I felt that what was happening was an inflammatory action due to the reaction of the body and resulting in the breaking down of malignant tissue, and that, therefore, the action was saltuary. I realized that pus formation was going on, and if only the abscess were to break through into the bowel recovery might result. I adapted my treatment accordingly. Providentially the above happened, and the patient made a complete recovery and is now in perfect health. That was five years ago.
The following are the principal diatheses I recognize:-
Vaccinal.-This was specially drawn attention to by Dr. Compton Burnett, and certain cases of tumour will not be easily cured without taking this into account, and such remedies as thuja, vaccinium, variolinum, sabina, &c., used.
Gouty.-This constitution seems to favour tumour formation of the epithelial type.
Sycotic.-This seems to favour surface tumours.
Psoric.-As is well known, its manifestations are legion, and tumour formation is one.
Tuberculous.-This seems to lead chiefly to the connective tissue type of tumour requires the tubercular nosodes and those constitutional remedies related to that diathesis.
Syphilitic.- This has far- reaching effects, perhaps especially selecting the harder tissues and the nervous system.
Rheumatic.-This, undoubtedly, has an influence in the formation of tumours, e.g., the breast. These are probably not usually of a malignant type.
Cancerous or Malignant.-There are person who seem, without apparent reason, especially prone to develop malignant disease. Probably heredity is an important factor in this diathesis.
Reflex Tumour Formation.-In this place may be mentioned the fact, first noted, I think, by Dr. Compton Burnett, of the tendency of disease of the sex organs of females to lead to tumours of the breast. This has, probably, also a constitutional basis, as it does not occur in all cases having a similar history and condition.
BASES OF SELECTION OF REMEDIES FROM THE STAND POINT OF THE REMEDIES.
A patient comes to one to have the most help possible given, and whilst we as homoeopaths have the most scientific and certain method in existence of selecting remedies, it does not follow that as yet we have all the light we need. I think it is not wrong to state that, whilst there are undoubtedly many cures of tumours of all kinds wrought by what I may call pure homoeopathy- that is, as the result of drug provings-yet the greater success in the treatment of tumours has been achieved by those who have not confined themselves to that method, but have used light from wherever it has come.
I again emphasize my belief that every true cure by medicine is homoeopathic, and the more there comes to be known of drugs the more it is evident that the good they do is homoeopathic in its action. The following is the classification of remedies which has helped me in dealing with these cases:-
(1) By Materia Medica and Repertory of Proved and Tested Drugs.-This is the ideal way, where possible, and the one which gives the true homoeopath most satisfaction, as it is founded upon a well-tried basis, and he knows that if his indications are clear, and the accessory factors favourable, he is sure of one of those happy results he is so accustomed to in other cases. It is, therefore, the method to be first tried ordinarily, purely or in one of the forms, e.g., arborivital, or nosodes, named below.
But it is not sufficient in all cases, and for two chief reasons:-
(a) Drug proving is rarely carried on to the state of tumour formation.
(b) As, most probably, tumour formation depends largely upon the presence of some constitutional fault, or other abnormal state, provings upon healthy persons would not lead to tumour formation, even if the drug had such a power under suitable conditions.
(2) Arborivital.- This was the method used so successfully by Dr. Robert Cooper, and still carried out by his son, Dr. R.M. le Hunte Cooper. It is no doubt homeopathic in its nature, and consists in the use of single doses, infrequently repeated, of the juice obtained from living plants. Dr. Cooper had a wonderful faculty in getting at the genius of many unproved remedies. I have repeatedly proved the great value of his teaching.
(3) Nosodes.- Whilst some of these remedies have been well proved, others are used as the result of clinical experience or on theoretical grounds.
Dr. Compton Burnett was the great pioneer of this last idea, and very good results he, and those who have intelligently followed him, have obtained. They are manifestly homoeopathic to the conditions they are used for. As is well known, they are obtained from disease products of the same type of disease they are used for as remedies.
Dr. Nebel, of Lausanne, has used a modification of this method in cancer. By very patient investigation, and endless labour, he produced a culture of a micrococcus he and others had found associated with cancer. This he uses in three ways: (1) By the inoculation of it into various animals, with the resultant production of what is usually a localized tumour. He then obtains serum from the animal and uses it remedially. (2) By means of attentions of the cultures prepared in various ways: (3) By the attenuation of juices obtained from malignant growths. These he uses as nosodes along with the indicated homoeopathic remedies, and certainly gets notable results. Dr. Nebel very kindly let me have some of his preparations, which I have proved of much value. I sincerely hope that Dr. Nebel will put on record the results of his work. Much valuable knowledge and experience will be lost if he does not.
There is the prospect of much new light upon Psora being given by the work of Drs. Bach, Wheeler, Dishington, and others, which may add greatly to our power of treating malignant growths, as well as of dealing with chronic diseases generally.
New and very valuable work under this heading is being done by Drs. Bach and Wheeler in connection with morbid intestinal flora. The fully developed results are likely to be of great value.
(4) Constitutional or Diathetic Remedies.- These, of course, are the usual homoeopathic remedies which have been found valuable in acting upon the morbid constitutional states previously referred to. I do not need to remind you that Hahnemann himself was the great exponent of this method. Since his day the ground covered has been much enlarged, and much defining and clearing are yet required. Probably Dr. Boyd’s emanometer will help a good deal in defining the relationship between diatheses and remedies.
(5) Organ Remedies.-Whilst theory has played some party, provings and experience have been the main factors in bringing this method into use. That remedies have a selective action is well known, and therefore one is often enabled thereby to select the correct medicine.
(6) Eliminative or Canalizing Remedies.- It is sometimes found that in the treatment of tumours, especially malignant, that the seemingly indicated constitutional remedy or nosode fails to produce the desired effect, or that improvement cases. This seems to be due to a want of elimination of toxic products from the system, which interferes with reaction. In such cases the patient often complains of a general feeling of illness or weariness. Or if the tumour is at all large and is breaking down quickly, there may be considerable more or less general swelling of an oedematous nature. This is apparently due to the partial failure of one or more of the eliminating organs, especially the skin, kidneys, respiratory organs, especially the skin, kidneys, respiratory organs, or liver, to function properly under the great strain. These symptoms are best met by remedies which have a special affinity for those organs. Examples are: Rhus tox., berberis, pulsatilla, chelidonium, apis, ant. tart., merc., phos., mez., &c. Drs. Cooper Burnett and Nebel, especially have drawn attention to remedies so acting. They are selected on the homoeopathic basis, and are usually the acutely acting complementaries of the deep-acting remedies.
(7) Eclectic Remedies.-I include those medicines and mixtures of medicines which have been found of value, but whose relationship to the cases they benefit is chiefly found by practical experience. Amongst homoeopaths, Dr. Eli Jones is the chief exponent; and his work on cancer gives many remarkable cases of cure. I can testify from work done with him what a wonderful knowledge of homoeopathic materia medica he has, and upon which he mainly founds his treatment.
My own experience has taught me that, especially in malignant disease, we have in some of these remedies, used electrically, the best way of combating some of these desperate cases, and I should be sorry to be without the help so derived, until I can do better.
It would appear as if the low scale of vitality these malignant growths possess is often best met by remedies with their “potency,” in the homoeopathic sense, largely undeveloped. In other words, the latter are more truly homoeopathic sense, largely undeveloped. In other words, the latter are more truly homoeopathic to these growths.
