URINE: large amount of high specific gravity; frequent urination; bile and sugar in urine. Urine very dark.
PHOSPHORICUM ACIDUM.
The common acid “debility” is very marked in this remedy, producing a nervous exhaustion. Mental debility first; later physical. A congenial soil for the action of Phos. acid is found in young people who grow rapidly, and who are overtaxed, mentally or physically. Whenever the system has been exposed to the ravages of acute disease, excesses, grief, loss of vital fluids, we obtain conditions calling for it. Pyrosis, flatulence, diarrhoea, diabetes, rachitis and periosteal inflammation.
MIND: listless. Impaired memory. Apathetic, indifferent. Cannot collect his thoughts or find right word. Difficult comprehension. Effects of grief and mental shock. Delirium, with great stupefaction. Settled despair.
STOMACH: craves juicy things. Sour risings. Nausea. Symptoms following sour food and drink. Pressure as from a weight, with sleepiness after eating. Thirst for cold milk.
URINE: frequent, profuse, watery, milky. Micturition, preceded by anxiety and followed by burning. Frequent urination at night. Phosphaturia.
PHOSPHORUS.
MIND: great lowness of spirits. Easily vexed. Fearfulness, as if something were creeping out of every corner. Clairvoyant state. Great tendency to start. Over-sensitive to external impressions. Loss of memory. Paralysis of the insane. Ecstasy, dread of death when alone. Brain feels tired. Insanity, with an exaggerated idea of ones own importance. Excitable, produces heat all over. Restless, fidgety. Hyposensitive, indifferent.
MOUTH: tongue dry, smooth, red or white. Thirst for very cold water.
STOMACH: hunger soon after eating. Sour taste and sour eructations after every meal. Water is thrown up as soon as it gets warm in the stomach.
I have had one striking cure with Phosphorus of a child eight years of age where the following symptoms were present;: Restlessness, apprehensive, especially at night or in the dark; desire for cold drinks and salty foods; dry mouth; hunger soon after eating. Her blood sugar and urine have been sugar-free for the past eight months. Insulin, while in use at the time the child was brought to my office, was discontinued within two months. There has been no further need for insulin.
SYZIGIUM JAMBOLANUM.
Has an immediate effect of increasing the blood sugar, glycosuria results.
Great thirst, weakness, emaciation. Very large amount of urine, specific gravity high. Old ulcers of skin. Diabetic ulceration.
URANIUM NITRICUM.
Causes glycosuria and increased urine. Its therapeutic keynote is great emaciation, debility and tendency to ascites and general dropsy.
URINARY: copious urination. Diuresis. Incontinence of urine. Diabetes. Emaciation and tympanites. Burning in urethra, with very acid urine. Unable to retain urine without pain. Enuresis.
DIABETIC COMA.
Very few diabetic children in my experience under homoeopathic treatment have reached the stage of coma. I have been forced in a number of cases to make use of insulin where I could get only meager description of conditions preceding coma and where no clear-cut indications for the indicated remedy were apparent, but no insulin should be administered unless the urine analysis shows the presence of sugar. I have given small doses beginning with 20 units, giving as high as 200 units, but it is better to give small doses of 20 units every half hour until there is a definite change in the blood picture and in the general condition of the patient.
A CO2 estimation should be made. This often ranges as low as 30 while the blood sugar estimate will rise to 300 or more. Where coma exists as a result of hypoglycemia, intravenous glucose with normal saline is given as high as 3000 cc., maintaining 20 per cent glucose. A Rehfus tube is passed through the nose into the duodenum and through this tube fluids can be injected or removed.
The homoeopathic remedies most useful in diabetic coma are:.
BELLADONNA.
Hot, dry face; sweats on covered parts only; dry, red face; restlessness, throbbing carotids; dilated pupils, dry mouth. A good picture of dehydration.
HELLEBORUS.
Involuntary stool and urine; wrinkled forehead; cold sweat, rolls head from side to side; bores head into pillow; automatic action of one leg and arm.
HYOSCYAMUS.
Low muttering delirium; carphologia; deep stupor; pupils dilated, eyes open; tongue dry, cracked and stiff; involuntary stool and urine.
MURIATIC ACID.
Loud moaning; fetid breath; involuntary stool and urine, slides down in bed; rapid, feeble pulse, intermits every third beat.
CUPRUM METALLICUM.
Convulsions begin with twitching in individual groups of muscles, gradually deepening into coma. Protrusion and retraction of tongue. Cyanosis.
OPIUM.
Deep coma. Dark red discoloration of the face. Stertorous breathing. Dry, black tongue. Contracted pupils. Delirious muttering with eyes open.
CONCLUSION.
Homoeopathic treatment of diabetes is at present the most effective treatment with a lower mortality rate than other methods. Insulin is of no value except as an emergency measure, supplying a deficiency only. Homoeopathic remedies will do much to stimulate reconstruction of the isles of Langerhans. Careful history taking and repertorial work will bring about startling results, for which you will be well repaid in the number of cures made possible, and in the everlasting gratitude of your patients.
SEATTLE, WASH.
Seattle.
Chairman, Bureau of Surgery