Part 16

The uncomfortable feeling in the region of the left kidney never disappeared completely; it became especially painful when pressing upon that place, when riding on horseback or in a carriage, when taking exercise or turning the body. It seems to me that the whole pelvis of the kidneys must have been full of gravel and calculi. I now took 1/2 grain at intervals of eight days; the result was that I passed gravel and small calculi at every micturition. On the 30th of November my condition got worse, and I continued to take 1/2 grain of Calc. ren. praep., at longer or shorter intervals, until October 18th, 1840. After this period I ceased to pass any gravel, and I felt entirely well. On the 3d of February I passed some more gravel. Another dose of 1/2 grain of Lapis renalis; another dose on June 3d. On June 17th precursors of another attack; on the 18th vomiting accompanied by all the frightful circumstances which I have detailed above; the vomiting of mucus, bile, ingesta, continued at short intervals until the 26th; my tongue was coated with yellow mucus, and my appetite had completely disappeared. Bryon., Nux v. and Pulsat. relieved the gastric symptom; on the 26th, in the afternoon, I passed a calculus of the size of a pea. I now resume the use of Calc. ren. praep. in 1/2 grain doses, at irregular intervals. On the 23d of October I passed a calculus of the size of a pea, without vomiting; there were no other precursory symptoms except the uncomfortable feeling in the region of the kidney a few days previous. I have felt well ever since and free from all complaint, although I continue the occasional use of 1/2 a grain of Calc. ren. praep., lest I should have a relapse.

Every time I took a dose of Calc. ren. pr. I found that the so-called tartar on the teeth became detached a few days afterwards. A short while ago a nodosity, hard as a stone, which had appeared on the extensor tendon of the right middle finger, about nine months ago, and which threatened to increase more and more, disappeared. I consider the tartar on the teeth, calculi renales and arthritic nodosities very similar morbid products.

In conclusion I beg leave to offer the following remarks:

1. Hahnemann's theory of psora is no chimera, as many theoreticians would have us believe. I was perfectly healthy previous to my being infected with itch. What a host of sufferings have I been obliged to endure after the suppression of the itch!

2. Isopathy deserves especial notice.

It is true, the most suitable homoeopathic remedies afforded me relief; the incarceration of calculi in the ureter especially was relieved by Nux; but they were unable to put a stop to the formation of calculi; this result was only attained by the preparation of Calc. ren.

CEANOTHUS AMERICANUS.

NAT. ORD., Rhamnaceae.

COMMON NAMES, New Jersey Tea. Red Root. Wild Snowball.

PREPARATION.--The fresh leaves are pounded to a pulp and macerated in two parts by weight of alcohol.

(The following by Dr. Majumdar in Indian Homoepathic Review, 1897, illustrates the chief use of this "organ remedy.")

Recently I had a wonderful case of supposed heart disease cured by Ceanothus. I am indebted to my friend, Dr. Burnett, for the suggestion of using Ceanothus.

A thin and haggard looking young man presented himself to my office on the 26th of July, 1896. He told me he had some disease of the heart and had been under the treatment of several eminent allopathic physicians of this city; some declared it to be a case of hypertrophy of the heart and some of valvular disease.

Without asking him further, I examined his heart thoroughly, but with no particular results. The rhythm and sounds were all normal only there was a degree of weakness in these sounds. Dulness on percussion was not extended beyond its usual limit. So I could not make out any heart disease in this man.

On further inquiry, I learned that the man remained in a most malarious place for five years, during which he had been suffering off and on from intermittent fever. I percussed the abdomen and found an enormously enlarged and indurated spleen, reaching beyond the navel and pushing up the thoracic viscera.

The patient complained of palpitation of heart, dyspnoea, especially on ascending steps and walking fast. I thought from these symptoms his former medical advisers concluded heart disease. In my mind they seemed to be resulted from enlarged spleen.

On that very day I gave him six powders of Ceonothus Amer. 3x, one dose morning and evening. I asked him to see me when his medicine finished. He did not make his appearance, however, on the appointed day. I thought the result of my prescription was not promising. After a week he came and reported unusually good results.

His dyspnoea was gone, palpitation troubled him now and then, but much less than before. He wanted me to give him the same powders. I gave him Sac. lac., six doses, in the usual way.

Reported further improvement; the same powders of Sac. lac. twice. To my astonishment I found the spleen much reduced in size and softened than before; I knew nothing about this patient for some time. Only recently I saw him, a perfect picture of sound health. He informed me that the same powders were sufficient to set him right. He gained health; no sign of enlarged spleen left.

CEPHALANTHUS OCCIDENTALIS.

NAT. ORD., Rubiaceae.

COMMON NAMES, Button Bush, Crane Willow.

PREPARATION.--The fresh bark of branches and roots is pounded to a pulp and macerated in two parts by weight of alcohol.

(The item given below was contributed to the American Observer, 1875, by Dr. E. D. Wright.)

Proving--one-half ounce in a day.

First day--raw, sore throat; nervous, excited; felt light and easy, happy; bowels constipated.

Second day--the same dose. Hard dreams about fighting, quarreling; restless and tossing over; joints of the fingers lame; griping pains in the lungs(?); in body and limbs, especially in the joints; toothache; bowels loose, stool offensive; almost affected by the piles.

CURES.--Intermittent fever, quotidian and tertian fever; sore throat, quinsy--had very good effect.