Phosphorus. If the lungs are affected (Pleuro pneumonia); also in persons of weakly constitution, sensitive lungs, and predisposition to Consumption. The expectoration is rusty coloured, and there is much prostration.
Antimonium Tar. Cough, with rattling of mucus, oppressed breathing, sometimes nausea, profuse expectoration, violent throbbings of the heart, and a sense of suffocation.
Arnica. Pleurisy supervening upon long continued and laborious exercise, or from external injury; especially when pain and soreness remain, or when much fluid has been effused in the latter case, Arnica tends to promote its absorption.
Sulphur. When the lancinating pains in the chest have subsided, Sulphur will often complete the cure. It is also advantageous as an intercurrent remedy when recovery is slow, and when the breath and expectoration are foetid.
Ac. Tannic. Spontaneous and profuse evacuation of pus.
ACCESSORY MEASURES. Application of heart, in the form of poultices, flannel wrung out of hot water, etc., applied to the painful part, will often afford immediate relief. Dr. Roberts, of University College, treats Pleurisy both before and after effusion by strapping the affected side firmly with broad pieces of common plaster, placed obliquely to the direction of the ribs, so as to secure rest. Many cases, it is said, have been cured very quickly by this means.
Bleeding in every form should be avoided. Perfect quiet and a semi recumbent posture should be secured. The diet should be light, gruel, arrowroot, broth; frequent sips of cold water will allay thirst. In case of effusion into the pleural cavity the diet should be dry, and the question of tapping must be considered. When there is evidence of pus in the chest Aspiration should certainly be practiced, and also for serous fluid if it is at all large is amount.
113. Cough.
Like Hoarseness, Cough is a symptom of disease and not a disease per se. It is often the forerunner or attendant of some of the most fatal diseases of our climate, and should, therefore, never be neglected. There are many varieties of cough, but we here only give a list of the remedies in most frequent use, adding the leading characteristic symptoms of each. Cases that persist, in spite of one or one of the annexed remedies, should be regarded as of too constitutional a nature to be treated merely by the aid of books.
TREATMENT. Aconitum. A dry, hard, recent Cough, with restlessness, flushed face, Headache, thirst, burning dryness in the throat, scanty urine, confined bowels, etc.
Belladonna. Short, dry, hollow, convulsive Cough, generally worse at night, in bed, better from cold, excited by a sensation of tickling in the throat, and accompanied by flushed face, Headache, and other symptoms of Congestion of the head.
Hyoscyamus. – Nervous, dry, spasmodic Cough, affecting old persons, also children and hysterical women, worse at night, and especially on lying down.
Bryonia. – A hard, dry shaking cough, worse in the day-time, attended with pain in the side, chest, and head; Cough aggravated by passing from cold air to warm; loose Cough, with white or yellow expectoration, sometimes streaked with blood; nausea and vomiting.
Ipecacuanha. – Irritating, nervous and spasmodic Cough, with nausea or vomiting; the early stage of Whooping-cough.
Spongia. – Dry, barking, or whistling, laryngeal Cough, with tickling; Hoarseness, and loss of voice.
Hepar Sulphur. – Irritating Cough, with Hoarseness and smarting in the throat, excited or aggravated by exposure to cold or atmospheric changes; Cough with chronic Indigestion.
Ac.-Nit.( – See Homoeopathic World, vol. ix., p. 169.) Chronic Cough; non-phthisical dry Cough also when active non- tubercular phthisis has subsided; long-standing short, dry, teasing, laryngeal Cough without expectoration.
Drosera.-Nervous, sympathetic, spasmodic Cough, worse at night, with retching or vomiting, and sometimes blood-streaked sputa. Patient perspires on waking. The best remedy after Aconite is uncomplicated Whooping-cough.
Phosphorus. – Dry cough, excited by tickling in the throat; Hoarseness, and pains or soreness in the chest, with rust- coloured, bloody, salty, or purulent expectoration; phthisical Cough. Talking, laughing, eating, or moving, causes aggravation, and going from warm air to cold.
19 Mercurius. – Chronic, moist Cough, worse at night, with purulent or muco-purulent sputa.
Carbo Vegetabilis. – Cough on taking the least cold; obstinate Hoarseness or loss of voice.
Kali bichromicum – Cough, with tough, stringy, expectoration, preceded by much wheezing, accompanied with difficult breathing and followed by dizziness.
Chamomilla. – Cough of children during teething, with wheezing, breathing, fretfulness, etc.
Sulphur. – Obstinate dry Cough, with tightness in the chest, and retching; loose Cough, with expectoration of whitish or yellowish mucus during the day, and dry cough at night, attended with Headache, Spitting of blood, etc.
BEVERAGES. – Barley-water, linseed-tea, and other mucilaginous drinks; or, if preferred, small quantities of cold water, at frequent intervals.
PREVENTIVES. – Cold bathing or sponging the whole surface of the body every morning, as directed under Bathing, Secale II. Clothing adapted to the varying conditions of the atmosphere; see Secale 10. Exercise, every day in the open air, if possible in the country. Familiarity with a free atmosphere affords a security against excessive sensibility to variations of the weather, Morning air is best; damp, confined air, or that of crowded assemblies, should be avoided.
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."