105. Hay-Asthma Hay-Fever Summer Catarrh.
DEFINITION- A specific disease, affecting predisposed persons only, and affecting them in the same way, and at about the same period, every or nearly every year, and caused by the pollen from certain flowering plants, including the grasses. The term Hay- fever is not sufficiently inclusive, for hay, although sufficient in many cases, less frequently produces the affection than the various flowering plants. It undoubtedly demands a special susceptibility in the patient, and vaccines have been made and used with some success.
SYMPTOMS- They are those of an ordinary Catarrh, to which those of Asthma are superadded. These are itching of the forehead, nose, eyes, and ears much general irritability and lassitude; sneezing; profuse discharge from the nose; tightness of the chest, dyspnoea, and cough pricking sensation in the throat, general depression, etc. Exposure to the emanations from powdered Ipecacuanha give rise to similar symptoms in many persons.
EPITOME OF TREATMENT-
1. When the chest is chiefly affected- Ipecac., Ac-Hydrocy., K- Bich., Ac-Carbol.
2. When the nose, eyes, and throat- Arsenicum (much debility with acrid discharge); Euphr. (profuse lachrymation); K-Hydriod, Sabad., All, Cep.
3. Prophylactics- Arsenicum, Iodium, K-Bich., Psorinum, Thuja.
Sabadilla- The late Dr. Bayes recommended one drop three times a day in water, and the administration of the drug by olfaction several times daily; he adds, By this means I have cured many severe cases, and made numerous converts to our system. Severe paroxysms of sneezing suggest this drug.
Liq. Potassae Arsenitis- Is recommended as a specific. We have obtained excellent results in many cases from Ipecac., Euphr., Mercurius and Arsenicum In several the disease has not recurred in subsequent years.
INHALATION- The remedy used internally should also be administered by inhalation, either by simple olfaction, or, still better, in the form of vapour this is produced by means of an ordinary perfume or spray-producer. Inhalation should always be employed during an attack.
ACCESSORY MEANS- Removal to the coast, with a barren surrounding country, or to any part where flowering plants and grass do not grow, or hay is not stored, offers the surest protection. The symptoms are mitigated by protection from bright sunlight and by such means as tend to promote the general circulation. Cold or tepid bathing, the cold-shower-bath, and the Turkish bath are also recommended under different conditions. In one reported case, two or three minutes’ swim in the sea removed the symptoms as if by magic.
106. Laryngitis and Tracheitis.
DEFINITION- An inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx and trachea, with secretion of tenacious mucus, and considerable swelling from effusion into their submucus areolar tissue. This trouble was formerly called Croup, but the name should now be abandoned. Laryngeal Diphtheria was frequently called Croup, and confused with ordinary Laryngitis.
SYMPTOMS- The disease usually begins as a Catarrh, the first indication being fever and Hoarseness (a symptom which always indicates the implication of the larynx and the neighboured of the vocal cords) in the voice or cry of the patient, with a peculiar barking cough. In adults, unless due to Tubercle, or Syphilis, Laryngitis is troublesome, but not a serious disease. In children, however, we often find that after one or two days, or even without any premonitory indisposition, usually at night, the symptoms become aggravated, the sleep being interrupted by paroxysms of hoarse coughing, the child throwing its head back to put the windpipe on the stretch. A metallic ringing sound is heard in the inspiration and in the cough, which has been compared to the crowing of a young cock, or to the barking of a puppy; with this there is often evident a certain amount of laryngeal spasm, and although the respiratory efforts are great, it is evident, from the turgescence of the face and neck, that an insufficient quantity of air enters the lungs. After the fit has continued for a time, a few minutes to an hour or more, there is an interval of relief usually of several hours’ duration. The pulse is frequent and wiry; and there is loss of appetite, thirst, and great distress.
Pure spasm of the larynx without inflammation is spoken of elsewhere. It is rarely fatal, ordinary laryngitis is also more troublesome than dangerous.
CAUSES- The immediate cause is infection from an organism, generally of influenza or the pneumococcus. Predisposing causes are cold dark, damp, and unhealthy localities; sudden changes of temperature; wet feet; poor and scanty food, especially the adoption of improper diet when a child is weaned; insufficient clothing, or previous illness.
EPITOME OF TREATMENT-
1. At the commencement- Aconite, Spongia, or Ant-T.
2. Fully-developed Laryngitis- Bromium, Iodium, Spongia, K-Bich., Hep-
S.
LEADING INDICATIONS-
Aconitum- Febrile symptoms, spasm of the larynx inducing difficult breathing. In urgent cases, a dose every ten, fifteen, or thirty minutes. Even when another medicine is indicated the remedy chosen should be alternated with Aconite, as spasm frequently occurs during the course of the disease.
Bromine- Laryngitis, with extreme congestion and swelling of the air-passages affection of upper part of the air-tubes, causing the child to grasp at the throat, and evince anxiety dry croupy cough, like that of a sheep, grating and tickling. Aggravation of symptoms from warmth. A low dilution (1x) should be administered alt. Aconite if the skin is hot and dry, every half-hour or hour till improvement ensues.
Spongia or Iodine- One of these may be chosen if there be a hard, barking, or whistling Cough, and the breathing is very laboured. Iodium should have the preference in weakly patients, and be administered also by inhalation.
Hepar Sulphur- Loose Cough, with a ringing or brassy sound, and constant rattling in the respiratory organs, during which the patient tries in vain to get relief by expectoration.
Phosphorus or Arsenicum, according to the symptoms, may be required if debility be very great and the disease take on a typhoid character. One of these remedies may be alternated with another having more affinity to the local lesion.
Administration- In very severe cases, every fifteen or thirty minutes in less severe, or during improvement, every two, four, or eight hours.
ACCESSORY MEASURES- During the treatment everything should be avoided that would be likely to excite or irritate the patient. A partial or complete warm bath at 98 degree Fahr. repeated in a few hours if the patient continue very hot spongs or cloths squeezed out of hot water and applied to the throat; the feet and general surface of the body should be kept warm and the air of the apartment raised to about 65 degree Fahr. and this temperature uniformly maintained by day and night; it is sometimes recommended that watery vapour should be thoroughly diffused therein by keeping a kettle of water constantly boiling on the fire, or over the flame of a spirit-lamp, and fixing a tin or paper tube to the spout to convey the vapour near to the patient. This often gives relief, but should be done rather as an emergency measure than as a matter of routine. In very severe cases, a tent should be formed over the patient’s bed, and steam conducted under it by a tube from boiling water, to which a few drops of Iodine or Kali bichromicum have been added. This method of administering medicines by inhalation is a most valuable one in Laryngitis.
107. Coryza Catarrh Cold in the Head and Bronchial Catarrh.
The condition expresses under the above different terms is common occurrence, and often the precursor of very serious affections. It consists of inflammation of the mucous membrane of some portion of the air passages. If the mucous membrane of the nose is affected, it is mucous membrane of the nose is affected, it is called Coryza; if the trachea and large bronchial tubes, Bronchial Catarrh.
SYMPTOMS. Coryza usually commences with lassitude, slight shiverings. weight in the head, sneezing, watery eyes, and obstruction of one or both nostrils, with a discharge of thin, colourless fluid. If it be a severe cold, the foregoing symptoms are soon followed by a dry Cough, Hoarseness, Sore Throat, dryness, tenderness, and swelling of the nostrils, pains and soreness of the limbs, general weakness, more or less fever, quick pulse, thirst, loss of appetite, etc. Under a vigorous condition of the constitution, or as the result of judicious treatment, the symptoms soon subside. In other cases the complaint may assume the form of Bronchitis, Pneumonia, Quinsy, Influenza, Toothache, Neuralgia, or even be the forerunner of Tubercle in a predisposed person.
CAUSES. Infection by some bacterial organism. There are many capable of causing symptoms of Catarrh, especially the Micrococcus Catarrhalis and Pneumococcus and Influenza germs. Predisposing causes are exposure to draughts of cold air; wet boots or clothing; insufficient clothing when the body is cooling after having been heated. Wet feet or wet clothes do not ordinarily result in a Cold if the individual changes his clothes for warm, dry ones, immediately after ceasing from active exercise, and avoid any further exposure. But if a person perspires, and then gets chilled, he will be very likely to take cold, and to exhibit some of its effects. It is not when the body is hat, but when it is cooling, that it is most susceptible. When the body has been heated or exhausted by exercise, the frame is not able to react, and then the application of cold increases the depression. Partial exposure to a cold atmosphere, as in a close carriage with the windows open, is more injurious than a general exposure; probably because the balance of the circulation is less disturbed in the latter case, and the lunge are better supplied with oxygen. Damp beds, or prolonged bathing, or even passing from heated rooms to cold ones, or into open air, will frequently give cold.
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."