30 T H E B R I T I S H H O / Y I ( E O P A T H I C J O U R N A L

DR. BOMAN-BEHRAM: THERIDION AND VERTIGO

Mr. T., aged 40, was first seen in February for vertigo which was worse on_ closing the eyes, walking on snow or uneven surface, in the dark, turning round and sometimes accompanied by nausea. This condition was progressively getting worse for the last 9 years.

In 1935 he suffered from partial loss of vision which was diagnosed as inter- stitial keratitis due to congenital syphilis. After the usual treatment he com- pletely recovered his sight. Ten years later, he noticed difficulty in hearing, with hissing noises in both ears, and in maintaining his balance in twilight and in the dark. He had nasal catarrh all his life. During the succeeding years, the deafness and vertigo became progressively worse and he came to the conclusion tha t sooner rather than later he would have to give up his job as a clerk.

Few remedies were given to him, viz., Aurum iodide, Arsenic iodide and Nitric: acid. Of these three, only Nitric acid in the 6, 30 and later 200 potency produced a good measure of improvement which lasted 2 to 3 months during the first year of treatment. As Nitric acid did not hold out hopes for a permanent benefit. it was decided to give him Theridion. Theridion 30, three doses daily for 4 days, was prescribed in June, 1957, and there was a marked improvement in a fortnight. This course was repeated twice at intervals of two months and finally Theridion 200 was given in December last. He has had no vertigo to date and even his hearing improved. He was examined last March by the otologist in a hospital for nervous diseases and after thermal tests, was given the assurance that his vertigo will never return.

L A T R O D E C T U S M A C T A N S

DR. L. R. TWENTYMAN

(1) Mrs. U., age 77. This lady, who is a refugee from Germany, had beert under outpatient treatment for some years. She is a highly strung, intelligent woman and has had homceopathic treatment when in need for most of her life. Her main complaint during my period of observation and treatment has beert an angina of effort. Blood pressure 200/80, marked arteriosclerosis, heart normal size, and rhythm regular. Crataegus, Lachesis and Naja had all helped and it was decided to t ry her with Latrodectus mactans. This was prescribed in the 12th potency. Her report when I saw her 6 weeks later was that following a dose of the remedy, it "seemed to work her body through", the pain of an old pleurisy would recur, pain over the heart would recur, and a "gland" in her face would swell up. The aggravations were always transitory, a matter of a few hours, and followed by a considerable improvement in her angina of effort. Every time she: took a further dose the pattern of reaction was repeated. I was unable to find any explanation for the enlarged "gland" in the face which was located in the. area of the right temple. There was no doubt that this patient received con- siderably greater benefit from Latrodectus than from the other remedies which she had had.

(2) Miss E. K., aged 28, was when I first saw her in an extremely nervous condition, very withdrawn and depressed. She had been through periods of extreme external strain and the impression which one formed was one of profound discouragement in face of the demands of the outer world, with extreme hypersensitivity of all nervous responses. The depression was at times of suicidal intensity, with a pleasurable anticipation of demise. Symptoms were aggravated before the periods, and any pressure about the abdomen was unbearable. Waking from sleep was extremely difficult.

O U T O F C A S ~ B O O K S 3I

Improvement followed from Aurum, Lachesis and Chelidonium, and as some confidence was gradually established, the following finer points came into the open: giddiness and sickness on a boat or in cars, worse on closing the eyes. Greatly enjoys dancing, but must keep the eyes open. Extreme sensitiveness to noise and touch. Noises penetrating into the teeth, and she would jump out of her chair at the opening of a door, or any unexpected noise. Great sensitiveness to cold and cold water, and the teeth were extremely sensitive to cold air or cold drinks. There was recurrent pain in the right iliac fosse, and a very long- standing tender point just to the right of the lumbar spine, and another on the right side of the occiput. During the worst period, she had a compulsion to bite her wrist as hard as possible, causing numbness in the fingers.

When these points became clear, Latrodectus 30 was naturally given. There followed a reappearance in extreme form of the nervous restlessness, with fear of insanity and suicidal desires, and the nervous hypersensitivity to noise, touch end cold which had become somewhat ameliorated before. The patient herself volunteered that the restlessness was an intense inner restlessness, associated with great fear and uncertainty. She also volunteered that during the fortnight following the dose of Latrodectus she underwent a repetition, in the same sequence, of the trials of the previous three years.

After this period a very great improvement set in and has continued. The sensitivity to noise and touch has become quite normal. She is now able to close her eyes while driving in a car, and she can now have her hair washed by the hairdresser for the first t ime in many years. The tender spot in the lumbar region has disappeared, and she can now wash with cold water. In addition her digestion which had shared in the general nervousness has become quite strong and normal.

All the essential features in this case could be grouped round the nervous hypersensitivity and the particular details of this were to be found in the drug pictures of either Latrodectus or Theridion. As these two spiders are probably the same, and as the preparation of Latrodectus is now known to be authentic, this was given.

Following this improvement, residual symptoms of pre-menstrual congestion in the pelvis have cleared up with Sepia.

"Chief to heedless flies the window proves

A constant death; where, gloomily retir 'd, The villein spider lives, cunning, and fierce. Mixture abhon:'d! Amid a mangled heap Of carcases, in eager watch he sits, O'erlooking all his waving snares around."

JAMES TItOMSON (1700-1748).

"Saw the sun ever such a swearing people? Have they been bit by a swearing tarantula?"--CAl~Z~gLE.