frequently observed an erythematous or papular eruption on different parts of the body; and there can be little difficulty in arriving at the conclusion that it is a variety of scarlatina maligna. Dr. Tweedie observes, "we are inclined to affirm that the scarlatina simplex, scarlatina anginosa, and the scarlatina or angina maligna, and the sore throat without efflorescence on the skin, are merely varieties of one and the same disease."

Treatment. The remedies which have been found the most efficacious to arrest, and effect a radical cure of this disease when fully developed, are the alternate use of Kali bichromicum, and Mercurius iodatus; when the prostration is extreme, Arsenicum and Ammonium carb. In the milder varieties of the disease Aconite, Belladoma, Capsicum, Jodine, Lachesis and Nitric acid have induced cures. The diet should be very liberal, the patient urged to take all the beef-tea and similar nourishments that he can get down. In case of great difficulty in swallowing injections of rich meat soups are advisable.

Remarks. From November 1858 to May 1859 we had in this city an epidemic of Scarlatina miliaris which proved very fatal, more than one hundred deaths having occurred from this cause during the time specified. Death resulted from three causes, paralysis of the brain, paralysis of the lungs, and the exhaustion produced by the malignant character of the throat disease; complete disorganizations of the tissues involved, being induced by ulceration, and gangrene; with low typhoid symptoms; attended in some cases with profuse hæmorrhage from the throat, nose and ears. In no case which I saw was there any appearance of diphthritic formation.

Affections of the throat were also very prevalent. In cases of simple inflammation the attack usually commenced with chills, followed by the usual symptoms of fever. When the throat was examined the palate, fauces and tonsils would be found inflamed with a bright red appearance, with little or nɔ tumefaction, and yielding promptly to a few doces of Ac

onite and Belladonna. In another form more severe than the first, the inflammation was more strongly marked, the tonsils, one on both, very much enlarged, and in some cases suppuration would ensue. These cases required Aconite, Belladonna, Mercurial preparations, Baryta carb, Capsicum and Lachesis according to their indications.

Another form more severe was ushered in by chills and in many cases by mausea and vomiting. The fever would be very intense, the difficulty in swallowing great, and at night with children more or less delirum would be present; in these cases the tonsils would be swollen and ulcerated. Three remedies would control these cases, Aconite, which I only used when the fever was very violent, and Belladonna and Mercurius iodatus. The remaining form was Diphtheria of which a description has already been given.

THE CHOICE OF THE REMEDY.

BY DR. C. VON BENNINGHAUSEN.

(From the Algemeine Homœopatische Zeitung. Oct. 17, 1859.)

TRANSLATED BY CARROLL DUNHAM, M. D.

The choice of the remedy for a given concrete case of discase is an affair at which one cannot go to work with enough care and circumspection. As well in Therapeutics as in Ethics, the rule holds good "Bonum ex omni parte, malum ex quorumque defectu."

Many failures to cure are made, especially by inexperienced beginners, because in taking down the symptoms, some one or the other of them is overlooked or disregarded. But not infrequently a similar inadvertence befalls even older and experienced homœopathic physicians, especially such as are very busily occupied. This cannot however be regarded as affording any evidence either of the insufficiency of Homœopathy or of the inefficiency of small and infrequent doses, and

the experienced practitioner, to whom palliating allegations like these always appear suspicious, will in such cases first of all take pains to subject the notes of his case to a new revision, and will first seek to find in these the reasons of the fruitlessness of his prescriptions.

It lies not within my purpose to attempt to say in this anything that will be new to the experienced physician. But it appears to me that a cursory warning may not be thrown away upon our younger colleagues, and I therefore venture to lay before them a case of recent occurrence which will present what I mean in its true light.

Ph. M., merchant 32 years old, had taken cold the previous winter upon a journey. At first no attention was paid to it, but gradually as the symptoms increased he had recourse to medical aid. A course of allopathic treatment produced no effect, or rather during the three months of its continuance almost every symptom was decidedly aggravated, and then, as frequently happens, the patient determined to seek the aid of Homœopathy. The symptoms were as follows:

For the last three or four weeks violent, hollow, dry cough, with hoarseness and much tenacious mucus in the larynx, most violent during the night. Dyspnea with stitches in the left side when he lies upon it; inward heat without thirst; copious exhausting sweats, remarkable susceptibility to fright; great sleepiness, but unquiet sleep with frequent wakings and an anxiety which prevents falling asleep again; face pale and sunken, with circumscribed burning redness of the cheeks; oppression at the stomach after eating, especially after milk, often with vomiting first of the food, then of bile. Increased watery urine; uncommon emaciation; warmth is most agreeable to him he feels better when gently exercising than when in continued repose. He has never before had any serious llness. He can take a deep inspiration without any difficulty and feels a frequent need of doing so. Of the allopathic remedies which he had taken nothing could be learned.

After abundant reflection and careful comparison of the above collective symptoms with our materia medica, every

Homœopath will certainly agree with me that in this case Phosphorus appears to be the remedy most decidedly indi. cated, and indeed so clearly indicated that none of all the other remedies can at all stand in competition with it. I had not the least hesitation, therefore, in giving to the patient my usual dose (high potency) of this useful and very powerful remedy, which he was ordered to take in the ordinary manner (dissolved in water) with recommendations to observe the accustomed diet, and with instructions to inform me in person of the result at the end of a fortnight.

But how painfully did I find myself deceived in my best expectations, when the patient at the appointed time again presented himself to me. He was improved in no respect whatever; moreover the expression of illness on his countenance had increased, together with the threatening redness of the cheeks, and the febrile symptoms had been steadily and suspiciously waxing in severity. The remedy had nevertheless been taken in exact accordance with the prescription and no errors had been committed either in diet or regimen; wherein, then, lay the cause of this utter failure? Under the circumstances it could lie only in an uncomplete or an incorrect notation of the symptoms. These were therefore carefully reviewed seriatim. By this process the error was in fact discovered in the but carelessly noted fever-symptoms, the features of which in this patient were unusual, and therefore disregarded by him, but which were nevertheless very characteristic. He suffered constantly during sleep from a dry burning heat, which on his awaking immediately gave way to a very profuse sweat, and this continued without interuption unt.l he fell asleep again, when the dry heat straightway reappeared. The whole riddle was now solved. This symptom is found, as every expert Homœopath knows, only under the proving of Sambucus,* while the exact contrary is found under Phosphorus. Inasmuch as all the other symptoms agreed, my patient immediately received a dose of my * Materia Medica Pura, vol. V. Sambucus sympt. 14, 15, 16, 19, (97).

customary high potency of Sambucus, to be taken according to the directions already given for Phosphorus, and the result was so perfect that at the end of a fortnight he was relieved of all his symptoms and felt as well as ever before.

COLCHICUM.

BY P. P. WELLS, M. D., BROOKLYN, N. Y.

It is worthy of note that many drugs highly esteemed, and frequently used by the old school, and with their ordinary measure of success, have been but very imperfectly proved, and are consequently little known or used by our own. Among them is Colchicum. It is believed the following cases of poisoning, add materially to the recorded pathogenesis of this drug. The first was the result of swallowing a quantity of the alcoholic tincture of the seeds-it being mistaken for tincture of orange peel. Quantity not given. About five hours after the swallowing, the patient, a man of 30 years, had squeezing and severe pressure in the epigastrium; sensation as if a ligature were drawn tight round the chest; difficult breathing; strong burning in the mouth; and difficult swallowing. Alternating chills and heat soon followed with anxiety, violent vomiting and diarrhoea. Eighteen hours after taking the drug, he had pale and sunken face, eyes sunken, with dark rings about them, pupils contracted, anxious expression of countenance; difficult swallowing, with pain through the whole extent of the oesophagus, tongue moist with thick yellow coating; the abdomen spasmodically drawn inward. Pressure on the bowels increased the anxiety and difficulty of breathing. A large quantity of yellowish green water was vomited, the stools were copious, orange yellow, slimy and liquid, with many large light colored flocks, exceedingly offensive, without pus and without tenesmus Unextinguishable thirst for cold drinks; skin cool; extremi ties cold; pulse small, contracted, and 80 in the minute.