appreciated by us all. As yet, it must be confessed, the results have been negative rather than positive.

I regard the cure of disease, as the main duty of the physician, and I believe we have reliable means of accomplishing that result. Nor do we consider it necessary to first settle the many interesting questions of pathology, which with us are only indirectly connected with the treatment of disease. We should otherwise be upon an unstable and constantly changing foundation. It is evident, that if our treatment were founded upon the supposed pathology, it would constantly vary with the frequent changes in the views of the profession in regard to the nature of disease; but if we rely upon the correspondence between the actual phenomena of the discase, and the known effects of drugs upon the healthy subject, we have a real foundation, capable of indefinite. improvement as we perfect our knowledge of the materia medica, but not to be overthrown by any discovery in collateral science.

In regard to the propriety of sending any patient to an asylum, I would remark that there are undoubtedly some cases of insanity exeedingly difficult to be treated at the homes of the patients, on account of the peculiar prejudices which sometimes arise in the minds of the patients, in regard to their friends. But in general, I think, the question whether we shall be compelled to send a patient to an asylum, will be narrowed down to one of money. If the friends have means to provide sufficient capable attendants, and fair accomodations, I am of the opinion that a large proportion of cases can be advantageously treated without change of residence. In neither of the cases now published, had the friends any but quite moderate means. If the friends have not means, and the patient is violently maniacal, and really dangerous, it may be a matter of necessity to consign our patient to a mad-house; but as a curative measure alone, with the much better remedial, measures which we as Homoeopathists possess, I should not send patients to any asylum, under allopathic superintendence.

Mrs. A's case has been partially reported in this REVIEW, under the head of "Intermittent Fever;" I now propose to eport as fully as possible the symptoms and progress of her mental d'sease; a repetition of some facts previously stated, will be necessary to give a connected statement of her case. She became a patient of mine, Feb., 12th, 1858. Her age was 51 years, she had ceased menstruating about 5 or 6 years previously. For many years, she had been subject to turns of depression of spirits. Two years before my seeing her, she had contracted Intermittent Fever, for which Quinine had been repeate lly given, with the effect of supressing the external manifestations of the disease for various periods; but the evidences of mental disorder, hal during this period become much more deci led. She was sleepless at times; was fearful of being poisoned; had refused to take medicine, or even see a physician. Her symptoms had sometimes partaken of a religious character. The case was considered to be so serious, that her family had been strongly recommended to send her to a lunatic asylum. An unfavorable prognosis had been expressed by her former physician. Her own account, given at the time of my first visit, was by no means irrational nor disconnectel. She considered herself as insane at times, said she frequently felt confused and excited, and that her memory frequently failed her. She gave as a reason, for not taking the medicine prescribed by her physician, that she knew from experience that laudanum, which he wished her to take, would injure her. She was said to appear rather better than usual, at the time I happened to see her. Her eyes had a peculiar expression, appeared as though they were fixed but a very short time on one object. It was said that any unusal occurrence or noise affected her unfavorably, although the noise of her children and grand children, about her, did not seem to incommode her. She slept but half an hour or so at a time, starting up as though she were frightened. Had unpleasant dreams. I prescribed Belladonna" solution every three hours. February 12th. I record:Slept much better than usual, night before last, but last

night had pain and heat in ears, with stiffness of neck. No pain in ear to-day, but has stiffness in neck and shoulder. Has been subject for five or six years past, to have at times a sharp pain through head, accompanied by vertigo and nausea; also has a "strange feeling" in head accompanied by a sinking at pit of stomach. If she is spoken to quickly, when in this state, it completely overcomes her. The left side of head, is more frequently affected than the right. Is not able to read; as after reading a minute or two, she becomes so confused as not to be able to distinguish the letters apart. Ever since the birth of her first child, has been troubled with "falling of the womb," wore a supporter, but found it injurious and discarded it. She speaks of a sensation of fullness over left hip; when I pressed upon the affected spot, it seemed to cause a pain in hypogastrium. About 1st of Jannary, had several chills, occuring in afternoon, followed by fever and aggravation of mental trouble. 1 Rhus rad"; then Bell. 2, three times a day.

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14th. For three nights past, she has had a sensation of coldness in left side of head, at ten o'clock P. M., continuing an hour; afterwards, heat and fulness in same region, and in ear, lasting two or three hours, after which she has rested pretty well. Aching in small of back, when she is chilly. In the morning has a dull aching in forehead, and pain on moving eyes. Has felt better, most of the time than she did. Bry." solution every four hours.

16th. Thinks she is gaining. Last night the cold stage consisted only of a sensation as if a hair were raised up. Finds that she can stand much more excitement than she formerly could. Continued Bry".

18th. Rather better. Slight sore throat to-day with dryness in throat; cough.-Sleeps pretty well. Lach "o.

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21st. Sleeps well. Complains of a stiffness in lumber region on stooping. Excoriation in sternum. Lye" solution every four hours.

24th. Went over to the extreme eastern part of the city, yesterday. She resided on the extreme western side. (She

Had slight

had not been out before, for a long time). difliculty in going to sleep last night. The stiffness in back is relieved, but has to-day pain in head on movement. Puls", every three hours.

27th. Has been pretty well. No headache, except when throwing head backward and bringing it forward again; then has also momentary blindness. Appetite very poor. Nux, three times a day.

March 4th. Improving. Went to church on Sunday (28th ult.), walked and rode some distance. Less pain or vertigo. Appetite fair. Continued Nux.

11th Has been quite well, until within a day or two past; she has had pain in lumbar region. Lyc." three times a day.

16th. Says she is quite well, except that she has a slight pain over left illium, increased by raising arm. Lach”. solution, a dose at night.

20th. Pain in loins: more on rising after sitting. Rhus.", three times a day.

22d. Pulse, 90. Attacked suddenly with general aching, chilliness, and sore throat. Two small ulcers in fauces. Feels quite unwell. Merc. viv'. solution; a dose every three hours. [Several other members of the family had ulcerated sore throat about this time.]

24th. Throat much better. Merc "., three times a day. 30th Pain in sacrum, worse on moving limbs. Nux ". April 10th. Pain in hip. Rhus ".

May 3d. In consequence of the excitement of moving, and perhaps also of religious excitement; she has not slept so well of late. Has some headache. Nux', three times a day.

31st. On the 26th, 28th and 30th, had chills, coldness commenced in feet, and extending to knees, accompained by severe pains in head, so that she expressed an "apprehension of going distracted;" afterward heat of face; perspiration during chill and following heat. No thirst. Quite excited after fever. On lying down, vertigo and nausea Puls. every three hours.

She came to my office and gave me the preceding account.

I prescribed for her once subsequently for the same attack of Intermittent Fever; but omitted to make a record. I think she had one or two more paroxysms, and, that I continued the same prescription. She has had no return of the fever, and has entirely recovered from her mental difficulties. Her general health is also better than formerly. I have had occassion to prescribe for her a few times for trifling ailments. She attends to her household duties, and goes about precisely like other people. Some of her friends did tell me in July, that they thought she acted somewhat strange at times; but this is a suspicion, which all who are known to have been insane are liable to, during the remainder of their lives. The other case I purpose reporting at this time, was a domestic by occupation, and was living at service when attacked. I first saw her, February 2d, 1859, at the residence of her own family-persons in quite moderate circumstances, and having necessarily somewhat limited accomodations. As I have mentioned previously, these are matters of some importance in the treatment of such cases. The first warning they had of the patient's state of mind, was that her sister met her early one morning, at a church, near her parents residence, but a considerable distance from the patient's home. The sister soon perceived that her mind was affected, as she told her many things inconsistent with each other, and opposed to known facts. Her manner was unnatural. She was taken to the home of her parents, and two days after, I was sent for. As she was then a stranger to me, her general appearance presented nothing very remarkable, although her face was somewhat flushed; but when she commenced to speak, I could see that her manner was excited, and her statements were so extraordinary, that there was no difficulty in perceiving that her mind was disordered. She told me that about the 11th of January, a man called upon her, and blew down her bosom, and in this way inflicted a terrible injury upon her, and that several times since, she had seen him. She had come to the conclusion that it was a dead man personating one of her friends, who committed the above assault. She had been