BY A. JUDSON BREWSTER, M. D., CATO, N. Y.

I. Mr. S., aged seventeen years, of light complexion and blue eyes, a farmer, was attacked early in the spring with pneumonia which was of a typhoid character. The cough was attended by profuse expectoration; there were profuse sweats and great debility. He was cured by Aconite and Phosphorus“.

In autumn of the same year I was called to him again' and found him suffering with abdominal dropsy. So great was the effusion that his weight was thirty-six pounds in excess of his greatest weight in health. He had been three or four months in this condition; had frequent attacks of watery diarrhea, lasting several days and leaving the patient exhausted, emaciated and unable to leave his bed without help. He would then rally and the filling-up process would recommence., His parents were much alarmed and thought him sinking. He had been treated for ulceration of the liver with drugs, during the whole summer. Several remedies were given without effect. On a closer examination I learned that, during his childhood, he had presented various symptoms of scrofula which, though they had long since vanished, induced me to give Silicea. He received Silicea,” a dose morning and evening, and was cured. In the space of six days he lost fourteen pounds in weight

II. Mr. B., aged thirty-three years, dark hair and skin, a mechanic, had been suffering for years from a difficulty of the throat. A tickling in the left side of the throat, producing a short dry cough, which was aggravated by reading, singing or any use of the voice. Even listening to any one reading aloud would induce the same disposition to cough. Hoarseness, at times entire loss of voice. The whole difficulty was referred to a small spot on the left side of the throat, a sensation as from something sticking in that spot, and which cannot be removed.

All the symptoms were relieved by eating, the patient often remarking that if he could eat all the time he should feel well.

He was emaciated, debilitated and evidently sinking under the disease. The case had preserved its characteristic individuality for years, although it had been treated with all the caustics of the old school.

Lachesis²⁰⁰, a dose every morning and evening, was administered for a few days. To the great astonishment of the patient all his symptoms, as above related, gradually disappeared. He can now sing, read or talk aloud with his original strength of voice, and some two years have elapsed since he received the medicine. There has been no recurrence of the disease.

III. Mr. K., aged twenty-eight years, of a dark complexion, with black hair and eyes, had been suffering, when I was called to him, for fourteen days, from an attack of typhoid fever, under allopathic treatment. I found him, September 10th, 1863, as follows: tongue, very yellow, clean smooth, partially paralyzed. He swallows and articulates with great difficulty; has a dry short cough with lameness of the chest; partial paralysis of the left side; the arm and leg were left wherever the nurse might chance to place them; motion caused great pain. He muttered while asleep, had but little thirst; the pulse was small and rapid; the bowels hopelessly constipated“ After a careful examination of the case, I could think of no other remedy but Lachesis of which I gave the twelfth, one drop in water every three hours.

On visiting the patient next day, I found he had passed a better night and his symptoms were all better. I continued the same remedy for six days, when my patient was convalescent, able to sit up and to walk about a little.

IV. Mrs. V., about forty years old, had had cardialgia for several months. I found her [pale, much emaciated. She had been pronounced hopelessly ill of tubercular consumption, although she had no cough. She had the most excruciating pain commencing in the region of the stomach and radiating over the entire chest and bowels, relieved by eating, but returning from one to three hours afterwards with great severity. I gave Lach.¹², three powders each day, and saw the patient again on the third day. To my great joy she was comparatively well, had had no paroxysm, and since the second dose none whatever. Two years have now elapsed and she has had no recurrence of the pain but enjoys very good health.

In conclusion I may state summarily that I have found Lachesis of greatest value in the treatment of hydrothorax with swelling of the feet and dyspnea, especially when the trunk is raised, and bent forward; in erysipelas with a tendency to gangrene; in deep sloughing erysipelatous ulcers and also in chronic bronchial catarrh. Lastly, I have found it indispensable in diphtheria.

V An Obstetrical Case. — In the town of Lysander, Onondaga Co., during the month of January, 1864, after a natural labor, Mrs. A. was delivered of a fully developed and perfectly healthy child. She made a good convalescence and was about the house within the usual period. After the lapse of about seven or eight weeks, she was again seized with labor pains and delivered of a second child as perfect in every particular as the former. The mother and both children were, at last accounts, alive and in good health. This case is well known throughout the neighborhood, and the above statement can be perfectly authenticated in every particular.

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