The same medicines are applicable to both Gastritis and Enteritis.
Aconite, Arsenicum and Baptisia should be used one following the other every half hour until the symptoms begin to subside, then let the intervals be lengthened.
In addition to these remedies, I allow the patient to drink often and freely of hot water, as hot as can be swallowed, and though it is at first almost instantly rejected by the stomach, by repeating it in a few minutes in moderate quantities, it gives relief and will soon so allay the irritation as to remain. In some cases the vomiting is severe, the bowels are loose, and pain burning. For such, Tart. Emet. is the proper remedy. Cold drinks should not be taken.
Cloths wet in cold water, ice water if it is at hand, and wrung out so as not to drip, should be laid over the whole abdomen and instantly covered with two or three thicknesses of warm dry flannel, and the patient's feet kept warm. This may be considered harsh treatment, but there is no danger in it; on the contrary I have, in the worst and most alarming cases of gastritis and peritonitis, made such applications, and in less than an hour have seen my patient easy and beginning to perspire freely, all danger having passed. It always affords more or less relief and is never attended with danger. Covering the wet cloths immediately with plenty of dry ones is very essential.
After the acute inflammation has subsided, it is well to have the bowels moved, but don't give drastic cathartics. Nux Vomica given at night and repeated morning and noon, will generally serve to cause an evacuation. Injections may be used.
This is a disease of children. Comes on in consequence of a sudden cold. Children suffering from Hooping Cough are more subject to it. The cough is of a peculiar whistling kind, like the crowing of a young chicken, with rattling in the throat and difficult breathing, fever is present, and often very violent. It is properly an inflammation of the Larynx, but the inflammation may also exist in the Pharynx, the tonsils may be involved, and it may extend to the trachia, (wind pipe). A false membrane forms in the larynx if the disease is not arrested, and so obstructs the breathing as to cause death from suffocation.
Give at first Aconite, Phosphoric Acid, and Spongia, giving them in the order here named once in ten minutes in a very violent case, and as the patient improves at intervals of half an hour, and then an hour.
Should the fever subside, and still the tightness in the throat and cough continue to be troublesome, give Ipecac in place of Aconite. And when the cough seems to be deep seated use Bryonia instead of spongia.
The patient should be kept in a warm room, and free from exposure to currents of cold air. The application of a cloth wrung out of cold or ice water to the throat, covered immediately with dry warm flannels so as to exclude the air from the wet cloth, will often exert a decidedly beneficial effect, and there is no danger if managed as here directed. The feet should be kept warm and the head cool, but don't put cold water on a child's head.
If an attack comes on from sudden cold, take Aconite and Ipecac every hour for a day, and if any symptoms remain, in place of the Aconite use Copaiva, Arsenicum and Phos. Acid with the Ipecac, giving them in rotation, a dose every hour.
In Chronic Asthma, where the patient is liable to an attack at any time, great benefit will be derived from taking these four in rotation about two hours apart for a day or two, at any time when symptoms of an attack begin to appear.
I have recently succeeded in alleviating several bad cases, at once, by these four remedies in succession as here recommended, on whom (some of them) I had at various times tried all of them, as well as other medicines, singly at longer intervals, as directed in the Books, without any decided benefit. After trying these in succession, as here directed, I found no trouble in arresting the paroxysm in a few hours, and I am strong in the faith that with some, at least, I have effected cures. It is worth much to arrest the paroxysm if no more.
According to my experience, though this disease may not be entirely arrested in its course, and not generally much abridged in its duration, still the use of appropriate medicines will greatly modify it, and render it a comparatively trifling affection.
In treatment, give at the commencement of the attack Bell. and Phos. acid alternately every twelve hours for a week, then once in six hours, and if the child should take cold so as to bring on fever, give one every hour. Continue these, as above directed, for the first two or three weeks, then, in their stead, after the cough becomes loose, and the patient vomits easily, give Copaiva and Ipecac in the same manner as directed, for the two former remedies.
This term is applied so loosely and so indiscriminately to all chronic derangements of the stomach, that it is difficult to define it. I shall therefore point out some of the more common ailments of the stomach and their proper remedies.
For sour eructations with hot, burning, scalding fluid rising up in the throat, with or without food, give Phos. acid and Pulsatilla in alternation every half hour, until the stomach is easy. For a feeling of weight and pain in the stomach, with dull pain in the head, with or without dizziness, give Nux. Vom. every hour until it relieves. If there is a burning feeling in the stomach as well as the heavy load, without eructations and rising of fluid, Arsenicum should be alternated with the Nux. Vom., at intervals of two hours. There are persons who, from imprudence in eating or drinking or both, or which is more frequent, from harsh drug medication, have so enfeebled their stomachs, that, though by care in selecting their food, and prudence in taking it, they may suffer but little, are, nevertheless, when from home or on special occasions, liable to overeat or take the wrong kind of food, from which unfortunate circumstance they are made to suffer the most tormenting and intolerable distress in the stomach and bowels, which may last, more or less severe, for several days. Soon after the unfortunate meal, perhaps the next morning, or, it may be, in a few hours, the stomach begins to bloat, by accumulating gas within, which is belched up every few minutes in large quantities; the stomach and bowels are racked with the most torturing pains; cold sweat stands on the brow, and he is the very picture of misery. Thus he may roll and tumble all night, and remain in misery the next day and several days longer, before the food will digest. It often passes from the stomach without digestion, and on its way through the bowels inflicts constant pain. If he does not take some emetic substance, he is not apt to vomit, his stomach cramping so as to prevent it.
I have here described one of the bad cases, but bad as it is they are by no means very rare. There are such cases in abundance, of all grades from the one here described down to a slight derangement. They all require a similar course of treatment.
It is useful for such patients to take at once large quantities of lukewarm water, and repeat the draught every ten to fifteen minutes, until free and thorough vomiting is induced, so as to throw off all the food from the stomach.
But even this does not often cure these bad cases. If it did, it is not always convenient to do it. The medicine that is quite certain to afford relief at once is Podophyllin. Let it be given, and the dose repeated in an hour. A third dose is rarely necessary. After relief from this attack, the medicine should be taken night and morning for a month or more until the stomach is restored. In the meantime care should be taken not to overload the stomach.
The medicine for this affection is Nux vom., to be taken at night on retiring. If there is fulness and pain in the head from costiveness, Bell. should be used in the morning, and at noon. Let the patient contract a habit of drinking cold water freely on rising in the morning, at least half an hour before eating. The patient should not take physic.
For constipation of children, Nux and Bryonia are to be given Nux at night and Bryonia in the morning. Opium is useful.
Much needless alarm is often felt by persons on account of a costive state of the bowels. If no pain is felt from it, there is no cause for alarm.
This peculiar burning and distressed feeling at the stomach depends on imperfect digestion, but is not ordinarily, as is generally supposed, connected with a sour or acid state of the fluids in the stomach. The condition of the fluids is alkaline, in most cases, though it is sometimes acid. If it depends upon biliary derangement, Nux Vomica and Podophyllin are the remedies for a male; Pulsatilla and Podophyllin for a female.
This is a disease of the skin, producing redness, burning and itching pains, appearing in patches, in adults, most apt to appear about the head and face, but in children, upon the limbs, or in very young children, beginning at the umbilicus. It sometimes begins at one point, and continues to spread for a time, then suddenly disappears, and reappears at some other point.
Simple Erysipelas only affects the surface, with redness and smarting. Vessicular, produces vessicular eruption, or blisters filled with a limpid fluid, somewhat like the blisters from a burn.
The Phlegmonous Erysipelas affects the whole thickness of the skin and cellular tissues beneath it, producing swelling, and not unfrequently, resulting in suppuration, ulceration or gangrene and sloughing of the parts. It is a dangerous disease, especially when on the head.
For the simple kind, Bell. is all that will be needed, unless there should be considerable fever, when Aconite should be alternated with the Bell. For the vessicular kind, where there are blisters, Rhus tox. should be used with Bell. For the Phlegmonous, with deep seated swellings, Apis mel is the most important remedy. I prefer to use three of these remedies, giving them in rotation, beginning with the Bell., followed with Rhus, and then by Apis mel. giving them one hour apart. In a mild case, or after the patient begins to recover, give them at longer intervals. The Apis alone will often be sufficient. During the whole time, the affected parts should be kept covered with dry, superfine flour, some say Buckwheat flour acts most favorably. The diet should be very spare. Eat as little as possible, until the disease begins to subside.
A very important part of the treatment of this affection is to keep the patient in a room that is comfortably warm, say at a temperature of from 65 to 75°, and keep the temperature uniformly the same, as nearly as possible, night and day. Do not, by any means, expose him suddenly to cold air, or a cold breeze, as on going into a cold room, going out into cold air, or undressing or dressing in a cold room. Uniformly warm temperature is of great importance.
No matter what the nature and extent of the burn may be, the very best of all medicines of which I have any knowledge, is Soap. If the parts affected, are immediately immersed or enveloped in Soft Soap, the pain will be greatly lessened, and the inflammation that would otherwise follow, will be essentially modified, if not entirely prevented. It acts like magic; no one who has never tried it can have any idea of its potency for the relief of pain, together with the prevention of bad consequences following severe burning. Under the influence of the Soap applications, burns and scalds will often be rendered comparatively insignificant injuries. Instead of endangering the life of the sufferer from the excessive pain, or the ulceration, or gangrene and sloughing that would follow if the pain in the first instance does not destroy life, the pain ceases, or becomes bearable in a short time, and either little or no suppuration or sloughing takes place, or the sore assumes the appearance of healthy suppuration, and heals kindly—avoiding those unsightly deformities that so commonly follow severe burning. If practicable, the soap, as before suggested, should be applied immediately after the burn, the sooner the better. The part may be put into soft soap, or cloths saturated with it can be wrapped around or covered over the affected surface, to any desirable extent. The parts should not be exposed to the air for a single moment, when possible to prevent it. During the first two or three days, dressings need not be removed, unless they cause irritation after the first severe pain has subsided. They should be kept all of the time moist, and as far as practicable, in a condition to be impervious to the air.
When it is necessary to remove them, let the affected surface be immersed in strong soap suds, at a temperature of about 75 or 80°, and the dressing removed while it is under water, and others applied while in the same situation. In ordinary cases, however, even of extensive burns, after the fever consequent upon it has subsided, and the part is tolerably free from pain and smarting, the dressings may be removed in the air, but others should be in readiness and applied as speedily as possible. The soap dressings are to be continued from the beginning until the inflammation has subsided and the sore has lost all symptoms that distinguish it from an ordinary healthy suppurating sore.
After the first few days, or in case of a slight burn at the beginning, an excellent mode of applying the soap, is to make a strong thick "Lather" with soft water and good soap, such as Castile, or any other good hard soap, as a barber would for shaving, and apply that to the affected part with a soft shaving brush; apply it as carefully as possible, so as to cover every part of the surface, and go over it several times, letting the former coat dry a little before applying another, forming a thick crust impervious to the air. In small burns, and even in pretty extensive and severe ones, this is the best mode of application, and the only one necessary.
In many cases of very severe and dangerous burns, under the influence of this application, the inflammation subsides, and after a week or more, the crust of lather comes off, exposing the surface smooth and well. Although it is important to apply the soap early, and the case does much better if that has been done, still I have found it the best remedy even as late as the second or third day. In such a case, the lather application is the best.
For the fever and general nervous disturbance, Aconite and Bell. should be given alternately, as often as every half hour, and the Aconite should be given in appreciable doses; it acts powerfully as an anodyne. The soap treatment, or at least, the mode of applying it was first suggested to me by Dr. J. Tifft, of Norwalk, Ohio, some six or seven years ago, since which time I have had opportunities of testing its virtues in all forms of burns and scalds, some of which were of the severest and most dangerous character, and I am quite sure in several cases, no other remedy or process known to the medical profession, could have relieved and restored as this did.
The application of finely pulverized common salt, triturated with an equal part of superfine flour, acts very beneficially on burns. It seems to have the specific effect to "extract the heat," literally putting out the fire. It is particularly useful for deep burns where the surface is abraded. Some may suppose this would be severe and cause too much pain when applied to a raw surface, but so far from that being the case, it is a most soothing application. It often so changes the condition of even the severest burns, in a short time, as to render them of no more importance and no more dangerous than ordinary abrasions to the same extent, by causes unconnected with heat. Urtica urens is directed for burns, and is useful, but the Urtica dioica is better. For
That follow freezing or chilling the feet, causing most distressing uneasiness and itching of the feet and toes, take these remedies, Rhus and Apis, the former at night and the latter in the morning. In bad cases, they should be used once in six hours. Applications of Oil of Arnica to the affected parts at night, warming them before a fire, will serve greatly to palliate the sufferings, and frequently effect a perfect cure. The Urtica Dioica will relieve recent cases, immediately, and is one of the best remedies for the chronic affection. It should be taken at the 2d dilution, and the tincture applied to the affected part every night.
This arises generally, from inflammation of the mucous membrane of the Larynx, in ordinary cases but slight. It is a frequent accompaniment of Bronchitis.
The remedies most useful, and those which will, in almost all ordinary cases, remove this affection at once, are Arum tri. and Copaiva, to be taken a dose every three hours in alternation.
If there is present a dry hacking cough, it will be well to take Bell. in the interval between the other medicines, for a day, or until the cough is relieved, or changed to a moist condition.
Brain Fever.
Though this affection is not strictly what is called "brain fever," it is attended with more or less general fever, while in what is called "Brain fever," there is great irritation of the brain, requiring in many respects similar treatment. As the treatment proper for inflammation of the brain, with some slight modifications in relation to the existing fever, will be applicable to both, I shall treat of them under one head.
Some of the principal symptoms are delirium and drowsiness, fullness of the blood vessels of the head, beating of the temporal arteries, redness and fullness of the face, the pupils dilated, (though in the very early stage they may be contracted.) If the membranes of the brain be the seat of the disease, the pain is more intense, and frequently the limbs are in a palsied state. The patient sometimes vomits immoderately, and the pulse is slow and irregular, but full. The breathing becomes stertorous. The fever is very considerable, and the head hot.
Aconite, Belladonna and Bryonia should be given in rotation, one dose every hour in a violent case, lengthening the intervals as the symptoms abate. Applying hot cloths to the head, removing them occasionally to let the water evaporate, will greatly palliate and will not in the least, interrupt the action of the medicines. Never apply cold to the head of any person, when hot or inflamed, much less to that of a child. Children are often killed by the application of ice to the head, producing congestion and paralysis of the brain. Hot applications are Homœopathic to the state then existing, and always beneficial. The feet may also be placed in hot water, but children should never be put into a hot or warm bath when sick, so as to cover more than the lower extremities.
These generally occur, either from the irritation of worms, or as precursors of ague, or they may arise from diarrhœal irritation, affecting the brain. They sometimes occur in hooping cough.
If convulsions occur from worms, the child appearing to be choked, give at once some salt and water, and as soon as the first paroxysm is over, give a dose of Bell., and after an hour a dose of Santonine. If they come on at the commencement of an ague chill, give Aconite and Bell. every half hour for three or four doses alternately, then leave off the Bell. and give Baptisia. If diarrhœa is the cause, give Bell. and Cham omilla. If from hooping cough, Bell. alone should be used.
This is a contagious disease, and always begins with symptoms like a cold, with high fever, and a severe dry cough, thirst and restlessness. Pulsatilla is the proper medicine to palliate and regulate the symptoms. If the fever is high, Aconite should be used every two hours alternately with Puls. Should the eruption subside suddenly, give Bryonia with Pulsatilla until it reappears.
Let the child drink freely of cold water, and avoid stimulants of every kind. If the eruption is tardy in its appearance, a hot bath may be administered, being careful to have the room quite warm, and to rub the patient dry, very suddenly after the bath. Frictions by the healthy hand over the surface, will do much towards bringing out measles. After the eruption is out, quiet, freedom from sudden exposure to cold, cold water and light diet is all that is necessary. In some of the most obstinate cases, where the eruptions failed to appear in the proper time, as well as where they had receded too soon, I have been able to bring them out in a short time with an infusion of Sassafras root, sweetened and taken quite warm, in doses of half an ounce in fifteen to thirty minutes. It is a remedy for measles well worth attention.
This is a contagious disease, consisting in an inflammation of the Parotid gland. There is, at first, a sense of stiffness and soreness on moving the jaw, soon after the gland begins to swell, and continues to be sore and painful, with more or less headache, and general fever for from six to eight days. It is not ordinarily a dangerous disease, unless translated to some other part. It may remove from the original seat to the brain, the testicles, or in females to the breasts.
Mercurius should be given three times a day during the attack. If the brain becomes affected, use Bell. and Apis mel. in alternation. Should it recede to the testicles, or to the female breasts, Apis mel. is the remedy. Mercurius may be used in connection with the Apis as soon as the violent symptoms have subsided, in order to prevent permanent glandular swellings.
The effect produced by the sting of Bees, Wasps, and Hornets of all kinds, is so nearly, if not quite identical, that I shall make no distinction between them. There are very few, if any persons, who do not know the symptoms, at least the local effects of the Bee sting. Pungent, stinging, aching pain, redness and swelling of the part. The wound has at first, and for some time, a white spot or point where the sting entered, surrounded by an areola of bright scarlet, growing fainter and paler as it recedes. The swelling is not pointed, but a rounded elevation, with a feeling of hardness. If upon the face, it not unfrequently causes the whole face to swell so as to nearly if not entirely close the eyes. In some instances, the brain becomes affected and death ensues.
I have for many years, used but one remedy, and that has in all cases, and under all circumstances, when applied at any stage of the affection, produced prompt and perfect relief; therefore I shall recommend no other. It is the common garden Onion, (Allium cepa) applied to the spot where the sting entered. I cut the fresh Onion and apply the raw surface to the spot, changing it for a fresh piece every ten to fifteen minutes, until the pain and swelling, and all disagreeable symptoms disappear. If it is applied immediately after the stinging, the first application will afford perfect relief in a few minutes, and no further effect from it will be experienced. Applied later, it must be continued longer, and this may be done one or two days after the stinging, with just as much certainty of removing whatever symptoms may still exist.
I treated one case when three days had elapsed, the patient (a young lady) was delirious and speechless, the whole face was so swollen as to entirely disfigure her features, raising the cheeks to a level with the nose, and closing the eyes. Her life was almost despaired of. The surface of a freshly cut onion was applied to the point where the sting entered, and changed about once an hour for a fresh piece. In a few hours consciousness returned, and a rapid recovery followed. All the swelling and disagreeable symptoms were gone in three days.
Ledum is highly recommended by some Physicians, and is doubtless of some value, but it is not to be compared with the Allium.
The most potent and certain remedy for the poison caused by the
is Alcohol, in the ordinary form, or in common Whisky, Brandy, Rum or Gin. Let the patient drink it freely, a gill or more at a time, once in fifteen to twenty minutes, until some symptoms of intoxication are experienced, then cease using it. The cure will be complete as soon as enough has been taken to produce even slight symptoms of intoxication. It is remarkable how much alcohol a patient suffering from the poison of the Rattlesnake will bear.
An intelligent medical friend of mine in Kanawha County, Virginia, gave a little girl of ten years, who had been bitten by a Rattlesnake, over three quarts of good strong Whisky, in less than a day, when but slight symptoms of intoxication were produced, and that seemed to arise entirely from the last drink. She recovered from the intoxication in a few hours, and suffered no more from the poison of the serpent.
Instances of cures with whisky are numerous, and I have never heard of a failure, when it was used as here directed. I presume it will do the same for the poison of other serpents.
This symptom or affection, (if it can be classed as a disease) may depend upon so many causes, and be so very different in its effects, degrees of intensity, and the kind of pain or sensation attending it, that one will find it very difficult to mark out any definite treatment. I shall, therefore, only point out some of the more frequent cases, and the indications for certain remedies.
What is called "sick headache," or "nervous headache," begins by a sense of blindness or blur, before the eyes, of green or purple colors, dazzling or swimming in the head, without, for some time at first, any positive aching or pain. In the course of an hour, a longer or shorter time, the dimness of vision goes off, and the head begins to ache. This may or may not be accompanied with nausea and vomiting. Some persons are always more or less sick at the stomach, when these "nervous headaches" come on, others are not thus affected.
If taken as soon as the first blur before the eyes is noticed, or before any pain is felt in the head, Nux Vomica will, in nearly all cases, arrest the disease at once. It may be necessary to take two or three doses at intervals of an hour. Later in the case, though Nux may palliate, it will not cure.
If headache with sickness comes on, Macrotin and Podoph. should be given in alternation, every half hour, if the symptoms are very severe, and the nausea great; but in a mild case, give it once an hour, lengthening the interval as the symptoms abate.
If the feet are cold, as is often the case, putting them into hot water will palliate the symptoms, and not interfere with the medicines.
If the head feels hot, apply hot water to it. Never apply cold to the head, when there are any symptoms of congestion, as of fullness of the blood vessels. For
If the face is red, and the arteries of the neck and temples throb violently, give Bell. If there is paleness and faintness, Pulsatilla is the remedy, especially if the forehead is principally affected. If the pain is mostly in the back of the head, Nux is to be used; if in the front, and is sharp, affecting the eyes, Aconite; if at the angles of the forehead, with a sense of pinching, Arnica; if a sense of fullness and pressing outwards, or with an enlarged feeling, Macrotin; if intermitting or remitting, Mercurius; if there is ringing in the ears, China. Headache from fright should have Aconite.
For that kind of headache that often occurs during the prevalence of fevers, and is not unfrequently a premonitory symptom of an attack of fever, I have found Baptisia and Podophyllin to be specifics. I give them alternately, every two hours a dose, until the headache ceases. It often subsides in a few minutes after the first dose of either, though I have sometimes failed with one alone and succeeded in the same cases afterwards with both in alternation. I have no doubt but that they act in many cases, as Prophylactics, entirely warding off and preventing fevers, or at least arresting them at the premonitory stage. Podophyllin is a most valuable remedy for headache.
If it arises from fullness of the vessels of the head, with throbbing of the temples, redness of the face and eyes, Belladonna is the remedy. If fever is present, Aconite must be alternated with Bell.
In females or children who have habitual nose-bleed, Pulsatilla and Podophyllin are to be used alternately, night and morning. During the paroxysm of bleeding, Arnica should be used, one dose repeated in a half hour if it continues.
If it is produced by over-exertion, Rhus is the proper remedy. If it occurs in the early stage of fever, Aconite and Bell.; in the latter stage, Rhus and Phos. are to be used. Hamamelis will frequently arrest nose-bleed immediately after one or two doses.
It is difficult to determine the presence of worms in children, much more in adults, yet both are affected by them occasionally. In children, there is more or less fever and restlessness, screaming out in sleep, starting, pain in the bowels, vomiting, choking, diarrhœa, picking at the nose, fetid breath, voracious and variable appetite.
Santonine is a remedy which I have used for years, and I have treated many hundreds of cases, with such unvariable success, that I feel disinclined to use or to recommend any other. It brings away the worms entire, and relieves the patient of all morbid symptoms immediately, or in much less time than any other remedy of which I have any knowledge. It seems to act specifically upon the worms, causing them to leave the bowels by being evacuated with the feces, without producing any sensible impression upon the bowels, the evacuations remaining natural, if they were so, or becoming so, if deranged, and the worms coming away not quite lifeless.
I have often prescribed this remedy for children suffering under intermittent or remitting, and even typhoid fever, in the summer season, when there were not present any well defined symptoms of worms, and yet the fever would soon abate, and in due time worms appear in the fecal evacuations. It often arrests entirely intermittent fever, when worms are present, and are the probable cause of the fever.
I give either the crude salt in from one-fourth to one-half grain doses, or a trituration of one grain to four of sugar, giving in the latter case, from one to two grains of the trituration. Give one dose at bed-time, or in an urgent case at any other time, but never repeat the dose under thirty-six hours, and in an ordinary case, under forty-eight hours.
This is the medicine par excellence for worms. It may be repeated once a week, when there is a tendency in the patient to the development of worm symptoms, or, in other words, the breeding of worms. The idea held out by some that it is hurtful, or unimportant to remove the worms, in itself considered, is simply nonsense, and worse, for children are sometimes sacrificed to this idea.
This may arise from various causes, but a common one is sudden cold. If it arises from cold, and there is general fever, or if the ear is red, or the side of the head and ear hot, Bell. and Baptisia should be given in alternation, every hour, or in a violent case, more frequently. These remedies will soon relieve such cases. Cloths wrung out of hot water should be laid over the ear, or the side of the head steamed, or it may be laid into water quite warm, with good effect.
Where the disease is a chronic affection, and the patient is subject to frequent attacks of pain in the ear, especially on a change of the weather, from dry to moist, Mercurius is the proper remedy, especially if it is worse at night, when warm in bed.
If it arises from a shock or blow, Arn. is to be used. In scrofulous persons, whether there is ulceration or not, Phosphorus and Pulsatilla are the remedies.
Children and even adults, not unfrequently suffer from earache, without any known cause sufficient to account for it. On examination into the ear you will often find either the cavity filled or nearly so, with a hard black substance, (the inspissated "earwax") almost as hard as horn, or else the ear will be quite empty, and the sides of the cavity dry and red, though perhaps not properly in a state of inflammation.
The natural condition of the cavity as it can be seen by straining the ear outwards and backwards a little in a strong sun light, is moist, the surface covered slightly with a yellowish, greasy, soft substance (the cerumen) "earwax." When this is wanting or in excess, or its character changed, it is evidence of disease, and pain is likely to occur. The
for this condition is to remove the accumulation when that exists, as the first step. But this must be first softened by pouring some warm oil, pure olive oil, or good pure sperm oil, into the ear, and repeat it two or three times a day for several days, until it is so far softened as to be easily removed with the probe end of common small tweezers, having a spoon-bowl point.
When there is dryness, moisten the surface with oil. In either case, it is best, for a while, to protect the delicate surface from the air, by putting oiled wool into the external ear.
If the ear was filled, give Mercurius once a day until there appears a natural secretion. If dry, use Belladonna.
It is difficult to determine the cause of toothache, and more difficult to select the remedy. It often depends upon decay of the tooth, and exposure of the nerve to air, and contact with food or drinks, or even saliva, which irritate and produce pain.
Pulsatilla will as often relieve such cases as any other remedy, yet if it has been aggravated by a recent cold, Bell. and Nux V. may be better. If the nerve is not exposed, and there is a disposition to a return of the pain on exposure to cold air, or a change of weather, the pain being of a rheumatic character, give Rhus and Macrotin in alternation. These will relieve many cases. For decayed teeth, the pain being dull aching, with soreness, use Chamomilla. The body of the tooth, that is the dentine, sometimes becomes very sensitive when there is no decay or cavity, the pain being experienced when some hard substance hits, or the air or water, either cold or hot, comes in contact with the tooth. The temporary pain will generally yield to Arnica, and in most instances, the daily use of Arnica at the first decimal dilution, applied to the surface, and upon the jaws, will effect a cure.
The chloride of Zinc applied to the surface of such teeth for a few moments will destroy the sensitiveness of the dentine.
Teeth that are ulcerated at the roots, or have ulcerated gums around them, the teeth being decayed, should be extracted at once, for, besides the pain and inconvenience they cause, they are a very prolific source of disturbance to the digestive organs, from the positive poison generated by the decaying process.
If people will use soft brushes upon the teeth with soap and water, followed by rinsing with simple water only, after each meal, brushing both inside and out and crossways, so as to clean between them, they will be saved much pain and decay, and disease of other parts, arising from foul and diseased teeth.
Affections arising from teething of children, are often of a serious character. The most prominent of which is Diarrhœa. Fever frequently accompanies the diarrhœa, and convulsions occasionally occur. Aconite and Chamomilla should be used in alternation, every one or two hours, according to the violence of the fever, and if convulsions occur, or are threatened, as will be known by twitching, starting, and screaming, use Nux and Bell. These may be given in rotation with the others, following the remedies, one after the other, every hour. I have relieved the most alarming cases in a day by this method of procedure, that had not yielded to either of the single remedies for several days, given as directed in the books; the patient growing worse continually. If the gums over the teeth look white and the teeth, (one or more,) are near the surface, the gums should, by all means, be cut. Press the point of a lancet or penknife down upon the top of the gum, until the tooth is plainly felt, and be sure to make the cut as wide as the tooth. Rub the gums with Arnicated water once or twice a day. Pulsatilla should be given at night and Chamomilla in the morning, during the whole summer while the child is teething, as a prophylactic against the fever and diarrhœa that is likely to occur. It will generally save all trouble.
If the diarrhœa is profuse, watery and light colored or brown, give Phos. acid and Veratrum alternately, as often as the discharges occur. For the restlessness of infants at night, Coffea is the specific.
This is a disease peculiar to nursing children. The mouth becomes sore, and the tongue, lips, and fauces are covered with a white crust, looking like milk curds, which, when removed, leaves the surface red, inflamed and very tender. It sooner or later, extends to the stomach and bowels, producing severe and dangerous diarrhœa.
Of all the medicines known to our Materia Medica, none, according to my experience, will in the least, compare with the Eupatorium aromaticum. It is almost, if not quite certain to relieve speedily in all cases. I say this, not only from my own experience and observation, but from the testimony of several other Homœopathic Physicians, who have, within the last year, used it.
It should be given at the first or second dilution, once in four or six hours, and three or four drops of the tincture put into a teaspoonful of water, and the mouth occasionally washed with the mixture.
In summer, where agues prevail, and the child is feverish and restless, China will aid in the cure, to be given once in six hours between the doses of the Eupatorium. If the diarrhœa is obstinate, the discharges colored, and the child is sick at the stomach, give Podophyllin with the other remedies.
For common Ophthalmia, in the early stages, while there is more or less fever and headache, with flushed face, bloodshot eyes and throbbing of the temporal arteries, Bell. and Aconite should be used alternately every two hours, and a wash made with ten drops of tincture of Aconite to one gill of pure water, applied to the eyes as hot as the patient can bear. This application should be repeated every two hours, in a violent case, until the eyes are easy, and then about twice a day until all inflammation and redness pass off. This will relieve a large proportion of cases in from one to four days.
If, however, the case continues obstinate for a longer time, or has been of a week or more standing before the treatment is commenced, in the place of Bell., or after using it one or two days, use Hydrastus with the Aconite, giving them alternately at intervals of two to six hours, according to the stage of the case—more frequently as the symptoms are more urgent, using washes prepared of each separately, as directed for Aconite, except that the Hydrastus wash may be twice as strong; and apply each about half as often as the same medicine is taken internally. The wash should, in all cases of acute inflammation of the eyes, be as hot as it can be borne. Let it be put into the eyes so as to come directly in contact with the inflamed surface.
Simple hot water applied to inflamed eyes for hours together, allowing short intervals between the applications, will often cure most painful cases.
Never apply cold to inflamed eyes. It always aggravates. When the inflammation is in a scrofulous person, especially in infants, it assumes a purulent character, and may leave the cornea in clouded (nebulous) condition, and the sight more or less obliterated. For this condition use Conium first, and apply it in tinct., half water, to the eyes every four hours.
On this subject, I must necessarily be very brief. When a wound is inflicted, the first and most important thing to be done is to arrest the flow of blood. Every one should know how to do this. The bleeding is to be stopped, and the wounded vessels to be secured, so that no further flow can take place.
First, then, to stop the bleeding, pressure is to be made upon the artery leading to the wound. If the wound is in the leg or foot, pressure is to be made, either on the vessel above and near the wound, or, where that cannot be easily found and compressed, make firm pressure with the thumb or some hard substance, in the groin, about two and a half inches at one side of the center of the pelvis, (wounded side) just below the lower margin of the belly, towards the inner side of the thigh, where the great artery (Femoral artery) can be felt pulsating. By pressing firmly upon this artery, the blood is arrested in its flow into the limb, and of course the bleeding from the wound soon ceases. If the wound is in the arm or hand, pressure is to be made, either just above the wound, or on the inside of the arm, about one-third of the way from the shoulder to the elbow, where the artery (Brachial) can be felt. To secure the parts from further bleeding, the wounded artery must be taken up and tied. Let it be seized by forceps, or the point of a needle may be thrust into it, and the vessel stretched out a little, a thread put round it and tied; cut off one end of the tie, and let the other hang out of the wound, until it comes out by the vessel sloughing off. Bring the lips of the wound together, and if it is large, put in stitches enough to hold them, and put on an adhesive plaster, compress of cloths, and bandages to keep it from straining the stitches, and protect it from the air. The Arnica plaster, made by John Hall, of Cleveland, is the best adhesive plaster of which I have any knowledge. Give the patient Aconite once in two hours, for a day after the accident.
Slight Cuts about the joints, especially the knee, are dangerous, from their liability to affect the ligaments, inflame, and produce Lockjaw. Therefore, such wounds, ever so slight, are of great importance. They should be at once closed up, whether they bleed or not, and covered with an adhesive plaster, (Arnica plaster is the best) a bandage, and the knee should not be bent, even when walking or sitting, until the wound is healed. It is best to apply a splint from the hip to the heel, and bandage the limb to it, so as to prevent bending of the joint.
Bruises are to be treated with Arnica, applied to the part affected, by putting twenty drops of the tincture into a gill of water, if the skin is not ruptured, or three drops into the same if it is, and bathing freely. The Arnica is to be taken internally at a higher dilution. Keep the parts covered with cloths and wet in Arnica water.
If a blow is received upon the head, by a fall, or in any other way, producing a "stunning" effect, (concussion of the brain) so that the patient appears lifeless for a time, and delirious when he begins to come to, there is great danger of inflammation of the brain, and death from the re-action, or in some cases, the shock is so great that the patient will never revive unless he has the proper aid.
Arnica is the great remedy to bring on reaction, arouse the patient, and prevent dangerous inflammation or congestion of the brain.
When a patient is "stunned" by a blow or fall, he should be conveyed soon as possible, to some quiet place, and as little noise as practicable made about him, and the room kept darkened. Arnica 3d should be given immediately, and the nostrils wet with strongly arnicated water.
If fever arise after he comes to, Aconite should be given with Arnica, and if the head aches, or becomes hot, Bell. is to be used. This will prevent or arrest all symptoms of inflammation.
Torn and Mangled wounds should not be handled much. If they bleed, the blood must be stopped as in any other case. If they are dirty, warm water may be gently applied to cleanse them. The wound should be covered with some soft cloths, and kept constantly wet in Arnicated water of the strength of four drops of the tincture to a pint of water.
One important matter in all cases of habitual piles, is, to keep the bowels regular. Much can be done for this purpose by diet and regimen. On rising from bed in the morning drink freely, from a gill to half a pint of cold water, at least half an hour before breakfast; use such diet as is easily digested, and drink no alcoholic beverages. To relieve the bowels when costive, take a dose of Nux Vomica at night, and Podophyllin in the morning. This may be repeated from day to day until the proper effect is produced.
To relieve from a severe attack of Piles, use Bell. and Podophyllin in alternation every four hours, and apply to the tumors when inflamed, cloths wrung out of hot water, or sit in hot water for a time.
A poultice made of fine-cut Tobacco wet in hot water and crowded firmly up against the pile-tumors, secured by a T bandage, will relieve the most desperate cases for the time, and is attended with no danger or disagreeable symptoms except in rare cases, when it produces sickness at the stomach, which soon subsides on the poultice being removed. Oil of Arnica is an excellent application for inflamed Piles.
A most important point in the management of Piles, and one often neglected, is to replace the prolapsed tumors. The tumors will be protruded from within the anus by the act of evacuating, and if left in that condition, will be pressed upon by the external parts, chafed and inflamed. In all such cases, the patient should take particular pains to return the tumors into the rectum; and to aid in that process a little oil may be applied when they will be easily pushed back, and the sphincter of the bowel will close below them, preventing any chafing, and the consequent inflammation.
For Bleeding Piles, Ipecac and Bell. are very efficient remedies. They may be alternated every half hour, or oftener if the bleeding is severe, or at longer intervals when it is only slight.
Hamamelis V., (Witch Hazel,) will in nearly all cases arrest the bleeding at once. It should be applied to the parts and taken internally at the same time. Drop doses to be put on the tongue once in fifteen or twenty minutes.
An infusion of the Hamamelis may be taken internally in doses of half a teaspoonful, and the same injected into the bowel with excellent effect.
The most effectual way, and the best for obtaining permanent relief from Piles when the tumors have become hard, and remain all the time so as to pass out of the anus at every evacuation, being constantly more or less tender and painful, and often becoming inflamed, is to have them taken off. But never let that be done with a knife. The bleeding would, in such a case, be very excessive, and most likely fatal. The history of knife operations for the excision of Pile tumors is written in blood, and the tombstone stands as a monument of condemnation of the practice. No trustworthy surgeon will at this day attempt it.
But however dangerous may be the knife operation, there is no danger at all to be apprehended from removing the tumors by a ligature. To accomplish this, take a soft cork about three-fourths of an inch in diameter, and one inch long—make a hole through the center from end to end, about one-eighth of an inch in diameter—cut crucial grooves in the top of the cork about an eighth of an inch deep, bevel down the lower end nearly to an edge, make a cord of saddler's silk, three fold twisted together and waxed, about eight or ten inches long, double this in the middle and pass the loop down through the cork out at the sharp end, the two loose ends of the string being out at the grooved end. Make a strong hickory stick about three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter, and just long enough to pass across the square end of the cork. Now have the patient protrude the Pile tumors as far out as possible, being placed on his knees with the head bent to the floor, pressing out firmly as if to evacuate the bowels. Let the tumors be dried as much as possible by gently pressing a soft, dry cloth to them; then let the loop of the string projecting from the flattened end of the cork, be pushed on over the largest tumor, and held down at its base, while an assistant places the stick in one of the grooves, ties the two ends of the cord firmly down over the stick, or toggle, by a square bow knot; then turn the stick round once, twice, or more, until the pressure upon the tumor is sufficient to strangulate it perfectly, and prevent the string from slipping off. Care should be taken to keep the cord down to the base of the tumor while it is being tied and tightened, as in many cases the base is much the larger part of the tumor, and the cord tends to slip up. After the ligature is applied and tightened, apply arnicated water to the parts, and a large, warm poultice of superfine slippery elm bark, wet so as not to be too soft and slippery, on the face of which Arnica may be put. Keep it on with a T bandage. The patient must be put to bed and kept quiet until the ligature and tumor come off, which will be in about six or seven days, sometimes sooner. Once a day the "toggle" must be turned part, or the whole of a circle or more, to tighten the cord as the patient can bear. This will be very painful from beginning to end of the ligating, but any, even the most sensitive, patient can bear it. The patient must have quite warm hip baths two, three, or more, times a day, or as often as the pain is severe, the poultice being replaced after each bath, and kept constantly on.
If there are several tumors protruding, apply ligatures to two of the largest, when these are removed, the others will disappear.
Injections of mucillage of slippery elm should be carefully used to move the bowels daily, or at least once in two days. Let the diet be of corn or oat meal mush, or rice. As the tumor gradually sloughs off, the surface heals, so that, though the base where the ligature was applied, may have been an inch or more across it, there will not be a raw surface of over an eighth of an inch in diameter, to which Calendula Cerate should be applied. The patient must keep quiet for a few days longer. Though this is a painful operation, it is not in the slightest degree dangerous. I have effected complete and permanent cures by this mode in numerous instances.
Nux Vomica should be used once in about four hours, for twelve hours before sailing, as a preventive to sea-sickness.
If, however, symptoms, such as dizziness or blur before the eyes, and headache, begin to come on, a dose of Nux should be taken, followed in an hour with Pulsatilla.
If the nausea comes on, Ipecac and Arsenicum should be taken alternately between the paroxysms of vomiting, should that symptom appear.
If practicable, the patient should lay still upon the back until the sickness passes off. I have removed sea-sickness immediately in several instances with Pulsatilla alone, and the last time I had an opportunity to prescribe for this affection I gave Podophyllin. It removed all the symptoms in a few minutes. That is the only time I ever tried it, but from the provings I am satisfied it is one of the best remedies.
I was practicing in Cincinnati during the prevalence of Cholera in the years 1849, and 1850, and in Northern Ohio in 1854, and had abundant opportunity to observe and treat it. The disease generally begins with a diarrhœa, which may continue for several days, or only a few hours before other symptoms set in, such as vomiting, then cramping in the stomach and muscles of the legs, arms, hands and feet, followed by cold sweats, great prostration, restlessness, excessive and burning thirst, drinks being immediately rejected. These symptoms continue, the patient sinking rapidly into collapse, when the skin looks blue and shriveled, the eyes sunken, the surface covered with a cold, clammy sweat, the extremities, nose, ears, tongue and breath cold, the voice hollow and unnatural. This condition continues from two to eight or ten hours, the patient regularly failing, sometimes becoming delirious before he dies.
In some cases the vomiting and diarrhœa set in simultaneously, and the other symptoms follow, as above described, in rapid succession. In others the cramping may be the first symptom, the others following it.
In a large proportion of cases, the disease takes the course first described above, the diarrhœa, called the premonitory symptoms, or sometimes cholerine, coming on several hours, if not a day or more, before any other symptoms.
The diarrhœa is not usually painful, hence the patient may not be alarmed so as to attend to it until the more dangerous symptoms appear. It begins in some cases with pain and some griping, the discharges rather consistent, having a bilious appearance, so that the patient supposes it to be an ordinary bilious diarrhœa, which is not dangerous, his fears being thus quieted. But however the diarrhœa begins, it becomes sooner or later, copious, watery, and light colored, (rice water) painless but rapidly prostrating.
In the early stages of the diarrhœa, Veratrum, taken about twice as often as the evacuations occur, will frequently arrest it in a few hours, especially if the patient lies down and keeps quiet. But if not, and it increases in frequency, or becomes more copious, or any sickness is felt at the stomach, the patient should, at once, be laid upon a bed and strong tincture of Camphor should be given in drop doses, once in five minutes, for one hour or more, and as the symptoms abate, once in ten, fifteen or twenty minutes, for six or eight hours.
A teaspoonful of the Camphor tincture may be put into a tumbler of cold water, ice water if at hand, and the water agitated until it becomes clear, giving a teaspoonful of this camphorated cold water as a dose, stirring the water each time. I think this is better than to give the pure tincture. After the patient becomes quiet and easy, Veratrum should be given in alternation with Camphor, a dose in four to six hours for several days, or oftener if he feels any symptoms like a threatened return of the disease. These two medicines serve as prophylactics (preventives) of Cholera.
If, however, the disease continues in spite of the Camphor and Veratrum, in the first instance, or later, (as the Camphor may be given in many cases with success in the advance stage,) you must resort to other remedies.
If vomiting comes on with burning in the stomach give Ipecac and Arsenicum in alternation as often as the vomiting occurs, and if the diarrhœa continues give Veratrum between the doses of the other two, in a violent case, as often as every ten to fifteen minutes, and at longer intervals when the disease is slow in its progress. If the vomiting and diarrhœa, or either, occur with a kind of explosion, the vomiting ceasing suddenly for the time, after the first gush, or the discharges from the bowels are involuntary, Secale is the specific remedy.
For the cramping, Cuprum and Veratrum are the remedies to be given alternately.
If, however, the cramping comes on as the first symptom, which is sometimes the case, the patient being suddenly seized with it before any other alarming symptoms occur, Camphor is the great remedy, and in this case it may be given in doses of double or treble the quantity before directed.
If he sinks into the collapse and lies quiet, indifferent to everything, the pulse sinking, or he is pulseless, Carbo Veg. will sometimes arouse and restore him, hopeless as the case appears. It should be given once in half an hour until the pulse begins to rise. If, however, instead of being quiet he is restless and thirsty, give Arsenicum in alternation with Carbo Veg., repeating the dose as above directed. In some cases, after all the active symptoms cease, the patient will become quiet and drop to sleep, and instead of the pulse rising, as it will if he is recovering, it sinks, or does not appear if he has been pulseless, and the breathing becomes irregular and feeble—he is sinking. If aroused, he sinks back into the stupor in a few moments as before. Laurocerasus is a specific for this condition. It should be given once an hour until he is aroused.
If, however, besides the stupor, the head is hot, the face red, the breathing oppressed, the pulse slow and sluggish, Opium is to be used, and may be given in alternation with Laurocerasus.
For the irritation of the brain, and furious delirium that sometimes sets in after the cessation of cholera symptoms, Secale and Belladonna in alternation will prove specific.
Let the patient have warm or cold drink as he prefers, and let his covering be light or plentiful as is most agreeable. As soon as he gets easy, and the vomiting and purging cease, and his pulse begins to return, keep him quiet as possible, let the room be darkened and everything still, so that he may go to sleep, which he is inclined to do, this being the surest restorer. I am quite sure I have known several patients carried off by a return of the disease, after it had been effectually arrested, in consequence of sleep being prevented by the rejoicing officiousness and congratulations of friends, disturbing and preventing that early and quiet slumber which nature so much needs, and must have, or hopelessly sink. The diet for two or three days after recovery, should be a little oat meal gruel or rice.
This disease begins with pain in the head and back, chilly sensations, followed by a high fever, so similar in all respects to a severe attack of Bilious or "winter" fever, that it is difficult or impossible to distinguish it with certainty, as Small Pox. The fact of the prevalence of the disease at the time, and the exposure of the patient, may lead the Physician and friends to suspect Small Pox. There is one very striking symptom of Small Pox, however, that exists from the beginning, which, though it may be present in fever simply, is not uniformly so. This is a severe and constant aching pain in the small of the back. The headache is also constant.
The Small Pox is of two varieties or degrees, distinct and confluent. The distinct is when the pustules are separated from each other, each one a distinct elevation, with more or less space between them not affected by the eruption.
The confluent is where the pustules spread out from their sides and run together, covering the whole surface as one sore.
It may be distinct on some parts, as on the body, and confluent on others, as the arms, face, and parts most exposed to the air.
In the Distinct variety the fever continues without abatement until the eruption appears, when it entirely subsides, and that quite suddenly. The eruption comes out about the third day of the attack, sometimes not discoverable until the end of the third or beginning of the fourth day. The eruption is at first very slight, beginning with small red pimples on the forehead, upper part of the cheeks, neck and upper part of the breast, extending by degrees to the arms, and other parts of the body and limbs. About the end of the fourth or forepart of the fifth day, the eruption is complete.
There is a symptom, not mentioned in the books, which will often determine the disease before the occurrence of any eruption. It is the appearance of hard shot-like pimples, to be felt under the skin in the palms of the hands, while there is, as yet, no trace of eruption to be seen upon the surface.
On the eighth or ninth day, the eruptions become vessicular, have flattened tops, and contain a limpid fluid. The parts continue to swell, the eruptions to enlarge, and become filled with purulent matter, having a dark color at the top, up to about the fourteenth or fifteenth day, when they begin to flat down, to dry up, and some of the scabs become loose. At this time, some fever arises, often quite severe, with headache and other inflammatory symptoms. If the eruption is very severe, fever will be of corresponding violence, and lighter or wanting when the eruption is mild. This fever rarely lasts more than twenty-four hours, from which time the patient rapidly recovers.
In the Confluent variety, all the symptoms are more violent, the fever continuing after the eruption begins. The pustules burst early, and run into each other, covering nearly or quite the whole skin; the surface swells and turns black or dark brown, the lungs are more or less irritated, producing cough, and not unfrequently the stomach is nauseated, and vomiting ensues.
If the patient survives the irritation up to the fifteenth or sixteenth day, when the secondary fever sets in, he is liable to be taken off by an affection of the brain or lungs, during this fever. If he recovers, his whole surface, especially that part exposed to air, is deeply pitted.