On about the fourth or fifth day she developed a paralysis of the entire left leg. On the sixth day another physician was called who made a definite diagnosis of infantile paralysis. The child was kept in bed for about five weeks. She was given Nux vomica 3x on the start off. The next day was given Phosphorus 30th. Phosphorus was her remedy for the next two months. She made slow improvement, gradually was able to sit in the chair, walk a few steps with assistance, with a flail like action of her leg and a marked limp.
After two months there was an acute outburst of her miasm when she developed a high temperature, a congested nose and throat, a very definite enlargement of liver and spleen, with marked tenderness and much malaise. At the beginning she was given Bell. 30th which was followed in a few days by China sulph. 30th. China sulph. was her remedy for the next two months.
Since this time she has had Causticum 30th, later 200th, and then 1M. She has gradually improved. Today she walks without assistance but with a moderate limp, can run a few steps, rides her bicycle freely has that sense of well being and is cheerful and happy. Nothing further hindering her progress in another six months, judging from improvement in the past six months, she will walk normally.
D.B., girl, seen Jan. 26, 1930, showed a papular bluish rash which was dry and scaly, over entire body and head, worse over the external surface of the arms and upper part of the body. She scratched much. This condition came on after a vaccination eight years previously. She also had a rash during the teething period, which had subsided. There was a terrible itching, burning in character, which disturbed her sleep.
She was told she had kidney disease. The urine showed traces of albumen and a small amount of bloody by microscope. Her N. P. N. was 42. Four days after consultation she was given Arsenicum alb. 200th. She made a fairly rapid and uneventful recovery. The potency of her remedy was gradually carried up, the last being the 10M.
Similar experiences with pneumonia, whooping-cough and all acute diseases might be reported, but most of you have had greater experience with such than I, and therefore it is not expedient. We may secure an immunity if we impair or destroy the susceptibility, and if there were enough physicians skilled in the art of selecting the correct remedy our children could enjoy a true immunity.
DISCUSSION.
DR. B.C. WOODBURY: I think Dr. Neiswanders paper is very valuable, because it enters into a field that is very much neglected. I made a statement in a medical meeting in Massachusetts two years ago in which I cited the care of two cases of infantile paralysis. One was by the use of Lachesis followed by Solanum nigrum. The other case was cured by Plumbum. My statement was taken exception to by the author of a paper on the treatment of infantile paralysis. He stated that it was only by means of an immune serum that it was possible to cure infantile paralysis; therefore, I cant see any other answer to it than that.
I had an interesting experience this last year with a little child who had periodic discharge. She had gone through the usual routine of Schicks test and vaccination. She had a virulent sore on her leg from her last vaccination and she was in a very frail condition. She also had measles this summer. Along in November she developed an acute infection of both ears. I gave her different remedies, but I didnt do very much for her except to keep the ears clean with dry cotton. Finally in January she developed acute pneumonia. She had one dose of Phosphorus 1m, with a complete recovery from the pneumonia. Since then she has had absolutely no discharge from the ear, and she has apparently been in perfect health, blooming and growing rapidly.
I think if we let these things follow their natural courses and can get hold of the remedies which fit the conditions, even though we are handicapped by the various objections the children are subjected to, there is still a chance for the children.
DR. D. PULFORD: There is one point that Dr. Neiswander brought out very forcibly, and that is the difference between the active and the artificial, or what you might call passive immunity. Supposing these injections did no harm at all, you are only furnishing the patient with a pair of crutches with which to walk around. That is going to result in a natural weakening of the body. I think that point was very nicely and very clearly brought out in his paper.
The Homoeopathic Recorder, Vol. XLVII, No. 5.
