But the most interesting fact of all is that Strickler, with an apparent and no doubt supremely blissful ignorance, ignores in his account of therapeutic success the foundation principles of homoeopathy upon which is success depends. Perhaps, even in staid old Philadelphia, he has at some time heard of one Constantine Hering and that the latter was reputed to be somewhat of a homoeopathic physician, who expounded the principles of his science and art with considerable ability, we are told. Or are we coming to the point where anaphylaxis and negative phase must be substituted for aggravation and desensitized must be employed instead of homoeopathically cured? “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” but why change a name which after all has the merit of classic accuracy and has ably stood the test of time?.
At all events, Stricklers achievement, which deserves all praise, and his pronouncement in favor of internal over local treatment, may well cause some homoeopaths to sit up and take notice that after all their own methods should be good enough for them and ought to be more faithfully adhered to. As our German colleagues would aptly say, “Warum in die Ferne schweifen, wenn das Gute liegt so nah?”
MORE DESENSITIZATION.–
The hay-fever season is with us again and the usual army of sufferers seeks relief. Many have been tested for good anaphylaxis, as well as for a host of flowers, shrubs and plants, until long-suffering cutaneous open spaces are filled up with the scarifications of diagnostic tests and now resemble the checkerboards of our youthful days. Cats and dogs are studiously avoided, even silk lingerie (say it softly) is shunned by some, while the ubiquitous motorcar has happily well- nigh banished the fear of horse dander along country roads and lanes.
The hay-fever specialist is among us, his capacious pockets well lined with the green paper tender of the realm, while distracted patients roam the country in search of immune health resorts.
Pharmaceutical manufacturing concerns now flood the obliging journals with their “aids,” much as do the chicken ranchers, who in early spring fill the agricultural journals with their alluring announcements of day-old chicks, direct from producer to buyer. Caveat emptor, let the buyer beware and watch his step most carefully!.
It seems to be agreed that, in the Eastern States at least, timothy is responsible for most of the hay-fever sufferers trouble, though along in August and September the rag-weed (ambrosia artemisiae folia) and even golden-rod (solidago virga aurea), our national flower, are capable of causing much discomfort as well. It is said that timothy pollen (phleum pratense) is responsible for 90 per cent. of the cases. Well, perhaps so! Kent taught that a psoric diathesis underlies the hay-fever constitution and that antipsoric remedies only, are likely to bring about a real cure. We believe this to be true, but must put the soft pedal on the statement “cure.”
In spite of what most of us can do, these patients seem to go through the annual torment, yet it must be admitted that our remedies have a most remarkable power of modifying and shortening the attack. We say this without fear of contradiction, for many times have we seen such remedies as Arsenicum iod., Allium cepa, Carbo veg., Nux vom., Sabadilla, Silicea and Psorinum, not to mention Succinic acid and a few others such as Wyethia helenoides, Arundo mauritanica and Sanguinaria nitrate, do marvelous things. Of course, the trick is to get the indications for a certain choice, then shoot high, the higher the better, and quick relief will follow.
Take Arsenicum iod. for example. Burning in the post-nasal space is apt to be present, sneezing, lachrymation, negative pressure headache over the frontal sinus, acridity of the discharges, prostration, general inclination for the cooler open air, yet relief from heat, locally applied over the nose and forehead.
Allium cepa indications are those of the usual well-known coryza and need not be rehearsed except to say that August is the, open season for this remedy and peaches a sworn enemy.
Carbo veg. suits the obese, worn-out, run-down patient, whose protuberant paunch betokens much previous abuse of the digestive organs. Puffy, cyanotic countenance, oxygen hunger, flatulence and gaseous eructations, which incidentally to give relief, although not altogether pleasant for the ears of polite society. Sneezing in the Carbo veg, patient is not a matter of unalloyed bliss, for often it is quite a struggle, with many vain attempts to consummate the impending sneeze; the repertory puts it more succinctly by saying “ineffectual efforts to sneeze,” a symptom, by the by, which is found in Silicea and Calcarea fluorica also.
Of course Nux vomica is known to all; do no forget the cantankerous mentality of the individual who needs it, the morning aggravation, the gastric symptoms and the constipation. In the Nux coryza, alternate stoppage and opening of the nostrils will be found, with excoriating watery discharge, a rasped throat, and although the Nux patient is sensitive to cold and is chilly, so far as his coryza or hay-fever is concerned, he feels better in the open air. Headache, either frontal or occipital, will usually be present.
Sabadilla is a useful little remedy and Sabadilla and sneeze are practically synonymous. Chilliness, left-sided soreness of the throat and watery coryza are all characteristic.
Silicea may come in, even during the attack, though, like Psorinum is more likely to be a constitutional, basic remedy. Both remedies hate cold, both avoid drafts, both like to be warmly dressed and wrapped up. Silicea is particularly sensitive to drafts about the head and suffers from pain in the occiput, which is relieved by warmth. Offensive and excoriating foot- sweat or such a sweat which has been unwisely suppressed by salicylic acid or alum foot-baths is a symptom of importance. Offensiveness belongs of course to Psorinum and practically all discharges and even the patient himself is apt to have an offensive body odor.
Succinic acid has for us done splendid work, though we must confess that its use has been somewhat empirical and its indications negative, i. e., when well-marked symptoms of other remedies have been lacking. Carl Rust, of Cleveland, first called our attention to it. Rust is that rare bird, the nose and throat specialist who still attempts to for his patients in the good, old-fashioned homoeopathic way,instead of shooting medicated sprays from an impressive air compressor against every mucous membrane he may chance to meet.
Wyethia hails from beautiful California and presents a much irritated and inflamed mucous membrane of the entire naso- pharyngeal tract, with constant tickling and an insistent desire to cough; itching of the palate and of the posterior nares is a symptom of value, found, however, in Arundo, Silicea and some others also. Dryness of the epiglottis and burning.
Arundo mauritanica is an Italian grass; itching of the palate as just mentioned and itching in the nose are characteristic; sneezing and watery coryza are of course present.
Sanguinaria nitrate is a splendid remedy when the symptoms agree. These are often violent-watery, burning, excoriating nasal discharge, sneezing, rawness, burning in the throat, nasal obstruction are all typical.
Recently we found occasion to resort to the specific antigen of our O.S. friends in two old chronic hay-fever cases, marked not only by the usual distressing nasal features, but also by most violent asthma. The symptoms, though severe, were not especially suggestive of any of our usual remedies, ands for this reason we decided to give a potency of timothy grass itself, Phleum pratense.
This we did, obtaining the 6th centesimal potency and giving this in frequent repetition, in both cases with practically immediate and beneficial effect. In one case the asthma subsided within two hours and did not return, although the patient continued to remain in the country, surrounded by timothy grass on all sides. In this case, later on, a few remaining nasal symptoms were quickly relieved by Arsenicum iodatum 200.
This interesting experience we give for what it is worth; the experience of others may be confirmatory or otherwise, though to us it seems worth following up in suitable cases. To be sure, the remedy should receive a careful homoeopathic proving, so that we might define its exact position and know its finer indications. In the meantime we are thankful that in these two cases at least we have been able to desensitize our patients and that per oram, without restoring to hypodermic or other cumbersome and obnoxious methods. The simplest way is assuredly the best and homoeopathy offers the simplest method every time. By all means, then, let us help our patients, even though we must resort to desensitization to do it!
VACCINE IN PILLS.-
Under this caption, The Brooklyn Eagle of May 21, 1923, gives space to a news item, received by cable from Paris, France, of the same date, in which it is stated that a method of administering anti-typhoid vaccine by pills instead of injections under the skin has now been proved so effective that agitation is under way, seeking to introduce this method into the French army. The article further states:
American Homeopathy Doctor.
Rabe graduated from the New York Homeopathic Medical College and trained under Timothy Field Allen and William Tod Helmuth.
Rabe was President of the International Hahnemannian Association, editor in chief of the Homeopathic Recorder, and he wrote Medical Therapeutics for daily reference. Rabe was Dean and Professor of Homeopathic Therapeutics at the New York Homeopathic Medical College.