Echinacea in Erysipelas and in Lockjaw

On the first of April, I was called by a regular physician to see Mr. M., who was about fifty years old. He had an attack of phlegmonous erysipelas in the right hand. The hand was badly swollen and intensely red. Although the action of the heart was very weak, there was an increased impulse.

The attending physician had given an unfavorable prognosis in which I at first concurred, but at my suggestion we put him on half teaspoonful doses of echinacea every three hours, and dressed the hand with the oxid of zinc ointment. In twenty days we dismissed the patient cured.

I was called to attend a patient who was suffering from a severe injury. While awaiting the attendance of a surgeon who was to perform an operation, the patient's jaws became locked and traumatic tetanus developed rapidly.

I advised the administration of half teaspoonful doses of echinacea. When the surgeon arrived, he said a cure was impossible, but the remedy was persisted in. The patient has recovered completely, to the satisfaction of all.

T. C. HARRIS, M. D.

Ellingwood's Therapeutist, Vol. 2, 1908, was edited by Finley Ellingwood M.D.