CONFIRMED SYMPTOMS.

BY E. A. FARRINGTON, M.D.

Among the many advantages to be derived from so elaborate a work as Allen's Symptom Register, is the grouping together of remedies possessing similar symptoms. Such an arrangement greatly lessens the temptation to routinism, and encourages us to employ the only legitimate method, that of individualization.

We have several times during the past winter been able to relieve patients speedily and satisfactorily with drugs, the indications for which might have been unknown to us but for this convenient Index. One or two of these confirmations we will add for the benefit of others.

1. Miss came to us from allopathy. She was suffering with St. Vitus' Dance. The leading symptoms were: Spasmodic movements of the muscles of the face and right arm and leg. Spasmodic twitchings and restlessness during sleep.

The

These two symptoms, according to the Index, are very nearly identical with symptoms 115 and 126 under Zizia aurea. cure with this drug was prompt and permanent.

The aggravation during sleep is an exceedingly important modality, distinguishing the Zizia from Mygale and the oft-used Agaricus; the latter of which has jerking, &c. on going to sleep.

2. Mr. C., after severe brain work, developed a long train of symptoms, requiring patient and lengthy treatment. The most satisfactory effects were obtained from potentized alcohol, the indications being very similar to those recorded on pages 138, 139 and 140 of the Encyclopedia of Materia Medica, Vol. I.

Quarrelsomeness, even from imagined insult. Impatient of contradiction. Headache, with stupidity. Memory weak, forgets what he was about to say. Congestive headaches. Sensation benumbed here and there, especially about the scalp; even his brain feels hard and numb. Mental inquietude, compelling change of work frequently during the day. Apprehensiveness; thinks some one will injure him, that he is in danger, &c.

So decided was the improvement after alcohol, that it was, no doubt, the remedy for the case. The symptoms were almost in the very words of Dr. Allen's collection. It will be seen that they closely resemble Hyoscyamus and Kali bromatum.

That excellent observer, Dr. J. Compton Burnett, of London, has published several cases confirmatory of the action of Ceanothus Americanus upon the spleen. The indicative symptom is severe pain in the region of the spleen, with or without swelling.

We have several times confirmed this observation; not only in splenic affections, but in one instance, at least, in congestion of the lower portion of the left lung. Twice in this latter case did the Ceanothus remove not only the pain, but also the congestion. The accompanying cough lessened, though in one of the attacks Conium was needed to complete the cure.

Ceanothus, then, may deserve a place with Anisum, Pix, Myrtus, Theridion, and other remedies, the selection of which so often depends upon their respective chest pains.

Chlorine, in one form or other, has won deserved laurels in diphtheria.

Without reference to the disinfecting virtues of the Liquor calcis chlorinatæ, and consequently to its power of destroying the diphtheritic fungi, we think that we have confirmed the following as indicative of its use homoeopathically: Corroding, watery nasal discharge; fauces red, sore, and covered with membrane; foul breath. Cervical glands swollen, with engorgement of the surrounding cellular tissue. Paroxysms of suffocation. Frequent, but not strong, pulse. Great prostration.

These symptoms constitute a group, which is commonly present in severe cases. Aggravations sometimes follow its too frequent or too crude administration.

Muriatic acid very closely resembles the Chlorine, and, of course, the Chlorine water. In a case of diphtheria, which involved fauces, nostrils and cardiac portion of the stomach, the following symptoms of the acid were removed: pale sunken face, sharp features; red, dry tongue, looking raw though not moist; vomiting

of food and drink, preceded by great distress at the epigastrium; pain about the heart, better when rubbed; sighing respiration; feeble pulse, intermitting every third or fourth beat; drowsiness and extreme prostration.

It will be seen that these are almost exact counterparts of symptoms 138, 163, 257, 431, 394, 395, 436, 438, 441, 557, under the pathogenesis of Muriatic acid, Encyclopedia, Vol. VI.

In the Transactions of the Homœopathic Medical Society of Pennsylvania for 1878, we published a proving of Ferrum jodatum. Since then, a number of the symptoms thus obtained have been repeatedly confirmed. The most important is a bearing down in the uterine region; while sitting, the patient feels as if something sore and painful was being pushed up. This is a very common experience of patients who suffer from prolapsus uteri; and it is in relief of this condition that the medicine has proved successful.

Two Provings of Linaria Vulgaris.

Prover No. 1.-Took a dose of the 1' alcoholic dilution at 8 o'clock, P. M.

At 12 P. M., had colicky pains in abdomen over region of bladder, with a desire to urinate; these pains lasted about fifteen minutes, then passed away a few minutes after urinating. The urine passed was highly colored and normal in quantity (not accustomed to pass urine at this time of the night. Have done nothing to account for high color of urine).

At 8 A. M. of following day, after second dose of remedy has been taken, I have sharp pains running from elbow to wrist, and from knee to ankle on left side, while at rest.

P. M. of second day. Violent itching between toes, compelling me to take off shoe and rub them (on right foot). Better from rubbing.

Sensation as if stick was crosswise in throat. Dry sensation in pharynx.

Fourth day. Shortly after dinner, slight chill running up back. Sixth day. Tickling and severe irritation in urethra, awaking me out of sleep in morning between 2 and 3 o'clock.

Prover No. 2.- About fifteen minutes after taking medicine, have dry sensation around glottis and posterior nares, compelling me to swallow frequently. The parts looked inflamed, epiglottis felt dry and stiff, compelling me to swallow to keep it moist.

Frequent passages of urine, which is highly colored and very profuse.

Distressed feeling in lower part of abdomen.

Third day. Slight aching pain down in line of ureters on left side. I could not tell whether this pain went into testicle or penis, or terminated at base of bladder, as there was a general aching feeling with which the pain seemed to mingle.

Fourth day. I took a dose of medicine last night. Had no symptoms other than frequent urination, which seems to be constant-with emissions of urine at night, until 12.45 P. M. About twenty minutes after eating and a walk of four squares to office, I was suddenly attacked with violent palpitation of the heart. Pale face, oppressed breathing, every artery in the body seemed to pulsate. Pulse could not be counted. Could not take a deep inspiration. No pain of any kind. I never felt like this before. Pulse increased, and I grew faint. The doctor who was with me, becoming alarmed, gave me a dose of Verat. v.

I took no more notes after this for about four weeks. When I again took a dose of Linaria, I obtained the following symp

toms:

Frequent passages of fetid flatus. Heavy, distressed feeling in lower abdomen. Slight tickling sensation in urethra, which did not last long.

Third day. Stitches in region of fourth costal cartilage on right side, later on left side. Frequent and copious emissions of urine. Being afraid of reproducing those heart symptoms, which I so much dreaded, I suspended my proving.

PHYSIOLOGICAL MATERIA MEDICA.

BY E. A. FARRINGTON, M.D.

The trend of medical thought to-day is towards the establishment of a physiological basis for Materia Medica.

Man is a rational being; hence his attempts to apprehend the why and wherefore of things, are as natural as they are proper and desirable.

There is a certain delight and satisfaction attending the interpretation of symptoms, which at once entices the thinker and spurs him on to renewed efforts at investigation. And in addition to this delight, his labors spread an intelligent light upon the vast and varied collection of drug effects, extremely profitable to him and to all others concerned. He who holds his thought in the mere letter of symptoms, learns but little of their true import, and consequently but little of their true value. When presented to him varied somewhat in appearance or phraseology, he either fails to recognize them, or catches but a faint glimmer of their full meaning.

But while we admit the usefulness of comprehending the import of symptoms, we must at the same time be on our guard lest we overstep our bounds and become irrational in another direction. We refer to the influence of physiology upon the selection of the indicated remedy.

Physiology, at least as taught to-day, can never, in the slightest degree, affect the ORGANON rules for the selection of the similimum. And why? Briefly, because homoeopathy, as a science, is based on inductive philosophy and demands precise data in drawing thence its conclusions.

These data are symptoms, which necessarily express changes in the human economy, and hence, physiological changes; but to be useful they must express the ULTIMATA OF THESE CHANGES. And these ULTIMATA never have been, if they ever can be, connected seriatim with the internal causes from first to last.