User:History of Homoeopathy

Clinical reflections (A. Lippe) A Case of Pain in mammae, discoloration, menses C/C:- On the 8th of May I was consulted by Miss K., from Chicago, aged 35, single, sallow complexion, considerably emaciated, naturally of a retired and rather timid disposition. Had been under my care any years ago. She complained of occasional pains in her right breast, which on examination was found to be flabby and very much enlarged, the surface of the gland was hard and uneven, and was slightly discoloured-had a bluish tint. The appearance of the breast and the countenance of the patient were similar to the general appearance of persons suffering from cancer of the breast.

Her menstruation came too frequent-every twenty-one days-and lasted seven days. During menstruation the soreness and pain in the breast were much more marked than during the intervals. Her digestion was much impaired. After eating but little she suffered from sour risings, and for hours rising and tasting of the food taken. Constipated.

Prescription:- On the 8th of May she received, in the evening before retiring,

one single dose of Calcarea carbonica c.m. (Fincke).

Follow ups:- She reported herself better on the 12th of July. Again, on the 14th of August and on the 20th of September, she reports herself well. Menstruates now every twenty-eight days, less profuse, and her breast is is well, and her appetite good. She had taken only one dose of Calc. c. Her breast had been rubbed every evening with hot lard, till the swelling of the mammary gland perceptibly decreased.

Comments:- The choice of the remedy was very easy. There could be no doubt but Calc. carb. was the most applicable remedy under the fundamental therapeutic Law of the Similars. The next and not less important question was, how to administer it. Long experience and close observation have demonstrated that we invariably reach the best results if we closely follow the plain advice given us by the founder of our healing art, and therefore a single dose was administered. The first result showed that this single dose of a highly potentized, commonly supposed to be inert, substance, was all-sufficient to cure the patient. If, then, grave cases of disease can and have been cured by means of a single dose, why should we ignore the advice given us by the founder of our healing art, and give unnecessarily, and, if unnecessary, certainly apt to be injuriously acting, frequent or larger doses? While in many cases of disease a repetition of the same remedy becomes necessary if the effect of the single dose, at first administered, has been exhausted, but the disease, also modified still continues, or while in other cases a succession of remedies may be necessary to eradicate the changing symptoms of the disease, it will surely be the aim of every true healer to accomplish cures with just as little medicine as possible. A progressive knowledge of the sick-making properties of our proved medicines will enable us to apply the Las of the Similars more accurately and more successfully. Local applications of medicinal substances in all forms of diseases are objectionable, and are invariably hurtful, but the application of non-medicinal substances becomes at times very beneficial; so has the application (by rubbing) of hot lard been found to assist the absorption of the indurated mammary gland, just as it is indispensable to apply a hot-water bandage to a sprained ankle. The hot water bandage will not do the work alone; we administer Rhus tox., or Bryonia, or Prunus spinosa, or other remedies indicated in every individual case, and thereby materially assist the restorative process, aided by the hot-water bandage.

As to the dose administered. The choice of the dose cannot yet be brought under general rules, and till such rules can be laid down that choice must remain free and only dependent on the individual judgement of the healer. To set a limit to the dose is such an absurdity that every right minded and reflecting man must hoot at such a proposition. The early practitioners have reported thousands of brilliant cures in the journals of the day, especially in the "Archive", with such preparations as they had, particularly the 30th potency, and later with higher potencies, so that any man who now, in our days, declares that there must be a limit fixed, exposes himself to the charge of wicked, wilful ignorance of the history of the school to which he professes to belong. We leave such men to their fate; they have our pity.

In the course of time the diligent student of our healing art, its fundamental principles, and the means to apply them, will learn to cure not only chronic diseases very often with a single dose, but will also learn to cure almost all acute diseases with one single dose of a carefully chosen remedy. Such cases have been reported time and again, and the knowledge of the possibility of such cures will stimulate, no doubt, every true man to a desire to do as well as others have done. What one man can do, others can do also, if they honestly try.