EDITORIAL NOTES AND COMMENTS



What we should do, or ought to do, is to forget diagnosis, remember, pathology only so far as it coincides with the known, positive effects of remedies upon the healthy, and proceed to evaluate, as it were, the case before us, by individualizing the patient in the light of his ocular personal reactions to stimuli of various kinds. In short, we must aim to know and study his constitution with all that this term implies. In this study, the modalities of the patient are of the greatest importance and correspond to the Kentian idea of “Generals.” The so-called “Particulars” will avail us little or nothing, but may, on the other hand, lead us into a morass of doubt and bewilderment.

Through such a study of the case and by means of the evaluation of the patients condition herewith implied, it is perfectly possible to recognize irremovable or irremediable causes, hence to determine with reasonable certainty whether a given case is incurable or not.

The balance between the curable and the incurable is at times very nicely adjusted, depending upon the amount of functional disturbance and tissue destruction involved, yet a knowledge of the natural history of disease and of drug action, together with a respectful familiarity with Hahnemannian principles, will enable us to achieve really remarkable curative results, and also to avoid attempts at the impossible, for even homoeopathy, with all its marvelous possibilities, does have its legitimate limitations, which we as sensible physicians are bound to recognize.

So far as homoeopathy as an organized profession or school is concerned, there is, in the United States at least, a marked decadence in evidence; much of this is due to a praiseworthy endeavor to burst the bounds of narrow sectarianism, manifested just now by the abolition of the title “homoeopathic”; but much more is due to inadequate teaching of fundamental principles. The masters of homoeopathic philosophy are unfortunately not in our colleges, and if they were, would for the most part have little influence or command slight attention.

The reason lies in the immature mentality of the average undergraduate medical student, who is rarely endowed with sufficient comprehension or patience, to study, understand, and accept the great fundamental truths of homoeopathy. It is our firm belief that, with the present-day crowded medical curriculum, the teaching of homoeopathy in the undergraduate medical college is not and cannot be successful; this decided opinion is based upon a long experience in medical teaching.

Furthermore, we believe that the future of homoeopathy lies in the hands of the dominant profession, which is slowly but surely coming to the recognition and acceptance of the principles of Hahnemann. In this acceptance it is quite likely that scant recognition will be accorded out time-honored, though often archaic nomenclature. If humanity be the gainer, this matters little in the long run. What we as homoeopaths must do, is to set our own house in order, to guide the spirit of homoeopathic research and instruction along proper channels, and by precept and example to live up to our protestations.

We are not, except in a limited way, doing so now. In this endeavor we must adopt, if only for purposes of policy, a workable rule or platform of applied homoeopathy, to which we can all subscribe, and lastly, we must exhibit a spirit of tolerance and of charity and a willingness to give and take. In this way only can we hope to persuade the scientific world to our way of thinking.

Chilblains, Colds and Cough. “Steimann treats chilblains by ethyl chloride spray applied until the snow begins to appear on the skin. The treatment may be repeated. He confirms Biers report on the favorable influence of one drop of tincture of iodine taken in a glass of water or beer when the premonitory symptoms of coryza appear”.

The above is a Jamalian abstract of an article taken from the Munchener Medizinische Wochenschrift, and arrests our attention, more especially because of Steimanns agreement with Biers observation of the favorable influence of one drop of tincture of iodine in a glass of water or of beer, when drunk for the arrest of the premonitory symptoms of coryza. Why spoil a perfectly good glass of beer, however, especially when it happens to be Munchener Hofbrau? But, suppose the coryza calls for Allium cepa or Arsenicum album, or even our old friend Nux vomica? Will iodine do the trick then? We opine not.

Here lies the danger to homoeopathy, of such broad generalizations as that of Prof. Bier; similarly, his use of Sulphur iodide in the treatment of furunculosis is open to the same objection. Suppose the case calls for Hepar sulphur or for Calcarea sulphurica? These remedies do differ in their pathogenesis, and since individualization is of the utmost importance in homoeopathic prescribing, ought we not to be careful in making ex cathedral pronouncements?.

Action of Colchicin on Sensitization and Shock. “The effect of Colchicin on sensitization and shock was studied by Arlong and Langeron in guinea-pigs. Colchicin injected three days before sensitization with Ovalbumin averted or attenuated shock. It was without effect given just before sensitizations. It appeared slightly to aggravate shock, when it was given two weeks before or two weeks after sensitization. The experimental results agree with clinical observations, which teach that colchicum should not be administered close to the time of occurrence of an acute attack of gout. Given sufficiently long before an attack, Colchicum is able to avert it, since the attack probably represents a protein shock. This also explains the favorable action of Colchicum on urticaria”.

J.A.M.A.

Interesting from several angels; but let us not forget that other remedies than Colchicum or Colchicin are frequently called for in gout as well as urticaria.

Treatment of Anaemia. “Goldbloom cites a case of anaemia in an infant, which did not respond to iron. When placed on a diet containing liver, beef juice, egg yolk, spinach, cereal, milk, orange juice and cod liver oil, the child got well. The importance of the addition of substance other tan iron, notably leafy vegetables and cereals, is emphasized.” J.A.M.A.

Many cases of anaemia will not respond to iron therapy; Calcarea carb., Arsenicum album, Natrum muriaticum, Pulsatilla, may be called fro. The dietary suggestions of Goldbloom are of the highest importance in any case, quite aside from the question of drug therapy.

Carbon Tetrachloride Produces Liver Cirrhosis. “Lamson and Wing assert that the continued administration of carbon tetrachloride alone, in small or large doses, or given together with alcohol, produces lesions, all of which are of the same type and of approximately the same severity. The lesions found are those of early cirrhosis of the liver, and it is drug will produce a true Laennec cirrhosis with circulatory obstruction.” J.A.M.A.

This may be a most valuable observation and homoeopaths will do well to bear it in mind in their treatment of hepatic cirrhosis when the indications for our usual remedies are lacking.

Treatment of Chilblains. “Mitchell resorts to elastic pressure in treating chilblains. A specially made rubber band, three- fourths to one inch wide, is stretched over the affected part at its greatest thickness. The relief from the itching and throbbing is said to be instantaneous, and after a few days the part is normal in appearance save for a little desquamation. The pressure must be firm, but not painful.” J.A.M.A.

Perhaps Mitchells treatment is all that is claimed for it; but let us not forget Agaricus muscarius, Petroleum, Pulsatilla and other. Many a case of chilblains has been cured by one or the other of these three remedies alone.

Experimental Immunity to Ivy Poisoning. “Spain and Cooke have succeeded in developing a satisfactory degree of clinical immunity to ivy poisoning by the oral or hypodermic administration, in proper amounts, of the active principle of Toxicodendron radicans. The injection method of treatment is preferable, since the conditions surrounding it can be kept more fully under control than in the case of oral administration”.

Truly, “the hair of the dog that bit you” is here exemplified by this abstract from the Baltimore, Md., journal of Immunology.

Rabe R F
Dr Rudolph Frederick RABE (1872-1952)
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.