My inkling that the start of the disease of the biliary apparatus was in the womb being apparatus was in the womb being thus confirmed, indeed, rendered certain, I continued with the Bursa as before.
Nov. 24th.-Although there has been no further spasms, there has not been any further progress; patient does not sleep so well; the liver has again begun to enlarge, and there is no further diminution in the size of the spleen. Still, I did not feel justified in leaving off with Bursa, and hence I alternated it with Chelidonium p.
December.-Patient was very ill, and everybody gave her up, excepting myself. I did not see my way out of the wood, but still I hold that the physician who gives up a case before the patient dies is on a par with the soldier who runs away from the enemy. So here, though I was absolutely alone in my view, I refused to surrender.
The bowels had ceased to act; there was more jaundice again, and patient could no longer rise from her bed.
I then gave Euonymin 3x, six grains every two hours, just as a liver remedy. Under very great agony patient in the course of a week or two passed a handful of gallstones by the bowels, and her jaundice was gone!
A number of the largest were obtained from the stools, and on account of the great interest of the case I now present my readers with a photogravure of them, taken by Sprague, of London, and which gives them in their natural size.
I have shewn these biliary calculi to certain medical friends, and amongst them to Dr. Robert T. Cooper, of London, as a curiosity.
I should explain that these biliary calculi were very much larger than here represented when they were first passed, but their outer layers were friable, and were washed, picked, and rubbed off before the calculi were brought to me; it is really only the hard kernels of the calculi which are given in this photogravure.
Notwithstanding the disappearance of the jaundice, and the passage of the gallstones as just described, patient had got very low, and the spleen did not seem to be any better subjectively, and not much smaller, and there was no period.
Here I gave Ceonathus Am. 1, five drops in water four times a day.
15th.-Patient has had severe rigors, seemingly caused by the Ceanothus, which is therefore discontinued. She has no appetite, and the menstruation has not appeared.
To have Pulsatilla 1, three drops in water every three hours.
20th.-Liver nearly normal; has just menstruated; the spleen has gone down a little; the entire abdomen very tender all over; has again had an awful attack of gall stone colic, and passed a number of stones, one very large. There is still bile in the urine.
To have Bursa pastoris p, and Nux vomica 1.
29th.-Another attack of colic; a further passage of biliary calculi three large ones; patient is low and weak, and prefers death to so much pain. It is to be remembered that large numbers of morphia pills are being taken all this time. To relieve the effects of the passage of the calculi; and the almost general feeling of bruisedness and tenderness,
I ordered Bellis perennis p, eight drops in water every four hours.
1891, Jan. 12th.-Great general improvement from the use of the Bellis perennis, but her liver and spleen are more swelled and greatly distress her.
Rx. Trit 3x Cholesterin. Six grains dry on the tongue every four hours.
19th.-Spleen and liver seem larger than ever. No jaundice, however. No menses.
Five drops of Pulsatilla p three times a day.
26th.-Has normally menstruated; liver smaller; spleen very tender. Rx. Bursa pastoris p. Five drops in a tablespoonful of water three times a day.
Feb. 3rd.-Has passed some more calculi; region of gall duct very tender; no jaundice; urine normal; is gaining flesh; the spleen is very large.
Rx. Tr. Ceanothus Americanus 1. Five drops in water every four hours.
13th.-There is further improvement; she feels better; is beginning to go about like other people, has passed one gallstone of small size, and a number of lumps of “sooty stuff.” Feels that this medicine has done her much good.
Rep.
23rd.-The spleen has gone down about one inch and three quarters; has menstruated again normally; is increasing in weight.
Rep. March 16th.-By letter I am informed that the spleen is not so well; and that there is a good deal of pain in the right side again. Rx. Trit. 3x Leptandrin. Six grains dry on the tongue, three times a day.
31st.-No improvement from the Leptandrin, and generally not so well, though the jaundice is entirely a thing of the past, and she is now of a very clear white complexion, and getting no longer to appear to be particularly thin.
Rx. Bellis perennis and Bursa pastoris in alternation.
April 15th.-Liver, spleen, and womb are described as “all blown out,” much pain in the region of the gall bladder.
Rx. Puls and Bryonia.
May 4th.-Patient is doing well; liver normal, or nearly so; spleen now only reaches half way down to the crest of the ilium, and is well defined. Patient has now the old symptoms of ulceration of the OS UTERI-the forcible healing up of which started the whole thing years ago!
And here I think I may resume, and conclude this already too long narration.
We see in this case the importance of Paracelsic organ- testing to find out the point de depart of the series of morbid phenomena; hepatics and splenics had no adequately curative action till the uterine medicine (Bursa pastoris) had touched the place of origin of the liver affection, and as soon as this was done (see Notes under date November 17th 1890) immediate improvement began!.
We have now cured the jaundice; the gallstones have been got rid of through the natural ways; the liver is well, and patient is going about her business; and our interest in the case IN THIS TREATISE on “The Diseases of the Liver” is at an end.
THREE MONTHS LATER.
August 10th, 1891.-Having this day seen and carefully examined this patient I am enabled to say that she is in excellent health, plump and pleasing, and equal to and performing the usual duties of and English housewife with a large family.
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.