Nux Vomica.

This old remedy served a certainly useful purpose for me in a case recently treated. Mr. S. had suffered some time from paralysis. He was sixty-six years old and his mind was somewhat impaired.

The condition for which I was called was to relieve the bowels, which were moving too freely. In fact, he had lost control of them. The movements during the night were involuntary. He complained of some pain in the abdomen; the tongue was broad with a yellowish coat; the skin was pale; the reflexes were exaggerated.

I prescribed fifteen drops of specific nux vomica in four ounces of water and advised that a teaspoonful be given every hour at first, then every two hours as the condition of the bowels improved. The first dose was given at five o'clock p. m., and at eight o'clock he was allowed to rest.

I have since heard through his son that the fecal incontinence has not returned, but was satisfactorily controlled with the small quantity of the medicine which the patient took.

S. W. MORELAND, M. D.

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