FACIAL PARALYSIS is a local Paralysis of the Portio dura of the eighth never from cold, and must be distinguished from Hemiplegia in most case being quite independent o disease of the brain, and is sometimes due to pressure on nerve, or may follow the sudden exposure of the face to a cold draught. Sometimes it is due to growth of tumours at the base of the brain.
The feature are drawn up to the opposite side; but there is still sensibility of he skin of the check, and the muscles of mastication act.
Other forms of Paralysis may be named General Paralysis, or Paralysis of the insane; Palsy from lead, Mercury, or other poisons; or from specific disease, as Diphtheritic Paralysis.
In general it may be said that nerve tissue once destroyed cannot be retreated. Treatment can do much to limit the disease and ameliorate symptoms. Simple facial Paralysis nearly always recovers. For the more serious varieties, the best hope for treatment lies in selecting he patient’s constitutional remedy or remedies.
EPITOME OF TREATMENT-
1. Facial Paralysis.-Bary,-carb., Caust, Belladonna,Aconite
2. General Paralysis-Phos (from degeneration); Bary.- Carb. (of old persons); Mercurius-Cor., Cocc.,Coni.; Plumb (with wasting).
3. Hemiplegia-Nux V., Arnica (especially of the left (side), (Phosphorus (Tabes Dorsalis).
4. Paralysis for the upper eyelid (Ptosis)-Gelsemium, Spigelia, Belladonna (of the face also); Stramonium
5. Diphtheritic Paralysis)Gelsemium, Coni.
6. Paralysis of Painters-Opi., Iodium, Cup-M., Arsenicum, Alumen, Stannum.
7. Tabes Dorsalis-Alumina, Argentum nit., Arsenic. Arum., Phosphorus
8. Disseminated Sclerosis-Sepia., Sulphur, K-Carb., Phosphorus, Lathyrus.
9. Infantile Paralysis-P{so., Arsen., Bary., Calc-c.
ACCESSORY MEANS-I Electricity or galvanisms, judiciously employed, after the acute inflammatory symptoms have subsided,, is a agent of great value.
2. the cold douche, bathing with slat water, or, if the patient be capable of therefor, sea-bathing, tends to promote he nutrition of the spinal marrow. 3. Retaliated exercise-active when the patient is capable of it, passive when he is not–is of get ability in over coming muscular rigidity, and reassuring the functions of paralyzed limbs. 4. Well-directed frictions and shampooing tend to obviate the injurious results of continued pressure from lying on the paralyzed parts.
86.-Infantile Convulsions-Fits of Infants.
Infantile convulsions are the most frequent of he cerebral affections of children, a nd usually arise from some temporary cause, as teething but sometimes are forerunners of Hydrocephalus. In children, a convulsion often takes the place of he rigor that occurs in adults at the commencement of acute diseases.
SYMPTOMS-In slight cases the child suffers from twitchings of the muscles of the face, some difficulty of breathing, rolling of the eyes, etc. In severe cases he suddenly becomes insensible, and the muscles of the head, neck, extremities are convulsed; the eyes are in sensible to light, and turn rigidly up and to one side; the face is usually congested, but sometimes pale; the lips are vivid; and there is frothing at the mouth; the hand are generally firmly clenched, and the thumbs turned inwards, with the great toe bent into the sole, from the greater irritability of the flexor muscles. After one or two minutes the Convulsions cease, either altogether, or to recur in a short period.
CAUSE-Irritation of the brain from pressure of t tooth upon an inflamed gum, or anything which over excites the nervous system; disease of the brain; an insufficient supply of blood to the brain, a s in badly-fed children; improper food (which acts as an irritant); early toxemia, as in the eruptive fevers; the irritation of worms; fight; powerful emotions of the mother; suppressed eruptions; Indigestion.
TREATMENT-Belladonna-Convulsion with determination of blood to, or Inflammation of, t the brain, hot flushed face, especially in stout children, who start suddenly in sleep, and stare wildly. Two drops of the tincture in a teaspoonful of water should be given early and repeated every fifteen minutes for several times.
Chamomilla-Spasmodic twitching of the eyelids and muscle of the face, one cheek red and the other pale. It is especially suitable of irritable children, a nd in fits from indigestion. True brain symptoms require Belladonna
Opium-Convulsions from forthright, followed by stupor, with labored breathing, a nd confined bowels.
Cuprum-Red, bloated face, shrinking before an attack, which resembles an epileptic seizure.
Cina or Ignatia_Convulsions from thread-worms.
Aconitum-Fever-restlessness, flushed face,- and for threatened Convulsions (in alternation with Bell).
Gelsemium-Convulsion from cerebral diseases.
ACCESSORY TREATMENT-All clothing about the neck, chest, and body should be loosened; the head raise; the face sprinkled with water and plenty of flesh air admitted. A warm bath, a temperature of 98 degree Fahr., is generally advisable, as it ends to withdraw the blood from he brain to the general surface of the body. The head should be cooled by the application of a thin damp cloth frequently re-immersed in cold water, or frequent sponging with hit water has an even more soothing effect. See Warm Baths, See 26.
87. Laryngismus Stridulus-Asthma of Millar- Spasmodic Croup=child -Crowing.
Definition-A spasm of the glottis, causing closure of the rima, generally occurring in. the first sleeps; and rarely lasting more than a few seconds.
Children are liable to it chiefly during the first dentition; it may, however, occur nervous, hysterical adult. It is a spasms of envious origin, independent of any disease of he larynx. It is rarely, but nevertheless sometimes fatal.
cASE-predisposing it appears to be hereditary in some families. But it is mainly connected with a rachitic diathesis. it is found in children who have other characteristic of Rickets. the nervous system shares in the general debility, which is increased in the cases of chose who live in the lose unwholesome air, who are insufficiently nourished, or are fed with unsuitable food, or are brought up by hand, and of those who are delicate and reared with difficulty. These are always susceptible to the least excitement or depression. The thymus gland is sometimes found persisting in. these cases instead of disappearing as it should as growth proceeds.
Exciting-The attack is often brought on by the most trifling cause; a drought of cold air, a simple cold, the irritation of a growing tooth, disorder f the stomach, constipation, diarrhoea, derangement of an function, are state, a dance, excitement or irritation of any kind.
SYMPTOMS-They come on deeply, usually in the night. The child cannot inspire, struggle, s gasps. presently the air enters with a crowing sound, and, for a time the child is well. But her may be a relapse after a uncertain interval. or the breath away not return so readily as a we have indicated the larynx may be absolutely closed; for there is no noisy breathing, no ‘croupy sound. the child appears to have fainted is very pale slightly blue, not livid, except slightly in. he lips, grasps and struggles for breath. Suffocation seems imminent. Presently the spasms ceases, the glottis opens, he air enters with a whistling, connote, or crowing sound; the colour returns; and the paroxysm has passed away. Not unfrequently there are convulsions; and particularly the muscular contractions of the thumbs, great toes, etc., which attend Convulsions.
DIAGNOSIS-Where these signs of convulsions exist, the peculiar, characteristic, crowing inspection of Spasmodic croup is diagnostic. It may also be distinguished from Laryngitis, Diphtheria by the absence of coughs, hoarseness, and free, both before and after the attacks, and by the suddenness of it succession, he climax being attained almost in a moment.
EPITOME OF TREATMENT.-
1. During the attach.-Prompt administration of Aconite, alt. Sambucus (fear of suffocation, dry cough); Gelsemium, bell. (Convulsions); Ipec (much mucus); Spongia, I. Bich., Cuprum-M.
2. During convalescence-Phosphorus (cough with soreness of the chest); Spong (dry, had cough); Carbo.v or Hepar S. (hoarseness with sneezing cough); Sulph.
LEADING INDICATIONS.-
Aconitum-Spasms of the larynx, inducing difficult breathing; febrile symptoms. In urgent cases a dose every ten, fifteen or thirty minutes. Aconite is of priceless value in spasmodic Croup and often cures without any other remedy. If there be doubt as to the true character of the malady, it should be alternated with Spongia Even in true Croup, the remedy chosen should be alternated with Acon,., as spasms frequently occurs during the course of the disease.
Gelsemium-Occasional acute attacks, which do not yield promptly and fully to Aconite
Phosphorus-Cough, with soreness of the chest, following an attack.
Sambucus-Burning, red, hot face, hot body, cold hands and feet, during sleep; in awaking, profuse perspiration on the face and body, which continues during waking hours;l return of dry heat during sleep.
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."