HOMOEOPATHY AND TUMORS CASES



If the first case is the most sensational the next was the most spectacular, although it had a fatal ending. In relating it I shall have to depend on memory, as the record could not be found.

A middle-aged woman had a large breast carcinoma removed by one of our good surgeons and the breast taken with it. I do not remember about glandular involvement. The area was then x-rayed several weeks or a few months. The cancerous process rapidly increased, however, until the hard, red, inflamed, nodular, ulcerating, malodorous, crusty process spread over the axilla across the back, downward upon the abdomen and somewhat across the chest. She was unable to lift the arm from the side or move it backward. She was running a temperature, was able to be about, but thrashing and sleepless at night because of pain and anxious forebodings.

Arsenicum modified this acute process decidedly, did away with the temperature and gave rest at night. Then she was put on Kali mur. 12 three or four times a day.

After several weeks, perhaps two or three months, the entire thing had disappeared and the motility of the extremity was perfect. All that remained were a few irregularities and fine crusts in the scar.

The woman now took a position in a laborers boarding house and did heavy work fourteen to sixteen hours a day in a hot kitchen. Appeals and threats were sent repeatedly by wire and mail, but to no avail. The acute process was renewed like an intense cellulitis, responded to no prescription, and carried her off in a short time, I think about two weeks.

A young lady of 18 had a fibroid of moderate size removed from the right breast. It had long roots which the surgeon had to follow up toward the axilla. The shock of this small operation was not endured well, it taking about five years for the patient to recover her former vigor. In the meantime three new lumps appeared in the right breast and two in the left. She was quite susceptible to grippe attacks, having a sluggish congestion of the right lung at one time. About ten years ago a severe attack of cholecystitis. Since then recurrent attacks of grippe and catarrhal troubles and liver and digestive disturbances.

Sulphur in all degrees up and down was the main feature of the treatment although Arsenicum, Phosphorus and Pulsatilla had to be used for acute conditions. After eight years the tumors in the left breast had disappeared and but one remained in the right, on the original site. Then pains appeared in the left breast, sharp, contracting, with constant dull ache. Both breasts swollen hard and aching before menstruation. Kali mur. 100 was given in January and in April the breasts were free from pain and the tumor gone. Digestive and catarrhal troubles persisted though her endurance gradually improved.

Three years afterward a large lump was found in the right breast, nodular, with sharp edges and fastened to the chest wall. After a few years further treatment this patient was completely cured.

The next case, fatal one, illustrates two points to be seen later. Woman of 50 years. At first a small lump in the lower segment of the left breast, freely movable, slightly tender, blood discharging from the nipple at times, history of a blow on the breast a year previous. During three years treatment progress was up and down the lump receding at times, only to advance again. There were also high tension, cardiac weakness, arthritis, pelvic and other special troubles to contend with. Lachesis, Kali mur., Calc. fluor., Carcinoma and Calc. fluor. again had specific reducing effect. Even after the axillary glands were involved Calc. fluor. 6 softened and reduced them.

Carcinoma 200 had a remarkable effect on the muddy complexion and general feeling. Another blow on the breast and the advance was rapid, the entire breast becoming hard, red and inflamed, extending into the axilla and side of the chest, with fever and general toxaemia, inability to lie down or sleep and much suffering. Lachesis 4M. was given on its familiar modalities in external infections with wonderful relief, the whole mass softening, pointing and discharging copiously like an abscess. The process ceased, the patient could lie, sleep and eat and while failing in general, remained in comparative comfort and died comfortably of oedema of the lungs.

The special features here are the marked palliation with Lachesis and the remarkable effects of potentized Carcinoma on the muddy complexion. Carcinoma has cleared up several muddy complexions for me in a wonderful way in debility with otherwise insignificant symptoms.

Woman of 29. Just discovered a lump in the right breast, about 1 X 2 inches, movable, tender, resilient hardness, soreness extending through to the scapula, < by moving the arm and before menstruation. Warm blooded Kali mur. 100, Sulphur 10M., and Kali mur. 100 again consumed six months with intervals of cessation of pain and mammary swelling, the size of the tumor remaining about the same. Then the local condition became much aggravated by cold of any kind, also general sensitiveness to cold; languid; both breasts sore from any cold, even hands in cool water; the lump larger and breasts swollen.

Magnesium phos. 900 and 5M. cured.

Negro boy of fifteen, tender lump in left breast three years, about 3/4 X 2 inch; previously had one like it in the right breast which disappeared after six months without treatment; no other symptoms or history obtainable. Kali. mur. 12 t.i.d. After a few weeks no trace remained.

Woman of 70. Large fibrous uterus many years. Suffering every night with an intense pain like sciatica. It had come after being bounced in an automobile. She could not lie at all some nights, at others was aroused after an hour or two of sleep and compelled to walk the remainder of the night. Severe pain also in the rectum and pelvis, dragging, lancinating, throbbing, shooting and other sensations, referable to the pelvic condition. This had been going on a month. Examination revealed the pelvic cavity packed solid with a soggy hard mass which extended high up into the abdomen and was absolutely immovable either above or below.

Bellis per. 6 was given every two hours. No change after twenty-four hours. Prescription changed to five drops of the mother tincture every two hours. Next day reported a few short naps but paroxysms worse when they came. The Bellis tincture was ordered to be taken every hour. Next day, the third day of treatment, the condition was decidedly improving. Next and fourth day found the lower extremities oedematous, severe burning ache in rectum, all symptoms coming on worse during sleep and waking her with severe distress. Degeneration and toxaemia was feared.

Lachesis 1M. was followed by good sleep and comparative comfort for two days. Then severe, sharp, stinging pains, abdomen bloated and sore. Bellis tincture every two hours again, continuing eight days when the tincture failed, but a dose of the 1M. lasted four days. Then the 10M. twenty-three days and again ten days, then no response even from the 50M.

Now changed to Kali mur. 12 every three hours on purely tissue considerations. Continued four weeks and when that failed one dose of the 200th.

BY this time the tumor was much reduced and movable and only slight discomforts remained.

Ten days later, new symptoms: ankles and knees weak and giving out under her; soreness in rectum; lameness of left sacral back and down left thigh; hands aching and swollen, face burning; skin inelastic, dents remaining long. Carbo an. 1M. No more trouble to date-a year and a half-though the tumor is there yet, I suppose.

Woman of 32. Hard enlargement in left axilla like a fibroid about 1 2 inches with stitching pains; discovered two years previously.

Daily headaches; backache and pain in the lower abdomen, all these of a kind having the familiar sound of Sepia 1M. and 10M.; each carried nine months. Then Psorinum 50M. six months, then Sulphur 200, the tumor at last report being merely soft, flat, firm, barely palpable. But that means that it is still there, of course.

Here is one that was quite exciting for a while. Girl of 18, nodule in left breast about 2 inch round, stony hard, sore, < before menstrual periods. Had been aware of it two years. Both breasts sore before periods. Kali mur. 200.

Pains became worse then better and tumor decreased. A month after taking this remedy constitutional symptoms appeared. Cold, clammy feet, < in the evening; easy perspiration on scalp. Calc. 10M.

Improved a month. Then reported much trouble at menstrual period. Shooting paroxysmal pains and soreness radiating across the chest and down the arm, much aggravated by cold. Spells of feeling exhausted. Magnesium phos. 9c.

Improved three months on this. Then sharp pains in both breasts and down arms, < after menstruation, < from warmth of exercise, most severe ones coming on while asleep, direction left to right. New lump growing in right breast, the first one remaining stationary. Lachesis 1M. relieved two weeks with right lump decreasing.

Royal E S Hayes
Dr Royal Elmore Swift HAYES (1871-1952)
Born in Torrington, Litchfield, Connecticut, USA on 20 Oct 1871 to Royal Edmund Hayes and Harriet E Merriman. He had at least 4 sons and 1 daughter with Miriam Martha Phillips. He lived in Torrington, Litchfield, Connecticut, United States in 1880. He died on 20 July 1952, in Waterbury, New Haven, Connecticut, United States, at the age of 80, and was buried in Waterbury, New Haven, Connecticut, United States.