Confirmations. By William P. Wesselhoeft, M. D.

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Confirmations.
By William P. Wesselhoeft, M. D.
Presented by Sylvain Cazalet

1. Asarum Europ. :

In the
preface to this remedy, Hahnemann in his powerful manner discusses the
absurdity of grouping remedies according to their coarser or toxic
symptoms, much as colic, vomiting produced by massive doses of a drug,
based upon these coarser symptoms, the allopathic school regards the
action of Asarum as identical with
that of Ipecac, No ! says Hahnemann, “such profanation of Asarum
and Ipecac is intolerable, in the light of true experiment.” He
further asks : “Do these substances, with Arsenic,
Sulph. of Zinc, Acetate of Copper, Veratrum, etc., exist
merely to be used as emetics ?”

“What else such a
remedy as Asarum can produce”,
he adds, “may be seen, by studying the provings. And every
thoughtful physician must recognize its wide sphere of action.”

I hope by detailing the
following case, to corroborate two of its very important symptoms.

Mrs. J. H. S—., a
light, graceful blonde, aged 37, mother of one child.

Two years ago, an
artificial abortion in the third month of pregnancy. Has not seen a well
day since.

Has been treated by a
self styled “homœopathic” physician, locally, for 18 months,
“for uterine disease.” and steadily growing worse.

Has a burning, pushing
out sensation back of eyeballs, accompanied by a steady dull pain all
through the head. This so much aggravated by any use of the eyes.

When the pain in the
head and eyes is relieved has a distressing internal soreness in lower
abdomen, with great sensitiveness to jar, but not to touch or pressure.
Has never had any bearing down sensations, and only a slight watery
leucorrhœa, staining the clothing yellow.

Has a raw, sore
sensation in right ovary, aggravated by drawing legs up. Has slept from
childhood with left leg drawn up, which she is unable to do now.

For the last month, has
suffered less severely from the symptoms in lower abdomen, but has
greatly increased distress in head and back of eyeballs.

She lost very little
blood during the abortion, but two months later had a very severe
flooding.

She sleeps well at
night, and feels constantly sleepy during the day ; when first
waking head and eye symptoms are aggravated.

Great depression of
spirits, fears insanity. Is morose, irritable, petulant, which is
entirely foreign to her when well.

Desires fresh air, and
the colder the weather the better, she feels. Appetite, digestion and
stools normal. Menstruates every twenty-five days, without amelioration
or aggravation of symptoms. Examination by speculum, neither os or
cervix show the least sign of disease. Probe enters freely two and a
half inches. The uterus is freely movable and not enlarged.

Was told by her former
physician that she had “serious” uterine disease.

My first choice was Lachesis
based mainly upon the mental symptoms, the aggravation after sleep, and
the forcing out sensations in eyeballs. Of this remedy she received a
single dose in the CM. potency.

Two weeks later she
reports : Menses again appeared in 25 days. Head and eye symptom
marked relieved till appearance of menses (yesterday). Fever blisters on
lips. Nausea on awakening in the morning. Less sensitiveness to jar in
lower abdomen (till the appearance of menses). Right arm goes to sleep
frequently. Gave S. L.

Two weeks later
reports : Mentally better, less fear of insanity. Abdomen has been
entirely free from pain, and sensitiveness to jar. Eye and head symptoms
have been much worse, to which is added a constant nausea during the
day. Gave Lach. CM one dose.

A fortnight later
reports :

Mental improvement
continues, also less nausea, catamenia appeared on the 27th day.
Complains more of the pressing out sensation in the eyes, and the
constant dull headache ; while talking with me she frequently
presses against her eyeballs, as if she would press them back into her
head.

On closer questioning,
I discovered that the sensation was not only an outward pressure, but as
if the eyeballs were pressed asunder and outwards, greatly aggravated by
reading.

I now restudied the
case, and after a long search found the remedy. The repertories gave me
little help, not even the-excellent “Berridge’s Eye
Repertory.” In this I found on p. 69 : “Eyeballs pressing
laterally outward.” Baptisia, Phos-ac.,
and on p. 179, under the rubric “Aggravation reading” I found
“Pressing,” but not “Pressing outwards or asunder.”

Neither Baptisia
nor Phos. acid suited the case in
other respects.

As the “Relief
from cold” was one of the “marked and peculiar” symptoms,
I looked through all the remedies which had this peculiarity, and in
this way discovered the following symptoms. No. 48 of Asarum :
“When using the eyes for reading, there occurs in each of them a
feeling as if forced asunder.”

Then the old, well
known symptom of Asarum came to my
mind, and I asked my patient if she was not relieved by washing her face
and eyes in warm water ? “No”, she exclaimed,
“nothing but the coldest water, splashed upon my face and eyes,
gives me any relief, and that relief continues only a short time.”

Now, Asarum,
has the following symptoms : “On washing the face with cold
water, the vertigo, headache, burning, on tongue, contraction of
cervical muscles and weakness of knees went off ; but after drying
the face, they returned.”

These two symptoms,
coupled with the constant nausea and drowsiness during the day (symptom
238) gave me great confidence that I had found the appropriate remedy.

She received three
doses in the CM. potency, about a fortnight apart. She is now entirely
free from her eye and head symptoms, and has no return of abdominal
pains, which formerly alternated with those of the head.

In this case, Lachesis
did much. It relieved entirely the soul symptoms, but it remained for Asarum,
which was wholly specific for the “individual and peculiar
symptoms,” to finish the cure.

This case was under
treatment and entirely cured in four months, after a “homœopathic”
fraud had tampered with it by local applications and inappropriate
internal remedies, for-eighteen months, with constantly increasing
misery to his patient.

I would advise you to
insert into your repertories the following symptoms :
“Pressing asunder and outwards of the eye balls aggravated by
reading,” and underscore, the following symptoms :
“Relief by washing the face with cold water.”

“Drowsiness during
day.” “Constant nausea.”

Asarum

is
a great, and probably much-neglected remedy. Its ameliorations in damp,
cold weather (like Causticum) have
been its chief indications, and by me, used mainly in rheumatic
affections, relieved under these atmospheric conditions.

Arnica Mont. :

Child, six years
old ; whooping cough, two weeks standing, during which time one
dose of Bryonia and later, one dose
of Kali-carb. had been given. The
following symptoms developed : Frequent severe coughing spells,
especially severe after eating and during night. Tears low from eyes
during the paroxysm, weeps as if her heart could break after the attack.
Arnica CM., one dose in water given
every four hours for 24 hours. On July 11 received the following from
the mother : “Laura’s last remedy acted like a charm from the
first to last. She seems quite well, eats, sleeps, and plays as usual.
Gives a little cough perhaps twice in the 24 hours. Has no swells of
coughing. It is a marvel how this medicine has helped her. From the
first night she slept eight hours, and night was her worst time. I
consider her quite well, and that there is no chance of her giving it to
any one. Your more determinedly homœopathic friend and follower than
ever, CHS.”

Arnica has “Crying
before the paroxysms.” also “Crying in children excites
cough.”

From the above
observation, I have added to the provings : “Weeping as if her
heart would break after the paroxysm.”

“Profuse
lachrymation during the paroxysm,”

No one can deny that
this cure was due to the action of a homœopathic simillimum, because no
case of severe whooping cough, in the second week of its existence,
recovers spontaneously in three days.

Arnica-

Double pneumonia :
Blonde married woman, æt. 41, left lung solidly hepatized. Right lung,
crepitant anteriorly. Respiration’s 56 to 62 a minute.

Stitches in right lower
chest anteriorly, running into right hypochondrium, worse from the
slightest motion (even the moving of a finger or a toe, or the slightest
jar). Relieved by external pressure over the lower rib region of right
side (the attendant was obliged to bear nearly her whole weight upon
this portion of the chest). There was no cough present during the entire
course of disease. Resolution followed by absorption rapidly and no
expectoration.

Similar symptoms in the
proving, occurring en left side, have been observed.

Therefore,
“Aggravation from motion,” “Relief from pressure.”
are confirmed. Arnica, probably,
acts equally well, if otherwise indicated, on right or left side.

Phosphorus :

Married woman, aged
34, large stout brunette. Troubled with following symptoms, for several
years ; After eating, pressure in pit of stomach. Food, if
regurgitated soon after eating is sweet ; if it occurs later, is
accompanied by a rancid fluid. The explosion of food relieves the
pressure in stomach.

Desires only cold food
and drink. Hot or warm food burns in stomach. Cold food distresses her
much less. Very regularly, every two weeks, has an attack of cramp in
stomach, accompanied by distressing dyspnœa. The cramp extends into
back. It lasts 20 to 30 minutes, during which time she is in great
agony, finally relieved by eructation.

During the attacks of
cramp she passes great quantity of colorless urine. Every slight cold
produces aphonia.

She received a dose of Phosph.
CM., February 28, 1883. Had no return of cramp till August, 1886, and no
regurgitation or pressure in stomach, was able again to take warm food.
On Aug. 15, 1880, she received a dose of Phosph. DM. No return of cramp
or gastric symptoms to this day.

This confirms symptoms :
“Desire for cold food and drink” (which is digested better
than warm).

Cramps in the stomach,
extending to back. This symptom is not found in Hahnemann’s proving. In
“Hering’s Guiding Symptoms,” however, the symptom stands, and
is hereby confirmed.

“Cramp in stomach
accompanied by dyspnœa.” This symptom is found in Hahnemann’s
proving, but it is not recorded in the “Guiding Symptoms.”

“Food is
regurgitated soon after eating” has been confirmed innumerable
times before.

“Urine profuse,
pale, watery”, is also confirmed.

Apium Graveolens :

A blonde,
rather delicate, aged 30. For two weeks has a queer “fullness”
in whole head, with constant, painless throbbing. Tired ache in sacrum,
relieved by standing and pressure ; attributes sensations in head
to over-study. The painless throbbing and fullness were promptly
relieved by a dose of the CM. The backache was not improved.

Culex Musca :

Short, thickest,
light brunette man, aged 40. Bright red swelling on upper maxillary
bone, over first right bicuspid. Slight redness of cheek. Threatening
abscess with paroxysmal throbbing, dull pain. Relieved by warm
applications. Came on after exposure to wet weather. Merc.
sol. and Rhus did no
good.

He then told me that
whenever he blew his nose he had vertigo, with a sense of occlusion in
both ears. A dose of the CM potency dissolved in water, and taken every
three hours during the day, relieved all pain, and in 48 hours all the
swelling.

Calcarea Fluorica :

Two cases of
syphilitic periosteal swelling ; one, occurring on the right
radius ; the other on the left ulna, both situated near the centre
of the bone. One, the size of a bean ; the other, more than three
times as large. One of them very sensitive to touch, the other without
sensitiveness. One occurred in a brunette man, aged 30, the other in a
light blonde woman, aged 37. The latter, also had a similar enlargement
on the right frontal protuberance. In both cases the swellings
disappeared gradually, during a month, after a dose of the CM. potency.

Silicea

does
not affect bone enlargements of a syphilitic origin, I think.

Fluoric Acid :

Syphilitic mucous
patches on soft palate and uvula. Throat sensitive to cold air. Hair
head, eyebrows, beard, had fallen. Complete recovery a dose of the cm.
dm. and cmm. potency about 6 weeks apart.

“Throat sensitive
to cold,” “Falling out of hair,” are confirmed symptoms.

Sarsaparilla :

A. B. C—., aged
38 ; short, delicately built, light brunette man.

In 1883, had
“inflammation of colon.” Since then has suffered almost
continually from indigestion.

Constant pressure under
lower end of sternum. Pressing up into cardiac region.

Cannot bear pressure of
clothing over epigastrium.

Stomach is swollen
after eating and scrobiculum protrudes like a saucer.

While eating, frequent
bitter eructations.

When stomach symptoms
are relieved, has for the past year attacks of dull aching in the lumbar
region, with frequent and scanty urination.

Calcarea

and Lycopodium, given a month apart,
gave him no relief.

Sarsaparilla

cm., one dose, relieved the symptoms of the stomach entirely in a short
time, and since January last he has had no return of the lumbar pain or
frequency of urination.

I was led to this
remedy, mainly, upon the symptom : “Bitter eructations while
eating.”

Dr J. T.
Kent

Besides this symptom,
the following ones are confirmed :

“Pressing pain
directly under the ensiform cartilage, increased by pressure.”

“Frequent desire
to urinate with scanty urine.”

These three symptoms
may be underscored as verified and confirmed. The keynote to the remedy
was : “Bitter eructations while eating.”

Dr. Kent :

I wish we could find
what time of day the symptoms of the face and eyes were aggravated. I
have come across a verification of that symptom. I had a patient who
could never let lager alone ; he was, in fact, a dipsomaniac, and
had taken a number of remedies and made a great many failures to
overcome his appetite. After a spree he would get up in the morning with
pains in his face and eyes, which were relieved only by splashing his
face with ice cold water. At last, I found this under Asarum, and I
found also the terrible craving-for stimulants it has. It cured him of
his appetite completely. Since then I have found it indicated several
times in old alcoholics.

Dr. H. C. Allen :

Was the
menstrual function regular and profuse in the Lachesis case ?

Dr. Wesselhoeft :

It occurred on
the 25th day.

Dr H. C.
Allen

Dr. H. C. Allen :

That might
exclude Lachesis from your prescription.

Dr. Wesselhoeft :

I do not agree
with Dr. Allen. I claim that if we have a strong preponderance of Lachesis
symptoms, we should give Lachesis,
whether the flow is early or late.

Dr. Allen :

My experience is
that the menstruation of Lachesis occurs with clock-like regularity. But
I confess that we must be guided by the totality, however prominent a
single symptom may be.

Dr. Thomson :

The case of
pernicious, progressive anæmia, that I referred to this morning, was
one of the most irregular cases of menstruation in my experience, and
Lachesis was the most helpful of her remedies.

Dr Bernhardt
Fincke

Dr. Fincke :

Lachesis
always brought on copious menstruation in some of my sensitive women
provers, so I have had to stop giving it to them.

Dr. Kent :

I have verified that
symptom of Culex in connection with erysipelas of the face. I cured
erysipelas of both sides of the face, eyes and lids, and one ear, with
sensation of stiffness in the nose that inclined one to blow the nose,
the blowing being attended with vertigo.

Copyright © Sylvain
Cazalet 2001

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