CHRONIC DIARRHEA OF SIX MONTHS, CURED, AFTER INEFFECTUAL TREATMENT UNDER THE OLD-SYSTEM. (Communicated by G. N. Epps, Esq., M.R.C.S.) A. D., aged eighteen months, consulted me March 5, 1846. For the last six months, this child has been suffering from diarrhoea, having Symptom 1. A motion every ten minutes to half an hour. Symptom 2. Stools sometimes slimy, sometimes of the colour of jalap, and extremely offensive. Symptom 3. Seldom sleeps longer than half an hour, waking up, 3a. with screams, and seeming as if he would be choked, throwing himself on his right side. Symptom 4. Sweats much at night on the back of the head and upper part of the back. Symptom 5. Head hot. Symptom 6. Thirst constant and excessive. Symptom 7. He is very weak: can hardly stand on his legs. Symptom 8. Has red spots on his back. Symptom 9. A slight cough. Gave him two globules of sulphur to be followed by chamomilla, one-quarter of a globule every eight hours. Ordered also gentle friction daily to the back, as there is a slight posterior curvature of the lumbar portion of the spine. March 11, 1846.-No. 1. Stools only three or four times a-day. No. 2. More solid. No. 3. Wakes only two or three Screams less and sleeps better. times in the night. No. 3a. Continue chamomilla; the doses at longer intervals. March 18.-No. 1. Stools less frequent. No. 3. Only twice in the night. No. 3a. Screams very seldom. No. 8. Eruption disappearing; a few spots on the nates. Repeat chamomilla. March 26.-No. 1. Better. No. 3. Sleeps well. No. 3a. No No. 4. Sweats very little "indeed." screams. No. 2. Stools rather more frequent, eight or nine times a-day. Ordered carbo veg. April 8, 1846.-No. 1. Stools vary much, sometimes solid, little lumps, sometimes watery. No. 4. No sweats. No eruption. Ordered chamomilla. April 20.-No. 1. About five or six times a-day. No. 8. Eruption slightly re-appeared. Ordered sulph. May, 3, 1846,-" So much better, not like the same child," was the nurse's phrase. No. 1. Bowels comfortable. No. 4. Perspires a little at back of head. No. 7. Legs still weak. Ordered calcarea, to be followed by sulphur. PATHOGENETIC EFFECTS OF THE MEDICINES. Chamomilla, Carbo veg., Sulph., and Calc. CHAMOMILLA. Symptoms 1 and 2. "Loose hot stools, with the odour of rotten eggs," 186. Loose stools, watery, green, composed of a mixture of focal matters and of mucus," 187. "Diarrhoea watery, with (and without) gripings," 188. "Diarrhoea at night with gripings, which forces him to bend double," 189. In fact, as Hahnemann remarks, "The primitive effect of chamomilla is to excite diarrhoea," "l'effet primitif de la camomille est d'exciter la diarrhée." Symptom 3. "Sleepiness during the night, accompanied with attacks of anxiety, &c.," 361. "Lamentations and cries in sleeping," 370. Symptom 4. "General sweat during the night (from ten to two), without sleep," 514. "Sweat, especially at the head, during sleep," 521. Symptoms 5 and 6. "Inextinguishable thirst and dryness of the tongue," 415. Symptom 8. Little red spots on the chin, which are covered with blotches like millet seed, (boutons), 317, also 318. Symptom 9. "Dry cough, four or five times a-day," 249. CARBO VEGETABILIS. Symptom 2. March 26. "Diarrhoea,” 438. SULPHUR. This was used because of the re-appearance of the eruption. CALCAREA. This was employed on account of the sweats in the head, and on account of the weakness of the legs, as well as for the removal of any remaining diseased condition of the bowels: its anticachectic power being so well marked. Its power over sweats is illustrated so fully at pp. 151-3 that no further reference need be made. This case is of interest as showing the characteristics of chamomilla: as showing the efficacy of infinitesimal doses of the appropriate remedy, when allopathic means, and under the direction of an allopathic physician, in the usual doses had been used previously without success:* and also as demonstrating how readily affections even of long standing give way to the appropriate homœopathic remedy. CASE OF AFFECTION OF THE HEART, (ANGINA PECTORIS,) DEEMED INCURABLE, CURED. (Communicated by Dr. Epps.) HENRY HOLLAND, aged 43, married, consulted me January 18, 1843. He stated that he had drank freely during part of his life. He has been troubled with a heart affection of a most distressing character for upwards of six months. During three of these six months, he has been confined to his bed, and the surgeon, who attended him, candidly acknowledged that he could do nothing more for him. Previously to the first seizure he had been travelling continuously night and day. *This physician, among other means, employed the so much misused chalk mixture, which relieved the diarrhoea for a day or two, and it came on again as before. Such is the palliative system. This seizure presented and presents the following symptoms: Symptom 1. He experienced a feeling of "fast tightness" at the lower part of the belly, which rapidly ascending to the heart, made it necessary Symptom 2. He should jump up on account of Symptom 3. An agonising pain at heart; Symptom 4. A pressure at his chest, as if he was pressed upon by some one pressing on him, attended with Symptom 5. A violent beating at the heart, and Symptom 6. A feeling that he must be suffocated: in fact, his feeling in the attack is that he is smothering. When first attacked he managed to get to the window and opened it to save him from suffocation. Medical aid was immediately sought and he was bled. Three months after he was seized in the same way, and in the night, and was again bled. Six or seven weeks after he was seized again, this attack also not being so severe. Since that time he has had several attacks, and gets worse. For three weeks previous to the date of the first consultation, his attacks have been so severe and so constant, that he has not been able to go to bed, and he has been obliged Symptom 7. To sit up all night. Before the the attack he has Symptom 8. A certain indescribable fidgetty feeling, and Symptom 9. A feeling as if something was crawling over him, with sometimes Symptom 10. A dreadful shudder. In fact, his symptoms are so distressing that instant death is expected by his family. In addition to these symptoms, characteristic of his discase, he has the following general symptoms. Symptom 11. A weight at pit of stomach, with Symptom 12. A rumbling of wind. Symptom 13. A sense of throbbing at the region of the stomach. Symptom 14. A pricking in the head, attended with Symptom 16. An occasional jerking. Symptom 17. Bowels are costive. Symptom 18. Least excitement causes sweat. January 26, 1243.-All the heart symptoms are somewhat better, though still No. 7. He is obliged to sit up. No. 12. Better. No. 13, 14, and 17. Still. Ordered nux vomica and sulphur, the alternate use. January 30, 1843.-All the heart symptoms are much better, and he has been able to lie down more this week. No. 11. Better. No. 12. Better. No. 13. Better. No. 16. Still. Symptom 19. An eruption has appeared on the forehead, the forehead itself feeling stiff. Symptom 20. There is a rash all over the limbs. Symptom 21. Excruciating pains inside and in the limbs, attended at the time with palpitation. The last two days all the symptoms have been better, and he says he does not remember having felt so well in his life. Ordered aconite and nux vomica. February 17, 1843.-The patient still improving, having found great relief from acon. and nux. Ordered to continue acon. and nux, but occasionally to alternate opium with these if the bowels remain costive. March 13, 1843.-Still very much improved: but at present he is running great risks in working very late at his business Ordered acon. one day, and nux v. the next. March 31, 1843:-He had one slight attack of the heart affection, but feels that he should be quite well if he did not work so late. The patient was warned not to transgress, but feeling himself so much better, he persevered in this excessive labour. April 23, 1843.-No. 7. He has been unable to lie down the |