We have yet to learn the relationship of the various potencies to the various forms and grades of disease, as well as to the various temperaments and sensitivities. We must consider whether the ailment is purely acute, or an acute outburst of a deep chronic ailment, or subacute or purely chronic in character, and how to apply our remedies to each. All those phases must be accurately known before we can become, or even consider our selves, thoroughly masters in th science and in the art of prescribing.
Here is a practical application of the skeleton of the drug to a case requiring Aconite. Mrs. N., age 45, robust and plethoric, a former resident of Cleveland, was the victim of what her allopathic doctors diagnosed “gall stones”. She had frequent attack of colic. The best they could do was “hypodermics”. It took her from three days to a week to recover from this treatment. Just before 8 p.m., March 22nd., the telephone bell range and a male voice asked if we would make a call on a lady who was suffering severely from an attack of gall-stone colic. We put a half dozen remedies in our vest pocket and at promptly 8 oclock the gentleman called for us. As 8:05 we were at the bedside of our patient. As we entered the sick room we heard a pitiful plea for a “hypodermic”. Here is what we found and saw: A plethoric, robust woman of 45 years, writhing and tossing about the bed in the greatest agony; extreme fear and anxiety depicted on her face; calling continually for water; dry, hot skin; full, bounding, hard, rapid pulse; high fever, etc.
There could be no doubt of the remedy. We put a few drops of the 30x in one-quarter glass of water and gave two teaspoonfuls without asking any questions. In just five minutes by the watch she lay back on the pillow and heaved a sigh of relief. Before the end of 10 minutes she entered into out conversation and her agony and tears gave way to smiles. We stayed until 8:25 when we left with the injunction that no more medicine be given until absolutely demanded. At 8:30 we were back home. No more medicine given than that single dose. We have seen the lady several times since and there she been no return of the colic.
TOLEDO, OHIO.
DISCUSSION.
DR, MACFARLAN: About three years ago I made a re-proving of Aconite but it was only in the third potency. It is a very quick acting drug. I found two symptoms, referring to modalities which are very characteristic of Aconite in the third potency. I am only speaking about the third potency. One of these symptoms, and it has never been stressed in materia medica, is aggravation after sleep. I have found this much more indicative of Aconite than of the Ophidia. The other modality is aggravation on motion which is very characteristic.
I think it is much more characteristic of Aconite in the low potency than perhaps of Bryonia. Another indication which I find in the third potency of Aconite is the fact that drinking increases the thirst. I have never seen this in any repertory; I got it from practical experience. Drinking water actually seems to increase the thirst. Aconite seems to have more effect on the rapidity of the pulse than it odes on the fever in the third potency. Also I discovered that when you fail to cover them they stop sweating. Covering seems to increase their sweat very, very markedly.
DR.C.L.OLDS: I think that Dr.Pulford did not mention one very characteristic thing to Aconite, as least I have found it such. When newborn babies do not urinate in twelve or eighteen hours, Aconite will invariably bring about natural flow of urine.
DR. G. ROYAL: I have enjoyed this excellent paper, but there is one thing that he left out, individualization, which is a corollary of our law. It is just as necessary for the student in studying materia medica as it is in prescribing. How you are going to teach the student to approach the subject depends altogether on the individual. Let us take for illustration, someone comes from an allopathic school. She has had her anatomy her definition, her pathology, her diagnosis, etc. This is the basis of her viewpoint. This other individual hasnt had nay information at all. He comes as a novice to study materia medica. What books will he study? You certainly cant give them both the same took.
Let me tell you what my experience is. I would put into the hands of one Dr.Houghes Thermodynamics, and into the hands of the other Deweys Essentials of Materia Medica. I would say to the one, “Read, study, think.
Read Hughes through”. I would say to the other, “Study Aconite. Dont you read the book”.
One of the most important things I learned in college was how to read. The professor said, “Read a sentence, then a paragraph, then down a column, then down a page”. He would say, “Royal, I will give you two minutes to read ten [ages, and then I will give you five minutes to tell me what you saw in it”.
Individualize your students and give them the information just as you would your patient. Give them the indicated remedy.
DR.C.M. BOGER: I am going to say some things that are not exactly orthodox. The first thing is, don;t study too much materia medica, and dont study too hard. The thing to do is to watch, not you approach to the patient, but the patients approach to you. That is the thin. See ho e approaches you.
What is a symptoms complex? A symptom complex is another term for what the women nowadays call ensemble. It is a co- ordination of certain things. The first thing you want to do is to get all your symptoms co-ordinated and put in order. This isnt a very rapid process. Then hunt them out. If your predilections in the line of study are much toward this remedy or that remedy or some other remedy, you have already prejudiced the case. You want to look at it from an unbiased standpoint and you cant select a similimum with your mind already prejudiced as to what the patient should have or shouldnt have.
DR. A.H.GRIMMER: This is a wonderful paper. It is a matter of viewpoint a good deal. Some of our doctors didnt quite hear what Dr.Pulford was trying to put over, which is the fact that whether you use the repertory, prescribe inspirationally, or from your knowledge or materia medica, there are a few points that are essential. The first is the ability to reject the symptoms that are common to all provings, the symptoms that are common to diseases, as therapeutic guides. Of course your remedy must have the symptoms that are related to this disease, but they are not going to be the guiding symptoms for your individual case.
When he spoke of the great characteristics that he spoke of those mental states, those, rate unusual sensitive characteristics that labelled this case an Aconite case, or a Belladonna case. I like that point very much, it is the essential thing. We overload our students, as Dr.Boger says. Give them the essentials; start them out with the study of sickness; let them known the things that are common to every sickness so they may known the things that are uncommon. When they learn the common things the uncommon ones stand out much better and so they understand the materia medica and are able to apply it better.
CHAIRMAN STEVENS: I would like to ask in speaking of Aconite, how the symptoms that come under chamomilla, one check red and the other pale, compare with the one you spoke of under Aconite. Will you close the discussion, please?.
DR. A.PULFORD: Certain children will have red cheeks on one side from hyperaemic conditions which will pass away, but the Aconite red cheek will not pass away when the pressure is taken off, and the other cheek will be pale and cold. I have found this to be true time and again, and it has been a leading symptom in a great many Aconite cases.
Furthermore, I intended to bring out that every remedy has its own individuality. When I look at Dr.Royal, I dont have to see whether he has gray hair or black hair or whether he stands five feet; I know him by his characteristics, and each remedy has its similar characteristics. When our materia medica is fully completed out prescribing will become a very simple thing. You will see the remedy as you see the individual.
