QUARTERLY HOMOEOPATHIC DIGEST

Vol.VI No.2 June 1989

CONTENTS

1. MENIERE’S DISEASE THEATED WITH CHENOPODIUM

2. A CASE OF MERCURIUS SOLUBILIS

3. NEOPLASM AND PLEURAL EFFUSION – A CASE

REPORT

4. A CASE OF TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS THEATED

WITH ARTEMISIA VULGARIS

5. A CASE OF PEMPHIGUS

6. “SEES SPIDERS” – A CASE OF TONSILLITIS

7. FEEDBACK

8. BOOK REVIEW

9. NEWS

MENIERE’S DISEASE THEATED WITH CHENOPODIUM

R.A.F. Jack, MRCGP, FFHOM, FBMDSH

Abstract:

[The patient presented was a 54 years old man who had suffered from frequent disabling on Menieres for three years, for which no conventional treatment had been effective, and who has not has a single attack in the last eighteen months, since starting treatment with homoeopathic Chenopodium. He had been under regular hospital surveillance all this time.]

A 54-years-old manufacturing jeweler developed tinnitus and increasing deafness in his left ear ‘due to the hammering in the factory’. He was already ‘90% deaf’ in his right ear following a mastoid operation in 1962, as a consequence of which he had attended the Ear and Throat Hospital regularly at six month intervals for the last twenty years. He could not tolerate using a hearing aid in his left ear, because it only increased his tinnitus, but without an aid he could not understand conversation; ‘words were just a jumbled noise’. Two years ago he was supplied with a hearing aid for his right ear, with which he can now hear conversation. He now has to attend the Hospital every two weeks for a ‘quick cleaning’ of his right ear, as ‘the aid makes the ear sweat, and it is essential to keep a mastoid ear dry’.

Three years ago the tinnitus in the left ear diminished and the deafness increased. At the same time he started getting attacks of vertigo and vomiting, which the hospital diagnosed as Meniere’s disease. Initially the attacks occurred at about eight week intervals, lasting from 1-1/2-9 hours, but usually between 2-3 hours.

Treatment with stemetil (prochlorperzine), either or by injection, made him feel much worse. Diuretics were ineffective, as was Serk (betahistidine dihydrocholoride), which made him lightheaded. For

the last three months he had been taking stugeron (cinnarizine) 15mg tid which ‘helped a little’.

However, recently the attacks had been getting more frequent, coming every two weeks and becoming more severe. He stated that the uncertainly, severity and frequency of the attacks was beginning to unnerve him and make him feel insecure. He no longer felt safe, or confident, to drive any distance. At his last visit to his GP he apparently had been told that conventional medicine has nothing further to offer him; hence his request for homoeopathic treatment.

On 8 October 1985, at his first consultation, he presented as a cheerful, normotensive man (BP 140/80), his peak expiratory flow was 540). He had never smoked, has always been strictly teetotal, he avoided drinking coffee, and only drank tea in moderation. He was overweight at 92kg (14 stone 7 lbs), height 175cm (5’9”). Apart from his aural pathology, physical examination was otherwise unremarkable. He was free from nasal catarrh, and only recalled two occasions in the last ten years when he had suffered from catarrh.

His most significant symptoms from a homoeopathic prescribing aspect were: Deaf, yet intolerance of loud noise.

‘Loud nose hurts me’ e.g. singing in church.

‘The nose of traffic gets on my nerves, it is unbearable, it sets my deaf (L) ear pulsating and ringing, and makes me miserable.

‘Deaf to thunder, ‘Dependent on hearing aid.

He observed: ‘It is strange to be deaf and yet sensitive to noise’.

By stroking the skin in front of his left ear he produced numbness of the skin on the left side of his face, and tinnitus like the sound of a violin string being plucked’.

Chenopodium 3c tid. Cocculus 6c ½ hourly in attacks of Menieres, Stugeron 15 mg tid. Stop added salt and sugar. Start high fibre diet (to help to control his obesity)

12.2.86 No attacks since. Hearing deteriorating in left ear. Weight loss of 3.2 kg (7 lbs). Not need to try Cocculus..

Chenopodium 30C bd at 7 days intervals. Chenopodium 3 hd on intervening days.

11.6.86 No attacks in the last eight months. Hospital provided a new hearing aid four

months ago. Feeling in ‘contented state of mind’, ‘I have in fear of an attack, ‘ I could drive to Scotland now’.

Stop stugerion Chenopodium 30 mane at 7 days intervals Chenopodium 3 o.m. intervening days.

After two weeks to reduce Chenopodium 30 mane to 14 days intervals. After four weeks try reducing Chenopodium 3 to alternate mornings.

15.10.86No attacks in the last year. Stil very sensitive to noise. Replace Chenopodium with China sulph. 3 tid until reaction (i.e. symptoms better or worse)

7.1.87 Menieres 200% better. No attacks to date. Feels old self again.

Stopped China sulph and reverted to Chenopodium, as tinnitus had returned. No change in the hypersensitivity to noise since discontinuing China sulph. Trial Theridion 30 x 12 alt. mane, (to reduce hypersensitivity to

noise)

12.4.87 Feeling very well. No attacks since first consultation 18 months ago, when started taking Chenopodium.

Theridion 30 had been ineffective in reducing his hypersensitivity to noise, rather it aggravated it.

Stop all therapy. Seen at the Tutorial at selly Oak Hospital.

‘Perfect’, Not a single attack since his first consultation 19 month ago.

Discussion:

As recently as my early years in medicine, oil of chenopodium was the treatment of choice for hookworm and roundworm infestation. It was had to be that it did not kill the worms, but only paralyzed them, so they to be expelled with a purgative. The drug worked best when given as a mixture of one volume of oil of chenopodium with two volumes of carbon tetrachloride. In treating children the oil was usually given on sugar, one drop per year of age bd or tid for two days, followed by a purge.

However, there were serious problems because:

- The active principle of chenopodium is asceridole which ‘is deadly to man and worm; the respective lethal doses lie near one another, and its reported percentage in the oil had varied from 33% to 98%.

- The size of drops varied with different droppers, and there was catastrophic confusion 45 drops of the International draper (2.2 mil.) and 45 drops of the and 45 minims (3mil.) Numerous deaths have followed the latter’.

- ‘Even with therapeutic doses minor toxic effects such as dizziness, nausea, tinnitus and temporary deafness frequently occur’.

- Kent, in his Repertory, lists 90 medicines for treating sensitivity to noise (p. 79). The sixteen in large black type are:-

- ACON, ASAR, BELL, BOR, CHIN, CHI-ARS, COFFEA, CONIUM, KALI CARB, NIT, ACID, NUX VOM, OP, SEPIA, SIL, THERID, ZINC.

Surprisingly he does not include Chenopodium anthelminticum. In the section on ‘hearing’ (p. 321-3) it is only listed once, and that is under ‘Hearing impaired – the human voice’. Even then it is only in italics, whereas PHOS and SULPHUR are in heavy black type.

Clarke calls Chenopodium ‘wormseed’ and describes its symptoms as ‘Roaring in ears as of cannons going off; deafness. Progressive deafness to human voice, extreme sensitiveness to other sounds (cerebral deafness?) Tinnitus synchronous with heart-beats.’ This precisely describes the patient’s symptoms. Clarke lists vertigo as an indication for Chenopodium, but does not mention Menieres disease.

Boericke calls Chenopodium ‘Jerusalem Oak’ and gives, as indications for its use: - ‘Sudden vertigo, Menieres disease. Torpor of auditory nerve. Comparative deafness to sound, as of passing vehicles … Anral vertigo’. This again is an accurate description of his condition.

The deafness of Chenopodium is not to be confused with that of Graphities, which is unique, being the only medicine listed for hearing that improves in noise; (Kent p. 323. ‘Hearing impaired – noise amelioration. GRAPHITES (heavy black type.)

Chenopodium has an unusual symptom, ‘intense pain between angles of right shoulder blade near through to heart’. Chelidonium produces a similar pain – slightly more lateral, described as a ‘constant pain under the inferior angle of the right scapula’. Chelidonium also produces vertigo, and is listed far more frequently in Kent, under that heading then is Chenopodium. I personally cannot recall ever using Chelidonium for treating vertigo.

Lilienthal defines Menieres disease as ‘vertigo of auditory nerve’, but only gives details of China sulph., Cicuta, Conium, Kalmia lat, and Salicylic acid. Presumably Chenopodium had not been proved in 1879, when he edited his second edition. I have only had success with the first and last of these as far as I can remember. In treating Menieres disease I find Boericke’s the most helpful repertory, which gives the widest choice of medicines under ‘Vertigo, of labyrinthic origin (Menieres disease)’. He lists, in italics, (i.e. as the most important medicines) Chenop., china sulph., Nat. sal., Acid sal, and Theridion (orange spider). Kent does not include either ‘Menieres’ or ‘aural vertigo’.

There is still one medicines that could be indicated, especially if his condition relapsed and Chenopodium failed to control the attacks. Proteus is the bowel nosode for conditions associated with cramps and spasms, Menieres and Ray naud’s disease. It should also be considered in treating intractable cases of angioneurotic oedema and urticara, both conditions often being associated with ‘prolonged strain’.

References:

1. Martindale, the Extra Pharmacopoeia. Vol.1 2nd Edition 1941. p. 904-5.

2. Clarke JH: Dictionary of Materia Medica. Vol 1 1925. p. 470.

3. Boericke WH: Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica. 1927 p. 191.

[From the British Homoeopathic Journal Vol. 77 No.3 July 1988 FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY]

- - - - - -A CASE OF MERCURIUS SOLUBILIS

Robert Romer

I present the flowing case history mainly for one reason, that is, besides myself there other

persons, university physicians, were critical co-observes. The patient herself a physician, her husband an ophthalmologist and her father-in-law, also an ophthalmologist.

The patient, 26 years, came on Feb. 2, 1969 with her husband to consult me; since the beginning of her only pregnancy, 1 ½ years ago, she was suffering from a facial exanthema which at the beginning was only existing around the mouth area, but later on extended over the whole race up to the corner of the eye where it now was even causing pains in certain movements of the mimic muscles. She was under specialist’s treatment continuously, lastly from a professor of a nearby university hospital. The therapy consisted of only different cortison containing ointments which at the beginning improved for a time. This almost disappeared once in the summer of 1968 for a few weeks. Since 5 months, however, the exanthema had flared up again in the entire face and that much more than ever before.

The homoeopathic anamnesis gives only few clues. Nevertheless the patient said that she liked to sleep on the left side, slept restlessly and dreamt very often. She easily feels cold and always has cold hands and feet. Fat causes indigestion, milk sticks on the tongue. Constipation, Earlier she has sometimes had painful vesicles and putrid corners. She is very much concerned about her sick mother. Since the beginning of the exanthema she was no more enjoying life.

Findings: 160 cm. tall, 51kg, young woman with blue eyes, tongue very moist, a little dirty coated, tooth imprints. Lungs and heart no findings, blood pressure 105/75. Liver not enlarged, in the area of the gallbladder considerable sensitivity to palpation. Spleen and kidneys NAD. Face: uneven, all-over dotted-reddish skin eczema, dirty. Face therefore seems to be older. I have the impression that the patient realized – just as I too did – the contrast between her poor condition and the

remarkably healthy constitution of her husband is therefore suffering.

For remedy choice I considered:

1. popular – pustular eczema (at the beginning) 2. “likes to lie on the left side” (instinctive relief of

the liver – gallbladder – system from the pressure of the intestines).

3. disgust of life 4. very moist tongue, tooth imprints 5. earlier putrid corners, apththae.

Remedy diagnosis: Mercurius solubilis. Two doses of the 30 centesimal 5 globules each for one day. No further medication, no diet restrictions. She was asked to phone me after 4 days to report.

Report on 23.2.1963: After taking the pills she had vehement headache for two days. Normally she very seldom has headache and then never was it so unbearable as at this time. Since today, however, the pains have gone and she has the impression that the eczema has decreased. I asked to call again in about 10 days.

4.3.1963: The exanthema has become less day by day. Only a few nodules are remaining in the face. Otherwise she is feeling well, has more appetite and easy stools. I told her to call again in 4 weeks.

3.4.1969: Since weeks the eczema has now completely disappeared. She is feeling well but still cannot believe that this chronic nuisance should have gone for ever. I am telling her to call me again only if a new relapse should occur.

Returning from my summer vacations at the beginning of September 1696 I found a small parcel containing a book and a letter from the colleague (patient) in which she thanked me for effective success of the pills. Word for word, she wrote: “Each morning when I look into the mirror I am thinking of you”.

A few days later I met the couple on the street. There is no longer a pale, care-worn woman, whom I had started treating in February: this is a young, charming lady with a sun-tanned face, where not even a trace of eczema is to be seen. The mutual joy is great.

Even after 15 months the eczema did not recur. The patient continues to feel well. Some homoeopathic physicians may feel that with only one dose of Mercurius – and antisyphilitic remedy – the certainly basic psora could not have been removed. However, the patient does not feel the necessity of a further treatment. Since the husband and father-in-law show great respect in public for homoeopathy.

[From the ACTA HOMOEOPATHICA, Band XIV, Heft 6, 1970; for PRIVATE COMMUNICATION ONLY].

NEOPLASM AND PLEURAL EFFUSION – A CASE REPORT

Amitav Ghosh, MBBS, FRCP (GLAS), FFHOM, DCH, DTM & H

Abstract: A 74-years-old man, who was diagnosed to have malignant pleural effusion in February 1984, is three and half years later leading an active life. This is made possible by treatment with Arnica Montana.

Introduction: A report of a single clinical case is not statistically significant. But its statistical value is apparent if the clinicians presented with similar problems get identical results with similar treatment. Malignant pleural effusion is a rapidly progressing condition which is not improved by modern medicine. On the contrary, the patient under discussion has done better with homoeopathic treatment.

Post History: This 74-years-old hypertensive man had his first attack of myocardial infarction in 1953,

at the age of 41 years. Since then he has had four further attacks. The last myocardial infarction was six years ago in 1981. He is now prone to recurrent cardiac arrhythmia.

Present illness: This patient complained of difficulty in breathing in February 1984. A diagnosis of left pleural effusion was made. Blood-stained fluid was aspirated in February 1984, May 1984, January 1985, October 1986 and November 1986. Bronchoscope did not reveal a tumour, but malignant cells were seen in bronchial brushing and in the pleura fluid. Needle biopsy from a lymph node in the left axilla showed malignant squamous cells, secondary from the carcinoma of the bronchus.

X-rays: An x-ray taken in February 1982 did not show pulmonary pathology. Two years later, in February 1984, a pleural effusion on the left side was seen. The latest x-ray in June 1987 shows reduced pleural fluid, pleural thickening, and increased cardiac and mediastinal shadows.

Orthodox treatment: The patient was not offered treatment for the malignancy because of his age and cardio-vascular disease. He is on Cordarone (amiodarone) for cardiac arrhythmia and Frumil (frusemide and amiloride) for congestive heart failure.

Homoeopathic treatment (general):

Lycopodium: This patient is apprehensive by nature. In stressful situations he gets palpitations and breathlessness. By taking Lycopodium he usually averts attacks of tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmia and dyspnoea.

Aconitum nepellus: When he has attacks of palpitations and dyspnoea and is distressed and anxious Aconitum napellus administered every few minutes relieves his symptoms in fifteen to thirty minutes.

Crataegus: this enhances the beneficial effect of Cordarone.

Crataegus: This relieves upper abdominal distension and discomfort.

Homoeopathic treatment (specific)

Arsenicum album: In malignancy and other incurable diseases, Arsenicum improves general health and the quality of life. Further indications for this remedy in this patient were breathlessness, abdominal discomfort, anxiety and restlessness.

Thuja occidentalis: It was prescribed because of its effectiveness in growths.

Apis mellifica: Reduces oedema and serous effusions and was therefore given to this patient.

FURTHER OBSERVATIONS AND USE OF ARNICA MONTANA

In July 1984, after minor injuries following a car accident, in August 1984, after an injury to his right leg and in September 1984, after thrombophlebitis, this patient was prescribed Arnica Montana. It was noticed that while he was treated with Arnica Montana for unrelated conditions, he did not need any aspirations from May 1984 to January 1985. He was therefore put on Arnica Montana indefinitely.

Present health: This patient, in spite of cardiovascular disease and malignant pleural effusion, is leading a normal life. He does a part-time job in an office, housework and even gardening, and thus is an active member of the family and community.

Discussion: Malignant pleural affusion is a rapidly progressing disease and patients afflicted with this condition are usually dead within a few months.

A malignant disease is usually considered to be a manifestation of more than one miasm and therefore is difficult to cure. Carcinosin or other similar nosodes and constitutional remedies are the mainstay of the treatment of neoplastic conditions. Medorrhinum and Thuja occidentalis are effective in

warts and are used as pathological prescribing for malignancy. Arsenicum album in this disease seems to slow down the progress of malignancy. Moreover, the patient is less distressed, is not in agony and is not restless. He feels better. In serous effusions, Sulphur, Apis mellifica and Bryonia are often used. They are effective when the effusion is due to an inflammatory condition of the serous membrane.

The patient under discussion had Arsencium album, Thuja occidentalis and Apis mellifica and felt a lot better. Yet he continued to have pleural effusion and needed pleural aspiration within three months of his initial aspiration.

It was an incidental observation that while he was treated for other undercurrent illness with Arnica Montana, he did not need pleural aspiration for eight months. He was therefore treated with Arnica Montana continuously, with the result that he did not need pleural aspiration again for twenty-one months. His last pleural aspiration was eight months ago in November 1986 and the last chest x-ray shows only minimal effusion.

Why did how did Arnica Montana reduce this pleural effusion? Is it a constitutional remedy for this patient or is it a specific pathological remedy for this condition and for all patients with malignant pleural effusion. The latter is more likely. After an injury there is local vascular dilation, exudation and haemorrhage and possibly similar changes may be present in malignant pleural effusions. The effect of this remedy in malignant pleural effusion can be ascertained by further study in human beings and maybe in animals.

In conclusion, it may be said that in this patient, the carcinoma of the bronchus is not cured but its progress has been slowed down with the result that he is leading an active life.

[From the BRITISH HOMOEOPATHIC JOURNAL, Vol. 76, Oct. 1987 for PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY]

- - - - -

A CASE OF TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS TREATED WITH ARTEMISIA VULGARIS

R.A.F. Jack, MRCGP, FFHOM, FEMESH

Abstract: A two-years-old boy suffering from tuberous sclerosis is described. His salaam spasms had not been controlled by a combination of sodium valporate and nitrazepam, but decreased and finally ceased after medication with Artemisia 30 despite nitrazepam having been discontinued during this treatment.

‘Tuberous Sclerosis (TS) is a rare but well-recognized hereditar neuroectodermal disease, first clearly described in 1880 and also known as epiloia’. Although dominantly inherited, over 50% of patients represent new1 mutations. Pathologically there are malformations or tumours of many organs, especially of the skin and CNS2. Its characteristic features include:

1 mental retardation in 60% of cases

2 epilepsy, in 80% of cases

3 skin lesions; most commonly a disfiguring acne-like rash (adenoma sebaceum in a butterfly distribution on the face. In infants there may be hypo pigmentation of the skin (mountain ash leaf macules)

The Tuberous Sclerosis Association of great British represents about 580 families where one or more members suffer from this disease. Whereas 20 years ago the incidence of TS in the population was estimated as 1/200, 000 people, it is now thought to be as high as 1/20,000. This is presumed to be because better means of diagnosis (including CAT scanning) are now available.

The patient was a two-year-old boy who developed infantile spasms when five months old. In these salaam spasms to suddenly, apparently spontaneously, would look vacant, his pupils dilate, and his face go pale. His right arm would twitch a

few time, then, flexing at the water, he bent double finally failing onto the crown of his head. He would lie there, with eyes wide open, deviating to the left. His right arm would straighten and repeatedly be elevated from his body and returned to his side again. There was no incontinence or tongue biting. The attacks lasted from a half to one minute, and his mother felt that he was conscious throughout, and could appreciate sound. The parents meticulously recorded the number of the attacks, which averaged between 5-6 each day and 5-6 each night. On 18 th

August 1986, at his first consultation, he presented as a cheerful lad, with a few scattered patches of under-pigmentation of the skin. He had been fully investigated at the Children’s Hospital, and a Hospital for sub normality, and was under their surveillance. He was thought to be slightly mentally handicapped. He had right-sided weakness, especially of his right arm which tended o hang limply by his die ‘as if broken’. He was very unsteady on his feet. He was often irritable, and impatient, and was awake most nights until 4.30 a.m. His parents got more sleep if his mother slept beside him. His maintenance medication was

Sodium Valporate (Epilim) 15ml/day

Nitrazepam 10mg/day, both in divided doses. His mother was already using Arnica freely for this many falls.

18-8-86 R     Nux vomica 6 qid.       Continue sodium valporate and

                     nitrazepam. If no improvement in one week, replace Nux vomica with Artemisia vulgaris 3 qid.

8-9-86       No significant change with Nux vomica.

                    Slight but significant improvement on                     Artemisia 3 (or is it coincidence?) He had                     a fit during the consultation, which I                     witnessed. R Artemisia 12bd until reaction,                     then stop and wait. If no response change

                 to Cicuta 3 qid. for a week, and it still no                  response replace with Oenanthe crocata 3 qid.

20-10-86 No significant change with either Cicuta or Oenanthe, but some improvement on Artemisia, ‘he is not dropping so much to floor’. With the hospital’s consent the parents had started slowly to reduce the nitrazepam, and by now had halved his original daily dose, to 5 mg daily in divided soses. The boy had recently become very

hungry, with a voracious appetite, and was kicking off the bedclothes at night.

Tuberculinum 10MArtemisia 30 every 72 hours Continue Na.Valporate

5-1-87 ‘He seemed the day after taking Artemisia 30’. Nitra-zepam was finally withdrawn by 8-11-86. The parents also tried withholding Artmisia, but after three weeks of steady deterioration they resumed giving Artemisia 30, and after the first dose he went four days without a single fit, he was now being given Artemisia 30 on alternate days, the parents finding this controlled him better then with doses every third day. The fits were milder and were only two a day on average.

Continue Na valporate 15mg daily. Artemisia 30 PRN.

22-1-87 Parents decided independently to do a trial of withholding Artemisia completely.

16-2-87 No increase in frequency of fits-still only two a day, and one by night, whereas eight months ago he had ten to twelve every 24 hours.

7-3-87 Demostrated at Faculty Tutorial at Sely Oak hospital, ‘in the last few weeks no drop attacks; most unusual compared with other cases’. Parents very pleased. No Artemisia for six weeks.

13-6-87 Very well, Approximately two absences a day, for seconds only. No salaam attacks of fits for three months. Twice he had a ‘drop attack’ landing on his bottom. He walks much more steadily and can even run, and kick a foot-ball without falling over; he is learning to jump now. His right arm doesn’t hang limply at his side; he now uses it to play, and reaches out with it to pick things up. Mentally he is developing better, and attends a day nursery three times a week. He sleeps soundly from 8.30 p.m. to 8.30 a.m. We had never believed it possible for him to sleep undisturbed right though the night. We don’t think it is just normal development with age, because it all happened so quickly’. His mother explained that as well as giving him Na valporate she gave him courses of Artemisia 30, on alternate days, for about a week, every few weeks when she had a feeling he was about to relapse.

Discussion: An isolated case history proves nothing;

but it can be informative and might stimulate others to try homoeopathic treatment in attempting to control this very distressing disease, which so often resists conventional medication. Frequently the dose of anticonvulsants that is necessary to control the fits profoundly disturbs the patient, to such a degree that the drug has to be withheld. Mental handicap is intensified by poor fit control, and by excessive use of depressant anti-convulsants such as phenobarbitone and primidone1. Poor fit control leads to a progressive loss of skills2. Spontaneous remissions in infancy do occur but apparently are unusual.

This case is interesting because three other homoeopathic anticonvulsant medicines were tried, without any subsequent change in the boy’s condition. They were:-

Nux vomica 3rd qid which contains strychnine Cicuta virosa 3rd qid (water hemlock) Oenanthe crocata 3rd qid (water dropwort)

It is not surprising the neither Cicuta nor Oenanthe helped, because both produce, in toxic doses, trismus, and convulsions, with a red face, and opisthotonus. This child did not arch the head and spine backwards, but flexed forward, and went pale during each fit.

The case demonstrates that homoeopathic medication can be added to conventional. The child continued taking sodium valporate, though he discontinued taking nitrazepam. In this case a higher potency (30th) of Artemesia appeared more effective the a low potency (3rd)

Artemisia Vulgaris (wormwood, mugwort) was a popular drug known to the Greeks and Romans, and in later times was much used for treating epilepsy, and spasms of children, 15 (presumably in material doses). Hering recommends it for irregular or deficient menstruation associated with epillepitc convulsions6. Boericke advises it for childhood epilepsy especially for girls reaching puberty7 and Clarke for ‘epilepsy from emstrual disturbances’.

I rarely prescribe Artemisia, but have two adult female patients whose epilepsy is not strictly controlled by sodium valporate and whose fits increased if their period was overdue. By taking Artemisia during the premenstrual week it would appear that the frequency of their fits has been reduced.

REFERENCES

1. Wilson J: Tuberous Sclerosis. Brochure of the TS Asociation of Great Britain.

2. Cavanagh PC. Lobacher ME: Childhood Dementia. Medicine International 1983; 1: 1682.

3. Mostly WN : Paediatric Dermatology, Medicine International 1983; 1: 1289

4. Personal Communication, Secretary TS Association of Great Britain.

5. Hering C. The Guiding Symptoms of our Materia Medica. 1880 Vol. 2.p. 154

6. Hering C. Ibid. p. 156.

7. Boericke WH: Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica. P. 1927

8. Clarke JH: Dictionary of Materia Medica, Vol. 1, P. 1925

[From the BRITISH HOMOEOPATHIC Journal, Oct. 1987, Vol. 76; For PRIVAE CIRCULATION ONLY]

- - - - - -

A CASE OF PEMPHIGUS

Dr. Francisco X. Eizayaga

The history of the illness of Mr. A.C. begins with acute pruritis all over his body, followed by a very pruriginous vesicobullous eruption of the face, trunk, and limbs, and by an important degradation of his general state of health.

In April 1984 a skin biopsy shows a sub-corneum pemphigus of the SENEARUSHER type. A corticoid treatment is undertaken. Rounded necrotic ulcerated lesions now appear.

In July 1984, the patient has a new eruption of very pruriginous vesicles, and bullae on his hands with abundant, clear, colorless or yellow secretion. Scabs from, the evolution of each lesion takes from 45 to 90 days.

A new skin biopsy carried out on July 11, 1984 shows myeloid cellular infiltration with the presence of neutrophilic and eosinophilic polymorphonuclears associated with blast elements probably of myeloid nature, with superficial cutaneous necrotic eschars by thrombostasis.

A hemogram taken on July 23, 1984 shows a hyperleukocytosis with 775 neutrophils and 15% lymphocytes.

February 27, 1985 an immunological profile is made with the help of cutaneous testes (trichophytin, histoplasmin, candidin, PPD – Rebuck test) which are shown to be negative and demonstrate a strong immunosuppression.

March 14, 1985 the appearance of the patient is worse. He is covered with bullae and vesicles with the typical “mouse odor”, big necrotic blackish ulcers with a gangrenous odor. The psychic signs are not characteristics outside of a feeling of abandonment and slowed thinking. The prognosis is guarded.

The repertorized symptoms are: - eruptions, pemphigus, pruritis without eruption, pruritis during sleep, pruritis aggravated by the heat of had, eruptions which are burning, bullous, vesiculous, feverish with a sensation of ardent burning, big gangrenous necrotic ulcers with laced edges.

Repertorizing shows: Arsericum (11 symptoms), Rhustox (10 symptoms), Sulphur (10 symptoms), Lachesis (9 symptoms). The treatment decided upon; Arsenicum Album 6 CH, 5 granules every 3 hours. We not rapid improvement of the pruritis. The vesicles dry up, the general state of health and the facial expression improve. The patient’s swelling is reduced and he loses 10kg in one month, the cutaneous lesions heal from top to bottom. The swelling of the legs decreases and the patient can now wear shoes. His back, which was covered with warts, now has only five left. Some pruritis persists on his face. In spite of this improvement, the patient feels he will never be cured.

May 20, 1985, he is much better, calmer, and can better stand the itching. The eruption and the pruritus persist. The right hand and arm are swollen. The “mouse odor” lingers. A fear of dying and an exertion dyspnoea appear even though the patient shows 80% improvement.

The immunological profile of May 28, 1985 stays constant.

On July 18, 1985, we are to the Arsenic 200 CH treatment, an auto-isotherapeutic consisting of 9 CH bloods, to be taken in oral drops, twice a day. This new treatment accentuates the improvement.

Late August, the patient begins to work again (he is a reporter). He has no more eruptions on his body. The immunological profile of October 15, 1985 is positive, to the astonishment of the immunologist.

The patient comes back to see the doctor on November 6, 1986, because, for the last month, an ulcer has formed on his right forearm. It has a

diameter of 5 cm, with hard red edges with black scabs. The inside is granulous, necrotic, has dead small and a yellowish secretion. The treatment is continued with Arsenicum Album 200 CH and the blood isotherapeutic.

On November 29, 1985 the patient feels well. The ulcer stays superficial and its diameter decreases by half. The ankles lose more some swelling. The patient continues his treatment with Arsenicum, Lachesis 200 CH or 1000 CH, sulphur 30, and the blood auto-istherapeutic whose attenuation is increased to 200 CH.

Late December 1986, the clinical picture begins to worse; the legs swell, the necrotic ulcers with gangrenous odor reappear. The treatment by Lachesis and blood auto-isotherapeutic is kept up.

January 9, 1987, the patient has a gigantic ulcer in the crease of the right elbow, like a patch, with uplifted edges, thick, painless. 39°C fever. Dry mouth and thirst for large quantities of liquids. Painless ulcer, dry skin with desquamation and pruritus, hard and painless adenopathy. The patient is given Carbo Animalis in 6 CH, then 30 CH, every four hours. In 3 days the fever has gone down and everything improves, including the necrotic ulcer is small, the skin is thick.

In March 1, 1987, the leukocyte count shows some neutrophils with toxic granules.

April 1, 1987, a new biopsy is carried out on one ganglion. According to the pathologist, it is a matter of rare association, of high degree of malignancy, of a big anaplastic cell lymphoma with a myeloid metaplasic. The patient is hospitalized in order to receive chemotherapy. Immediately thereafter a hepatic insufficiency settles in, with icterus. After 4 days of chemotherapy the patient dies on April 6, 1987.

Commentary by the author: The patient’s pemphigus was almost totally improved when this disease of the lymphatic system appeared. This

disease is serious and rare and could have been suspected from the start, but was not clear because it was subjacent to the cutaneous disease. Unfortunately it was not possible to treat the patient in his last days, and there no possible resort to Homoeopathy.

Editors’ note: This observation met with the attention of the Editing committee due to the fact that it well defines the limits of Homoeopathy.

[From the Journal of the OMHI, VOLUME 1 No.1 JANUARY – 1988 For PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY].

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“SEES SPIDERS” – A CASE OF TONSILLITIS

(a rare ‘Lac caninum’ symptom)

Dr. Artur Braun

We hear symptoms from patients which are similar to those observed in the provings of medicines. The homoeopathic physician must sort out the symptoms and evaluate. All the symptoms taken together represent the disease. Out of them we take the “essence” according to the well-known paragraph 153 of the Organon, namely – the “peculiar, rare, unusual and singular (characteristics) signs and symptoms of the diseases case” to decide upon the curative medicine. Of course the symptoms are not the object of our attack but they only lead us to the curative remedy, the similie.

The following is an “acute disease” picture. This cleared off first under Mercurius solubulis hahnemanni. That this was a temporary relief was realized through a very peculiar symptom which came up during the convalescence period. On the basis of the syndrome “tonsillitis with spots on the left tonsil, moderate grade swelling of the lympnodes

of the region, white coated tongue, pain while swallowing, temperature between 38 and 38.50”, Mercurius D6 had been prescribed, which we often find helpful. In this case it was not, apparently, the homoeopathic similie.

The pathogenisis of the illness was clearly different from what is usually observed in Mercurius angina. It was a hormonal disturbance which was responsible, at the bottom, for the “acute illness”.

The homoeopathic physician knows that mostly the “acute diseases” have their origin in a chronic disease. Chronic diseases do not arise out of acute diseases as generally assumed. After HAHNEMANN matters have been reversed. According to ORGANON the acute diseases are only ‘flare-ups’ of a deeper-lying chronic illness which retreats its “slumbering state if the acute disease were not too serious and were removed”.

In practice we have often experienced that such a flare up of the diseases from its slumbering state furnishes characteristics symptoms for the selection of the remedy for the illness which is at the root. It is therefore worthwhile to pay greatest regard to the “acute diseases” and perceive what is lying behind it. Often its symptoms lead us deep and far from superficial treatment syndromes. Not seldom do we obtain by precise examination and interrogation symptoms of high value which indicate the sick person rather then the disease (Key-notes, ‘as-if’’ – symptoms).

‘Case: Mrs. Astrid K, 27 years married since 7 years called on me because of a septic tonsillar inflammation. The left tonsil was covered with some typical pus spots. The lymph glands in the region were also swollen. Tongue coated white. As there were no further symptoms and signs I prescribed Mercurius solubilis hahnemanni D6. Two days later the spots had vanished off, I gave Hepar sulphuris calcareum. Everything appeared to be taking the course as expected.

It was not actually so: she came to the clinic on 16.9.68 in a somewhat perplexed state. A look into

the mouth showed now that the right tonsil was covered with some white spots. The patient did not complain of it. The last three nights have been dreadful for her. It all seems “comical” when it is simply narrated: of course otherwise also it would make her go crazy. She must also ask herself whether she was still in her senses. Last three nights, every night she woke up and saw a spider on her bed-sheet crawling towards her. Last night is was an “enormous” size (shows with both hands, an apple size). Everyone when she switched the light on the spook has gone away:

Here we have an unusual, peculiar symptom to be handled. With unmistakable clarity the correct curative remedy was called for on three successive nights. The symptoms language can become so insistent; The peculiar, mental symptoms thereby came to the surface which had faded away from the mind of the patient when lymphatics of the pharynx were suffering from constant inflammation.

Such rare symptoms come up in the proving only in isolated cases, only in one or a very small number of prover, perhaps only once in one medicine. By their queerness they strike the rpover and the provings observer. It should not be lost sight of. When a prover has not had in his whole life the hallucination of a spider, but only during the proving of Lac caninum then the importance of it is very high.

Now, this symptom, is it a ‘dream’ symptom? No, we were told clearly; she wakes up from sleep and then in the darkness of the night she experience this ‘hallucination’, every time switching on the light the spectre was gone. It is a matter of fantasy, a downright hallucination. The patient has said that she saw the spider crawl towards her “after she woke up”.

We find the rubric in Kent’s repertory under “Delusions, sees spiders” (p.32). That is the exactly one. The patient has recognized that this feeling was an ‘as if” condition only. She did not contend that there was a spider in her bedroom. So much so it has

to be differentiated from a hallucination as in the case of schizophrenia.

Only one remedy is given in Kent: Lac caninum: I immediately realized that this was the medicine and Mercurius was only a palliative. The hormonal background, the mental, everything suited as the best. And Lac coninum is well known angina remedy. Lac coninum was given, a single dose, D200. The result was prompt. Right away on the following the night she slept undisturbed. Gynaecological anamnesis over a year complected the Lac canium picture. I knew the patient from her 18th year. She came from a divorced couple brought up by a grandmother. My treatment as the beginning was exclusively according to the findings of the gynaecologist. Mostly these were meno-metrorrhagias. For me then only the secondary anaemia had to be trearted which is not exactly an outstanding work for a homoeopathic physician. The gynaeological diagnosis finally was : Parametropathia spastica. All these have clearly been relieved in the earlier year. Since a year I did not have to refer her to the gynanecologist. The patient required occasional does of Lac caninumLac caninum when the symptom for it arose.

Brief remedy portrait: There are two directions of action.

1. The relationship to the throat and the lymphatic phary nx.

2. The relationship to the mammary glands and the sexual glands.

In the hands of the earlier homoeopaths it had the reputation in Diphtheria. It was not possible in those days to make a bacteriological test. Only when this advice was extended to post-diphtheritic paralysis can be think of the indication of pseudo membranous throat and tonsils and inflammation.

STAUFFER points out Lac caninum as a deep and long-acting nervine remedy and mentions as leading symptom, much excitability. According to this author is a remedy for somewhat exciteable hysterical women, at the height of their sexual life.

The relationship to hormonal economy is indicated by ‘throat pain at the commencement and end of menstruation”, Megnesium carbonicum helps in throat pain before menstruation, Calcarea in throat pain during menstruation.

The hormonal content of the remedy is not surprising that it brings out a whole series of symptoms of female sexual organs: painful breasts before the menses, overian neuralgia, alternating sides daily. Kent names Pulsatilla and Lac caninum as the two best remedies for drying up of breast milk.

Regarding the lacteal gland in men Prolactin must be mentioned. Much research has to be done on this whole matter. Leeser goes into this interesting connection in his text book.

[From Zeitschrift fur KLASSISCHE HOMOEOPATHIE, 1972-; translated from the original German and slightly abridged by Dr. K.S. Srinivasan, Madras; for private circulation only.)

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FEED BACK

The inclusion of articles on the Tuberculine in the March 89 DIGEST is a timely service to all homoeopaths as this nosode has been either grossly abused or neglected.

1. The variety T.B. (testium) introduced by Burnett does not find a place in the list of tuberculine found in the articles. This noside is suggested for tubercular symptoms in the lower half of the body (Boericke, Cartier, etc.)

2. Dr. M.L. Tyler’s drug pictures contain a prize essay on one of the most powerful T.B. drug – Drosera – which is treated in such a masterly manner that Drosera emerges as one of the most versatile homoeo drugs ot merely in phthisis and whooping cough but in a variety of stubborn conditions from scar tissue to arthritis. This article provides an insight into the treatment of T.B. manifestations outside the lungs, where out materia medica and repertories offer little help.

Aviaire, the T.B. bacillus from birds is a nosode of rare virtue in cases of dry teasing cough after flue, measles, or concomitant of asthma where the absence of moisture is the cause of great suffering for prolonged periods. This is in contract to Bacillinum which is useful in humid asthma. One need not resort to the heroic doses of either the French or the German school with their decimal potencies or low centesimals. I have used 30C, 200C and 1M (Nelson) potencies in all my cases. The relief is as fast and enduring as when Bacillinum acts successfully. Aviaire bears repetitions when the first dose acts curatively.

As an agent to immuise children against frequent colds and tonsillitis. Borland had recalled an old American practice to giving T.B. in 1M, 50M, CM potencies on successive days, giving two doses of each potency in a day. I had modified this by starting with 30C and ending with CM on the 6 th day, also using Bacill, or T.B. (Bov) in my cases. The age group varied from an year old baby to adults up to 45 years. Not one of the large number of patient of any age manifested any sign of aggravation. This experience covers 25 years.

In T.P. Paschero’s case of the lady with mania being allowed to die of pthisis after curing her mental condition appears to show one blind spot in our therapeutic thinking. My limited experience in treating acute and advanced pulmonary T.B. with a poor prognosis established that in Calc. carb from 6C to 10M we have a most important curative drug (not palliative). An automobile driver of about 45 years with confirmed T.B. with bilateral involvement was asked to stop smoking beedies and put on Calc. carb- 6C once a day continuously for a few months in 1978. He gained weight was put on stationary job in a shop and later started driving a car again.

A girl of 14 years, an orphan with a diagnosis of T.B. with haemopthsis was treated in the T.B. hospital for some months and was put in my house in 1978 for domiciliary treatment. She had two subsequent remissions with troublesome cough, requiring hospitalization for short periods. She

continued to stay in my house as a domestic help after return from hospital each time. She later got married and is now a mother and quite normal. She used to have profuse perspiration (dripping) of the palms and the extremities were very damp and cold. She received Calc. carb in 6, 200C & 1M potencies each time she became resistant to the allopathic drugs.

Stannum met and Millefolium are two drugs of a palliative nature which provide immense relief to pthisical patients for troublesome cough and haemopthysis and help the patients to regain sufficient vitality to enable Calc. carb or other ploy chest remedies to effect a complete cure. The need is to repeat Calc. carb over a long period (6c) or at frequent intervals (if higher) to overcome the rapid destructiveness of the disease.

On last point of great significance is the clinical tip in the paper THE TUBERCULINS by H.V. Muller that T.B. residuum is likely to be useful in both kidney and gall bladder lithiasis. This is an area where apart from Burnett and Tyler very little clinical guidelines are available. Radical surgery and lithotripsy are only scavenging techniques and have no curative action. But one would like to know the source from which T.B. Residum can be obtained with absolute guarantee of purity. Could any reader enlighten his fellows by a feed-back?

A reference has been made to the artisitic temperament and romantic nature of some famous people with T.B. history. To make this list more representative, I would like to add two immortals with T.B. history R.L. Stevenson (Treasure Island): Dr. Jekyll and Hyde-Anacardium archetypes) and Keats the post. Vivekananda was diabetic, Ramakrishna and Ramana suffered from cancer. Most successful politicians are diabetic.

Dr. D. Lakshminarayanan Hyderabad

I have received the March number of the QUARTERLY HOMOEPATHIC DIGEST, which

seems to me especially valuable in giving a concerted picture of the tuberculins, which brings to light many additional considerations along with the standard picture.

I also thought your review of THERAPEUTICS OF TRAUMATIC DISEAGES… most to the point. My narrow experience has proved, if nothing else, one thing many times over; the wonderful efficacy of HYPER in treating wounds, etc. if the public could be convinced to use it on the bandage instead of anti-biotic ointments, which rarely produce a rapid and clean, cure, they might go from there to a second experiment, und so weiter…

- DANIEL PAPISHEugene, OR. 97403

USA

BOOK REVIEW

KENT’S COMPARATIVE REPERTORY OF THE HOMOEOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA: GUY KOKELENBERG, M.D. AND DOCKX, M.D., HOMEODEN BOOK SERVICE, GENT, BELGIUM. (USA: CHRISTINE KENT AGENCY 818-947-1253)

Our Materia Medica is the window through which we see our patients. The vast amount of knowledge contained in the volumes of materia medica offers us the ability to cure, but not without the Herculean task of learning, comprehensing and utilizing that wealth of knowledge. The former is certainly dependent on how we accomplish latter. Whereas all the guiding symptoms we need are available in the materia medicas, without easy access to this information, it is difficult, if not impossible, to use these books alone to prescribe.

Repertories have been a natural outgrowth of the Materia Medica and were developed to organize the vast amount of information. They are decidedly the key to the Materia medica, as every homoeopath from beginner to master will agree. Today, Kent’s repertory is the acknowledged standard. A

familiarity and clear understanding of the language and meanings and organization within this repertory are critical for accurate prescribing in homoeopathy.

Despite the central role of the repertory in homeopathy, there have been virtually no resources available to instruct the student of homoeopathy in the use, understanding and methods of repertory. There are dozens of materia medicas, with more being published all the time, yet for our most utilized reference we have been left on our own to unlock its wisdom and apply it in our practices.

Given this situation, I am sure that all homoeopaths will welcome the English publication of the book Kent’s Comparative Repertory of the Homoeopathic materia Medica. This book can be regarded as the “instruction manual” for Kent’s Repertory of the Homoeopathic Materia Medica.

The book, originally in Flemish, is the master work of two of Belgium’s finest homoeopaths. Drs. Kokelenberg and Docukx have each made a life’s work of the study and application of the repertory. In addition to their homoeopathic practices, they have spent years gathering knowledge and insights from a side variety of sources, including Paschero, barthel, Vithoulkas, Kunzli and others. This accumulated wisdom has been translated into the language of the repertory, a step above simply mailing additions to a materia medica.

The first presentation of this material w in a Seminar series to homoeopaths in Belgium. The format was an intensive and thorough review of the repertory, including rubric definitions, additions, materia medica with differential diagnoses, and cross references, proceeding page by page, rubric by rubric. It may seen that a class of this type would be tedious and monotonous. On the contrary, their repertory class became one of the most popular series in Europe. The instructors now have numerious requests for a repeat performance! Last year, I had the opportunity to discuss the seminar with several of its students to find out what made the class so special. They all found the information extremely valuable,

but even more outstanding were the entertaining, engaging and fascinating presentation that, in another context, could be difficult to study. The most frequent comment was that Drs. Kokelenberg and Dockx “brought the repertory to life”.

The transcripts of the original seminar were complied and edited to produce the first edition of the Kent’s Comparative Repertory, approximately 700 pages; Translation into French, German and now English have been on going over the past year. To facilitate distribution of this valuable work as soon as possible, it is being sold as a quarterly subscription over a three year period. This has the advantage of allowing a thorough study of the information, including time to enter additions and cross references, before the next installment arrives. Currently, the first four sections are available in English, constituting first year of the subscriptions. These 200 pages cover the MIND section.

There are four main areas of special interest in the book:

1. Definitions, 2. Cross References 3. New Rubrics and additions, 4. Materia Medica and Differential diagnosis.

1. Definitions: Understanding the language of the repertory is the most important aspect of its use. Exact meanings and usages of the terminology in the repertory are explained. There are many instances where terms are compard and the subtle differences between them are pointed out. For example, the difference between “bashful” and “timidity”. Bashful indicates modest, shy and easily confused, whereas timidity has the aspect of fearfulness, lack of courage. Occasionally a rubric is defined by simply restating it, however, that is the exception and seems to occur only when the definition is very obvious and really needed to no further explanation.

2. Cross References: The book includes many, many cross references which are extremely helpful. I found this aspect to add dimension to the repertory that I had not fully appreciated before. Some of the cross referencing refers to synonyms, such as

“abrupt” crossing to “impulsiveness” and “rashness”. Other occasions, the cross reference points to a similar rubric in another location, such as “delusions, criticized, that she is”, from page 23, appears in related forms on page 20: “thinks she is accused” 22: imagines other will observe her confusion”, 23: “that he is despised”, 28: “thinks she is insulted”, “imagines she is laughed at”, and 35 “that he is being watched”, The cross referencing helps you become aware of parts of the repertory that may have escaped between notice. It also helps to point out minor, yet important, differences between remedies. This can be appreciated through the observance of remedies in one rubric which are absent from similar rubrics.

3. New Rubrics and Additions: There are a number of additions and all have been clinically observed or come from reliable sources such as Barthel or Vithoulkas. The new rubrics are especially helpful. Usually being small and therefore highlighting the strange, rare and peculiar. For example carried, over the shoulder, desires to be” is a more specific for Cina than other remedies which want to be carried. Other new rubrics such as “Revelry” Passionate and “Extrovert” generally help to expand the repertory’s usefulness.

4. Materia Medica and Differential Diagnosis: Frequently, a rubric will be defined and discussed by comparing the major remedies in it. It is extremely helpful to see how a specific remedy represents the characteristics of that rubric. These discussions include clinical experiences and examples of patient’s behaviour, comments, or reactions. Many of the smaller, less well known, remedies have been included and this helps to bring them into use. Psorinum, Hura, Nux moschata, Carcinosinum, Ambra grisea, Robinia, Fagopyrum, Thea and others are given attention. They are mentioned in connection with the rubrics listing them, which facilitates remembering the remedy, its characteristics, and where you will find it when you need it:

Overall it is, without question, the most valuable and useful book I have ever found on the repertory.

The information it contains is reliable, very practical and it covers every aspect of the repertory. The authors have taken their own actual experience and translated it into from that is both useable and applicable to others. The book is easy to read and much of the humour and entertaining style of presentation that so distinguished their seminar is present in the book. The translation from Felmish to English is excellent, no efforts is needed to understand enjoy the text.

Kent’s Comparative Repertory of the Homoeopathic materia Medica is an outstanding addition to our educational tools and promises to be among the classic books in homoeopathy.

- Linda Johnston, M.D., U.S.A.

THE TONGUE SYMPTOMS IN CLINCAL DIAGNOSIS: Dr. M. Dey, B.A., DHMS, Sadhana prakashnalya, 17, Baikunthanagar, Post Office Raod, Mango, Jamshedpur – 831 012, 100pp., Rs.16/-

The tongue does not lie and conditions of the tongue are therefore a very valuable sign for choice of the homoeopathic remedy. The general Repertories contain the ‘tongue’ symptoms and signs. However as is well-known, some repertories contain some rubrics which may not be found in the others. It would be therefore useful if all the ‘tongue’ rubrics from the different repertories are complied into one book of reference. The author of the book under review appears to have attempted to do so. There are chapter on ‘General considerations’ of the tongue, which include the character of the papillae, colour, secretions, coating, etc. followed by diagnostic indications, miasmatic influence and then a brief ‘remedy indications’ – remedy-wise tongue symptoms. A brief repertory follows. There are two appendices – (i) ‘diagnostic nomenclature’ explanations and (ii) Glossary. At the end there is a short Bibliography of works consulted by the author. The book carries a ‘Foreword’ by Dr. H.L. Chitkara.

We must appreciate the efforts of the author: however, the book itself has many shortcomings apart from too many printing errors. In the

‘Glossary’, terms like ‘anemia’, ‘cirrhosis’, ‘oedema’, ‘jaundice’, ‘paralysis’, ‘tuberculosis’ etc. have been explained; Surely the book is meant for hom.medical practitioners and there cannot be one without knowledge of these elementary terms. ‘Anaemia’ is explained as ‘Lack of blood’ (!) instead of as ‘a disorder content, or both. In certain rubrics the ‘gradation’ of remedies are totally different from what are found in the ‘Kent’; some remedies found with ‘high’ grade in the ‘Kent’ is missing in this work viz., Condylomata; Aur-mur. Sub-rubrics have not been placed properly indented in some cases. Some of these shortcomings may be made up by the author for the next edition. Still personally I would keep the book on the table and correct, annotate and improve it for own use. There are three photographs of the ‘tongue’ which are not clear and therefore do not serve the purpose intended. = K.S.S.

1. Dr. B.N. Chakraborty as the chairman informs that The International Homoeopathic Medical Congress will be held at Netaji Indoor Stadium, Calcutta from Nov.2 to Nov.7, 1989, commemorating the 150th year of the advent of Homoeopathy in India. The Prime Minister is expected to inaugurate the congress. The Chief Minister of W. Bengal is Chairman of the Reception Committee and Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare will be the Patron-in-Chief. The Union Minister of State for Revenue, Sir Ajit Panya will be the Chairman of the Advisory Committee. The Central discussions will be homoeopathic philosophy, Nosodes and Sarcodes, Snake Venoms, Viral Encephalitis, AIDS computerized data processing and homoeopathy, Drug addictions; also informal discussions. A meeting between representative homoeopaths from the world over has also been arranged.

Delegate fees (if paid by 30 July 1989) : Rs. 400/-

Accompany persons : Rs. 250/-- - - - -

Payable by means of Demand Draft before 30.07.1989 in favour of “INTERNATIONAL HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICAL CONGRESS,

CALCUTTA, 1989’. Official Banker: CANARA BANK. For further information:

The Organising Secretary, International Homoeopathic Medical Congress, Congress Secretariat, 230/1, Bidhan Sarani, Calcutta – 700 006.

II. Communication has been received from Dr. M.L. Agarwal. (Secretary – Adminstration), that the 2nd Congress of The Asian Homoeopathic Medical League, organized by the Malaysian Chapter of AH:ML., is being held at Kulalumpur, Malaysia from 4th to 6th Nov. 1989. The subjects for discussion: Homoeopathic therapeutics; Data processing Computers and Homoeopaths; Recent Scientific Research in Homoeopathy; Modern Approach to Hom. Practice; Diseases of women; Rare remedies; Hom. and Child; Skin diseases; case taking; Hom. Practice.

Scientific papers on the above subjects may be sent before 15.08.89 to :

The Scientific Secretary, C/o. Faculty of Homoeopathy Malaysia, No. 32A, Jain Raja Alang, Kg. Baru 503000 Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

Fees: Delegates 100 $ (U.S) if paid before 20.10.89 150 $ (U.S.) for payments after 20.10.89

or spot registrations

Accompanying persons 100 $ (U.S.) The fees include board and lodging.

Please write to Dr. M.L. Agarwal, Secretary (Administration), AHML 37, South Anarkali Extension, Delhi – 110 051.

III. National College of Naturopathic Medicine, 11231 S.E. Market, Portland, Oregon, 97216 USA: (503) 255 – 4860 offers a 4 year doctoral program for Certification in Homoeopathic Therapeutics CHT),

which documents that the practitioner has attained a professional level of competences in homoeopathic practice, though it has no definite legal or licensing implications.

Eligibility:

- Students pursuing the N.D. degree - Health care providers who are legally licensed to

diagnose and treat disease (N.D., M.D., D.O., D.D.S.)

- Providers who must practice under the supervision of a licensed physician (R.N., P.A., )

- Students in programs leading to the above degrees.

The specific requirements of the certificate include among others, satisfactory completion of National College Courses I – VII or their equivalent; presentation of a reseach paper; presentation of cases and passing tests.

The FEE to cover the costs of the program over and above the tution will be 150 $

For more information, contact Academic Dean’s office.

IV. Dr. Rajan’s Seminar II : Dr. Rajan Sankaran, who conducted a very instructive Seminar in August 1988 in Bombay, and who recently returned from a Lecture tour to London, Holland and Switzerland (on special invitation for the third successive year) – with spontaneous invitations from variouis countries (Europe and Australia) for similar seminars – will speak at a three days seminar (17 th, 18th, and 19th

September 1989) at Birla Krids Kendra, Chowpatty, Bombay-7. The TOPICS to be covered with Video demonstrations are; Evolution of Homoeopathic thought, its importance in practice; the key to understanding the Mind of Remedies and Patients: How to interpret “Delusions” and use them in practice: and Demonstration of Cases on Video with remedy pictures.

Eligibility: Medical Doctors and Interns only.

Fees: Rs.500/- include lunch and tea (Rs.400/- for interns)

For Enrolment snad remittance (with name and address) in favour of “Dr. Rajan’s Seminar” by Draft/chaque on Bombay A/c/M.O. To : S.M. Gunavants, Moraya Villa, 12th Road, Khar, Bombay – 400 052. Ask for full brochure.