the patient must be protected from draught; and after the attack is over, if it has been at all severe, are must be taken to avoid any tax on the strength and exposure till all traces have passed away.
MEDICINES
Baptisia. The drug which comes nearest to being a specific is Baptisia. The heaviness, besotted appearance of the eyes, headache, foul tongue, sore throat, soreness all over, and general uneasiness with or without fever, faithfully reproduce the main features of Baptisia, and this medicine given in any potency will quickly cure a large proportion of cases. Even when cough supervenes Baptisia will often be successful.
Eupatorium Perfoliatum. When the pains in the bones are well marked this is perferable to Baptisia.
Bryonia. Will be preferable when the aggravation from movement is well marked; headache aggravated by coughing; cough causing pain in the chest relieved by lying on painful side.
Sanguinaria. Cough and coryza, pains chiefly on right side of chest and right shoulder, expectoration difficult, great relief when it come up.
Cimicifuga racemosa (Actea Rac.). Pains in the eyeballs or back of eyes very marked. Pain in bead, nape of neck, and back, and muscles generally. Restlessness at night.
Glonoin. Bursting pains in the head or any other part will single this drug out in preference to any other.
Belladonna. Violent throbbing headache, sore throat, hoarseness, dry cough, heat of skin, and restlessness. Inflammation of the ear, especially the right, neuralgia side of head and face.
Phytolacca. Inflamed and enlarged tonsils with white spots (the herpetic sore-throat of Trousseau). Intense headache, pains in the back and general rheumatism. Aggravation from damp.
The well known indications for Aconite, Arsenicum, Camphor, Gelsemium, Nux vomica, Sulphur, etc., will single them out where cases present themselves. Gelsem. especially is a favourite remedy with many physicians, and a preparation from the Influenza poison itself, called Influenzinum, appears to be of value when given in the 30th potency. For the chilliness and debility remaining after an attack Nat. Sul. is one of the best remedies. It is Schussler’s remedy for the whole course of the disease.
51. Erysipelas (Erysipelas) St. Anthony’s Fire.
A very contagious infective inflammation of the skin or mucous membrane, due to the entrance of an organism, the streptococcus pyogenes, through a wound or abrasion. Constitutional debility and bad hygiene predispose to it.
SYMPTOMS. An attack is usually ushered in with shivering, languor, headaches, loss of appetite, nausea, furred tongue, vomiting, constipation, rapid pulse and the other symptoms of an inflammatory fever. Within twenty four hours a spreading inflammatory redness of the skin appears, first round the wound, which breaks open. It is of vivid red colour, which fades on pressure. The patient complains of stiffness and stinging heat, but pain and swelling are not much marked. When, however, the eyelids and scrotum are involved there is much swelling. The red blush tends to spread, the edge being raised and well defined from the healthy skin. At first the redness is bright and shining, becoming later dusky in hue. The spreading may be continuous or it may subside in one place to reappear in another. In a very acute case there are blebs on the inflamed area and sloughing of the skin may occur. Constitutionally the patient is very in, with a high temperature (102 degree to 104 degree F.), which remains elevated without falling again and fluctuating. As the rash fades away a fine desquamation with some staining of the skin occurs.
Erysipelas is especially prone to occur in the region of the head and neck, and delirium is frequent, especially when the scalp is affected. Vomiting is common.
The lymphatic glands into which the inflamed area drains are enlarged and tender.
VARIETIES. Facial erysipelas often arises without any obvious abrasion of the skin, the explanation being that such is so small as to be overlooked, or the organisms are rubbed in through a seat duct or hair follicle, or the outbreak is really metastatic derived from a distant source, the uterus, hand, etc. Moreover, there is a tendency for some of the streptococci to remain dormant, not killed, until the resistance of the tissues is diminished by cold, etc. For the last reason erysipelas is often recurrent. Facial erysipelas is accompanied by considerable swelling and is liable to be complicated by meningitis.
Faucial erysipelas spreads from the exterior to the pharynx. It causes great selling and endangers life by obstructing the passage of air.
Erysipelas may prove fatal in the following ways (I) By exhaustion when the constitutional symptoms resemble those of typhoid fever, and the degree of toxaemia, or blood poisoning is great, although the local lesion is relatively slight; (2) Obstruction of the air passages. The symptoms indicating this are impaired respiration, duskiness of the face, lividity of the lips or finger nails, altered tone of voice or cough. (3) From extension of thee inflammation to the membranes of the brain.
The condition tends to spontaneous recovery, in one to three weeks. In any of its forms it is most serious, at either of the extremes of life. The habits and health of the patient prior to the attack greatly influence the result. It is especially fatal in drunkards and in broken down constitutions.
Erysipelas has the interesting effect on other lesions, that it may cause chronic ulcers to heal rapidly, and sarcomatous tumours have disappeared after an attack of it.
The incautious use of Arnica and Rhus has been known to produce an attack or erysipelas, and both these drugs are eminently suited to the treatment of the condition.
EPITOME OF TREATMENT.
1. Febrile stage, Aconite, Verbascum Vir.
2. Smooth (non vesicular variety). Belladonna, Bryonia, Pulsatilla, Arnica
3. Vesicular. Rhus., Cantharis, Verbascum Vir.
4. Additional remedies. Apis (Puffy swelling). Arsenicum
Carbo Veg., Actea Nit. (Phlegmonus. Lachesis, Arsenicum (gangrene). Sulph. (chronic or declining).
LEADING INDICATIONS.
Aconitum. General fever, with local inflammation and tenderness. Aconite is mostly required before the rash appears, but may be given, if indicated, at any stage of the disease, for either smooth or vesicular Erysipelas.
Belladonna. Cutaneous, bright red inflammation, swelling, and non vesicular eruption. If there be excessive swelling, Apis should be preferred. Violent Headache, thirst, Constipation, and brown red thick urine, indicate Belladonna, also extension of the inflammation towards the brain, with delirium, lethargy, or twitching. It may be alternates with Aconite early in the disease.
Bryonia, instead of Belladonna, if the joints are specially affected.
Pulsatilla, if the disorder flied quickly from one part to another; Indigestion after the eruption declines.
Rhus Tox. Vesicular Erysipelas, whether on the face or elsewhere, with swelling and shining redness; great restlessness.
Veratrum Vir. Is also adapted to vesicular Erysipelas, when accompanied by cerebral disturbance.
Apis. Erysipelas with acute oedema, without the intense cutaneous inflammation indicating Belladonna, or the disposition to form Vesicles like Rhus (Hughes).
Cantharis. Erysipelas with much irritation, burning, vesicles, and serous exudation. Erysipelas from the use of Arnica.
Arsenicum. Erysipelatous inflammation taking on a gangrenous character, when fresh patches appear as others decline; also when there is excessive general prostration.
LOCAL MEASURES. Hot fomentations, to which three drops of Arnica tita, or the same of Rhus tox. tita, is added, to relieve pain. The affected part should be dusted with zinc oxide and starch powder and covered with a thick layer of cotton wool, for cold favours markedly the spread of the infection.
DIET. Pure water, or barley water, with lemon juice, to allay the thirst. Severe and tedious cases require essence of beef, or Extract of Meat, and even wine or brandy. Subsequently a change of air, regular habits, and nourishing diet, essential in the after treatment of all acute diseases, are necessary after after severe Erysipelas.
52. Puerperal Fever Puerperal infection.
Under the term Puerperal infection is included a series of febrils disorders of the lying in period due to the active development of certain pathogenic germs, which enter the body through wounds of the genital tract. In the great majority of cases these organisms are introduced from without, but in a few instances they may have been present in the genital tract at the time of labour. It must be borne in mind that puerperal infection may occur after abortion as well as after labour, phlebitis, or other local lesions. It is very serious, and in any case of it, a skilled physician is required.
CAUSES. Instrumental or difficult labour, foetid lochia, or decomposed clots or blood, absorbed through sling abrasion in the utero vaginal canal; decomposing fragments of retained placenta; contagion.
EPITOME OF TREATMENT.
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."