EPILEPSY. EPILEPSY—ITS CURABILITY ESTABLISHED. WITH AUTHOR’S COMPLIMENTS. . . BY A. G. D. INDIANAPOLIS, 1ND. Reprint from the Medical Brief, June and September, 1892. and March, 1393. EPILEPSY, BY A. G. 6ELMAN, M. D. INDIANAPOLIS, IND. I have been treating epilepsy for forty years and have tested every new remedy put forth by our most advanced physicians, with results not satisfactory by any means, but could never realize the fact that epi- lepsy was incurable, and was willing and ready to try the next new remedy that was presented, that • held out any hope of success, and think that I have relieved about as many cases as anyone, but could find nothing that would control the disease, except temporarily. About a year ago I read an article by Dr. Napier, on the use of solan urn carolinense in the treatment of epilepsy, and as the accounts given by him of th6 beneficial effects of this drug in the cure of epilepsy, far surpassed anything I had ever seen before, I de- termined to give it a trial at once, and so ordered a supply of the medicine, but found considerable trouble in obtaining it, but finally succeeded. I had a very aggravated case on hand at the time, being considered hopelessly incurable. Other reme- dies had failed to give even temporary relief. Reprint from the Medicai, Brief, June, 1892. 2 3 First Case. A young German, nineteen years old, has had fits since he was five years old. Had them every week, and sometimes five or six in quick suc- cession. Mind much affected. Had no control of his bowels or urinary organs at such times. The family emigrated to this country on account of the affliction of this child, but the change of climate and change of physicians was of no benefit, and on the first of September last I put him on the use of the tincture of solanum carolinense, one drachm four times a day. This was continued for one week. I then doubled the dose, and continued that for a week, then doubled the dose again (a half an ounce) three times a day. Continued this three weeks, without any beneficial effect. v He had now used over one quart of the tincture; and the family was getting discouraged, and so was I but I recollected that Dr. Napier stated that the remedy should be carried to its full constitutional effect, which would be stupor. I then ordered one ounce of the. tincture given before each meal. This, in a few days, wrought quite a change in his symp- toms and appearance. The wild expression of his eye disappeared, and he appeared to take but little notice of anything ; and on the tenth day of the use of the ounce dosage, he went to sleep, and slept for one week. He was easily aroused, and would answer any questions asked correctly, but would drop off to sleep again in a minute. During his sleep, his cir- culation and respiration were normal, temperature rather low. Never asked for anything, but would drink anything you would ask him to. Gave him milk and beef soup liberally. At the expiration of a week he was up and about, much improved ap- parently by his long sleep. 4 I ordered all treatment withheld for two weeks, and then commenced on the tincture again, giving two drachms before each meal. It is now three months since he aroused from his stupid spells, and he has not had a tit since. Has improved in every respect very much, and is doing some work. Mind has brightened up, and he has gained in flesh. His family think he is cured, but I intend to have him continue the treatment for several months longer. My object in reporting this case is to show to what extent the treatment was carried. But few would have gone so far with it. Have six other cases under the same treatment. All show decided improvement; one, a child eight years old, who has the most singular and violent fits I ever saw in any case, is improving, and I hope to be able to report favorably on its case soon. EPILEPSY—ITS CURABILITY ESTABLISHED. BY A. G. SF.LMAN, M. D. INDIANAPOLIS, IND. Reprint from the Medical Brief, September, 1892. In the article contributed by me in the June num- ber of the Brief, I stated that I would again report further on. I have been pushing my experiment as much as I could under the circumstances. Within two weeks after the publication of my article, every pound of the tincture or fluid extract of solanum carolinense had been bought, the market was bare, and it was not the proper season to prepare the drug; but so far as I have been able to carry on my experiments, I feel satisfied that epilepsy is as curable as any other organic disease. I was astonished to see the interest taken in epi- lepsy by the profession generally over the country, and the great number of cases that exist. In the last thirty days I have received over two hundred letters of inquiry from physicians from all over the United States, all stating that they had one or more bad cases on hand, which had failed to yield to any remedy known to them. 5 6 This flood of correspondence pouring in upon me so suddenly fairly bewildered me, but when I came to think that there was not a book written, or a remedy known to the profession, that held out any hopes of being reliable in curing this most distress- ing disease, then I was not surprised that physicians were ready and anxious to grasp at anything that offered reasonable hope of success. No intelligent physician will say that he can cure epilepsy. We have never been able to determine its location, or what produces this peculiar form of disease. We have been groping in the dark; treat- ing the disease upon general principles, hoping to hit the objective point somewhere, and since the dis- covery of the bromides, we have made but little effort at a more thorough and deeper investigation of the causes of this disease. The bromides will temporarily suspend the attack of epilepsy, but even that little relief is obtained at a heavy expense to the vital powers; they deplete the brain, destroy nutrition, and weaken the whole nervous system. I have given enough of the saturated solution of bro- mides to float a good sized craft, but if I ever cured a case with it, I am unaware of it. It lessens the powers of resistance, and the attacks ultimate be- come more frequent. Solanum carolinense, the new remedy being put forward in the cure of epilepsy, is now passing through a critical test. Twenty-eight of the physi- cians that have corresponded with me on the subject have cases of epilepsy in their own families, and they are under treatment according to my instruc- tions, and they will report in full the effects of the remedy. These reports will be more reliable than if they had come from the non-professional. 7 I have a number of cases here that have not had an attack in six months; feel perfectly well, and have quit treatment; and some of them were given up as hopeless. I have only failed to give satifactory relief in one case. That one I abandoned after three months’ treatment. I found that I could not have the diet furnished that I directed; I amend the bill of fare of the patriarch’s, which was corn, wine and oil; I sti’ike out the wine and add meat. A number who were able to obtain the medicine are beginning to send in reports of its effect. One from Illinois says: “ The girl for whom I obtained the medicine from you, is eighteen years old; has had fits ever since she was five years old, and for the last four years she has not passed a night without having from one to five or six spells. She has been under treatment now nine days, and has not had an attack, and is better in every particular.” A physician from Michigan writes: “ The case for which you sent treatment is a bad #ne. A man forty-four years old has had fits for twenty years, and for the last nine years has never gone beyond six days, and would frequently have from six to eight spells in quick succession. I have had him under treatment now twenty-three days, with only one slight spasm. Is improving rapidly.” Also many other letters in a similar strain. As soon as I get a supply of the drug prepared, which will be within the next ten days, I will put fifty cases under treatment that are now under the control of the State charities. Many of the feeble minded are made so by the effect of epilepsy, and the county poor-houses are full of epileptics, whereas, if they were cured of their malady, they could get respectable homes. If my theory proves to be correct, all convulsions can be stopped at once; such as tetanus, hysteria, epilepsy, etc., and the cramps that are so painful in cholera. This is accomplished by relieving arterial tension, thereby preventing the explosive tendencies in the vessels, and by cutting off the communication be- tween the explosive vessels and the brain. This is readily done without detriment or injury to the 8 patient. Epilepsy never commences in the brain, but in the vessels of the extremeties, and the effect of the explosion has to reach the brain before the con- vulsion can take place. I have two well marked cases now that prove this. They were under treatment for epilepsy, and were not getting on as well as I wished they should, so I made a compound of the solanum, which stopped the convulsions, but the man showed the convulsive action in one leg, and the woman had convulsive spasms in the abdominal muscles, from which regions the aura always proceeded, but the head remained free and clear, which showed a disconnection between the starting point and the brain. They are both now apparently cured. I have used the tincture of the berries, and a fluid extract of the root, and much prefer a concentrated tincture of the berries. The stomach tolerates it better, and the effect is more agreeable. I have just received a shipment of the ripe berries from the gulf coast of Florida, and in a few days will be able to supply physicians who can not obtain it elsewhere. It is not poisonous, as I have given from one to five tablespoonfuls three or four times a day without any unpleasant effects, and I have found no case yet where it was given until its full physiological effects were produced, which is vertigo and stupor, that it failed to stop the spells. Epilepsy is not the work of a day or a week, but the work of months and years of a morbid action going on in the brain. How much of the medicine it takes to cure the case I can not say. I have had some cases that yielded with the use of a pound, and others I have given two to four pounds before the fits would cease. It would take two to five pounds to give it a fair trial. It is worth $3.00 per pound. Physicians who desire to try this remedy will afford me pleasure to give them all the information and assistance in my power. Full instructions will be sent with every package. Dr. A. G. Selman, 10 N. Delaware St., Indianapolis, Ind. EPILEPSY WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ITS TREATMENT WITH SOLANUM 'CAROLINENSE. BY DK. A. G. SELMAN. INDIANAPOLIS, IND. It was not my intention to again appear in print upon the subject of epilepsy, as the medical profes- sion had taken such an universal interest in the sub- ject that nothing further would be necessary from me, as I had hoped that more thorough and deeper investigations would be made by abler hands; but scores of letters of inquiry are coming to me daily, wanting to know what further experiments have proven, and whether my faith has been increased or diminished, in the efficacy of the solanum carolinense as a curative agent in the treatment of epilepsy, and whether I can cite a case cured by its use, hs so many consider the disease incurable. These are questions put by intelligent and learned physicians, and the subject to many of them, personally, of very deep interest and deserving of candid and thoughtful answers, which I will give as far as in my power. It has only been four months since the remedy could be procured in sufficient quantities to give it any- thing like a trial or test, and many have purchased fluid extract of the root or herb, believing it to be the remedy I recommended, but in that they were mistaken. The solanum is not a nettle, neither does it belong to that family of plants. We have asked for no puffing reports to give the remedy a false 9 10 notoriety, but many physicians who are using it daily are giving the highest recommendations in praise of its effects. e I believe there is but one State in the Union that provides for their epileptics, and that is the State of New York, which has an infirmary or hospital for epileptic patients. Dr. Guy Hindsdale is the phy- sician in charge. He treats more cases of epilepsy, probably, than any other medical man in the country. In his report, recently made, he gives a detailed statement of the treatment used by him, which con- sists of bromides in all its various combinations, and ends by saying that some patients are improved, others not, and many of them damaged by the use of the bromides. This is an honest statement of facts by an intelligent physician of large experience in his specialty. Now, I can make a report equally as truthful, and say that the solanum remedy, new as it is, has cured some, improved many and damaged none, and I report the following case treated by me: Daughter of Geo. Cook, seven years old, epileptic for five years. Commenced treatment one year ago. This case improved from the very first, and is now a healthy, robust child, with no symptoms of epilepsy. This is a sample of most cases coming under my treatment and special care. I have now quite a large number of patients under treatment and the majority of them are improving rapidly and I feel so much encouraged that I shall still recommend and use this treatment, and I believe that where it is used properly that the majority of cases of epilepsy can be cured or greatly benefited. I have learned from extensive experience that only a small per cent, of cases will show stupor or vertigo from the use of the medicine and in many cases it exhilarates and brightens them up. It tones down the passions and makes the excitable cases more agreeable and pleasant. The following is taken from an article contributed by Dr. Napier, of Ben Heim, S. C., in the American Therapist, published in New York City, for Decem- ber, 1892 : About five years ago I became acquainted with the use of above plant in convulsive diseases, 11 especially in epilepsy- A negro woman, whom I had known from childhood, and knew to have been an epileptic, claimed to have been cured by the use of a preparation made from the berries of this plant. After taking it some time, her epilepsy quit and she still remains free from the spells. Having a very obstinate case of epilepsy, a white woman, thirty-five years old, who has been having epileptic fits from her childhood. At her menstrual periods the seizures were very severe. I have seen her stay unconscious for hours, convulsion after convulsion and frothing at the mouth. She would generally have two or more seizures a week. She had gone the rounds of all the physicians in reach of her; all of them, myself included, had failed to give any relief. I went to see her and persuaded her to try the nettle. She consented to do so without one particle of faith in its beneficial effects. I had very little more faith than she had. I gave her the necessary instructions to get and prepare the medicine, and to take a tablespoonful three times a day. About three months after she began the use of it her husband reported that she had not, with the exception of a slight drawing of the neck and hands, had a convulsion since she began the use of it. She continued its use three months and has had no symp- toms of the disease since. After seeing the effect in the case just detailed, I determined to try it in other convulsive disorders. About this time I had a case of Bright’s disease in a pregnant woman, about the sixth month of gestation, being very much swollen, and her kidneys acting very little. She was taken with convulsions. On an examination of the urine, I found it very rank and highly charged with albumen. I tried various means for controlling the convulsions and starting the kid- neys but completely failed in my effort. I determined to try the nettle. I had about four ounces of a strong tincture on hand, which I put her on. I gave a teaspoonful every three hours. It completely con- trolled the convulsions, and I learned it had other virtues besides being an anodyne and antispasmodic, it acted very freely on the kidneys. It is a very active diuretic. She went to full term and was de- livered of a living child. 12 If I ever have a case of tetanus, I intend giving it a trial and confidently expect to control the disease with it. I have treated quite a number of cases of epilepsy with the Solanum and have several cases under treatment now.. I have seen it completely control the convulsion of traumatic epilepsy and thereby make life bearable; I have seen it do what I never saw anything else do, cure epilepsy. I do not claim it will cure all cases of epilepsy; I do claim that if it is intelligently given, it will benefit all cases and cure a large percentage of them. I have known people who had taken potassse bromide until they were almost mental wrecks, but I have never seen any deleterious effects from the nettle. 1 tried it in a' case of chorea in a girl twelve years old, who had been subject to it for several years; it cured her in a few weeks entirely. Following will be found a few voluntary expres- sions of physicians now using this remedy : Buck Horn, III., Jan. 23,1893. A. G. Selman, M. D.\ Dear Sir—Please send me at once two pounds of Solanum Carolinense. Patient is doing nicely. Very truly, H. Brigos, M. D. Dr. O. F. Bigelow, Amherst, Mass., November 3, 1892, orders his second supply and says his patient has had but one epileptic attack for six weeks, and she is conscious of quite an improvement in her general health. Dr. H. B. Osborn, Kalamazoo, Mich., ordered the Solanum Carolinense for a patient of his, who was a chronic epileptic, on the first of November last, and on December 6th the husband of the lady, Mr. Elmer Chichester, No. 1042 North Pitcher street, says his wife has improved greatly on the remedy, and order- ing a further supply to be sent, as he did not want her to get out of the medicine. 13 Dr. N. S. Read, Chandlerville, Ills., January 10, 1893, ordering the second time, says his patient, an old man and feeble, is doing well under the use of the Solanum. Dr. C. W. Skeggs, Green Spring, Ohio, writing for the second supply December 16, 1892: My patient is certainly responding favorably to the treatment. Solanum is the only thing I have yet found that would have the least tendency to stop the spells, and it is doing that nicely in her case. Dr. J. R. Simms, Milton, California, writes me as follows: Dear Doctor—I write you for one dozen bottles of Solanum Carolinense. The patient I treated with the five pounds I got of you last fall has been afflicted ever since she was six months old, and is now twenty-two years old, and has been treated by Dr. Asa Clark, who is now the principal physician in the State Asylum at Stockton, without any benefit. I got a letter from her parents to-day saying she had not had a spell for nearly three months, and they are highly pleased and wish to continue the treatment, believing a permanent cure will be effected. Dr. G. H. McLin, Huntington, Ind., Dec. 28,1892, writing for a further supply, says: My other case is doing fine; no more spasms since taking the Sola- num Carolinense. Dr. J. W. Green, Shelbyville, Ind., Nov. 9, 1892, says: The medicine sent me for treatment of epilep- sy I am using in two cases with promising results. I wish you to send me one-half gallon of the Sola- num Carolinense to continue the treatment. 14 Dr. D. W. Rogers, Union City, Mich., Dec. 2,1892, ordering for the second time, says his patient is do- ing well. Dr. T. B. Ritter, Orangeville, Ind., Jan. 5, 1893: I am giving the Solanum to a young man twenty-five years old ; has been having fits since childhood ; be has had but one fit since taking the treatment, and I want you to send me a further supply. Dr. Record, Lawrence, Ind., sent me John Hen- sing, age thirty-four. Has had epilepsy for fifteen years in a most violent form, affecting his mind so much that it was with difficulty that he could be con- trolled. His father spent hundreds of dollars to have him cured, with no benefit whatever. I put him under treatment November 2d, 1892, and he has improved from the first, now over three months, and has had but two slight attacks, with every pros- pect of a complete cure. John Smith, Oakland, Ind., has a son, who at the age of twelve years, had epilepsy. He was under my care for five or six years with all the best known remedies then in use, with only temporary relief. About fifteen months ago put him on the Solatium and for over one year he has not had a symptom of the disease. William Davis, Crossville, 111., brought his son, age twenty-seven years, to me. Had been an epileptic for sixteen years; mind much affected. He writes, January 3d, 1893: My son much improved, has not had a spell in two months and I think will entirely recover. 15 Austin, Texas, Dec. 5th, 1892. Dr. Selman: Dear Sir—Will you please send me the same amount of the Solanum for my son. I am happy to say he is much improved under your treatment as the spells are lighter and less frequent, and I pray it effect a cure. I take pleasure in recommending your valuable medicine. Yours most truly, R. H. Smith. Dr. L. Y. Grover, attending physician to the Alle- gheny Home, Woodville, Pa., writes November 5th, 1892: The Solanum Carolinense 1 got from you I tried on a girl sixteen years old, who has had fits ever since she was two months old; mind much affected ; it has been six weeks since she commenced on the treatment. Fits have stopped, and mind much improved, and if the treatment is kept up six months, I believe she will be able to go out and make a living for herself. Send me a further supply to try on others in the institution. Corsicana, Texas, Oct, 1892. A. G. Selman, M. D.: Dear Sir—I have tried the remedy Solanum Caro- linense, and it has done well so far. One obstinate case has had one attack in three weeks and is appar- ently well now, but still continues the medicine. Will be pleased to get two pounds more at once. Send as before. Yours fraternally, G. Phepps, M. D. Dr. M. Wilson, Medora, Ind., sent me D. M. Bales for examination and treatment, if I thought any re- lief could be given him. Age twenty-seven years ; spells were frequent and violent, had been afflicted for nine years and nothing had been found that would 16 control them. He stayed under my care three weeks, had only one slight threatening of a spell. He writes me for further treatment, two months after- ward, stating he was well and at work. Dr. E. L. Belcher, Chandler, Texas, writes under date of January 21st, 1893. The Solanum Caroli- nense I ordered from you last October, was for a boy, seven years old, whose epileptic attacks were frequent and violent, having as many as seventy (70) in a day. His spells have ceased entirely. Send me two pounds more to try on a girl thirteen years old. Since the publication of ray article on Epilepsy in the March, 1893, number of the Medical Brief, there has been a largely increased interest taken in this disease and its treatment by the profession. I have had extensive opportunities for testing the effects of Solanum Carolinense as a remedial agent in the treat- ment of epilepsy, and while all cases have not been cured that have come under my care, yet the results have been very satisfactory and encouraging. Some of the most unpromising cases have yielded to the remedy, and it has given me better results than any- thing I have ever used in the treatment of epilepsy and other nervous diseases. Of course those who have obtained a few ounces or a pound of the medi- cine and had expected to cure a case of epilepsy, have and will be disappointed, although I have known of a single pound of the Solanum Carolinense curing well-marked cases of epilepsy, and in other cases many pounds have failed to control the attacks, ow- ing to certain complications that have come up from the effects of the disease. Complications should be carefully watched and properly treated to make the treatment a success. Our correspondence is very large, thousands of letters every month coming from every State and Territory. The majority of them are very encouraging—6ome enthusiastic over the results 17 of the use of the Solanum Carolinense. These letters can be seen and read by any physician desiring to investigate or try the remedy. Owing to the large number of cases coming to me for treatment, I have opened a large sanitarium, with all modern improvements. Buildings are all new, with large and beautiful shaded grounds, located at No. 680 East Washington street, the most desirable and pleasant part of the city. Electric street cars pass the house every few minutes, and I am prepared to give all cases sent me my personal daily attention, and physicians and patients can rest assured that ev- ery effort will be made to restore to good health all patients sent me. It is impossible to successfully treat epilepsy at home or in private families. With my trained attendants and nurses I can successfully treat such cases. I now have in my sanitarium quite a number of very important and interesting cases, some of them having been sent to me by their family physicians as test cases. Several of the cases have been under the treatment of such eminent physicians as Prof. W. A. Hammond and Weir Mitchell without any ben- efit or relief. Albert M. Goldsmith, of New Orleans, La., age twenty-seven years, has had*epilepsy fourteen years. Everything that money and interested friends could do was done in his case without relief. He has now been under my personal care and treatment for three months and has had no attacks since the day after his arrival. He acts and feels like a well man, and there is no doubt but that he will entirely recover. Dr. N. W. Knepper, Collins, Iowa, sent his son age thirteen, to my sanitarium March 1st, 1893. Epileptic all his life. Boy well developed and good size. A great deal of attention had been given this case, he having been under the treatment of the best Eastern physicians. He was also sent to the Pacific 18 Coast for treatment and change of climate. Thou- sands of dollars were spent, but no benefit was gained, and the boy grew worse; his mind was sadly affected, the fits were more frequent and violent with the complications of Paraplegia and Chorea, in a most distressing form. This case was not very prom- ising and was sent to me as a last resort. He was under my personal care for two months, convulsions stopepd, mind and general health daily improved. He is still under treatment at his home, has had no fits within the past five months. Paralysis relieved and only very slight Chorea. The doctor writes me July 1st, that his son is doing well, has been going to school and makes long trips in the country alone, with good prospects of a permanent recovery. Mrs. J. Lebermuth, Saulsburg Plantation, La., sent her daughter, age twenty-two years, to my sani- tarium May 1, 1893. Epileptic all her life, having as many as ten and twelve fits in twenty-four hours. A mental and physical wreck. This case has been under the care of the most eminent physicians of the east, and while in an eastern sanitarium had per- formed a difficult surgical operation, but without any relief or benefit, she gradually growing worse. Since being under my care and treatment, she has greatly improved, fits having ceased. Her mind is clearing up and her general health and appearance is daily improving, and I have great hope of restor- ing her to good health. Dr. Edmond Nasse, Herman, Mo., April 27, 1893: My patient has had no return of his spells since he commenced taking your Solanum. Please send two pounds more by express Dr. C. Gray, Raymore, Mo., April 8, 1893: The Solanum Carolinense I procured from you was given to a patient forty-five years old, with entire success. 19 Dr. George B. Cock, Canton, Ohio, writes Feb. 17: The first pound of your Solanum I got stopped the convulsions on my patient and I believe another' pound will effect a cure. New York, July 1,1893. Dr. A. G. Selman: Please ship me by express at once six pounds “Sol. Carol.” There is a most decided improvement in the condition of the patient, but we are as yet unable to say that it is permanent. It is certainly most en- couraging thus far. Hoping to have further good reports to give later, I remain Yours truly, B. Block. Mechantcsburg, III., July 25,1893. Dr. Selman: My brother has taken eight pounds of your Sola- num Carolinense for epilepsy. Has not had a fit for five months, and we think he is entirely well. He has worked on the farm all summer. Do you think he should continue the treatment any longer? C. B. Hall. Wallace, Miss., May 6, 1893. Dr. Selman: Please find enclosed post-office order for $9.00, for which send me three pounds more Solanum. It is for my brother, who has been an epileptic for thirty-two years. The two pounds he has already taken he says has given him more relief than all the medicine he has ever taken, and he thinks from his feelings that I will surely cure him. Send by express as before E. D. Beanland, M. D. 20 Hereford, Md., June 24, 1893. Dr. Selman: Please send by express a bottle of your Solanum Carolinense. I think it is doing great service for my patient. Yours truly, A. R. Mitchell, M. D. Des Moines, Ia., June 7, 1893. A. G. Selman, M. D.: I am pleased to inform you that the two pounds of your Solanum which you sent me a few weeks ago, has given entire satisfaction to me and relief to my patients. There has been but one recurrence of the spasms since I began giving your remedy, and that so light that is was hardly perceptible. Send me two pounds more, at your earliest convenience. Yours truly, Wm. L. Miller, M. D. Oxford, Ark., July 5, 1893. Dr. Selman : Inclosed find three dollars, for which send another pound of the Solanum Carolinense. The patient is improving under its use. Yours truly, J. L. Smith. Verona, Miss., Aug. 11, 1893. Dr. A. O. Selman: Dear Sir—Two bottles of your medicine have been used by my patient, during which time she has not had a symptom of her “ spells.” She thinks she is cured, but I advise her to continue the medicine at least until she has taken a third bottle. Enclosed find $3.00 money order for same. Yours truly, R. C. Cunningham, M. D.