PROSTATIC SURGERY OR HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT


PROSTATIC SURGERY OR HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT. The patient was also suffering from bilateral cataracts, perceiving only light. The ophthalmologist who made the cataractous diagnosis had refused to treat him surgically because of his generally poor state of health and a pyorrheal condition, more specifically.


To the well-trained homoeopath the question of surgery and the surgical treatment of an individual is a rare thing. Not because we are opposed to it where it is apparently the only practical thing to do; but the experience of the entire profession leads one to the contrary conclusion. His choice of treatment, therefore, is homoeopathic and medical as distinguished from mechanical or surgical. Certainly, we try to the best of our ability and skill to apply our remedies curatively even in such cases as may be considered very largely borderline or frankly surgical problems.

When one has had many years of experience in treating a wide variety of such cases, he cannot help feeling a greater degree of confidence in the outcome, knowing that the remedy action often times is curative. Hence, when we were invited to prepare a paper for this Surgical Bureau, our immediate reply was: “Sorry, but we have given up doing surgery for quite a number of years.”

The Chairman then asked for a paper dealing with non-surgical treatment of surgical conditions, or what are usually looked upon as surgical conditions or problems. Therefore, if there is anything new in this paper, both you and your speaker will be surprised.

As a student and practitioner of the homoeopathic art, I invariably prescribe for my patients irrespective of the final diagnosis, having found that the patient is at least in much better condition to withstand the ravages of anaesthesia and surgery, as well as post-operative treatment, if, eventually, surgery does become necessary.

One case comes to mind. A gentleman, now in his middle eighties, was brought in about eight year ago, suffering from polyuria as well as nocturia from ten to twelve times per night. The history included repeated obstruction requiring catheterization. To make matters more interesting, he came to us directly after leaving the hands of a very competent urologist whose diagnosis was prostatic hypertrophy and who advised surgical removal. This the patient and his family did not like to contemplate.

The patient was also suffering from bilateral cataracts, perceiving only light. The ophthalmologist who made the cataractous diagnosis had refused to treat him surgically because of his generally poor state of health and a pyorrheal condition, more specifically.

As a child and a youth he was a “bed wetter” to the age of 19. Born in Germany, he came to this country later on, and suffered an attack of malaria, two attacks of typhoid fever and “never so well since.” At the age of 19 he was treated allopathically for acute gonorrhea. He had a history or rectal trouble, including piles recurring over many years. A tumor, a size of a hens egg, in the right axilla, had been treated allopathically with “bluish ointment” some forty years ago.

He had a severe sinus attack about ten years ago, and now complained of “steam” in his left ear which was aggravated when lying down. He was a chilly person, “rain and wind get me down.” Noises bothered him and produced an unpleasant reaction in the pit of his stomach. He was a heavy smoker but did not drink. His father died from typhoid and his mother from cancer of the face.

Physical examination showed blood pressure 164/94, pulse 78. His teeth were very poor, some broken, others with only black borders. His body was somewhat emaciated. We found he had an enormously large prostate, extremely sensitive to palpation. Our first prescription was Plumbum mur. 30. followed by Sabal serr. 1M, 10M, 50M, and CM. The administration of these two remedies and their varied potencies covered a period of more than two years which was broken up by a dental problem necessitating the administration of Chamomilla mostly in the 200th potency to be followed by the selection of Thuja 200., a constitutional remedy administered in the several potencies up to and including the CM. Except for a very rare need of an intercurrent remedy this valuable agent continues to render good service.

We had occasion to examine our patient some two years ago following an attack of acute diarrhea treated with Phos. acid, and the patient began complaining that the prostatic problem interfered with normal passage of stool. Upon digital examination rectally, we found to our surprise, a very normal, soft prostate- and so informed the patient. This condition, by the way, still remains.

Patient remains content over the cataractous problem and refuses to have any teeth extracted, hence we feel for the time being at least that homoeopathic treatment in this instance has obviated the necessity for prostate surgery.

It is interesting to contemplate to what extent homoeopathic treatment since childhood has played in preparing the ground for this reported action of our chosen remedies, especially in view of his history of gonorrhea, which I have always been led to understand by competent urologists, seriously hampers any treatment other than surgical in cases such as this.

Since we promised no cure, but offered the opinion that time and similar remedy might produce satisfactory results, we feel they have attained. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

DISCUSSION

DR. C. SEAVER SMITH [New Haven, Connecticut]: Mr. Chairman, I wish to stress the first paragraph of Dr. Enstams paper, that when a patient falls into the hands of a homoeopathic surgeon, he is better prepared for surgery if necessary and his convalescence is better after surgery and, furthermore, if he is in the hands of a homoeopathic surgeon, he very frequently avoids surgery.

I have three cases in point, one a gentleman in his middle eighties who was in the hands of a urologist, and had passed full of precious stones and [Laughter] had a very bad prostate.

He was syphilitic and he had a residual of 34 ounces. The urologist said nothing could be done except that he have a constant catheter life, that the residual otherwise would not be reduced. However, under the influence of Hepar, in a reasonable time his residual came down to four ounces without catheter life, and he lived in comfort into his early nineties and fell asleep one afternoon in his chair.

There was a case of a man of seventy-seven with necessity for a prostatectomy. he postoperatively had a very severe pneumonia which was taken care of by the homoeopathic remedy, since which time-he is now eighty-two-he has remained in good health.

A third case is that of a man of eighty-six who had come to the point that his life wasnt worth living, he felt, without a release of his prostatic symptoms, and the homoeopathic remedy did not do what we hoped it might. he did not have a radical but a trans-urethral resection with very good results, in spite of the fact that he had one year preceding that had a very severe coronary through which he was carried with the homoeopathic remedy, and one year later another severe coronary.

He is now at business every day, in his early nineties, and feels that life is quite worthwhile.

DR. A.H. GRIMMER [Chicago Illinois]: I take a little pride in hearing anything that Dr. Enstam brings out. He was student of mine in the long ago and to see him here turning out real homoeopathic material is a great pleasure. It makes it worthwhile to try to pass on our wonderful law to the young and old alike.

I think many of us here have had that experience. Dr. Enstam is one of my favorites. There is one remedy I would like to mention in regard to some of these cases that was often helpful and that is Hydrangea. Dont forget that, especially in the aged with large prostates and very difficult urination. It was generally given by tincture but it works just as well in the 200th potency or 10M, I am sure.

DR. F.K. BELLOKOSSY [Denver, Colorado]: I very often find that patients who come with the diagnosis of a large prostate have no enlargement of the prostate. They just have a paralysis of the bladder muscle and a homoeopathic remedy cures that generally right away.

Then I find that patients who have had resection of the prostate must have another one a third one and they are not benefited at all. They just can urinate but their general health remains as bad as before and really worse.

Homoeopathy is to be preferred in every concern, even if the diagnosis would be bad. There would be absolutely no harm done, but if a normal prostate is operated on, that is just too tragic.

DR. WILBUR K. BOND [Greensfork, Indiana]: We sometimes surprise our selves with the results we get from homoeopathic remedies on large prostates. I recall a case a little thin, dried-up farmer about eighty-eight years old, doing all of his regular farm work. The poor man beginning to go down-hill very rapidly because he had to be catheterized every night.

I started with some remedies on him; among them were Silica, Conium, a number of others which I cant remember right off hand, but at the age of ninety-four he built a hundred rods of fence. He never had to be catheterized again. at ninety-five he retired in a little country town and still does not use a catheter.

I have a few cases in mind that had to be operated by as conservative means as possible after the homoeopathic remedy had been used, but each time these cases made a very fine recovery. Of course, I attribute it to the pre-operative preparation.

Carl H. Enstam