Miscellaneous.

Chorea predisposes to epilepsy and epilepsy to chorea, the former being the most frequent condition. It has been stated that patients suffering from severe forms of chorea will transmit a neurotic taint to their children, which will result in epilepsy in the next generation; or that chorea in the child may follow epilepsy in the previous generation; or a neurotic taint in the parent may result in chorea in one child and epilepsy in another. In a very few cases both chorea and epilepsy have been discovered in the same child.

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Two grains of ergotin given in pill form, three or four times a day, will materially assist in reducing the size of uterine fibroids provided these are within the structure of the womb and are not simply sub-peritoneal. I have combined ergotine with hydrastin and nux vomica with most excellent results in these cases.

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Five grains of sulphite of soda, three or four times a day, where the tongue is broad and pale, and covered with a yellowish white coat, will cure severe headache.

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But little has been written recently concerning the medicinal action of barium chloride. Bartholow recommended it for uterine disease where there was congestion and hemorrhage. In one case of abdominal aneurism in a woman of 65, one-fifth of a grain was given three times a day and gradually increased to two-fifths. This was continued for five months with steady and satisfactory reduction of the tumor. One-twelfth of a grain is about the average dose.

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Twenty-five years ago, German authorities were enthusiastic in the treatment of cancer by the internal use of the tincture of cantharides. It was prepared in the wine of camphor with mucilage of gum arabic and given in small doses carefully increased. A number of cases were reported cured at that time, but I have seen little reference to it in later years.

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We have been presenting various cures for dropsy recently, especially the pods of the bean, phaseolus. A few years ago, the garden artichoke (cynara scolymus) was recommended highly for general dropsy. It was prepared in gin and given in wine glassfull doses.

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The use of jaborandi in small doses in scarlet fever is recommended as advantageous in a certain class of cases.

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I have treated many cases of chronic diarrhea where there was semi-solid stools, with epilobium in five drop doses every two or three hours. The indications for this remedy in diarrhea are widely different from those of arsenite of copper.

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Hegar's early sign of pregnancy is a softening of the middle section of the lower segment of the body of the womb just above the cervix, determined by passing the index finger into the rectum and the thumb in the vagina.

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The condition of sleek red tongue, without coat, is corrected by sulphurous acid if there is no nausea. If nausea is present with elongated papilla, nitric acid is the better remedy.

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Uric-Antagon is what its name implies, a true antagonist of the uric acid poison. It contains only the active principles of vegetable products that have a definite action in promoting the absorption and elimination of the toxic products which are the basis for the uric acid conditions. The hepatic and renal cells are stimulated in a normal manner, and poisons that are not thrown out of the system are neutralized. It does not impair the digestion or disturb secretion in any way, nor has it any other untoward action. It relieves immediate symptoms and is curative in its ultimate results. The clinical results are very gratifying, indeed, and can be furnished on application.

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Phosphorus given during the course of a case of diabetes will occasionally retard materially the progress of the disease and promote a cure.

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Diarrhea with clay colored discharges, semi-solid in character and of light weight, floating on water, is corrected with the phosphate of soda.

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The tincture of kino is recommended as a cure for diabetes. Thirty drops every four hours has materially lessened the quantity of water in some cases, within a short time.

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Arsenicum in the third decimal trituration is the homeopathic remedy for diarrhea, with fetid discharges, semi-fluid in character and of greenish tinge; acrid and irritating.

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A case of rapidly advancing purpura in a man 25 years old, with violent hemorrhages from all mucous surfaces was controlled in two hours and cured within a few days with 20 drop doses of turpentine given every two or three hours.

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Excessive sweating of the hands and feet may be materially benefited, if not cured, by bathing them three times a day with a mixture of one part of the tincture of belladonna and four parts of cologne water.

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There was a theory propounded a few years ago, which is still entertained by some, that there is an intimate relationship between chorea and epilepsy, both being due to disturbances of the motor and intellectual centers, differing however in degree.

Ellingwood's Therapeutist, Vol. 3, 1909, was edited by Finley Ellingwood M.D.