Calcarea sulphurica is always to be thought of in the treatment of abscesses when the latter have been opened or are freely discharging.
“ANAPHYLAXIS AND HEART FAILURE IN DIPHTHERIA.-
Scholzs patient, aged 31, who had been injected eight and a half years previously with diphtheria antitoxin, was treated for diphtheria with an intramuscular injection of 3000 units of serum. Twelve days later urticaria set in, and three hours later complete collapse. No heart sounds were present. Camphorated ether revived the patient. Three hours later a new attack of urticaria was followed by weak pulse and disturbances of the sensorium. Inhalation of ether restored the patient again. Several similar attacks were stopped by inhalations of ether, and the patient finally recovered. Scholz points out the resemblance…. of this anaphylactic condition to the sudden death in diphtheria, and recommends the use of ether.”-J.A.M.A.
Anaphylaxis and its phenomena is a matter of great importance for physicians to consider, especially so far as the use of diphtheria antitoxin is concerned. The homoeopathic school has side-stepped the diphtheria-antitoxin issue, feeling no doubt that “he who fights and runs away, may live to fight another day”! However, this policy of studied evasion, although it follows the easiest way, will never settle anything and on the contrary serves to justify the criticism of our old-school friends that homoeopaths are contributing nothing to the general advance of science.
A short time ago a homoeopathic physician in one of the rural districts of the State of New York was taken to task by the State Department of Health because he had not used antitoxin in his treatment of several cases of diphtheria, occurring in one family, and because these cases had died of what appeared to the Department to be sheer neglect of modern therapeutic measures.
Although this unfortunate incident was most tactfully handled by the authorities and no open criticism of the homoeopathic school was voiced, nevertheless the school is bound to suffer by implication. We do not know the more intimate details of this case, but certain questions naturally arise: For example, did this homoeopathic physician use high or low potencies? Did he prescribe correctly, i.e., homoeopathically? Did he employ adjuvants of any kind, either local or general?.
In this day and age, for any homoeopathic physician to refuse to use antitoxin in diphtheria means that he must be prepared to show that he can produce results equally as good, if not better, with his own remedies. The responsibility which he assumes is indeed a weighty one. We believe that an expert prescriber, with high potencies, can always equal the results obtained with antitoxin, but we have no statistical evidence to prove the truth of our contention. Mere personal experience will not suffice, however reassuring it may be.
Here is just the weakness of the homoeopathic school and here also is a great opportunity for this school to prove the alleged superiority of its methods. This can be done in the larger hospitals only, but unfortunately very few of these, for reasons obvious, can take care of transmissible disease such as diphtheria. Nevertheless, if the school is to continue to exist as an entity of importance and if it is to command the respectful attention of its critics, it must take up these vital questions and settle them beyond peradventure or doubt, for we cannot as a school of medicine stand still or eternally bask in the sunshine of the older Hahnemannian era.
“SUDDEN DEATH FROM ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK FOLLOWING INJECTION OF DIPHTHERIA ANTITOXIN.-
In the case cited by Sumner, anaphylaxis followed injection of a prophylactic dose of 1000 units of antitoxin. The girl had had no previous injection of any sort. None of the ten other girls had any anaphylactic symptoms, nor had the diphtheria patient, who was given a large curative dose. Death occurred within five minutes after the injection. Subsequent investigation disclosed the likelihood of a condition of status lymphaticus with probable enlargement of the tonsils, and adenoids, and a persistent thymus.”-J.A.M.A.
This account furnishes further reasons why the homoeopathic school must face this antitoxin issue. Sudden death from anaphylactic shock following the injection of diphtheria antitoxin is of sufficient frequent to arouse grave disquietude in the mind of the conscientious physician, who believes it to be his duty to inject an immunizing dose of antitoxin when conditions apparently demand such prophylactic measures.
But, as homoeopaths, we must ask ourselves whether we have thoroughly investigated the powers and virtues of our own prophylactic agent, the nosode diphtherinum. We have not done so, be it said to our shame and discredit. Those of us who are familiar with this truly wonderful remedy know of many things which it can do. For one thing, we know its marvelous power in post-diphtheria paralysis, which places it alongside of such other valuable agents as cocculus indicus, gelsemium, causticum, etc.
But what do we know of it, from the purely scientific, serologic standpoint? Nothing, absolutely nothing! Have we tested it side by side with the Schick test? We have not! Do we know whether, in a subject whose susceptibility to diphtheria has been demonstrated by means of the Schick reaction, its administration will cause an immunity? We know no such thing, for the reason that we have thus far failed to take up these questions in a serious and scientific manner.
Until we do we have no moral right to shout our superior virtues from the housetops; a becoming humility is more in order.
IODIN AND THYROID IN HYPERTHYROIDISM.-
Under the above caption we reported an interesting case in the July 15, 1922, issue of THE HOMOEOPATHIC RECORDER, on page 330, and promised to report upon this case in the future.
Since May 6, 1922, when this patient was given a single dose of Thyroid 500, she has received Thyroidin 1000 on July 31; Thyroidin 5000 on August 28 and on September 28 we noted the following: Trembling < when standing, knees and arms especially any nervous disturbance < the trembling. Itching of the skin, but not as pronounced as formerly. General < before a thunderstorm.
One dose of phosphorus 50m was given, followed on October 2 by natrum mur. 50 m for a few characteristic mental and premenstrual symptoms. Nothing further was prescribed until November 13, when we had the following: goitre stationary in size; trembling when about to do anything, such as going to church or to answer the telephone; always hungry. Iodin 12, q.4 hrs., was given for a period of fourteen days and was followed by improvement.
On December 18 this remedy was repeated in the third potency and in the same manner, with general improvement also.
On January 15, 1923, natrum mur. 200, one dose each day, for ten days, was given for a partial return of some mental symptoms.
On February 1 the dentist discovered pyorrhoea and for his five teeth were extracted. Aconite 30 and later 30 were given with good effect. Since then and until this writing (May 15) the patient has been free form all symptoms and has gained decidedly in weight.
The causative relationship of the pyorrhoea to the entire condition is of interest and must of course be duly considered. Nevertheless, the favorable response to the remedies previously given is unmistakable and beyond all reasonable doubt. The favorable response to the lower and medium potencies of iodin is also striking and illustrative of the necessity for the fitting of the potency to the plane of the disease. The complementary action of phosphorus and natrum mur. is well shown and clinically we have frequently found iodin and natrum mur. to be closely related.
Both have abnormally large appetites and both show loss of flesh or emaciation. Iodin alone has amelioration in general, while or after eating.
I BELIEVE.-I believe that the law of homoeopathy is a natural law, supreme in its rightful domain and sphere.
I believe that the law similia similibus curantur expresses and represents a scientific fact, susceptible of positive and exact proof.
I believe that the practice of using one remedy at a time, in accordance with the law of similars and in conditions to which this law is applicable, is compatible not only with common sense, but with science, and is productive of the best results.
I believe that the smallest amount of medicine necessary to bring about amelioration or cure is the best dosage to employ, regardless of the fact that this dosage may represent a tincture, a low trituration or potency, or a high potency; always provided that the dose or potency used shall not aggravate the disease for which it is given.
I believe that the more pronounced any pathologic change many be, the more the disease is expressed in terms of organic, structural change, the more the symptoms of the patient are objective and particularly pathognomonic, rather than expressive of the patient himself, the less does the law of similars apply in a truly curative way. Hence, I believe in the necessity for and supremacy of surgery and other mechanical measures, in those conditions to which homoeopathy does not curatively apply or in which the removal of mechanical or pathological end-products is in order.
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.