The following article on clinical cases was originally published in “The Hahnemannian Monthly” Volume 6, August 1870.
Repertorization part is prepared to understand the case by modern tools.
Clinical Experience
By Henry N. Guernsey,M.D.
Case 1. Mrs. A., of Delware, called on me a few weeks since, complaining of what she termed dyspepsia. Upon asking her to relate her symptoms in the order of their severity as it seemed to her, she replied, that a feeling of emptiness or goneness in her stomach discomforted her more than anything else, but she thought it of no account, as she vomited all her food soon after taking it, and she would naturally feel emptiness and goneness from want of food. I desired her to state merely facts, and I would draw my own conclusions. She replied: “It is a fact that I vomit nearly all my food; I have a painful sensation of emptiness in my stomach all the time; my sleep is broken and does not refresh me, my bowels are very costive, the stools being knotty and very difficult, and they have scarcely been moved for two years without an injection, and I do not think they would be moved now at all without an injection; my urine is cloudy and offensive, and a hard crust settles, that it is difficult to scrape from the vessel; I am very weak and miserable, have spent over two hundred dollars during the past two years for medicine, and despair of becoming any better; but I was compelled by my husband to consult you.”
I always prescribe sepia when a train of symptoms like the above in italics occur in a single case. In this case I gave the patient a few pellets of Sepia 55 m, dry on her tongue, and three packages containing twelve powders each of sac.lac.; one to be taken every night; and enjoined upon her that she should on no account resort to any more injections or other measures for the relief of her bowels, or of other symptoms, and to report to me in forty days. She thought she would not live to see me again if she were to leave off taking injections.
A few days ago she reported that she had not vomited since seeing me, her vowels had become regular very soon, and that she had no need of injections; indeed, she said, she got well so fast her husband was frightened. He was coming to the city that day on business, and he wished her to come and ask particularly what had been the matter, as she had been so sick so long, and now had gotten so well so soon. He did not understand it.
Sepia 55m, a single dose, always produces similar results in similar cases, if plenty of time is allowed the single dose to act. I do not give my experience hastily, nor base it on a single case. I only delineate my path where it has been well trodden; that others may follow it is safety.
Repertorization : Radar 9
STOMACH - VOMITING; TYPE OF - food
STOMACH – EMPTINESS
RECTUM - CONSTIPATION - difficult stool
STOOL - KNOTTY, nodular, lumpy
URINE - SEDIMENT - crusty
URINE - ODOR - offensive
URINE – CLOUDY
SLEEP - UNREFRESHING
SLEEP - WAKING – frequent
Case 2. Two months since a married lady consulted me in regard of her health. She was weak and unhappy, particularly in the morning, when she would feel on awakening, friendless, forsaken and very unhappy. The same symptoms would occur if she chanced to waken during the night. Had a poor appetite, bowels very costive, with a feeling of constriction of the anus, so much so that for months she had not attempted to defecate without the aid of an injection; urine scanty and dark-colored. She had any other symptoms, but the above were the most important. She attributed these sufferings to domestic troubles. The above italicized symptoms always turn my thoughts to lachesis; particularly the mental symptoms. I gave her a single dose of Lachesis 4 M, in my office, and charged her to take no more injections, nor in any way to interfere with the treatment. In about two weeks the unhappiness had greatly improved; the vowels had become regular; and in about six weeks from the first and only dose of Lachesis 4 M, she reported herself quite well in all respects.
Repertorization: Radar 9
MIND - SADNESS - morning
MIND - FORSAKEN feeling
GENERALS - WAKING, on
STOMACH - APPETITE – diminished
RECTUM - CONSTIPATION
RECTUM - CONSTRICTION – Anus
URINE - SCANTY
URINE - COLOR – dark
Case 3. June 12th, was called to see a little boy 18 months old. Found him restless; must be carried all the time to keep him quiet; very sleepless day and night, would sleep only in short naps. He had a disagreeable filthy smell about him all the time, thought great effort was made to keep him clean by frequent bathing and changing of dress. Could not keep milk on his stomach but a short time; it would be rejected sour and in curds. Weak beef-tea or water could be retained. His stools were of a pale, brown fluid, smelling like rotten eggs. He was getting very weak. The italicized symptoms reminded me of Psorinum more than of any other remedy. I gave Psorinum 42M, a single dose only, in the morning. He slept well the following night, the next day the bowels were better, and the bad smell about his body was lessened. On the next day still improving; bowels well; no more bad smell from his body; resumed his milk diet and has been well since. But a single dose of Psorinum, as above, was given and no other remedy.
Repertorization:
MIND – RESTLESSNESS
GENERALS - ODOR OF THE BODY - offensive
GENERALS - WEAKNESS
GENERALS – EMACIATION
GENERALS - FOOD and DRINKS - milk - agg.
STOMACH - VOMITING; TYPE OF – sour
STOOL - BROWN
STOOL - ODOR - eggs, like rotten
SLEEP – SLEEPLESSNESS
Case 4. May 19th, visited a little boy about 9 years old, and found him in the following condition; urine nearly suppressed, but passed in small quantities once in twenty-four hours. Stools dark-brown, fluid, and passed involuntarily; delirious much of the time; lies on his back with his knees drawn up; complains much of the back of his head; pulse 120 and hard; breath very fetid; bores his nose very much; nostrils raw and bloody, even into the corners of the mouth; picks his skin in places, making it raw and bloody when he bores into it with much force, and he seems vexed that he cannot bore it deeper, on account of the pain seems to give him; he seems very intent in his efforts to bore and pick the raw surfaces. The italicized symptoms directed attention at once to Arum triphyllum, which was given in water, in the 20 M dilution, every two, four or six hours, as it might seem necessary. Next day he was better and the medicine was discontinued. After two days it was found necessary to repeat a few doses as before. He continued to improve, in all respects, finally under this treatment, till the 31st of May, when there were no indications left for Arum, but as there were passed considerable quantities of red sand with the urine, one dose of Lycopodium 6M was given. On the 14th of June, one dose of Lycopodium 100 M was given, and today (June 25th) he is perfectly well and romping about in the country.
Repertorization:
NOSE - DISCHARGE - bloody
NOSE - BORING in nose with fingers
FACE - PICKING – Lips
MOUTH - ODOR - putrid
RECTUM - INVOLUNTARY stool
STOOL - BROWN
STOOL - THIN
BLADDER - RETENTION of urine
URINE - SCANTY
GENERALS - PULSE – frequent
Case 5. March 25th, visited a little girl about ten years old and found her in the following condition: Perfectly delirious day and night; cannot be roused to consciousness even for a short time; urine and feces are passed involuntarily, in bed; had, while she could express herself, much pain in the occiput, and down in the spine; is very restless, particularly every night after midnight, but there is a marked degree of restlessness constantly, and much distress; the breath is cold, and the skin is cold and clammy; the lips, teeth and tongue, – so much of it as could be seen – were dry, black and covered with sordes. She took a little water from a spoon frequently, or would occasionally suck a wet rag. It seemed like a hopeless case, but our conclusion, drawn from the italicized symptoms, was that Arsenicum Album 8M would do good if anything could. It was accordingly given in water, every one, two, three or four hours, as it seemed best to the nurse, in accordance with instructions given her. In the morning I found the child somewhat better. The medicine was thereupon discontinued, to be administered as before, if she got decidedly worse. She became worse before next day and repeating the medicine brought no relief. Arsenicum 15 m was now given, as at first, and prompt relief followed and continued several days and purple spots, with pus in their tips, came out on back and hips. She became worse again, in spite of the medicine, when Arsenicum 40 M was had recourse to, and completed the cure. She is now (June 25th), fit and perfectly well. In every improvement, medicine was withheld, and repeated when it seemed necessary.
Repertorization:
MIND - DELIRIUM
MIND – UNCONSCIOUSNESS
MIND - RESTLESSNESS - night - midnight – after
HEAD - PAIN - Occiput
FACE - DRYNESS - Lips
MOUTH - DRYNESS - Tongue
TEETH - SORDES
STOMACH - THIRST - small quantities, for - often; and
RECTUM - INVOLUNTARY stool
BLADDER - URINATION - involuntary
BACK - PAIN - Spine
RESPIRATION - COLDNESS of breath
PERSPIRATION - CLAMMY
SKIN - COLDNESS
No comments:
Post a Comment