Condition of skin similar to psoriasis, persisting for many weeks, with many repetitions of the following disease cycle. All the disorder seemed limited to the face and there localized, the face being so changed in appearance as to baffle recognition of its owner. A cycle began with a slight redness of the skin, followed by irritation, pronounced erythema, formation of scale, intense itching until white scale was removed, then slight subsidence of discomfort, followed speedily by a renewal of the cycle in the same manner.
This has occurred eight consecutive times. The scale was sometimes large, not always confluent, but numerous enough to spread over the entire face. When recovery began, the skin gradually resumed its fine, even texture, and became as delicate as that of a healthy infant. It became entirely clear in a few weeks, though still remaining pink, while not the red of inflammation. In comparatively little time the skin attained its normal health and has remained so ever since. This case dates back five years. Dr. John Hutchinson in reporting this case, states further that no so-called generals were considered, only what was most annoying to the patient.
Dry brownish skin, < neck.
GENERALITIES AND TISSUES: Progressive emaciation, MARASMUS. Looks old and thin.
Weakness, emaciation, itching, all nourished skin, child looks old, dirty, greasy, brownish, kicks the covers off at night.
Dread of work on account of weakness and exhaustion, irresistible desire to lie down.
Enlarged feeling in throat (Fluor. ac., Iris, Lob., Xanth.), vagina, etc.
Thick yellow, acrid pus.
Old cheese odor of body, of discharges; fish brine odor.
Great soreness, stiffness and lameness of parts. Pains shift.
Wants to lie on something hard.
AGGRAVATIONS: Touch, slight pressure worse than hard pressure.
Descending.
Motion, misstep, walking, jar. MOTION OF HANDS BEHIND HIM, reaching backward (Plb.).
Light, noise.
Draught of air especially on occiput or neck.
Change of weather, especially to damp weather.
AMELIORATION: Rest.
After eating.
Sunshine.
Warmth.
RELATED: Alum, Borax, Lyc., Calc. carb., Nat. mur., Psor., Sil., Sulph. Possibly chronic of Cham.
REFERENCES: Dr. Frank M. Patch, Transactions of I. H. A. 1891; Dr. John H. Clarke, Dictionary of the Materia Medica; Dr. C. M. Bogers Synoptic Key of the Materia Medica; as well as clinical cases reported by Drs. Boger, John Hutchinson, E. E. Case, R. E. Belding, W. L. Reed and Drs. Gundlach and Sherbino, both or whom proved the remedy. Many of the most peculiar stool and back symptoms the writer has personally verified.
PHILADELPHIA,.
The prescription of the homoeopathic diet which is throughout in accordance with the laws of nature (this is not the place to specify it in detail) requires of the patient nothing more than the avoidance of all influences which can be injurious to the living organism as well as a suitable moderation in the use of all things which conduce to the nutrition of the body. It is obvious that a small but, as experience shows, an all sufficient dose and what is very important –a dose which leaves all parts of the organism undisturbed–cannot develop its action without hindrance if at the same time other drugs or poisons, which are the same thing, and for the most part in large doses, are suffered to affect and rule over the organism.
Just as little propriety is there, on the other hand, is withholding or diminishing the supply of that which is needed for the normal sustenance of life and its forces, and which is accurately enough indicated by the individual desires of the patient. Whoever in the latter case diminishes the appropriate measure (through hunger) or exceeds it (through inordinate indulgence) fails to recognize and disturbs the power and efficacy of the rightly chosen remedy and denies it the confidence it deserves.
In the illiterate alone can we forgive the ridiculous confounding of “homoeopathic” and “small”, because to them the very essential distinction between health and disease, between drug and nutriment and finally between the laws and conditions of dead in contradistinction to living nature are wholly unknown, and they are therefore in this respect anything but responsible.–BOENNINGHAUSEN.
