E.J., eight years old, was referred to me by Dr. Faris in April, 1925. His mother gave the following history: Shortly after birth she noticed that he sneezed a good deal, especially out of doors. When about sixteen months old he developed an intense photophobia, which has recurred every year since. This Photophia began first in the hot weather, but now begins in the late winter or early spring and lasts until August or September. The Photophobia is intense, the chin is drawn down the chest and he has to be kept in a dark room. It is accompanied by a copious watery discharge from the eyes and nose.
From August or September when the attack leaves him until the following spring he is apparently normal. He is bright mentally and always makes him grades at school in spite of the time that he has to lose. Physical examination is practically negative. The family history records a rather obstinate eczema cropping out in two generations.
The child has been under one of the best oculists in the city ever since the trouble developed, and has had numerous other consultants. Just previous to coming to Dr. Faris he went through a very thorough examination by one of the best internists in the city. Wassermanns were made on the child and his father and mother, all of which were negative, and he was tested for sensitivity to numerous substance with no result.
He came to me for the Abrams Treatment and I examined him and put him on the machine for treatment. The examination showed only one reaction, congenital Diminished Resistance, which I consider to be the same as Psora. In three weeks he was apparently normal and went back to school. This was the first time that treatment of any kind had ever helped him. In addition to the machine treatment I had given him a dose of Medorrhinum 1 m. which came through on the Boyd Interference Test. He also at that time had the symptom of sleeping on his face and knees which is so characteristic of Medorrhinum.
After being at school a week he relapsed and the eyes were very much inflamed for a while and were greatly relieved by Hepar 1 cc. He then gradually improved and by early in July was able to go to the beach without inconvenience.
I kept him under observation and told his mother that I looked for some recurrence this spring and it came in February. While the attack was not so severe it has not yielded to treatment as readily as it did last year, and this has been especially so since he gathered some wild honeysuckle in bloom about a month ago.
I had his mother bring me a specimen of the plant and tested him out with it. He reacted very strongly to it. I then had her bring specimens of all the plants that she had on the place, but he did not react to any of them. He has had several remedies, including a 50 m. of Medorrhinum, which worked out by the Boyd Interference Test but which produced no results. His last remedy was Sul. mm.
I do not feel that I have selected the similimum in this case and am open to suggestions.
