In regard to frequency of visits, the ordinary case will do well to begin with fairly frequent visits as three a week. There are some good reasons for the frequency in visits; generally speaking the physicians with as many different forms of treatment that if there is too wide an interval of time between the first and second visit, the patient may discount the value of his new physician in the light of his previous one.
It is a good plan to implant a strong sense of anticipation in the mind of the patient, that there is more in store for him that is good, and yet refrain from telling him all that he would know.
Comprehensively speaking, all cases should be considered from the standpoint of their social, moral, mental, physical and spiritual nature.
The physical situation may be found due to the patients starting the day wrong. Insomnia may be the offending factor. He retires too late, or possibly too soon following the evening meal; coffee or tobacco may be the disturber. It was recently scientifically proven that one hours sleep before midnight is as much value as two hours sleep after midnight. It may be noisy where he sleeps or his bed partner may be restless. Possibly there are other factors that might cause the beginning of the day with fatigue.
It is a common custom to retire late and arise late with a snatch of breakfast, then rush to business. At noon with business off his mind, his old enemy fatigue returns. He is then in need of strong coffee, coca-cola, cigarettes or alcohol as a bracer. Sometimes they are bunched together.
If blessed in a financial way he is likely to eat too much or too rich food, consequently he was a spell of drowsiness and irritability for his afternoons work. There may be too little exercise for the amount of sedentary pursuits. Then again there are the food fadists that need common sense advice. All of these, and many more health suggestions may contribute to improving the patients condition.
As previously mentioned, the erroneous sex life plays an important part effecting neurosis. This condition should be thoroughly investigated and dealt with to remedy the evil effects. It is not enough to insist on discontinuance of their perverted practices. The whole scheme of living must be raised to a higher plane. Noble and lofty ideals should be instilled into their mentality. Hydrotherapy, exercise and in some cases bland diet will be helpful. Sometimes a change of surroundings will be of untold benefit. This will awaken new interests and be a means of building into the daily life healthy viewpoints. In some cases the rest cure will acts as a tonic and a restorative.
A rational approach to his problem will be of significant value. Suggestions, persuasions, re-education, intellectual diversion and occupational readjustment can be most readily employed to suit the individual case.
Suggestions are used in all forms of treatment, whether intentionally or not. The victims sole purpose is to seek aid. For this reason he is highly susceptible to suggestions by sympathetic friends, relatives, nurses and physicians. Whatever the advice or instruction given, the attitude of optimism should go a long way to hasten a favorable outcome. Unfavorable symptoms should not be mentioned or they should be minimized. It is admitted that a working knowledge of the patient involved is essential and the physician should judge his own personality and skill.
The hypochondriac, by long and painstaking discussion, may be persuaded that there is no real stomach lesion. Insisting in the progress, even to exaggeration, will in time greatly encourage the patient.
Oftentimes the patients attitude and “drives” are based on false premise. His fundamental desires and motives are of the worst sort. Here he should be helped to see the ill-fated results when his motives are logically carried to their completion. He then should be instructed how to take steps in the direction of readjustment.
Again, a person may have followed a morbid preoccupation in matters that are of fantastic character. If he has intellectual leanings, the introduction of study, reading and interesting discussions of helpful character, will stimulate him to broaden his viewpoint. Thereby his mind will become pliable for constructive and creative thinking.
One naturally finds social misfits. Because of his peculiar instinct or emotional drive, the patient is a problem in his home or at his work. Here is a study of his personality make-up and his possibilities for readjustment. Assist him in self-analysis and advise relatives and his associates of the use of tactful methods which may greatly clear up a disagreeable situation.
It is to be expected that any and all of these psychotherapeutic measures will fail in several and many of the neurotic cases. If a neurotic case perchance greatly improves, even to recovery, there is no guarantee against relapses of the same condition or another just as bad, if not worse.
Were we to depend only on psychotherapy, correctives in the habit of living and other adjuvants in treatment which the dominant school employs, we would have no claim to exist as a distinctive school of medicine. There is not a colleague here within sound of my voice who is not here because of the faith that is in him. Sometime and somewhere he saw the light of the truth in the similar remedy. He may have experienced this under the personal influence of the remedy or by conviction from observation. The problem is personal if one does not measure up to, or as near as possible to, the standards set by the masters of the only Law of Cure.
Should we depend upon and popularize surgery in the various maladies of neurosis we should be classed as fakers; but thanks to the only materia medica that is rich in psychopathological symptoms, and through the all-potent influence of the homoeopathic remedy, personality disorders beyond numbers have been corrected.
Time does not permit me to give symptomatology of the suggested remedies: mention will be made of a few leading remedies.
For prostration of the mind, Anac., Bry., Cocc. i., Gels., Nux v., Pic. ac., Spig.; for deeper acting remedies, Arg. m., Arg. n., Aur. m., Bar. c., Calc. c., Calc. p., Carb. v., Con., Cupr., Graph., Hep., Kali p., Lach., Lyc., Nat. c., Nat. m., Nat. p., Nit. ac., Nux m., Phos., Phos. ac., Puls., Sars., Sep., Sil., Sulph., Zinc. and its compounds.
Remedies for hysteria are legion. Possible leaders are: Ign., Lach., Nat. m., Puls., Cocc., Asaf., Hyos., Nux m., Phos.; and others almost as important; Acon., Arg. n., Ars., Aur., Cact., Calc., Camph., Cimic., Coff., Con., Ferr., Graph., Kali c., Lyc., Mag. mur., Merc., Mosch., Nit. ac., Plat., Sec., Sep., Sil., Sulph., Tarent., Valer., Verat. For fainting hysteria: Cham., Cocc., Ign., Mosch., Nat. m., Nux m., Nux v. Hysterical lasciviousness: Plat. and Tarent. Hysteria after suppression of discharges: Asaf. and Lach. Obsessions of fear: of animals: Chin., Stram.; of being bitten: Hyos., Lyss.; of cholera: Lach., Nit. ac.; when ready to go to church or opera, Arg. n., Gels.; of consumption: Calc.; of walking past certain corners: Arg. n., Kali br., of something creeping out of every corner: Med., Phos.; of public places: Nat. c., Nat. m., Nit. ac., Phos., Rhod., Sep.; of water: Bell., Hyos., Lach., Lyss., Phos., Stram.
Remedies having anxiety are numerous but to particularize them we find: anxiety when alone: Ars., Dros., Mez., Phos.; anticipating engagement: Arg. n., Gels.; ascending steps: Nit. ac., in children: Bor., Gels., Kali c.; on closing eyes: Carb. v., Mag. mur.; from music: Nat. c.; from night watching: Cocc., Nit. ac.; from noise: Sil.; riding down hill: Bor., Psor.; about trifles: Ars., Chin., Con., Sil.
For the psychopathic personality such remedies for kleptomania: Ars., Caust., Cur., Kali c., Lyc., Nux v., Puls., Sep., Sulph.; pyromania: Hep.; mania for throwing things into the fire: Staph.
The following cases are recalled as occurring in general practise.
William D., age 24 years, dark complexion, small in stature and round shouldered. Quiet, shy and naturally inclined to be irritable. Beginning in childhood he suffered with an inveterate nasal discharge. During past three months the amount of discharge greatly lessened under local treatment. It was becoming more noticeable that a state of anxiety was developing. This proved so aggravating during the night that he became restless. Nothing would pacify him but auto rides. The family was almost worn out from driving through the country after midnight. His emotional activity centered on the idea that his hair was turning gray– as a matter of fact it was black. A few other symptoms were noted, thirst for cold water and large quantities at a time; craving for sours and refreshing articles of food. He was very sensitive to cold. This case was called to my attention after being summoned to complete papers for his insanity. The committing judge deferred sending him to an institution. In the meantime, I suggested to the family the prescription of a remedy; Ars. 1M. B & T. hand made potency was given. In eight hours the reaction– as one wishes to term it — was startling. The patient was home in the kitchen, grabbed the bread knife, rushed to the looking-glass and was about ready to draw the blade of the knife across his throat. His mother rushed to his side in time to save a possible suicidal act. Immediately the lad sat in a chair, replying, “Mother, dont worry, everything is now all right”. Naturally the neighbors became alarmed, telephoned the judge and William was rushed to the state hospital. After six weeks under observation he was discharged. The medical staff declared that at no time was there any evidence of a mental trouble.
