephone when I was asked to suggest a remedy. The guiding symptoms in this case were yellow motions expelled with a gush, and immediate aggravation on drinking. Croton tig. has these symptoms very strongly marked in its provings. They are not confined to Croton tig., but they are more characteristic of Croton than of any other drug. Croton has vomiting with diarrhoea, but so have many other drugs. An examination of all the drugs related to the case left the balance of probability in favour of Croton.
The patient received Croton 3. The result was dramatic. After the first day the patient improved. At the end of a week the motions were reduced to two each day. A week later the motions were normal in every way. A month later the diarrhoea returned. This may have been due to the fact that the patient was worried about some of her affairs. Croton 3 was given, and in three days the patient was well again. Since then, about a year ago, there has been no relapse.
Here we have a minute dose of a powerful purgative curing an obstinate and apparently incurable case of diarrhoea. It would be hard to find a better example of the homoeopathic law.
