Lilium Tigrinum in uterine displacements.
BY A. J. BREWSlER, M.D.[1]
The American Observer, Vol. 17, 1880.
The above-named drug, according to Dr. W. E. Payne, acts primarily on the generative organs of the female, and on the heart in the male. Dr. Burt puts this remedy in the ovario-uterine group. Other eminent physicians think that it acts directly upon the great sympathetic. Hence, all the organs that are connected by this system of nerves are, primarily or secondarily, affected by it. Therefore, not only the organs of the pelvis, but also those occupying the cavities of the abdomen and chest are affected by this remedy directly or indirectly.
The great sympathetic is constituted of a series of ganglions joined to each other by a nervous trunk, and extending down the side of the spine. It communicates with each of the spinal nerves, and with several of the encephalic. In that kind of uterine derangements which calls for Lilium we find functional derangement of the bowels, of the kidneys, and of the bladder.
We often see, also, in this connection, loss of appetite, nausea, and sometimes vomiting, indicating that the stomach also is in sympathy. And still farther on in the history of these cases, we find heart symptoms developed, such as palpitations and irregular beating of the heart, oppression of breathing, and sometimes a tendency to faint. We are of the opinion, from observing the long and continued action of this drug on the provers, that it will be found especially useful in cases of long standing.
Although there are cases on record of acute attacks being cured by this remedy, in my experience it is especially useful in cases that have been long in the process of development; when the functions of the heart, lungs and head are disturbed, and the attention of the patient is attracted to these organs as the seat of some much-to-be-dreaded malady; and it may be only when the attention is called to the uterine symptoms by the attending physician that they recollect that the beginning of all their trouble was not in the head, heart, or stomach, but in the pelvic organs.
The first sensation such patients have is the feeling of giving way in the hypogastrium, and soon follow the dragging down and the almost instinctive movement of the patient to support the vulva.
This giving way feeling referred to by the patient, is the break in the chain that supplies the nervo-vital fluid to the organs of the pelvis. This supply being cut off or diverted, those organs soon begin to suffer loss of vitality, and, in obedience to the unchanging law of gravity, begin to settle down in the pelvis. The nutritive process being thus interrupted, we soon find a great variety of lesions; and quite prominent among these is retroversio uteri.
Rertroverted uterus
Retroversion is a morbid inclination backward. An interesting question now arises: What causes this morbid inclination backward? We have referred above to the disturbance in the nerve circulation; and as a consequence, we find in the retroverted uterus where this position has been maintained for any length of time, that the anterior uterine fibres have become thinner and weaker, while the posterior tissues have grown thicker, and have increased in volume and weight. Hence, the natural tendency now is for the organ to fall back against the sacrum/ and if replaced by art, the law of gravity will speedily incline it back into its former morbid position. If art fails to remedy permanently this morbid condition as it has in many cases, the science of therapeutics may be able to render some valuable aid.
Retroversio uteri is a pathological condition recognised unmistakably by the following group of symptoms: The most strongly marked symptom indicative of retroversion of the uterus is found in the difficulty of emptying the bladder, accompanied with pain and tenesmus, which, in greater or less degree, is always present in complete cases of displacement.
Next to this is the pressure on the rectum, and consequent more or less frequent calls to stool, with great difficulty or impossibility of evacuating the bowels. A fixed gnawing or other variety of pain in the back, backache, and difficulty in walking, with inability to stand for any length of time without suffering, are also common accompaniments. (Thomas.)
The above symptoms form a central group in the proving of the drug under consideration, Theoretically, Lilium Tigrinum must be a good remedy for uterine displacement, and especially for retroversion. The crowning glory of the young science of homeopathy is that it is founded upon facts established by the proving of drugs upon the healthy, and corroborated by clinical experience.
I will now report some cases cured by this remedy:
Case 1.−Mrs. P., aged 45, after several months’ treatment, consulted the writer, and gave the following report of her condition; She had been treated by a professor of surgery, who informed her that medicine alone could never cure her; “for,” said he, “you have
Uterine prolapse
prolapsus (or falling of the womb), which can only be cured by being replaced.” So the woman endured replacement, only to suffer displacement, for weeks and months.
Despairing of ever being cured, she, as a last resort, applied to homeopathy for relief. The first marked symptom in her case was the mental depression, reaching almost the condition of despair. She had a settled conviction that some incurable malady, like organic heart or lung disease, was about to close her existence. ”For,” said she, “my head is so heavy I cannot walk without staggering; faint feeling; fear of falling, especially worse in a close, warm room; the fresh air affords some relief; and, besides, such a fullness in the head, with pressure outward, as if the head would burst; oppressed breathing, with palpitation of the heart; nervous trembling.” Says that she is unable to be on her feet, and suffers from constant dragging down sensation, affecting the chest, abdominal and pelvic organs; nervous, tremulous; and obstinate constipation.
This woman had almost forgotten the original trouble, her mind being so fully occupied with the sympathetic or secondary symptoms. She received LiliumTigrinum, third dilution; continued to take it for several weeks. The symptoms gradually disappeared, and she told me, some months afterwards, that she had found it unnecessary to have the organ replaced. Her general health has so much improved that she is able to walk whenever and wherever she may wish, and she complains no more of prolapsus.
Case 2.−Mrs. S., aged about 35, had for several months the premonitory symptoms of some uterine trouble, which she was fearful would result in something very serious. She had consulted her physician at different times, and received medicines which she assured her would bring the desired relief. Yet no relief came, but rather an increase of the symptoms to such an alarming degree that she was compelled to seek counsel elsewhere. The writer was consulted, and the following pathological condition found: An examination per vaginam, found the os uteri near the symphysis pubis, and the fundus fallen back against the sacrum, attended with urgent and persistent desire to evacuate the bladder; obstinate constipation of several days duration-in fact, no movement of the bowels had been possible for days, by any means.
There was constant pressure upon the bladder and rectum, and a feeling as if the whole contents of the pelvic cavity would be forced out at the vulva if not supported; constant backache, and inability to be on the feet, for it aggravated all the symptoms. The woman looked pale and thin, and the nervous system completely unbalanced. Here was a case where the equilibrium of the organism had been disturbed by some unknown cause-that is, unknown to me, and the patient disclaimed any knowledge on the point. The examination revealed nothing that could give any light on the subject; for the organ, to all appearance, was in a perfectly healthy condition, the position only being abnormal.
The interesting inquiry now was : By what means can this missing link be restored, and communication opened, by which the organs of the pelvis can be brought into a healthy relation with the vital forces of the body, and again receive their share of nutriment, which will enable them to take their position in the healthy organism ? I could think of nothing but Lilium Tigrinum, and, in the sequel, it proved to be the right thing; for it cured not only the retroversion, but also the constipation, the tenesmus vesicae, and the dragging down sensation so much and so long complained of. In short, it put the woman upon her feet again. Some eight or ten days after receiving the remedy, she walked a mile, and stepping into my office, said : “Doctor, I want some more of that last medicine, for it builds me right up.” She has continued in the building-up process for several months; has become a strong, robust woman; can walk or work as well as she ever could, and attend to all of the duties of the housewife. I will add that this patient, after taking the dilutions with little or no benefit, received the mother tincture in three and five drop doses, and the restorative process commenced at once.
I have in mind another case; that of a youngish woman, who, after a fall, was violently attacked with the same general symptoms as those described above. She took the lower potencies with no benefit; but the 2ooth produced rapid improvement, which went on to a perfect cure.
This drug, like all others in our Materia Medica, has a definite sphere of action; which appears to me to include those cases where the vitality of the organism has become impaired, and where there are no organic lesions or abnormal deposit.
In a case of prolapsus from increase of the weight, or of abnormal deposit of uterine tissue, I should think of some other remedy; and especially if there was induration or chronic inflammation of the uterus, or a condensation of the uterine tissues, or-but more rarely-a softening of the stroma at the neck or body, I should not use the tiger lily, but remove the condensation or softening by the use of the chloride of gold ; and the uterus would rectify its own position. Several cases of long standing have been reported, in which the gold cure was very satisfactory.