From our Rich Heritage
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1998 Mar / Apr VOL VII NO 2.
T K KASIVISWANATHAN
'Gel / Phos / Aesc

Case 1
Blindness
89-year old Mr KMS suffered from loss of vision in both the eyes since 10-1-74 following a drunken fall with injury to the occiput. He had the bad habit of consuming country liquor and chewing pan with tobacco a number of times a day. After the fall, he had severe headaches but no vomiting. He felt drowsy but his pulse and BP were normal. After being given IV drip, his drowsiness disappeared but there was no improvement in his vision. An ophthalmologist diagnosed his case as vitreous haemorrhage for which he was treated. But there was no change in his vision even after one month. He was then admitted to a hospital; there was no change either in the diagnosis or the treatment, but the hospital authorities opined that nothing more could be done and he was not likely to regain his eyesight. 

In desperation, he opted for Homoeopathy. Taking note of the symptoms, namely, H/o injury, alcohol intake and haemorrhage, he was given Arnica for seven days. When there was no improvement, other remedies such as Calc-carb, Phos and Silicea were given without much effect. 

The case was repertorised against the rubrics: loss of vision, tobacco AGG and injury to soft parts. Conium emerged as the remedy and was prescribed in 200 potency on 13-5-74. By 16th June, his vision was restored in (L) eye. Conium 200 was therefore continued twice a week till 24-9-74. As the improvement was slow, the case was again repertorised as under: 
1. Eye: Opacity vitreous
2. Alcohol AGG and
3. Tobacco AGG
Gelsemium emerged as the remedy and it was prescribed in 30 potency TDS on 25-9-74. On 27-9-74, he regained partial vision in his ® eye and full vision the next day and has been normal since then.
Dr R K Chhaya 

Case 2
Bilateral Embolism Of The Central Retinal Artery
A two-year old boy, developed fever with cough and was treated by an ayurvedic doctor for influenza from 24-11-37. The boy's condition worsened and when he seemed to be sinking, an allopathic doctor was called in for consultation, who diagnosed it as pneumonia. 

The boy was given injections of cardiazolone immediately, followed by two injections daily for a week. During the illness, the boy's eyes rolled upwards which was not noticed by either of the physicians. 

On November 8, 1937, when the child was free from fever, he asked for a toy, but when given one, he stretched his hands here and there but could not locate his toy. It was only then that the parents realized that the boy had lost his vision. 

This loss of vision was diagnosed as bilateral embolism of the central artery of the retina and was declared incurable. The father consulted several specialists for this condition but none of them offered even a faint hope of relief or cure. 

At this stage, on 23.12.37, Dr Diwan Jai Chand was consulted. Based on the history of the case, Gels 200, one dose, was given. As there was no improvement, he prescribed Gels 30, four doses for a day and one dose of Silicea 30 was given after a week. Two days later, the child developed fever preceded by chills, cough and bilious vomiting. The boy's father stated that these were the very symptoms, though now on a milder scale, which the patient had had earlier resulting in loss of vision. 

It was during the return of these symptoms, that the child's pupils began to respond to strong light. For these symptoms he was given Nat-sulph 3x every three hours for five days which relieved the patient. As the boy passed some threadworms, he was given Cina 30 two doses per day for 4 days. 

On January 14, 1983 Dr Jai Chand gave a dose of Phos 200 which was repeated on Feb 13th, March 13th, April 12th and May 16th, 1938. He was given Phos 1M on 3-8-38. Slowly and steadily the boy's vision improved and by end November 1938, his vision was fully restored.
Dr Diwan Jai Chand

Case 3
Juvenile Haemorrhagic Retinitis
A 14-year old girl, Miss RVC, was under Homoeopathic treatment for whooping cough, frequent colds, etc. On September 9, 1942, she complained of persistent dry cough without fever. Examination revealed marked tachycardia and a systolic murmur. She casually mentioned that she was not able to see with her (L) eye. An examination of the affected eye disclosed that there was no perception of light. An ophthalmologist declared that fundus could not be examined because of haemorrhage in the posterior chamber.

The patient was advised bed rest and given Lachesis 200. On a further eye examination on 18th September, 1942, it was diagnosed as Juvenile Haemorrhagic Retinitis. While the general condition had improved, the systolic murmur was still marked and a cardiac examination revealed an enlarged heart with marked hypertrophy of the left ventricle. Cactus-grand 200 and Kalmia 200 were prescribed on 13/10/42.

Examination on November 5, 1942 revealed that the clot seen earlier had been fully absorbed and it was now possible to examine the fundus. It showed an extensive lower ampullar detachment with rupture of the retina. The patient was still unable to perceive light. Considering the nature of the lesion and its heamorrhagic aspect and the affinity of the remedy to affections of the left eye,Aesculus-hip 10 M was prescribed on 17-11-42. The remedy was repeated on 7-12-42. By 12th January 1943, she was able to see light with her (L) eye. Aes-hip 10M was repeated thrice on 18-2-43, 25-3-43 and on 27-4-43. An eye examination carried out in June 1943 established. The case was followed up for the next 6 years and infrequently thereafter and there was no recurrence of the eye trouble.
Dr E Garcia Trevino 

Sources
1. Old issues of the Indian Journal of Homoeopathic Medicine.
2. Experience from 32 years of Homoeopathic practice Part I - Dr Diwan Jai Chand, Homoeopathic Heritage, Old Issue
3. A case of detached and ruptured retina - Homoeopathic Herald, May 1964.