The homoeopathic remedy has not been dwelt upon because of the request of your Chairman that this subject be brought up-to-date. During the last year, to my knowledge, there have been no contributions which are outstanding relative to the use of the homoeopathic remedy. Nothing new has been offered, and while on the subject I might quote from a previous article by the author in which the following occurs:.
“I do not believe that it is proper homoeopathic medicine to prescribe a remedy and allow such a factor as apical abscesses about teeth to remain unattended to, expecting reaction to the medicine. It is but a step from etiology to treatment and I believe it behooves the homoeopath to consider all the adjuvant treatments as part of his obligation to the patient. Appropriate methods of diagnosis, painstaking, and scientific, must be carried out for the benefit of the individual, and when the scientific methods through etiologic and diagnostic means have been thoroughly applied, it is then and only that the homoeopathic remedy should be applied.
As has been stated in other places, it is my conception that some of the beneficial effects which are obtained by remedies applied by the dominant school are due to homoeopathic action, and this has been demonstrated by the superior effects obtained from the use of large doses of a 30th x potency subcarbonate”.
In conclusion, I desire to remark that it is my belief that it would be inappropriate at this time to present symptoms and indications for a long group of homoeopathic remedies concerning which many of my hearers are far better prepared to discuss than I.
However, I feel that in the limited time that was allotted to me for the presentation of this subject, the purpose of this paper will have been achieved if I have made evident the constitutional recurrent nature of ulcer, the fact that the much- lauded surgery carries with it a mortality rate and complications far exceeding that of medicine, and that the patient, aware of the fact that he has an inherent tendency towards recurrence his ulcer, will consider the period of treatment to include his span of life and will from time to time-at least at six- month periods-return and carry on treatment by means such as we have indicated.
If this can be done, we will have fulfiled our obligations to our patients, and with the knowledge thus acquired they will have increased confidence on their medical advisers. If we succeed in this it will be distinct step in the direction of turning back into scientific medical hands that large group of patients who through ignorance seek questionable assistance in places that are devoid of confidence.
DISCUSSION.
CHAIRMAN WELLS: We certainly appreciate Dr. Uphams very authoritative and comprehensive review of the treatment of this very important disease. He has covered, I think, and given us his opinion on almost all of the recognized methods of treatment, and certainly it ought to be very valuable to us.
DR. HILL: I would like to ask if the Doctor has had experience with hydrochloride intravenously, which I believe is the basis for Lynthrops synodal.
DR. MADDEN: I think it would be very interesting to have the five cases of gastric ulcer in the room stand. (Laughter.).
From the economic standpoint, one of the finest preparations for home diet is baked potatoes and cream.
DR. UPHAM: I have great respect for some of the work that Pitkin has done relative to his local anesthesias, while it is most distressing to me to see a wonderful surgical reputation ruined after synodal. I have used it and I do not believe it is worth even one hundredth part of the money invested in the investigation.
I do believe in some of the nonprotein series and have worked along that line. But if I had gastric ulcer, I wouldnt let them shoot emetin in my system. Unless you are living a strictly vegetative form of life (and I wont ask you to hold up your hands on that) 5 per cent of your here in this room have gastric ulcer. Possibly some of those cases have been helped, but I am not a believer in synodal. If you are going to use anything in that line I believe in hemoprotein, as used by Brooks. If there is any good in synodal it is due to that.
In Vienna, I never signed up with ten men to study the ulcer problem but that sooner or later I didnt find 5 per cent of them asking for some means of curing ulcer.
To make a last point, I believer it is a constitutional disease which tends to recur. He must have a latent period where he goes on baked potatoes. The ambulant treatment is dangerous. Intravenous feeding is not old style to be forgotten. It still has its value. If you put a needle in the veins and let the fluids run in them you will find you will build up some good people. Then lets have the other situation. Lets teach the laity that we are doing the best we can. Lets be fair and tell him it is apt to recur, for, believe me, my cases recur and your cases recur, and sometimes we stop them but we havent the knowledge at the present time.
CHAIRMAN WELLS: It is very reassuring to learn that only 5 per cent of us have gastric ulcer. I find among interns in hospitals that about 100 per cent have to have their tonsils removed, and 50 per cent have to have their appendix taken out, so by the time you add all the percentages together, a sound doctor is scarce article.
