Part 96

6. Defective secretion of milk during lactation when connected with reappearance of menses. Thyroid will suppress the latter and increase and enrich the milk.

7. In fractures of the bones in which consolidation does not promptly occur.

8. Hypertrophy of cicatricial tissue resembling keloid, possibly true keloid.

Doses: Either the fresh gland of the sheep prepared like food or the extract, or in the dessicated state, of the latter may be given from 2-3 grs., or more or less, once a day (at night) or oftener.

The Thyroid is contra-indicated in tuberculous persons, as they are apt to lose quickly in weight, over two pounds in twenty-four hours.

Rheumatic and anaemic symptoms are more frequently aggravated than improved.

As the Thyroid is a powerful remedy, the following should be always remembered:

There is a decided difference with regard to individual toleration, some are very susceptible.

The pulse should be watched regarding frequency and quality. The least effort or exertion will increase it even to 160, hence some cases should be kept in bed or at least very quiet and tranquil even for a time after the remedy has been discontinued. Deaths have taken place after a few days' treatment.

If Thyroid is not taken for myxoedema the patient should be weighed at least every two weeks, and if pathogenetic symptoms, called thyroidism, appear the remedy should be discontinued or reduced.

If softening of the bones has been caused it may be necessary to restrict the use of the legs or to use splints.

Thyroid seems to have a cumulative effect.

In many cases a liberal diet should be prescribed to avoid injurious consequences.

TRYCHOSANTHES DIOICA.

NAT. ORD., Cucurbitaceae.

COMMON NAME, Patal.

PREPARATION.--One part of the entire fresh plant is macerated in two parts by weight of alcohol.

(In 1893 H. L. Saha, homoeopathic practitioner, Pabna, Bengal, sent the following to Hom. Recorder:)

Trychosanthes dioica (Bengali name, Patal). It belongs to the order of Cucurbitaeae, is a creeper, flowering in all seasons, but chiefly in spring. It is a native of Bengal. Its fruit is called Patal, and is used by the natives as one of their chief curry.

The plant and its root are used by the native physicians in various maladies. Its action is mainly upon the liver and intestines. The decoction of the root is generally used by the mother physicians for removing costiveness, especially where there is a derangement of the functions of the liver.

A boy of fourteen years of age, who had habitual constipation, took, at the advice of a quack native physician, about three or four ounces of the decoction of its root, which produced profuse diarrhoea. After four or five stools I was called. I saw him weak and dejected, using abusive language to his native physician. His face was very pale. Stools were profuse, frequent, gushing, yellowish, watery. Much pain and cutting about the umbilicus during and before stool. After every stool he felt dizziness of the brain. This case struck me that Trychosanthes dioica will prove a grand remedy for diarrhoea. I prepared its tincture from the root and used it in 3x potency, in some cases with great satisfaction. The following cases will show its curative power:

1. A girl, aged 6 years, was attacked with diarrhoea; stools were profuse, thin, yellowish, watery, mixed with little white mucous; very offensive smell; cutting pain about umbilicus during and after stool. Pain in liver and eyes; jaundice; face yellowish; very weak; did not wish to answer questions: sad and peevish. On the fifth day I was called. I prescribed Trychosanthes dioica 3x every three hours. I saw the patient much better next day. Within a day or two the patient was all right.

2. A boy, aged 16 years, suffering from chronic diarrhoea; passed from four to five stools in a day. The character of the stool was yellowish, watery, mixed with a little white and greenish mucus. Smell offensive; dull, aching pain in the region of the liver. Face very pale; eyes jaundiced. He was very sad and dejected. His appetite little; taste bitter. He had been at first treated by an allopath, then, afterwards, by a homoeopath. The latter showed some improvement. I was called on the thirteenth day, when I noticed the above symptoms. I prescribed Trychosanthes 3x every four hours. The patient was completely cured within four days.

I cured some cases of choleric diarrhoea by this medicine, but those cases were vaguely reported to me.

I hope that, when proven, Trychosanthes dioica will show its large sphere of action and give our Materia Medica a new remedy for looseness of bowels.

USNEA BARBATA.

NAT. ORD., Lichens.

PREPARATION.--The fresh lichen is macerated in five times its weight of alcohol.