Dysmenorrhea. - Miss S., aged twenty. Nervo-sanguine temperament; menstruated at twelve years of age, and for six years menses were normal; eighteen months ago had suppression from a cold when pelvic inflammation ensued, and was aggravated by a fall down stairs four months after; during the skating craze was in daily attendance at the rink. For eighteen months she has had menstrual colic; periods regular, and flow normal; severe cramp pains in hypogastrium, causing the patient to toss and roll about upon the bed, and the constant application of hot fomentations for twenty-four hours; had pains extending down the legs; backache; heat in the back; and in the menstrual intervals, dragging and tired feelings in the pelvis. Physical signs by touch were prolapsus uteri; by speculum, endocervicitis, and cervical erosion; by the sound, unobstructed canal, measurement of womb two and a half inches. Bland albuminous leucorrhoea has increased for the last six months.

Applied glycerole of flu. ext. of belladonna, twenty drops to the ounce, and prescribed mag. phos., 6x., three doses daily. Five days after, the menses appeared, and surprised both patient and friends by the diminished pain, quite one half, so that she had comparative comfort, and the attendants were relieved of the constant application of fomentations.

The amelioration of this period was followed by relief of backache, and a very noticeable lessening of the leucorrhoea, and has remained so since. Relapses occurred in this case, when the periods would recur in the usual severity. Other remedies were given for a time in the hope of a more speedy cure, but were less satisfactory than the mag phos., which was again administered morning and night. Occasional applications of a solution of chloride of gold and sodium was made to the cervical canal. The patient is now well after five months' treatment.

CHOREA. Miss, six years old. Symptoms were manifested largely upon the face and upper part of the body. Lateral and downward jerking of the mouth; snapping of the eyelids; sudden jerking of the head. When the head symptoms were absent, forward and backward motions of the shoulders would appear. Symptoms relieved during sleep; were aggravated by the usual causes. - attendance at school, bad methods of correction, and fatiguing exertions; was irritable, easily moved to tears, and had a poor appetite. Prescribed ignatia every three hours; no perceptible improvement. Mag. phos., 6x., for three months. was followed by gratifying improvement, which was interrupted by relapses from indiscretion in eating confectionery, too exciting plays, etc. Considering the time employed, I considered the case not fully met by the remedy. Dr. Schüssler says, when mag. phos. is indicated and unavailing, use calcium phos. in con

nection with it. Prescribed calcium phos., 6x., once daily, and mag. phos. twice daily; reported in three weeks very much improved; only slight motions of the head remaining; medicines continued one month, when the mother reported the child well. POTASSIUM CHLORIDE. Special indications for eczema are skin affections with white or whitish opaque secretions or pustular formations; oozing sticky fluid; white-coated tongue; chafing of skin, inclined to scabs; effusion of effete albuminoid substances. In obstinate cases not yielding to kali chlo., use calcium fluoride.

Eczema. On a young child, in its early stage, located on the cheeks, chin, and behind the ears; skin swollen, inflamed, and underneath it induration, on its surface dry scales. The indications were an early development of pustules. Child otherwise appeared healthy. Prescribed potassium chloride, 6x., every four hours; child well in one week.

Eczema. Miss S., aged fifteen. Anæmic; had eczema for three years; had become so weak she was obliged to leave school; years ago had pneumonia complicated by a cough thought to be whooping-cough. The lungs were left obstructed by mucus, and portions of them hepatized. The results of this condition upon her health, in connection with the anæmia and eczema, caused the parents to be apprehensive of consumption.

The ezcema was located behind the ears, and extended over the sides of the head, and was very troublesome with itching. From underneath the scales there exuded a profuse glutinous secretion which flowed down the neck. For a year past, had dysmenorrhoea with attacks of fainting; flow dark and scanty; was constipated, fæces large in circumference. The remedy in this case is evidently graphites, which was given thrice daily. A weak lotion of borax-water and glycerine was used for cleansing the scalp, and to allay the intense itching.

In two weeks the constipation was better, the eczema only palliated by the wash. Although too soon to expect decided results from the remedy used, I was disposed to test potassium chloride as recommended by Dr. Schüssler. After its use for three weeks before meals, patient reported general health. improved, but no decided change in eczema. Dr. Schüssler recommends, when a case of this kind is obstinate, to give calc. fluoride. Prescribed this remedy with potassium chloride, two doses of each daily for three weeks Menses less painful; better flow; eczema much improved. Medicine continued for three weeks. The constipation now recurred, and graphites was substituted for calc. f. (It would be an easy, and perhaps a common, thing, not to record this prescription of graphites, and let the case go smoothly along with the use of kali, and calc.; but I

am testing, and must be truthful.) Improvement continues, constipation better; menses normal, and eczema mostly disappeared. Medicines continued for another three weeks. The patient is well, save the condition of the lungs. The morbid physical signs not being removed as rapidly as I desired, and this being the only unhealthy condition present demanding attention, I prescribed calc. phos 3d for two months, three doses daily. There has been, as a result, a gradual clearing-up of the lung tissue; a manifest richness of the blood, increased strength and endurance; and the patient has returned to school, and after four months' treatment is now well.

I have administered Dr. Schüssler's medicines in other cases; but in those cases they were not used alone, or sufficiently long to be presented as tests of their benefit.

HOW TO TREAT DIPHTHERIA SUCCESSFULLY.

BY C. S. COLLINS, M.D., NASHUA, N.H.

ABOUT twenty-five years ago, my father, and present partner, Dr. W. S. Collins, who was then a country physician, found a case of diphtheria several miles from home. He had used his last grain of merc. bin., and had no reliable substitute for it. He hunted up some corrosive sublimate, which a neighbor kept for some ulterior purpose, and made a 1-100 solution. His orders were so misunderstood that the patient, an adult, took nearly a grain in the first twenty-four hours. The result was so surprisingly favorable to the patient, that it led to further experiments upon the disease, which was then prevalent and quite fatal. As a result, he had rapid recoveries and a greatly reduced mortality.

Ten years ago, Nashua was visited with a most terrible epidemic of diphtheria. People died on all sides; but I went through the epidemic with a total record of fifty-four cases, and but one death. I reported my success and treatment to the New-Hampshire Homoeopathic Medical Society soon after. Dr. Cushing of Lynn was present, as delegate from the Massachusetts Society, and will doubtless recall the facts. He was inclined to term my method "too radical," and I imagine it was so regarded by all present.

After ten years further trial, with no failures, I feel so thoroughly fortified in the position I then took, that I feel justified. in claiming a hearing.

I do not claim any discovery, and wish to disclaim and discard all theories. Let men who have nothing else to do, elaborate the theories. I have only to do with results, in this communi

cation. The "Symptomen Codex" and Allen give to mer. cor. many symptoms analogous to those of diphtheria. In fact, I think this remedy approaches nearer than any other to the "totality" of that disease. Why it has never taken a more prominent place in the treatment of this disease, I am unable to state; but my opinion is, that it has been given in a too much attenuated form.

About three years ago, the old-school journals were flooded with items about the corrosive chloride in diphtheria. Somebody else had blundered upon it, and it was heralded as a "newly discovered specific." It was the discovery of its germicidal powers that led to this excitement; and it is to this power we must look for a solution of the modus operandi of the remedy. The only favorable results of which I find any record were wrought by and grain doses. Dr. Mitchell, in "Arndt's Practice," accepts this theory, and says, "Given low, it is followed by rapid removal of the exudation and loss of fetor."

I wish to add, that given lower, it is followed by abatement of all the local and constitutional symptoms, and rapid recovery.

As the dose and administration of the drug are the only points I shall discuss, I will briefly state how I prepare and administer it.

I have two or three potencies on hand constantly. For a child say six to nine years of age, the age most frequently infected, I triturate I grain mer. cor. with 80 grains sac. lac., and administer 1 to 3 grains once in 3 hours, dry on tongue.

For patients above twelve years, I triturate I grain mer. cor. with 60 grains sac. lac., and exhibit it at intervals of 2 to 4 hours according to the severity of the case.

This is all the medication necessary, except that now and then a putrid case calls for arsenic low, as an intercurrent remedy.

And here, in answer to the objections certain to arise, I declare it to be impossible to produce the slightest toxical effect while the disease is in progress. Nor have I ever seen any bad result follow the most radical use of the remedy in the treatment of diphtheria. I attempt no explanation, but state the fact as I have observed it for fifteen years in an infinite variety of cases.

I next refer to the local treatment. This is "just as radical” and just as important as the constitutional. Either may cure isolated cases; but together they seem to have a direct and specific effect upon the germ or essence of the disease, whatever it may be.

The only remedy I have ever found to stop instantly the progress of a diphtheritic exudation, or slough, is Monsel's solution of persulphate of iron.

Immediately after the application, the deposit takes on a

brownish color, and changes from the tough leathery, to a soft mealy consistence, which will be expectorated in flakes with the saliva secreted during the operation.

The point I emphasize in the use of this application relates to its strength. I find one or two authors who mention its use in diphtheria, but always in combination with glycerine or some other diluent. Jacobi, Hartson, Arndt, and many other writers, fail to even mention it as a candidate for honors.

No doubt they have all tried it, and found it wanting, because they destroyed its efficacy as a germicide by dilution.

This treatment must be repeated daily. By the third or fourth day the membrane will be black or dark green, and will soon come away en masse, leaving a healthy, granulating surface, which heals rapidly. By the end of the second day, all constitutional symptoms will be controlled, when the medicine may be given less frequently.

The local treatment, which should never be intrusted to the nurse, requires no little tact. Children are often suspicious of my little swab," and the molasses on the end of it. The molasses "dodge" never works but once; but it enables the physician to get in one good treatment, which will often suffice.

I make a very small applicator, by taking two or three turns of a narrow strip of cloth about one end of a small penholder or pencil, and winding to the other end. This saves tying, and avoids danger of losing it in the throat. If in doubt about reaching the parts nearest the larynx, - a very important point, — the child may be made to "gag" by sliding the depressor back on the tongue. This will expose the whole pharynx sufficiently for satisfactory treatment.

I have met physicians at the bedside who would not share the responsibility of this treatment, and anticipate this being read by such.

To them I wish to say, that the danger is purely imaginary. The healthy mucous membrane tolerates the solution very nicely, in striking contrast to its effect on diphtheritic patches or sloughs. Still, with a little care, it may be applied without disturbing the healthy tissue.

There are many important factors in the successful treatment of this disease, which, for want of time and space, I must leave to the good sense of the reader.

If in the above statement, I have been too explicit or too emphatic, it is because I am in earnest. I know that we all hesitate to sail a trackless sea without compass or chart. I have voyaged far upon this sea, and now venture to kindle, however dimly, a beacon here and there, which, I hope, may guide some timid mariner to that most delightful of all havens-success.