A Case Of Non-Healing Wound

On 20^th April 2012 a 65 years old gentleman came to my clinic, he had a deep suppurating wound on his right leg (see ensuing photo taken on 20 – 4 – 2012):

He incurred this wound about a month ago by a deep cut. After all his effort the wound was not heeling. It was suppurating and pus and serum like matter was continuously oozing from the wound. The leg was much swollen, although there was no pain.

Gun Powder 200, one dose

Calcarea sulphuricun 200, four doses

Within 8 days most part of the wound had healed, only the part where there was larger and deeper wound was remaining, though it was also much improved. Same prescription was repeated (see ensuing photo taken on 28 – 4 – 2012).

On 7 – 5 – 2012 he again visited whence only a little part of the larger portion of wound remained to be healed. After this he proceeded out of station for some days, and he did not take any medicine, by the time he returned back the wound was completely healed.

Discussion- Why I used Gunpowder and Calcarea sulph. The wound was continuously discharging pus and serum even after all his effort for a month and there was no tendency towards healing. The Materia Medica says the following about these medicines. Moreover their selection proved correct promptly by their use:

"Layman's" indication "Blood Poisoning". Crude as it may seem, is, in my opinion, a keynote of the first order.

Boils, carbuncles, blood-poisoning from pyorrhoea alveolaris, come under its curative sphere according to "Layman".
Gunp. corresponds to suppuration in a great number of forms, many of them septic.
I have not found it disagree with any other remedy, so that there need be no fear of alternating it with some other remedy if particularly indicated. (Clarke)
Septic conditions.

This remedy is indicated in suppuration when the pus has found a vent, the infiltration has subsided but the discharge continues.
An abscess that has ruptured and is slow to heal with a continuous discharge of yellow pus, is a strong indication for this remedy.
It should be thought of in cases that are discharging pus.
It is also useful in advanced cases of diabetes where there is ulceration on the skin without the ability to heal itself.
Affections with LONG STANDING PURULENT DISCHARGE.