word roused up like all truth at the first appearance an enormous opposition. When the great physician, Hufeland, called the German Hippocrates, first encountered Hahnemann's idea and his method of cure, he was so astounded thereat, so overcome, that his expression was, If homoeopathy is true, it will be the grave of all medical science. I am inclined to think that from his standpoint he was right. For his remark proved not only that he was deeply moved by the truth and power contained in the words, Similia similibus curantur, as a therapeutic rule of action, but the old medical science of his day, so full of Galenic dogmatism and Paracelsian superstition, did indeed go down and has since. then given way to the modern sciences of histology, physiology, and pathology, and to the development of that new science of pathogenetics, mainly embraced in the so-called homoeopathic provings. For these two factors, the modern pathology and pathogenesis, compose the medical science of the present era and the best future, and have brought about from this dreaded grave of old medicine, the resurrection of medicine out of the disintegrated body of old science and therapeutics of Hufeland's time. But it is only owing to the genius of Hahnemann that the two sciences. have come to a fruit-bearing connection, so to speak, by the promulgation of his therapeutic rule, which in reality was meant and introduced by Hahnemann at first more as an example for action, with an invitation to imitate it, than as a law. The doctrine, the theory, the law, as laid down in the Organon, came later; and some of his followers stick to each letter of it like to a revelation, and thus let the spirit escape them.

As regards the opinions entertained by the various writers on the word therapeutic law, so ably and precisely stated in the lecture on its limitation, I am for my part inclined to do as Goethe lets his Dr. Faust do, when he undertakes to translate the New Testament. In the phrase, "In the beginning was the Word," Faust is not satisfied with this translation of logos, but substitutes sense, but soon throws that aside for the word power; and even that seems not to suffice, and thus he at once settles on the phrase, In the beginning was the deed (act or fact). Likewise I prefer to call the words Similia similibus curantur, not a doctrine, nor a law, but the name or the sign for a method of action, of course with various laws of nature underlying it. But it is neither founded on matter alone nor on spirit alone, neither on materialism nor on idealism, neither on empiricism nor on rationalism alone, but on life, and action, and vitality. Much has been said and written by philosophers about this vitality. No sufficient definition of life has yet been given; and yet who denies its existence? By the materialists it is thrown aside as unnecessary, for they consider matter in nature as a self-sufficient starting-point of all life and spirit. Des

cartes believed in body as well as spirit co-existing; while Leibnitz, Spinoza, and Plato of old were pantheists, that is, they believed the creative spirit and the created matter all in one. Berkeley was a complete idealist; but lately Herbert Spencer escaped from this dilemma and recognized the absolute power as the essence of all things, only he considers it at the same time beyond our limits of understanding, and thus has founded the school of agnosticism. But, practically, for the true science of the present day, there is no power without matter and no matter without power, no nature without spirit and no spirit without embodiment of nature: these exist in constant interaction, and power is this irritation or reaction of the two upon each other. Thus we approach the idea of life-power or vitality, which is the offspring of this interaction of matter and power, and without which we cannot assume nor promulgate our therapeutic method of Simila similibus curantur. [To be continued.]

THE STORY OF A BONE.

[Read before the Maine Homeopathic Medical Society by C. H. Burr, M. D., Portland.] THE case which I herewith present came under treatment July 4, 1880. The subject was a little boy about nine years of age, the son of a fisherman living about two miles from Portland. He had returned from a few days' cruise with his father five or six hours before my first visit. I found him in bed, shoulders well elevated, face flushed, breathing quick, pulse rapid. His mother called attention to his right shoulder, which, she said, was tender and swollen. On examination it was found red from below the clavicle, over the shoulder and up as high as the ear. He would not allow the least manipulation, so a thorough examination was out of the question.

The diagnosis was congestion of one or both lungs, but what the external manifestation had to do with it, or whether it had any connection at all, was more than I could at that time tell. I could not learn that he had received a blow or injury of any kind.

I ordered the shoulder covered with two thicknesses of old cotton cloth wet in equal parts of alcohol and water, and protected from the air by a rubber cloth placed over it. The cotton cloth was to be removed, wet again, and replaced.

Very little change was noted during the next thirty-six hours, when it was ascertained that the congestion was in the left lung, and unmistakable signs of pneumonia were present.

I will not trouble you with a detailed account of the symptoms or treatment of the pneumonia. It passed through the usual

stages, ending in resolution. The applications to the right shoulder and clavicle were continued four or five days, at the end of which time signs of an abscess appeared on the outer third of the clavicle. In due process of time it was opened, discharging freely and relieving the tumefaction, and, to a great degree, the tenderness of the parts. Still, from the outer third to the sternal end of the clavicle, there was intolerance to pressure, and, as there was but little adipose tissue over the bone, it was easy to determine that the inflammatory process was still going on.

About this time, between two and three weeks after my first visit, I learned an additional fact in the history of the case. Two days before he came home, the men on the schooner were engaged in drawing in their nets, and, as they were well-laden and the crew small, this little boy placed a rope over his shoulder and put forth all his strength. From this time the region of the clavicle was sore and painful; whether there was a fracture at this point or simply an injury to the periosteum is a question somewhat in doubt. A second abscess developed below the clavicle, and a little nearer the sternum than the first one; it was treated in the same way, with the same result, a profuse discharge, but without entire relief to the inflammation. I told the parents the bone was diseased and in all probability some pieces would come out.

The boy at this time was able to sit up and even to move about the room, with a fair appetite and gaining in strength. I left Silicea enough for a week, and asked his mother to report at the end of that time how he was getting on. The report was favorable as to improvement in health, but indicated very little change about the clavicle.

The mother came to my office once a week until she had been three times, and I continued to send Silicea, after which I lost sight of them and heard nothing from the case for four or five months. One of the neighbors then told me that quite a large piece of bone had come out of the boy's shoulder; but she did not seem to know any particulars about it. I, supposing they had called another physician, had some hesitation about calling at the house to inquire about it. But some weeks afterwards, having occasion to go there, I asked about the piece which had come

out.

The mother left the room and immediately returned with this bottle and bone. You will observe it represents the sternal articulation and three and a quarter inches of the shaft of the clavicle. The acromial extremity shows the point at which the primary injury was received, and its serrated surface marks the seat of caries and suppuration.

The gradual and painless manner in which the bone was removed is interesting. A few small fragments of bone came

from time to time from the opening made by the first abscess; then the sharp points came to the surface and the skin became very tight over the outer edge of the bone, gradually giving way to the effort nature was making to dislodge it.

Thus matters went on: a little more bone became visible daily; the child went to school, played as other boys did and had a good time. One day, in school, the lad who sat behind him put his hand upon the right shoulder of our patient and gave a sudden pull backward. Our little boy was conscious that something had given way and felt a hard substance pass from the shoulder down the body. On examination he found it was this bone; he took it in his hand, got excused from school, and went home to his mother. She, being a woman of courage, and observing that the boy was comfortable, did not think it worth while to notify any physician of the event.

To the hurrying people of this age, the processes of Nature sometimes seem slow, but, given a fair chance, she always does her work well. It took six months to effect the removal of this bone; and no one can examine this boy and notice his erect form with the outline of his shoulders uniform and unchanged without acknowledging that the operation was well performed.

A new bone seems to have formed and taken the place of the one removed; but union has not yet taken place with the acromial portion of the old one: for when placing the hand on the anterior part of the shoulder and pressing backward, a tilting motion can be felt.

The lad told me a few weeks since that one arm was as strong as the other, and that he had no inconvenience from that side when at work or play.

TWO CASES OF TETANUS FROM TOY-PISTOL ACCIDENT.

BY CHAS. A. BARNARD, M. D., CENTREDALE, R. I.

DURING the recent widespread epidemic of this disease, two cases came under my care which furnish additional proof of the wonderful effect of drugs administered homoeopathically. During the entire treatment of both cases, every drug was homœopathically prescribed, and the symptomatology of each drug furnishes a parallel to the condition of the patient at the time the drug was administered. No surgical means were resorted to; no topical measures were used.

CASE I. On the morning of July 15 I was called to see a lad aged thirteen, who, I was told, had been wounded by a toy pistol on the Fourth. I found the wound in the palm of the hand, except the growth of new skin, entirely healed. My little

patient lay prone and rigid upon the bed, every voluntary muscle being in a state of tonic contraction. His eyes were fixed and staring; his jaws were set and half open; the risorius muscles were powerfully contracted; the skin presented an ashen-gray appearance, and his face wore a decidedly tetanic - I had almost said Satanic-look. Respiration was almost entirely abdominal. Swallowing difficult. At frequent intervals he would be seized with severe clonic spasms, throwing the body into the position of opisthotonos.

Knowing how fatal the then reported cases had been, I turned to the friends and said, "It is only another case to be added to the list. However, I will do what I can." Selecting Lachoo I ordered a powder the size of a pea every two hours. Scarcely expecting to see my patient alive again, I took my departure. At midnight I saw him again. He had taken a little milk; the clonic spasms were not so frequent, and he did not complain of so much pain in the back.

Next day, to my surprise, I found his mouth closed and the interval between the clonic spasms increasing in length. Enjoining strict attention to diet, which he had to suck between his teeth, I continued the Lach. At midnight not much change. Next day much the same. At midnight I found the little fellow suffering from dyspnoea. With a peculiar sharp, sudden cry he would be seized with a severe clonic spasm; opisthotonos would supervene, the muscles of the chest would be violently contracted with severe pain, his face become livid, froth would issue from his mouth, and through his clinched teeth he would cry out, "Take me to the window."

Surely that is a complete picture of the effect of Hydrocyanic acid, which accordingly I gave.

The next day I found that the spasms had left the chest, he could open his mouth a trifle, and had slept a few minutes. When the clonic spasms came on he would complain of a terrific pain in the groin. For this symptom I gave Cicuta virosa.

For nearly two weeks I saw my patient in the morning and near midnight each day. Wavering from hope to fear, watching the almost constantly changing symptoms, I was able to promptly control them as above mentioned.

The lengthening interval between the spasms, the gradual relaxation of the rigid muscles, the slow but sure approach of sleep to his weary frame, the almost worshipful look of the widowed mother for the salvation of her eldest son, I can never forget.

But a new danger awaited me. His emaciation was great; his neck, back, and legs were stiff; his head was drawn to one side, and he refused to take nourishment. He would promise me