The cough often becomes most distressing, violent and incessant, and the fever itself more severe, after the appearance of the eruption; but this aggravation is but temporary and will readily yield in a short time to the properly indicated remedy. And in favorable cases convalescence my be pretty established in twelve or fourteen days form the commencement of the illness. The Homoeopathic treatment, while it may not very materially abridge the natural duration of this or of other eruptive disorders, will very greatly moderate the severity of their symptoms, prevent in a god measure the accession of troublesome and even dangerous complications, and in almost all cases, either entirely preclude the appearance of the usual sequelae, or render them the occasions of effecting a more radical and permanent improvement of the subsequent condition.
Complications. Diarrhoea sometimes makes its appearance upon the decline of the eruption, if it has not existed at an earlier period. This has been regarded as exerting no unfavorable influence upon the convalescence. The mucous membrane of the bronchia affords a seat for the development of measles, corresponding to that of that of the fauces and nasal fossae in scarlet fever. Hence the cough, at first dry, but at the last looses, which in greater or less degree accompanies the measles, and whose aggravation, above referred to, forms a most distressing complication Under the old forms of treatment this irritation of the bronchial mucous membrane was apt to be developed into a true bronchitis. But under Homoeopathic treatment this tendency may almost always be entirely averted. Pneumonia forms the severest and most dangerous complication of measles, and also the most important sequela to be guarded against. The revulsion of the eruption from exposure to cold is always liable to be followed by this result, at any stage of the original disorder. And in children of delicate constitutions and scrofulous habit, may be observed a strong disposition to pneumonia, no less decided than the disposition to external scrofulous disease which is developed by scarlet fever in the same class of patients. And it may be remarked here, that in attending young people, and by this we mean also those partially, and quite grown up, who attacked with measles, the most sedulous care should be taken lest through its imperfect treatment and unfavorable convalescence this disease should lay the foundation for confirmed ill-health, or even of actual pulmonary consumption. And perhaps this remark may be more applicable to girls and young women, than to those of the other sex, although these latter are by no means exempt from the danger. We believe that more cases of this serious “poor health, may be traceable to badly treated and badly managed measles than to all the other exanthemata combined.
In the diarrhoea which attends or follows the measles, consult Bryonia, Pulsatilla, Mercurius, and Sulphur.
In the bronchitis, study Bryonia, Ipecacuanha, Phosphorus, Pulsatilla, &c.
In pneumonia, compare Belladonna, Phosphorus, Sulphur, &c.
In the congestive and malignant verity, which although very rare may appear, and in the so-called black measles, compare Arsenicum, Pulsatilla, Rhus, &c.
In those cases in which the itching is excessively annoying, study Rhus t., Sulphur, and Dolichos pruriens.
And in all cases, let the room be kept at a comfortable temperature, without excluding fresh air the patient as quiet and undisturbed as possible; and carefully select the remedy to meet all the symptoms and conditions; and you may confidently expect a speedy and complete recovery from even the severest attacks of measles.
Aconite. Dry, hot skin; heat in the head with restlessness.
Arsenicum. When there is much prostration; thirst for water, wishes to drink often but little at a time; great great of the skin. (Black measles.)
Belladonna. Difficulty in swallowing; severe coughing spells, causing much redness of the face, moaning and drowsiness.
Bryonia. The eruption does not fully develop itself, it appears pale, and there is much dyspnoea.
Camphor. When there is much coldness and Blueness of the skin; the face is pale, the child does not wish to be covered; the eruption does not appear; in these circumstances Camphor 200 will bring out the eruption and relieve the patient.
Coffea. When there is excessive sensitiveness of the skin, and of the senses to every impression; weeping irritability; great wakefulness, and much excitement.
Dulcamara. Retrocession of the eruption from exposure to damp, cold air.
Euphrasia. There is much lachrymation, and coryza.
Ipecacuanha. Much nausea; short hurried breathing. Incessant and most violent cough with every breath; this symptom, sometimes frightfully severe in delicate children, suffering with measles, Ipecac. relieves like a charm.
Mercurius. The glands of the throat are much swollen, and there is difficulty in swallowing; slimy stools streaked with blood,
Phosphorus. Symptoms indicating inflammation of the bronchia, violent and very exhausting cough. (Compare Ipecac.)
Pulsatilla. More frequently called for by the symptoms, in measles, than any other remedy. It is indicated by the catarrhal symptoms; and by the slow and tardy appearance of the eruption.
Sulphur. The eruption fails to make its appearance and the catarrhal symptoms become continually worse and worse.
MILIARIA MILIARY FEVER.
This eruption consists of clusters of minute red and white pimples, like the smallest millet-seeds, which from being elevated, give a rough feeling to the hand. The neck, chest and back are the principal seats of this eruption, which appears in successive crops; and is usually the result of excessive heating of the body. This overheating may be caused by the too great abundance of clothing; or it may be the natural result of the summer temperature.
A slight fever often precedes the eruption, which however, like the eruption itself, is sometimes quite violent. From measles, which the miliary fever and eruption somewhat resemble, it may be readily distinguished by the absence of catarrhal symptoms; and also by the temporary nature of the affection itself. The symptoms even in the severer cases, yield very readily to the appropriate Homoeopathic remedy; especially to:
Aconite. Which affords prompt prompt relief, when indicated by the restlessness, head, and peculiar nature of the eruption.
Bryonia. May be required in very warm weather; the child is better when kept perfectly quite.
Chamomilla. The child is very fretful, and is relieved by being carried.
Sulphur. In the more inveterate cases; the skin is rough and scaly.
PEMPHIGUS.
This eruption appears in the form of large bullae, vesicles like blisters, in which a watery fluid separates thee cuticle form the skin. It is usually believed to indicate an unhealthy condition of the system; sometimes it shows a disposition to assume a typhoid character; and in the worst cases it seems to have many features in common with the gangrenous form of infantile erysipelas.
The approach of the disorder is sometimes thoroughly denoted by livid suffusion, like that of erysipelas, slightly elevated. More frequently however the complaint comes on in apparently perfect health. The bullae or blisters are oval, filled with a yellowish serum which soon becomes turbid, of a dark brownish-red color; and the bulla either dries up and is transformed into a dark thin scurf, surrounded by a narrow border; or else it breaks, leaving a flat excoriation, which is likewise soon covered with a thin scurf. This eruption often appears soon after birth; sometimes however it is congenital.. It does not seem to be confined to any particular part of the body; but breaks out behind the ears, on the neck, chest, back, inner surface of the thighs, on the groins, on the extremities, and on the palms of the hands and soled of the feet.
Arsenicum. May be required in the more malignant cases, especially where Rhus seems indicted, but fails to arrest the disease, or cure the cachexia by which it is supported.
Rhus t. Where each bulla is surrounded by a red, inflamed base.
Thuya. Cures most all cases, particularly if painful..
VARIOLA. VARIOLOID.
Variola is the natural small=pox, as it appears in those whose systems have not been modified by vaccination. Varioloid, or modified small-pox, is the corresponding disease as it appear in those who are more or less protected by vaccination. Variola runs through a regular course of three distinct stage: 1. that of incubation; 2. that of development and maturation; and 3. that of decline. Varioloid differs little from variola in the first stage; a severe attack of the former may be a much more dangerous illness than a mild attack of the latter. The principal difference is found in the fact that in modified small-pox the eruption is usually ouch less copious, and that it sooner begins to decline. In other respects the two forms of disease may for all practical purposes be considered as identical. Since the infection from the the mildest case of modified small-pox is capable of causing the severest form of confluent variola in those unprotected; under suitable circumstances either disease may develop the other. In distinct small-pox, variola discreta, the pustules admit of being counted, being placed at such distances from each other as not to coalesce or run into one another even when fully matured. In confluent small=pox, variola confluence, the pimples are set so close as to run into each other of the third or fourth day of inflammation. In general, the latter variety is by far the more severe, and in this consists the only real difference.
