Bryonia had relieved the pain to a slight extent. On October 19th, 1929, I gave Impatiens 3x in pilules to be used when required for the pain. The patient was unaware of the change of medicine. On November 16th he remarked: “Have you changed the pilules?” On asking why, he said: “Well the pain has been very much easier. I have only taken two or three of the pilules and practically had very few attacks since.” From that date until now (August, 1930) this patient has kept practically free from any anginal attacks.
CASE 6. ENCEPHALITIS LETHARGICA. (Sleeping Sickness). This case is of unusual interest. On November 30th, 1929, a tall thin man who usually enjoyed good health came to consult me. He was suffering from intense headache, and said he had not had any pains in the head since he was in the army during the war. His facial expression was that of a person who was suffering intensely. He said he had had severe neuralgic pains in the head for a week. The pain was an intense throbbing in the temples, forehead and top of the head. Bell. had no effect, neither had Gels.
On December 1st, I gave him Impatiens 3x, five drops in a glass of water and on calling the next day he said the pains were less and it had been the best night he had had for a week, and that he had slept all night. Before he had been unable to to sleep on account of the pain. I left more medicine in case of need, but had only a 30 of Impatiens with me. On December 3rd, visited him and found that he was better and again had slept all night. Bowels were constipated and tongue very dirty; jumping pain in the temples only now.
On December 4th, he had been delirious at night. On December 5th, pain in the head was better but he was very drowsy all the time; sleepy after sleep as if drunk; repeats the same question again and again. Tongue very dirty brown, but moist; no thirst. No rise of temperature. From the drowsy condition coupled with the intense headache I began to suspect sleeping sickness and gave Clematis prima 3x in water. On December 6th, I found the patient downstairs looking very ill. He had not been so drowsy and no delirium last night. Slight head pain again. If he moved head quickly sharp pains were felt in the head. His wife said he kept repeating things over again and again.
On December 7th. He complained of seeing things double, was drowsy and restless but no delirium.
December 8th. Visited him and found him in bed very drowsy but could be roused up and he apparently answered questions quite rationally. Then he would relapse into a kind of delirium and was going over his war experiences. It was obvious that this case had to be notified to the authorities and he was then removed to the Isolation Hospital.
December 27th. He was home again and apparently normal. He said he had no recollection of my attending him not even when he was downstairs, neither did he remember going to the hospital. It was not until he had been there for 48 hours that he came to himself.
December 28th. Bright and cheerful and more like his old self. Was very weak on his legs and felt nervy. “When I wake I have a dull ache between the eyes and the root of the nose, worse when bending down, better when head is up and I am walking about; slight buzzing in the left ear.”.
Cupressus 3x given.
December 30th. Feels better, slept from 10 p. m. to 5:30 a. m., woke without any pain; this is in the first time so long a sleep and no pain on walking; buzzing in ear gone.
January 6th. Brighter and better in every way.
January 11th. Legs not so unsteady. Shooting pain left side of face from nose to eye up to forehead and temple. This gets less if he closes left nostril.
January 24th. Patient returned to his work a week ago. He is very much better. Pain in nostril only feeble now. He says that for months before his illness he had lost his sense of smell, now he can smell anything.
April 19th. Has done his work all right but gets backache after working. Slight dizziness in the morning. Not feeling quite so fit on getting out of bed. Sleeps heavily and the better the night the worse he feels. No headache. Sense of smell not quite so good. Has gained 15 pounds since his illness.
Clematis secunda 3x, one dose given.
August 5th. Patient fit and well. Nothing to report.
Note.–Impatiens was given for the pain. Clematis prima and secunda for sleeping sickness. Cupressus for the nose and ear symptoms.
