Stomach.–Appetite good, but heaviness for hours after food, with very great distention : no special desires or aversions in food, though likes the taste of salt, and < pastry.
Rectum.–Bowels act fairly regularly, sometimes ineffectual urging to stool, or only small hard balls, with straining; bleeding from small haemorrhoids; itching of anus excessive when constipation, < heat of bed, preventing sleep.
Head.–Throbbing headache, begin occiput and work over head to left eye; < stooping, < motion, must keep absolutely still; < lying, want to keep head erect; > warmth, as usual, shivering accompanies them; > pressure, > darkness. Excessive sweat, streaming, on least exertion.
Throat.–Tickling cough when chilled or in draught.
Urine.–Brickdust sediment very often and especially before itching anus.
Mental.–None special; very punctual; like things done in hurry.
Generals.–No marked increase from hot or cold; stand both, though preferred warmth; great desire for open air and exercise; < change weather; < stimulants. This is a general as “personal,” and not any particular aggravation. Sweating on least exertion, especially head, which > him generally.
There are no very marked symptoms, general or mental, except the < stimulant and sweating so profusely; but the particulars are very striking, so markedly that the < 4 to 8 P.M. becomes a general, and must rank high. This, together with the flatulence, and especially the > from passing of flatus, also the brick-red dust deposit in urine, makes one think of Lycopodium with Nat. mur. close behind.
January 10, 1910. Lycop. 10M (Skinner), one dose.
January 12 Itching anus, without the usual constipation.
January 13. Flatulence so excessive as to give great pain; this continued for two days, and the patient, not knowing what drug had been prescribed, said, “I should have taken lycop. for this.” He is a very intelligent lay homoeopath, and had been taking lycop. 3x on and off for years at intervals.
January 19. Return of headaches, very severe; lasted two days.
January 23. Began to have rheumatic pains in left leg, which kept him awake for three nights–so severe that he wired to know if he might take rhus or bryonia. He was advised to keep his hands off, as the pain would likely pass off in a few days. He very wisely did. Had similar rheumatic pains in same leg twelve years ago, but had been perfectly free in the interval.
January 25. Left wrist suddenly became very sore and weak; could not hold anything, nor yet bear weight of arm resting. He experienced this same feeling twenty years ago, then due to a bad twist. Had to give up work for two years. It was massaged and rubbed with every kind of liniment then known. This very sore for the time, but > 27th.
So here we have a man not exposed to any risks or conditions which usually bring on his complaints, and indeed having for- gotten of their existence, being suddenly attacked with a return of old troubles in a very definite order, the more recent appearing before what happened years ago, and all reappearing in the “reverse order of their coming,” which is the proper order, if the drug is the true homoeopathic simillimum, and is a good prognostic sign. Again, this returning of symptoms shows the drug to be still acting, and must, therefore, not be repeated.
This is his first experience of high potency, in which he had no faith, but he declares it has fairly shaken him up, and made him feel better generally than he has done for twenty years.
The following are the direction of symptoms during cure: (1) From within-outwards i.e., from the deeper or more vital parts to the more superficial. Hence the > first in the loves or hates before the more gross symptoms.
(2) From above downwards.
(3) In the reverse order of their appearing.
Kent writes, p. 31, Philosophy : “You would naturally expect if it is the interior of the man that is disordered in sickness, and not his tissues primarily, that the interior must first be turned into order and the exterior last. The first of man is his voluntary, and the second of man is his understanding, the last of man is his outermost; from his centre to circumference; that is, from above downwards, from within outwards, from the more important to less important organs, from the head to the hands and feet.
Every homoeopathic practitioner who understands the art of healing knows that symptoms which go off in these directions remain away permanently. Moreover, he knows that symptoms which disappear in the reverse order of their coming are removed permanently. It is thus he knows that the patient did not merely get well in spite of the treatment, but that he was cured by the action of the remedy, because if the disease were allowed to run its course, such a result would not take place. The progression of chronic diseases is from the surface to the centre.”.
These facts can be verified almost daily on your patients. In fact, I invariably warn them of its possible occurrence when taking on a new case, and tell them that in proportion as the old symptoms are thrown back upon the surface so is their recovery. Complaints of the inner parts, heart and chest, must in recovery be accompanied by manifestations upon the surface, in the extremities.
Take a case of rheumatism of heart getting better–often accompanied by the knees or feet becoming rheumatic, and they feel annoyed. And if the doctor does not know or appreciate what is taking place he prescribes for the superficial manifestations, only to drive it back again into the system, with disastrous results.
This explanation to the patients is only their due–it saves much worry to both patient and doctor. How often do we find those who want immediate relief despite the explanation, and it takes all the grit and confidence of the medical attendant to withstand the appeal; but we are standing for principles, and the man who yields does so to the hurt of his integrity and his success–because out of apparent chaos order quickly comes, and he earns the confidence and respect of the patient for having borne them through a critical period.
On the other hand, you may lose your patient. I lost two new ones last week because they were not prepared to have return of old trouble brought to the surface. They will try other means, and when that fails I expect to see them back. If they want to be cured they must face it.
I mentioned at beginning that he was apparently healthy or strong. This is important as a guide to the potency. As he remarked to me afterwards. “What would have happened to me if I had not had a fair constitution to withstand it all?”–a very pertinent question. It is here where physical examination and a knowledge of pathology are absolutely essential.
Where deep tissue changes are present, e.g., old phthisical condition of lung. kidneys, or liver destroyed, we must be careful, as such aggravation often cannot be recovered from. Many such have been prematurely sent to their graves, and where tissue changes are known, it is better to go low–to say 200th, than risk a 10M.
It seems strange that a patient should express himself as feeling very well, indeed, without any marked diminution in symptoms, but the innermost part is telling that change is going on. “I dont know why it is, but I do feel better” You have got the right drug–keep hands off, and soon the symptoms will go. You are clearing your house in proper order–get the source clear, and what springs from it must of necessity be pure.
Weir received his medical education first at Glasgow University MB ChB 1907, and then on a sabbatical year in Chicago under the tutelage of Dr James Tyler Kent of Hering Medical College during 1908-9. Weir reputedly first learned of homeopathy through his contact with Dr Robert Gibson Miller.
John Weir wrote- Some of the Outstanding Homeopathic Remedies for Acute Conditions with Margaret Tyler, Homeopathy and its Importance in Treatment of Chronic Disease, The Trend of Modern Medicine, The Science and Art of Homeopathy, Brit Homeo Jnl, The Present Day Attitude of the Medical Profession Towards Homeopathy, Brit Homeo Jnl XVI, 1926, p.212ff, Homeopathy: a System of Therapeutics, The Hahnemann Convalescent Home, Bournemouth, Brit Homeo Jnl 20, 1931, 200-201, Homeopathy an Explanation of its Principles, British Homeopathy During the Last 100 Years, Brit Homeo Jnl 23, 1932: etc