In further treatment of this case which resisted all other therapeutic measures, a question arose that has puzzled me for years, namely, Hahnemanns instruction to give an intercurrent dose of Opium in Mercury cases. I have asked many homoeopaths why, but have never had a satisfactory answer. In this case, under Mercury treatment in ascending series Mercury at time apparently ceased to benefit so that at about six months intervals severe neuritis invariably set in.
First, a spot the size of a dollar appeared in anterior middle of the left thigh and six months later in a more diffused spot posteriorly in right thigh, in each instance being persistent until I gave 23M of Opium (Finke). The relief was not sudden but gradual and entirely gone in about twelve hours in each instance. Then Mercury would again take up the cure. How did Hahnemann determine the Opium prescription? Was it because Opium brings about a state of inertia that it will cure inertia?.
I once had a similar condition develop while treating a case of annual hay-fever which responded to Arsenicum. It returned in milder form the following September when it again responded to Arsenicum, but indiscreetly I gave the patient a two-dram bottle of Arsenicum 30th potency (B. & T.) – because she wanted it – to be taken only when necessary. (In hay-fever I usually find it necessary to repeat the dose in about five days). The patient thought it necessary to take it repeatedly, numerous times daily, which she did until the bottle was empty – evidently on the theory that if one dose was good a bottle was empty – evidently on the theory that if one dose was good a bottle of it would be a “knock-out”.
After a week she was seized with a violent burning pain in a spot the size of a dollar posteriorly to left hip joint. This continued for nearly a week and she could find relief only by standing or walking. Worse sitting or lying. I could not see the indicated remedy. Finally, I thought of Hahnemanns prescription of Opium as an intercurrent in Mercury cases, so why not try it in this Arsenicum case as an intercurrent – or was it an antidote, for it gave prompt relief and no return of pain. Now the question arises as to where I should record the cured clinical symptom? Under the provings of Arsenicum or under Opium? I made the notation under both medicines.
Mrs. X., well nourished, blonde woman, age 20. Primipara. Shortly after the placenta was passed in a normal delivery, without warning, patient went into convulsions and the husband asked for a consulting physician. The convulsions continued at intervals of several hours for 36 hours, in spite of all we tried to do for her. Finally, the consultant left the patient in my charge and I censured myself for not giving her Arsenicum for it was now plain that from the beginning she needed Arsenicum, as she had been and was now tossing all over the bed.
I gave her Arsenicum one dose 10M potency (Kent) and she had no more convulsions and no further trouble. Two years later she was delivered of a second child without difficulty as reported by Dr. Morrow. She had moved to Austin. Prior to her moving I gave her a second dose of Arsenicum 10M during the third month of pregnancy without any additional evidence calling for Arsenicum. It was given only as a precaution.
Mrs. B., a brunette Polander, age 60, weight 190. Diagnosis: Hodgkins disease. Large abdomen which was greatly enlarged and dropsical, as were both feet and legs. Much flatus and eructations and some vomiting. Axillary glands under both arms enormously enlarged and very hard. The glands on both sides of the neck were just as large and hard. Glands possibly five inches in diameter. Left ear hearing impaired. Pain in lumbar region extending around body to left ovary. Heat in skin over stomach, as if on fire. Dorsal region feels hot, as if too near fire. Left shoulder feels smarting, as if from liniment.
No temperature above normal but she feels hot and wants to be fanned constantly. Weather not unduly warm. Wants bed placed out on gallery so she can get air. Hands and feet burn. Copious general perspiration. A general picture related to Graphites which has no perspiration in chronic disease. (Calcarea sulph. in high degree also has air hunger and lacks ability to perspire). But pains aggravated whenever she eats salty food – will bring on backache. Constant urging to urinate but little passes. Responded promptly to the action of Conium 200 (B. & T.) and later the M, and 3M (Jenichen).
The action of every dose was astounding, especially the first dose which gave quick relief of all distress. The improvement was constant so that within a month she was able to be about the house and in six months the size of the glands was reduced to one-fourth their former size. The burning and copious perspiration ceased after two weeks. Bladder symptoms were immediately relieved and wanting after a month. Then the family became impatient after I told them, upon inquiry, that she would likely need treatment for at least two years. An old “Yarb” doctor from a neighboring country town assured the family of a cure within a month and, unknown to me at the time, my patient went to see this wonderful woman fakir.
The patient was given a bottle of liquid from which a tablespoonful was given to patient by the “doctor”, and the return journey was undertaken. But she soon went into convulsions and died in an auto before aid could be summoned. The physician summoned, said the woman was poisoned, and to prove it gave a cat some of the contents of the bottle. The cat died. It was unfortunate that this accident occurred, both for the sake of the patient and also because here was the first authentic record of a cure of Hodgkins disease.
At least, I have failed to find a recorded case. Judging from the prompt and full time action of each dose of Conium I have reason to believe she would have been entirely cured. I have presented this case to record new clinical evidence for the use of Conium. The patient did not have the keynote symptom of perspiring on closing eyes, but did have continued copious perspiration. A feature of this case is the remarkable similarity of the Conium and Graphites picture- aversion to salt; she was fat, glandular; had air hunger, and burning. Would Graphites, too, have cured the woman?.
I was called in consultation in a case of eclampsia after the doctor had controlled the convulsions by surgical abortion a month before term. However, a blindness remained which was quickly cured by Conium, which I gave on the characteristic symptoms of perspiring whenever she closed her eyes. Blindness is a recorded symptom of Conium and many other medicines. Would the Conium have stopped the convulsions and saved the childs life, too, had it been given when the convulsions first occurred? I feel certain it would have.
HOUSTON, TEXAS.
DISCUSSION.
DR. JAMES CROW: In discussing this paper I do not wish any one to misunderstand me in my criticism, for it is only by criticism, that we can bring out the salient points. I thoroughly believe in homoeopathy but I am frank to can never die. I attended Kents lectures at Kents Post-Graduate School at Philadelphia and was awarded the Gibson Miller prize in an essay contest and you will find my Guiding Symptoms of Hering all marked with verified symptoms, but when a man says he aborts his pneumonias I would like to know proof of his diagnosis.
How do you know it was going to be pneumonia? I think we should be careful in making such rash statements. I think my record here in Dallas is as good as any other physicians (this was confirmed by Dr. Hunter B. Stiles who said that an investigation had proven that fact but that Dr. Crow was too modest in his statement for his record had not been equalled) but I do not confine my prescribing to homoeopathic medicines. In typhoid fever I cure them in ten days with urotropin. I think we should hear about the failures.
Dr. Schwartz in closing the discussion said : Indeed Dr. Crow has brought out some interesting thoughts. The doctor does give us an opportunity to repeat our creed and avow our faith. I recommend this spiritual ablution night and morning. It will confirm our faith. But I fail to understand how confirming the faith of the priests of Baal would help the prayers of the Israelites in destroying the idols.
The doctors experience recalls the adage that ones heart is where ones love lies. Ones growth is in the direction of his love. I can match Dr. Crows experience with a parallel case. I made a grade of 98 before the Pennsylvania state board examination in surgery thirty years ago but I would hesitate to attempt a major operation.
My love is not in surgery, notwithstanding the fact that we need the surgeon. I think we all agree that our failures, if reported, would be educational proving a discussion would bring out why we failed. I believe it to be the experience of all to fail in two- thirds of our chronic cases. We should, however, have less than five per cent failure in our acute cases. The reports of cures should help us to have less failures.
