A recital of the numerous cases of boils which have been successfully prescribed for would be tedious. There is no reason for a homoeopathic prescriber ever to incise a boil.
Empyema of the chest is almost always treated surgically. It is my opinion that many times the pus is evacuated before it should be. I recall two cases which I believe would have recovered if the operation had been deferred. In both cases a remedy was plainly indicated but it was not allowed time to build up the resistance of the patient before the operation was performed.
In empyema of the sinuses, if a remedy be sufficiently closely indicated, operation is seldom needed. Arsenic, Kali bich., Kali iod., and Guaco are useful remedies. Where polypus is or has been present, Teucrium marum verum should be thought of.
Filix mas. This remedy was found by means of the reflexes in the following case: A preparatory school pupil, while boxing, was struck on the side of the neck and knocked down. He got up and tried to resume boxing but, within five minutes, his right leg got weak and he could not walk. A half-hour later he was taken to the hospital and lost all power in his right arm and leg and his speech became affected. Soon after the accident he vomited. Two days later, movement began to come back and, at the end of a fortnight, he could walk a little. Eventually he was able to walk with but a slight limp and, in due time, he entered Harvard.
Four years later, he had so far recovered that a casual observer would not notice any effect from the accident, yet he had not recovered full power in the right side and his right hand was so slowed down that he had difficulty in writing his examination paper. It left also a slight immobility of the face, something like in sleeping-sickness. After Filix mas 200, he became markedly better and has remained much improved. He can write faster, thinks more quickly and his right side is much stronger. This case is remarkable because there had been only a very slight improvement during the four years preceding the Filix mas prescription.
In another case, a physician seventy years of age was struck by an automobile. He wasnt hurt at the time but was greatly shocked, so that he could not work all summer. Two and one-half years later I saw him. He could not remember peoples names or streets, although he could recall them in his mind. Easily tired and difficulty in speech necessitated his giving up all outside activities. Diagnosis was “multiple haemorrhage of the brain followed by oedema.” Filix mas 200 came out through the reflexes and his condition was improved by the remedy. The lasting effect remains to be seen.
In another case, a man of seventy fell in the bathtub, cutting his scalp. After Arnica had taken care of the immediate effect, Filix mas was found through the reflexes and cleared up many of the remaining symptoms. Filix mas has been used as a vermifuge from old Grecian times. When used as a vermifuge, blindness has been caused, due to atrophy of the optic nerve. Its specific relationship to the optic nerve probably indicates its relationship to the base of the brain, where damage is apt to occur from boxing and concussions. It may be a remedy useful in sleeping-sickness.
NEW YORK CITY.
DISCUSSION.
DR. H. A. ROBERTS: It occurred to me that there is a possibility that Dr. Stearns stuck too closely to Arnica in concussions of the brain. Arnica is a good remedy in a good many of those case, but it is not the only remedy in concussion of the brain. He also spoke of Ruta, if it was bruised too much. In automobile accidents many of the concussions of the brain are injury to the bone, a bruised condition of the periosteum of the bone, and I think you will find that Ruta will fit in a good many of those cases better than Arnica.
DR. E. UNDERHILL, JR.: Also Natrum sulph.
DR. H. A. ROBERTS: As I understand it, Natrum sulph. is more for the chronic conditions.
DR. A. H. GRIMMER: Hypericum might be used where the nerve tissues or the spinal nerves are involved.
If there were no idiosyncrasy there would be no homoeopathy. Every individual is susceptible to certain things; is susceptible to sickness, and equally susceptible to cure.–J. T. KENT, M.D.
