An Epitome of Homeopathic Healing Art, B. L. Hill [e ink epub reader .TXT] 📗

after ten, same as an adult. 15 or 20 pellets may be dissolved in a gill of water, and a tea-spoonful dose given at a time, being particular to stir it until all are perfectly dissolved, stirring it each dose.

Powders may be taken in the same manner, upon the tongue, a dose when dry, being about the same bulk as of the pellets as nearly as practicable. If put into water, to a gill of water add of the powder about what would lie on a three cent piece. If the liquid medicine is used, add 1 drop to a gill of water, and use tea-spoonful doses as above directed. The length of time between the doses should be, in Dysentery and Diarrhœa, regulated by the frequency of the discharges, giving a dose as often as the evacuations occur. In acute and violent diseases, the doses should be repeated oftener than in milder cases—about once an hour as a general rule is often enough, though in some cases they should be given in half an hour or oftener. In mild cases, once in two or three hours is often enough, and in chronic cases, once or twice a day.

Bathing.

The surface of the body should be kept clean, as far as possible, and to this end, in summer, should be well bathed at least once a day. In winter, though useful, it is not so indispensable; still no one should neglect the bath more than a week, and all ought to bathe at least twice a week, if not oftener, even in winter.

The bath should be of a temperature that is agreeable, and the room warm, especially for a feeble person. It should be so applied as not to give a general chill, as such shocks are always hurtful.

The teeth should be kept clean and free from tartar. They should be cleaned every morning and after each meal. The feet, legs and arms should be warmly clothed, especially the arms, as an exposure of them to cold is liable to induce affections of the lungs, and to aggravate any existing disease of those organs.

By exposure of the feet and legs to cold, diseases and derangements of the female organs, even in young girls, are induced; and one prolific cause of female weakness is to be found in improper dressing of the feet and legs, while the lung affections of females, now so fearfully prevalent, are traceable in a great degree to the fashion that has prevailed for a few years, of exposing the arms to cold.

Diet.

The diet of the sick should he nutricious, but at all times simple, free from greasy substances, and from all stimulating condiments whatsoever, as well as from vinegar, or food in which vinegar is used.

In short, let the food be nutritious, easily digested, small or moderate in quantity, and free from all "seasoning," except salt or sugar; and if salt is used at all, let the quantity be very small, much less than would be used in health.

Diarrhœa.

This disease consists in a looseness of the bowels, generally accompanied with pain in the abdomen, more or less severe. It sometimes occurs without pain, but is then attended with a sense of weakness, and a general feeling of uneasiness. It prevails mostly in the warm seasons, but may occur at any time. It is not usually considered a very dangerous affection, except during the prevalence of Cholera, or in children during hot weather.

TREATMENT.

Veratrum and Phos. acid, given alternately, at intervals, as frequently as the discharges from the bowels occur, will generally be sufficient. If there is nausea or vomiting, or cramping pains in the bowels, give Ipecac in alternation with one or both the former. If thirst and a burning of the stomach or bowels exist, use Arsenicum. This last medicine may be given in alternation with either of the others, but is most frequently indicated in connection with Veratrum. The intervals between the doses should be regulated by the frequency of the evacuations in all cases, lengthening them as the evacuations become less frequent, until they cease. In children, where the discharges are greenish or slimy, and contain undigested food, give Chamomilla and Ipecac alternately, as above directed. If the discharges are dark, or yellow, with distress in the stomach, give Podophyllin. The dose is from 3 to 6 pellets. In all cases of diarrhœa, adults should abstain from all kinds of food until cured, if possible, and eat but little at first, when food is taken. Children should be fed carefully, and but a small quantity at a time, being particular both for adults and children to use as little liquid as possible; drink water in small quantities, not very cold. Avoid exercise, and lie on the back quietly, when that is practicable. In a large majority of cases, Veratrum, if given in the early stages of the disease, will arrest it at once, and in many chronic diarrhœas of weeks or months standing, it is the surest remedy. In chronic diarrhœa of females, Podophyllin should be used in alternation with Veratrum.

Dysentery.

This disease is caused by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the colon and rectum, (the large intestine) generally confined to the lower part of the bowel. It is always painful. There is griping and straining in the lower part of the abdomen, and generally great bearing down when at stool, with a peculiar distress after the evacuation, called tormina.

The discharges often commence like a common diarrhœa, with copious liquid evacuations, but there is more or less griping pain, low down, from the beginning. The evacuations sooner or later become lessened, slimy or bloody, or both, the pain increasing accompanied with more or less fever, often quite severe. Sometimes the patient is costive, and has been so for several days, the dysentery coming on without being preceded by looseness. At others, especially in summer, when fevers are prevailing, the dysentery begins with a severe chill, followed by fever and the dysenteric symptoms above described.

TREATMENT.

If it begins with looseness without blood, give Arsenicum and Veratrum alternately, once an hour, or oftener if the evacuations are more frequent. If the discharges are bloody, use Mercurius cor. in place of the Arsenicum. If there is any sickness of the stomach, or the discharges are dark or yellow, use Podophyllin with Mercurius cor. If there are colic pains in the bowels, use Colocynthis alternately with the others, giving it between them. If the patient was costive previous to the attack, and the dysentery came on without much looseness, Nux Vomica should be given alternately with Mercurius cor. If the disease comes on with a chill, or a chill occurs at any time during the attack, followed by fever, Aconite, Baptisia and Podophyllin should be used in rotation half an hour apart until a free perspiration is produced, and the pain diminishes; or if bloody stools appear, use Mercurius cor, with the Aconite and Baptisia. A large proportion of the dysenteries of hot weather in miasmatic regions, will be arrested in a few hours by these three or four remedies, especially if the patient keeps still, and generally even if he keeps about his business. In very bad cases, much benefit will be derived from injections of Gum Arabic water, or mucillage of Slippery Elm thrown into the bowel in quantities of a pint or more at a time, as warm as can possibly be endured. I have often relieved patients immediately with injections of a strong solution of Borax in Rice water, as hot as bearable. Never apply cold water to any inflamed surface, much less a mucous surface. All food should be withheld as far as practicable and not starve, until the symptoms abate.

Colic.

The symptoms of this are cramping pains in the abdomen, without fever or looseness of the bowels. The colic sometimes occurs after the cessation of a diarrhœa that had been induced by severe cathartics. The pains are cutting and straining, drawing the bowels into knots, relieved temporarily by pressure.

TREATMENT.

For a male, Nux Vom., and for a female, Pulsatilla will generally afford immediate relief. In children, especially, where diarrhœa exists, Chamomilla should be used. If it is the result of severe cathartics, or if there is a soreness or a bruised feeling, Colocynth is the remedy. Hot injections into the rectum, and large quantities of warm water taken into the stomach, will often cure colic.

Bilious Colic.

This disease, in addition to the symptoms of cutting, cramping pains in the bowels, as in common colic, has great distress in the stomach, with nausea and vomiting, the bowels being costive, the feet and hands cold, sometimes cold sweats occur. There is also considerable fever, and frequently headache is present. The substance vomited is at first dark bilious matter, but if the case continues a long time, stercoraceous (fecal) matter will be thrown up.

TREATMENT.

Colocynth is the most important remedy, and should be given early and constantly. Podophyllin is next in importance, and it should be given in alternation with the former, the dose to be repeated as often as every half hour at first, and as the patient becomes easy, at longer intervals. In this, as in the former case, great benefit will be derived from large injections of quite warm water, and let it be taken into the stomach freely, as hot as can be safely swallowed. I have given a gallon of hot water in the course of two hours, to a patient suffering under this disease, the first half pint being rejected, but the balance remaining, perfect relief having been experienced. If fever continues after the colic and nausea cease, Baptisia and Aconite should be given alternately every hour until the fever subsides. If the patient is, and has been, for some time, costive, Nux Vomica should be given once in six or eight hours until the bowels move. Injections may also be used.

Cholera Morbus.

This disease generally comes on at night, in hot weather, and is, in many cases, induced by over eating while the patient is suffering from diarrhœa and a deranged state of the liver. It is essentially of a bilious character. It sets in with great pain in the bowels, sickness at the stomach, and vomiting of large quantities of dark greenish bitter tasting substance. At first, the vomiting will seem to afford relief, but sooner or later the stomach and bowels cramp, and the cramping may extend to other parts of the body, the feet, hands, calves of the legs, and the arms, cold sweats come on, and death terminates his sufferings.

TREATMENT.

Ipecac and Colocynthis are to be given in alternation, and repeated as often as every 30 minutes, for the first three or four doses, then as the patient gets easier, at longer intervals. A dose every hour will suffice as soon as the symptoms begin to abate. The application of hot cloths or even mustard, over the abdomen, frequently palliates the sufferings, and does not interfere with the action of the medicines. Fever of a low typhoid type some times sets in after an attack of cholera morbus, and terminates fatally. This ought never to occur under Homœopathic treatment. For such fever give Baptisia, a dose every hour until the fever subsides, which will occur generally in six or eight hours; if not, and the patient complains of headache, or is delirious, or dizzy, or feels a fullness in the head, give Macrotin in alternation with the Baptisia. Keep the patient very quiet and free from noise, as far as possible. Sleep is a great restorer in any case, but particularly so in this.

FEVERS. Intermittent Fever, Ague or Chill Fever.

This comes on with pains in