Clinical
experience.
By Henry Newell Guernsey, M. D.
Presented by Sylvain Cazalet
Dr H. N. Guernsey
Mrs. A—., of
Delaware, called on me a few weeks’ since, complaining of what she
termed dyspepsia. Upon asking her to relate her symptoms in the order of
their severity as it seemed to her, she replied that a feeling of
emptiness or goneness in her stomach discomforted her more than anything
else, but she thought it of no account, as she would vomit all her food
soon after taking it, and she would naturally feel emptiness and
goneness for want of food. I desired her to state merely facts, and I
would draw my own conclusions. She replied : ‘It is a fact that I
vomit nearly all my food ; I have a painful sensation of emptiness
in my stomach all the time ; my sleep is broken and does not
refresh me ; my bowels are very costive the stools being knotty and
very difficult, and they have scarcely been moved for two years without
an injection, and I do not think they would be moved now at all without
an injection ; my urine is cloudy and offensive, and a hard crust
settles, that it is difficult to scrape from the vessel ; I am very
weak and miserable, have spent over two hundred dollars during the past
two years for medicine, and despair of becoming any better. But I was
compelled by my husband to consult you.I always prescribe
Sepia when a train of symptoms like the above in italics occur in a
single case. In this case I gave the patient a few pellets of Sep. 55M,
dry on her tongue and three packages containing 12 powders each of S. L.
; one to be taken every night ; and enjoined upon her that she
should on no account resort to any more injections or other measures,
for the relief of her bowels, or of other symptoms, and to report to me
in 40 days. She thought she would not live to see me again if she were
to leave of taking injections.A few days ago she
reported that she had not vomited since seeing me, her bowels had become
regular very soon, and that she had no need of injections ; indeed,
she said, she pet well so fast her husband was frightened. He was coming
to the city that day on business, and he wished her to come and ask
particularly what had been the matter, as she had been so sick so long,
and now had gotten so well so soon. He did not understand it.
Sepia 55M,
a single dose, always produces similar results in similar cases, if
plenty of time is allowed the single dose to act. I do not give my
experience hastily, for base it on a single dose. I only delineate my
path where it has been well trodden, that others may follow it in
safety.Two months ago, a
married lady consulted me in regard to her health. She was weak and
unhappy, particularly in the morning, when she would feel on awakening
been if she chanced to waken during the night. Had a poor appetite
bowels very costive, with a feeling of constriction of the anus, so much
so that for months she had not attempted to defects without the aid of
an injection ; urine scanty and dark colored She had many other
symptoms, but the above were the most important She attributed these
sufferings to domestic troubles. The above italicized symptom always
turn my thoughts to Lachesis ; particularly the mental symptoms. I
gave her a single dose of Lachesis 4M in my office, and charged her to
take no more injection, nor in any way to interfere with the treatment
In about two weeks the unhappiness had greatly improved ; the
bowels had become regular ; and in about six weeks from the first
and only dose of Lach. 4M, she reported herself quite well in all
respects.June 12th, was called
to see a little boy 18 months old. Found him restless ; must be
carried all the time to keep him quite ; very sleepless day and
night, would sleep only in short naps. He had a disagreeable filthy
smell about him all the time, though great effort was made to keep him
clean by frequent bathing and changing of dress, could not keep milk on
his stomach but a short while ; it would be rejected sour and in
curds. Weak beef tea or water could be retained. His stools were of a
pale brown fluid, smelling like rotten eggs. He was getting very weak.
The italicized symptoms reminded of Psorinum more than of any other
remedy. I gave Psorinum 42M, a single dose only, in the morning. He
slept well the following night, the next day the bowels were better, and
the bad smell about his body was lessened. On the next day still
improving ; bowels well ; no more bad smell from his
body ; resumed his milk diet and has been well since. But a single
dose of Psorinum, as above was given, and no other remedy.May 19th, visited a
little boy about 9 years old, and found him in the following
condition : Urine nearly suppressed, but passed in small quantities
once in 24 hours. Stools dark-brown, fluid, and passed
involuntarily ; delirious much of the time ; lies on his back,
with his knees drawn up ; complains much of the back of his
head ; pulse 120 and hard ; breath very fetid ; bores his
nose very much : nostrils raw and bloody, picks his lips much, they
are raw and bloody, even into the corner of the mouth, picks his skin in
places, making it raw and bloody when he bores into it with much force,
and he seems vexed that he cannot bore it deeper, on account of the pain
it seems to give him ; he seems very intent in his efforts to bore
and pick the raw surfaces. The italicized symptoms directed attention at
once to Arum triphyllum, which was given in water, in the 20M dilution,
every two, four or six hours, as it might seem necessary. Next day he
was better and the medicine was discontinued. After two days it was
found necessary to repeat a few doses as before. He continued to
improve, in all respects, finely under this treatment, till the 31 slot
May, when there were no indications left for Arum, but as there were
passed considerable quantities of red sand with the urine, one done of
Lycop. 6M was given. On the 14th June, one dose of Lyc. 10M, was given,
and today (June 25th) he is perfectly will and romping about in the
country.March 25th, visited a little girl about
10 years old, and found her in the following condition : perfectly
delirious day and night ; cannot be roused to consciousness even
for a short time ; urine and feces are passed involuntarily, in
bed ; had, while she could express herself, much pain in the
occiput, and down the spine ; is very restless, particularly every
night after midnight, but there is a marked degree of restless
constantly, and much distress ; the breath is cold, and the skin is
cold and clammy ; the lips, teeth, and tongue, so much of it as
could be seen were dry, black, and covered with sordes. She took a
little water from a spoon frequently, or would occasionally suck a wet
rag. It seemed, like a hopeless case, but our Ars. 8M would do good if
anything could. It was accordingly given in water, every one, two, three
or four hours, as it seemed best to the nurse, in accordance with
instructions given her. In the morning I found the child somewhat
better. The medicine was there upon discontinued, to be administered as
before, if she got decidedly worse. She became worse before noon, and
repeating the medicine brought no relief. Ars. 15M was now given, as at
first, and prompt relief followed, and continued several days, and
purple spots, with pus in their tips, came out on back and hips. Ars.
40M was had recourse to, and completed the cure. She is now (June 25th)
fat and perfectly well. In every improvement, medicine was withheld, and
repeated when it seemed necessary.Source :
Med. Advance, 1894.Copyright © Sylvain
Cazalet 2001
