Brief contributed articles.

Mangifera; Oenanthe.

PERCY F. LISK, M. D., GRAHAMVILLE, FLORIDA

I have been using mangifera indica recently in my practice with good results. I present this brief report because I see but little written on this remedy. I have used it in a case of laryngitis and bronchitis where there was an excessive secretion, which the patient raised with much difficulty. The remedy checked the secretion and appeared to have a soothing effect upon the throat. I added one dram of the remedy to four ounces of water and gave this mixture in teaspoonful doses every two hours.

I have used it in a somewhat larger amount, combined with the 1/36 of a grain of emetine at each dose, in hemorrhage from the stomach (hematemesis) with great success. I have also used it with other indicated remedies in influenza.

I have been using oenanthe crocata in a case of hemiplegia with epilepsy, caused by an injury. The patient was a male, white, twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. In doing some very heavy work he felt his left hand suddenly go to sleep, the numbness continuing he stopped work for four or five days and apparently recovered. Returning to work, the difficulty developed again and increased, remaining permanent with slight loss of motion for three or four months. He was then seized with an epileptic attack. I was summoned and treated him with neurolecithin, also with verbenin, solanine and scutellarin, with some little benefit. Later with the Roberts Hawley's special lymph compound. This produced a great deal of benefit to his general health and some benefit to the arm.

About a month ago I placed him on oenanthe. The arm has greatly improved and he is now able to make considerable use of it and can move the fingers. He has had but one epileptic attack in the last two months. I am positive that the improvement not only in the epilepsy but in the paralysis has been produced by the action of oenanthe.

I shall be glad to make reports later on of these remedies, if acceptable to readers of this journal.

COMMENT: The above suggestions are very acceptable, because not only are the remedies seldom mentioned, but the influence of both the remedies is stated for conditions unusual. We are endeavoring to broaden the specific action of all our remedies but we are careful to keep the action within the specific field. If we can receive reports from other physicians similar to these experiences of Dr. Lisk's it will confirm the action of these remedies in these lines.

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