Page images
PDF
EPUB

Whether by stimulating the flagging heart and thus, whilst preventing the patient from fainting, we run the risk of causing fresh effusion of blood, we do not deprive the sufferer of her only chance of ultimate recovery, we leave others to decide, our own experience being that no kind of treatment greatly modifies the result of this grave condition.

For ourselves we should be inclined to depend on some homœopathically indicated drug as Carbo vegetabilis in place of alcohol.

For the "colic" perhaps Verat. alb. would be even better than the flying blisters recommended by Dr. M. Jousset.

We are glad to see that Dr. M. Jousset does not speak in favourable terms of that most unjustifiable procedure, viz. puncturing the cyst.

When we remember the nearly unlimited powers of absorption possessed by the peritoneum, and the great peril of admitting air into the peritoneal cavity of a woman terribly exsanguined, plus the shock, of which we think so little, and of which the unhappy patient thinks so much, surely the most bloodthirsty operator should pause ere he incur the odium of needlessly curtailing and embittering existence.

Dr. M. Jousset gives with great care the differentia from simple pregnancy, extra-uterine fœtation, extra-peritoneal hæmatocele, parametritis, pelvi-peritonitis, ovarian cyst, pelvic hydatids,* hæmometra, fibroids, and uterine carcinoma.

Amongst the interesting points of diagnosis we fail to see one, not always present indeed, but when present of great value. It is the curiously sudden pigmentation of the previously pale face that takes place simultaneously with called by the irreverent "Brandy Toddy;" what a curious immortality he seems to have obtained, by his favourite stimulant being called "Potion de Todd."

* A word that should be abandoned in connection with the uterine cavity, as it is the opinion of advanced pathologists that so-called "hydatids' unknown in the uterus, the condition being really "dropsy of the chorion."

are

the commencement of blood absorption. This is sometimes' so marked as to be mistaken for jaundice.

We confidently recommend a perusal of this promising brochure to the members of our body. It is pleasant to see our rising men producing works of a really high class in special domains of medicine.

OUR FOREIGN CONTEMPORARIES.

AMERICA.-Our last survey of American Journals brought them down to the end of 1881. In our present notice it will be understood (unless otherwise specified) that we have before us the file of each journal from January, 1882, to June, 1883.

February,

North American Journal of Homœopathy. 1882. A Dr. I. J. M. Goss is announced as having published in the United States a Materia Medica on the lines of that of Dr. Ringer, i.e. owing all that is peculiar in it to borrowings from homœopathy. Dr. Allen's "Critical Examination " of his own Encyclopædia gives a very exhaustive analysis of the pathogenesis of Aloes. "As a whole," he concludes, "we find our pathogenesis good. Very little weeding is to be done, but of course for practical use much condensation."

May. Dr. Norton writes upon parenchymatous keratitis. "We are satisfied," he says, "that we have not only hastened the absorption of the infiltration into the cornea, but have also often checked the progress of the disease in its various stages." To the usual remedies he adds Cannabis sativa and Sulphur. Dr. Hallock reports two cases of diabetes treated by Nitrate of Uranium in threegrain doses of the 1st trituration; one was greatly benefited, the other cured. The only assignable cause in the latter case was the abuse of Vichy water. Dr. Skinner is quarrelling with some of his fellows regarding the use of " nosodes." Here is an amusing sentence from the present number.

"Dr. Lippe may style us' Isopathists,' but he knows full well that there are not, although I say it, two sounder or firmer homœopathicians in the universe than Dr. Berridge and myself. Isopathy a fatal error'-Dr. Lippe is a wise and enlightened man, but he has still to learn that he himself is capable of holding a 'fatal error,'

[ocr errors]

August. From some German observations translated by Dr. Lilienthal, it appears that Digitalis will not retard the pulse when the vagus is paralysed. Dr. Allen examines the "Alumen" of his Encyclopædia, and finds it to contain a "sound nucleus" only. Dr. Helmuth reports two successful cases of Battey's operation for confirmed menstrual derangement,

--

November. Dr. M. Deschere, who is giving special attention to the diseases of children, contributes an excellent article on capillary bronchitis. (A book on these maladies, in which the therapeutics are thoroughly" Ringerian," is noticed under the head of Allopathic Progress in Pædology." The author is one Edward Ellis, M.D.) Dr. E. V. Moffat communicates experience with the Symphoricarpus racemosus (snow berry), which makes it appear to be a truly homoeopathic and very effective remedy in the vomiting and other gastric derangements of pregnancy. It was introduced by Dr. Burdick, of New York. His tincture was made from the ripe berries. Dr. Allen analyses his "Alumina" and begins by adding another half page of corrections to those of his "Critical Revision." He gives a specimen of the way in which Hahnemann dealt with Nenning, which shows twenty-three symptoms reduced to nine. Dr. Allen thinks that by his condensations, omissions, and misquotations of Neuning, Hahnemann has spoiled his contribution to our knowledge of the drug.

February, 1883.-Dr. Lilienthal gives us a study, more suo, of Arnica. He states that he has "verified over and over "the statement that this medicine will "tone up" lassitude and relaxation of the vocal organs from overexertion, as in actors and singers.

May. Dr. Berghaus states that a chemist, preparing a combination of Lactic acid and Carbonate of Lithium, ex

perienced at different times, but only when making and working with this compound, decided rheumatic pains in the small joints, though not himself subject to rheumatism. Taking the hint, he and others have used Lithium lacticum in subacute local rheumatisms with good effect. A case of fatal poisoning (secundum artem) by Salicylic acid is related, in which it is stated that the dyspnoea showed the greatest similarity to that of diabetic coma. Provings of Convallaria majalis and Chionanthus Virginica are given. Dr. E. V. Moffat states that a lady medical student has proved Cinnamomum, to see if it would cause the metrorrhagia it often checks, and found it very active in this direction.

Hahnemannian Monthly. January, 1882. The following cases are so well described and so striking in their results that we must give them entire.

Lycopodium and Berberis in Chronic Diarrhea.

By W. T. LAIRD, M.D., Augusta, Me.

November 5th, 1874, was called to see Ella W, æt. 23. During the first year of her life she had been perfectly healthy, with the exception of the ordinary ailments of infancy. At the beginning of the second year she was vaccinated with humanised virus, and soon afterward large sores broke out all over the body. These proving intractable to all internal (allopathic) medication, powerful ointments and astringent washes were used, and under the influence of these local applications the skin finally healed, and after six months' treatment the child partially regained her former flesh and strength. The disappearance of the cutaneous trouble, however, was immediately followed by a diarrhœa, which had now continued more than a year, although the family had, meanwhile, changed physicians five times! She had, daily, four to six painless, yellow, watery, undigested stools, having an extremely fetid odour, and accompanied with much flatus. The abdomen was bloated; there was considerable scalp-sweat during sleep, and the child was cross and peevish. Calc. c. 2o, a dose night and morning for a week, improved the general condition, but had no effect upon the diarrhoea. Sulph. 2o was given in the same manner for another week with negative results. A careful review of the case elicited the following additional symptoms: She seems very hungry,-can scarcely wait for a meal, but a few

B. Lyc. 2 in

On the third reappeared on Sac. lac. was

mouthfuls satisfy her; much rumbling of flatus with colicky pains, late in the afternoon and early in the evening. water, a teaspoonful, morning, noon, and night. day after commencing this remedy the old sores the skin, and the diarrhoea immediately ceased. now given with steady improvement for two weeks, when a slight return of the loose stool called for another dose of Lyc. 2°. This was followed by the same phenomena as at first,—almost instant relief of the diarrhoea,-and another crop of sores. No more medicine was given. The bowels moved naturally every day, the skin gradually became healthy, and the case was dismissed cured in two months. There was no relapse during the five years the patient remained under observation.

J. S. M., æt. 28, applied for treatment May 21st, 1881. The following record of his symptoms is taken from my casebook:

who prescribed Spent the winter in

"Has had diarrhoea for a year and a half. During the first nine months was under the care of Dr. various remedies with only partial benefit. the South. Soon after his arrival he was so much worse that he called an old-school physician, who gave him a mixture of Iron and Quinine, which checked the diarrhoea, but did not cure it. He continued the use of this medicine during his trip, and has also taken it occasionally since his return. He now has from two to six painless, watery, clay-coloured, offensive stools per diem, preceded by pain about the navel, and accompanied with emission of fetid flatus; occasionally has involuntary stools during sleep,-but, as a rule, the diarrhoea begins in the morning after rising, and ceases by night. Exercise of any kind-standing, riding, walking, or even long-continued conversation-causes a decided aggravation. Complexion sallow; this is especially marked when the stools are few in number, and partially disappears as they increase in frequency. Weak, gone feeling in stomach and abdomen; worse by exercise or talking. Soreness and tenderness of the renal region, aggravated by the least jar or pressure; tearing pains in the back, extending down the ureters, and shooting into the hips. Sleep restless, disturbed by dreams. Feeling of weakness and general malaise."

It was impossible to cover the totality of the symptoms with a single remedy. His previous physician, a careful and accurate

« PreviousContinue »