REMEDY INDICATIONS AFTER VACCINATION.
Continued.
MALANDRINUM.
Malandrinum, as stated in last months Recorder, should be given a more complete proving. Its clinical record following vaccination almost equals that of Silica, Sulphur and Thuja.
This remedy is indicated when there is almost unbearable itching in and around the vaccination sore and stinging pains if the scab is torn off prematurely. It is one of the remedies to be considered when the lesion fails to heal and there is the formation of dry crusts and scales which itch and sting and burn almost to distraction. With these symptoms there is often vertigo and a persistent aching pain in the forehead. Clarke states that he has cured with Malandrinum “cases of unhealthy, dry, rough skin remaining for years after vaccination.
MEDORRHINUM.
A definite relationship apparently exists between the toxemia produced by the vaccine virus and that caused by gonorrhoeal sycosis. It is probable that Neisserian infection acts as a sensitizing agent, for many of these people are allergic to serums in general and to small-pox vaccine in particular.
More than half of the fourteen or fifteen remedies we are considering for the bad effects of vaccination are antisycotics and if another five leading drugs were to be added to the list, namely, Kali sulph., Nat. sulph., Nitric acid, Sepia, and Staphisagria, all these without a single exception come under the antisycotic classification.
Medorrhinum, the gonorrhoeal nosode, is seldom indicated for the immediate or early symptoms following vaccination, but rather for those patients who begin to wilt and who become chronically sick weeks, or even months, after vaccination has been performed. In children the Medorrhinum symptom picture is often clear cut. Sleeping in the knee chest position is characteristic. There is usually an inordinate craving for sweets, fear of darkness, and a peculiar, rather pungent but not offensive body odor.
If enuresis is present the quantity of urine is apt to be considerable and again the same odor. In adults the knee chest posture is seldom observed but the patient is very apt to lie in the prone position. There is sensitiveness to all external impressions like Phosphorus and often a very lively imagination. There is less emotional instability than in Pulsatilla. If the patient is achy, stiff, sore and rheumatic with a more or less swollen appearance, and if most or all of his complaints are definitely ameliorated at the seashore, then this nosode deserves serious consideration. When completely indicated, both the underlying sycotic dyscrasia and the bad effects following vaccination will be overcome.
PSORINUM.
This nosode is seldom required for the early results of vaccination but not infrequently for the more remote or chronic effects. “Never well since vaccination”–in this type of case means that the inoculation caused a “latent psora” or dormant disease dyscrasia to become active. Psorinum is definitely colder than Sulphur.
The patient is apt to be just as careless and dirty in appearance, even more likely to have an offensive body odor, and decidedly more gloomy and depressed in mind than is the more philosophical Sulphur individual. The skin symptoms may include roughness and dryness; often, however, a greasy forehead, acne, eczema, psoriasis, and other eruptive manifestations. There is often dread of bathing and aggravation from bathing. Generally worse after cold bathing.
One of the verified remedy sequences is that of Psorinum following Pyrogen. This has been observed many times in many forms of pathologic manifestation.
Psorinum is one of the medicines to consider when a long continuing vaccination lesion has been cauterized and the discharge thereby suppressed.
PYROGEN.
EARLY INDICATIONS.
A very violent early reaction to vaccination. A severe take which threatens to cost the patient either his limb or his life. High fever of the septic type. Extremely rapid pulse. Very offensive purulent discharge for the local lesion. Offensive breath and offensive perspiration. Rosy red streaks radiating from vaccination sore. Sometimes multiple pustules. Great swelling of limb. Restlessness of patient in general but motion aggravates the in flamed part. Axillary or inguinal glands greatly inflamed, tender and with threatening suppuration.
The Pyrogen patient is generally a desperately sick individual. There is great prostration with a bruised, sore feeling like Arnica and the aching and restlessness of Rhus tox. Relief from hot applications is often marked.
Eugene passed away at his country home on Spring Hill, Tuscarora Township, Bradford County, PA. He had been in ill health for several months. His wife, the former Caroline Davis, whom he had married in Philadelphia in 1910, had passed away in 1961. They spent most of their marriage lives in Swarthmore, PA.
Dr. Underhill was a member of the United Lodge of Theosophy, a member of the Philadelphia County Medical Society, and the Pennsylvania Medical Society. He was also the editor of the Homœopathic Recorder.