Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- en:misc:talk-saine-novella-question01-part02 [2013/07/29 15:45]
legatum
+++ en:misc:talk-saine-novella-question01-part02 [2013/07/29 15:49]
legatum
@@ Line 159: / Line 159: @@
 However, the more one examines the various existing therapeutic outcome reports on the NIP, no clear or significant confounding factor seems to emerge, and the more the //consistency// of the results obtained by homeopathy and allopathy are confirmed regardless of the place, population, circumstance or wave of the epidemic.
-This consistency is very clear for anyone perusing the homeopathic literature as expressed in 1920 by Dr. Crawford Green, a pediatrician from Troy, N.Y., “From every corner of  our great country, wherever homeopathy is practiced and wherever there is opportunity for the exact study of comparative  statistics, there comes indisputable testimony of the wonderful  efficacy of homeopathy. Parallel groups of cases everywhere  show a homeopathic mortality almost negligible when compared  with any other system of therapy.”[(61)]
+This consistency is very clear for anyone perusing the homeopathic literature as expressed in 1920 by Dr. Crawford Green, a pediatrician from Troy, N.Y., “From every corner of  our great country, wherever homeopathy is practiced and wherever there is opportunity for the exact study of comparative  statistics, there comes indisputable testimony of the wonderful  efficacy of homeopathy. Parallel groups of cases everywhere  show a homeopathic mortality almost negligible when compared  with any other system of therapy.”[(Crawford R. Green. The treatment of Influenza in children. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy// 1919-1920; 12: 1102-1112.)]
-Dr. H. O. Skinner, a pediatrician from St. Paul, Minnesota, similarly remarked, “The remarkable thing about the homeopathic record in  this epidemic is not so much its low mortality, as the fact  that it was made by physicians widely separated, even to different countries and without inter-communication, with the  same line of treatment and the same drugs. When it is considered that this epidemic was unlike anything which had  ever preceded it, that it came on so suddenly as to forbid any  study (to say nothing of the fact that subsequent study has  not yet revealed much) and that it had, therefore, to be met, not specifically, but on general principles, the uniformity of  the homeopathic treatment the world over and the uniformly  good results there from, demonstrating homeopathy's ability  to cope with this protean emergency, when the other schools  of medicine failed utterly, behooves us no more by apathy  than by design to permit it to perish from the face of the earth.”[(62)]
+Dr. H. O. Skinner, a pediatrician from St. Paul, Minnesota, similarly remarked, “The remarkable thing about the homeopathic record in  this epidemic is not so much its low mortality, as the fact  that it was made by physicians widely separated, even to different countries and without inter-communication, with the  same line of treatment and the same drugs. When it is considered that this epidemic was unlike anything which had  ever preceded it, that it came on so suddenly as to forbid any  study (to say nothing of the fact that subsequent study has  not yet revealed much) and that it had, therefore, to be met, not specifically, but on general principles, the uniformity of  the homeopathic treatment the world over and the uniformly  good results there from, demonstrating homeopathy's ability  to cope with this protean emergency, when the other schools  of medicine failed utterly, behooves us no more by apathy  than by design to permit it to perish from the face of the earth.”[(H. O. Skinner. Influenza in children. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy// 1920-1921; 13: 505-514.)]
-A clear illustration of the consistency of the results obtained by the two schools of medicine is found in the following report from Dr. E. B. Finney of Lincoln, Nebraska, “I know of a physician on the border line of Kansas and Nebraska  who reported to Kansas and Nebraska 700 cases without a single death  when he was taken sick and had to go to bed. The disease was very  virulent. There were forty deaths in one week which speaks well for  his treatment as he was the only homeopathic physician in that city.”[(63)]
+A clear illustration of the consistency of the results obtained by the two schools of medicine is found in the following report from Dr. E. B. Finney of Lincoln, Nebraska, “I know of a physician on the border line of Kansas and Nebraska  who reported to Kansas and Nebraska 700 cases without a single death  when he was taken sick and had to go to bed. The disease was very  virulent. There were forty deaths in one week which speaks well for  his treatment as he was the only homeopathic physician in that city.”[(E. B. Finney. Discussion: Influenza: a favoable mortality and publicity. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy// 1919-1920; 12: 590.)]
 **Age**
-The fact that the outcome of the entire army is related to a population of young men between 18-40 years old who were in relatively good health prior to the epidemic would tend to disfavor the homeopaths who treated an overall less healthy and more susceptible population, which included infants and the older segment of the population. Statistics support this hypothesis, as it can be seen in the District of Columbia where the Commissioners kept good records during the epidemic and reported that in 1918 the average case mortality rate for influenza and pneumonia was 8.6%, but was 20% for the ones under 1 year-old, 7.3% for the ones between 20-29 years, 14% for the ones between 60-69 years, and 33% for the ones with 70 years and over. [(64)] Similarly the average case mortality for the entire US civilian population was about twice as much for infants and the older segment of the population, as it was for the 20-39 year-old segment (1.9% for the ones between 20-24 years, 3% for the ones between 25-29 years, and just above 2% for the ones between 30-39 years, but was about 5% in infants, and about 4% for people over 65 years). [(65)]
+The fact that the outcome of the entire army is related to a population of young men between 18-40 years old who were in relatively good health prior to the epidemic would tend to disfavor the homeopaths who treated an overall less healthy and more susceptible population, which included infants and the older segment of the population. Statistics support this hypothesis, as it can be seen in the District of Columbia where the Commissioners kept good records during the epidemic and reported that in 1918 the average case mortality rate for influenza and pneumonia was 8.6%, but was 20% for the ones under 1 year-old, 7.3% for the ones between 20-29 years, 14% for the ones between 60-69 years, and 33% for the ones with 70 years and over. [(Annual Report of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia Year Ended June 30, 1919. Volume 3. Washington, 42.)] Similarly the average case mortality for the entire US civilian population was about twice as much for infants and the older segment of the population, as it was for the 20-39 year-old segment (1.9% for the ones between 20-24 years, 3% for the ones between 25-29 years, and just above 2% for the ones between 30-39 years, but was about 5% in infants, and about 4% for people over 65 years). [(Wade Hampton Frost. The epidemiology of influenza. //Public Health Reports// 1919; 34 (33): 1823-1836.)]
-Also, regardless of the different conditions associated with the armed forces, such as inoculations and confined spaces, it appears that the same demographic group was similarly affected in the civilian population. The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company based in New York City found that the disease killed 3.26% of its insured US industrial workers aged 25--45, a population of young men most similar demographically to the one of the armed forces. [(66)] Given that 25--40% of the population contracted the disease, the case mortality can be estimated to have been between 8--13% in that population.[(67)]
+Also, regardless of the different conditions associated with the armed forces, such as inoculations and confined spaces, it appears that the same demographic group was similarly affected in the civilian population. The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company based in New York City found that the disease killed 3.26% of its insured US industrial workers aged 25--45, a population of young men most similar demographically to the one of the armed forces. [(John M. Barry. Pandemics: avoiding the mistakes of 1918. //Nature// 2009; 459 (7245): 324-325.)] Given that 25--40% of the population contracted the disease, the case mortality can be estimated to have been between 8--13% in that population.[(Edwin O Jordan. //Epidemic Influenza. A Survey//. Chicago: American Medical Association, 1927.)]
 Age and being a civilian do not therefore appear to explain the higher case mortality of 5.8-7.21% for the different armies versus the much better results of 0.7% reported by the homeopaths.
-Dr. H. O. Skinner, a pediatrician from St. Paul, Minnesota, reported having loss not a single child out of several hundred cases. [(68)]Dr. Plumb Brown, a pediatrician from Springfield, Massachusetts, said, “My experience was entirely outside of the hospital. I was in general practice. Fortunately the Board of Health obliged us to report our cases. Afterwards by looking up the records we were able to differentiate and find what percentage of cases were children. I found that 44 per cent of my cases were in children below the age of 14, many in young infants. The mortality in all cases was 16 per cent [for Springfield]. Ten per cent of all the cases developed pneumonia. I did not lose a single child.”[(69)]
+Dr. H. O. Skinner, a pediatrician from St. Paul, Minnesota, reported having loss not a single child out of several hundred cases. [(H. O. Skinner. Influenza in children. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy// 1920-1921; 13: 505-514.)]Dr. Plumb Brown, a pediatrician from Springfield, Massachusetts, said, “My experience was entirely outside of the hospital. I was in general practice. Fortunately the Board of Health obliged us to report our cases. Afterwards by looking up the records we were able to differentiate and find what percentage of cases were children. I found that 44 per cent of my cases were in children below the age of 14, many in young infants. The mortality in all cases was 16 per cent [for Springfield]. Ten per cent of all the cases developed pneumonia. I did not lose a single child.”[(Plumb Brown. Discussion: The treatment of influenza in children. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy// 1919-1920; 12: 1107.)]
-Dr. Stella Q. Root, a homeopathic obstetrician from Stamford, Connecticut, reported, “I only had 91 cases of influenza altogether, and 20 per cent of these  were among children; 25 per cent of the children had pneumonia. I  had no deaths among the children, and but one death in the 91 cases.” [(70)]
+Dr. Stella Q. Root, a homeopathic obstetrician from Stamford, Connecticut, reported, “I only had 91 cases of influenza altogether, and 20 per cent of these  were among children; 25 per cent of the children had pneumonia. I  had no deaths among the children, and but one death in the 91 cases.” [(Stella Q. Root. Discussion: The treatment of influenza in children. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy// 1919-1920; 12: 1108.)]
-Dr. J. G. Dillon of Fargo, North Dakota further remarked, “The children cases I saw were  those in general practice, as well as the patients at the Institution  known as the North Dakota Children’s Home. … Sixty-seven cases developed [influenza] at the Children's Home without any  complicating pneumonia or death; most of these cases were on Bryonia and Gelsemium, which seemed to be successful in carrying them  through to complete recovery.” [(71)]
+Dr. J. G. Dillon of Fargo, North Dakota further remarked, “The children cases I saw were  those in general practice, as well as the patients at the Institution  known as the North Dakota Children’s Home. … Sixty-seven cases developed [influenza] at the Children's Home without any  complicating pneumonia or death; most of these cases were on Bryonia and Gelsemium, which seemed to be successful in carrying them  through to complete recovery.” [(J. G. Dillon. Discussion: The treatment of influenza in children. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy// 1919-1920; 12: 1110.)]
-Also some particular segments of the civilian population were greatly more affected than the members of the armed forces. For instance, it was known that the mortality of coal miners was much higher for the same age-male population. For instance, the death rate in coal miners from the 1918 flu epidemic was 36% higher than the same age-adjusted population.[(72)] Dr. Geo Krepreka of Stacyville, Iowa reported in a paper on pneumonia secondary to influenza, “During the months of October, November and December, as  an assistant surgeon in the U. S. Public Health Service, approximately 2,000 cases of influenza were thrust into my hands, and as a result, received at least some form of homeopathic treatment. About one half the time was devoted to the coal mining  camps in the vicinity of Albia and Ottumwa, while the other half  was spent in towns where the residing physicians were either  stricken with the disease themselves, or were in the army. During  this time I had visited 15 different localities, so that I undoubtedly  must have come in contact with the disease in all forms of its  virulence. The death rate under homeopathic treatment, as we  all know, has been exceedingly low, in fact I know of but four  deaths out of the list wherein homeopathic treatment failed.” [(73)]
+Also some particular segments of the civilian population were greatly more affected than the members of the armed forces. For instance, it was known that the mortality of coal miners was much higher for the same age-male population. For instance, the death rate in coal miners from the 1918 flu epidemic was 36% higher than the same age-adjusted population.[(E. B. Starr. Excessive mortality from influenza-pneumonia among bituminous coal miners of Ohio in 1918. //American Journal of Public Health// 1920; //10// (4): 348-351.)] Dr. Geo Krepreka of Stacyville, Iowa reported in a paper on pneumonia secondary to influenza, “During the months of October, November and December, as  an assistant surgeon in the U. S. Public Health Service, approximately 2,000 cases of influenza were thrust into my hands, and as a result, received at least some form of homeopathic treatment. About one half the time was devoted to the coal mining  camps in the vicinity of Albia and Ottumwa, while the other half  was spent in towns where the residing physicians were either  stricken with the disease themselves, or were in the army. During  this time I had visited 15 different localities, so that I undoubtedly  must have come in contact with the disease in all forms of its  virulence. The death rate under homeopathic treatment, as we  all know, has been exceedingly low, in fact I know of but four  deaths out of the list wherein homeopathic treatment failed.” [(George Krepreka. Clinical varieties of pneumonia as secondary to influenza. //Iowa Homeopathic Journal// 1920; 13: 253-258.)]
 **Pregnancy**
@@ Line 185: / Line 185: @@
 The fact that it is widely recognized that the case mortality was highest in pregnant women enhanced the value of outcomes reported by homeopahts, as this population wasn’t present in the army.
-According to a survey sent to all the physicians in Maryland, it was reported that the case mortality was 27% in 1,350 pregnant women with influenza. About 50% of the pregnant women with influenza eventually developed pneumonia, and 54% of these died. Miscarriages occurred in 26% of the ones without pneumonia and in 62% in the ones with pneumonia. 60% of the ones who developed pneumonia in the last three months of pregnancy died. [(74)]
+According to a survey sent to all the physicians in Maryland, it was reported that the case mortality was 27% in 1,350 pregnant women with influenza. About 50% of the pregnant women with influenza eventually developed pneumonia, and 54% of these died. Miscarriages occurred in 26% of the ones without pneumonia and in 62% in the ones with pneumonia. 60% of the ones who developed pneumonia in the last three months of pregnancy died. [(John W. Harris. Influenza occurring in pregnant women. //Journal of the American Medical Association// 1919; 72; 978-980.)]
-Despite these outstanding and difficult odds, the consistency of results under homeopathic treatment was maintained in the population of pregnant women, as it was reported by many homeopathic obstetricians. Dr. Stella Q. Root, a homeopathic obstetrician from Stamford, Connecticut, said, “I did not complete my record  in time to write Dr. Huntoon, and so I brought it with me. It is  comparatively simple.  I only practiced six weeks of the influenza period. During that  time I had 91 cases of influenza, with 23 cases of pneumonia. I had  42 pregnant women, varying from two months to term. Of these 42  pregnant cases, a little less than 25% had influenza, and only three of  these ten had pneumonia. I only lost one case out of the 91. I thought  until I heard the statistics this morning in the Bureau of Homeopathy  that my record was nothing but luck, but now I hope it was due to  homeopathic therapeutics. The case I lost was a woman four months  pregnant. She induced an abortion on herself, had been flowing for  five days and was almost exsanguinated. Her home conditions were  such, that although the hospital was well filled with pneumonia I had  no alternative but to take her there. She stood the curettage well  and was in fair condition when I sent her home in an ambulance at  the end of a week. A week from the time she went home she developed influenza, and almost immediately pneumonia. We felt that a  week was rather long for the exposure if she had contracted it from  cases in the hospital. She died within four days. The fetus was  stillborn. There were four others with influenza delivered during this period.  One had pneumonia quite severely but did not have premature labor,  but a few days after her temperature went to normal she was normally  delivered. Two others had influenza but not pneumonia, and were  delivered almost immediately after the subsidence of the temperature, with no bad symptoms afterwards. One was delivered who had influenza with mild pneumonia after her delivery. Of the other five cases  three have since been delivered safely. Two were only about two  months pregnant at the time of the influenza and are still not delivered.  This was not the experience of Stamford Hospital generally. Of  course a good many cases were sent in in rather extreme conditions, but the superintendent told me that the feeling at the hospital was  that if a woman had influenza and was pregnant, or had a miscarriage, it was practically a fatal case. The cases I treated were all treated  homeopathically, so I give all the credit to homeopathy.” [(75)]
+Despite these outstanding and difficult odds, the consistency of results under homeopathic treatment was maintained in the population of pregnant women, as it was reported by many homeopathic obstetricians. Dr. Stella Q. Root, a homeopathic obstetrician from Stamford, Connecticut, said, “I did not complete my record  in time to write Dr. Huntoon, and so I brought it with me. It is  comparatively simple.  I only practiced six weeks of the influenza period. During that  time I had 91 cases of influenza, with 23 cases of pneumonia. I had  42 pregnant women, varying from two months to term. Of these 42  pregnant cases, a little less than 25% had influenza, and only three of  these ten had pneumonia. I only lost one case out of the 91. I thought  until I heard the statistics this morning in the Bureau of Homeopathy  that my record was nothing but luck, but now I hope it was due to  homeopathic therapeutics. The case I lost was a woman four months  pregnant. She induced an abortion on herself, had been flowing for  five days and was almost exsanguinated. Her home conditions were  such, that although the hospital was well filled with pneumonia I had  no alternative but to take her there. She stood the curettage well  and was in fair condition when I sent her home in an ambulance at  the end of a week. A week from the time she went home she developed influenza, and almost immediately pneumonia. We felt that a  week was rather long for the exposure if she had contracted it from  cases in the hospital. She died within four days. The fetus was  stillborn. There were four others with influenza delivered during this period.  One had pneumonia quite severely but did not have premature labor,  but a few days after her temperature went to normal she was normally  delivered. Two others had influenza but not pneumonia, and were  delivered almost immediately after the subsidence of the temperature, with no bad symptoms afterwards. One was delivered who had influenza with mild pneumonia after her delivery. Of the other five cases  three have since been delivered safely. Two were only about two  months pregnant at the time of the influenza and are still not delivered.  This was not the experience of Stamford Hospital generally. Of  course a good many cases were sent in in rather extreme conditions, but the superintendent told me that the feeling at the hospital was  that if a woman had influenza and was pregnant, or had a miscarriage, it was practically a fatal case. The cases I treated were all treated  homeopathically, so I give all the credit to homeopathy.” [(Stella Q. Root. Discussion: Influenza and pregnancy. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy// 1919-1920; 12: 931-932.)]
-Similarly, Dr. Anna Johnston of Pittsburgh reported the same consistency of results in pregnant women, “Before I left home I was  too busy to fill out the questionnaire. I had 266 patients and did not  lose a single case. I had 12 cases of pneumonia, mostly among children. Part of those were in the hospital. We had some very sick  children there who had come in from different families. They had  originally had influenza but developed pneumonia. One child ran  a temperature of 106.6, and the worst one had a temperature of 107, pulse 180, respirations 80. She got well. I had eight pregnant cases, two were seven months pregnant. The peculiarity of one case was  that she was practically over the influenza when she developed pernicious vomiting. The vomiting was very severe and lasted for days. We had to resort to rectal feeding. We thought we would lose her, but she recovered. I did not lose any of those cases. All went through  to term, were delivered, and everything was all right.”[(76)]
+Similarly, Dr. Anna Johnston of Pittsburgh reported the same consistency of results in pregnant women, “Before I left home I was  too busy to fill out the questionnaire. I had 266 patients and did not  lose a single case. I had 12 cases of pneumonia, mostly among children. Part of those were in the hospital. We had some very sick  children there who had come in from different families. They had  originally had influenza but developed pneumonia. One child ran  a temperature of 106.6, and the worst one had a temperature of 107, pulse 180, respirations 80. She got well. I had eight pregnant cases, two were seven months pregnant. The peculiarity of one case was  that she was practically over the influenza when she developed pernicious vomiting. The vomiting was very severe and lasted for days. We had to resort to rectal feeding. We thought we would lose her, but she recovered. I did not lose any of those cases. All went through  to term, were delivered, and everything was all right.”[(Anna Johnston. Discussion: Influenza and pregnancy. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy// 1919-1920; 12: 933.)]
-Dr. L. A. Royal of West Liberty, Iowa reported in the survey of homeopathic physicians from Central Iowa that was mentioned earlier, “Another complication or condition that complicated the ‘flu’ was pregnancy. I had a report of about fifty cases. Four of  which miscarried. Two poorly developed blue babies were reported where the mother had the ‘flu’ late in her pregnancy. I  had six cases with the combination of pregnancy, ‘flu’ and  pneumonia at the same time with no mortality. In fact of the  forty some cases reported of pregnancy complicated with ‘flu’ and pneumonia there was no mortality reported. This  is a striking contrast between no deaths out of fifty and the reports by Harris in the A. M. A. journal, volume 72, page 978 where  he recorded 1,350 cases of ‘flu’ and pregnancy of which 54  per cent resulted fatally and 62 percent aborted.” [(77)] In the survey from Harris in JAMA, out of 678 pregnant women with pneumonia 365 died.[(78)]
+Dr. L. A. Royal of West Liberty, Iowa reported in the survey of homeopathic physicians from Central Iowa that was mentioned earlier, “Another complication or condition that complicated the ‘flu’ was pregnancy. I had a report of about fifty cases. Four of  which miscarried. Two poorly developed blue babies were reported where the mother had the ‘flu’ late in her pregnancy. I  had six cases with the combination of pregnancy, ‘flu’ and  pneumonia at the same time with no mortality. In fact of the  forty some cases reported of pregnancy complicated with ‘flu’ and pneumonia there was no mortality reported. This  is a striking contrast between no deaths out of fifty and the reports by Harris in the A. M. A. journal, volume 72, page 978 where  he recorded 1,350 cases of ‘flu’ and pregnancy of which 54  per cent resulted fatally and 62 percent aborted.” [(L. A. Royal. Influenza and its results under homeopathic care in Central Iowa. //Iowa Homeopathic Journal// 1919-1920; 13: 194-198.)] In the survey from Harris in JAMA, out of 678 pregnant women with pneumonia 365 died.[(John W. Harris. Influenza occurring in pregnant women. //Journal of the American Medical Association// 1919; 72; 978-980.)]
-Also homeopaths had their share of difficult cases in pregnant women. Dr. Susan J. Fenton of Oakland reported several difficult cases with late stage pneumonia, as in this pregnant woman with double bronchial-pneumonia, “Mrs. H., mother of three, had been under another [allopathic]  physician’s care for one week when I was called. I found a  complication of seven-month pregnancy with double bronchial pneumonia, temperature, 102-103 degrees, pulse 110-120, respiration 50-60. The patient was unable to breathe except  by having the head rose on three pillows, mild delirium was  present, and great restlessness. She has no nurse except a  sister who attended her by day while the husband was at work, and he took care of her at night. On the eighth day, her baby was delivered, weighing four  pounds. A wet nurse was secured and the child is well and  thriving. Fortunately the lungs began to clear after delivery,  and while she made a slow recovery, she is now well.” She concluded, “I had thought my record pretty good with only one  death in 100 cases during the first epidemic, and none in the  same number of cases for the second, until I read in some  journal of one homeopath who reported 2,000 cases without  a single death.”[(79)]
+Also homeopaths had their share of difficult cases in pregnant women. Dr. Susan J. Fenton of Oakland reported several difficult cases with late stage pneumonia, as in this pregnant woman with double bronchial-pneumonia, “Mrs. H., mother of three, had been under another [allopathic]  physician’s care for one week when I was called. I found a  complication of seven-month pregnancy with double bronchial pneumonia, temperature, 102-103 degrees, pulse 110-120, respiration 50-60. The patient was unable to breathe except  by having the head rose on three pillows, mild delirium was  present, and great restlessness. She has no nurse except a  sister who attended her by day while the husband was at work, and he took care of her at night. On the eighth day, her baby was delivered, weighing four  pounds. A wet nurse was secured and the child is well and  thriving. Fortunately the lungs began to clear after delivery,  and while she made a slow recovery, she is now well.” She concluded, “I had thought my record pretty good with only one  death in 100 cases during the first epidemic, and none in the  same number of cases for the second, until I read in some  journal of one homeopath who reported 2,000 cases without  a single death.”[(Susan J. Fenton. Experiences during influenza epidemic. //Pacific Coast Journal of Homoeopathy// 1919; 30: 142-144.)]
 **Complications and Mortality Rates in Military versus Civilian Populations**
-Whether the percentage of complicated cases and the ensuing death rate were higher in the military versus the civilian population is not obvious at first glance. However, there are more indications that the mortality rate was overall actually higher in the civilian population, of which about 90% received allopathic treatment and 10% received homeopathic treatment. For instance, following the NIP, the Health Commissioner of Buffalo conducted a very thorough survey with more than 2,000 public school teachers at  his command for a house-to-house canvass. He was able to establish the fact that during the influenza epidemic practically all influenza cases in the city of Buffalo had been  reported. He wrote regarding the verification of their statistics, “Much has been said and  written about the inaccuracy of morbidity statistics  relative to influenza. … With 2,000 teachers at my command I was enabled  to accomplish much which otherwise would have  remained impossibility. First, I was enabled to  check up the reported cases. As a result of this comparison I found that fully 95 per cent of all the cases  were reported, the remaining 5 per cent, being practically those in which the patients were only slightly ill,  therefore deeming it unnecessary to call a physician, or  those in which, for some reason or other, it had been  impossible to obtain a physician.” Out of 31,842 cases of influenza and pneumonia there were 28,663 recoveries and 3,179 deaths, a mortality of 10%. [(80)]
+Whether the percentage of complicated cases and the ensuing death rate were higher in the military versus the civilian population is not obvious at first glance. However, there are more indications that the mortality rate was overall actually higher in the civilian population, of which about 90% received allopathic treatment and 10% received homeopathic treatment. For instance, following the NIP, the Health Commissioner of Buffalo conducted a very thorough survey with more than 2,000 public school teachers at  his command for a house-to-house canvass. He was able to establish the fact that during the influenza epidemic practically all influenza cases in the city of Buffalo had been  reported. He wrote regarding the verification of their statistics, “Much has been said and  written about the inaccuracy of morbidity statistics  relative to influenza. … With 2,000 teachers at my command I was enabled  to accomplish much which otherwise would have  remained impossibility. First, I was enabled to  check up the reported cases. As a result of this comparison I found that fully 95 per cent of all the cases  were reported, the remaining 5 per cent, being practically those in which the patients were only slightly ill,  therefore deeming it unnecessary to call a physician, or  those in which, for some reason or other, it had been  impossible to obtain a physician.” Out of 31,842 cases of influenza and pneumonia there were 28,663 recoveries and 3,179 deaths, a mortality of 10%. [(Franklin C. Gram. The influenza and its after-effects in the city of Buffalo. Journal of the American Medical Association 1919; 73: 886-891.)]
-These numbers are not dissimilar to the ones of another reliable larger scale report from the Public Health Service conducted in the District of Columbia: “The total number of cases of influenza reported to the Public Health Service from October 1, 1918 to February 1, 1919 was 33,719, and the total number of deaths from that disease was 2,215, a mortality of 6.6%. In addition to the number of deaths from influenza during this period, 680 deaths resulted from pneumonia, probably largely due also to influenza.”[(81)] Without including the pneumonia cases, the cases mortality rate is similar to the ones reported by the different armies. However, by including the pneumonia cases as it was done in the army, the mortality was significantly greater at 8.6%. Unfortunately, the statistics of the outcomes from both the homeopathic and allopathic health care are mixed together in this civilian population, and can’t be used for comparison. However, as the homeopaths had significantly less mortality throughout the country as well in the District of Columbia, as seen in the survey mentioned earlier, [(82)] the case mortality average for this civilian population would even be higher by subtracting the homeopathic outcome.
+These numbers are not dissimilar to the ones of another reliable larger scale report from the Public Health Service conducted in the District of Columbia: “The total number of cases of influenza reported to the Public Health Service from October 1, 1918 to February 1, 1919 was 33,719, and the total number of deaths from that disease was 2,215, a mortality of 6.6%. In addition to the number of deaths from influenza during this period, 680 deaths resulted from pneumonia, probably largely due also to influenza.”[(Annual Report of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia Year Ended June 30, 1919. Volume 3. Washington, 17-18.)] Without including the pneumonia cases, the cases mortality rate is similar to the ones reported by the different armies. However, by including the pneumonia cases as it was done in the army, the mortality was significantly greater at 8.6%. Unfortunately, the statistics of the outcomes from both the homeopathic and allopathic health care are mixed together in this civilian population, and can’t be used for comparison. However, as the homeopaths had significantly less mortality throughout the country as well in the District of Columbia, as seen in the survey mentioned earlier, [(Ernest F. Sappington. Discussion: Influenza: a favortable mortality and publicity. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy// 1919-20; 12: 588.)] the case mortality average for this civilian population would even be higher by subtracting the homeopathic outcome.
 **Percentages of Cases with Complications**
@@ Line 205: / Line 205: @@
 It is possible that homeopaths as a whole had less cases of influenza that developed complications (pneumonia, meningitis, etc.), as homeopathic treatment will prevent influenza from further progressing as soon it is implemented and will thus greatly prevent the incidence of complications.
-However, homeopaths did have their share of complicated cases as Dr. C. Martz of Fort Wayne, Indiana pointed out, “During the influenza epidemic I was busy day and night, treating the most serious and complicated conditions of this disease. However, throughout the entire run of the epidemic I had no serious developments of pneumonia, no bad ‘after effects’ of the disease, and not one death. This is sure proof of the efficiency of homeopathic treatment, as I treated all cases strictly homeopathically.”[(83)]
+However, homeopaths did have their share of complicated cases as Dr. C. Martz of Fort Wayne, Indiana pointed out, “During the influenza epidemic I was busy day and night, treating the most serious and complicated conditions of this disease. However, throughout the entire run of the epidemic I had no serious developments of pneumonia, no bad ‘after effects’ of the disease, and not one death. This is sure proof of the efficiency of homeopathic treatment, as I treated all cases strictly homeopathically.”[(C. Martz. Discussion. A study of the comparative value of the homeopathic treatment and other methods of treatment in lobar pneumonia. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy// 1922-1923; 15: 541-550.)]
-Similarly, the assumption that physicians didn’t see fulminant cases in the civil population is clearly contradicted by Dr. Royal H. S. Hayes’ experience, who wrote in the winter of 1919, “I would say that Waterbury [Connecticut] was one of the hardest-hit cities in the country and there were many cases of pneumonia here of that malignant type during October with occasional cases since. … Dr. George Royal furthermore says he studied but could not find a simillimum for these desperate cases.[(84)] If we turn to the Hahnemann’s provings of Cuprum metallicum, it will be seen that Cuprum metallicum is exactly the remedy. It has, in fact, checked many of the cases for me, and quickly, the cure being more rapid than the progress was downward, sometimes. If the condition is so far advanced that the rattling has become extensive in both lungs and the pulse above  120, Cuprum metallicum can only palliate, and often with borderline cases careful observation and dexterity is necessary to bring reactions to the viable point. I have had no experience with potencies lower than the 200th, preferring after some observation to hit hard at once with the 40 M or 50 M.”[(85)]
+Similarly, the assumption that physicians didn’t see fulminant cases in the civil population is clearly contradicted by Dr. Royal H. S. Hayes’ experience, who wrote in the winter of 1919, “I would say that Waterbury [Connecticut] was one of the hardest-hit cities in the country and there were many cases of pneumonia here of that malignant type during October with occasional cases since. … Dr. George Royal furthermore says he studied but could not find a simillimum for these desperate cases.[(Dr. Hayes was referring to Dr. George Royal who had previously reported that during the NIP he had difficulty finding the genius epidemicus, and recommended that homeopaths should never stop proving medicines in order to be able to face any upcoming contigencies (George Royal. Drug proving: why and how should homeopaths prove drugs. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy// 1918-1919; 11: 727-733).)] If we turn to the Hahnemann’s provings of Cuprum metallicum, it will be seen that Cuprum metallicum is exactly the remedy. It has, in fact, checked many of the cases for me, and quickly, the cure being more rapid than the progress was downward, sometimes. If the condition is so far advanced that the rattling has become extensive in both lungs and the pulse above  120, Cuprum metallicum can only palliate, and often with borderline cases careful observation and dexterity is necessary to bring reactions to the viable point. I have had no experience with potencies lower than the 200th, preferring after some observation to hit hard at once with the 40 M or 50 M.”[(Royal H. S. Hayes. Influenza: brief comments. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy// 1918-1919; 11: 846.)]
 In an article written in 1921, Dr. Hayes described several such cases with fulminant pneumonia he treated during the NIP, “ ‘Black’ cases and swift ensuing deaths raged in certain neighborhoods as if struck by overwhelming fate. Cuprum metallicum was the genius of the ‘Spanish’ strain of influenza here and often, turned the vitality streaming back where the apparently indicated Bryonia had not availed.
@@ Line 231: / Line 231: @@
 “A striking cure: Boy, 6 years. October 25th. Projectile vomiting, bloody. Sweaty and flushed all over. Beating frontal headache ameliorated by holding it with the cold hand. Averse to touch or motion. Delirium about his play; appears wild. Dozing and starting, escaping from bed. P. 144, T. 103. Belladonna 1 M, one dose (was not then familiar with Cuprum metallicum) That evening: active delirium, great muscular strength, could hardly be held down by two strong women, constant attempts to escape, constant stream of talking and screaming, tears running down face, drenched with sweat; insatiable thirst but taking only small drinks, pain in epigastrium, rapid running of tongue out and in, gnashing teeth, right lung involved. T. 106, P. about 160. Cuprum metallicum CM, one dose at noon. Next day his temperature was 100 and he was sitting at the table eating soup notwithstanding which he made a rapid recovery. His mother said that she could see him improve each hour until at night he fell asleep.
-“Cuprum metallicum made the most brilliant and sensational cures of severe or prolonged cases besides curing the mild ones at every turn. It is difficult to resist the temptation to report them but we will close by reporting one or two actions of the remedy in sequelae or imperfect recoveries. … There were many cases of debility persisting weeks or months after allopathic treatment presenting more or less clear symptoms for Cuprum metallicum and the remedy acted quite satisfactorily.”[(86)]
+“Cuprum metallicum made the most brilliant and sensational cures of severe or prolonged cases besides curing the mild ones at every turn. It is difficult to resist the temptation to report them but we will close by reporting one or two actions of the remedy in sequelae or imperfect recoveries. … There were many cases of debility persisting weeks or months after allopathic treatment presenting more or less clear symptoms for Cuprum metallicum and the remedy acted quite satisfactorily.”[(Royal H. S. Hayes. Using Cuprum in “flu,” etc. //Proceedings of the International Hahnemannian Association// 1921: 280-286.)]
-Mario DiCecco of Litchfield, Connecticut reported having discussed with his grand-father, Dr. Royal Hayes, the great influenza epidemic, and Dr. Hayes had told him that after losing a few cases at the beginning of the epidemic he discovered that Cuprum metallicum was the //genius epidemicus// for the area, and subsequently didn’t lose any more case in over 900 patients, of which 69 presented with the “malignant” type of pneumonia. [(87)]
+Mario DiCecco of Litchfield, Connecticut reported having discussed with his grand-father, Dr. Royal Hayes, the great influenza epidemic, and Dr. Hayes had told him that after losing a few cases at the beginning of the epidemic he discovered that Cuprum metallicum was the //genius epidemicus// for the area, and subsequently didn’t lose any more case in over 900 patients, of which 69 presented with the “malignant” type of pneumonia. [(Personal communication, July 5, 2013.)]
-It is known that patients, even in the most advanced and desperate state of pneumonia, or any other acute infections, will recover under the simillimum if it is properly administered. Dr. C. A. Dixon of Akron, Ohio described such a desperate case of pneumonia he saw being treated by a more experienced colleague during the NIP, “The patient was in complete collapse, jaw dropped, tongue black, breathing irregular, unconscious defecation, etc. A desperate case I think you will all admit. The homeopath who had it in charge did not resort to morphine, nor to digitalis, nor anything but the indicated remedy, which in that case we thought was Lycopodium. That was given I think in a 50 M. The lady made a complete recovery from that deathbed scene, and is now well, very much to the surprise of even the nurse who was on the case.”[(88)]
+It is known that patients, even in the most advanced and desperate state of pneumonia, or any other acute infections, will recover under the simillimum if it is properly administered. Dr. C. A. Dixon of Akron, Ohio described such a desperate case of pneumonia he saw being treated by a more experienced colleague during the NIP, “The patient was in complete collapse, jaw dropped, tongue black, breathing irregular, unconscious defecation, etc. A desperate case I think you will all admit. The homeopath who had it in charge did not resort to morphine, nor to digitalis, nor anything but the indicated remedy, which in that case we thought was Lycopodium. That was given I think in a 50 M. The lady made a complete recovery from that deathbed scene, and is now well, very much to the surprise of even the nurse who was on the case.”[(C. A. Dixon. Discussion. Some indicated remedies in pneumonia. //Central Journal of Homeopathy// 1921; 2 (7): 32-35.)]
 **Case Fatality in Pneumonia Cases**
-As we are more interested in pneumonia cases, not all returns from homeopaths separated the cases of pneumonia from the ones of uncomplicated influenza. However, there are a sufficient number of reports from homeopaths indicating the total numbers of influenza and pneumonia cases and deaths //with the same consistency of outcome//, as the following one from Dr. T. O. Barnhill of Findlay, Ohio, “We had a whirlwind in Ohio, which lasted until the first of January. I treated four hundred and fifty-five cases of influenza and twenty-six of pneumonia. I lost not a case.” [(89)]
+As we are more interested in pneumonia cases, not all returns from homeopaths separated the cases of pneumonia from the ones of uncomplicated influenza. However, there are a sufficient number of reports from homeopaths indicating the total numbers of influenza and pneumonia cases and deaths //with the same consistency of outcome//, as the following one from Dr. T. O. Barnhill of Findlay, Ohio, “We had a whirlwind in Ohio, which lasted until the first of January. I treated four hundred and fifty-five cases of influenza and twenty-six of pneumonia. I lost not a case.” [(T. O. Barnhill. Discussion: Influenza: a favoable mortality and publicity. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy// 1919-1920; 12: 595.)]
 **Comparative Records Between the Two Schools Within the Same Locality**
-When physicians were practicing in the same town with the exact same population this consistency of results is again observed, as it was reported by Dr. H. H. Crum of Ithaca, New York, “I had three hundred cases with one death. One good homeopathic doctor had two hundred and seventy- five cases and no deaths [0.17% mortality for the combined outcome from these two homeopathic physicians]. I am the health officer for the city of Ithaca and had all cases reported to me. In October and November 1918, twenty-four hundred cases of influenza were reported. Seventy-five died [3% mortality for the combined homeopathic and allopathic outcomes]. Of the twenty-four hundred cases, between nine and ten hundred were Cornell students, eight hundred of them belonging to the army. They were students of military tactics and all of them were cared for by army doctors. They were hospital cases. The dormitories were turned into hospitals. The treatment was entirely allopathic. Students of the army class were healthy but, even so, forty-five of the seventy-five deaths occurred among those nine hundred students [5% mortality]. Private patients fared much better. In going over the records of deaths, I found that I had but one death while the old school man next to me, who has patients of the same class as mine are, had fifteen deaths among the same number of cases. Think of it! Two hundred and ninety-four cases with fifteen deaths! [5% mortality] …  There are other homeopaths in Ithaca and we feel that we have a right to be proud of losing so few patients.”[(90)]
+When physicians were practicing in the same town with the exact same population this consistency of results is again observed, as it was reported by Dr. H. H. Crum of Ithaca, New York, “I had three hundred cases with one death. One good homeopathic doctor had two hundred and seventy- five cases and no deaths [0.17% mortality for the combined outcome from these two homeopathic physicians]. I am the health officer for the city of Ithaca and had all cases reported to me. In October and November 1918, twenty-four hundred cases of influenza were reported. Seventy-five died [3% mortality for the combined homeopathic and allopathic outcomes]. Of the twenty-four hundred cases, between nine and ten hundred were Cornell students, eight hundred of them belonging to the army. They were students of military tactics and all of them were cared for by army doctors. They were hospital cases. The dormitories were turned into hospitals. The treatment was entirely allopathic. Students of the army class were healthy but, even so, forty-five of the seventy-five deaths occurred among those nine hundred students [5% mortality]. Private patients fared much better. In going over the records of deaths, I found that I had but one death while the old school man next to me, who has patients of the same class as mine are, had fifteen deaths among the same number of cases. Think of it! Two hundred and ninety-four cases with fifteen deaths! [5% mortality] …  There are other homeopaths in Ithaca and we feel that we have a right to be proud of losing so few patients.”[(H. H. Crum. Discussion: Influenza: a favoable mortality and publicity. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy// 1919-1920; 12: 595.)]
 Dr. Martha I. Boger of Portsmouth, New Hampshire reported, “During the first  epidemic, I treated 531 cases with two deaths. One patient  committed suicide. The temperature had become normal, but  there was insanity in the family. The other patient was mahogany colored, having been pronounced as dying by the  regular physicians who preceded me. In spite of that, she  lived five days longer. Had I been a better prescriber, I believe she would have recovered.  In the second epidemic, I have not kept so close a record, but I have lost but one, also diagnosed by my predecessors as  hopeless. However, two other cases with similar verdict recovered. Dr. Stone of the Kittery, Portsmouth U. S. Sanitary  Zone, said that I had the lowest death record in the community. This sounds boastful, but I have openly declared  that it was not my luck, but the therapeutics which I have  practiced.” [(91)]

Legatum Homeopathicum

User Tools

Site Tools

Differences

Page Tools