[ Read before the Annual Meeting of The International Hahnemannian Association, Philadelphia, July, 1926].
Parturition being a purely physiological act, its phases that demand help and its irregularities that call for relief belong to the definite role of the homoeopathic remedy. When we review the transactions of this homoeopathic remedy. When we review the transactions of this association and read the reports in this field, we are impressed by the eloquent fact that whatever may be the abnormalities encountered in labor, childbirth may be lightened of its pains and so accomplished with he best results for both mother and infant by the help of the indicated remedy alone.
Yinglings Manual-The Accouchers Emergency Manual-is replete with pertinent aid and suggestion as to the imperative remedy called for in given conditions. The truth of all the recommendations in this invaluable work has been verified times without complain. And it is well known by all physicians who understand its application that any remedy in the materia medica may be called for in any case. That is, the peculiarly insistent symptom at any stage of labor demands its similar remedy, a remedy, it may be, that has never before been recorded or required in another obstetrical case. In other words, that unusual condition arising but in fact having its correspondence in the proving of some remedy yields superiorly to that particular remedy.
However, what a wealth of aid resides in our well-known, frequently used, and deeply acting remedies. Under Gelsemium how many cases have progressed smoothly to a most favorable issue!.
A word as to the abnormalities so often reported inn current medical and surgical journals. These are emphasized, without doubt, by the complete absence of any but the most materialistic means of treatment. It is too often assumed that mechanical difficulties are overcome only by mechanical means. There is no attempt to meet vital requirements.
Personally, I have seen a well-selected internal remedy fail of its good result. The pity is that the prescriber can so rarely accept labor cases. As a matter of fact, however, he should be retained as the prescriber, while an attendant meets the other needs of the case.
But it also may be said that the prescriber should also have had cognizance of the patient during the period of gestation. The demands of pregnancy should always be recognized and met homoeopathically. The pregnant woman is living a new life for the time being. Its requirements may differ extremely from other periods. They must be met completely if the mother and child are to enjoy future health.
When all these conditions have been properly satisfied, the outcome at full term, at delivery, and recovery from the ordeal, is joy for all concerned, a joy and prosperity that can be secured in no other way.
While not at all imperative for the best consummation of all these events, I will mention in closing a remark, the like of which you all may have listened to, and which we all are pleased to hear, that of a mother who, in referring to the birth of a child, says: “I did not know when it happened. You told me to relax immediately after a pain, to sleep if possible to save my strength. And I was asleep when the baby came, for I did know it till the nurse disturbed me”.
Such a fortunate circumstance results from exhibition of the exact remedy. That remedy enables the mother best to bear her trial. In this particular instance the remedy was Pulsatilla nigricans 1000.
