With the continuance of the disease, the discharge becomes till more copious; and must be constantly wiped away from the exterior surface of the lids. The gonorrhoeal variety is the most rapidly destructive; and its treatment will require all the skin, caution, and discretion of the physician, -who must, however, avoid wounding the mother’s feelings by suspicions, the statement of which, whether they are justly founded or not, can afford little help in prescribing.
So many cases of purulent ophthalmia occur in babes whose mothers are affected with leucorrhoea, that we must conclude a discharge from the genitals of the mother is a very frequent cause of purulent ophthalmia in new-born infants. the matters discharged are very apt to be highly contagious; and it is but a dictate of prudence, always be consider them so.
Treatment. – The most scrupulous attention should be paid to cleanliness of the affected organs, and of the whole body; let the temperature of the room be made perfectly comfortable; avoid fatiguing the inflamed eyes with too much light; carefully look after the health of the mother or nurse; and no less carefully select the remedy best suited to all the symptoms, circumstances, and conditions.
Aconite. Where from exposure to cold air there arises a high state of inflammation; general fever, with restlessness, distress, and sleeplessness.
Belladonna. The eye looks very red; cannot bear the light; opening only when in a dark place. Bleeding from the lids.
Calcarea c. In leucophlegmatic temperaments; excessive secretion of mucus in the eyes.
Chamomilla. Discharge of blood from the eyes; the lids are closed in the morning. If the inflammation be caused by exposure to cold, damp atmosphere; or if aggravated by every cold change in the weather.
Euphrasia. Great lachrymation.
Hepar. Little pimples surround the inflamed eye.
Ignatia. Inflammation of the eyes something like that of Belladonna, but not so intense; -with much sighing.
Lachesis. The eyes are always worse for a while after sleeping.
Mercurius. The eyelids are much swollen, and contain, underneath them, much purulent matter, -which pours out in quantities on opening the eyes. Compare Nitric Acid.
Nux v. The eyes are always worse in the morning.
Pulsatilla. The eyes are always worse towards evening.
Rhus t. The lids are principally affected; they look red and fiery; like erysipelas; and seem to itch much.
Sulphur. There are pimples more or less diffused over the body; short sleeps; the eyes seem to itch very much, -and to contain much mucus; the canthi appear raw.
Thuya. Hard inflammation of the eyelids.
HERNIA.
Infantile hernia may be congenital, or developed subsequent to birth; and a predisposition to this affection may sometimes be observed in children whose parents are similar affected. The hernial tumor may occur on either side, inguinal hernia; -this developed to its fullest extent becomes scrotal hernia in the male; while in female children the corresponding tumor appears in the labia pudendi. Exomphalos, umbilical hernia, is also a common form of infantile rupture; in such cases the tumor appears at the navel, as indicated by the name. Besides there may be femoral hernia, which appears more frequently in female than in male children.
It is very important for the physician to detect an infantile hernia at as early a period as possible; especially, before it occasion serious mischief by becoming strangulated. This latter accident indeed but seldom occurs in very young children, -except in consequence of severe fits of crying in those already ruptured; or in cases of whooping cough, in which the violent paroxysms may have induced the rupture in the first place. Thus when either form his own observation, or from that of the mother or nurse, any tumor or unusual formation is detected, the child should be as carefully examined as an adult would be in case of suspected hernia. The most difficult to detect, and at the same time one of the most common forms of hernia, is that which may be developed in the scrotum of the male infant not long after its birth. In these cases of congenital hernia, “the intestine or omentum passes out of the abdomen, accompanies the testicle in its descent, and becomes lodged in the pouch of the peritoneum with accompanies the tunica vaginalis testis, before its communication with the general peritoneal cavity has become obliterated. In the encysted variety of congenital hernia, the communication between the cavity of the tunica vaginalis and that of the abdomen is closed at its upper part, but the former is unusually large, and continues high on the cord, containing more or less serous fluid; behind this is the hernia descends invested by the ordinary peritoneal sac. (*Helmuth’s Surgery, p.571) In the femoral variety, the hernia appears in the groin, where it may readily be distinguished from tumors resulting form other causes, by accompanying symptoms, and by the condition and history of the case. Besides these varieties, the intestine may effect its passage through the parietes of the abdomen at other points, -constituting ventral hernia.
The strangulation of the protruded intestine will give rise to similar symptoms of pain, colic, vomiting, and obstinate constipation, or obstruction of the bowels, in young infants as in adults. And while such strangulation is far less apt to occur, it can always be traced to some definite cause, -such as violent straining in crying, or in severe paroxysms of coughing. And both the hereditary predisposition to rupture, and the congenital or subsequent developed hernia, may be entirely remedied by the administration of the appropriate medicine, in single doses, and not too often repeated. And even in severe cases of strangulation, the physician will have the satisfaction of witnessing the happiest effects from the Homoeopathic treatment. By extensive observation, I am persuaded, that it is never useful to apply bandages or trusses in these cases; whether the hernia be congenital or otherwise. The properly selected Homoeopathic remedy is always sufficient to cure the case. Plus ( Plus Vide Hahnemannian Monthly, Vol.II., p.8) Study the following remedies.
Aconite. There is a constant fever; uneasiness and distress by spells; and the parts are very tender to the touch.
Antimonium. c. A great deal of crying; white tongue; vomiting; diarrhoea; and some cough.
Borax v. The child cannot bear a downward motion; it is very nervous; cries much day and night. EVen when it is sound asleep, the downward motion of putting it into the bed or cradle will surely awaken it.
Calcarea c. In children of leucophlegmatic temperament, with large open fontanelles; much perspiration about the head; the child cries much. It may have two or three hernias, -yet in such cases Calcarea alone will effect a perfect cure in a few weeks or months.
Chamomilla. The child is very fretful, and finds quiet and comfort only in being carried about up and down the room. Constant diarrhoea.
Cina. Very restless even during sleep. It will not lie awake five minutes without crying. It must be rocked, carried, or dandled upon the knee constantly, day and night; the mother and nurses are worn out taking care of the child till it gets Cina200 or 1000, then it becomes quiet and the hernia gets well.
Lycopodium. Much croaking, rattling, and commotion in the abdomen, day and night; colic and crying. Red sand in the urine; screaming when passing water. Always worse soon after 4 P.M.
Nux v. The child has much colic; it draws up its feet and then thrusts them down again. Constipation; the stools being large and difficult. Poor appetite; crying much at night. The hernial tumor looks blue.
Opium. redness of the face; abdomen hard and distended; the child is soporous.
Silicea. Frequent colic relieved by the discharge of offensive flatus. Tenderness about the hernial tumor; vomits much milk after nursing.
Stannum. The child is relieved by pressure of the knee, shoulder, or hand upon the abdomen.
Sulphur. Scurfy skin, which is easily abraded; sleeps only in short naps; with other sulphur symptoms generally.
Sulphuric acid. when some general, deep-seated dyscrasia prevails, and the child is weak and exhausted, and no other more particular symptoms.
HICCOUGH.
Singultus, or hiccough, belongs to the class of inspiration convulsions; and has usually been deeded an affection of the diaphragm alone. but Romberg* (*Diseases of the Nervous System, I., 343.) affirms that its cause not unfrequently resides in the central nervous organs; this, however, is most probably true rather of adults than of new-born infants. Hiccough consists of attacks of sudden, jerking inspiration, with a peculiar sound, followed by a short expiration. And in each of these respects it is exactly opposite to whooping cough, -in which the expiration are quick, noisy, and jerking, – while the inspirations are anxious, protracted and still more noisy.
This affection may be very readily relieved sometimes, by giving the child the breast; or by a few teaspoonfuls of warm water. The following remedies have been recommended; and that one which is most indicated will certainly relieved the little ones suffering from this form of nervousness; – except in those cases in which it results from exhaustion of the vital powers, and is thus evidently symptomatic of approaching dissolution.
