====== CASES OF DIPHTHERIA.====== 

{{:en:ahr:constantine_hering.jpg?direct&100 |}}

{{anchor:s2}}%%*[%%Reported to the American Institute of Homoeopathy, at its Seventeenth Annual Meeting, in Philadelphia; June 2, 1860.]

{{anchor:s3}}BY CONSTANTINE HERING, M.D., PHILADELPHIA.

{{anchor:s4}}The epidemic diphtheria commenced in Philadelphia, December last, and increased slowly in number and violence during the following three months, and I have not seen any more during the last six weeks.

{{anchor:s5}}All my patients, except cases where I was the consulting physician, belonged to families I had been attending for years, nearly all very intelligent families which I consider a great advantage in treatment. {{anchor:s6}}I have had during this time about 50 to 60 cases with marked symptoms of diphtheria, in one case I succeeded in obtaining the membrane for microscopic examination, which I add herewith. {{anchor:s7}}I had about the same number of light cases'. {{anchor:s8}}All recovered within seven, days, except a very few of so called scrofulous diathesis, which required more time. {{anchor:s9}}The time it took to effect a cure, I consider one of the most important items in statistic tables, as I remember that since I have learned to give the doses higher and higher, the duration of acute cases has been shortened.

{{anchor:s10}}The medicine given has been mostly at first Belladonna. {{anchor:s11}}In some cases Bryonia or Antimonium crudum, which last one corresponded to the genus epidemicus particularly well.

{{anchor:s12}}After the first medicine, Lachesis was indicated by the great sensibility to the touch on the throat, with or without a swelling. {{anchor:s13}}In a few cases Iodine or Bromine, the first in persons with dark hair and black eyes, the latter with blue eyes and blonde hair, was given with good effect. {{anchor:s14}}Mercury I gave only once without benefit to the patient. {{anchor:s15}}No other medicine seemed to me to be indicated, and least of all the Iodide of Mercury. {{anchor:s16}}Every single dose of any of the medicines, even in the worst cases, I allowed about 24 hours to act before I decided to make a change. {{anchor:s17}}The lowest potence given was the 200 of Jenichen, generally I used them higher, giving always in every repetition a higher degree.

{{anchor:s18}}Dr. LIPPE has had about a like number of cases, and as far as I recollect, has given nearly the same medicines in the same potencies with like success. {{anchor:s19}}Dr. Reichhelm had had 6 or 8 weeks ago, about 80 cases, has given the 30th potence and lost none.

----

====== DOCUMENT DESCRIPTOR ======

^ Source: | The American Homoeopathic Review Vol. 02 No. 11, 1860, pages 515-516 |
^ Description: | Cases of Diphtheria. |
^ Remedies: | Belladonna, Bryonia, Antimonium crudum, Iodium, Bromum |
^ Author: | Hering, C. |
^ Year: | 1860 |
^ Editing: | errors only; interlinks; formatting |
^ Attribution: | Legatum Homeopathicum |