By this time he had eliminated the drug-poisons from his system, and the real symptoms of the malady began to appear uncomplicated. The blood and pus disappeared from the urine, there was less mucus, and the urine was of a lighter color.
A red, sandy sediment, however, remained. This sediment was not "gritty" under the finger, at least no such sensation was perceptible.
Second prescription: Lycopodium 30th and 6th, the former in the morning, the latter in evening, for a week. No improvement except a slight diminution of the sediment.
No medicine was given for four days, at which time there appeared dysuria, pain in the region of the prostate, mucous sediment, and itching at the orifice of the urethra.
While undecided as to the next prescription, I happened to take up a vial of tincture Epigea repens, which I had prepared from the fresh plant, while on a visit to Mackinaw six months before. Knowing the high estimate placed on this plant, by the people, in the treatment of gravel I resolved to test its virtues. Ten drops of the mother tincture were prescribed, to be taken every four hours.
Two days afterwards my patient brought me several small brownish particles, having the appearance of fine sand. When crushed and pressed between the fingers they had a decidedly gritty feel. Under the microscope they had the appearance of rough coarse sand. The discharge of calculi kept up for nearly a week, under the use of the Epigea, and then ceased, and with it all the symptoms of irritation of the bladder.
It is just possible that the discharge of gravel may have been a coincidence. It is equally possible that the Lycopodium acted curatively; but I am inclined to believe their disintegration and expulsion was caused or aided by the use of the last medicine.
Further observations are needed to place the curative powers of this plant on a certain basis.