DR.UNDERHILL, JR: While I was a resident physician in the Hospital, I saw four cases of tetanus antitoxin. It was an old- school institution. Every one proved fatal, though every one received 20,000 units.
In my own practice I had never happened to come across a case of tetanus and couldnt say anything about that. My own little younger boy one time ran a manure fork clear through his foot. We had had the garden ploughed and purchased some manure to spread on it. It was lunch time and the man left the fork in the pile of manure, and the boy went out and took the fork and jammed it clear through his foot into the ground. He screamed terribly and his mother ran out and pulled the fork out and called me up and I told her to soak it up in warm water and keep it soaked up all afternoon, and when I got home I would see to it; as long as it was not bleeding seriously, I thought a little bleeding would do it good.
I gave him a good dose of Ledum. He didnt develop any complications of any kind whatsoever.
For Fourth of July accident cases I gave a dose of Ledum. We dont know anything about those cases. We dont know whether such a case will be a case of tetanus or wont.
For black eye I always use Ledum and find it far superior to Arnica. I have a good deal of affection for Ledum because it was the very first remedy I ever had any experience with along homoeopathic lines. Dr.Thacher asked me, “Have you any interesting cases on hand?” I told him about the case that had the feet parked in ice water, the only case of that kind I ever saw. I never saw another case of rheumatism with the feet parked in ice water, and it had gone up to his knees, and he said, “That man needs Ledum Would you mind if I fixed him up some?”.
No, I didnt mind, because I had been soaking him in salicylates, and he wasnt getting a little x on. Be sure you give him that first because the others will work better if you give him that one first.” So. I was duly impressed with that and gave him the “x” powder first and followed it up with sac lac. On my next visit I was better received. My stock was falling rapidly before that. Another visit or two would probably have been the end, not as far as the patient was concerned, but as far as I was concerned. The next day I was greeted a little better, though I couldnt see much difference. The next day after that he had his feet out of the tub of ice water and was altogether different.
The powders came to an end pretty soon and I had to go and beg for more, and you would hardly realize what a job that was, to go and ask for more powders. I didnt make me feel good, but anyway, I did it, and the case cleared up promptly. Dr.Thacher prescribed on this patient sight unseen. I had the courage to say, “You have been able to accomplish what I cant accomplish. I think I should like to look into the matter.” I will never forget the look of joy that came over his face, and he brought out two books, and that was my start in the study of homoeopathy.
DR.H.A.ROBERTS: The most valuable works we have are Hahnemanns Chronic Diseases and Materia Medica Pura,. yet we neglect them constantly. Ledum is eminently brought out in these words.
For that reason I looked up our records, and in the our Transactions I found it mentioned only twice. It has been too much neglected.
Dr.Grimmer has spoken of haemoptysis in his case. I think you can put it down as an axiom, that an aggravation of a remedy will never produce a fatal condition unless that fatal condition is already foreshadowed. It may aggravate and hasten the fatal condition but it will not cause the fatal termination. It may be the exciting thing that will cause it.
DR.GRIMMER:What about a lower potency?.
DR.ROBERTS The two hundredth would probably have saved your haemoptysis, because there is that alternation all through Ledum which is characteristic of the remedy.
Now, in regard to the bone pains that Dr.McLaren spoke of, Ledum will do the trick if it is indicated. These are the bone pains where the child wants to have his legs rubbed. Ledum will do the work very often and has relieved these children a great many times.
Dr.Dixon says I didnt say anything about rheumatism of the wrist. I spoke of the fibrous tissues in the places where they were not supplied with blood freely, especially in the gingers, toes and wrists. I brought that out, I think, and the relief from cold applications. Cold water is the keynote in those acute cases.
A.B. Housemaid. Tubercular case. Nose bleeds; starts when she lifts head from pillow, for the last three months before beginning treatment. A few years ago would sit up all night because of this nosebleed.
Always tired. Overworked as a child. Headaches start at 5 p.m., last until midnight; pains so severe it seems they would skill her. Used to get pains in heart; has a feeling of soreness in heart, pains go up into the shoulder. Has had pains in heart every hour since last Sunday.
Inguinal hernia at the age of 12.
Prescribed Umckaloabo IM. It is now a mouth since she was here, but she reports there is no more nosebleed and she is improved in every way. -VIRGINIA M. JOHNSON. M.D.
