Hughes The first

We cannot think of Richard without thinking of J. P. Dake. time we met them was when they were at Atlantic City at the International meeting in 1891. The meeting of the Materia Medica bureau of that year was memorable. Fearlessly did these two men strive for the adoption of a pure Materia Medica-a real, true "Materia Medica Pura." And as fearlessly did they denounce the too-prevailing habit of loose, careless, lazy prescribing. As co-partners they worked in the development of that book which stands for them a monument more grand and enduring than one of granite and bronze, "The Cyclopedia of Drug Pathogenesy." As Dudley says, "It requires no prophetic vision to foretell that its pages will be even more frequently explored at the end of the twentieth century than at its beginning." * * *

The last time we saw J. P. Dake was as we landed from the Market Street ferry at Philadelphia on our way home and climbed the hill together. But we were fortunate in a rather closer relationship with Richard Hughes during a six months' stay in London in 1896, the year of the second International Congress. He was then the most active of the active members of the

British Homeopathic Society. He was present at its every meeting, always with something of more than passing interest to offer. He was as enthusiastic as a Materia Medica expounder as others in their presentation of surgical subjects. There seemed no reason why he should not live many years. But at sixty-six he has been called; his work is finished. What might have been accomplished by him had he been permitted to live ten years longer, no one knows-but his would certainly have been a powerful influence in stimulating to a greater development the revival of interest in our Materia Medica which marks the present period.

THE INSTITUTE MEETING.

As we write we are in the midst of a multitude of duties in connection with the coming of the Institute. Before this number comes from the printer the sessions

will have begun. We are expecting a tremendous gathering, "the biggest ever." Certainly the Local Committee has done its work well-has made every effort to tell Homeopathic physicians everywhere that the meeting is to be held, and to invite them to be here. It has had the cooperation of an energetic committee of ladies in its efforts to provide entertainment for the visitors. There is every indication that success will follow.

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A word as to the May issue of the "Reporter." A copy was sent to every member of the Institute, and to several thousand who are not members.-The Editors made particular efforts to make it an "American Institute Special," which would be a souvenir worthy of preservation. Many words of congratulation have reached us, and we are as near content as we can be. We are never content with anything short of perfection.

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We are expecting to have in the July issue a report in detail of the proceedings of the Institute. The number will be issued as early in the month as possible.

MUNICIPAL SANITATION.

One of the most important of the committees appointed by President Goulder of the Chamber of Commerce is that which has been given the above title. It is a new departure, this year being the first that such a committee has been appointed. It consists of two lawyers and five physicians, one of the physicians being chair

man.

In outlining the scope of its work, the chairman found a tremendously large field. From a great abundance of material he finally chose four subjects for presentation to the committee for consideration. The first of these is the present code of laws governing the health board of this city.

It is conceded by the health officers that these laws do not bear comparison in regard to efficiency with the laws of any city in the country. They are woefully deficient and as a result the authorities are

handicapped in their efforts to cope with disease and its causes. The committee hopes to be able to afford the health officer valuable assistance in his efforts to have the laws revised and placed upon a better plane.

A second subject for consideration is the paving and cleaning of the streets. There are in the down town district many short, intersecting streets which are unpaved. The consequence of this is that the adjoining paved streets are kept continuously covered with dirt which has been carried there by the horses and wagons using the same. It is a notorious and disagreeable fact that very few of the smaller streets are cleaned regularly unless such cleaning is paid for by the residents along the street. It is not necessary to discuss the possibilities for harm associated with a street which has not been cleaned for perhaps a year. It is hoped by the committee that some way may be found to remedy this condition of affairs.

The third subject to be considered is the school house. A sub-committee was instructed to see the Director of Schools with the idea of co-operating with him in his efforts to correct deficiencies in the sanitary arrangements in the schools. The committee expects to take into consideration the subjects of ventilation, proper proportion of air space per pupil, basement rooms, cloak rooms, facilities for drinking, etc., etc. Much good can certainly be accomplished by well-directed efforts.

Other subjects were discussed and at least a part of the field of work was thoroughly mapped out. It is hoped that when the time comes to report progress, something substantial may be shown to have resulted from the Summer's work.

STILL VOTING FOR JACKSON. And that means that there is at least one man in this United States who is looking at life through glasses three-quarters of a century old, and consequently fails to realize that he is not the only-but

"And it is to laugh," if it were not a very serious thing that the executive of one of the most prominent medical colleges fails to recognize the fact that homeopathic colleges are on a par in their facilities with the best of the allopathic schools.We do not intend to go into any discussion of the merits and demerits of this particular situation, but when homeopathic post graduates are admitted to practically every college in the world, when the Association of American Medical Colleges ruled "that it is proper to accept for advanced standing students from any college if found qualified upon examination," when graduates of homeopathic colleges find a warm welcome to professional chairs in allopathic colleges, when allopathic physicians and professors attend sessions of homeopathic medical societies, then it ill becomes this one man, great though he be or think himself to be, to set himself up as a censor and refuse to admit to postgraduate work a homeopath simply because he is a homeopath.-So far, however, we have not heard that the sun has stopped in its course, nor has Hahnemann of Philadelphia shut its doors or gone out of business.

If it were worth while we would beg the afore-mentioned dean to get out of the shadow of the dark ages and let some of the glorious sunshine of the twentieth century shine upon him.

THE INDICATIONS FOR ANTITOXINE IN DIPHTHERIA.

By Geo. E. Gorham, Albany, N. Y.*

I have had the opportunity to use Antitoxine in only nine cases of diphtheria during the last four years, but it seemed to me that the results were so pronounced and decided that to record them would aid in solving the problem, "When is Antitoxine indicted in the treatment of diphtheria."

The first case, a boy of four years, had been treated with Bromine inhalations, Mercurius cyanide and Kali bichromicum as they seemed indicated for four days, when two thousand units of Antitoxine were given. No improvement followed and the patient died forty-eight hours afterwards. This was a severe case of laryngeal diphtheria and considered almost hopeless when the Antitoxine was given.

Case 2nd, was five days old when I saw it and was one of the severest types of diphtheria, the swelling of the neck extended on to the chest nearly to the nipple line. An ichorous discharge from the nose, great restlessness with difficult breathing, and a dark gray coating covering the tonsils and uvula, were the prominent symptoms to be observed. Fifteen hundred units of Antitoxine were given. The next day there was less swelling, a lower temperature, better breathing and the deposit of the throat coming away freely. But the patient was growing weaker and died two days afterwards, seemingly of exhaustion as the diphtheritic symptoms namely, the swelling and the exudation decreased markedly after the injection.

Case 3rd. I saw late in the evening of June 18th, a child who had been well during the day but at night complained of a sore throat, and some fever. The tonsils were somewhat swollen. The next morning, June 19th, the tonsils were badly swollen, large patches of gray exudate were scattered over them with consider

able swelling of the glands of the neck. I suspected diphtheria and prescribed for her belladonna and Proto iodide of mercury, took the culture from the throat and the report was returned to me next morning from the Bender Laboratory that I was dealing with a pure case of diphtheria. At 1:30 p. m. the temperature was one hundred and two and five-tenths, the pulse was one hundred and forty and all the diphtheritic symptoms, the swelling and the coating had markedly increased and there was added to it prostration and restlessness, discharge from the nose and the disagreeable odor so often observed in diphtheria. At this juncture or thirty-six hours after the appearance of the first symptoms I injected fifteen hundred units of Antitoxine. At 6:30, or five hours later, the temperature was one hundred and one-tenth, the pulse one hundred and twenty, the child less prostrated and said she felt better. Swelling had not increased, neither had the exudate upon the tonsils. At 10 a. m. the next day, June 20th, the temperature was ninety-nine and fourtenths, pulse one hundred and four. The child felt bright and happy. A marked decrease in the swelling about the neck and much less exudate to be seen in the throat. At six p. m. the same day the temperature was one hundred and onetenth, the pulse one hundred and the throat symptoms all much improved. The next day, June 21st, at one p. m., the pulse was seventy-six, temperature ninety-nine, very little exudate visible. June 22nd, 11 a. m., the pulse seventy-six, temperature ninety-nine, child feeling well, no deposit to be seen. June 23rd, 11 a. m., pulse seventy-two and temperature ninetyeight, swelling in the tonsils and neck practically gone. Child had slept all night, had relished a good breakfast, bright and happy and anxious to get out of bed. Was allowed to get up the next day and has been perfectly well since.

*Read at the semi-annual meeting of the New York State Homeopathic Medical Society.

The next case I saw one afternoon and prescribed for what I thought was a case of follicular tonsilitis. The father called the next morning and said the child was better and I need not call. Two days after I was called to see the child for croup-I believed it a case of laryngeal diphtheria and gave 1500 units of Antitoxine at once. The culture taken proved the correctness of the diagnosis. This child improved rapidly and recovered in four days.

I found at the same visit an older sister very ill with all the symptoms of malignant diphtheria and gave her 2000 units of Antitoxine. There was marked improvement in twelve hours and complete recovery in four days.

Case Six. A washer-woman cared for her own child who died of laryngeal diphtheria. Went to a neighboring house, picked up and played with a little girl three years of age. A few days afterwards I saw the child. It was a well developed case of diphtheria. Antitoxine was given at once, fifteen hundred units. The diagnosis was confirmed by bacteriological examination. It was quite a severe case, but recovered in about ten days.

Case Seven. At my first visit an older child in the same family was sent to its grandmother's, a few blocks away. Three days afterwards I was asked to see this Ichild in the afternoon. He was seen for me by a medical friend, who reported sore throat and fever. I saw the boy the next morning. The face had a dark purplish hue, the neck was badly swollen on either side, tonsils swollen and well studded with diphtheritic exudate, pulse 130, temperature 102, drooling from the mouth, discharge from the nose. The child was dull and listless. I have seldom seen a child so prostrated. He was immediately put in a carriage and sent to his home and put into a room with the other patient where we had a good trained nurse. Fifteen hundred units of Antitoxine injected. Bacteriological examination confirmed the diagnosis in this case. In three days' time this boy was well, all symptoms of diphtheria having disappeared.

The eighth, Kittie G., was treated for

two days for a sore throat when I was called to see her and found a pronounced case of diphtheria. Fifteen hundred units of Antitoxine was given, culture taken which confirmed the diagnosis. Marked improvement in all symptoms were noticed the next day and the child was entirely well in five days. In this house I sent also the only other child to the home of friends. Three days after the father brought the child to my office in the evening, as she complained of headache and sore throat. The fauces were red and there was slight febrile action. The following morning I was unable to diagnose diphtheria. The tonsils were badly swollen but no exudate. Temperature 103, pulse 130 and headache. Child complained of feeling very sick. At my next call at four in the afternoon of the same day the child was sleeping and breathing with a rattling snore. An ichorous discharge from the nose, drooling from the mouth upon the pillow and the neck swollen. The tonsils

now showed the characteristic deposit, also the uvula. I gave fifteen hundred units of Antitoxine. The next morning I repeated the dose, as the patient was not much improved. In 36 hours after the first dose there was no discharge from the nose, no deposit to be seen and the swelling was more than half gone. This was a severe and rapidly developing case of diphtheria and it was arrested like putting water on fire and the child well in four days from the time of attack.

From this experience I am of the opinion that Antitoxine is indicated in any and all cases of diphtheria and that if a good preparation is given during the first 36 hours of the disease it is nearer a universal specific than any other known remedy for any other disease. And to him who says we should individualize, and give the homeopathic remedy, I would say that Antitoxine in diphtheria is the best scientific demonstration of the truth of Hahnemann's theory that can be produced. Whether it be homeopathic or not, it cures this dread disease and he who fails to give it fails to do the best thing known for his patient. To him who fails with its use, I'd say, "Con

sider the possibility of the inertness of the preparation or the lateness in giving before you condemn it." I believe it to be the duty of every physician to have in his office the improved Antitoxine syringe in a perfectly aseptic condition and have his druggist always able to supply him with a good Antitoxine at a moment's notice.

SOME OF THE MOODS AND CONTRADICTIONS OF THE MATERIA MEDICA.

By Alvan L. Waltz, M. D., Professor of Materia Medica, Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College. Our best prescribers are those who carefully take note of every symptom manifested by disease, especially those that are peculiar and marked. These symptoms should all be guide-posts directing the physician to the homeopathic remedy. The Homeopathic law of cure presupposes properly proven remedies, having certain definite symptoms which must correspond to the symptoms of disease. It is my purpose to give you some marked and peculiar symptoms which will find their similars in various diseased conditions. The text of this paper, if such an expression is allowable, is found under Ignatia, the great remedy of moods and contradictions. By moods we mean a "temporary or capricious state or condition of the mind in regard to passion or feeling," so that we have changeable moods, irritable moods, tearful moods, melancholy moods, suspicious moods, sensitive moods, suicidal moods, apprehensive moods, etc.

Ignatia, I believe, of all the remedies has the most of these. A study of the remedy will disclose the fact that it has the changeable, sad, melancholy, tearful and irritable moods. It also has seemingly contradictory moods; at one time jesting and laughing, and then immediately changing to sadness and shedding of tears. The sadness and shedding of tears would make us think of Pulsatilla. In Ignatia, however, these moods are the result of recent grief and trials. She is not demonstrative but rather silent, bearing her grief with composure and suffering. With these conditions will frequently be found the confirmatory symptoms usually pre

sent in hysteria. Pulsatilla has somewhat similar moods, with this difference, that in Pulsatilla there is not apt to be a history of great grief. They are sad, cry easily, make a great ado about their suffering, and enjoy and seek consolation. The Natrum Muriaticum patient has the sad, tearful mood, like Pulsatilla, but she detests sympathy, is aggravated by it, prefers to be alone, like Nux Vomica.

Phosphoric acid has the sad and tearful moods, but they are the result of griefs of long standing, hence it is indicated in chronic effects of grief. The patients are listless and indifferent, a condition frequently the result of disappointed love, sexual excesses and loss of seminal fluids. Arsenicum has the sad and tearful mood and is differentiated from the other remedies by the restlessness and anxiety peculiar to this remedy.

Mezereum is somewhat like Nux, Ignatia and Pulsatilla, being hypochondriacal and despondent, sad and tearful.

So far we have concerned ourselves with the sad and tearful mood. Under most of these remedies we have the opposite condition, or irritable mood. In such a case, however, we would sooner think of Nux Vomica, Bryonia or Chamomilla which are the leading remedies for irritability. Nux Vomica is predominantly irritable and is especially indicated where the patient is hypochondriacal from sedentary occupation or excessive mental work. He sits about the house without saying a word, but if spoken to is cross and irritable and absolutely ugly, malicious and unbearable. Bryonia is very similar but does not have the history of debauchery or of a sedentary occupation. Both these remedies are suited to moods where the patients seem to be irritable from pure cussedness. Chamomilla has the irritable mood, but is most thought of in affections of children and women. It is, however, a splendid remedy in the adult no matter what the disease or sex, where its particular symptoms are present.