07/08/2025
Another instructive case from the patient files of Dr. Adolph Lippe...
"Mr. M.T., age 25 years, dark complexion, black hair, who had always been in good health, called at the office on the evening of the 12th of December, 1873, and stated that he had felt very unwell for some weeks, had no appetite, frequent headaches, and occasional pains in the abdomen. Received one dose of Nux vomica 40 M (Fincke).
Saw him again on the evening of the 14th day of December. Had been confined to his bed all day, felt very sick and depressed. The pains in the abdomen had gradually increased, were constant, with periodical increase of them, and he was then relieved by very profuse vomiting of a green substance (bile) with much transparent mucus, and finally of these attacks of vomiting, a gulping up of a few mouthfuls of bright red blood; these attacks of vomiting had returned more frequently during the afternoon, in the same ratio as the pains in the abdomen increased. Abdomen felt sore when touched, especially the region of the stomach. No stool for some days. Urinary secretions extremely scanty; during the past twenty-four hours he had only passed about four ounces of dark-red urine. No thirst. Mouth felt dry and clammy; tongue was clean. Pulse very small and hard, eighty beats per minute. He found no relief in any position, but had to draw in his abdomen, as any attempt to stretch himself increased the pain.
Ordered Pulsatilla 50 M (Fincke), ten pellets dissolved in half a tumbler full of water, to be given every two hours.
December 15th. Had a sleepless night; had vomited less often, and no more blood had been gulped up at the cessation of vomiting. The pulse was softer; urinary secretions had increased; the pain in the abdomen was not severe any more; the tenderness to the touch continued. Discontinue medicine (4).
Day by day he grew better, the pain diminished, the urine became more abundant and cloudy, but he did not sleep, no appetite, no thirst, no movement from the bowels. On the 21st of December he desired to have some beef-tea, of which he took a small quantity at noon, but soon afterwards began to have pains in the abdomen as before but not as violent, and complained of nausea; was much worse his usually most uncomfortable time, 6 P.M. Gave him in the evening another dose of Pulsatilla 75 M (Fincke), dry, on the tongue.
In the morning, he was much relieved from the pain and the nausea, but had not been able to collect his ideas during the night—could not fix them on a single subject. The urinary secretions became from day to day more abundant, with more sediment and of a lighter color; sleep only for a very short time, never more than half an hour at a time, unrefreshing and unsatisfactory; a little more thirst for water; no appetite, and no movement from the bowels. He received no medicine till the 28 of December.
Without any apparent cause, he again felt much sicker. The skin was hotter again, the pain in the abdomen had much increased, and the urinary secretions had become more scanty. Gave him another dose of Pulsatilla CM (Fincke), dry, on the tongue. The next day he was better, and asked for something to eat; gave him, during the week, increasing portions of milk and bread. Slept better, and occasionally perspired; urinary secretions free, paler and at last only showing a floating cloud in the middle of the vessel. The bowels were moved on the 3d of January (6). On the 4th of January —just twenty-one days after had his only chill—he was allowed some animal food, he slept well, and his appetite increasing; was able to leave his bed, and sat up all day on the twenty-eighth day; regained the lost flesh in a short time, and has enjoyed perfect health ever since."
Comments by Dr. Lippe: Why did I give Pulsatilla? We hesitated a little and thought probably Apis more similar, but the mental symptoms, and the condition of the mouth, decided the choice of the remedy. The cause of the disease did not much interest us. We had to deal with phenomena, with facts in the shape of symptoms expressing the disordered condition of the sick, and that is just all we wished to know."
