BY DR. HENCKE, OF RIGA.

(Translated from the Allgemeine Homoeopatische Zeitung.)

1. Mrs. M., 46 years of age, of choleric temperament, very robust, but very irregular in her menses, very fond of strong coffee, has suffered for years with frequent attacks of cardiac pains, which are generally brought on by mental excitement, especially by anger, and continue for several days. She has taken a great deal of medicine of various kinds, the latent having been Bismuth, which, as she says, palliates and shortens the paroxysms.

The pains are griping, constringing, and continuous, the least pressure causing slight nausea; there is an entire absence of appetite, and even aversion to her favorite beverage while the pain lasts. Her complexion is sallow; her tongue presents a yellowish coat; the abdomen is distended and very tender to the touch. At almost all times, patient is liable to sluggishness and hardness of the alvine discharges, and during the paroxysms she suffers much from fruitless straining. She also complains of languor, especially in the morning after rising from bed; she is apt to be startled while falling asleep; and is very irritable, cross, and violent.

July 20th, 1845. This afternoon I prescribed Nux vom¹⁵ four doses; one powder, dissolved in water, to be taken through each succeeding day.

July 24th. Patient reports that after taking the first two powders, she was extremely sick, and that the pains in the stomach were more violent than ever before; so much so, that she had discontinued the medicine without using the other two powders. At the time of my visit she was somewhat better, but there was still an annoying sensation of pressure in the stomach; and my attention was called particularly to a pain beneath the right ribs, and in the right shoulder, as having never occurred before. On examination I found the abdomen somewhat distended; and the liver, which could be plainly felt, was also distended, and very painful when handled, or when the patient moved. The pain was described as dull, pressing, and less acute than that in the shoulder, and the right side. The tongue had a thin yellowish coat; there was occasional belching of a sour fluid; and for the last two days, no movement of the bowels. In place of the two remaining powders of Nux vom¹⁵, I gave one dose of Nux vom.³⁰, to be taken in water.

Jnly 26th. A very copious and lax discharge from the bowels, the day before, followed soon by a second, proved the precurser of a cessation of the pains in the stomach and liver; the pain in the shoulder, too, soon disappeared and the patient slept well through the night.

July 28th. Patient was quite well today, except that she felt somewhat languid.

Up to 1847 the attacks have not returned, although since her recovery she has used coffee as before.

2. August 18th, 1845. Mr. F., a corpulent man, fond of good living, and a great gourmand, was taken sick the day before, in consequence, as he said, of catching cold. I found him in great uneasiness, tossing about on the bed, and his features expressing intense anguish. He complained of insufferable pain in the right lumbar region, extending along the ureter downwards to the bladder. Lying on the back was almost impossible. Any attempt to void urine involved a painful straining, and was well nigh fruitless, a few drops only being discharged. The patient was generally disposed to costiveness, and no operation had taken place from the bowels for two days. He was troubled at intervals with squeamishness and nausea, and in the morning had vomited repeatedly. The right thigh felt heavy and painful, and any attempt to move it increased his suffering. The evening and night before a feeling of chilliness had alternated with great heat. His skin was hot, dry and burning, and his pulse, strong and frequent; thirst, however, was only moderate. Nux vom.³⁰; one dose to be taken immediately, the other, after an interval of two hours.

10 o'clock, P. M. Soon after taking the second powder there had been a copious discharge of urine. The pains in the kidneys had subsided, and the patient was more comfortable, but still unable to lie on his back. The skin was not so hot, and the pulse was full, soft, and moderately frequent. He had a great desire for water, but drinking it was followed by nausea.

August 19th. During the night the patient had a copious perspiration, and towards morning, a calm and sound sleep. Only trifling pains remained in the lumbar region. In the morning there was another copious discharge of urine, together with a soft and plentiful evacuation of the bowels. The patient felt very weak and reduced, started at the slightest noise, was very irritable, and had an aversion to all food. No medicine was given.

August 20th. Mr. F. still complained of languor, and that neither his tobacco, nor his coffee relished well. I did not think it necessary to prescribe any more medicine, and by the 23d of August, he was again able to attend to his business.

3. September 6th, 1845. Mr. M., of choleric temperament, had already been sick for six days, in consequence of overloading his stomach. The principal symptoms were heartburn; belching of a bitter and sour fluid; foul taste; aversion to food, and to tobacco; tongue coated and whitish; dryness of the mouth; stool sluggish; diminished secretion of urine. In the evening, dullness of the head; heaviness and sensation of weight in the forehead; pains in the limbs; yawning and stretching; shivering, and coldness of the extremities, with blueness of the nails; chattering of the teeth; and nausea. It was difficult to become warm in bed, heat coming on very gradually, and with great restlessness. His sleep was disturbed, and he was terrified with harassing dreams. Towards morning, sweat of offensive smell, and extreme fatigue. I left two doses of Nux vom.³⁰, one to be taken each afternoon.

September 8th. Last evening the chill was accompanied by violent vomiting. The chill lasted but a short time, and was succeeded by heat, with pains and rumbling in the bowels. A very copious and lax stool ensued after midnight, followed soon by a second, and a third. Towards morning the patient fell into a sound and comfortable sleep, with a general sweat of a sour smell. On awaking, he felt much reduced and very languid.

7 o'clock, P. M. No fever has appeared thus far. The tongue is clean; the patient has taken some food with a good relish; there is no belching: and the headache is gone.

September 9th. The patient rested well last night and had but a slight perspiration in the morning. The urine contained a reddish sediment, but the general state was good.

September 15th. Mr. M. has continued well, and is attending to his business as usual.