The annual meeting of the above was held at Dortmund, July 31st, 1862.
After an informal meeting on the afternoon of the 30th, in which an order of proceedings for the formal meeting on the next day was agreed upon, but which was chiefly devoted to the interchange of greetings among members, the physicians convened on the 31st.
An essay was presented by Dr. von Boenninghausen on the “Anamnesis of Sycosis” which was ordered to be printed as an appendix to the record of the meeting and also separately, in octavo, for the use of the members.
Dr. von Boenninghausen read also an essay upon “Motion and Best,” showing how indispensable are the indications drawn from these two conditions to a proper homoeopathic prescription as well as the great variety of the symptoms which involve these conditions. It was remarked that in reports of cases, these and similar conditions are too often overlooked even by Homoeopathists of reputation.
The subject of allowing remedies to exhaust their action and of the long action of certain remedies, was discussed. Many facts were adduced showing the truth of the latter and the necessity of the former, and this, especially on the ground that the cure is really accomplished not by the primary action but by the secondary action of the drug or rather by the reaction of the vital force, and that hence every unnecessary repetition of an assault upon the vital force must necessarily at least delay the cure.
Dr. Gross, of Barmen, submitted an essay upon Lead colic, Glauber salts and Opium. Whereupon Dr. Hendricks, of Cologne, related a ease of Lead poisoning in a workman in a Coffee factory, in which the process of restoring bad and damaged coffee is carried on, by first washing it and then dyeing with red lead. By this treatment the coffee acquires a fine and quite natural color, and at the same time decidedly poisonous properties.
The fact was again mentioned and attested that the highest potencies are almost always the most efficient antidotes in cases of Cachexies produced by the same drug.
Dr. Stens, of Bonn, related the case of a child, aged nine months, which after allopathic treatment with large doses of Nitrate of silver, appeared thoroughly poisoned by that drug, but was soon completely restored by Belladonna 900. Dr. Boenninghausen then referred to a similar case in which a cerebral inflammation of a high grade in a girl of eight years, was cured by a single dose of Belladonna 2000 (Jenichen), the child having been given up as incurable by her previous attendant, and neither the thirtieth nor the two hundredth of Belladonna having proved of an service.
Dr. Roth, of Crefeld, stated that his own child lay very ill of Inflammation of the Brain and was treated ineffectually with Belladonna, but was cured by Helleborus 300. Dr. Boenninghausen remarked that this remedy was sometimes indicated and saved life, but only in the last stage, when serous exudation has already occurred; especially in cases in which there is stupor and the dominion of the mind over the body is almost suspended — with paleness of the face.
Dr. Stens referred to the dangers arising from the external treatment of cutaneous eruptions, with ointments, etc. Dr. Boenninghausen believed it necessary to add that it is also dangerous to treat such affections simultaneously, externally and internally, even with one and the same remedy, inasmuch as, first, the external treatment is altogether superfluous, and, secondly, it often leads to a false cure or an obscuration of the external and often most important symptoms.
Malignant Tinea capitis was named by several members as an affection that cannot be cured by internal remedies alone, while others affirmed the contrary and adduced facts in support of their statements. Dr. von Boenninghausen, who was among the latter party, remarked that in all local affections of this kind and which are generally poor in symptoms, the symptoms derived from the Anamnesis are deserving of especial attention and that in the affection in question one would rarely succeed or at best, only very slowly, if one neglect to give intercurrent doses of Sulphur or Thuja, or more rarely of Mercurius, according to the Anamnesis and the circumstances.
Dr. Roth stated that he had given Kali carb. with the best results in cases of Pruritus of pregnant women. Dr. von Boenninghausen had had similar good results from Sepia and Thuja; and Dr. Stens from Rhus tox. But, as was remarked, in these, as in all similar statements, everything is general, nothing of an individual character, and which could serve as a characteristic is cited, and the cases lose all value as aids to practice, for in practice, on every occasion the entire mass of symptoms must be taken into account.
Dr. Stens narrated a complete cure of an old cataract by means of Silicea alone, first in the thirtieth and subsequently in higher potencies.
Dr. Hendricks related a very rapid cure of an articular gout (with red, shining swelling), accompanied by hemorrhage of a bright red color, by means of two doses of Sabina. Dr. Boenninghausen remarked that in the few cases of true Podagra which he had treated, Sabina had proved the most efficient remedy, and this fact, coupled with the fact that Sabina produces condylomata, gives room for the suspicion that this disease so much dreaded by our forefathers may have a Sycotic Anamnesis.
Referring to the first number of the Zeiteschrift der Vereines der hom. Aerzte (Esterreichs, by Dr. Eidherr, Dr. Stens objected, and not without reason, that in the long list of one hundred and seven cases of Pneumonia treated, so few characteristic symptoms are given that it is impossible to discover why on the homoeopathic principle, the remedies administered were prescribed. From the work, therefore, on which so much labor was expended, but little is to be learned beyond the conclusion (pp. 164 and 165) drawn from numerical tables that a decided preference is to be given to the higher over the lower potencies.
Dr. Stens further remarked the increasing preference of the higher over the lower potencies, and said that although it must be admitted that the controversy was not closed, yet it could not be denied that the conviction is gaining ground that in by far the majority of cases, and where the remedy is properly selected, the higher potencies repeated only at long intervals do contribute most decidedly to the realization of the motto of Celsus — Cito, tuto et jucunde!
Dr. Petrasch, of Werl, related a case of ulceration of the left lung with sticking pains, speedily and permanently cured by the exclusive use of Lycopodium.
Dr. Hendricks spoke of the summer diarrheas, which were then frequent at Cologne. The stools occurred only in the morning, always renewed by eating fruit and drinking water, but without burning and which were quickly cured by low potencies of Arsenicum. In the practice of Dr. von Baesnninghausen several cases of the kind had occurred, likewise without burning, but preceded by violent cuttings in the abdomen and which, as in former years, were speedily cured by a single dose of Bryonia 200, and did not recur the next time the patient ate fruit.
For the bloody diarrhea of Typhus abdominalis, Dr. Stens recommended Carbo veg.
A debate upon facial Neuralgia led to a discussion of Colocynth, Mezereum, and Verbascum. The result was, first, Colocynth has pains of a cramping nature which are instantaneously diminished or removed by external pressure, but come on all the more violently as soon as the pressure is removed. Second, the Prosopalgia of Mezereum consists in a benumbing pressure in the malar bones and temples, chiefly in the right side, and is almost always connected with a boring in the upper jaw and in the teeth which have decayed on the sides. Third, Verbascum produces a prosopalgia, consisting of a benumbing compression and tension in the zygoma and temple which is renewed by every change of temperature, and especially on passing from the open air into a room.