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sary information. It cannot, however, be seriously intended to insinuate that there was really any want of integrity or truthfulness in the gentlemen sending in returns; it must be that the want of confidence referred to their diagnostic capabilities. A little careful investigation will, however, show that even here (granted the integrity of the reporter) it was next to impossible that error could be committed, for, on referring again to the blank form it will be seen that the sixth column is headed, "Degrees or stages of the disease," and underneath, the five following divisions of " simple diarrhœa,” “choleraic diarrhoea," "cholera (without collapse)," "collapse," "consecutive fever," the symptoms for each of which degree or stage are laid down in the "Instructions for returns of Cases," by the Medical Council of the Board of Health.* Nothing, then, was more easy than to determine by this schedule whether certain symptoms were present in any given case; and if so, whether they were to be classed under the head of simple diarrhoea, choleraic diarrhoea, cholera without collapse, or cholera with collapse. All possibility of mistake was thus prevented by the rule laid down, and the degree or stage of the disease was at once diagnosed according to the "Instructions of the Medical Council."

It is hoped, therefore, that in reference to the cholera returns, and more especially as regards my own contributions, the charge is entirely refuted, that there is not the slightest reliance whatever to be placed on any homœopathic returns.

2. The second implied charge is, that the medicines were neither chosen nor administered in accordance with the law of "Similia similibus curantur." I quote again your own words. "It is absurd to call camphor homœopathic with the cause of cholera." "Still more indicative of the want of faith of the homœopaths in their own system is the exhibition of Chloroform, a medicine to give which for pain is utterly antagonistic to all their principles." Again. "But in the cases of cholera! Camphor in considerable doses every five minutes, for one, two, or three hours! Chloroform and warm bottles! Are these homœopathic remedies? What dose of Chloroform will cause cramps? What quantity of hot bottles will produce icy coldness?"† The point being conceded by you that Arsenicum, Veratrum, Mercurius corrosivus, and Cuprum, are remedies truly homœopathic," (which if any one doubts, let him turn to Orfila on * Cholera Report, cit. p. 82-84.

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† Medical Times and Gazette for Aug. 11 and Oct. 6, 1855, p. 138, 348

Poisons) the objection is chiefly confined to Camphor and Chloroform. Camphor was first recommended in cholera by Hahnemann himself in 1831, and is principally used in the early stage of this disease, its chief indications being coldness of the surface, rigidity of the muscles, præcordial anxiety, diminished nervous sensibility, &c. When Camphor is given in full doses in the healthy subject, its secondary, or reactionary effects are those of a general stimulant, but its primary symptoms are those not of cholera but similar to cholera, especially in its early stage, in proof of which let me quote the following from Hahnemann's Materia Medica, Art. Camphor, vol. i. p. 189, (Hempel's translation). "He rubs his forehead, chest, and other parts; knows not how to describe his feelings; he leans against something, his senses vanish, he glides and falls down; the limbs being rigid and extended, the shoulders drawn backwards, the arms being a little curved in the beginning of the paroxysm, the hands being bent towards the extensor surface of the arm, and the fingers being somewhat clenched and set apart from one another; afterwards all the parts of the body being stretched and stiff, with the head bent sideways, the lower jaw being rigid and wide open, the lips drawn inwards, the teeth clenched, eyes closed, with unceasing distortions of the muscles of the face, general coldness and breathlessness for a quarter of an hour." Limited space forbids more extended quotation, but I may refer in further proof of the homœopathicity of Camphor to cholera to "Notes on Camphor by Dr. Norton," Brit. Journ. Homœopathy, vol. ix., p. 407. "Poisoning of three Children by Camphor," with a post mortem, by Dr. Schaaf, of Strasburg, quoted in the Edinburgh Monthly Journal of Med. Science, October, 1850. "Summary of Pathogenetic Symptoms of Camphor," in Dudgeon's Pamphlet on Cholera, already quoted. "Orfila's Experiments in his work on Poisons," translated by Waller, vol. ii., p. 299. And lastly, "Physiological Effects of Camphor on Man," by Dr. Pereira, in his Lectures on Materia Medica, wherein reduction of the pulse, depression, vertigo, staggering, insensibility, convulsions, and maniacal delirium, are recorded as the effects of two scruples of Camphor swallowed by Mr. Alexander. The usual dose of the Camphor tincture is from one to four drops frequently repeated in urgent cases. Hahnemann recommends one drop every five minutes, only continued so long as decided benefit is observable. These doses, though com

* Treatment of Cholera, by Hahnemann, translated in Pamphlet on Cholera, by Dr. Dudgeon. 1847.

paratively large, are quite in accordance with homœopathic principles, for homœopathy abstractedly considered, is neither a question of strength of dose nor mode of administration of the medicine, nor one of regimen nor diet, but the recognition of a law-"Similia similibus curantur."

Chloroform is a comparatively new and untried medicine in cholera, and although says Dr. Quin,*" it has not yet been subjected to that regular and rigorous process of proving on the sound subject, such as strict homœopathy requires to be made of the various medicinal agents employed by its practitioners, yet it has exhibited in many persons to whom it has been administered in a state of health, a variety of effects bearing considerable analogy to the symptoms of asphyxia or collapse." It was precisely in accordance with this view of the subject that Camphorated Chloroform was administered to the patient whose case is referred to in the Journal of October 6th, but incorrectly copied from the return; it being expressly stated that simple and choleraic diarrhoea were both absent. In my published report of this most interesting case the following remarks occur.† "In this case the most marked symptom was the asphyxia, and the appearance of the patient was precisely that of a person who had inhaled Carbonic Acid Gas, or one who was labouring under severe venous congestion; there was no appearance of collapse (that is the ordinary collapse of cholera, although the asphyxia was truly a collapse) not even of prostration, nor want of consciousness, and yet she was evidently dying. Camphor and Arsenicum failing, and the woman gasping for breath and dying, I felt for a moment bewildered, and was led to the use of Chloroform solely from the marked resemblance of the poor creature to a woman I had previously seen under the influence of Chloroform for a surgical operation. The effect was speedy, decisive and gratifying." The Camphorated Chloroform was given three times, in doses of three drops each, afterwards in drop doses at intervals.

Thus it has been shewn, that in the use of Camphor and Chloroform, the law of homœopathy was the rule of guidance, and consequently the second charge falls to the ground.

3. The third implied charge is—that the different medicines being

*On Cholera. Homœopathic Times, vol. i. p. 137.

+ Clinical reports of cases of cholera illustrative of homoeopathic treatment,

p. 10.

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given in such rapid succession counteract and neutralize each other. I quote again your own words. Let any one who knows Hahnemann's opinions on the effect of one medicine in counteracting that of another, say what he thinks of the case of a patient admitted into the Homœopathic Hospital at 6 a.m. on August 14th, and dying at 3 p.m. the same day; between which hours his treatment is thus chronicled.-Camphor, Chloroform, Arsenicum, Veratrum, Acid. Hydrocyan., Carbo vegetabilis, Digitalis." Again, "Here is the treatment of another fatal case,-Arsenicum, Veratrum, Acid. Hydrocyan., Carbo vegetabilis, Digitalis, . . . . the grievous inconsistency on homœopathic principles of giving this jumble of medicines in rapid succession. The first case was that of a little boy, not a hospital, but a private patient of my own at Clapham, the note appended distinctly says-" in collapse when visited, no medicines had any sensible effect;" clearly then, if no sensible effect, there could not be much if any neutralizing influence. The second case was that of an aged female, the printed return of which is unfortunately incorrect; it should be," simple diarrhoea, not known"“choleraic diarrhoea, September 20th, noon, for which no medical advice."" Cholera without collapse September 22nd, 11 a.m., for which Camphor was given."-"Collapse September 22nd, 11 p.m., for which the above medicines were given," "no consecutive fever." Death September 23rd, noon. In both these cases therefore, the rapid succession of medicines occurred in the time of collapse, a fearful stage of cholera to treat, one in which we are warranted in passing quickly from one remedy to another, if after sufficient time is allowed to elapse, the remedy in question fails to produce any sensible effect. The question of the modus operandi of medicines cannot be discussed in a letter like the present, and this whether dynamic or material, or both, according to the dose, ought not to be confounded with the abstract proposition of the law of homoeopathy, which is held in all its integrity by every homeopathic practitioner, whilst the theory of its operation is differently explained by different individuals. Camphor is, however, expressly referred to, and as its antidotal powers are rather strong, some explanation of its use in connexion with other medicines ought to be given. Camphor is a drug whose action is speedy, but its duration short; it will be seen that in almost every instance it was given first and alone, and that the other medicines were not administered until the beneficial action * Medical Times and Gazette for October 6th and August 11th, 1855. p. 138-348.

of the Camphor was exhausted. In such a fearfully rapid disease as cholera is, no time can be lost, and Hahnemann himself says, that if decided benefit is not soon perceived, then no time must be lost in administering the remedy for the second stage.* I never, myself alternated Camphor with any other medicine in any case of cholera that came under my care, except in one where cramp was the leading feature throughout, sickness and diarrhœa being entirely absent.†

Thus the third charge of the counteraction and neutralization of the medicines is disposed of by explanation.

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I have thus endeavoured, Sir, within the brief limits of a letter to exonerate myself and my brother practitioners from the charges implied in your Editorial Articles. I have carefully avoided all extraneous matter, or I might have referred to the insinuations respecting a sly dose of Calomel, or Morphia, or some concentrated drug," to the gross injustice of the Medical Council of the Board of Health, in suppressing our cholera returns, when their appointed duty was to report and not to adjudicate, or to the encouraging success attending our treatment of cholera, as evidenced by a greatly diminished mortality, but I conclude with the expression of an earnest wish that homœopathy may speedily meet with a candid and impartial investigation at the hands of the profession generally, so that if true its principles may be embraced, and if false, its followers put to silence for ever.

4, Bedford Terrace,

I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

JOHN ANDERSON, M.R.C.S., L.S.A.

Clapham Rise, October 18th, 1855.

Meeting of the German Central Society at Vienna.

This the first meeting sf the Society in the Austrian capital was held on the 9th and 10th of August last. The number of members present amounted to forty-eight, among whom we recognize all the distinguished disciples of Hahnemann in Vienna, and several of the best known homœopathists of Northern Germany, Bavaria, Bohemia and Hungary. Dr. Watzke presided. The meetings were held in the magnificent hall of the University, whose walls were adorned with the pictures and busts of departed medical celebreties; among * Hahnemann on cholera treatment, in Dr. Dudgeon's pamphlet, cit. p. 8. † Clinical Reports, cit. p. 8.

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