Hydrastis Canadensis.– Unhealthy Ulcers; Ulcerations of mucous surfaces — the mouth, throat, nose, eyes, etc. It should be administered internally, and applied locally as a gargle or wash, as the case may require.
Arsenicum.– Inflamed ulcers with burning pain, raw surface, or presenting a livid appearance, and easily discharging blood or thin foetid matter, and often with general indifferent health. This remedy is specially valuable in indolent Ulcers of the legs, and should also be used in the form of a lotion.
Rhus, ext. and int.; Polygonum and Ammonium-Mur. have cured superficial Ulcers and sores on the lower extremities.
Hepar sulph., Calcarea carb., or Sulph.–For constitutional Ulcers, and to improve the health. Also Ferrum, Murex (as a paint).
211.– Carbuncle.
DEFINITION.– A patch of infective gangrene affecting the subcutaneous tissues due to infection by a micro-organism– the staphylococcus pyogenes aureus. Albuminuria or diabetes are common antecedents. Local abrasions or contusions sometimes precede.
SYMPTOMS.— It first appears as a hot, hard swelling, one to six inches in diameter, harder than a Boil, accompanied by a burning, dull, throbbing sensation. It is of a dusky red hue; very tender, and painful.
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It generally occurs on the posterior portions of the neck or back, where vitality is less active. As the red swelling gradually increases, the skin covering it assume a purple or brownish-red tint, and in one or two weeks softens, suppuration taking place at several points. The openings run together and some time later the slough (“Core”) comes away, the suppuration becoming freer all the time. It is generally attended by considerable constitutional disturbance and depression; if large, and especially if seated on the head, there is violent fever, Delirium, and great and even fatal prostration may result.
DIAGNOSIS.– Carbuncle differs from a boil in its affecting the subcutaneous tissues; its greater size; its broad, flat sharp; in usually appearing singly; in discharging from several openings; and in the great constitutional disturbance and irritation which accompany it.
CAUSE.– Infection. Any debilitating experience predisposes to the onset.
TREATMENT.– The chief remedies are.– Arsenicum, Belladonna, Apis., Aconite, Silicea, Carbo V., Lachesis, Sulphur
LEADING INDICATIONS.–
Aconitum.— Severe inflammation and fever. Aconite may precede, follow, or be alternated with any other remedy.
Arsenicum.– Large, painful Carbuncle, with great constitutional prostration. Often the best remedy.
Lachesis.– Low, inflammatory type of the disease, with evidences of the poison of the tumour extending to the blood; cerebral symptoms.
Apis.– Continuous extension of the erysipelatoid Inflammation.
Silicea.– To promote healthy granulations, etc.
LOCAL TREATMENT.– Early fomentations, to which a few drops f Calendula O are added, with free opening and scraping away of the sloughs under an anaesthetic, hasten recovery.
DIET.– The diet should be generous and nourishing and include Essence-of -Beef, Cod-liver oil, etc. In debilitated cases, the brandy-and -egg, or milk-and-egg mixture generally does good; but, in many cases, alcoholic drinks are best avoided.
212.–Boil (Furunculus).
DEFINITION.– A boil is essentially the same as a Carbuncle, but differed in affecting the skin only, and not the subcutaneous tissue, and it discharges by a single instead of several openings. They are very frequently multiple and usually occur from the infection of a hair follicle or sweat gland by the micro-organism.
The term “furunculosis’ is applied tom the disposition to repeated crops of boils.
SYMPTOMS.– A small, tense, inflamed and painful swellings; this hardens, the red blush around its base changes purple. In a few days the swelling enlarges, owing to the formation of pus, and the pain becomes throbbing; the tumour bursts, discharges thick pus, and later the core.
Blind-boils do not suppurate, but slowly subside. Boils often appear in crops, or another appears as soon as the preceding one has healed. They generally occur in the thick skin of the neck, back, nates, or arms, especially in the young.
CAUSE– Infection. Predisposing Causes– A disordered condition of the blood, from unwholesome food, overwork, anxiety, diabetes, albuminuria, etc.
TREATMENT.– Belladonna.– Painful, hot, shining erysipelatous swelling, with Inflammation round the base. Dr. Hughes states that a Boil in the stage of inflammatory engorgement, before matter has formed, may almost always be blighted by repeated doses of Belladonna (IX). Dr. Simon says the inunction first of a few drops of Tincture of Camphor, then of olive-oil, is equally abortive. Later still., states Dr. Madden, its progress may be arrested by Silicea(3x trit).
Hepar Sulphuris.– To facilitate the suppurative process and, to a great extent, prevent its subsequent extension.
Silicea.– Indolent and chronic Boils.
Ac.-Nit.– In some debilitated person this remedy is required; it is very valuable in wounds which fester, and when fungoid excrescences form. An aqueous dilution may also be applied topically.
Sulphur, morning and night for eight or ten days, to prevent a recurrence. Hughes states that it Boils recur again and again, the constitutional tendency may be checked by a course of Sulph. that he finds no need for any other medicines for Boils than Belladonna and Sulph.
GENERAL TREATMENT.– Fomentations should be applied and renewed frequently, until suppuration is completed. When Boils are of an acute variety, and the skin covering them is very thick, a free incision with a sharp knife will do good service. For treatment of proud-flesh see Ac.-Nit. above.
A lotion of Carbolic Acid in water (I;50) is useful to bathe the surroundings parts and prevent further infection.
Boils may be prevented from coming to a head by gently rubbing the surface every three of four hours with the tips of the fingers wetted with Spirits of Camphor, and then covering the spot with flannel soaked in camphorated oil.
In order further to prevent a recurrence of Boils, attention must be directed to the constitutional cause in they arise from digestive derangement, abstinence from rich gravies, pastry, sweet-dishes, etc., is imperatively necessary. Correct diet, cleanliness, and healthy exercise and recreation in the open air, will do more towards eradicating a predisposition to Boils and other affections of the skin than any of the drugs we have mentioned. Vaccine treatment is often of great value.
213.–Malignant Pustule. (Anthrax).
Malignant pustule is the result of the cutaneous inoculation by the virus of anthrax and usually takes place by the contact of butchers, graziers, leather-or wool-workers, with the disease sleep or cattle.
The lesion usually occurs on the face, neck, or arms. The stages it goes through in four or five days are; (I) an angry red pimple; (2) a crop of vesicles on a red swollen base; (3) a central black slough surrounded by vesicles, and a large zone of swelling. Then the temperature rises and grave septicaemia is caused by the distribution of the bacilli.
LOCAL TREATMENT.– Excision of the focus of infection.
MEDICINES.– Anthracinum, Lachesis, Belladonna, Aconite.,Apis., Baptisia, etc.
214.–Whitlow (Paronychia)–Felon–Gathered Finger.
DEFINITION.– A painful inflammatory swelling at the end of a finger or thumb, having a tendency to suppurate, and in debilitated constitutions, to recur,
VARIETIES.– The cutaneous Whitlow is an inflammation of the skin, with burning pain, and effusion of a serous or bloody fluid, which raises the cuticle into a bladder. The subcutaneous is attended with great pain and throbbing, and suppuration under the sin at the root of the nail, which often comes off. Tendinous Whitlow or Thecal Abscess, is inflammation of the tendon sheath.
CAUSE.– Infection. Predisposing Causes.– Cutting the nail to the quick; a bruise, burn, or other mechanical injury; the introduction of poisonous or acrid matter into scratches on the finger, constitutional disorder, with slight injury.
SYMPTOMS.– Heat, pain, throbbing, and redness at the end of the finger; as the symptoms increase there is swelling,. tension, and pain extending up the arm; the surface becomes livid, and shortly assumes a pale, cloudy appearance. If suppuration occur, a dirty-looking fluid is discharged; subsequently the nail; fails off; and if the finger be kept at rest, and the health be not very defective, a new nail is produced, and the finger is well. But under unfavourable conditions, the part may ulcerate, the finger inflame, the bone become diseased, and Inflammation attack the arm.
TREATMENT.– As soon as the first indications of Whitlow are noticed, the finger should be repeatedly plunged into water as hot as can be borne; in which common salt has been dissolved for two hours or longer; the hand should be slung in a raised posture, and a dose of Silicea taken every three hours.
Thus its formation may often be prevented. If these means commenced too late, a hot fomentation should be applied, and Sil, continued every four hours, in alternation with Aconite when there is much feverishness, or Belladonna when the inflammation is erysipelatous. Mercurius and Hepar sulph. are also good remedies.
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.
Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."