May, 1879

J. D., a man aet. 69, had been complaining for several weeks of pains in the limbs, which settled in the right leg, from the hip down to the ankle, but were worse at the joints, being of a shifting nature - intennit-tent - sometimes shooting and darting like lightning, causing the patient to change his position frequently. Warmth gives him relief. He is unable to leave his bed; is almost in despair, thinking he is dying. Magnes. phos., a dose every three hours. The improvement on taking this remedy was marked and rapid, but whenever he stopped with the medicine he felt worse again. By continuing steadily with Magnes. phos. a complete cure was effected. (From Schussler).

I was called to attend a girl, aet, 12 she had had, some time ago, an attack of rheumatic fever. I found the little patient, who had been taken ill the previous day, in bed. The joints of both knees were swollen, somewhat red, and very painful. The joints of the vertebrae at the nape of the neck were implicated, and every movement out of the constrained position of the neck and back was very painful. Her friends expected that salicylic acid would be applied, which they bad already seen used, but I gave Ferrum phos. and Kali mur. alternately every three hours. Next day, to the astonishment of the friends, the fever and pains were less, and knees were quite free from pain. Now I ordered Kali mur, to be given alone for the swelling, and the next morning on my return I found all the symptoms worse. I repeated the Ferrum phos again, and there was a rapid improve-18 ment. But in the same degree as the pains were leaving Bad the swelling decreasing, spasmodic pains in the abdomen set in. There was also an occasional vomiting of bilious matter. As soon as these latter symptom came on, I ordered the little patient some Magnes. phos. dissolved in water, in frequent sips, which removed all these symptoms in twenty-four hours. Ferrumphos. and Kali mur, were continued in less frequent doses.

Six days after my first visit the patient was able to leave the bed, and was quite we'll. (Dr. Schlegel).

July 19th, 1879

From the reports of a Medical Congress at Dortmund, by Dr. Stens, Jr.: "I should like to report on a case of rheumatism which was cured by Ferrum phos. in a very short time, after having tried several of the most reputed remedies which seemed indicated. A lady, set. 42 (catamenia normal, though scanty) . had been treated by me for the last few years. She suffered from digestive derangement, and sometimes from violent attacks of megrim. This lady awoke one morning with a violent pain in the right upper arm and region of right shoulder, being of a tearing nature. She had walked the previous evening through a damp meadow, getting her feet wet. The pains were worse if she moved her arm quickly, but easier on moving it very gently. She was, therefore, keeping it constantly in motion. The parts affected were painful on being touched. Several nights perspiration had been excessive, and afterward made its appearance every morning between two and three o'clock, when the pains were always worse. The patient also complained of a pain in the right hand and powerlessness, which prevented her from lifting anything heavy. She often felt rather exhausted, and had to lie down. I gave her no less than five remedies which seemed to suggest themselves, but without success.

The lady's an senile condition, and partly Dr. Schussler's recommendation. made me think of iron. 1 prescribed his own preparation of Ferritin phos., as much as would cover a sixpence, to be taken night and morning. The result was thai, after taking the medicine for six days, the pains, with their accompanying symptoms, did not return, even though soon after this wet weather set in, when she had generally felt her pains to be much worse. (From Schussler).

Miss A. W., aet. 10 1/2, was taken with a chill on January 1st. 1884. The next day I found her with very high fever, pulse 120; severe pains in back and limbs; nausea and vomiting; joints, small and large, greatly inflamed; hands, feet and limbs oedematous. Could not bear to he touched or moved. Great sensitiveness in every part of the body and limbs. Pains became very much worse at night, increasing to such an extent that her screams could be heard by the neighbors on each side of the house. Constant cry for cold water; vomiting of food and drink almost as soon as swallowed. Tongue coaled yellow, with horrible bitter metallic taste. Great prostration. Hereditary, gouty-rheumatic and dropsical diathesis. Has had for some time back a ravenous appetite, especially for sweet things, which was freely indulged. Treatment: After wasting much of the first week with various remedies with no improvement, I determined to adhere to the system of Schussler. For the fever, vomiting of food and drink, and the inflammation, 1 gave Ferrum phos. 6x. Pains aggravated at night, Calcarea phos. 6x; for rheumatic gout, oedenia, dropsy, yellow coated tongue with bitter taste, Natrum sulph. 3x, about ten grains in half a goblet of water, a leaspoonful every other hour in alternation with the first two, which were given dry and at the same time.

From the commencement of this treatment, decided improvement began, and by the fourteenth day of her sickness she was able to sit up. Previous to her sickness she had become so stout that she could not stoop to button her shoes, and her cloak could scarcely be buttoned around her. Indeed, it was so uncomfortable buttoned that she would go with it open almost all the time. After her recovery she was able to stoop, and her cloak could be lapped several inches. - E. H. Hol-hrook, M. D., in Eclectic Medical Journal.

Dr. Sulzer, of Berlin, reports a case of fever and violent pain in the right shoulder joint, high temperature, full and rapid pulse, thirst and loss of appetite. Shoulder red, swollen and sensitive to pressure. The pressure of the pillow was unbearable. Ferrum phos. 6x cured. - Allg. Horn. Zeit.