symptoms except those diagnostic of the pneumonia, but she was so weak that the muscles of the face fell to the side lain on, and her jaw dropped a little; she was in a partial stupor. A dose of sulphur was given first; this seemed to rouse her vitality and strengthen the failing pulse, but had little effect on the pneumonia. Symptoms given after this were: sharp, shooting pains in the head; cough loose, racking, very wearing, with constant rattling in the throat; expectoration thick, white, tough, easy, but unable to raise all the mucus, restless, but too weak to move much; thirst marked; skin dark and bluish, palms of hands dark red; tongue very dry and white; soreness all through the body a very troublesome symptom. Arsenic was tried first, without result, and the patient grew weaker. Then phosphorus, 1m., was given, 2 doses 2 hours apart. Improvement was steady from this time, all the symptoms clearing up by Jan. 10th. She was down stairs the first time on Jan. 26th, and her friends say she looks better than for several months. She had six doses of phosphorus during eighteen days.

Another patient had not had her chronic remedy, sulphur, since Nov., 1906, but had felt a growing need of it for three weeks when she had a severe attack of grippe beginning Dec. 28th. She always is severely ill when she gets down with anything acute, but I think if she had had a dose of sulphur when her chronic ai!ments first returned, this illness might have been prevented. As it was, it lasted two weeks with terrible facial neuralgia and catarrh extending into the frontal sinuses and the Antrum of Highmore on the right side (where she has had trouble before this through the root of a tooth); also racking cough; neuralgia in left shoulder and arm and severe pain in head and eyes. On Jan. 13th the attack was declining rapidly, but she was too weak to do more than drag herself downstairs once a day. She was given sulphur, 55m., that day, and returned to work on the 16th; on the 22nd she reported great improvement in strength and chronic ailments as well, and looked like a different person. This case illustrates the severity of the attack coming when the chronic remedy is needed, but has not been given, and the rapidity of improvement when such a remedy is given after the attack.

In another group of three cases, in which the patient has been under chronic treatment for a long time and had improved

to the point of needing medicine only at comparatively long in tervals the attack of grippe, which was sharp but not long lasting, seemed to bring back the old chronic troubles in an intensity not known since the early part of the treatment of the case. And in all three instances, the patient has seemed to respond poorly or not at all to the remedies which were decidedly beneficial before the acute attack. In one patient the trouble is haemorrhoids in obstinate form. In another, suppression of menses, is the chief complaint, with a large variety of deep-seated symptoms accompanying the condition. There had not been such a suppression before for two or three years, though this had been an obstinate ailment earlier in life. The third is a bad case of onanism engrafted on a deeply psoric constitution.

Two cases occurring during these weeks might lead one to wonder whether they could be grippe, because the grippe remedies seemed called for. In one patient, the languor, heaviness, numbness, soreness in cervical region and pain in occiput, vertigo, severe lumbar aching, thick tongue and drowsiness, were al! the symptoms observed. Gelsemium cured so quickly that this lady said she felt for two days as if she were walking on air. The same condition returned in about ten days, and was relieved promptly by the same medicine. There were no catarrhal symptoms and no cough. Was this grippe?

The other condition was an acute inflammation of the sublingual gland ending in suppuration and spontaneous rupture into the mouth. All the local and general symptoms seemed like mercurius and this remedy brought speedy relief. The patient had never had anything of the kind before, and had had dental work done in the fall. Her dentist found no trouble with any of her teeth on thorough examination after this attack. A curious condition remaining after the swelling had declined was numbness of the lower lip to the middle line and partial paralysis of the lip to be observed in talking and chewing. This condition was quickly helped by gelsemium, and this fact adds to the interest of this case as a possible form of grippe.

One more case, occurring after the height of the epidemic. is interesting because a remedy apparently very well indicated failed entirely and one of the most frequently used grippe rem

edies cured quickly. The symptoms were: a tight, racking cough caused by almost constant tickling in the throat, felt in middle of right chest anteriorly and in spot low in right chest almost in liver region and extending from there to the back and up to the angle of right scapula. The back was very sore in this one spot. The face and hands were yellowish; the throat was raw sore; there was much restlessness; also headache, worse on coughing; soreness all over; sneezing frequently and painful toothache and earache; also profuse night sweats. The patient looked very ill, but had no fever at all. She was thirsty, and she dreaded the cough because it hurt her so much. Chelidonium was tried at first, with confidence, but it failed completely. It was not until later that the desire to hold the side on coughing was observed, and the desire to lie on the right side. Then bryonia was given, with as good results as could be desired.

Thus it seems as if several side lights can be thrown upon an epidemic by studying any related cases occurring during that epidemic; and as if a study of the remedies called for by most of the cases reveals the characteristic symptoms of the disease in question. If such a discussion is any help toward meeting the next wave of grippe, it will have served its purpose. Washington, D. C., February 4th, 1908.

PNEUMONIA.

By Roy C. Fisher, M.D.

I have chosen this subject for the reason that so many socalled homeopaths, who spend but little time on their materia medica, partially believe what their allopathic brothers tell them, i. e., "There is but little, if any, benefit derived from medicine in the treatment of pneumonia.'

I will not give nor discuss the etiology, pathology, morbid anatomy, physical signs, or the symptoms of the different varieties of pneumonia, as these are easily obtained from any good book on lung diseases; besides, it would make the article too long to be interesting.

My object is to try and present to the medical profession that there are drugs that greatly help in the treatment of pneumonia, and further, there is no drug that can be considered a specific in the treatment of this dreaded disease. They always begin with veratrum viride, or aconite or bryonia or ferrum phos. phoricum or antimonium tart., or another remedy. No two cases are exactly alike, and will perhaps need a different remedy.

Do I believe in diagnosis? Certainly and emphatically 1 do. That is why I so carefully quiz and examine my patients

before I prescribe. Many times I pick up the little child in my arms and watch it for several minutes to get its peculiarities before I feel satisfied with my remedy. Many physical signs are as important in guiding us to our selecting a curative remedy as the peculiar kinds of pains the patient tells us about. You cannot be too careful in getting the history of your patient. On arriving at the bedside, one should thoroughly pass over the entire field of symptomatology that can possibly be connected with pneumonia. Do not say you are too busy to do this. It will gain for you patients, and by being more careful in selecting your remedy, you will not be called upon to return to your patient so often.

By palpation, percussion, auscultation and inspection we find out the exact stage the disease is in. You notice the affected expansion, you get the decreased or increased fremitus, and increased dullness by percussion, and the spectroscope gives you the kind of rales present.

What is the nature of the pain? Is it dull, cutting, shooting, burning, etc.? What relieves and aggravates the pain? What time of day or night is the pain better or worse? What part of the lung is affected by the pain? When is the fever the highest?

What affects the fever?

Is the body dry or moist?

Is the patient thirsty with fever, and what drink and how much satisfies him? What about the cough? Is it barking, exhausting, tight, loose, racking, persistent, rattling, or painful? When is the cough worse or better and what aggravates and relieves it?

On examining the sputum do you find it yellow, frothy, stringy, purulent, bloody or rusty?

The patient may be able to tell you is it salty or bitter, or sweet or inkish. When does the patient expectorate the most? See if the respirations are shallow, catching, gasping, short, rattling or painful.

Watch closely for complications of

First-Empyema, which is manifested by rapid rise in temperature, chills, sweats, and dullness over affected area;

Second-Oedema, which gives you the following symptoms: coarse, bubbling rales, cyanosis, dyspnea, and watery, frothy expectoration;

Third-Emphysema. Here again you find intense dyspnoea, no tubular breathing, and an affected heart;

Fourth-Leaving the lungs we examine the heart for complications of endocarditis and pericarditis. Is the pulse thready.

strong, fast, intermittent or slow? Do you find palpitation? When? You should watch the kidney symptoms for signs of Bright's disease; the liver for congestion; the joints for arthritis, and the digestive tract for its disturbances. Let us now look for some of the most important symptoms of the case, viz.: the mental symptoms. If you find delirium, learn its peculiarities. What illusions, delusions and hallucinations do you find? What excites or relieves these? Has patient any fears? How has this sickness affected your patient's disposition? What are his aversions and likes? How does change of weather affect your patient? What time of day is he better or worse. How do strangers affect him?

Thoroughly quiz your patient and family until you have struck "rock bottom.' Then apply your materia medica, and if you prescribe according to the homeopathic law, no undertaker is needed.

Before taking up the discussion of separate remedies I will give you some repertory work principally from that masterly work of Doctor Kent's.

Don't say again, this is too slow. It is the only way of find. ing out what remedies possess the particular individual symptoms most prominent in the case. Too many of us get in the "routine rut." One man tells us to begin with veratrum viride, another aconite, another ferrum phos., another bryonia, and so on. I emphatically claim that all are wrong. You should begin with the indicated remedy.

For example, I was called last week to see five different cases of pneumonia, and I began each case with a different remedy, because their individual symptoms were calling for them. (I may add that all are doing nicely, too.) Some claim that ferrum phos., aconite and bryonia are only indicated in the first stage. Again, let me cross their trail and say, "Any remedy, whether a surface remedy or not, will always act if it is indicated, and it will bring about a cure." To illustrate this point, I brought a brother doctor to potential homeopathy by curing his wife of membranous dysmemorrhoea with the 1000th potency of chamomilla. At the time I thought, and was told by one of our greatest prescribers, that I would be compelled to go to a "deeper remedy," but nearly two years have passed, and yet a perfect cure. "Dig" for the indicated remedy regardless of all things.

The first remedies I use under each symptom are considered by me the most important.

1.-Sharp, stitching pains on inspiration:-bryonia; phosphorus, squilla, kali carb., bovista ferrum phosphoricum hyoscyamus, kreosote, mercurius, pulsatilla, natrum muriaticum.