General Diseases



In Variola confluence, the secondary fever is often very intense and is the most dangers period of the disease. Severe, and even fatal result may arise from exhaustion, suppuration, erysipelatous inflammation. suffocative breathing, and blood- poisoning.

DIAGNOSIS-An early recognition of this disease both on account of the patient himself, and for the protection of others, is or great importance. Severe pain, evidently not muscular, in thus small of the back, of often a characteristic symptoms. As distinguished from Measles, the eruption is more perceptible to the touch, and gives the sensation of shot under the skin. Neither is the eruption of Small-pox disturbed in crescentric patches as it that of measles. the difference between he promontory symptoms foe the two diseases would also assist in forming a differential diagnosis. As distinguished from Enteric Fever, its attack is abrupt and severe, rather than insidious and uncertain. As distinguished from Chicken-pox, its eruption suppurates and the fever is high; while in Chicken-pox the eruption is vesicular, does not often suppurate, and the fever is mild. The rash of chicken post appears and the first day and is vesicular from the first. The solid, shot-like feeling of the small-pox eruption is never found in Chicken-pox.

DANGERS-The greatest danger arises from the secondary fever in the confluent form of the disease, at about the might to the twelfth day, when the pustules are ripening.; for then the fever is likely to return, and the vital strength has already been much exhausted. Fatal; chest symptoms may arise, or there may be ulceration o opacity of the cornea, and loss of sight. An inflamed condition of the skin between the pustules, instead of the rose-red areola, is a bad sign. Haemorrhages are of grave import. Infancy and advanced age are unfavorable periods; beyond sixty years of age, Mr. Marston states, hardly any who taken it escape death. Violent and uncontrollable delirium is often an attendant on the confluent variety, and if it occurs early, in persons who have lived freely or irregularly, is an unfavorable symptom. Draymen, barmen, potmen, tailors, and prostitutes are very unfavourable subjects to be attacked with Small-pox, owing to their habits of indulging freely, and almost daily, in strong drinks (Marson). A too plethoric habit, sleeplessness, and irritability are also unfavourable. On the other hand, a quiet, contented, hopeful state of mind favours recovery. small, dark, and badly ventilated dwelling, poor or scanty food, insufficient clothing, want of cleanliness, intoxicating beverages and other similar influences are also elements which determines the more severe form of this malady. But in the United Kingdom, every case that is discovered is at once removed to the hospital.

It is worthy of remark as Dr,. Letheby states in one of his quarterly reports on the sanitary condition of London, respecting an outbreak of small-pox and the increase of Scarlatina, that;’these sudden out bursts of Zymotic disease show that the force manifests itself in all its original vigor.

CAUSE-The agent which causes Small-pox must almost certainly be a minute organism which is transferred from case to case, by as yet no bacterium or micrococcus, or protozoan has been demonstrated to be the cause, through from time to time claims to the discovery have been made. In the pustules are found germ of suppuration, Streptococci and Staphylococci, and to their activity the secondary fever is due, but they are not the primary case of the disease.

EPITOME OF TREATMENT.

1. Primary fever-Aconite, Belladonna, Ver-Vir., Baptisia.

2. Eruptive stage-Antim tart., Thuja, Sarracenia, Sulphur

3. Suppurative stage-Antim tart., Mercurius, Apis, lach.

4. Retrocession of the eruption-Camph., Sulphur

5. Confluent and malignant cases-Sulph., Arsenicum, Phosphorus, Lachesis, Crot..

6. Complications-Phosphorus, Ant-Tart. (Pneumonia).

Aconite, Bryonia, (congestion of the Lungs). Bryonia, I-Bich. Antim tart (Bronchitis). Rhus. (severe pain in the back). Mercurius (Glandular swellings). Apis. Belladonna (Dropsical Swelling, Closed eyes, Swollen throat). bell., Hyoscyamus, Stramonium, Ver-Vir. (Delirium). Arsenicum, Baptisia (sudden abstraction and threatened Syncope).

7. To prevent pitting-Sarracenia. keep the face covered and protected from light. It is the actinic rays in sun, light that cause increased irrational and inflammation in the skin, and if the patient is kept in a red light, by red window-curtains or red glass, the actinic rays are shut off. This act is the basis of the medieval treatment of Small-pox by wearing red articles of clothing, and so fourth. There was supposed to be healing property in merc redness, but it is the shutting off of the other rays of light that constitutes the remedial process.

8. Desquamation-Sulph., with cleanliness and frequent tepid sponging. Sponging with a dilute lotion to Carbolic Acid (I- 40) is very grateful to the patient when there is irritation.

9.Sequalae-Sulph., Merc-Cor. (Ophthalmia). Hepar sulph.l, Phosphorus, Sulphur (Boils). See also under Complications, above.

10. Prophylatics-Variolinum 6 o 30, a dose night a d morning, should be taken by all who come within range of he infection. Vaccinatum 30 may be given in the same way. (See Homoeopathic World. vol. xxxii.p.546) Other prophylactics are Vaccination, Sulphur, Ant-Tart., Thuja,

LEADING INDICATIONS-

Aconitum-shivering, heat, dryness of the skin, rapid pulse, swimming and pain in he head, near and vomiting, and pain in the back and loins it may be used at any time during the course of the disease, when febrile symptoms are prompt If there a much sickness with the fever, and a very rapid pulse, Veratrum Viride may be substituted for Aconite Baptisia has been highly praised in the early stages.

Antimonium Tart-Is almost specific for small-pox, and should be administered as soon s the nature of the disease is ascertained; it is specially valuable during the eruptive stages and also in. the primary fever, if near and vomiting or convulsions should occur. Indeed, during nearly the whole course of the disease it may be given for the primary fever, and sulph. during desquamation, to prevent after-affects, Ant-Tart. is the only remedy required.

Belladonna-Severe head symptoms, delirium, in-tolerance of light, etc.; a few doses will usually afford relief.

Mercurius-Salivation, Ulcerated throat, foetid breath, or bloody diarrhoea, especially during suppuration.

Apis-Excessive swelling of the face, eyelids, etc.

Coffea.- Two or three doses, if thee be restlessness and sleeplessness.

Camphor.- If the eruption suddenly disappear, or suddenly become malignant, with Dyspnoea, coldness of the skin, and symptoms of Paralysis of the Brain, two or three drops in a little tepid water, every ten or fifteen minutes, for several times, till the skin becomes warm and the eruption re-appears.)

Opium-Drowsiness or stupor and stertorous breathing.

Lachesis-During one epidemic this medicine was found invaluable in those cases in which a typhoid condition ensued during the state of maturation (probably due to septicemia).

Sulphur.-When the disease pursues and irregular course; when the eruption exhibits a tendency to disappear from the surface; when the pustules, instead of being transparent or yellows, are green, purple, or black; when the blood with which they are filled announces a decomposition of this flied, it is not to Arsenicum that we should have recourse, but to Sulphur (Taste).

During the formation of the pustules, and when there is furious itching, and when he disease is on the decline ist should be given as a preventive to the usual Sequalae, and continues till recovery is complete. Carbo-Veg., Ac-Nit., or Arsenicum, under similar condition or when Sulph. only partially succeeds. Vaccinine, internally, is said to destroy the odour and effluvia of Small-pox. Variolinum, given every four hours, has been said to cut short an attack.

PREVENTIVES-Variolinum, Sulphur, Cimic., Vaccinium, Sarracenia Purpura, and some other remedies see P. 118) are said to have curative or prophylactic virtue in this disease. The administration of the Tincture of sulphur will, as our experience prove, act as a preventive, jenner us reported to have failed in vaccinating thirty soldiers hen they were receiving Sulphur treatment; subsequently all the men took the genuine Cow-pox. Fresh air and free ventilation are invaluable prophylactics.

ACCESSORY MEANS- All Small-pox cases in England are taken to hospitals and treated there, But if hospital treatment is not available the following suggestions are important. The patient should be kept cool, and the sheets and linen frequently changed, ample provision being made both for the uninterrupted admission of fresh airs and the free escape of tainted air. The bad ventilation of a small room, to high temperature and hot cordials interrupt the tendency to recovery. In cold weather a fire should be kept burning in the apartment, and the patient have an extra blanket, but the windows kept open. If the weather is mild the patient is better treated entirely in the open air,.

Edward Harris Ruddock
Ruddock, E. H. (Edward Harris), 1822-1875. M.D.
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."