152 THE B R I T I S H HOM(EOPATHIC JOURI~AL

lo7 Ibid., p. 51. 10s Whitmor~t, E. Phosphor. Hem. Roy. April 1949, pp. 258-267. 1r Whitmoat , E. l~atrum mur. H e m . Rec. 1947, pp. 118-27. u0 Whitraont, E. Lachosis. B . H . J . Jan. 1963, pp. 51-4. 111 Twen$yman, R. Laehesis. B . H . J . Jan. 1975, pp. 22-8. 11a Leosor, O. The Mol luscs . . . B . H . J . 1949, pp. 16-77. 113 Gutman, W. Lycopodium. J . A . I . H . Juno 1974, pp. 73-9. u4 See Tyler, M. Hora~opathie Drug Pictures, p. 749. Health Science Press. 115 Twentyman, R. Sepia in the Male or the Male in Sepia. J . A . I . H . 1974, pp. 145-6. lie Ibid., p. 144. 117 Whitmont, E. Sep ia - -Ana lys i s of a Dynamic Totality. 11s Looser, O. The Mol luscs . . . loc. cir., p. 247. 119 Hubbard, E. W. Sepia. B . H . J . Oct. 1974, p. 275. 1~0 Twontyman, R. S e p i a . . . lee. cir., p. 147. 121 Ibid. 122 Whitmont, E. S e p i a . . . loc. cir., p. 168. 12s Looser, O. The Mol luscs . . . loc. cir., p. 247. 1~4 Twentyman, R. S e p i a . . . lee. eit., p. 147. 125 Whitmont, E. S e p i a . . . loc. cir., p. 171. la0 Jung, G. G. Coll. Wks. , Vol. 12, p. 234. 1~ Ibid., Vol. 14, p. 245. 12s Ibld., Vol. 13, p. 253. 1~ Ibid., Vol. 10. Para 847. is0 Whi~mont, E., loc. cir., p. 216. 131 Jung, C. G. Op. cir., Vol. 6, para 373. ~2 Ibid., Vol. 9, para 266. 133 Ibid., Vol. 18, p. 174. laa Harling, M. Towards Archotypology. B . H . J . 1961, p. 124. 135 Juag, C. G. Op. cir., Vol. 13, p. 158. 13~ Ibid., Vol. 14, pp. 494-5. 1,~ Paschoro, T. Psyehosomatism and Homoeopaghy. B . H . J . Jan. 1966, p. 23. 18s Jung, C. G. Op. cir., Vol. 12, p. 234. ls2 Ibid., p. 270. 1to Lao Tzu Tao To Ching, lee. eig., Ch. LXXI .

A glimpse into homoeopathic practice at the turn of the century

A N T H O N Y C A M P B E L L , M . R . C . P . , F . F . H O M .

D u r i n g t h e r e c e n t c a t a l o g u i n g o f t h e l i b r a r y o f t h e F a c u l t y o f H o m c e o p a t h y , I c a m e ac ross a l i t t l e b o o k ca l l ed W h a t T o D o F o r the H e a d , b y G. E . D i en s t , P h . D . , M.D. , p u b l i s h e d in P h i l a d e l p h i a i n 1906. As t h e t i t l e impl ies , i t is a c o m p i l a t i o n o f h e a d a c h e r e m e d i e s , a n d as o n e m i g h t e x p e c t , i t d r a w s p r e d o m i n a n t l y on K e n t . W h i l e leaf ing t h r o u g h i t I c a m e ac ros s a l e t t e r f r o m

]~IOMs PI%AOTIC]~ AT TIIE TUI~N OF TIIE CEI~TURY 153

the author, written presumably to the doctor who owned the copy of Dienst 's book tha t eventually found its way to our library; and I thought it might be of interest to readers of this JOUR~XL.

The letter is handwritten, on writing paper headed "Hering Medical College and Hospital" and adorned with photographs of the College and Cook County Hospital; Dienst is described as Professor of Renal and Blood Diseases. The letter is dated 4.8.07, and is addressed to Dr. Robert M. Theobald.

"My Dear Doctor, "Yours of March 19 reached me in due t ime and it has received m y most

careful consideration and s t u d y . . . "Your patient is a most interesting one, and were I with you for a short

time, I am very sure I could do more for you after looking into more of the peculiarities of the case. I will give you m y analysis of the case, and if this will be of any help to you I shall be more than pleased.

" I n progressive locomotor ataxia, you are led by two great remedies, Alumina and Kali phosphoricum. Alumina has a tottering or trembling of the whole body on closing the eyes. Kali phosphoricum has emaciation of nerve tissue with a loss of sensation to touch.

" I n formication or a sensation as of something crawling on or beneath the skin you will notice these points. 1 As of mice--Belladonna, Calearea carbonica, and Sulphur lead. 2 As of caterpillars or other insects, Alumina and Nux vomica lead. These

give all your most important remedies in this sensation. " I n twitchings of the muscles we have: Coeeulus, Iodum, Kali carbonicum

and Mezereum. When the twitchings affect the external muscles you are led to think of Asafoetida, Kali carbonieum, Mezereum, Natrum carbonicum, Stramonium and Zincum.

"In throbbings in the body, and particularly of the limbs, we have: for external throbbing, Calcarea earboniea, Glonoine, Lachesls, Oleander, SabadiUa and Sulphur.

"For internal throbbing we have Aconitum, Alumina, Antimonium tartarieum, Calcarea carbonica, Cannabis indica, Cocculus, Ferrum, Glonoine, Melilotus, Pulsatilla, Sepia and Silieea.

"For a t rophy and emaciation of muscular tissues we have a strong aid in Calcarea earbonica.

"For emaciation and weakness of nerve tissue we have our most potent force in Plumbum.

" I n constipation we have many remedies, each with its own peculiarities. In aged persons who always feel bet ter when constipated we always think of Calcarea carbonica.

"With this outline you will see tha t your leaders are Alumina, Calcarea carbonica, Cocculus, Kali carbonicum, and Plumbum. A careful comparison should give you the indicated remedy. I would compare, in particular, the Calcs. and the Kalis, for Calcarea carboniea covers the greatest number of symptoms. You may possibly find, on close examination, tha t your patient should have had Calcarea or Kali carbonicum long ago. Cocculus is a most potent remedy in such troubles when the symptoms agree.

"After you have selected the indicated remedy, you should give it in the high and highest potencies, allowing sufficient time between doses for effectual reaction. I sometimes put 5 grains of the highest potency in a little sterilized water and order a dessertspoonful every 2 or 3 hours until 6 or 10 doses have

154 T H E B R I T I S H I - I O M ( E O P ~ T H I C J O U I ~ N A L

been taken, then wait for results. As long as the case improves do not repeat the remedy.

"Hoping this m a y aid you in finding a remedy for tha t dear lady, and wishing you the very best of success, I am very sincerely and faithfully yours,

George E. Dienst." How one wishes one could know the outcome!

Twenty years ago The British Homeeopathic Journal, July 1959

N O E L J . P R A T T , ~ . R . c . s . , L .R .C .P . , M.F.HOM.

In his third Editorial, Dr. Ralph Twentyman discussed preventive medicine, especially in relation to acute anterior poliomyelitis, and the influence of fear. He maintained tha t "certain diseases are associated with certain periods of history" and "represent the unsolved tasks of the age." Later on he wrote tha t "some problems are not so much solved as outgrown" and "in the second half of l i f e . . , the meaning of life can no longer be in outer achievement but in inner completion and realization." He also claimed tha t " I f the prevention of illness is t o be undertaken, then it is an obligation to achieve culturally what would otherwise have been gained through overcoming i l lness"--a challenging statement.

BUFO, the common toad, was the subject of a 12 page article by Dr. Otto Leeser, and Dr. Felix Mann described the three types of Bufo patients. Two case records followed these articles. Dr. Johanna Brieger wrote about 5-hydroxy-tryptamine, of which an immediate chemical precursor occurs in the "venom" of the toad.

HYDROPHUS CY A 1 W O CI I ~CTU S, o n e of the sea snakes, was the subject of approving by Dr. John Raeside; fourteen volunteers took part. The proving showed the similarity of the symptoms of the sea snake to those of poliomyelitis. He discussed also similarities to Lachesis and Lathyrus.

LACHESIS WaS the subject of an article by Dr. Edward Whitmont, who emphasized, among other features, the symptoms of a paranoid nature.

Dr. A. C. Gordon Ross reviewed a book, The Medical World of the Eighteenth Century, by Lester King, Professor of Physiology, published by the Chicago University Press. He devoted 34 pages to the subject of homoeopathy. (Hahnemann published in 1796 his "Essay on a !~ew Principle for Ascertaining