2. They sometimes present the phenomenon of homœopathic aggravation. 3. They have not the aggravation which follows the use of lower and higher Dilution potencies-in the fourth case above reported. 4. They exert their action immediately as well as ten years after preparation. 5. The potentizing by contact is a mode of refining homœopathic remedies by which a different degree of fineness is attained than by dilution. 6. Succussion does not seem to constitute an essential element in the preparation of high contact potencies. 7. Practically the action of high contact potencies presents the peculiar distinctness of the action of high potencies in general, and operates specifically to the point, clearly reflecting the pathogenetic characteristics of the homœopathic remedy, precisely covering the individual and most important symptoms, and removing the same promptly. 8. Their action, by this specificness of character, avoids wasting any of the elements of the organism, and drawing any more on the same than is exactly required for the restoration of health. 9. They are great economizers of life and health, operating in subserviency to the general laws of nature, which always accomplishes the greatest good with the least expenditure of force. 10. Consequently, high contact potencies are most valuable and available for the purpose of meeting peculiar and special shades of susceptibility in the organism, which the close observer perceives in the given case by strict individualization. 11. Pharmacologically-potentization by dry contact proves to be another mode of propagating and successfully improving, reproducing and proportionally exalting the medical properties of homœopathic drugs. 12. On this basis, whatever mathematical calculations may be required, they will have to be not mere arithmetical multiplications, or divisions, or formations of powers, but calcu . lations of proportions and progressions, involving the law of the series and the higher branches of analysis, whilst for the present it is sufficient for all practical purposes to have the potencies numbered, that is, counted as often as the process of potentization by dry contact took place successively. 13. Scientifically-potentization by dry contact, appears to be effected by a bare bringing together of unmedicated globules with medicated ones without an intervening medium. the only medium apparent being the air: Action in presence. 14. Therefore it may properly, with Korsakoff and Hahnemann, be regarded as similar or equivalent to medicating the globules by infection or contagion. 15. In this view an analogy, if not more, is presented with the action of the hypothetic poisons or nosopœsis of miasmatic and contagious character, which act as it were, as high contact potencies of matter prepared in Nature's own laboratory. 16. The fact being established, that medical properties are communicated by mere dry contact or action in presence, there is no reason, why we should not assume, that the organism can be medicated in like manner. Homœopathization. 17. If so, this would give a satisfactory explanation of the fact, that homoeopathic high potencies do communicate their medical properties upon application to the organism by mere contact, and exert their remedial or curative action upon it directly, sometimes instantaneously, and independent of digestion and circulation. 18. Such decided affection of the organism through a high contact potency is not more wonderful, than the analogical fact, that a bar of polished metal, being indifferent in a hori zontal position, becomes electrical merely by being placed vertically, as has recently been shown by Henry. 19. Here may be well applied, what Draper states in relation to allotropism: "does not all this show, that substances may be as it were in a quiescent state, and on the application of what may perhaps seem the most insignificant cause, may suddenly assume activity and forthwith satisfy their chemical affinities?" 20. Since mere contact of so refined a substance as a homœopathic high potency, is certainly an infinitesimal or least possible quantity of action, clearly this medication by contact, as well as indeed every homœopathic cure, is quantitatively governed, conditioned and explained by the universal principle of Maupertuis before alluded to. 21. On this principle, the least possible quantity of action being sufficient to cause a change, the curative properties and action of the homoeopathic remedy are actually and necessarily regulated and governed by its preparation and application, in other words, the quality of the action of the homeopathic remedy is determined by its quantity. 22. Consequently the law of the least quantity of action (maxima minimis) will have to be acknowledged to be the posological principle of Homœopathy. CROUP. BY L. M. KENYON, M. D., BUFFALO, N. Y. Having noticed in the last number of the REVIEW cases of Croup, reported by Dr. Wells as being successfully treated by the use of high attenuations, I have thought it might be interesting to your readers to have cases from another locality, demonstrating the success of this course. I was present at the meeting of the Institute when Dr. P. P. Wells made public his success with Bonninghausen's method, and resolved to give it a trial the first opportunity, and it was not long before I had the chance to do so. CASE I.-June 14th, 1860. Was called at two o'clock, a.m., to see a child with Croup, aged two years, very fleshy, light complexion, blue eyes, light hair, and very subject to croupy attacks, but had never had one as severe and sudden at this. The child was sitting up with pitiful look, extreme difficulty of breathing, dry stridulous cough, skin dry and hot, except the extremities which were cold; pulse quick, irregular, and wiry, I was unable to count it. I gave the Aconite, Hepar sulph. and Spongia, each two hundredth attenuation, at halfhour intervals, the child took four doses only and was entirely relieved; skin moist, cough loose and slept quietly, nothing more was given. Former attacks, although not as severe as this, have never been relieved in less than five or six days. There have been two attacks since less severe, which have been relieved by two or three doses. During the Fall of 1860, we had measles very prevalent in our city, and in many cases very severe. Several cases occurred of croup setting in from the fourth to the sixth day of the measles, and destroying life in a few hours. One case, under my care, died in less than an hour after the first hoarseness was perceived. During this epidemic, I was called to see a child three years old, eruption of measles had been out two days, the catarrhal symptoms were pretty severe and was now attacked with croup. The eruption had become livid or purple, the head, hands and feet icy cold, nearly pulseless; the respiration was only in gasps, no noise was made by the effort to cough or cry, I made an effort to see the throat but could not. I gave Aconite"" in a little water, and in half an hour the Hepar sulph.200 in the same way; there was a very decided relief before the time came for the dose of Spongia, and the giving of it was delayed half an hour. The remaining doses, one each of Hepar and Spongia, were given at one hour intervals, and I left the child quietly sleeping; congh loose, voice restored and surface warm and moist. There was nothing more given for either the croup or measles, and in a few days the child was in usual health. The next case is somewhat similar to Dr. Morrill's case and one where I hesitated some moments before I could make up my mind to trust the high attenuations. The child was three years old; she was attacked in the ་ night; I was sent for, but being absent the mother concluded to do the best she could, and gave Aconite, Spongia, Tart. emetic, Merc. iodatus, &c., with no result, except that the child grew worse. She then obtained some hive syrup, and gave in nauseating doses, the vomiting relieved for a time but there was soon a return of all the symptoms in an aggravated form. Cold compresses on the neck, mustard upon the feet and wrists were now applied, and finally the child was put into a hot mustard bath, but still the disease seemed to be making frightful progress, while the strength of the little sufferer was fast wasting away. The hive syrup was administered for the third time, and at this point I arrived. I do not think I can describe the case so as to give a true picture of it as it was. The cough dry, shrill; the breathing whistling, with violent heaving of the chest, and contortions of the face; the skin dry and hot, the pulse nothing but a tremulous motion. It seemed impossible to me, at first thought, that a dose of Aconite could have any effect, taken within five minutes of a desert-spoonful of so vile a mixture as hive syrup; but she was growing rapidly worse and must very soon die unless relieved, and as other means had failed I decided to give it. I gave the Aconite200, had the child wrapped in a clean dry blanket, removing all except the cold compress around the throat, the relief was manifest in lsss than half an hour, but the doses were repeated until she had taken the second dose of Hep. sulph., they were then omitted and the child slept quietly two hours. Ten hours later, at eight o'clock, p.m., there was a little increased hoarseness, but one dose of Aconite removed it and there was nothing more given. 200 200 I have during the time, since the first case, treated quite a number of cases of croup and croupy cough of more or less severity, but as they do not present any points out of the usual course, I do not think it worth while to repeat them. During the time I have practiced Homœopathy, my experience with croup has been much as Dr. Wells has described, viz.: that the disease will return the second and third |