Tropical Diseases



TREATMENT- There is no remedy known which will kill the parasites in the tissues. At the same time the treatment of the resulting cystitis, etc., may do much to enable the parasites to be dislodged and the symptoms relieved. Hamamelis, Terebinth, Cantharis, Ocimum Can., Ac., Benz., Cann. Sat. are remedies to be considered for the bladder symptoms, and Hydrastis, Ac-Nit., Paeonia, Ruta for the rectal symptoms.

251. Jigger.

This is a disease due to a sand flea called Pulex Penetrans, or Jigger. It is entirely local, affects chiefly the feet, and is caused by the insect penetrating the skin and burrowing there, producing an inflammation with a vesicular or even pustular swelling. The treatment consists in removal of the parasite with a needle. The application of essential oils to the feet is a useful preventive where the parasites are known to be numerous. The West Indies and South America are the places where the insect thrives.

252. Malaria Ague Intermittent Fever.

DEFINITION- An infectious disease, characterized by (a) paroxysms of intermittent fever, each paroxysm consisting of a cold, a hot and sweating stage, while between the paroxysms the patient is comparatively well. There are three chief types of this form of disease: Quotidian, with a daily paroxysm; Tertian, with an attack every other day; and Quartan, with an attack every third day; (b) a continued fever with marked remissions; (c) a pernicious rapidly fatal form; (d) a chronic cachexia with anaemia and enlarged spleen. All these forms of the disease are due to parasites living in the blood, the so-called plasmodia. The parasites are not identical in the different varieties of Malaria, but belong to the same order. There is a parasite for tertian, and a somewhat different one for quartan. Quotidian ague is due to infection with two groups of tertian, or three groups of quartan, organisms maturing on successive days, for the paroxysm of ague corresponds to a definite stage of development in the parasite. The parasite grows in the red blood corpuscles up to the stage of segmentation, and then escapes into the blood stream. Outside the human body the parasite passes through another stage of development in the body of mosquitoes of a certain genus, called Anopheles. The mosquito is infected from sucking human blood, and in its turn infects man by biting, when the parasite is growing in its body. The anopheles, unlike the ordinary mosquito (culex), breeds in small shallow puddles, or slowly-running streams. Hence the association of Malaria with swampy and undrained districts, and the prevention of it by efficient drainage, removing the breeding places of the anopheles. The relation of the mosquito to Malaria was worked out by the genius of Sir R. Ross, working on the theory formulated by Sir P. Manson.

SYMPTOMS- These may set in suddenly, or they may appear gradually, until a regular paroxysm occurs. The first stage comes on with a feeling of debility, weariness, chilliness, and rigors; then follow sensations as of cold water trickling down the spine and a shivering of the whole body; the teeth chatter, the nails turn blue, and the whole frame trembles, often with such violence as to shake the patient’s bed. The face becomes pale, the features and skin contracted, and the papillae of the skin are rendered prominent, giving it the appearance described as goose- skin, such as may at any time be produced by exposure to cold. The countenance acquires an anxious expression, the eyes are dull and sunken, the pulse frequent and small, the breathing hurried and oppressed, the tongue white, and the urine scanty and passed frequently. After a time, varying from half an hour to three or four hours, the second or hot stage comes on with flushings, until the entire body becomes hot, with extreme thirst, full bounding pulse, throbbing headache, and restlessness, the urine being still scanty, but high-coloured. At length, after two, three, and even six or twelve hours, the third or perspiring stage succeeds, and the patient feels much relieved. Thirst diminishes, the pulse declines in frequency, and the appetite returns; at the same time there is a red deposit of urates in the urine. The perspiration first breaks out on the forehead and chest, and gradually extends over the entire surface; sometimes it is only slight, but at other times it is very copious, saturating the patient’s linen and bed-clothes. A paroxysm usually lasts about six hours, allowing two hours for each stage. The period between the paroxysms, as already explained, is called the intermission; but by an internal is meant the whole period or cycle between the beginning of one paroxysm and the beginning of the next.

EFFECTS- From the recurrence of internal congestions in each cold stage, the functions of the liver, bowels, and sometimes the kidneys, are disordered; the patient becomes sallow, his limbs waste, the abdomen is distended, and the bowels are constipated. The spleen is especially liable to be enlarged, some-times attaining a weight of many pounds, when it can be felt externally. An enlarged spleen is popularly called ague-cake. “The heat-generating power of all victims to Malaria is impaired; hence they suffer from atmospheric changes, of which healthy men take no note” (Maclean). Another result is extreme liability to repeated attacks, for the disease often leaves the body so enfeebled that ague may be reproduced by agencies which, under other circumstances, would produce no ill-effects.

There is also an irregular remittent form of ague, occurring chiefly in temperate climates, and oftenest in late summer and autumn. Hence it is called aestivo-autumnal fever. It is due to a definite parasite which can be identified in the blood and the diagnosis of the disease thus confirmed. The symptoms of this form of ague are irregular. Continuous fever may be present with remissions or regular paroxysms for a time and then a more or less irregular course. Jaundice is not uncommon. The mild cases readily yield to treatment. The more severe may suggest typhoid fever, but the presence of the organisms in the blood will distinguish the disease. There is also a pernicious Malaria, rare in temperature climates. It occurs in two forms, the comatose, in which the patient is suddenly overwhelmed with cerebral symptoms, either acute delirium or more often coma, with high fever. The unconscious stage may last twelve or twenty-four hours, and may end in death; or the patient may regain consciousness and a second attack may come on and prove fatal. The other pernicious form is called Algid, and the symptoms are mainly gastric, vomiting with intense prostration and sense of cold. The patient may die in a condition of profound prostration.

Blackwater Fever- The passage of urine containing haemoglobin, the colouring matter of the blood, is not at all uncommon in Malaria; but in some parts of Africa there is an endemic disorder called Blackwater Fever, wherein this urinary symptom is constantly present. The disease is severe and often fatal. It generally occurs in persons who have suffered or are suffering from Malaria. It has been suggested that the haemoglobinuria is due to the Quinine that is habitually given. Quinine certainly sometimes seems to aggravate a paroxysm of Blackwater Fever, but it is most likely that it does not often originate an attack. Haemoglobinuria is a true symptom of Malaria, but Quinine has the power to cause it also. Thus Quinine is homoeopathic to the Blackwater symptom as well as to the general malarial condition, only this homoeopathicity makes the administration of a large dose liable to cause an aggravation.

TREATMENT- Prophylactic. Since the disease is communicated by the mosquito it is quite obvious that the destruction of the mosquitoes and protection from their bites are measures of the utmost importance. Screens and mosquito nets round houses, therefore, and the protection of the sleeper at night, should be rigidly carried out.

Pools, ponds, marshes, should be drained to destroy breeding- places of the mosquitoes. Petroleum should be freely used to any standing water in the malarial season. It floats on the top and kills the mosquito larvae when they rise to the surface.

Quinine is not only generally curative, but also is a preventive, and therefore small doses should be taken regularly (4 or 5 grains) if there is any risk of exposure to the disease. Also every case that develops should be thoroughly treated.

TREATMENT- Medicinal. The principal remedies are China, Quinine, Arsen., Ipecac., Carbo vegetabilis, Nat-Mur., Cedron., Nux vomica, Eup. Perf., etc.

For the enlarged spleen, Merc-Bin. is often useful, and Ceanothus, Phosphorus, and Ac-Phosphorus are often indicated in the cachexia of chronic Malaria.

SPECIAL INDICATIONS- China and Quinine are the chief remedies, and will cure probably ninety per cent. of recent cases. When they fail, other remedies should be chosen without persisting in the use of these two, for in most cases they give aid quickly. The success of Quinine is attributed by orthodox physicians to its action as a parasiticide, and it is supposed to act directly upon the organisms. It is true that the plasmodium generally dies after Quinine has been administered, but it is just as likely that its death is due to an increase in the natural defences of the body brought about by the Quinine, as to the Quinine acting immediately on it. This view at any rate must commend itself to the homoeopathist, for the power of Cinchona to reproduce the symptoms of Malaria (a power which is indubitable and admitted by orthodox authorities, although it has at times been questioned), was the discovery of Hahnemann, which put him upon the track of the Law of Similars.

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."