Suggest you take the entire case and rep it.....classically, of course, according to all the rules you so often quote. Sounds rather like an easy case to me, compared to those posted that you are so quick to critique and condemn the suggestions made by BB members.

Not so easy when it's "real", is it?

Following your own advice so often offered, you should take your cat to a qualified classical homeopath.

__________________
Sometimes on Earth, you can find something that resembles a little piece of Heaven. And sometimes on Earth, a little piece of Heaven can find you.

Wow! Zinger! She nailed ya, Austin!

Snoopy

Now that was a low blow to someone obviously so dearly attached to that cat and emotionally vulnerble . unkind...take it back.

[ 11. June 2003, 05:41: Message edited by: carolorr ]

Ricky, thank you for your suggestions. Much appreciated.

Barb, the smell is not cheesy or fishy. The first thing I thought when I first smelled him was 'he smells like death'. It was incredibly overpowering and I couldn't believe a smallish wound could emit a smell that intensely (he was close to me when I first smelled it).

In answer to your question - did I give him anything yet; No, because he was out prowling the neighbourhood last night, and today, I'm trying to differentiate what he needs. Still undecided.

Today - we've got:
Sore seems to be crusting over (until he scratches it again?)
Oozing of pus is abated, somewhat.
Wound is still open - but less gaping.
Itching.

Weight loss but still eating is an important symptom.

So, those are the symptoms I was looking at -- with the weight loss being the strangest because he is still eating (he only started losing weight since the wound).

I do not know how his stool or urine is because he goes outside and there is no way to know where he goes. But there is no evidence of diarrhoea on his coat anywhere. He's still cuddly as ever (evidenced by anyone's legs or trousers that he's rubbed up against), prowling like normal, preening himself. He's just thin and got this wound.
Thanks for asking, Barb.
Snoopy, I'm trying to narrow the list of remedies down. Can you say why you think's it Calendula?


Gpm, you wrote:
That's exactly what I'm doing.

I don't often quote rules as such, but I do discuss them. Do you have a problem with this?

I'm glad you think it's easy. Perhaps you could impart your thoughts on the case.

As for my posts on other threads:
Dempster is a cat. I'm a homeopath. I've asked for help in differentiating between remedies.

I've not come here as a patient (who knows little to nothing about how to practise) asking for someone to treat me.

There is a difference.

As for cases on the BB where real, live people are asking for help (and some of them are very serious cases) -- it is QUITE a different scenario from a homeopath asking for help differentiating between remedies.

I have no problem with remedy suggestions as such, but I'd like to see that the suggestions are well reasoned and thought out. To do so means taking a proper case. This is not always done.

Additionally, I do not think it's ideal to treat on the internet. Especially since it carries a bigger risk of missing something vital to the case - thus it's riskier for the patient, who has to live with the consequences. The burden of responisibility isn't something that should be taken lightly. Is this unreasonable? I don't think it is.
Do you disagree?


As for your comment:
Did I ever say practising homeopathy was easy?


You can't take back what you have already said, but you can take the opportunity to be humane. Each day is a new day.

Snoppy, you said:
Is that like, "Wow, she kicked you when you were down - what a rush"? As in, her comments are justified because:
a) she's defending you?
or
b) because you're really as nasty as she is, yet you're able to hide it better with your wit and charm?

I hafta say, I do respect gpm for being honest. If that's how she feels, that's how she feels. At least she's honest about it, even though she bases her conclusions about many people here (including me), on faulty premises.

Say what you mean and mean what you say.

********************

The case:
I've been incredibly busy and haven't had time yet to finish working on his case, properly. I will have some time this evening - when I will decide what to give him. It's not an emergency, but I think he definitely needs something sooner rather than later.

I appreciate all the helpful advice given. And the reminder to stick to the classical approach.

Austin,

I just mean that you really do say to people
"go see a homeopath"; and you do say words to the effect that a complete case needs to be taken, etc. When I thought about it, I couldn't deny that what gpm said was accurate, though perhaps
undiplomatic as Carol said, but she's challenging you to see yourself now, asking for help, and imagine getting the advice that you typically give. OK, but enough, because it's not important; you have every right to say, "see a homeopath", it's just that it's very disheartening for the person who thought that that's what he or she was doing by posting here.

Calendula--"A most remarkable healing agent, applied locally or given in potency. Useful for open wounds, parts that will not heal, ulcers, etc. Promotes healthy granulations and rapid healing...." (Murphy's MM) Do you have Calen. in potency?

Snoopy

[ 11. June 2003, 17:15: Message edited by: Snoopy ]

Carol, if you consider this cat is allowed to roam at night, even now with this problem and all the nights before, even after I and probably others on this BB suggested quite a long time ago it was not in the cat's best interest (or for the other cats similarly shoved out the door at night....or for those poor cats who are homeless and actually need the food and territory that the cat in question is battling over) to be given free range, particularly at night. Anyone who is devoted to cats knows free roaming nights are when they are most likely to be hurt or killed ........

If you consider that this wound, festered as it was on discovery, had taken some time to build to that state, unnoticed........

If you consider the caregiver saying "Blegh, it makes me gag thinking about it"..........

well, in my opinion my remarks weren't such "a low blow to someone obviously so dearly attached to that cat and emotionally vulnerble ." Most of the post could have been a quote from the author herself. I don't believe my post "unkind" and why on earth would I ..."take it back."

Austin, I do plan, however, to work on that worthy suggestion to try being more humane. Maybe work on that diplomacy problem of mine, too.

__________________
Sometimes on Earth, you can find something that resembles a little piece of Heaven. And sometimes on Earth, a little piece of Heaven can find you.

Snoops - I like calendula and ledum for this injury, however, I think Ricky was on to something with her origional thoughts of Merc.

Austin - look into merc carefully. Foul discharges, greenish an yellow and also marasmus.

Barb

Also, Kitty really needs to be an indoor cat to prevent future injuries.

__________________
Man, do not pride yourself on your superiority to animals. For they are without sin and you in your greatness defile the earth by your appearance on it and leave traces of you foulness after you. Dostoyevsky

Firstly, the cat is taken care of by my homeopath now. She suggested Pyrog -but I don't have it -- and after further discussion - she decided we'd use Sulph. If anyone is remotely interested in his case, I'm happy to post his follow up later on - as things progress.

Actually Snoopy,
I participate and try to qualify my opinion when I think advice is dangerous - as do a few others. I believe it's Ricky's general answer (and rightly so in most cases) that people should try to find a local homeopath.

I think acutes are sometimes okay to treat here.

I think chronic cases, if someone is going to treat them online, need careful management. Do you disagree with that?

How does this make gpm's statement remotely accurate? This is ME talking --- stating my opinion openly -- not gpm's view of what she THINKS is my opinion.

You wrote:
Have you listened to yourself?
'a complete case needs to be taken'

You are criticising me for suggesting you (or anyone for that matter) should take a complete case before prescribing?

Isn't that what homeopaths do, before prescribing a remedy?


Truth about the realities of practising homeopathy can sometimes be disheartening to some patients. Some appreciate being told the truth when it comes to their health. Some want a quick fix and only want to hear what they want to hear. And there are probably more variations between those two examples. But it does not mean we, as homeopaths, should move the goal posts to suit the patient. We still have a responsibility to take the case, and think it through before making a suggestion or prescribing something for them.

How was gpm's post accurate, when there is a big difference between helping someone and encouraging someone. Barb tends to be encouraging, much like I was when I first came onto this BB. You, on the other hand, seem to think encouragement is sometimes telling people what they want to hear, it seems. You wan to try to help people. That's a noble cause; But, please be responsible with that sword.

I could sit back, say nothing and be completely silent when I see something that makes my hair stand on end. Or my other choice is to speak up when my conscience tells me something ain't right in the state of Denmark.

This is a discussion board. I, for example, came here to ask for suggestions on remedies about my cat. Patients sometimes come and ask for treatment. These are two different things. So, gpm's post/reasoning is completely irrelevant as regards my cat. Not to mention cruel. At least she was honest, even if misguided.

I digress;
To answer your question - yes, I have Calendula in potency. But, I happened to speak with Sheilagh tonight.... So, he's in good hands now, but I do sincerely appreciate your help. Thanks Ricky, once again for all your helpful advice, too. And others that communicated with me privately.

Lisa

__________________
"The significance of a fact is measured by the capacity of the observer."
Carroll Dunham

Barb, I missed your post. Dempster is primarily an indoor cat (90% of the time he is inside). But, we have a dog as well. And, a dog door that leads to our garden, so there is no way to keep Dempster inside all the time. He hates being kept inside against his will (believe me, we tried before when we felt he needed to be inside another time!).

I have NEVER 'shoved my cat outside'- ever. He only tends to go outside at night when he hears or senses another cat treading in his garden.

I was NOT HERE when the injury happened.

The wound was not scabbed over completely when I noticed something was wrong - so it was fresh-ish - still wet/gooey. I was able to find out today that the injury happened about 8 days ago.

The comment about "blegh, it makes me sick" was about the SMELL coming from the wound; I think that was fairly obvious.

gpm,
You have this uncanny knack for selectively taking what you want and twisting it into something it is not. Why such hatred from you? You don't even know me. You think you do, but you haven't got a clue -- except perhaps from faulty sources with their own agenda. Go in peace man. Take a drink. Get laid. Do something to g-e-t i-t o-u-t. Otherwise it's going to burn your insides to death. I honestly feel sorry for you, that you make such an ass of yourself when you get on a rampage with me.

Every single thing you ASSUmed above was 100% incorrect. Shall I dump my dog so my cat can be held (against his will) at night?

__________________
"The significance of a fact is measured by the capacity of the observer."
Carroll Dunham

Oh, Barb --- meant to say, thanks -- Sheilagh and I did discuss Merc for exactly the reasons you stated. And, it may have to be used later. We'll see how things go.

__________________
"The significance of a fact is measured by the capacity of the observer."
Carroll Dunham