New, Old, and Forgotten Remedies Part 55

_Sleep._--Insomnia.

_Fever._--Rheumatic fever; very frequent pulse; high fever.

_Head._--Headache.

_Eyes._--Scrofulous, herpetic inflammation.

_Ears._--Sudden deafness, with ringing in the ears and alb.u.minous urine.

_Nose._--Dry; the inner surface of the nose covered with blood crust; scalding and very scanty brown urine.

_Mouth._--Flat ulcers in the mouth and throat.

_Gastric: Stomach, Abdomen and Stool._--Continuous bitter taste, disturbing the rest, especially nights; heavily covered tongue, which does not become clean in spite of the use of anti-gastric remedies, and only cleanses itself at the return of abundant urinating; chronic catarrh of the bowels; diarrhoea, with scanty, dark urine; dysentery; costiveness; sensation of pain in the abdomen on both sides of the navel, upon deep pressure; physconia of the abdomen by gases; severe p.r.i.c.king in both hypochondria to the region of the kidneys, reaching to the lower extremities, with continued bitter taste in the mouth, especially at night, with very scanty brown and sour urine.

_Female Parts._--Haemorrhage, chronic leucorrhoea, in connection with copious, watery urine and sediments of mucous particles and uriniferous tubules; epithelium.

_Respiratory Organs._--Heavy expectoration in coughing; croup, with little blotches on the hands and diminished urine; chronic catarrh of the lungs; continuous dyspnoea; periodical asthma, with nightly dysuria.

_Trunk and Lower Limbs._--Rheumatism of the intercostal muscles; chronic pains in the loins; limping, dragging gait; rheumatic pains in the legs; pains in the thighs; the legs can be moved horizontally, but when moved perpendicularly they feel lame.

In connection with these symptoms the description of a few cases of sickness, in which _Virga-aurea_ proved itself, might be of some interest.

CLINICAL.

During the spring of 1886 scarlet-diphtheria appeared in this place. On March 28th I was called to attend the 8-year old son Matthias, of Wernerus, a weaver, in the hamlet of Niepert, that showed symptoms of the above disease. Cynanche was at high degree, and the throat was filled with diphtheritic coating, so much so that I had reason to fear the worst, on account of the accompanying fever and of the choked-up condition and weakly (scrofulous) habit of the patient. But the well-known remedy of Viller, given alternately with _Belladonna_, proved itself also in this case, and the symptoms in the throat a.s.sumed, after a few days, a less dangerous character. Not so with the fever, which gradually a.s.sumed the form of typhoid, and ran very high, while the scarlet-rash grew quite pale. On the morning of April 5th, his temperature was 42.5, the patient unconscious, the pulse weak and intermittent, the feet swollen. Upon inquiry the parents told me that the boy urinated very little. His urine, of which I had taken a quant.i.ty the day previous for examination, contained a considerable amount of alb.u.minous sediments. I prescribed _Kali a.r.s.enicosum_ in the fourth centesimal potency, which had been recommended in similar cases by Dr.

Hock in the international h.o.m.oeopathic press; but, although the temperature decreased after using this remedy, the dropsical swelling of the feet increased more and more, and after a few days the entire body of the patient was swollen very much. The discharge of urine grew continually less. Under these circ.u.mstances I examined the patient again thoroughly, and found great sensitiveness of the kidneys against pressure, in spite of his otherwise apathetic condition. These symptoms reminded me of _Virga-aurea_. This remedy was immediately applied, and I had no reason to regret it. Within one day the urinal discharge became profuse, the general condition improving at the same time; the peeling off took place without further trouble, and after the patient had taken _Virga-aurea_ for two weeks, and, on account of anaemia, for one week three times a day, a dose of _Ferrum peroxydatum_ in the 2d trituration, he had so far recovered that I did not consider it necessary to give further medicine.

In 1885 a 45-year-old Belgian mine official (his work was office-work) consulted me on account of sleeplessness and pain in the back. The patient had no other complaints, only he carelessly added it sometimes took him a long time to urinate, because of want of the necessary pressure. He considered this weakness as the result of gonorrhoea, from which he had suffered years ago. The sleeplessness, for which he had tried all remedies possible, would make itself known from the time he went to bed until 3 o'clock in the morning, at which time he could get sleep, but not a refres.h.i.+ng one, and on arising he would feel very tired, especially in the upper part of the thighs, and then would commence the pain in the back, which extended to the loins, and lasted until he went to bed in the evening, without being prompted by external influences (warmth, cold, rest, motion). Also sleeplessness nights, pain in the back daytimes. At first I considered _Nux vom._ proper, and I prescribed the same for the patient, in the 3d decimal potency, four drops twice a day. At the same time I requested the patient to bring a sample of his urine at his next visit. After some time he came back with the sample, and declared that the prescribed remedy had not shown the least effect.

The urine was dark and slimy, reddish, slightly acid, and had at the bottom of the bottle brick-dust settlings. Heat did not show alb.u.men, but by heating it the dark urine became clearer, and contained also salts of uric acid. I examined the kidneys of the patient, found them sensitive against pressure, and the diagnosis pointed to chronic catarrh of the kidneys. Sleeplessness, pain in the back and the tired feeling in the upper parts of the thigh were additional symptoms of this malady, and I determined to use _Virga-aurea_. The patient took this for three months three times a day, after which he wrote me that he was entirely well. About a year afterwards he had a relapse, but not in the form of former symptoms, but in the form of ischias, against which disease Golden Rod proved itself beneficial.

In conclusion, may be mentioned a double case of the curative power of _Virga-aurea_, which also contributes to the heredity of disease. Some time ago, the wife of a farmer, 53 years old, asked me for a prescription for a trouble which she had had for twenty-six years, since her first confinement. The patient, a stout and fresh-looking person, made the following statement: After the confinement, which was very laborious, and which was followed by prolapsus uteri, the latter still existing, her legs began to swell, and an itching rash broke out by degrees. Menstruation had always come at the proper time, but suddenly stopped six months ago.

Since that time the itching had become almost intolerable, the legs more swollen and always cold, but she did not feel a continuous heat in her head. The appet.i.te was very poor; she had always a bitter taste in the mouth, and the tongue was thickly coated. At the same time she had rising from the stomach, as if she should suffocate, and at the least exertion she lost her breath. She urinated very little, and this mostly at night. My question, if there were pains in the back, was answered in the negative, but the kidneys of this patient were also sensitive against pressure. The appearance of the lower limbs of the patient frightened me. From knee to heel they formed a bluish-red ma.s.s in the shape of a stove-pipe, which were covered with little blotches and crusts. This kind of an eruption, together with the other symptoms, led me to the use of _Virga-aurea_, the prolonged use of which, although it did not affect a cure, produced a mitigation of the whole body, so that the lady induced her eldest son to come to me for help. This man had also trouble in his lower limbs not unlike his mother. He had a year ago pa.s.sed through a severe throat difficulty, after which his lower limbs began to swell and to itch; they were also tainted bluish-red and covered with vesicles; he also complained of scanty urine, and his kidneys were sensitive against pressure. What better could I, under the circ.u.mstances, prescribe than _Virga-aurea_?

The result was good. After a few months the patient had no more difficulty.

In the cases above mentioned, I prescribed the 3d decimal dilution of the tincture of the whole plant of Golden Rod. The water of Golden Rod, recommended by Rademacher and others, I have never tried.

STELLARIA MEDIA.

NAT. ORD.--Caryophyllaceae.

COMMON NAME.--Common Chickweed.

PREPARATION.--The whole fresh plant in bloom is macerated in twice its weight of alcohol.

(Frederick Kopp proved this remedy and the results were published in the _h.o.m.oeopathic World_, 1896, as follows:)

"It has proved to me a matter of impossibility to answer all the letters that have been sent to me by readers of the _h.o.m.oeopathic World_ on the subject of the use of _Stellaria media_ in the treatment of rheumatism, but I trust that the information given below will satisfy all the correspondents. It will be remembered by my readers that the new drug was first proved by me in 1893, consequent on my attention being drawn to the weed by our esteemed friend, the Rev. F. H. Brett. I made a thorough proving of the drug, not only once, but several times, so as to satisfy myself beyond a doubt as to the symptoms peculiar to it, and the excruciating rheumatic-like pains developed at the time are still vividly remembered by me; in fact, they were so severe and intense as not to be easily forgotten when once experienced. There is no mistaking the _rheumatic_ symptoms of the drug. They come on very rapidly, and the sharp, darting pains so peculiar to rheumatism are experienced, not only in almost every part of the body, but the symptoms of soreness of the parts to the touch, stiffness of the joints, and aggravation of the pains by motion are also present. These pains may be described as follows:

"Rheumatic-like pains over the right side of the head; especially towards the back, with the parts sore to the touch; rheumatic-like pains darting through the whole head, worse on right side; rheumatic-like pains left half of forehead, over the eye, with the parts sore to the touch; rheumatic-like pains in the left foot; rheumatic-like pains in the ankles; sharp, darting, rheumatic-like pains in the left knee, gradually extending above along the thigh; rheumatic-like pains below the right knee-cap; rheumatic-like, darting pains through various parts of the body, especially down the right arm and the middle and index fingers of the left hand; stiffness of the joints in general; rheumatic-like pains in the calves of the legs, which are sensitive to the touch; rheumatic-like pains in the right hip; rheumatic-like pains across the small of the back, aggravated by bending or stooping; stiffness in lumbar region with soreness; darting, rheumatic-like pains through right thigh; rheumatic-like pains in right groin.

"It will be seen by the above symptoms that almost every part of the body in which it is possible for rheumatic pains to occur is affected, the rheumatic-like pains darting from one part to another. My correspondents all being readers of _The h.o.m.oeopathic World_ will remember a case reported in the January number of the journal (1896), by Mr. R. H. Bellairs, in which the pains were 'now in ankle, now in knee, now in arm, wrist, or fingers.' This case fully ill.u.s.trates the symptoms borne out in my proving of the drug, and it but naturally followed, according to the law of similars, that the disease should yield to the month's treatment with _Stellaria media_. Mr. Bellairs says he thinks that possibly 's.h.i.+fting pain' is a key-note, and I am glad that I am able to inform him that he is correct in his supposition. I am pleased to hear that he has often given _Stellaria media_ in chronic rheumatism, and now looks upon it as a specific. It is these things that gladden the heart of the prover of new drugs--the news of the practical triumph of a new drug over symptoms of disease similar to those it is itself capable of developing in a healthy body--and one feels amply repaid for the hours and days of pain and suffering that one has inevitably to put up with in the vocation of 'proving.' I heartily congratulate Mr. Bellairs on his success in curing the above case.

"I have been asked by one correspondent whether a changeable climate--one with sudden changes of temperature occurring every day, for instance--would prevent the drug from taking effect in the treatment of rheumatism. To this question I can promptly return an answer in the negative. I have proof upon proof lying before me to testify that _Stellaria media_ is just as efficacious in a changeable climate as in any other. Reports of cases cured have come to me from various parts of the world, under varying changes of climate, and the result has always been the same, namely, 'the cure of the case.'

"For _internal_ administration I have always found the 2x tincture the most efficacious, given in from one to two drop doses every two, three, or four hours, according to the severity of the symptoms. For _external_ purposes I strongly advise the [Greek: theta] tincture. It may be employed either in the form of a lotion (20 to 60 minims of [Greek: theta] tincture to a tumblerful of water), the ointment or the liniment (30 to 40 minims of the [Greek: theta] tincture to [Latin: ezh]j of pure olive oil). Cloths steeped in the lotion and renewed when dry may be applied to the painful parts, or the ointment or liniment may be rubbed well in. Experience has taught me that external treatment combined with internal greatly a.s.sists in hastening the cure. In the treatment of rheumatism _Stellaria media_ is a very active drug, acting very promptly; a low dilution of the mother tincture of the drug taken internally is very apt, therefore, to intensify the pains, and these should therefore be avoided and the 2x dilution used."

STIGMATA MAIDIS.

A Tincture of the Fresh Corn Silk.

NAT. ORD.--Gramineae.

COMMON NAME.--Corn Silk.

PREPARATION.--One part of fresh corn silk is macerated in two parts by weight of alcohol.

(A great deal has been published lately concerning this remedy. The following by Dr. Dufan, _London Medical Record_, seems to give the best outline of its uses:)

1. The stigmata of maize have a very marked, though not always a favorable, action in all affections of the bladder, whether acute or chronic.

2. In acute traumatic cyst.i.tis, and also in gonorrhoeal cyst.i.tis, they have a very marked diuretic action, but, at the same time, increase the pain; hence they should not be employed in these cases.

3. The best results have been obtained in cases of uric or phosphatic gravel, of chronic cyst.i.tis, whether simple or consecutive to gravel, and of mucous or muco-purulent catarrh. All the symptoms of the disease, the vesical pains, the dysuria, the excretion of sand, the ammoniacal odor, etc., rapidly disappear under the influence of the medicine.

4. The retention of urine dependent on these various affections often disappears as improvement progresses, but the use of the sound must sometimes be continued, in order to empty the bladder completely.

5. The stigmata maize have very often produced a cure after all the usual internal remedies had been tried in vain, or with only partial success. In other cases, the ordinary methods of treatment, which had at first proved more or less entirely useless, became efficacious after stigmata had been administered for a time, and had, as it were, broken the ground for them. Most frequently the stigmata alone sufficed for the cure, but still in some cases the effect was incomplete, and it was found that the treatment could be varied with benefit. Injections and irrigations of the bladder also proved useful adjuncts to the maize.

6. As the stigmata of maize are a very powerful, though at the same time entirely inoffensive diuretic, they have also been employed with the best results in cases of heart disease, alb.u.minuria, and other affections requiring diuretics. Cases have been reported in which the urinary secretion was tripled and even quintupled in the first twenty-four hours, and others where the exhibition of the drug was continued for two or three months without the slightest untoward effect.

(Though Dr. Dufan condemns the use of the remedy in gonorrhoea, other pract.i.tioners have commended it for that very purpose. Dr. Leo Bennett, _Therapeutic Gazette_, 1893, having had "unusual success" in the treatment of that disease with the _Stigmata maidis_.)

SUCCINIC ACID.

PREPARATION.--The pure chemical is triturated in the usual way.

(The following is by Dr. Morris Weiner, of Baltimore, 1892:)

About twelve years ago I decided to prove _Succinic acid_ (_Acidum succinic.u.m_). _Agricola_ mentions this acid, 1546, as _Salt of amber_.

_Boyle_, towards the close of the 17th century, was the first who p.r.o.nounced it to be acid, and _Stecker de Neuform_ confirmed this statement, after repeated investigations, calling it a _true_ acid.

_Berzelius_ published its elemental composition, C_{4}H_{2}O_{3}.