Therapeutic Notes.

BROSE S. HORNE, M. D., GAS CITY, INDIANA

Nothing is more encouraging to a physician than to have his therapeutic endeavors rewarded. A short time ago a man came into my office much distressed from a cough which had persisted for some time. He had some fever. There were sharp, cutting pains in the chest with rales and night sweats. The peculiar thing about the cough—and it was for the relief of the cough he had consulted me—which impressed me was that the cough always ended in gagging, and after a meal he would vomit. His tongue was red and pointed. I thought of ipecac. For the sharp, cutting pain in the chest I gave bryonia. I prescribed as follows: Ipecac sp., drops xx; bryonia sp., drops viii; water, q. s. ad oz. iv. Mix. Take a teaspoonful every hour. I met the man on the street a few days after, and he said: "I am feeling fine."

I have found ipecac indicated in any cough ending in gagging and vomiting.

C. G., aged 34. Was confined to his home with what he called grip. The temperature was 101.5° F., pulse 100. The marked symptoms were, severe frontal headache, worse on motion; eyeballs sore. These symptoms indicated bryonia. The tongue was large, showing marks of the teeth (indicating nux vomica). I gave him bryonia, drops viii; nux vomica, drops x; aqua, q. s. ozs. iv. Mix. One teaspoonful every hour. After taking the third dose, the headache, which was his distressing symptom, had disappeared. This patient had taken several kinds of medicine before without any relief whatever. I gave him no aconite or veratrum. I ignored fever except for the influence of the bryonia.

Mrs. J. H. called me in as I was passing. She told me she had been having a sore throat for several days, but at the present time she complained of an intense burning in the mouth and throat. Examination revealed a redness of the mucous membranes of the tongue, mouth and throat. The tongue was pointed, with that peculiar redness of the papillae of the tip of the tongue which indicates rhus tox. I gave her rhus tox., drops v; aqua, q. s. ozs. iv. Mix. Take a teaspoonful every hour. This resulted in complete relief.

Mollie E., age 18, primipara. I was called at 2:30 P. m. to attend the lady in confinement. I found her very nervous and with severe pain. I gave her a hypodermic of one-half dose of H-M-C compound, Abbott's. Instructing the nurse to call me when the labor had made sufficient progress. I was called at 11:20 P. M., the same evening. I found upon examination that the patient was doing well. I gave another injection of one-half dose of the H-M-C compound. The patient gave birth to a 9.5-pound girl at 3:30, a. m., without any pain whatever. The medicine acted fine. In fact, it was simply marvelous to see the patient having strong labor pains, one after another, and if she was asked if she was suffering any, her reply would be, no. This case was a protracted one, and I am satisfied that without this compound there would have been many nerve-trying experiences.

Ellingwood's Therapeutist, Vol. 2, 1908, was edited by Finley Ellingwood M.D.