attention from men of our school generally. It is a large field, and one in which there are too few workers. The trend of discussion at our last meeting, I think, gives us some indication as to the cause. The members of our school have given too much prominence to the idea of sepsis as a cause of disease, and following the leading of the old school, are allowing the antiseptic idea of treatment to take the place of the Homeopathic. It is not my purpose to discuss this question at this time, further than to suggest that, no matter what view you take of it, Homeopathy covers the ground. In those cases which are admitted to be due to, or attended by a septic condition, the introduction of antiseptic agents, with a view to destroying the poison, while apparently successful in some cases, has not yielded such universally good results as were expected. In this connection it is worthy of note that it is not claimed that quinine cures material diseases by destroying any germ, nor that Mercury cures syphilis by destroying the poison. Aconite does not arrest incipient inflammation by any germicidal effect; nor does any other drug known to cure certain conditions, do so by any antiseptic properties.

In the medical profession of to-day there are two extremes of thought and practice, in the domain of therapeutics. At one extreme, which includes a small minority, are those who have a sublime faith in the power of internal medication. They depreciate the use of any other expedients than the specific remedy. It is needless to say that they are, for the most part Homeopaths, and holding to the extreme, or radical wing of that school. At the other extreme, are those who have little or no faith in medicines. They are medical agnostics-or more properly, medical sceptics. About the only therapeutic agent in which they have any confidence, is the paraphernalia of the surgeon. Neither are wholly right or wholly wrong. As in all other similar cases, the truth lies between these extremes, What is the truth and at what point on this line is it to be found? is the problem.

In the law of Similars we have the only known law of cure. Its application, however, is left to human hands and judgment, and therefore is subject to human cure. We should recognize, as did Hahnemann, that it has its limitations-(l'Homeopathic n'es pas dieu). I do not think this Society can engage in any better workwork that will be of more value to its members-than to endeavor to determine the boundaries within which it is a law, beyond which it is powerless. There are conditions to which it will not apply, and for which other expedients must be resorted to. It is a field outside of medicine-and the expedients are neither Homeopathic nor any other pathic. They are adjuncts or supplements to medication, and may

Whenever em

be employed along with Homeopathic medication. ployed, however, it should be with a proper understanding of their relation to Homeopathy and to the case in hand.

There is one precept which Hahnemann insisted upon as a necessary factor or prerequisite in the treatment of any case. The insistance upon this precept runs through all his writing. It is to remove the cause. (Tolle. Causum.) We overlook this in Hahnemann's expositions of Homeopathy, but we follow it in practice.

This leads to another feature-Mechanical Medicine. After the cause is removed, conditions may exist which require treatment. Then the well selected Homeopathic remedy will have an opportunity to demonstrate its effectiveness. In those numerous cases in which no cause can be discovered, the Homeopathic treatment will yield better results.

These expedients or drugs which are used outside of pure therapeutic remedies, may be classified under these heads:

Sanitary-removing cause.

Mechanical.

Palliative-temporary in effects, to bridge over an emergency. They are in no sense curative-and therefore not to be considered as therapeutic agents. When any of these are used, it should be, not because some writer of a text-book or some college professor has recommended them, but because you have an intelligent understanding of the conditions confronting you, and a clear idea of just what these expedients will accomplish.

Homeopathy is essentially curative, and within that sphere it continues to accomplish better results than any other system of therapeutics of which we have any knowledge.

BRONCHIAL COUGHS AND WINTER COLDS. *

By F. W Somers, M. D., Cleveland, Ohio.

About ten days ago our worthy President asked me to write a short paper upon winter coughs and colds for this meeting. While I had no thoughts of complying with his request, he approached me in such a diplomatic manner that he quickly secured my consent, and I have repented of it at leisure. This may seem to be a homely subject but, to my mind, it is an eminently practical one. In these days of medical progress all diseased conditions are attributed to microbic origin. Be this as it may, it is a condition, not a theory, that confronts us. At any rate the physician has a large number of coughs and colds in* Read at the February meeting of the Cleveland Homeopathic Society.

cident to the winter season with which to contend. Every season seems to bring its own peculiar form. This winter it has seemed to me that Bell., Gel. and Bry. have been most frequently indicated. Many of the cases, before applying to the physician for aid, have tried all kinds of patent nostrums. I desire to admit that it is not always an easy matter to ascertain the indicated remedy in these cases. But we must not forget that when found, it will cure these cases and yield far better results than can be obtained in any other manner. The homeopath has absolutely no excuse for employing the various cough syrups upon the market for the relief of these conditions. Opium in some form is the remedy relied upon in all these cough-mixtures. Phillips, in speaking of opium in coughs, says, "Moderate doses are useful in irritative affections of the air passages to allay irritation and hypersecretion, but it may do even fatal mischief in cases where secretion is copious and expulsory power is feeble."

Potter, another old school authority, says, "Cough of harassing and frequent character, with but little secretion, is best treated by opium, but when there is profuse expectoration it should not be used, as the lowering of excitability of the respiratory center which it produces would in such a case be dangerous." Beyond a doubt opium is indicated homeopathically in a dry, spasmodic cough, preventing sleep; the mucous secretion is completely arrested. It is just this condition that opium produces. Opium arrests not only the secretions of the respiratory tract but the gastro-intestinal tract is also involved, resulting in obstinate constipation. This is its action in physiological doses. It is not logical to conclude that when this condition is due to disease that in doses short of its physiological action it will stimulate the mucous membrane so that its function is performed in a normal manner?

Is there any good reason why a disciple of Hahnemann should employ opium in all cases of coughs when we are assured by the leading men of the dominant school that it is positively dangerous unless the cough is dry and irritating? There seems to be a tendency among some members of our school to hanker after the flesh pots of Egypt. They will "use anything that cures," you know. What a meaningless phrase. How are we to determine what will cure? Is not the law of similars a proper guide? If anyone knows of any other law it is certainly their duty to make it known; then a departure therefrom is empirical. It would seem to me that this anarchistic tendency deserves rebuke. It is my firm belief that the seed of scepticism is sown during student life. Every homeopathic college in the land needs. a thorough renovating.

The law of similars is either true or false.

Now, as to the treatment. Of course, it is not to be expected that I have any new remedies, or new indications for old remedies. Happily we are not obliged to discard our old remedies for new and untried ones. I can only mention a few remedies and give the well-known indications calling for their use.

Aconite, in the commencement, from exposure to dry, cold winds. Chill followed by high fever, hot, dry skin, thirst, rapid pulse, great restlessness, fear of death and a short dry cough. Aconite equalizes: the circulation, thus preventing any localized diseased condition.

Potter says, "Aconite antagonizes the fever process, and rightly used is therefore one of the most valuable drugs we possess. It has: well been called the 'therapeutic lancet' and is certainly responsibleto a great extent for the disuse of venesection." He gives practically the indications cited above and advises from a half drop to a drop of the tincture in water every 15 minutes.

Arsenicum, watery discharge from the nose, which excoriates and burns. Nose feels stopped up. Much sneezing. Lassitude and aching of muscles. Watery discharge from eyes with burning. Hoarseness, with rawness and burning in the throat. Dry cough at night.. Great restlessness. He takes cold in the nose, with a tendency to extend to the chest. Predisposition to catarrhal troubles.

Belladonna, face red, throbbing carotids, full, bounding pulse.. throat sore and dry, throbbing headache, aching all over the body, head hot, feet cold, very drowsy or may be wakeful, the glands and muscles of neck are often involved. Cough dry, teasing, spasmodicat night and after lying down. Often due to exposure of head.

Bryonia, arrests the secretion of the bronchial mucous membrane,. resulting in a hoarse, hacking cough. There is little or no expectoration. Sharp pains in chest and head when coughing. Cough less in a warm room and by motion. Potter says, "Bryonia has a specific: determination to serous and synovial membranes, especially the pleurae, and is also irritant to muscular fibre, and to the bronchial mucous: membrane, causing dry, continuous, shaking cough, with soreness: behind the sternum. It is one of the best remedies for a cold on the chest, with dry, shaking cough, with soreness or shooting pains." He advises small doses frequently repeated.

Gelsemium, patient chilly, sneezing, with watery discharge from the nose, restlessness and great prostration, dry, spasmodic cough.

Kali Bich., cough with expectoration of a tough, stringy, yellow mucus which adheres to the parts. Cough croupy, voice hoarse. The use of this remedy is often overlooked in acute coryza and catarrh of the larynx, trachea and bronchi. It produces a watery discharge

from the nose, with sneezing, less in open air. There is soreness and redness of the nose, ulceration of septum and a destruction of the mucous membrane.

Phosphorus is another useful agent. There is hoarseness and rawness in the larynx, with a dry, hoarse cough, which is aggravated by cold, dust, smoke and talking. The cold begins in the larynx or larger bronchial tubes, and has a tendency to extend to the upper air passages. There is a sensation of tightness or of a weight on the upper part of the chest. In Phos. the aphonia is worse in the evening. Causticum has aphonia, which is continuous. In the former it is due to an accumulation of mucus upon the vocal cords. In the latter there is a paretic condition of the vocal cords.

Pulsatilla has a wonderful action upon the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. During the primary action, which is short, the secretions are lessened. Secondarily it produces a catarrhal inflammation, with a profuse. yellowish or greenish expectoration. You will often find a catarrhal conjunctivitis present at the same time. The cough is loose by day and tight by night. Cough less at night time and by lying down, better in open air; you are apt to find the peculiar pulsatilla temperament. Potter, even, recognizes the value of Puls., for he says it is indicated in coughs which are loose by day and tight by night, with a dryness and tickling worse on lying down. He advises small doses of the tincture.

Sulphur is another remedy that is often held in reserve, for it seems to be willing to do the work that no other remedy is willing to do. If nothing helps give Sulphur, is pretty near orthodox, after all. I had a severe cough in which Lyc. seemed indicated, but brought no relief. Sulphur 6x started this case promptly on the road to recovery. The patient raised a large amount of muco-purulent matter and was obliged to sit in a chair during the whole night. It is best indicated in subacute or chronic bronchial catarrh, with a loose, rattling cough. He expectorates easily during the day, but during the night he raises with same difficulty. There is suffocation on lying down.

DISCUSSION.

G. J. Jones, M. D.-In listening to Dr. Somer's paper my strongest impression was that it is hardly necessary for him to go over to the old school for authorities in speaking of a subject dealing with materia medica. Just why he should quote so extensively from Phillips or from Potter is something I cannot understand. I would much rather have had him give his own experience and his own advice with regard to the use of drugs. Outside of that criticism there