In addition to what the patients usually call “a fresh cold”, I have found Ammonia carb. of great value for patients of low vitality when the eruption is caused by measles, scarlet fever, chicken or smallpox, and fails to appear at the proper stage or time, and there is a violent itching and the eruptions of the skin as ranking symptoms of the uraemic group. For the many cases I have had, the 3rd has always been used, and repeated at hours intervals, one to two hours.
Hydrocotyle: J.H.Clarkes gives it as useful in the following conditions: “Acne rosacea, elephantiasis, ichthyosis, lupus, follicular inflammation of uterus, pruritus of vagina.”.
T.F.Allen had the following: “Spots almost circular, with raised scaly edges. Yellowish spots on legs. Erysipelatous redness. Papules on face. Pustules on chest. Pricking on different parts, itching in several places.” Above in italics.
Under clinical be hives: “Suppurating lupus, lymphatic tumors, leprosy, elephantiasis, psoriasis, and dry eczema” as either cured or exfoliation of the epidermis is a strongly marked indication for its use (|Kreos.)”.
Wm. Boericke3 has the following in italics:” “Heat within vagina.
1. Dictionary, page 924, vol.I.
2. Handbook, page 458.
3. Materia Medica, page 384.
Glandular ulceration of womb. Great thickening of epidermoid layer and exfoliation of sales. Intolerable itching, especially of soles.” Boericke names the following conditions in which some or all of the above have been prominent, “Pruritus of vagina, psoriasis gyrata, acne, leprosy, and elephantiasis.”.
The three conditions for which the patients entrance complaint was itching and that I have successfully used Hydroc. in, are pruritus of the vagina, psoriasis and elephantiasis.
CASE 1.
The pruritus case was a woman. Married, two children, age 37, dark skin. F.H.cancer in two generations. P.H.suffered with a profuse leucorrhoea since puberty, always had pimples on face at menstrual periods, also pimples and vesicles on inner side of thighs. But of late the skin on the soles of feet has grown thick and cracks appear between the toes and on the heels. “These cracks are painful but I could stand that were it not for the terrible itching of both feet and around the vagina, worse on feet.” Questioning failed to secure anything about the gastric or intestinal canal. She was given Hydrocotyle, B.&.Ts 30th, five (5) drops on disks night and morning. She was also to use a solution of one part of Hydroc. to ten parts of water as a douche and topical application night and morning.
Graph. first came to my mind but the results of the quizzing soon caused me to decide for Hydroc.
The improvement was slow, but without any other treatment she became normal. Yes, better than normal because she was cured of her leucorrhoea.
CASE II.
A psoriasis case with a dry skin generally and profuse thick scales on elbows, legs and feet, with intense itching, was sent to me by her physicians, who said Sulph, and Ars. alb., high and low had utterly failed to make an impression. This case was cured by Luyties Hydroc. the 6th, five drops on disks. before each meal and at bedtime for two weeks, then once a week for two weeks, Her physician wrote up the case for me, I never saw the patient.
Elephantiasis of the scrotum very pronounced, and of the feet less pronounced with “no itching of the feet compared with that of the scrotum” was greatly improved by a course of Hydroc. the 6th.
The scrotum completely cleared up and remained so, but the swelling of the feet, and especially the itching will return now and then without any known cause that we can find.
Rumex crispus. Dearborn mentions Rumex under prurigo and urticaria but gives no symptoms.
Douglas gives the following for prurigo: “Itching better from warmth, contagious prurigo.”.
Bartlett, page 617, Vol. III, has: “The utility of Rumex appears to be limited to acute tracheitis with hyperaesthesia of the mucous membrane of the larynx and trachea.”.
T.F.Allen has : “Prurigo worse from cold, better from warmth; excessive itching on undressing. Chronic urticaria. (compare Rhus tox., Caust.)”.
Wm. Boericke has: “Intense itching of skin, especially of lower extremities; worse, exposure to cold air when undressing. Urticaria; contagious prurigo.”.
I am including Rumex because of the large number of my patients which it has cured. The make-up of the Rumex patient is of all varieties. The symptoms are, according to my experience, INTENSE ITCHING, caused by cold air both when undressing for bed or when undressing for bed or when getting out of bed. The “better from warmth” I have never found in this group but often in he respiratory organ group. I use the 3rd and 30th. People of the mid-west call contagious prurigo “prairie itch”.
Carbo veg. is like Rumex in a few symptoms but unlike it in a great majority of symptoms, vix., the Rumex patient (skin) is never seriously sick, while the Carbo veg. patient (skin or otherwise) is always seriously sick; the skin symptoms of Rumex are seldom accompanied by those of other tissues, while those of Carbo veg. are always accompanied by other conditions like carbuncle, gangrene, etc.; the Rumex itching is aggravated by cold air while the Carbo veg. coldness is aggravated by cold of any kind; the cough of the Rumex patient is better from warmth, and the coldness of Carbo veg. is better from warmth.
Use B. & Ts 1M or higher.
COMMENTS
My purpose in presenting the articles on pruritus and prurigo is not to present a complete study of either condition and remedies used, but rather to give the authorities to which the reader used, but rather to give the authorities to which the reader may go for further information. I have given many of the tissues or organs effected so that our principle of elective affinity may be applied.
DES MOINES, IOWA.
An invaluable piece of advice the master gives us concerning the examination of patients, its to let the sufferer tell of his pains, sensations and so forth, without interruption, for, he cautions us, if the patient be questioned before he has told his whole story he may, through confusion or timidity, forget some essential symptoms. Another equally important suggestion is to note down in writing all that falls from the lips of the patient, relating to his symptoms, and these, he counsels us, to take down as much as possible in the patients own words in the order given. Subsequently his statements may be corrected or corroborated by the attendants or friends.
The master also particularly warns us, not to put leading or suggestive questions; or, in other words, we are to avoid making inquiries which may be answered simply in the affirmative or the negative. It may be necessary, unless the patient be in danger or in great distress, to defer prescribing until some of the effects of the medicine have passed away. Every one of these suggestions is worth its weight in gold-aye, a hundred fold more-as the observing homoeopathic daily realizes.-PROSPER BENDER, M.D, 1895.
Let us then say it-emphatically, loud and frankly-that the determining symptoms may appear in many respects to be insignificant and unimportant, and let us proclaim it to be a requisite condition, that in proving drugs and in examining patients, the insignificant are not to be neglected, but even to be noted and regarded with especial care.- PROF. DR.J.HOPPE, 1864.
