Lac Caninum - General symptoms - Clarke

GENERAL

General

Bitch's Milk.

Lac caninum is not a novelty in remedies. "Dioscorides, Rhasis, Pliny, and Sextus recommended it for the removal of the dead foetus. Sammonicus and Sextus praise it in photophobia and otitis. Pliny claims that it cures ulceration of the internal os. It was considered an antidote to deadly poisons." (Quotation by Hering.) Hering adds that the remedy was revived by Reisig, of New York, who used it successfully in the treatment of diphtheria. After Reisig the remedy was used by Bayard and Swan, to whose indefatigable exertions we owe the present status of this medicine. Swan's potencies were prepared from Reisig's 17th. The provings were made with the 30th and upwards and are published in a little volume by Swan and Berridge. As in the case of Bufo Rana ^Bufo, Castor Equi ^Castor equi, and other remedies of ancient times, homoeopathy has stepped in to confirm the accuracy of the old observers. In the provings a large number of the symptoms were manifested in the region of the throat, the effects being diagnosed as actual diphtheria in some instances. It is in diphtheria, both as curative and prophylactic that Lac can. has won its greatest fame.

and the provings and clinical experience have developed a grand characteristic in this and other affections.

an alternation of sides, often very rapid. "Soreness of throat commences with a tickling sensation which causes constant cough then a sensation of a lump on one side, causing constant deglutition this condition entirely ceases, only to commence on the opposite side, and often alternates, again returning to its first condition.

these sore throats are very apt to begin and end with the menses." This "alternation of sides" once led me to the cure of an eczematous condition of the eyelids in a child. The child's aunt, who brought her to me, casually remarked that it often left one side entirely and went to the other and then back again. Lac can. cleared it up in a very short time. Rheumatic and other affections having this peculiarity of changing from side to side are very likely to be benefited by Lac can. From diphtheria, with its fetid discharges, it is not a far step to ozaena, and Lac can. has proved itself curative in a number of cases. Corners of mouth and alae nasi cracked. It has cured a case presenting the following characters Crusts under which grey matter forms. Throat bad, swallowing difficult.

mucous follicles swollen, covered with cream-coloured mucus. Nose bad.

feared destruction of bones. Bloody pus discharges several times a day. Bones of nose sore to pressure. In addition to the changing sides characteristics Lac can. has "Inflamed surfaces (of throat) glistening." The same appearance when found on ulcerated surfaces in the skin is a leading indication for Lac can. The mental symptoms are remarkable. One prover had delusions about snakes.

imagined she was surrounded by them.

was afraid to close her eyes at night for fear of being bitten by a large Bothrops Lanceolatus ^snake which she imagined was beside the bed. Awoke in the night with a sensation that she was lying on a large Bothrops Lanceolatus ^snake. After menses, imagined all sorts of things about snakes. These Bothrops Lanceolatus ^snake-symptoms led to a cure. E. T. Balch (H. P., x. 286) asked for advice in this case "Maud R., 10, demi-brunette, of healthy parents, one and a half years before fell forward and hurt her chest whilst playing. Nothing was thought of it at the time, but when brought to Dr. Balch she was pale, emaciated, capricious, no desire for play. Sleep disturbed by frightful dreams, during the day piteously begs her mother to take her, she is so afraid. She feels as though snakes were on her back. In response to advice tendered one dose of Lac. can. 50m. was given, dry, and in twenty-four hours the child became more lively and cheerful and very soon all abnormal sensations disappeared. Another mental curiosity which has proved a useful pointer is this "Imagines he wears some one else's nose." Restlessness, nervousness, and prostration appear in the provings and show the relation of the remedy to diphtheritic paralysis as well as to diphtheria itself. In one prover the symptoms occurred periodically agg. in morning of one day and agg. in afternoon of next. Wandering rheumatic pains. The sensation of lightness or levitation was noticed.

seemed to walk on air.

not to touch the bed when lying. Cannot bear one part of her body to touch another.

must even keep her fingers apart. The symptoms in general were agg. at night. Cold winds and cold, sharp air agg. Cold washing = pain in herpetic eruption. Cold application amel. pain in upper jaw and teeth.

and cold water gave momentary amel. to sore throat. Pains in ankles, forehead, and upper jaw were amel. by warmth. Rest and lying down amel. most symptoms.

motion agg. Flexion amel., extension agg. Going up and down stairs = pain in heart. Walking = leucorrhoea, agg. sores between labia and thighs. Touch agg. (external throat; breasts, causing sexual excitement). agg. After sleep. The Schema comprises both caused and cured symptoms.

the latter are bracketed or have the name of the disease in which they occurred appended in brackets.

Sharp lancinating pain, in a zigzag line from r. side of forehead to an indefinite point in occiput.

instantaneous, and sometimes repeated.

as soon as it is felt, she lays aside whatever she is doing and lies down, from an indefinite dread that it will return.

if at night, she goes to bed at once.

has great dread of the pain, though not very severe.

recurred for several days.

In morning throat very sore.

r. tonsil covered with ulcers and patches, which extended over palate and covered l. tonsil.

next day membrane extended across posterior wall of pharynx.

uvula elongated, accompanied by chilliness, high fever, pains in head, back, and limbs, great restlessness, and extreme prostration. This was pronounced to be "severe diphtheria," but it soon got well.

Terrible dyspnoea immediately after sleep, first on l. side of chest.

the dyspnoea compelled her to be lifted upright with violent exertion to get breath.

there was sharp pain in region of heart with each of these attacks.

after the medicine had but one attack of dyspnoea, and all the pain was referred to r. side of chest (acute rheumatism).

Menses scanty. terribly cross and impatient first day.

on second day, severe paroxysmal pains in uterine region, causing nausea.

occasional pain in l. ovarian region, passing about half-way down thigh, on upper part of it.

all these pains amel. by bending backwards.

pain and aching in r. lumbar region when leaning forwards (as in sewing) even for a short time.

entire amel. when bending back.

Sharp pains beginning in l. ovary, and darting like lightning either towards r. ovarian region, or else up l. side and down arm, or sometimes down both thighs.

but generally down l. leg to foot, which is numb, pains like labour-pains.

accompanied by great restlessness of legs and arms, and great aching in lumbar region.

(5th d. after premature labour).

(Articular rheumatism in r. hip and knee-joints, esp. former; she was seated in an armchair, unable to move, complaining of bruised, smarting, lancinating pains in both joints and in lumbar region with swelling of affected joints; pains agg. by slightest motion at night; by touch and by pressure of bed clothes; next day pains and swelling had gone to l. hip and knee joints, leaving r. almost free; the ensuing day they had almost entirely disappeared from l. hip and knee-joints and had again attacked r. hip and knee; complaining, moaning, and sighing on account of her sufferings and probable termination of her illness).