"It will be seen by the above symptoms that almost every part of the body in which it is possible for rheumatic pains to occur is affected, the rheumatic-like pains darting from one part to another. My correspondents all being readers of The Homœopathic World will remember a case reported in the January number of the journal (1896), by Mr. R. H. Bellairs, in which the pains were 'now in ankle, now in knee, now in arm, wrist, or fingers.' This case fully illustrates the symptoms borne out in my proving of the drug, and it but naturally followed, according to the law of similars, that the disease should yield to the month's treatment with Stellaria media. Mr. Bellairs says he thinks that possibly 'shifting pain' is a key-note, and I am glad that I am able to inform him that he is correct in his supposition. I am pleased to hear that he has often given Stellaria media in chronic rheumatism, and now looks upon it as a specific. It is these things that gladden the heart of the prover of new drugs—the news of the practical triumph of a new drug over symptoms of disease similar to those it is itself capable of developing in a healthy body—and one feels amply repaid for the hours and days of pain and suffering that one has inevitably to put up with in the vocation of 'proving.' I heartily congratulate Mr. Bellairs on his success in curing the above case.
"I have been asked by one correspondent whether a changeable climate—one with sudden changes of temperature occurring every day, for instance—would prevent the drug from taking effect in the treatment of rheumatism. To this question I can promptly return an answer in the negative. I have proof upon proof lying before me to testify that Stellaria media is just as efficacious in a changeable climate as in any other. Reports of cases cured have come to me from various parts of the world, under varying changes of climate, and the result has always been the same, namely, 'the cure of the case.'
"For internal administration I have always found the 2x tincture the most efficacious, given in from one to two drop doses every two, three, or four hours, according to the severity of the symptoms. For external purposes I strongly advise the θ tincture. It may be employed either in the form of a lotion (20 to 60 minims of θ tincture to a tumblerful of water), the ointment or the liniment (30 to 40 minims of the θ tincture to ǯj of pure olive oil). Cloths steeped in the lotion and renewed when dry may be applied to the painful parts, or the ointment or liniment may be rubbed well in. Experience has taught me that external treatment combined with internal greatly assists in hastening the cure. In the treatment of rheumatism Stellaria media is a very active drug, acting very promptly; a low dilution of the mother tincture of the drug taken internally is very apt, therefore, to intensify the pains, and these should therefore be avoided and the 2x dilution used."
STIGMATA MAIDIS.
A Tincture of the Fresh Corn Silk.
Nat. Ord.—Gramineæ.
Common Name.—Corn Silk.
Preparation.—One part of fresh corn silk is macerated in two parts by weight of alcohol.
(A great deal has been published lately concerning this remedy. The following by Dr. Dufan, London Medical Record, seems to give the best outline of its uses:)
1. The stigmata of maize have a very marked, though not always a favorable, action in all affections of the bladder, whether acute or chronic.
2. In acute traumatic cystitis, and also in gonorrhœal cystitis, they have a very marked diuretic action, but, at the same time, increase the pain; hence they should not be employed in these cases.
3. The best results have been obtained in cases of uric or phosphatic gravel, of chronic cystitis, whether simple or consecutive to gravel, and of mucous or muco-purulent catarrh. All the symptoms of the disease, the vesical pains, the dysuria, the excretion of sand, the ammoniacal odor, etc., rapidly disappear under the influence of the medicine.