XXXVI.

Cases of Dystocia.

By S. C. KNICKERBOCKER, M. D.

CASE I.

Mrs. W., aged thirty-three, of lymphatic temperament, light hair and skin, blue eyes; general condition that of health; was in her second confinement, and I had been called upon to attend the patient when I learned that she had been in labor for three days, seeming to make little or no progress. The physician who was first called had said, "Nothing can be done, nature must have her course," and had left. On examination, found the head of the fœtus resting upon the os uteri, which was undilated, and felt to the touch as hard and unyielding as a piece of ivory. I explained to the exhausted and anxious patient and the friends present, in a few words, the cause of the delay.

Prepared belladonna in water, and ordered a dessert spoonful to be given every half hour till three doses were taken, and then to omit medicine until I returned, which I promised to do in two hours.

On my return, found the os well dilated, the parts all in a favorable condition, and labor progressing; and within two hours more, a perfect and finely developed child was brought into the world; but still-born, of course.

CASE II.

Was called to attend Mrs. C. A. W., aged about twenty-three, primipara, of nervo-sanguine temperament, very fleshy, with a very small osseous development.

On examination found the neck of the womb dilated, the os dilating, and the soft parts generally in good condition, but the pelvic straits so narrow that I apprehended a tedious labor, though not such a lingering one as it ultimately proved to be.

The pains soon became regular, not very severe, and with sufficient time between each to allow the rest, and everything went on favorably for about twelve hours, when the pains began to abate in frequency and force, and finally died away altogether. I was sur

prised and startled, but after careful examination found there was no real exhaustion nor failing of strength. The pulse was firm and regular. The patient soon sank into a quiet slumber.

My attention had been arrested by the fact that the labor pains had been mostly in the back. I determined to give nux vomica, and prepared the thirtieth dilution in water, and administered two doses, half an hour apart, and awaited its action. The pains returned but slightly. Then prepared nux vom.2, and gave a dessert spoonful, and in less than two minutes the pains returned with full force and frequency, and so continued for about twelve hours, when they gradually died away again.

Another dose of nux vom. renewed the pains, and so they continued to intermit and to be renewed by the above remedy every twelve hours, until Saturday morning, about ninety hours subsequent to the commencement of labor. At this time the contest ended by

a lifeless foetus being forced into the world, resembling in form a housemaid's rolling-pin, more than anything human.

XXXVII.

Case of Ovarian Tumor Cured by Calcarea.

By CHARLES SUMNER, M. D.

In May, 1865, I was called to visit Mrs. K., aged forty, tall, slender, dark hair and eyes, and of dark complexion; married, but had no children. Menses regular, but rather scanty and painful.

The patient had been suffering for two years or more with a dull, aching, uneasy sensation, and some soreness in the right inguinal region, and was considerably emaciated. Had been treated for a year and a half by a physician of another school, and had been confined to the bed more than half the time for the past year.

On examination discovered a hard, smooth tumor, about the size of a quart bowl, quite prominent in the right iliac region, which I decided to be an ovarian tumor.

As there seemed now to be no acute inflammatory action, gave lachesis twice a week, and continued the treatment six months. I then examined the tumor again, and found its size had not increased since the first examination, and that it presented about the same appearance in every way as at first. The patient then went back to the other treatment, and I lost sight of the case for two years, when to my surprise I was called to visit her again.

An eminent surgeon had been consulted, and pronounced the disease an ovarian tumor, and said the only remedy was to remove it by a surgical operation; leaving it for the patient to set the time, and let him know.

I now examined the case again, it being two years and a half since I first met the patient, and found the tumor to be about three times as large as when I first examined it, appearing quite firm and hard. I expressed a desire to make one more trial with medicine, to which she readily assented, as she dreaded an operation with the knife.

The remedy selected was calcarea carb., one grain every evening, which was continued for three months. The tumor now appeared to be about the same size, but softer and more yielding. Calcarea was continued three months longer, once a week, at night. The tumor had now diminished in size, was quite soft and flabby.

This gave

courage to persevere, and the same remedy was continued six months longer, once a week, making one year that the patient was under

treatment.

There was now no hardness and very little fullness. The patient seemed to be so nearly well, that treatment was discontinued. It is now a year and a half since the last medicine was given. I saw the lady a few days ago; remains perfectly well; menstruates regularly, and is now forty-five years of age; expresses great delight that she has recovered by taking medicine, and the surgeon thereby cheated out of his splendid operation.

XXXVIII.

Case of Leucorrhoea Cured by Sepia.

By CHARLES SUMNER, M. D.

On the fourteenth of October last, I was called to see a delicate little girl, five years of age. The countenance was pale and waxen, the body emaciated, appetite gone, and strength rapidly decreasing. On questioning the mother, I ascertained that the child had been afflicted for the past fifteen months, with an unceasing and most terribly exhausting leucorrhoea. The discharge was sometimes thick, and of a yellowish-green color, sometimes thin, and always very profuse, running through the night dress, the sheet, and down into the mattress on which she lay at night. Soon after the discharge first appeared, the family physician was consulted, who treated the case as of very little importance; but after five or six months had elapsed, finding the symptoms aggravated instead of better, the parents became very anxious, and entreated the doctor to give the case his serious attention, which he did for three months, without the least benefit.

Another physician was then consulted, who treated the case two or three months with no better results. A third physician was consulted, who treated her two months, without the least benefit. case was now even worse than ever.

2c

The

The mother said the allopathic physicians had been given a fair trial, and now wanted to know what homoeopathy could do. I selected sepia, and gave a few pellets every third night for four weeks, when the discharge entirely ceased, and there is now not a vestige of the disease remaining. She has a splendid appetite, and is looking much more healthy and vigorous.