NEGLECTED PSYCHOLOGICAL AND HYGIENIC FACTORS IN SURGICAL CASES



Continue this course until nature responds and the patient is comfortable. It will not be necessary to wait long for results. Continue the fast until it is evident by the return of appetite and the natural desire for food that the digestive organs are rested and ready to resume work on a moderate scale.

A patient may remain thus resting without food under such conditions for many days and he be infinitely the better for it. The idea that food must be given to keep up the strength in such cases is false and delusive. Nature teaches this by abolishing the appetite and desire for food; by lessening the salivary, gastric, hepatic and intestinal secretions; by slowing down all the functions; and emphasizes it by the weakness, fever, pain and restlessness which ar all symptoms of toxemia. Nine-tenths of them have their origin in the gastro-intestinal tract, caused by the putrefaction of food it is incompetent to handle, and which should not have been taken. This interpretation is verified by the fact that improvement almost invariably begins as soon as the intake of food is stopped and nothing is allowed but water to quench thirst.

In thus presenting the case the fact has not been overlooked that there are cases of appendicitis in which immediate operation is imperative-cases of the “fulminating” type in which abscess, perforation or gangrene supervene suddenly or very rapidly. But even in these cases, which are comparatively rare, the suddenness is only seeming and the hygienic measures are not contraindicated. Every one of them has had premonitory symptoms, invasion, development, progress, perhaps obscure or unobserved, prior to the final explosion.

In these also, it is just as important to consider the psychic and morphological factors (and stop the intake of food) as in the other and more common type of cases; for, to some extent at least, the form and extent of the operative work and the post operative treatment may be modified to the great advantage of the patient by the knowledge thus gained. Reaction to anaesthetics, to the sick of operation and to after-treatment differs in accordance with individual difference of morphology-of constitution and temperament and mental characteristics. These differences should be sought for and made the subject of careful study in every case.

That the coarse-grained, heavily muscled, show-moving, dull- minded individual will react very differently, from the sensitive, high-strung, nervous, quick-moving, intellectual individual is probably known to every one. There are many intermediate types; but how often do even these most extreme differences enter into the diagnostic procedure and conclusions of the physician or surgeon when considering a case ?.

Do they commonly influence or modify treatment, medically or surgically? No so that it can be noticed, so far as the reports show.

Right here lies the explanation of a large percentage of medical and surgical failures, partial or complete.

There can be no doubt in the unprejudiced, thinking mind that the observance of the foregoing suggestions, in as very common class of medical and surgical cases, would prevent a large proportion of the catastrophes which all to frequently cut short precious lives and rend the hearts of sympathizing and solicitous communities. These two Satanic agencies, the use of poisonous drugs, masquerading under the name of “physiological medicine,” and unnecessary feeding to sustain the strength,” are responsible for untold suffering, disease and death. They are twin superstitions of ancient origin and tenacious hold. They should be abolished.

The restoration to honor and practice of that other ancient but honorable measure-the First-would go far toward solving many medical problems. If to the fast were added the equally ancient and honorable psychological recourse-Prayer and the Confession of Sins-many spiritual as well as physical problems would disappear.

“Prayer and fasting”-plus good homoeopathic prescribing (more honored in these days in the breach than in the observance) would certainly put a crimp in the unholy ambition of reckless physicians and surgeons and hasten the medical millennium.

Stuart Close
Stuart M. Close (1860-1929)
Dr. Close was born November 24, 1860 and came to study homeopathy after the death of his father in 1879. His mother remarried a homoeopathic physician who turned Close's interests from law to medicine.

His stepfather helped him study the Organon and he attended medical school in California for two years. Finishing his studies at New York Homeopathic College he graduated in 1885. Completing his homeopathic education. Close preceptored with B. Fincke and P. P. Wells.

Setting up practice in Brooklyn, Dr. Close went on to found the Brooklyn Homoeopathic Union in 1897. This group devoted itself to the study of pure Hahnemannian homeopathy.

In 1905 Dr. Close was elected president of the International Hahnemannian Association. He was also the editor of the Department of Homeopathic Philosophy for the Homeopathic Recorder. Dr. Close taught homeopathic philosophy at New York Homeopathic Medical College from 1909-1913.

Dr. Close's lectures at New York Homeopathic were first published in the Homeopathic Recorder and later formed the basis for his masterpiece on homeopathic philosophy, The Genius of Homeopathy.

Dr. Close passed away on June 26, 1929 after a full and productive career in homeopathy.