The following case histories will be of interest.

A patient aged 59 years complained of much stiffness and pain across the neck and shoulders. He drove a car every day to and from his office and sat at his desk all day which caused tension in his neck and shoulders. He thought the wet weather had made the condition worse but could not think what had caused it. Apparently it was worse late in the day, and better for movement.

He was given Rhus t.30 three times a day for three days and three weeks after taking the medicine reported that he was very much better. A little later the same remedy was repeated and nothing was heard of this patient for several months when he asked for more pills as the trouble was returning. Again the prescription was repeated and at the moment all is well.

But it must be pointed out that quite possibly he may need more treatment owing to the fact that until he is 65 and retires, he still has to sit at his office desk doing clerical work and this does cause muscular tension and stiffness in many people, especially as he has a long drive night and morning.

A woman patient of 64 years of age had been suffering from 'rheumatism' for many months and she had received little relief from drugs.

When asked about her aches and pains she found it rather difficult to explain, because, she said, 'I have a bad shooting pain in my arm, then it goes and returns in my leg. Then my foot is sore and the pains seem to move around all the time'.

In answer to some questions she replied that she felt most uncomfortable in great heat but better, and the pains were better, if she could walk about slowly in fresh air.

This case was quite clear-cut and the patient was given three doses of Pulsatilla in a high potency. Three weeks later she was delighted to be able to say that all her pains had disappeared.

A woman patient of 60 suffered from arthritis in her right wrist. It was very painful and weak so that it was difficult for her to lift anything that was at all heavy. The wrist was swollen and the pain worse on any motion. She was given Actea spicata 12 night and morning for two weeks and although there was some improvement the trouble did not clear up. She was given the same remedy in a higher potency after which all the swelling and pain disappeared.

About three months later this trouble began to return slightly, but another three doses of this same remedy in a high potency cleared up the trouble and it has not returned.

A patient of 69 years asked for homoeopathic treatment as he was suffering from bad pains in his right knee which made walking difficult. It was very swollen and hot and the pain had begun to go up the leg. The patient said he was worse in the evening and in bed, but he was not sure whether this was due to position or warmth from the bed.

He was given Ledum 12 night and morning for two weeks and he reported that there was some improvement but the condition was still painful.

Ledum is a higher potency was given and although in another fortnight there was more improvement, his condition was not responding as it should have done.

The patient was again questioned closely and this time he remembered that he had strained his knee badly a few weeks previously, but as this seemed to clear up before these pains he did not connect the two.

Calc. C. was given and gradually the swelling disappeared and all the pains abated and have not returned.