I can bear testimony to its efficacy in many serious cases of cholera.
Allied to Veratrum and Camphor are quite a large number of medicines more or less applicable to cholera evacuations, and these are Ricinus, Jatropha, Croton tig., Euphorbia and Elaterium. Among these we had a very satisfactory result from Ricinus in the epidemic of 1883. It is useful in cases of diarrhoeic cholera. We have numbers of cures reported in the India Homoeopathic Review of that year. I used it in diarrhoeic cases where the disease took its origin from indigestion or simple diarrhoea.
In a big family in Calcutta there was an outbreak of cholera, and three persons died of it, though Homoeopathic treatment was had recourse to from the beginning. I was called when a fourth case appeared, and I at once hit upon Ricinus, which had a marvelous effect in restoring the patient to health. In the very house I had to treat four more cases, and all of them were saved by the timely administration of Ricinus. In this house there was a medical student, who asked me the name of the medicine, and learned that it was Ricinus. He remarked that in all pervious cases which died Veratrum, Camphor and other medicines were given. Ricinus surely is a new medicine. He gave the credit to Dr. George Johnson, who promulgated the Castor oil treatment of cholera.
Indications for Ricinus.-Purging and vomiting of rice-water fluid; cramps in the extremities; there was scarcely any pain in abdomen; extreme prostration; complete suppression of urine; pulse almost imperceptible; slight coldness of the hands and feet.
In Ricinus cases there is a gradual sinking of the vital power; in Veratrum and Camphor it takes place rather rapidly. The stools may be sometimes tinged with bile. If the disease takes its origin from transgression in food, Ricinus is so much more indicated. I am in the habit of using the 6x dilution, repeated after each stool.
Jatropha is sometimes efficacious. It produces depression of the heart; vomiting is more prominent than purging.
Jatropha.-Whitish vomiting, copious and like white of egg; stools in gushes, gurgling and rumbling in the bowels; cramps in the extremities; pains and burning in stomach; coldness of body; slight perspiration and thready pulse; “watery diarrhoea, as if spurted from him.” The very alarming symptoms are not marked in Jatropha, and the patient is devoid of any anxiety for his future, but is rather lively and cares nothing for his suffering and disease.
Euphorbia is another medicine closely allied to Jatropha. In fact, it is a remedy for simple choleric diarrhoea and not for cholera proper. Both Jatropha and Euphorbia I use in the 6x dilution after each stool.
Croton tig. is also a medicine for diarrhoea, but it often cuts short the disease, which may be developed into actual cholera. Stools are yellow, watery, passed forcibly like shot, worse after food and drink; there is deadly nausea; vomiting eczema, Croton is a good remedy; dilutions from 6x to 30 used.
Very closely related to Veratrum is Antimonium tart. Its indications are very much like those of Veratrum alb. Practically, when I find Veratrum fails I resort to Ant. tart. Purging of rice-water stools; vomiting with great effort; cold and clammy perspiration; drowsiness, with complete exhaustion; pulse almost imperceptible or nearly so; heart’s action failing; respiration labored and difficult. When there is an epidemic of small-pox prevailing, it is better to give Ant. tart. in the beginning of an attack of cholera, as it is alike efficacious in both diseases. We have seen it act beautifully.
These are the principle remedies in developed stages of cholera. They are more or less efficacious in checking the cholera evacuations, and thus bringing the case to safe and sound grounds.
In what is called English cholera, or cholera morbus, I found Iris versicolor or useful remedy. When vomiting is predominant and distressing, with acid rising, burning throughout the alimentary canal from mouth to anus, I frequently had to resort to it. In the case of a young gentleman in a suburban town of Calcutta, I got a charming effect from Iris. The attending physician there tried all cholera medicines to check purging and vomiting of bilious and acid matters, with burning in stomach, without any effect for two days. I gave him Iris vers. 6x, and in a couple of hours he was almost cured.
Now, if the evacuations are not stopped, or case after a considerable damage to the constitution of our patient, the case goes on to the next stage. I mean the collapse stage. In this stage the patient is on the very verge of death. But, as Homoeopaths, we must not lose heart even in this stage. In this stage the patient is on the very verge of death. But, as Homoeopaths, we must not lose heart even in this stage. The following medicines are to be thought of now:
Arsenicum alb.
Aconite. Camphor. Carbo. veg. Cuprum acet. and Ars. Hydrocyanic acid and Cyanides. Cholera (Naja). Secale cor. Veratrum alb. Antim. tart.
Practically, a great deal of difficulty would arise in treating this stage of the disease. We have a great many medicines so closely analogous in their symptomatic indications that it is very hard to say which is most appropriate. However, if we can examine our patients more minutely, we can come to a definite selection.
Arsenicum album is the most important medicine in the collapse stage of cholera. its pathogenetic symptoms are so much like cholera symptoms that an arsenical poisoning case may be mistaken for a genuine cholera case. It has a vast range of action, and we have repeatedly verified its curative virtues in most serious cases of cholera. It is for this reason that I select it as a prototype of collapse remedies. Its symptoms are very marked and unmistakable. Great irritability, associated with profound exhaustion, is the prominent characteristic of Arsenic. You will see patients whose pulse is no longer perceptible; great weakness; even unable to utter a single word; yet so restless, irritable, and anxious that you will be surprised.
Indications for Arsenic; great anxiety and restlessness; fear of death; utter prostration of strength; sunken eyes; distorted face; pointed nose; cold and clammy perspiration over th whole body; burning of the whole body; unquenchable thirst and vomiting after drinking; drinks often but little at a time; violent burning of the stomach and abdomen; urine completely suppressed.
When cholera attacks come on after eating much unripe fruits, drinking much ice water, living in a damp place and exposed to a putrefactive and offensive smell of decaying animal and vegetable substances, Arsenic should be selected at once.
Lower dilutions of the medicine are not so efficacious as the higher. I generally give 30th decimal in frequently repeated doses until favorable symptoms are observed. I have many a time saved desperate cases of cholera by giving the 200th dilution when lower and 30th had failed.
Arsenic has been administered indiscriminately without reference to its indications. This is a bad practice and harmful. it is for this reason Dr. Bell says “that Arsenic does more harm than good in the hands of ignorant persons.”.
Camphor has been used in cases of collapse, but I have not used it very frequently. It may be given in following indications: Diarrhoea and vomiting; sudden prostration; coldness of the surface; cold sweat; bluish countenance; husky voice and violent cramps. It should be cautiously given an as soon as improvement is perceptible and warmth returns it must be stopped.
Aconite is pre-eminently one of the best remedies in the collapse stage of Cholera. Dr. Richard Hughes remarked that in our day Aconite will be a valuable medicine for cholera. This was written long ago and I think that day is come and Aconite is used extensively and with good results.
Indications.-Great anxiety and fear of death; icy coldness of the whole body; cold perspiration; great thirst; labored respiration with pains and oppression of chest; pulse quick, thready and scarcely perceptible; heart’s action weak and slow. In cases of violent cramps and pains in abdomen it is one of my great helps. An elderly lady had an attack of cholera a few years ago with collapse and unbearable pains in the epigastric region. Many Homoeopathic remedies had been tried without effect. I found her in great agony and gave her Aconite 1x every half hour and after two days she was relieved of her pains and reaction took place. For cholera in warm days and cool nights and after exposure to cold I find Aconite valuable.
Carbo Veg. is another of our important collapse remedies. I used it in many cases of impending death and with good results. When reactive power is gone it is indicated. Indications: patient lies as if dead; there is not the slightest sign of irritability about him; pulselessness; cold and clammy sweat; leaden hue of the body; husky voice; difficult and labored respiration; no thirst; no purging and vomiting; abdomen often distended; urine quite suppressed. Lower dilutions have no effect. I generally use it in the 30th and upwards.
