in some parts by mucous râles; the bronchial tubes seemed filled with mucus, a hypersecretion of the debilitated respiratory mucous membrane. There was shortness of breath; headache; evening fever; burning in feet; dryness of throat; anorexia; pulse 100, soft and quick; alternation of constipation and diarrhoea; urine high-coloured and foul-smelling; sleeplessness at night; shooting, erratic pains through the body, and especially the chest; great exhaustion. Having had such good success in the treatment of similar cases with Sanguinaria before, I immediately prescribed it in the third dilution, ordering at the same time a good nutritious diet. Improvement began in the first six hours, and did not cease until the patient was up and about in good health. But one other medicine was used in the case, Sulphur 30th, which I gave for an irritation of the eyelids. I discharged the patient on the 3rd of March, one month from the date of the first visit, and on the 17th her courses appeared, lasting three days.-West. Hom. Obs., May 15th, 1866.

Bismuth in Gastric Affections.

A young lady, æt. 20, of lymphatic-nervous temperament, dark eyes and hair, chlorotic; subject to headache, palpitation of the heart, sense of faintness at præcordia; had attacks of gastric pain, which usually came on soon after breakfast, lasted from one to three hours, were sometimes of great severity, when they were attended by cold sweats and vomiting. I prescribed for these symptoms from time to time, for about a year, with only occasional and partial relief. Bismuth 3 was given ineffectually. Crude Bismuth, in two-gr. doses, before eating, relieved at once, and, as I have not heard from the patient since I gave her the second prescription of it, some three months since, I have no doubt permanently.

Another case in which crude Bismuth was of marked efficacy was as follows: Mrs. E. J., æt. about 30, mulatto, childless, tall, well-formed, leads a dissolute life; drinks strong coffee, and smokes, but doesn't drink spirits. She first applied to me for a distressing feeling in the throat, of a pressing, choking character. It was doubtless hysterical, as she was weak and nervous, had leucorrhoea, too frequent and profuse menses; and had also bleeding piles. Platina, third decimal, relieved the symptom she

complained of, and the menses became more regular. Afterwards, during the summer and fall, she came to me from time to time, complaining of a weak, sinking feeling at the stomach, which depressed her very much, physically and mentally. She also had pain after eating; a feeling as though she could not get a long breath; palpitation of the heart upon slight excitement or exertion; headache, particularly in the morning. For this group of symptoms I prescribed for five months, with varying, but on the whole discouraging, results. Some improvement had followed the abandonment of coffee and tobacco, while Nux 1 and Arsenicum 3 had at times appeared to give partial relief. Still, the main symptoms continued to trouble and depress her very much, and she was getting thin, when, Nov. 28th, I gave her Bismuth (crude), as in the other case. The relief was immediate and decided. At the date of my last prescription in this case, Jan. 29th, 1866, she reported very much relieved; general health improving; is gaining flesh.-Dr. H. B. Clarke, in New England Med. Gazette, vol. i, No. 3.

Iris Versicolor in Prosopalgia.

In the proving I made of the Iris Versicolor I suffered intensely with facial and dental neuralgia of the right side. I saw a case two weeks ago in a lady, who had agonizing pains in the course of the same nerves upon the left side. I prescribed Iris Vers., 1st, and she was relieved in two or three hours.

The idea here occurred to me-have not the two symmetrical halves of the human body some kind of male and female relation to each other? Will not a drug which produces and cures a neuralgia on the right side of the male face, produce and cure neuralgia of the same nerves on the left side of the female face? Singularly enough, a few days after, a clergyman called on me for some medicine for severe facial neuralgia, involving especially the dental nerves, for both himself and his wife. The only difference, in the cases, was, he said, that his neuralgia was on the right, and his wife's on the left, side of the face. I prescribed Iris Vers., 1st, for them both, and they reported well next morning. Dr. Holcombe in Medical Investigator, May, 1866.

513

MISCELLANEOUS.

Fragmentary Provings of Drugs in various Potencies conducted during the year 1862.* By H. W. ROBINSON, B.A., L.R.C.S., Formerly on the Medical Staff of the London Homœopathic Hospital.

Aconite.

In a young female, fr. gl. (L. & R.) at a single dose, in a wine-glass of water, and allowed to act. After a few days: Much lowness and depression of spirits (c.); disposition to weep (c.); great excitement and restlessness at night (c.); both her eyes became very bloodshot (c.). This experimenter could almost always tell when Aconite was given to her, so highly susceptible was she to its influence.

In a middle-aged female, fr. gl. (L. & R.) in 8 oz. water, w. the addition of a few drops of spirits of wine, a dessert-spoonful every half hour for three doses. Shortly after: She felt quite drowsy (c.); she feels herself sleeping, while still awake (c.); extremely prostrated, and as if beaten all over (c.). This experimenter was also very sensitive to the action of this medicine, and recognised at once that Aconite had been given to her.

Dulcamara.

In a young female, fr. gl. 1 (L. & R.) at a single dose, in a wine-glass of water. After a few hours: Vertigo; she staggers and reels (c.); nausea, w. inability to bring up anything (c.); sharp shooting pains in l. toes and thumb (c.); fearfully confused dreams.

* Explanation of Abbreviations, &c.—(L. & R.), medicines prepared by Leath and Ross. (E.), medicines prepared by Mr. James Epps. (aft.), after. (c.), confirmatory symptom. (The absence of (c.) after a sy. indicates that its authenticity has not been determined.) (1.), left. (r.), right. (fr.), from. (w.), with. (gl.), globules. (tr.), tincture. (gtt.), drop or drops. (pil.), pilule. (after h.), after half an hour. (grs.), grains. (trit.), trituration. (m.), much. (sec. eff.), secondary effect. (alt. eff.), alternate effect. (im. eff.), immediate effect.

VOL. XXIV, NO. XCVII.

- JULY, 1866.

L L

She has to get up at night and walk about the room; sinking sensation all over; she fancied she would sink through the bed (c.).

In the same, fr. gl. 1000* (E.) in 8 oz. water as before, a teaspoonful night and morning. After three days: Bursting pains extending fr. the forehead to the bridge of the nose (c.); sensation of pain in all her limbs (c.).

Graphites.

In a young female, fr. gl. zdō (L. & R.), in 8 oz. water as before, a dessert-spoonful every second morning. After five or six days: A sound in the vertex, like the ticking of a watch (c.); lumpy patches on vertex, red and painful (c.); nightly toothache, tearing pain in the teeth, warm food increases the pain (c.); feeling as of a plug in the throat, at times much difficulty of swallowing (c.); hot things disagree with her stomach (c.); r. upper arm sore, tender and swollen (c.); legs and feet unusually heavy; they swell much; she thought her feet must burst; ankles and feet much puffed, looking as though she had walked many miles (c.); sometimes her feet are icy cold, again quite burning (c.); at night she perspires much, a very sour and offensive sweat (c.).

[At this period (1862), soon after my first introduction to the new system of medicine, not being sufficiently familiar with the right method of drug-proving, I omitted to direct the prover's attention to the observance of the exact order and succession of the symptoms, a matter which, if not of extreme importance, is unquestionably one of much scientific interest.-H. W. R.]

Hepar.

In a young male, fr. gtt. §, at a single dose, in a wine-glass of water. After half an hour: Severe stitches in occiput and in both temples, as if a plug or nail was being driven in (c.).

In a young male, fr. gtt. (L. & R.), night and morning. Aft. sev. days: All his teeth feel loose, and the gums tender (c.); dry cough, w. tightness of chest and sore throat (c.); excessive shivering, followed by feverishness (c.).

In a young female, fr. gl. Too (E.), in 8 oz. water as before;

*These high potencies were obtained from Dr. Rentsch, of Wismar, and are said to be the celebrated preparations of Jenichen, but it is extremely doubtful if the numbers attached to them indicate their degree of dilution; or rather it is pretty certain that they only refer to the number of succussions they received, 100 succussions counting as one degree of potency.

a teaspoonful four times a day. Aft. three days: Sensation as of drops of hot water in l. chest (c.).

In a young female, fr. gl. ¿o (L. & R.), in 8 oz. water as before. A dessert-spoonful each morning: Constant sense of heartburn (c.).

Ipecacuanha.

In a middle-aged male, fr. gtt., three times a day. Aft. seven or eight days: His appearance became quite yellow (c.); urine became bloody (c.); pains shooting as it were from r. kidney down the thigh of same side to the knee-joint, like cramp (c.); chilly, feverish and thirsty (c.).

Kali Carb.

In a middle-aged male, fr. gtt. 1 (L. & R.), three times a day. After five or six days: Scraping sensation in the throat, it feels dry, parched and rough (c.); he felt as if there was no air in his chest, and he could not breathe (c.); violent throbbing and palpitation of the heart on the least exertion (c.).

Lachesis.

In a middle-aged male, fr. a drop of the 6th potency, a sixth part four times a day. After six or seven days: Erysipelatous swelling of the face, the r. eye is almost closed up (c.).

:

In a middle-aged female, fr. gl. do (L. & R.), in 8 oz. of water as before, a dessert-spoonful every third morning. After two doses intolerable colic (c.); a feeling as of incarcerated flatus (c.); excessive griping, as though about to have diarrhoea (c.). In a middle-aged female, fr. pil. 36 (L. & R.), night and morn ing. After three days, agonizing cutting pain in r. side of abdomen, throwing her into fainting attacks (c.); painful distension of the abdomen (c.); sensation of incarcerated flatus (c.); urging to urinate, but inability to do so, except at long intervals (c.); desperate fits of suffocation; she must sit up in bed (c.); icy coldness of the feet (c.).

Lycopodium.

In a young female fr. gl. 1 (E.), in 8 oz. water as before. A teaspoonful every third morning: her temper became very m. affected, at one time she was excessively merry, and laughed