Diphtherinum

Diphtherinum has made many brilliant cures of diphtheria and post-diphtheritic affections to its credit, yet to receive its place among the remedies of the homeopathic Materia Medica it must* pass the crucial test that all others have encountered, viz., a careful and thorough proving of the dynamic potency on the healthy. Thus far, like its great congener Antitoxin, its use has been clinical and empirical, the distinctive differ- ence being that its action has been dynamic, while that of antitoxin is Chemico-catalytic.

Yet the empirical use of Von Behring's Antitoxin is a great

40 DIPHTHERINUM.

advance on the former empirical methods of the profession and has proved a blessing to humanity.

The indications here given are chiefly clinical and are tenta- tively held until verified or disproved by provings.

Especially adapted to the strumous dia- thesis; scrofulous, psoric or tuberculous persons, prone to catarrhal affections of throat and respiratory mucous mem- branes.

Patients with weak or exhausted vitality hence are ex- tremely susceptible to the diphtheritic virus; when the attack from the onset tends to malignancy (Lac c, Mer. cy.).

Painless diphtheria; symptoms almost or entirely objective; patient too weak, apathetic or too prostrated to complain; sopor or stupor, but easily aroused when spoken to (Bap., Sulph.).

Dark red swelling of tonsils and palatine arches; parotid and cervical glands greatly swollen; breath and discharges from throat, nose and .mouth very offensive; tongue swollen, very red, little coating.

Diphtheritic membrane, thick, dark gray or brownish black; temperature low or subnormal, pulse weak and rapid, extremi- ties cold and marked debility ; patient lies in a semi-stupid condition; eyes dull, besotted (Apis, Bap.).

Epistaxis or profound prostration from very onset of attack (Ail., Apis, Carb. ac); collapse almost at very beginning (Crot., Mer. cy.); pulse weak, rapid and vital reaction very low.

Swallows without pain, but fluids are vomited or returned by the nose; breath horribly offensive.

When the patient from the first seems doomed, and the most carefully selected remedies fail to relieve or permanently im- prove.

Laryngeal diphtheria, after Chlor. , Kali bi. or Lac c.

Post diphtheritic paralysis — especially where Antitoxin has been used; many cases cured — after Caust., Gels., Nux, Secale and the best selected remedies have failed.

In post-diphtheritic paralysis and spinal affections following diphtheria many brilliant cures have been effected by the potencies. The same indications for its use in all forms of diphtheria that are used when Antitoxin is exhibited.

ELECTRICITY. 41

ELECTRICITAS (Atmospheric and Static).

Caspari and his colleagues obtained the symptoms caused by Electricity, natural and artificial, and was first published in Horn. Bibltot. Later it appears in Jahr and has recently been republished, with additions by Clarke. Every medical man knows the extreme susceptibility of some persons to the electric fluid and the sufferings they experience on the ap- proach of, and during, a thunderstorm, or the contact of an electric current.

The potencies are prepared from milk sugar which has been saturated with the current.

Intense nervous anxiety; timid, fearful, sighing; screams through nervous fear; paroxysms of weep- ing.

Dreads the approach of a thunderstorm; suffers mental tor- ture before and during an electric storm.

Heaviness and paralysis of limbs and entire body; feels as if she weighed a ton.

Electricity should not be used nor electro-thermal baths taken when suffering from a cold, especially if the chest be involved; fatal results have followed.

Antidote: Morphia acetate, especially the po- tency. Clarke says: **I have found Phosphorus the best anti- dote to the effects of storms."

The X-ray, Psor., Tub. to remove the suscepti- bility.