Vol. 18 No. 2 April 1998
by Dr Royal E S Hayes
If the case related in the last issue is the most sensational, then this one is the most spectacular, although it has a fatal ending. In relating it I shall have to depend upon memory, as the record could not be found.
A middle-aged woman had a large cancerous tumour removed by one of our good surgeons and the breast taken with it. I do not remember about glandular involvement. The area was then faithfully irradiated for several weeks or a few months. The cancerous process rapidly increased, however, until the hard, red, inflamed, nodular, ulcerating, malodorous, crusty process spread over the axilla, across the back, downward across the abdomen and somewhat across the chest. She was unable to lift the arm from the side of the body or move it backward. She was running a temperature, was able to be about, but thrashing and sleepless at night because of pain and anxious forebodings.
Arsenicum modified this acute process decidedly, did away with the temperature and gave rest at night. Then she was put on Kali mur 12c, three or four times a day. After several weeks, perhaps two or three months, the entire thing had disappeared and the motility of the extremity was perfect. All that remained were a few irregularities and fine crusts in the scar.
The woman now took a position in a labourer’s boarding house and did heavy work 14 to 16 hours a day in a hot room. Appeals and threats were sent repeatedly by wire and mail, but to no avail. The acute process was renewed like an intense cellulitis, responded to no prescription and carried her off in a short time, I think about two weeks.
A young lady of 18 had a fibroid of moderate size removed from the right breast. It had long roots which the surgeon had to follow up toward the axilla. The shock of this small operation was not well endured, for it took about five years for the patient to recover her former vigour. In the meantime, three new lumps appeared in the right breast and two in the left. She was quite susceptible to flu attacks, having a sluggish congestion of the right lung at one time. About ten years ago a severe attack of cholecystitis. Since then recurrent attacks of flu and catarrh troubles and liver and digestive disturbances.
Sulphur in all degrees, up and down, was the main feature of the treatment although Arsenicum, Phosphorus, and Pulsatilla had to be used for acute conditions. After eight years the tumours in the left breast had disappeared and but one remained in the right, on the original site. Then pains appeared in the left breast, sharp, contracting, with constant dull ache. Both breasts swollen hard and aching before menstruation.
Kali mur 100c, one dose, was given in January and in April the breasts were free from pain and tumour gone. Digestive and catarrh troubles persisted, though her endurance gradually improved.
Was it a tumour cure? No, because recently, three years after-ward, a large lump was found in the right breast, nodular, with sharp edges and fastened to the chest wall. Obviously, prophecy would be a delicate matter. Sulphur, however, exhibited its tenacity in this case and Kali mur its power over fibrosis.
The next case, a fatal one, illustrates two points, to be seen later. Woman of 50. At first a small lump in the lower segment of the left breast, freely movable, slightly tender, blood discharging from the nipple at times, history of blow on the breast a year previous. During three years of treatment, progress was up and down, the lump receding at times, only to advance again. There was also high tension, cardiac weakness, arthritis, pelvic and other special troubles to contend with. Lachesis, Kali mur, Calcarea fluorica, Carcinoma, and Calc fluor again had specific reducing effect. Even after the axillary glands were involved Calc fluor 6c softened and reduced them. Carcinoma 200c had a remarkable effect on the muddy complexion and general feeling. Another blow on the breast and the advance was rapid, the entire breast becoming hard, red and inflamed extending into the axilla and side of the chest, with fever and general toxæmia, inability to lie down or sleep and much suffering. Lachesis 41M was given on its familiar modalities in external infections with wonderful relief, the whole mass softening, pointing and discharging copiously like an abscess. The entire process ceased, the patient could lie, sleep and eat and while failing in general, kept in comparative comfort and died comfortably of oedema of the lungs.
The special features here are the marked palliation with Lachesis and the remarkable effect of potentized Carcinoma on the muddy complexion. Carcinoma has cleared up several muddy complexions for me in a wonderful way, in debility with otherwise insignificant symptoms.
Woman of 29. Just discovered a lump in the right breast. About 1 x 0.5 inches, movable, tender, resilient hardness, soreness extending through to the scapula, aggravated by moving the arm and before menstruation. Warm blooded. Kali mur 100c, Sulphur, 10M and Kali mur 100c again, consumed six months with intervals of cessation of pain and mammary swelling, the size of the tumour remaining about the same. Then the local condition became much aggravated by cold of any kind, also general sensitiveness to cold; languid; both breasts sore from any cold, even hands in cool water; the lump larger and breast swollen. Magnesia phosphorica 900c, and 5M improved five months; then Pulsatilla on general symptoms. Cured in 15 months; no recurrence during the last two years.
Negro boy of 15; tender lump in left breast three years; about 0.75 x 0.5 inch; previously had one like it in the right which disappeared after six months without treatment; no other symp-toms or history obtainable. Kali mur 12c t.i.d. After a few weeks no trace remained.
Woman of 70. Large fibrous uterus many years. Suffering every night with an intense pain like sciatica. It had come after being jounced in an automobile. She could not lie at all some nights, at others was aroused after an hour or two of sleep and compelled to walk the remainder of the night. Severe pain also in the rectum and pelvis, dragging, lancinating, throbbing, shooting, and other sensations referable to the pelvic condition. This had been going on a month. Examination revealed the pelvic cavity packed solid with a soggy, hard mass which extended high up into the abdomen and was absolutely immovable either above or below.
Bellis perennis 6c was given every two hours. No change after 24 hours. Prescription changed to five drops of the mother tincture every two hours. Next day reported a few short naps but paroxysms worse when they came. The Bellis tincture was ordered to be taken every hour. Next day, the third day of treatment, the condition was decidedly improving. Next and fourth day found the lower extremities oedematous, severe burning ache in rectum, all symptoms coming on worse during sleep and waking her with severe distress. Degeneration and toxæmia was feared.
Lach 1M was followed by good sleep and comparative comfort for two days. Then severe, sharp stinging pains, abdomen bloated and sore. Bellis tincture every two hours again, continuing eight days when the tincture failed, but a dose of the 1M lasted four days. Then the 10M 23 days and again ten days, then no response even from the 50M.
Now changed to Kali mur 12c every three hours, on purely tissue considerations. Continued four weeks and when that failed, one dose of the 200c. By this time the tumour was much reduced and movable and only slight discomforts remained.
Ten days later, new symptoms; ankles and knees weak and giving out under her; soreness in rectum; lameness of left sacral back and down left thigh; hands aching and swollen, face burning; skin inelastic, dents in it remaining long. Carbo animalis 1M one dose. No more trouble to date-a year and a half, though the tumour is there yet, I suppose.
Woman of 32. Hard enlargement in left axilla like a fibroid about 1.5 x 1 inch with stitching pains; discovered two years previously.
Daily headaches; backache and pain in the lower abdomen, all these of a kind having the familiar sound of Sepia. Sepia, 1M and 10M, two doses of each, carried her nine months. Then Psorinum 50M, one dose, six months, then Sulphur 200c, one dose, the tumour at last report being merely a soft, flat film, barely palpable. But that means that it is still there, of course.
Here is one that was quite exciting for a while. Girl of 18. Nodule in left breast about 0.5 inch round, stony-hard, sore, aggravated before menstrual periods. Had been aware of it for two years. Both breasts sore before periods. Kali mur 200c, one dose.
Pains became worse then better and tumour decreased. A month after taking this remedy constitutional symptoms appeared. Cold clammy feet, worse in the evening; easy perspiration on scalp. Calc carb 10M, one dose.
Improved a month. Then reported much trouble at menstrual period. Shooting paroxysmal pains and soreness radiating across the chest and down the arm, much aggravated by cold. Spells of feeling exhausted. Magnesia phosphorica 9c, one dose.
Improved three months on this. Then sharp pains on both breasts and down arms, worse after menstruation, worse from warmth of exercise, most severe ones coming on while asleep, direction left to right. New lump growing in right breast, the first one remaining stationary. Lach 1M. one dose, relieved in two weeks, with right lump decreasing.
Then pains aggravated by heat, soreness inside chest keeping her bent forward, oppressed as from heat, renewed soreness in left breast. Puls 10M removed all pain and she felt so well that she did not report for five months.
Then found the left tumour gone, the right and original one remained. It was irregular in shape and had a long root at the axillary extremity. Kali mur 1M relieved the pains, but three months later the size was found to be the same. Psorinum 50M one dose. Three months later no trace of tumour and none during the two years that have elapsed.
Mrs A, 46, found a lump in the left breast two months previous. It was loose, of firm density, lobulated and tender. About 2.5 x 1.5 inches. It was said to have been soft and larger a month before and became sore as it grew smaller and harder. An enlarged, tender gland was found in the axilla. Menstruation had skipped a few times; hot flashes ascending to head; bearing down and dragging first day of period. Poor appetite in summer, faint stomach before dinner; coldness of back and feet; weeping without apparent cause. Suspicious complexion and general dragged-out appearance. Sepia 1M, one dose.
Three weeks later general appearance improving and gland not palpable. A little later had influenza and received Gelsemium. Two weeks later found her still debilitated. She kept about but had to sit down often. Tired and sleepy, being worse in that respect toward evening. No appetite, bundling up because of coldness, but easy perspiration; aggravation by every change of weather. Tumour softer and flatter. Psor 50M one dose. Two and a half months later the tumour was pronounced missing, no return to date, four and a half years later.
The next case is not reported as a tumour, merely as a suspicion. A woman of 50 but appearing 20 years older, had a fiery burning in the face five years since cocaine had been used for tooth extraction. There were intense fiery burning spells as from burning needles beginning regularly at 4am and continuing in paroxysms throughout the day. The tongue always felt scalded. There was spray of burning fluid from the salivary glands whenever she opened the mouth. Cold relieved, food, drink and everything had to be cold, and was worse with heat of any kind. Apis 1M, one dose.
The first night was worse, then improvement began and continued five weeks. Then an ulcer appeared, forming on the side and under the tongue, extending rapidly in depth and circumference, with greyish base, ragged edges and irregular areola of purple colour, varicosity of adjacent veins. Dr Woodbury saw it and his comment was “Suspicious”. I had seen a sore just like it a few years previous and in a few weeks the old lady who had it was dead. However, the subjective symptoms were decidedly improving so nothing was given but sac lac. Six weeks later all symptoms were gone except the scar and continue so to date, five years.
Woman of 76 had an epitheliomatous looking sore on the right cheek two years, then it spread rapidly and the entire anterior portion of the cheek became inflamed, a hard lump forming in the centre and crusts spreading as the inflamed area advanced. The sensations were of prickling and smarting, worse at night; as if inside the cheek, a creeping feeling as if something were alive in it.
Sulphur 10M, two doses, and 50M, one dose, three in all, during 14 months, at the end of which time only a trace was visible. Then it began to spread again with sharp stinging pains. Arsenicum 40M cleared it up absolutely and there has been no trace, objective or subjective, during the succeeding few years.
- from The Homœopathic Recorder, January 1925