CONTENTS
7. PERISCOPE
felt “space out with difficulty concentrating”. She
CALADIUM SEGUINUM - FOUR received Caladium 10 M and with in 2days felt
FORTUITOUS CASES completely well .
Karl Robinson , MD. Case 2 : Boy , 11 yrs . Ill with fever for 5days .
Occurred daily and reached 103c to 104c around 7 to
In a 6 week period from mid – October to 8 P.M . He had low energy and stayed in bed . Cough
early December 1982 I treated 4 different patients agg . by pressure on the trachea at the sternal notch .
with Caladium seguinum with excellent results . Cough worse inspiration and worse in cool air .
Caladium is a little used remedy and I had never Increased belching for 5 days , worse after eating or
heard any of my teachers or colleagues even speak of drinking . Mostly because of cough , received Rumex
it . Successful prescription of Caladium attests to the ; no effect . As the fever persisted , was given a series
methodology of classical homoeopathy . Using the of remedies (Belladonna , Pulsatilla , Sepia ,
methods – repertory , material medica – we can Gelsemium and Sulphur ) all with no effect .
achieve the results which delight our teachers , draw Typically felt better in the morning , temp . was then
the admiration of our colleagues and the gratitude of lower and tended to climb in the afternoon and
our patients . evening ; following caladium 1M , his appetite began
to improve and he started eating huge meals (he had
lost 9 lbs.). Fever declined and ceased and his energy
Case 1 : Woman 35 yrs . low grade fever the past 3
gradually began to increase . 5 days after the
weeks . 10 days earlier given penicillin for a week ,
caladium 1M he was given caladium 10 M and went
no improvement . Fever tended to rise late afternoon
to complete recovery within 2 days . (The caladium
and evening . Her physical energy was very low and
10 M was not probably necessary , but it did not
worsened as the day progressed . Worst time 9 to 11
interfere in any way.)
p. m . (she was a musician and normally worked
until 2 a . m .)No chills , but sweated on exertion
which was unusal for her . Food desires and Case 3 : Woman , 29 yrs . graduate student under
aversions – unremarkable . Amoebiasis in 1977 – 78 . constitutional treatment for 4 months when she came
Since the onset of the fever , she had been down with viral illness . First 4 days she had “a high
experiencing mild dizziness . Her lower lip tended to fever” day and night , much nasal discharge and great
crack in the center . stool lienteric . When the fever weakness . Thereafter fever came daily at 8 P.M . and
first commenced , she had some urinary irritability “a disappeared by the time she awoke next morning . So
little burning” . It had disappeared . She said it was weak and unable to concentrate that she asked for
hard to wake in the morning but there was no fever two incompletes at the University . She informed me
than . It began around 2 p.m . She was not restless , of her situation a full three weeks after its onset and
but had noticed an increase in irritability . with fever received Caladium 200 , one dose , based on the
she felt heat inside her head , especially her forehead. nature of her fever and the mental symptoms . Four
Hands and feet had been unusually cold since the days later, her recovery had been dramatically swift
fever started . Mentally she said she felt “spacey and and complete .
disconnected and forgetful with trouble
concentrating”. The illness had made her depressed. Above 3 cases were similar : Prolonged fever
she said , because it forced her to sit around as with a . n . or evening exacerbations with a definite
exercise was difficult . She wanted a bit of extra improvement following a night ‘s sleep . In virtually
attention and affection since becoming ill . Felt no other aspects , except for the mental haziness and
markedly better after sleep , including a nap . lowered concentration , did these cases correspond to
the amount of Caladium found in kent’s lectures or
Though Sepia was a possibility , I was Boericke’s M.M. Nonetheless this one keynote
struck forcibly by one salient symptom : The strong symptom , so strong in Caladium enabled the choice
general improvement following sleep and the to be made . In the final case , though the etiology
temporary disappearance of fever following sleep . and many symptoms are completely different , certain
key symptoms are the same .
She was given caladium 1M and reported
feeling much better , though not well , in two days . Case 4 : Woman , 38 yrs . was stung or bitten on
Within 3 to 4 days she reported , “fever is definitely her right elbow by a furry,caterpillar – like creature
gone”. Forth day felt “great” , overdid and relapsed six weeks earlier . Shortly thereafter , whole right
slightly . At one week , though better in general , still arm swelled and she became febrile . Pain extended ,
elbow in both directions to her hand and shoulder . Summary: Caladium should be considered when
Later lt . Shoulder became painful . Corticosteroids there is a long –lasting fever (5 or more days) with a
decreased the swelling and pain somewhat . When late afternoon or evening peak (sometimes the fever
she spoke to me she said that pain was better from will begin at that time) and a strong decline in the
warmth and worse from motion . Felt chilly . Most fever after sleep . Mental symptoms include unclear ,
significant, she had undergone a personality hazy thinking , a kind of “spaciness”, and
metamorphosis . Whereas before the insect sting she indifference to people and pursuits which normally
had been a vigorous , enthuslastic, hardworking are of great interest .
woman, she now described herself as someone “who
has lost all enthusiasm . I’ve quit my job yet CASE REPORTS OF THE USE OF
financially I need to work . I should be worried that I MEDORRRHINUM IN THREE
’m not working but I ‘m not Become indifferent to
everything . including my family.” PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM
EXFOLIATIVE DERMATITIS AND
Immediately after the sting , the fever was ONE PATIENT WITH PORPHYRIA
continuous , lasting all day every day 10 days . Then
it only appeared in the evening around 5 and 6 P. M. O.B. Abdel–hadi, DM , MRCP C.O.Kennedy
Currently , it was occurring 3 to 4 times a week in the FFHOm , and M . D . Jenkins , FF Hom , MRCP
evening . She complained of an inability to think ResearchUnit, The Royal London Homoeopathic
clearly . Also thinking tired her . “I don’t want to be Hospital .
bothered by anything ,” Though memory was intact ,
her family has been describing her as “strange” and Introduction : The erythroderma syndrome is
“almost depressed” “My daughter says sometimes I a serious dermatological complication which may
have trouble holding a conversation”, she said . She occur as a result of a reaction to drugs such as sodium
had a strong desire to be left alone . Thirsty , “I drink aurothiomalate (Myocrisin), or as a generalized
all day”. No preference for hot or cold drinks though spreading of a pre-existing dermatitis such as
she liked lemon juice in water in morning . More psoriasis or atopic dermatitis . It may also occur in
belching and flatus than usual . Though when well association with a lymphoma or leukaemia or as a
her sex desire was high , currently it was nil . She felt manifestation of internal malignancy . A primary
some better after sleeping , but had difficulty getting idiopathic from , pityriasis rubra , is also described .
going in the morning . She was mailed Caladium 200
and told to take a dose a day until she noted a change Whatever its cause , exfoliative dermatitis
and then to call me . After the second dose she rang presents with a generalized erythmatous scaling
to say , “I feel something has started to change. I’am eruption involving the whole skin surface . Itching is
no longer chilly or hot or sweating. My enthusiasm is a variable symptom . Patients with this syndrome
coming back. I ‘m not indifferent at all”. That very may develop a negative nitrogen balance, oedema
day she walked into an attorney’s office “and got and hypoalbuminaemia together with a loss of muscle
hired on the spot .Before that people would at even mass .
interview me”.
Prognosis is variable , In one study ,
Not only was her fever gone , but there approximately 60 % of patients with erythroderma
was no longer any disorientation and her thinking recovered in 8 – 10 months , about 30 % died and the
was normal . “I can think without becoming tired ,” remaining 10 % were left with persistent skin disease
She said , “and I no longer want to be alone . My sex unresponsive to treatment . The prognosis of the
desire has returned . My apptite has improved”. The idiopathic type is the worst , the disease usually
belching however remained . Caladium was , progressing to a fatal termination in two or three
ofcourse , discontinued . years .
Her extreme indifference to her family , Case reports : Patient 1 : B . S . Aged 35 . Female:
her job and life in general , plus her desire for lemon This patient presented in OPD in July 1978 with an
juice suggest sepia . But Caladium is ranked higher 18 yr. history of psoriasis . Previous treatments had
in kent’s Repertory under SKIN , stings , insects . included Betnovate , dithranol , and methotrexate . At
And of course , Caladium is better known for the that time she had typical psoriatic lesions on the
particular fever pattern that she evinced . scalp and elbows and psoriac nail involvement . The
local symptoms she described were that the lesions
were very itchy tended to be worse in cold weather , Medorrhinum 200 . This was associated with a
and were markedly improved by sea bathing . Hot marked , steady improvement . She was discharged
sunny weather had on different occasions both two weeks later with the skin in reasonably good
relieved and aggravated the skin condition. The first condition . The only topical skin application used was
homoeopathic prescription was for staphysagria 200 , Ung . emulsificans .
one dose followed by placebo . This was prescribed
on the mental symptoms of a marked intolerance of Patient 3 : D . A . Aged 28 . Female : This patient
injustices and a tendency to throw things when was admitted to the hospital in August 1978. She had
angry . Ung emulsificans was prescribed . There was asthma and eczema since early childhood . She is
an initial slight improvement and placebo therapy known to be sensitive to house dust and cat fur . She
was continued . However , the patient was admitted also suffers from high fever . Seven months before
from out Patient in October 1978 with generalized admission she , of her own accored , stopped her
erythroderma which had started on her return from a topical steroid (Betnovate). Her eczema initially
seaside holiday in Spain .During her holiday the became markedly worse but then improved
psoriasis had totally cleared . There was no obvious considerably whilst taking a seaside holiday in Italy.
factor to precipitate erythroderma .Initial treatment On returning to his country her eczema became
with Apis 200 and Hamamelis ointment had little steadily worse until it involved the whole skin . She
effect . A single dose of Medorrrhinum 30 given on was seen by a homoeopathic physician and given one
the third day of admission also had little or no effect . dose of Sulpher 30 , which coincided with an
aggravation of the situation . On admission to
On the 5 th Day of her admission she was hospital she was given 3 doses of Medorrhinum 10 M
given 3 doses of Medorrhium 10M and began to with dramatic improvement in the appearance of the
improve almost immediately . The Hamamelis skin over the next 3 days . The itching of the skin was
ointment was continued . The Medorrhium 10 M one however not relieved . This symptom was partially
dose was repeated 2 weeks later . relieved by phosphorus 6x tds and Phenergan 25 mg
nocte . Calendula cream was used topically. One
The patient was discharged home and week later the skin was almost normal but still
remained well until 4 months later when her psoriasis somewhat itchy . She was then given 3 doses of
began to break out again . Treatment was therefore House dust 200 and discharged. Her improvement
recommenced . has been maintained for 7 months.
PULSATILLA AND THE Now we will see what our patient says
about her sleep and consider which one out of the
EXAMINATION OF THE PATIENT
two remedies is to be prescribed . Allow me to unroll
the case from behind because I will demonstrate
G . V . Keller
something very definite . The patient had spoken
earlier of other symptoms which suggested both the
To compare the sickness of the individual
remedies Nux vomoica and Pulsatilla . I now
person with the particular medicine , to enable to
attempted to draw conclusion by putting questions
make a homoeopathic remedy diagnosis , we must
about the sleep symptoms and temperature symptoms
allow the patient to talk , we must listen patiently and
.
our questions should only be so as to bring about a
through and full case record . Therefore spontaneous
- Do you sleep well at nights ?
state ments of the patient which deviate from topic
are welcome .
No , not that . I sleep up to 12 and then it is
restless…… It
In homoeopathic examination of the
will then be , I awake at 1 , then doze a little , then it
patient we await patiently for a detailed , unusual ,
is 2 , then 3 and then it is awfully restless, after 12 .
away-from-the normal account of the subjective
Before 12 I have slept often if I had gone to bed by
sensations . We need exactly those symptoms which
9 , up to 12 . Then it begins mostly after 12 that I am
deviate from the normal , the changing subjective ,
restless and I am awake.
which frequently are hinted at by the patient in
passing and which we cannot gauge . We do not want
-Could you then go to sleep in the mornings again ,
to classify but only want to recognize the similarity .
when you must have got up ?
The son is similar to the father not
There have been some days , that I have again caught
because both have noses 5 cm . long or both have
sleep ;.
particularly same number of eyelashes . The
similarity cannot be measured , but one must allow
the live representatives live it , so as to perceive it . It
We have said earlier , that Pulsatilla patient also belongs to it . She said that she goes to
cannot sleep in the evenings , while Nux vomica bed at 9 , awakes after 3 or 4 hours and then sleeps
cannot keep awake in the evening . If it is seen that restlessly . If we take the other patients for this
the patient been revealed differently , then would purpose we come to the following with regard to the
Nux vomica be chosen . She can go to sleep at 9 sleep course for Pulsatilla :
P . M. Yes . Therefore I asked another questions to
help decide choice of the remedy . Very tired in the evening , so that he went
to sleep in the chair . when he then goes to the bed ,
- Do you become chill easily , or do you feel warm he has difficulties in going to sleep . He then sleeps
easily ? for about 4 hours , awakes around 3 o’clock and then
can again sleep only poorly , the sleep then is restless
No , but then I rather quickly become cold but with . Then in the mornings he is tired .
my job as post-woman , I cannot say specifically that
I am chilly ……….but quickly . In the evening I fall asleep in the chair
because of weariness and then when I go to bed , I
- If there is a draft ? have difficulty in falling asleep .
I do not want it . But otherwise I can tolerate When I have slept for 4 hours , I awake
warmth ; before I was a post-women , I was always with back-ache , I then get up and move around .
in the field in Agriculture exposed to the heat , it has Only 4 hours actual sleep . I sleep restlessly , I roll
never mattered to me . about in the bed . After three hours I awake again .
PULSATILLA :A STOMACH – HEART And once I felt it in my head , ,you know , as if the
SYMPTOM : It was in the same way with the pressure came with speed and it is ………
Pulsatilla symptom, which this patient had , I did not
know it either , when it came to me for the first time . - like a below you have said .
It is the stomach – heart symptom , which can be
summarized so : A sensation of rapid palpitation or Ha , not exactly like a blow , but simply like a
irregular flutterings in the stomach region . associated tension . I cannot describe so exactly how the speed
with a pressure or pull , which was experienced more is , so ….. so like a jerk , yes a jerk !
while lying on the left side .
- A jerk , more in the head purely …….
The proving symptoms are : “A tension in the
stomach and heart region extending up in to the It comes from there , as if from below up , as if to the
breasts”. “Jerks from stomach upwards to the throat”. heart it came , simply from below I feel it so .
“The pulsation of the veins was felt in the
epigastrium”. “When he lied on the left side , he - Can you lie on the left side ?
complained of very rapid palpitation”. Now let us
allow our first patient to speak again . No …….. No ……..
- So palpitation , - Why ?
Yes , irregularly ,you know , I observe it when I fell Because , it becomes then restless , then it palpitates
the pulse , that is as if it is suspended and then again always , it is always , it is always there below , you
it starts . know , more , you know , my heart must actually beat
more above , no ?
-Yes , and do you also have internal restlessness ?
- And it is aggravated when you lie on the left ?
Yes , such a true restlessness , it comes as if it came
up from down and then it goes up to the head . Not always , but I simply cannot endure at all on the
left and I simply don’t feel well by that .
- Trembling also ? What is it which trembles or
vibrates ? Have you observed that the patient
replied to the question as to why she could not lie on
Yes , I do not know at all , it is all in there , so ,so, the left side , with a reply question , she said, that
there , simply in this area . something was not alright , my heart must beat
naturally much above ? I will come to it once again
- In the stomach ? later . Now a second lady patient .
There ,over all and then from down up . So ,one can What else is it , I don’t know , Yes , sometimes
say that the heart palpitates more there below . during the nights I have it so in heart , how could I
say it ?
- And what ascends from below ?
- What do you have there , in your heart ?
It is like a ……….is it is like as if it is a wave , or so,
so ……….. I cannot exactly ……. Palpitation ,too bad and I cannot remain on the left
side . I must then get up and walk about or ……
- Heat ?
- It becomes then better ? Now comes another patient who has this
aggravation only of heart-stomach sensation . Only
It becomes better slowly . I always think that I may aggravation , means , that the general condition is
have spasms of the stomach , but basically seen there ameliorated while solitary physical ailment which
is nothing wrong with the stomach . was there earlier or has been experienced once before
, is now felt more strongly. By the Pulsatilla LM
- You have to move about ? Get up and move about? potency dilution this was rectified easily .
Because of the palpitation ?
Yes I have such curious aggravation . . .
Yes , then it oppresses so . And doctor , I have Yes , I don’t know whether it is related to Pulsatilla, I
experienced it already , it pulls up , up to the cheek consider it simply as grotesque , but , since I took it ,
bones , that I think , my God , it cannot be so . and practically a day thereafter , I have such a tension
in the midriff region , what sometimes seems to be
- Yes , what sort of sensation in the heart ? pulsation and yes , I have only the feeling that it is
pulsating – it does not pulsate . Such a
A pressure , a severe pressure , as if I have cramps in fluttering . . . . .Yes , this fluttering I have by going to
the stomach , but I know that is not from the sleep and otherwise it is a tension , a pressure from in
stomach . , and , but . . . .and to describe it : it is . . . . not a
feeling that there is something inside , but as though
- And therefore you cannot lie on the left side ? Do it is just below the skin .
you get palpitation because of that ?
- Fluttering . . . . and a tension ?
Yes , palpitation .
Yes , the pain is like a tension , and otherwise it is a
- Does it then beat faster ? fluttering .
- Or do you have the sensation , as if it has stopped Yes , Yes , and indeed approximately double so fast
beating ? like a heart-beat , no ?
No , simply accelerated so – right – vigorously . This patient whom we have earlier once
heard with regard to sleep symptoms describes the
You have now heard all the components pressure differently from the first patient . And here
including the irregularity of the palpitation . From the the sensation of from below up , is absent . The
patient whom we have already heard on the sleep symptom has also not been completely described .in
symptoms , the sensation of pressure is missing : the same way , it cannot also be definitely laid down ,
it depends upon patient to patient and even in the
Now I have rather heart irregularities , same patient subjected to continuous changes. And of
palpitations . Mainly on lying on the left side . Also course , you see or hear the Similarity , which binds
heart pains , In the evenings , when I rest , it all these patients and provers . while you have not
frequently fails , almost every fourth beat fails . I any pre-conceived criterion but only confront the
experience it from below up . The stoppage of the disease picture or sensations picture with what you
heart I feel there in the abdomen on the left side . have in memory about the other patients .
From the following the “from below up” is missing: Also the art , how the physician
interrogates the patient and above all , how he reacts
Troublesome oppressions in stomach . I to the answer , is important …. I have previously
have the sensation that the heart is plainly beating in drawn your attention , as my first patient did not
the stomach and fear grips me naturally . Then answer my questions but gave an account of the
sometimes I have slight disturbances of heart rhythms sensation which did not have anything to do with the
, which makes one think for a moment , that it won’t question. So something often noteworthy comes to us
work anymore . , such spontaneous utterances are more important
than what will be answered pointedly to the
question . we welcome such spontaneous statements .
To me , a reply to the point , is often totally in two identical Governing bodies against his will
unimportant . I may not know anything at all, what I and against his better understanding .
ask , but the questions serve mainly to keep the
patient narrating voluntarily and also to prompt him Hear this patient and keep in mind what
to state further symptoms . I do not await the pointed you have heard above about Pulsatilla , so that you
answers to the questions but rather observe the can oppose the two impressions against each other
reaction of the patient and also whether he cannot be and compared them . I think , it will not be difficult
induced to go off the track and narrate spontaneously for you to perceive the similarity if you pay attention
symptoms which will be interesting to me . What the closely .
patient answers specifically to the question is mostly
common and obvious . - How are you ?