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understands this, so they can distinguish the true from
the false, the better for the public.”
Dr. James B. BELL, of Boston, writes, “I have no
difficulty in treating all cases, of acute pain, without
narcotics.”
S. SEWARD, M. D., of Syracuse, N. Y., “I have
depended entirely upon the carefully selected
simillimum, to relieve the pain of the sick and dying,
for the past thirty years, and have, under no
circumstances used anything else.”
We will class the communications with one from
George H. CLARK, M D., of Philadelphia. He writes as
follows, “I am heartily at one with you, and the other
Hahnemannians with you. To the question you ask in
regard to the suffering of incurables, I answer—any one,
who has had experience in honestly applying the
homeopathic law, can positively answer—yes. Not only
this: If he has seen anything of the use of palliatives, as
advocated by many so-called homeopaths, he will not
hesitate to compare results. For the results palliation in
the form of powerful drugs is almost invariably
followed by an aggravation of the pain and other
symptoms present, and their continued use will convert
a curable into an incurable condition.
“A practice of over sixteen years, in which a fair
share of representative cases of various diseases have
been under my care, including the most painful
affections, in not one of which an anodyne, narcotics,
soporifics or anything, but that demanded by the law of
Homeopathy, has been used enables me to reply in the
affirmative to your question.
“The following case will illustrate: A man, aged 48,
has been under the treatment of a so-called homeopath
for a painful affection, which has been diagnosed,
dyspepsia. After several months of treatment without
benefit, he came under my care. I found the following:
Sensation of great fullness on taking a few mouthfuls of
food followed almost immediately by gnawing, burning
pains and tenderness in the region of the stomach: Great
tenderness over the entire abdomen, cannot bear the
least pressure; intense, sharp pain in abdomen, constant,
but worse in afternoon and evening, with much
swelling.
“Examination revealed a tumor in the region of the
cardiac orifice of the stomach. There was great
emaciation, occasional vomiting, much mental
depression, sleeplessness from pain, obstinate
constipation, alternating with an occasioned soft, acrid
stool, which aggravated the abdominal pain. Here was,
unquestionably, cancer of the stomach. The symptoms,
indicating the conditions were so plain, that it was
thought astonishing that anyone professing a knowledge
of disease could possibly be so myopic as not to be able
to make a correct diagnosis.
“The prognosis, considering the depressed mental
and physical state, and the length of time the disease
had been progressing, was of course unfavorable.
The question was to find a remedy to relieve the
suffering. No thought was given to other than
homeopathic measures, and after a study of the case, I
began treatment with Lycopodium. In a few hours all the
symptoms were relieved and the remedy discontinued.
After two weeks the patient was able to take appropriate
food with less pain than for several months previous.
The remedy was continued, when necessary, for two
months, and always with the same result, relief of all
painful symptoms. Death came, but the man retained his
mental powers to the last, and yet was saved from the
distressing conditions, which follow the use of drugs,
powerful for harm only.
“Compared with cases in which anodynes are used,
I am sure that one need have no fear of trusting to
Homeopathy alone for true euthanasia.”
Mr. President: In the consideration of these
communications, the fact should not be forgotten, that,
we are not engaged in a controversy with the older
school of medicine. We rather, much as we may differ,
recognize their right to use these narcotics in incurables,
as it is in accordance with their professions. But what
shall be said of the men, who, while claiming the honor
of being Hahnemann's truest followers, Anglo maniac-
like, ape the practices they profess to disown, and only
conform to the selfish usage of being “all things to all
men.” “By their works ye shall know them.”
In examining the statements, in regard to habit of
practice, and the reports of relief afforded in incurable
diseases, it would seem wonderful, that there should be
such unanimity of opinion, were the fact forgotten that
these men have been practicing medicine according to a
law. But when we re-call the fact, that the law of
healing promulgated by the great Hahnemann is
infallible, then such results as we have read are only the
ordinary events to be expected.
The cases reported, as you will have readily seen,
are the most intractable, incurable, and attended by the
most excruciating pain that the medical profession
encounters. The results, are generally complete
palliation and in all palliation, sufficient to allow the
patients to attend to their final preparations, for the
supreme event in human existence. What a contrast to
the results of narcotism! On the one hand, complete
possession of all the powers of the intellect; on the
other, the faculties of the mind, benumbed and
befogged, and even though there be an absence of pain
for a time, when the force of the drug is spent, the
suffering returns increased in power.
We can give no description of the after effects of
Opium, so effective as the following words of
COLERIDGE, who wrote from experience, “Conceive,”
he says, “a poor, miserable wretch, who for many years