Frights, fits of rage, overstraining the mind, gastric disorders, the irritation of worms– especially taenia– menstrual irregularity or suppression, and the sight of other epileptics, are also exciting causes. Chronic poisoning, especially lead-poisoning, should also be named.
TREATMENT.– During a Fit.– The patient’s tongue should be put back into his mouth, and a cork or linen pad (as a roller bandage) fixed between his molar teeth, he should be laid on a couch, or rug, fresh air freely admitted around him, his head slightly raised, and all ligatures relaxed that interfere with circulation and respiration. Throwing cold water on the face appears to do no good; and restraint should not be exercised beyond what is necessary to prevent exposure, or to guard against injury. In Epilepsy preceded by the aura a firm ligature above the part where the sensation is felt, or the immediate inhalation of the vapour of Nitrite of Amyl, is said to prevent the attack occasionally. After a fit, the patient should be allowed to pass the period of sleep which usually follows without disturbance.
Between the Fits.– in addition to the administration of any remedy indicated, an endeavour should be made to discover, and then if possible to remove, the cause of the malady. But a cure is not always possible; and their obscurity which often surrounds the etiology of Epilepsy should done down our prognosis of cure. Homoeopathy, however contrasts most favourably with Allopathy; even when cure is out of the question, the striking relief afforded is worth all that pains taken to obtain it. ( see Homoeopathic World, 1911, P. 72).
EPITOME OF TREATMENT.–
1. Recent Epilepsy.– Ignatia, Ac.-Hydrocy., K.-Bromium,
2. Chronic.– Belladonna, Cuprum-Acet., Calcarea carb., Sulphur, K.-Hydroid., Oenanthe, Crocata, Plumb.
3. From worms.– Cin.,, Sant., Filix., Teuc.
4. From onanism, sexual excesses, etc.– Phosphorus, Ac.-Phosphorus, China., Ferrum, Ac.-Sulph.
5. From fright, and for fits in sleep.– Opi.
6. During Dentition.– The treatment is similar to that prescribed in the Section on Infantile Convulsions, and is generally successful.
7. Additional remedies sometimes required.– Chlorum, Hyd. gr. ss. j. (Petit mal); stram., Agaricus, Plumb., Arsenicum, Hyoscyamus, Cicuta, Zincum met., zizia.
LEADING INDICATIONS.–
Belladonna.– Sparkling of the eyes, dilated pupils, intolerance of light, flushes of heat in the head, and redness of the face, starting at the least noise, and other symptoms of cerebral congestion. If administered as soon as the indications of an attack are noticed, it may ward it off, or mitigate its severity. Hughes suggests Gloninum for this purpose. Belladonna is also useful when Epilepsy occurs during teething. (See the Section on Infantile Convulsions; also Chamomilla’ further on.)
Cuprum.– Indicated in preference to Belladonna by paleness of the face, and by extreme severity of the Convulsions.
Nux Vom.– A striking cure in a case of sixteen years standing is recorded in the Medical investigator.
An attack was always preceded by constipation, and directly induced by anger, and marked by spasmodic rigidity of all the muscles, throwing back of the head, vertigo and dull pain in the occiput, buzzing in the ears, bloated appearance of the eyes, dryness of the mouth, flatulence, and numbness of the arms and legs. This remedy– twenty drops (3x) in half a glass of water, a dessertspoonful every three hours — was administered, continued form eight days, and although the patient was angry many times afterwards, there was no recurrence of the disease.
Chamomilla.– Epilepsy in irritable children; the attacks are often preceded by colicky pains, sour vomitings, and paleness of one cheek and redness of the other.
Kali Bromium– This remedy is largely prescribed both by homoeopathic and allopathic physicians; and certainly, in numerous instances, it tends to diminish the severity of the attacks, and to lessen their frequency. The drug is not suited for attacks of the petit mal, and its effects are most striking in recent cases. its administration may be commenced in ten-grain doses three times a day, and if necessary, the dose may be subsequently increased. After using this drug for a considerable time, in varying doses, we have not found its beneficial results more marked than those of the commonly used remedies, especially bell., Opi., and Arsenicum, and as troublesome complications sometimes arise from its use before good effects are obtained, we do not recommend its use, except when it is homoeopathically indicated, and then its effects will be obtained by non-poisonous doses.
Kali Hydroid.- Dr. T.K. Chambers recommends this drug as curative in recent cases, and ameliorative in chronic, and gives in his lectures interesting illustrative examples. We have used it with benefit in chronic cases.
Artemisia Vulg.– Fits recurring every three to five weeks.
Large doses of bicarbonate of Soda have been recommended — on the view that a lessened alkali reserve in the body predisposed to the attacks. Thirty grains a day for a day or two might be tried if seizures were increasing in frequency.
Although it is early yet to speak dogmatically, it is common to find chronic intestinal infections (generally of B. proteus.) associated with Epilepsy and other profound neuroses. If other treatment fails (or in addition to it) vaccine treatment based on the appropriate infection is a very promising measure and should certainly be tried. ( See Diseases of Digestive System)_.
ACCESSORY MEANS.– Hygienic treatment, especially such as the causes of the disease suggest, is of great importance. Regular healthy exercise is beneficial, but it should never be carried too far, as fatigue often excites an attack. Epileptic patients require mucus rest and frequent changes; boys and girls should not on any account sit at lessons for three or four consecutive hours.
Should fright, disappointment, anxiety, or other mental influence tend to keep up the disease, a thorough change is necessary, including change of residence, companions, and habits. All ambitious intellectual exertion, especially rapid reading, and writing against time, should be absolutely prohibited. But moderate employment of the thoughts, especially on familiar and interesting hobbies, is useful in preventing the stagnation or concentration of the mind upon itself which is so hurtful in all chronic complaints (Chambers). Besides, the mind requires pabulum and exercise for its healthy growth., The diet should be nourishing and taken regularly, in moderate quantities, including animal food once or twice a day. As the appetite is often voracious, is should be judiciously controlled., Cold sponge- baths taken quickly, and followed by abundant friction, are favourable; but shower-bath do not usually agree, and bathing in the open sea is dangerous. All violent emotions, excess of every kind, more especially sexual, should be strictly interdicted.
89.– Chorea.– St. Vitus’s Dance.
DEFINITION.– A disease characterised by convulsive movements of the limbs, occasioning ludicrous gesticulations, and rising from incomplete subserviency of the muscles to the will. It has been wittily termed insanity of the voluntary muscles.
CAUSES.– Chorea is a manifestation of Rheumatism, and probably due, like that disease, to a specific organism. The heart therefore should always be carefully watched in Chorea cases. nervous, unstable patients are more liable to the disease, and, as with stammering, the movements sometimes seem to come from a kind of unconscious imitation of other sufferers. Attacks may seem to be determined by emotional causes like fright or by worms, etc.
EPITOME OF TREATMENT.–
1. From fright.– Aconite, Ignatia, Stramonium
2. From worms.– Cin., Sant., Mercurius, Ignatia, Spigelia
3. In weakly children.– Iodium, Arsenicum Ferrum ( with anaemia); sulph.
4. With Rheumatic symptoms.– Cimic., Spigelia
5. From causes not traceable.– Cuprum-M., bell., Agaricus, Stramonium, Hyoscyamus, Zincum met., Arsenicum The last-mentioned remedy is an extremely valuable one, especially in uncomplicated cases. in our treatment it has proved of the greatest value, and often curative.
in febrile, rheumatic, anaemic, of tubercular patients, a larger range of remedies is generally required.
GENERAL MEASURES.– The most important part of the treatment of Chorea consists in the use of moral influences. (1) there must be removal from too sympathising friends; the patient being placed under the care of a kind but firm guardian. (2) He must be encouraged to exercise his will in the control of the muscles; if the muscles of speech be implicated, inducing stammering or stuttering, (, This form of imperfect speech must not be confounded with the stammering which arises from a habit of excited speaking, in which the patient’s words splutter out of his mouth in hurried confusion, with an occasional hesitation interruption, leaving the hearer to arrange them as best he may. This may have been primarily induced by a nervous excitability, and may be overcome by the patient exercising control, and speaking each word slowly and deliberately. Some persons, after uttering a few words, suddenly stop, and the hearer must patiently wait for the interruption is only prolonged. This impediment may be controlled by learning anew the use of language in the manner above indicated.) the best way is for the person to humble himself to the infant state and be taught anew the use of language from those ingenious instructors who teach the deaf and dumb, and systematically learn to shape slowly and deliberately his mouth into the form requisite for definite enunciation. By practicing thus at leisure, and before a looking- glass, he may gain great control over the articulating muscles (Chambers). (3) The patient must not be allowed to associate with others similarly affected; nor should his disease be enlarged upon in his presence; his attention should rather be diverted from it as much as possible. (4) Electricity has been praised, but is for doubtful value. (5) When the constitution is feeble, the best hygienic measures must be adopted., the ordinary duration of the disease when untreated is about six weeks, but some cases are much more obstinate.
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."