Mr. C. aged forty-five years, enjoying always good health, living very regular and engaged in large business, complained on the 12th of November. 1880. He felt sick all over, better when at rest, the stiffness of the limbs, nausea with the headache and poor appetite: received one dose of Bryonia CM. (Fincke). Feeling better, he followed his usual occupation but was compelled to come home in the afternoon of the 18th of November and take to his bed with a chill which was followed by high fever, cold feet, very hot head, flushed face, and, contrary to his habit, wishing to lie with his head high. Pulsating headache, pulse 96 per minute urinary secretion almost suspended, some nausea, very little thirst but great weakness. One dose of Belladonna C. M. (Fincke) was administered 7 p.m. Had a much disturbed night, many dreams and visions, slight delirium, more thirst, with the scanty secretion of very dark urine, headache continues, tongue clean. On the evening of the 19th of Nov. his pulse was 106 per minute; he complained of feeling bruised all over, motion greatly increased this soreness; coughed at times, and then complained of stitches in both sides of the throat, did not feel inclined to sleep, headache was less severe, thirst increased, he wanted large quantities of water at a time, otherwise no change. At 7 p.m. he took one dose of Bryonia, CM. (Fincke). Nov. 20th. Had a very restless night, changing his position frequently. Slight delirium. The pain in the throat better; so was the bruised feeling; urinary secretion unchanged; skin very dry; Thirstless; this condition continued all day. When asked why he changed his position so frequently, he said that he did so in order to relieve pains which increased during continuation in one position; that he felt better after such a change of the painful position till he had occupied it for some time. Pulse 120 per minute. He received one dose of Rhus tox CM. (Fincke) at 6 p.m. to be repeated if he did not perspire by 9 p.m. Nov. 21st. At 7 p.m. of the 20th his skin became moist; by 8 p.m. he was in a profuse perspiration, and from that time he began to feel better. The urinary secretions gradually increased, leaving an increasing deposit of phosphates. The perspiration continued till the 23d. He showed no desire for food or drink but cold water or an occasional glass of milk. The pulse was less frequent and soft. As there was an apparent pause in the improvement on the 24th of Nov. (the 7th day of the disease) he received another dose of Rhus Tox. 50 M (Fincke) at 8 p.m. Nov. 25th. Perspired very freely all night and asked for some light food. Soft-boiled eggs and toast. This food tasted good; all his symptoms gradually improved day by day without further medication. Urine became profuse and clear. On the 30th he sat up and enjoyed a full dinner, asked for his favourite Burgundy wine and felt well. During these two weeks he had no movement of the bowels and his first evacuation—perfectly natural—came on the 1st December. On the 3d of December, he rode out in a carriage and returned for a short time to his country house. On the 10th of December, though otherwise very well, he complained of a slight return of itching haemorrhoids which he had had years ago. One dose of Sulphur 21 M (Skinner) relieved him at once: since then he has been perfectly well.
Comments: To all appearances, this was a grave case of disease, and might be called a case of typhoid fever. The patient fully recovered under strictly homoeopathic treatment without any resort to auxiliary and supplementary means, such as of late have been recommended in grave cases. The law of the similars and Hahnemann's advice how to apply that law was our only guide. The most difficult part of the treatment of this case was the finding of the cause of the distressing and increasing restlessness; had we not patiently and diligently examined the sick, had we hastily given him Arsenicum for this restlessness the much desired early crisis by perspiration would not have come to the rescue. After this important symptom — worse when lying for a time in the same position and relief when that position was changed, had been ascertained it was easy enough to see the remedy. Patients do not often give us the symptoms as we would wish them given, and we have then to apply our individual judgment to find by interrogation what the real. True, symptoms of the sick are. But we must never rest till we obtain a clear conception of the case before us.
Hahnemann tells us in paragraph 4 of "The Organon of the Healing Art” that he. (The true healer) is also a health preserver if he learns to know what causes health disturbances, and what creates and supports diseases and when he learns how to remove these causes. In the above case, the question arose u why was he sick?'' A man who lived a prudent and regular life, who had not been exposed to the fever miasm of any malarial district could not well sicken without cause. His residence was a well-built house; there were no fixed washstands in it. it was well ventilated and scrupulously clean, even the cellars being very clean. After a painstaking examination it was found that back of his counting-room existed a faulty wall and on rainy days the odour from it compelled the occupants of the counting room and large store to close the windows. As soon as this discovery was made Mr. C. took much pains to ascertain the true condition of things, and at once applied the proper remedies for the removal of this disease-creating nuisance.
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